1st March 2010
On this day in 1922, William Maxwell "Bill" Gaines was born. Gaines published and co-edited EC Comics and published Mad for over 40 years until the day he died in 1992. An intriguing character, towards the end of his life, his name appeared on Mad's masthead as "William Mildred Farnsworth Higgenbottom Pius Gaines IX Esq”.
Posted by River, 1st March 2010
2nd March 2010
Posted by River, 2nd March 2010
3rd March 2010
Happy World Maths Day! Students will this year try to beat last year’s record of 452,681,681 questions answered correctly in 48 hours.
Posted by River, 3rd March 2010
4th March 2010
Last night River staff attended a BSME/EDO event to see industry experts forecast the future of digital content. Watch what could possibly be on your iPad here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0D4avXwMmM
Posted by River, 4th March 2010
8th March 2010
Happy Birthday to River Management Accountant Mitul!
Posted by River, 8th March 2010
9th March 2010
About 20 years ago a British engineer called Tim Berners-Lee (my hero), was on the cusp of changing the world! He launched what he thought was a ‘little invention’ and which is now known as the World Wide Web.
Most of us in the new Digital World (but no longer the Digital 'Yoof') were the roughly the same age as me (11 years old) when the WWW was launched. Seriously, was there life before? I really haven’t the foggiest idea how anyone in Marketing coped! I don’t think even Tim could have grasped just how much his ‘little invention’ would revolutionise how we as consumers as well as business people operate and communicate today. In my opinion the WWW is the one of the best communication tools EVER invented. It has allowed us to be become part of a dynamic, interactive global community. It’s now our right and (even duty) to share information, to listen to brands, to be engaged with, to be entertained by, to buy from... well… nearly everything we take for granted can be done via the internet and web!
I personally couldn’t cope if this ‘little invention’ was taken away from me – and I’m not the only one who thinks so… "The right to communicate cannot be ignored," Dr Hamadoun International Telecommunication Union (ITU), told BBC News. "The internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." And he then went on to say that ''we must regard the internet as basic infrastructure - just like roads, waste and water". "We have entered the knowledge society and everyone must have access to participate."
New, improved and incredibly exciting technology launches every day. In the Digital era the WWW is actually ancient. Digital years are like dog years, which would make Tim’s invention 140 years old. But it’s a strong old dog, it has a lot more to give… but we have to learn from the last 20 years. Some brands, agencies and marketing professionals have not had a clear digital strategy and have simply spent money for the sake of it but we are going through another new era. We are beginning to realise its not about what you spend its how you spend it. A recent example of this comes from the BBC who has taken two big steps in changing their digital focus. As we all know they recently cut digital budgets by 25%. Is this is bad thing? Or are they spending more effectively? I think its too early to say, but Erik Huggers gave a good defence to The Guardian yesterday ‘’It isn't a question of defining web ambitions, per se, but looking more broadly about what the BBC is for.'' ''The old media view would be that BBC Online is a bunch of static web pages you access through your PC.'' ''But all media devices – whether it's the living room TV, your mobile, or your portable PC – are becoming truly connected, not just to the internet, but to your other devices, to other people via social networks, and virtually every other web-based content provider and service'’. Read the full article here http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/08/bbc-online-erik-huggers
The next big thing from the BBC is the launch of the BBC SuperPower fortnight. This, they state ‘'is a chance to stand back from the break-neck pace of change of the last two decades and to consider how far we have come, and how much further there is still to go’'. They also say '‘for some of our audience, the web may have become a mundane part of their lives. For others, it will be untested waters. No matter what your experience, we hope the season will use the BBC's reach to uncover untold stories and give you a fresh perspective’''. I personally hope they unveil loads of useful ‘nuggets of information’ that helps to justify why I keep (and will continue too) bang on about all things Digital! I will share any interesting findings and reports from the BBC as soon as I receive them.
So, to help answer my opening question:
What do you think... Is it your human right? Could you cope without the web? I think I know the answer to both questions. You are more ‘Digital’ than you think you are.
Head of Digital, 09.03.10
Posted by River, 9th March 2010
10th March 2010
Today is No Smoking Day. Can you kick the habit?
Image No Smoking Day.
Posted by River, 10th March 2010
11th March 2010
On this day in 1702, England’s first national daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, was published for the first time in a room above the White Hart pub in Fleet Street.
Posted by River, 11th March 2010
17th March 2010
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Posted by River, 17th March 2010
13th March 2010
Happy Mother’s Day to Mums everywhere for this Sunday.
Posted by River, 13th March 2010
15th March 2010
Happy Birthday to Group Ad Manager Kate and Ghada in Accounts.
Posted by River, 15th March 2010
16th March 2010
Publisher Allan prepares to showcase Healthy Magazine at the Vitality Show this week.
Posted by River, 16th March 2010
19th March 2010
Make sure you visit the Weight Watchers and Healthy magazine stands at the Vitality Show at Earl’s Court this 18-21 March!
Posted by River, 19th March 2010
22nd March 2010
Happy Birthday to Chief Sub-Editor Alex!
Posted by River, 22nd March 2010
23rd March 2010
Its the 1 year anniversary of being at Neal Street!!
Posted by River, 23rd March 2010
24th March 2010
Welcome on board Group Advertising Manager Rachel!
Posted by River, 24th March 2010
25th March 2010
Make sure you get to the Outdoors Show tomorrow where the winners of the Walk Reader awards will be announced!
Posted by River, 25th March 2010
26th March 2010
On this day in 1973 women are allowed onto the trading floor of the London Stock Exchange.
Posted by River, 26th March 2010
29th March 2010
The 1st of April sees much awaited arrival of the iPad in the UK.
Exciting, dynamic, engaging way of reading content, much like our wonderful magazines! Were counting down the days to get our hands on our iPad… are you?Posted by River, 29th March 2010
29th March 2010
Happy Birthday to Publisher Tracy Cheesman!
Posted by River, 29th March 2010
30th March 2010
A big River welcome to Emily, who started this week as Sub Editor on Healthy magazine.
Posted by River, 30th March 2010
31st March 2010
On this day in 1986 the Greater London Council is abolished
Posted by River, 31st March 2010
