'NYT' to axe 12 newsroom jobs now, management cuts next year

Editor and Publisher - Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, announced in a staff memo today that "there are going to be layoffs in the newsroom, for the first time in recent memory." He added that a "hiring freeze" will continue, with open positions filled internally, and next year "we also expect to eliminate a few management jobs in administrative areas."

For now, a dozen "support" workers will be getting the axe, but Keller said the paper has still been able "to avoid the kind of drastic staff cutbacks other news organizations have endured."

Keller noted, "As we approach 2008, it is clear that the newsroom is going to have to do even more to tighten spending, and to help the publisher and the Times Company meet the difficult financial challenges facing our industry. While we are committed to retaining our competitive muscle, we will be facing some tough choices about where to save ...

"Today we notified the Newspaper Guild that about a dozen support positions within the newspaper are being eliminated. We will, for example, be closing the Recording Room as well as trimming a number of clerical and secretarial jobs. The people in those jobs will receive the severance they are entitled under the Guild contract ...

"As we move into 2008, we will be rethinking coverage priorities and how we use our space and our people, but always in ways that preserve what The Times does best. In the future, as in the past few months while these matters were under review, we have worked closely with our partners on the business side, with a single shared ambition: to seek cutbacks and reductions that are as strategically focused as possible, and do nothing to damage our core journalism."

New blog a resource for professional photographers

mediacaster - Embassy Pro Books, an Oakville, ON-based publisher of photo books for professional photographers and the creative community, has launched a new blog as part of their continuing support for photographers.

The new blog can be found at http://ProfessionalPhotoBooks.com and features a wealth of information that professional photographers can use to enhance their careers and share ideas.
For years, Embassy Pro Books has offered the photographer has complete artistic control of the style, layout, and format of the photo book as well as an online photo album so that their images can tell the story.

A spokesman for Embassy Pro Books said, “The new blog is a natural progression in our ongoing efforts to provide professional photographers with all the resources they need to grow their businesses and enhance their creativity. The blog posts will be written by professional photographers specifically for pro photographers and they are encouraged to post comments and share their ideas.”

The blog posts cover a wide range of categories and target the challenges that photographers commonly face as they grow their businesses.

Recent blog entries included topics such as:
•Include Photo Books in your Marketing Plan
•Planning your Photo Book Layout puts you in Control
•Customized Photo Book Marketing: Set Yourself Apart
•10 Ideas for Printed Photo Books

Top Canadian web rankings for October 2007

comScore release - comScore released its October rankings of the largest and fastest-growing Internet properties in Canada based on data from the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service. Microsoft Sites ranked as the most-visited property, while the beginning of hockey season made NHL Network the top-gaining property for the month.

“Hockey season is always a popular time of year here in Canada, and we’re seeing that reflected in the surge of activity to NHL Network in October,” said Brent Bernie, president of comScore Media Metrix, comScore Canada.

Top 10 Properties for October

Microsoft Sites captured the top position in Canada with 22.2 million visitors, followed closely by Google Sites with 22 million visitors. Yahoo! Sites, with 16.8 million visitors, ranked third for the month. Social networking site Facebook.com continued to grow, gaining 4% to reach 14.4 million of the 23.7 million Canadians online.

“Facebook has really surged in popularity among Canadians during the past year,” continued Mr. Bernie. “The site has grown from about 1 million visitors last October to 14 million visitors this year, positioning it as the top social networking site and fourth largest property overall in Canada.”

The largest increases in the top 10 were experienced by Wikipedia and Amazon Sites, both gaining 10% from the previous month.

Top 10 Properties by Canadian Unique Visitors*
October 2007 vs. September 2007
Total Canada – Home and Work Locations**
Source: comScore World Metrix
Property	Total Unique Visitors (000)
	Sep-07	Oct-07	% Change
Total Internet : Total Audience	23,590	23,678	0
Microsoft Sites	22,094	22,247	1
Google Sites	21,878	22,040	1
Yahoo! Sites	16,321	16,768	3
FACEBOOK.COM	13,841	14,428	4
eBay	13,318	13,876	4
Time Warner Network	12,149	12,259	1
Wikipedia Sites	10,796	11,846	10
Yellow Pages Group	9,185	9,998	9
Amazon Sites	8,857	9,719	10
Canoe Network	7,743	8,273	7
*Ranking based on the top 100 Canadian properties in October 2007.
** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Top-Gaining Properties for October

With excitement surrounding the start of the season, the NHL Network experienced a flood of traffic, growing 44% to nearly 4 million Internet visitors, making it the top-gaining property in October.

Propelled by growth at video site Crackle.com, Sony Online jumped 27% to 2.6 million visitors. Video-sharing site Dailymotion also saw gains, growing 14% to nearly 2 million visitors.

Glam Media, which has experienced strong growth throughout the year in both Canada and the U.S., continued its upward trend with a 19% increase to 3.3 million visitors.

Top 10 Gaining Properties by Canadian Unique Visitors*
October 2007 vs. September 2007
Total Canada – Home and Work Locations**
Source: comScore World Metrix
Property	Total Unique Visitors (000)
	Sep-07	Oct-07	% Change
Total Internet : Total Audience	23,590	23,678	0
The NHL Network	2,731	3,931	44
Sony Online	2,066	2,626	27
Demand Media	2,338	2,876	23
Glam Media	2,813	3,336	19
General Motors	1,670	1,979	19
Disney Online	1,984	2,337	18
Branchez-Vous! Sites	2,061	2,405	17
WordPress	3,298	3,809	16
Answers.com Sites	2,727	3,144	15
Dailymotion	1,744	1,989	14
*Ranking based on the top 100 Canadian properties in October 2007.
** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Los Angeles Times opens up newsroom with readers' blog

Journalism.co.uk - The Los Angeles Times has launched a new blog to open up newsroom practices to its readers.

The Readers' Representative Journal will use a Q&A style to put readers' comments and questions about the paper's online and print editions to reporters and editors.

Regular features on the blog will include 'Whatever Happened to…', where readers can ask for updates on past stories, and 'Ask a Staffer', which will let the audience query how editorial decisions are made.

In addition users can view a staff directory and details of the title's ethics guidelines.

"The ongoing changes reflect The Times' overarching goal of becoming a more transparent and integrated news organization," said James O'Shea, Los Angeles Times editor.

"Most important, we're further opening the lines of communication with our readers and using new ways to make the newsroom more accessible."

The new blog will be hosted by the paper's readers' representative Jamie Gold and assistant readers' representative Kent Zelas.

Mobile advertising 101: tips for beginners

ClickZ - Advertisers rushing into the mobile arena should take heed.

Maria Mandel, executive director of digital innovation at Ogilvy New York, advises them to crawl first by deploying SMS messaging; walk, by using banner advertisements or building a mobile WAP site; and then run by offering video or downloadable applications to consumers.

Mandel was one of seven industry executives who offered up mobile advertising tips at an educational program in New York last week called Mobile Ad Degree. The program, attended by over 100 people, was the brainchild of Ad Infuse and M:Metrics, two businesses specializing in the mobile advertising segment.

Mobile advertising solutions aren't limited to an advertiser's competency, and each component can be layered into a multi-message campaign. A short code (define) displayed in a TV, print, or outdoor advertisement invites users to participate and learn more about a product or service, or take part in an activity. Marketers then respond to the short code request with an SMS message. The response can contain a coupon, promotion details, a link to a WAP site, or instructions on how to access or download content.

According to M:Metrics VP of Consulting and Senior Analyst Evan Neufeld, 43 percent of U.S. mobile phone users send text or SMS messages, and an even higher percentage communicate through SMS in Europe. High adoption makes it an easy entry point to a mobile campaign.

Display and paid search advertising is another simple way to enter the mobile advertising channel. Advertisers can buy ads on a network such as Ad Infuse or Third Screen Media. Search and paid listings are bought through networks including Medio, JumpTap, and even Google, which recently began porting AdWords listings to its mobile search product.

Whether it’s a landing page or a fully-robust Web site, companies use the WAP protocol so their Web sites can be viewed on handsets and other wireless devices. Still, an even richer way for advertisers to engage consumers through mobile is through downloadable applications. These are programs that often provide convenient access to information, for instance in the form of local directories like Ingenio's TouchCall for the iPhone, or an entertainment vehicle including games and video content.

"You can't approach mobile like the Internet or other media," said Mandel. It's a personal device. Some of the best ad campaigns offer utility in the form of a useful application or some kind of entertainment such as video or a game, she said. Both utility and entertainment were included in a campaign for DHL created by Mandel and her team at Ogilvy earlier this year.

There are many practical uses for SMS. In one instance, Ansible Mobile enabled U.K.-based retailer Argos to let consumers waiting for out-of-stock items text a product-specific keyword to the retailer's short code and be notified when the store restocks the item. Additionally, Argos sends coupons offering discounts to customers who've asked for out-of-stock products, effectively growing its list for future communication.

One drawback to advertisers looking into mobile: Carriers don't provide data that metrics-minded advertisers crave to target messaging. Data include demographic and psychographic information, location, and other useful information.

Marketers beyond the trial stage can collect and tag information on consumer behavior and preferences, along with simple demographics to create long-term programs to keep consumers engaged with new products or promotions.

"Clients see mobile as a long-term CRM [customer relationship management] play," said Kevin Granath, VP of business development at Ansible. He works with clients to develop user profiles, segment, and send SMS messages to smaller, more targeted groups. His clients use a decision tree to more effectively target, enabling marketers to reach consumer segments much in the same way as triggered or segmented e-mail marketing campaigns online.

Products on store shelves and real-world sponsorships lend opportunities for mobile tie-ins. "There's unused inventory and promotional space," said Granath, referring to product packaging. "Start a conversation when picking up a bag of chips." By placing a short code or message linking to a mobile campaign, a marketer reaches consumers at the moment they pick up a product.

Other marketers have created mobile campaigns for the duration of a sponsored concert to provide updates or enrich the experience for attendees. Consumers become involved while physically at the event, or take part in an event through mobile content even when they're not present.

Ad Infuse and M:Metrics plan to put on their Mobile Ad Degree event in other cities; the next one will take place in London in a few weeks.

U.S. wireless subscriptions surge past 250 million

ClickZ - Wireless subscribers in the U.S. have surpassed 250 million, according to a report released by industry group CTIA.

Cell phone subscriptions reached 250 million in just over 20 years and increased at a rate of 352 percent since 1997. In December 2002, the U.S. had 141 million wireless subscribers, 55 million in 1997, 11 million in 1992, and 91,600 in 1985, not long after mobile phones were introduced.

CTIA cites research from the FCC, which states 98 percent of Americans have at least four service providers to choose from. The same source reports mobile high-speed subscriptions increased by roughly 600 percent in 2006 to reach 22 million. Mobile wireless subscribers made up 60 percent of all new high-speed lines. Increased adoption in high-speed wireless lines signals the adoption of mobile Web applications.

CTIA is an international association serving the wireless telecommunication industry, representing carriers, manufacturers, and wireless Internet providers. The association gathered data on the U.S. subscriber base from carriers and other sources, including the FCC.

Finish publisher fuels newspapers with user content

European Journalism Centre - Finnish news publisher Sanoma Digital has launched a user-generated news website that also uses an open-source journalism platform to gather material for a series of weekly freesheet newspapers. Launched last month, Vartti.fi is a fledgling project that allows users to break news by uploading multimedia content direct to the site.

Vartti editors also publish story threads on the website and ask for multimedia submissions from the readers - setting them deadlines for their contributions. The stories are then published in a series of ultra-local weekly papers distributed in and around the Helsinki area.

‘With the Jokela High School shooting we had one of the first pictures in Finland [from the scene] which was taken on a mobile phone, we then sold it on to publications in Norway and Sweden,’ Janne Kaijarvi, editor-in-chief of Vartti, told Journalism.co.uk.

The site also broke news about a train fire in Helsinki, Kaijarvi added, with reporters first finding out about the incident when a passenger uploaded a picture to the site from inside the train. Contributors are paid for pictures that make it into the print edition, usually in the region of 50 euros, for which Sanoma then takes the copyright.

Sanoma publishes seven local editions of Vartti in Helsinki and a further seven in other areas. Vartti.fi is just one of five news site start-ups which have been launched by Sanoma Digital, one of the largest Nordic publishers, since the start of the year.

Sample rates for freelance writing

Useful info for me from writers.ca :)

"What should I charge for my work"
or "How much do I pay a writer?"

For both freelance writers and those that hire them, that frequently asked question lacks a simple answer. Fees charged by professional writers vary according to the work involved. Many factors affect payment including:

* the type of assignment (e.g., magazine article, speech, marketing report)
* the writer's skill, background and experience
* rights licensed to the client
* the number of words and/or time the project requires
* the number of interviews and research needed
* the types of rights being purchased

PWAC's rate guidelines are based on fee information we have collected from PWAC members across Canada and from various industries that regularly hire writers on a freelance/contract basis.

PWAC's information reveals large pay variations between markets and locations. For instance, writers tend to earn more in large cities than in other areas of the country. There are also large variations between writers: a very experienced, established writer can charge more for her work than someone just starting out. Therefore, the rates below are general guidelines only. You'll need to negotiate the exact fee depending on the particulars of the assignment.

Advertising Material
Copy/Scripts/News Releases
$350 to $500 per page
$750 to $1,000 per project for brochures
$75 to $150 per hour

Advertorials
(articles commissioned by advertisers)
$0.40 to $2 per word
$100 to $3,000 per article
$40 to $100 per hour

Corporate/Business Writing
Reports/ Marketing Plans/ Technical Writing
$1 to $2 per word
$300 to $12,000 per project
$50 to $125 per hour

Editing
Varies according to publication/project
$30 to $60 per hour
$500 to $20,000 per project

Ghost Writing
Articles
Generally 2-3 times the usual rate

Books
$10,000 to $50,000 flat fee
Entire advance + 50% of royalties

Government Writing
News Releases/Studies/Reports
$1 to $3 per word
$500 to $100,000 per project
$50 to $125 per hour

Newsletters
Writing only; layout extra
$0.30 to $1.50 per word
$400 to $6,000 per issue
$50 to $80 per hour

Newspaper Writing
Large Daily Newspapers
$0.30 to $1.00 per word
$250 to $2,500 per article
$330 to $1,250 per column

Smaller Community Newspapers
$0.10 to $0.50 per word
$75 to $1,000 per article
$75 to $500 per column

Online/Web Site Writing
Varies widely; "business" sites pay higher
$1 to $3 per word
$60 to $100 per hour

Periodical Writing
General Interest/Consumer Magazines
$1.00 to $2 per word
$500 to $10,000 per article
$400 to $1,500 per column

Trade/Special Interest Magazines
$0.30 to $2 per word
$500 to $4,000 per article
$300 to $1,000 per column

Scripts
Radio (highly variable)
$40 to $80 per minute of script
Television (highly variable)
$60 to $130 per minute of script

Speech Writing
$500 to $8,000 per speech
$60 to $130 per hour

Teaching/Instruction
$25 to $80 per hour
$200 to $800 per day

Translation/Adaptation
Literary
$0.10 to $0.20 per word
Other
$0.25 to $0.60 per word
$40 to $80 per hour