Facebook Aims to Extend Its Reach Across the Web

New York Times, December 1, 2008 — Facebook, the Internet’s largest social network, wants to let you take your friends with you as you travel the Web. But having been burned by privacy concerns in the last year, it plans to keep close tabs on those outings. Facebook Connect, as the company’s new feature is called, allows its members to log onto other Web sites using their Facebook identification and see their friends’ activities on those sites.

Digital Sales Surpass CDs at Atlantic

New York Times, November 26, 2008 — Since MP3s first became popular a decade ago, music industry executives have obsessed over this question: when would digital music revenue finally surpass compact disc sales?

For Atlantic Records, the label that in years past has delivered artists like Ray Charles, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin, that time, apparently, is now.

ComScore's Golden Measure

As online publishers face a daunting new year, a report sets out to prove that Internet display ads work.

Forbes, November 18, 2008 — Ever click on an Internet banner ad? No? You're not alone--and that's a problem.

Publishers have "got to come up with evidence or proof for the advertisers or the agencies that this stuff works in some way," says Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore (nasdaq: SCOR - news - people ), which tracks the size and demographic makeup of Internet audiences, and sells that data. Now, he says, his company has done just that.

Southern Comfort Backs First 'Colbert Christmas'

Marketing Daily, November 18, 2008 — Move over, comics icon Charlie Brown. Comic genius Stephen Colbert is readying his first-ever holiday special, "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!," with an exclusive online sponsor you wouldn't find under Snoopy's tree — Southern Comfort.

Under the aegis of Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman, the brand has inked a multi-platform marketing deal with Comedy Central, which airs "The Colbert Report." In addition to being the only online sponsor, it will run TV spots during the Nov. 23 special and have presence during the promotional lead-up of the program.

Addressable Ads Could Reinvigorate TV†

Better Targeting Would Improve Efficiency, but Scale Remains a Major Hurdle

Advertising Age, November 17, 2008 — Satellite-TV firm Dish Network and ad-tech firm Invidi struck an agreement last week that involves "advanced receivers," "targeted advertising delivery" and "dynamic commercial insertion." Behind the tech talk is something media executives such as Group M's Rino Scanzoni believe is nothing short of "the renaissance of the TV business."

The Dish-Invidi pact calls for developing of the ability to sell ads that can be sent to specific households based on geographic and demographic information.

For One Production Company, It’s All About the Power of Storytelling

New York Times, November 17, 2008 — “TELL to sell,” once a mantra on Madison Avenue, is making a comeback as marketers seek to engage consumers with compelling stories rather than peddle products in hit-and-run fashion with interruptive advertising like 30-second commercials. A newcomer to the ranks of what are called brand storytellers, which include agencies like 42 Entertainment and Story Worldwide, is being formed by Epoch Films, a company that produces commercials for advertisers like Apple, Nike and Procter & Gamble as well as films like the quirky 2005 comedy “Junebug.”

How Twittering Critics Brought Down Motrin Mom Campaign†

Bloggers Ignite Brush Fire Over Weekend, Forcing J&J to Pull Ads, Issue Apology

Adweek, November 17, 2008 — Johnson & Johnson did manage to offend some mothers with an online and print campaign for Motrin that implied moms carry their babies as fashion accessories. But was it a genuine groundswell that felled the effort — or an alliance of the few, empowered by microblogging service Twitter?

Verizon Wireless and Photobucket Partner for Mobile Photo Uploads

AppScout, November 17, 2008 — If you're a Verizon Wireless user, you may be familiar with Verizon's PixPlace, which allows you to upload your photos, add borders and captions, and send them to friends. If you're not familiar with the service, that's not a surprise; most Verizon Wireless users who take photos with their camera phones either send picture messages directly to their friends or upload to services like Radar, Moblog, or directly to their personal Web site.

Online Age Verification for Children Brings Privacy Worries

New York Times, November 16, 2008 — WHEN it comes to protecting children on the Internet and keeping them safe from predators, law enforcement officials have vocally advocated one approach in particular. They want popular sites, like the social network MySpace, to confirm the identities and ages of minors and then allow the young Web surfers to talk only with other children, or with adults approved by parents.

Messaging Behaviors, Preferences, and Personas

KenRadio, November 14, 2008 — 8% of those who are over the age of 65 use SMS, and 4% subscribe to social networks. Another surprising data point is that 42% of teens prefer to communicate via SMS, yet 62% prefer to receive promotions via email vs. only 1% via SMS. The new study by ExactTarget confirms that there are marked differences between age groups not only in the usage of media, but also their acceptance of and attitudes towards each type and using multiple forms of media concurrently.