Bonn: Deutsche Welle (DW) is reinforcing its position in the international media landscape with a comprehensively revised television programme, a new online presence — at the new web address ( dw.de) and a new corporate design. At a press conference in Berlin on January 31, Deutsche Welle Director General Erik Bettermann referred to the set of changes as "a milestone for representing Germany better around the world."

On February 6, 2012, DW will expand its Spanish television program for Latin America from two to 20 hours daily. The 24-hour schedule is completed with fours of German programming. According to Bettermann, this is all part of the reform process for Germany's international broadcaster. The core of this process is being able to better communicate with the target audience through new, focused, language-based channels, regionalized programming and a variety of multimedia content that can be used online.

After receiving an introduction to the expanded Spanish-language program at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 26, Mexican President Felipe Calderón said: "It is great to have a partner like Deutsche Welle broadcasting for 20 hours in Spanish. It opens up new opportunities in Latin America. The program will be a bridge to Europe, and Germany in particular."

DW has tailored its TV lineups for other regions as well. The basis will be a new channel with 24 hours of English programming and will broadcast in North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. That will be expanded worldwide with regional channels focusing on other languages: In North and Latin America and Asia, the second channel will be made up of 20 hours of programming in German and four hours in English. In the Arab world, there will be a channel featuring 10 hours of Arabic programming and 14 hours of English; and in Europe, DW will broadcast 18 hours of English and six hours of German during primetime.

DW will also make use of more programming from the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF for its new television lineups.

Cannes Lions have announced  the addition of a Young Lions Design Competition to the 2012 International Festival of Creativity, taking place from 17-23 June.

The new competition will see teams of two briefed to work on a special project on behalf of the client, either a charity or non-profit organisation. Given just 24 hours, teams will be required to deliver a brand identity for the project which may be fictional or real depending on the appointed client. Within the allotted time competitors must produce a logo/brand identity, a 150-word description of how the brand identity fits the brief and a 150-word description of how the brand would evolve.

Steve Latham, Cannes Lions Director of Talent & Training, commented, "Cannes Lions prides itself on providing unrivalled opportunities, experiences and training for the rising stars of the industry. With the introduction of the Design Lions category in 2008 it makes sense for us to recognise and encourage the young design community, allowing them to showcase their talents on the global stage at Cannes."

The competition is open to young designers holding positions such as graphic designer, web designer, retail designer, product designer and other specialised design roles. Competitors will be welcomed from design agencies and advertising agencies and should be aged 28 years and under.

The Young Lions Design Competition will see competitors briefed on Sunday 17 June, with the competition running on Monday 18 June. Entries will be judged by the Design Lions Jury. The winners of the competition will be announced and presented with their medals at the Press, Design, Radio and Cyber Lions Awards Ceremony taking place on Wednesday 20 June in Cannes, France.

The Young Lions Design competition will sit alongside the existing Print, Cyber, Media, Film and Marketers competitions. With a dedicated Young Lions Zone providing networking opportunities, other Festival activities for the young in Cannes include a series of master classes given by high-profile speakers, The Cannes Creative Academy for Young Marketers and the newly-launched Young Creative Academy, details of which will be released soon.

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is now open for delegates and entries.

Sunnyvale : Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011.

Revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs ("revenue ex-TAC") was $1,169 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, a 3 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2010. Income from operations increased 10 percent to $242 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $220 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

GAAP revenue was $1,324 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, a 13 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2010.

Revenue ex-TAC was $4,381 million for the full year ended December 31, 2011, a 5 percent decrease from the same period of 2010. The year over year decrease was primarily due to the revenue share related to the Search Agreement with Microsoft. Income from operations increased 4 percent to $800 million for the full year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $773 million for the same period of 2010.

GAAP revenue was $4,984 million for the full year ended December 31, 2011, a 21 percent decrease from the same period of 2010, primarily due to the required change in revenue presentation related to the Search Agreement and the associated revenue share with Microsoft.

Net earnings per diluted share was $0.24 in both the fourth quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2010.

Des Moines : Meredith Corporation  and The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. announced today that Meredith, the leading media and marketing company serving American women, has agreed to purchase Allrecipes.com, the world's No. 1 digital food site.

"The acquisition of Allrecipes.com, the market leader in the digital food space, significantly enhances our leading consumer and advertiser proposition," said Meredith Chairman and CEO Steve Lacy. "It more than doubles the scale of the Meredith Women's Digital Network, and is expected to drive incremental revenue and profit growth, adding to our already strong free cash flow over time."

The acquisition of a digital brand of scale aligns well with Meredith's Total Shareholder Return (TSR) financial strategy, which was announced on October 25, 2011.  The TSR strategy includes (1) An increase in its annual stock dividend by 50 percent to $1.53 per share; (2) A new $100 million share repurchase authorization; and (3) Strategic investments to drive incremental revenue and profit growth. 

The transaction, valued at $175 million, is expected to close later this quarter.  Meredith plans to invest in Allrecipes.com to optimize the site for today's growing online and mobile audiences. This investment spending, along with normal business seasonality, is expected to make the acquisition slightly dilutive – approximately $0.10 per share, or less than 4 percent – to Meredith's fiscal 2012 full year financial performance.  Meredith expects the acquisition will be modestly accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow in fiscal 2013. 

The addition of Allrecipes.com fits with Meredith's previously stated strategic acquisition criteria: (1) National media brands that provide access to new audiences and advertising categories; and (2) Digital platforms that significantly increase scale.  

"The acquisition of Allrecipes.com significantly enhances our digital platform and reinforces our leadership position in the food category," said Meredith National Media Group President Tom Harty. "It increases our relevance with new, younger audiences, and offers advertisers an unmatched ability to now connect with an audience of more than 100 million consumers.  We are excited to add Allrecipes.com, the world's No. 1 food website, to our strong portfolio of digital media brands."

Allrecipes.com currently has a database of over 500,000 recipes.  Its U.S. audience is 70 percent female with a mean household income of $73,000, and it reaches nine out of 10 primary grocery decision makers. Allrecipes.com mobile apps have been downloaded by over 11 million consumers, and they are the No. 1 download on Android, iPhone, and iPad recipe applications.  It is also the top food recipe channel on YouTube.  

"Allrecipes.com is a dynamic, growing business and our sale process generated significant excitement," said Robert Guth, Reader's Digest Association president and CEO. "We are very pleased to have reached agreement with Meredith.  We have worked well with them on a past transaction, so we know they will be a great home for this business and the team.  For RDA, this is a significant step forward in our commitment to focus our resources on our core businesses, such as the Reader's Digest brand."

Added Lisa Sharples, President of Allrecipes.com, "Meredith is the perfect home for Allrecipes.com.  Meredith's laser focus on women, existing strength in food, strong relationship with advertisers and proven consumer marketing expertise are very attractive.  Together, I'm confident we can grow the Allrecipes.com brand as well as the Meredith Women's Network across digital, mobile and social media platforms."

"We are constantly looking for strategic acquisitions and investment opportunities to expand our reach and increase shareholder value," said Meredith Chief Development Officer John Zieser.

BDT & Company served as financial advisor to Meredith, and McDermott, Will & Emery served as its legal advisor.  Morgan Stanley and Evercore Partners acted as financial advisors to Reader's Digest, and Weil, Gotshal and Manges acted as its legal advisor.
 

Des Moines : Meredith Corporation  has reported fiscal 2012 second quarter earnings per share of $0.70, compared to $0.88 in the year-ago period.  Revenues were $329 million, compared to $366 million. Meredith recorded $21 million, or $0.28 per share, less of political advertising revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 than in the year-ago period, which is expected in an off-election year.

"Our Local Media Group delivered an industry-leading 9 percent gain in non-political advertising revenues during the second quarter of fiscal 2012," said Meredith Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen M. Lacy.  "While the advertising market remained challenging for our National Media Group, we're seeing an improving trend as we look to early calendar 2012, particularly in the food and home advertising categories."

Lacy noted Meredith's Total Shareholder Return financial strategy, announced on October 25, has been very well received by the investment community.  Key elements include (1) A 50 percent annual dividend increase to $1.53 from $1.02 per share that produced yields of 5 to 6 percent during the quarter; (2) A new $100 million share repurchase authorization; and (3) Ongoing strategic investments to drive incremental revenue and profit growth over time, such as today's announcement that Meredith would acquire Allrecipes.com from The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.

The addition of Allrecipes.com, the world's No. 1 digital food site, doubles the scale of the Meredith Women's Network in terms of both audience reach and revenues.  It also fulfills two of Meredith's previously stated criteria for strategic acquisitions: (1) National media brands that provide access to new audiences and advertising categories; and (2) Digital platforms that significantly increase scale.  With Allrecipes.com, the Meredith Women's Network will be the No. 1 premium owned and operated website in the Women's Lifestyle Category, according to the most recent comScore data. 

"Allrecipes.com significantly enhances our digital platform," Lacy said.  "It increases our relevance with a large and loyal group of consumers, and strengthens our position in the marketplace by connecting advertisers with an audience of 100 million consumers.  It fits perfectly with our Total Shareholder Return Strategy, adding strategic value to Meredith, and is expected to drive incremental growth in revenues, profit and free cash flow over time."

London: Transform Awards shortlist highlights brand success from growth companies.

Communicate magazine has announced the shortlisted entries for this year’s Transform Awards.

Last year, the awards heavily featured entrants from financial services, understandably keen to alter perceptions, whereas this year the awards shortlist reflects rebranding efforts from across a wide array of sectors.

This year’s shortlist features remarkably few financial services firms, perhaps because so many such firms have already rebranded in recent years as a reaction to the economic downturn.

Instead, this year’s shortlist highlights brands which have weathered the downturn well. Organisations like Pearson and Global Blue and Telecity are now capitalising on their success by improving their brand.

The awards programme celebrates excellence in product, regional and national rebrands, with categories that focus on strategy, execution, content and evaluation.

The Transform Awards is Europe’s only dedicated celebration of rebranding, repositioning and brand transformation. It is a platform for organisations to tell their rebranding stories and to discuss reputational change.

Andrew Thomas, Publisher of Communicate, comments: "The number of entries this year was very high, and so too was the calibre. This reflects the growing importance of the Transform Awards, increasingly perceived to be the only true benchmark of excellence in rebranding work."

Transform Awards 2012 Shortlist

Best overall visual identity
DWF (Living Group)
Futurestep (Further)
Mission Burrito (The House)
Pearson (Interbrand)
Vertere (Interstate)

Best use of a visual property
Futurestep (Further)
Hawksford (MerchantCantos)
Monster Slippers
Pearson (Interbrand)
Rugby Football Union (Interbrand)

Best brand architecture solution
British Airways Executive Club (Landor)
National Maritime Museum (SomeOne)

Best use of copy style/tone of voice
Pearson (Interbrand)
Rugby Football Union (Interbrand)
The Student Housing Company (The Beautiful Meme)

Best internal communication of a rebrand
DSM
Pearson (Interbrand)
Telefónica

Best implementation of a rebrand
Direct Marketing Association in conjunction with Jacob Bailey
Global Blue (Goosebumps Brand Consultancy)
Monarch (Interbrand)
Pearson (Interbrand)
Rugby Football Union (Interbrand)

Best creative strategy
Asics (Interbrand)
Global Blue (Goosebumps Brand Consultancy)
Larix (BrandTailors)
Little Chef (venturethree)

Best brand evolution
Global Blue (Goosebumps Brand Consultancy)
Ocean Outdoor (Heavenly)
PDX (Appetite)
Telecity Group (Design by Structure)

Best corporate rebrand following a merger or acquisition
Archer (Handsome Brands)
Merseyside Shopping Centre (Studio North)
Puratos (Duval Guillaume Corporate)

Best corporate rebrand to reflect changed mission/values/positioning
Bauwerk Parkett (Scholtysik Niederberger Kraft AG)
Global Blue (Goosebumps Brand Consultancy)
Greene King (Handsome Brands)
Lexis, The Recommendation Agency (The Lexis Agency)
White Logistics & Storage (The Allotment)

Best corporate rebrand for a spinoff/new company
Boots Laboratories (Creative Leap)
EDF Energy (Corporate Edge)
Ink Insurance
RPC (Corporate Edge)
Trapoil (Appetite)

Best brand consolidation
Greene King (Handsome Brands)
Tiriac Holdings (BrandTailors)

Best rebrand of a digital property
Action on Hearing Loss (Redweb)
FNZ (Tayburn)
Instruct (Fairley & Associates)
JTI (Corporate Edge)
Reckitt Benckiser (The Workroom)

Best rebrand from the Public Sector
Stirling Castle (Corporate Edge)

Best rebrand from a not-for-profit organisation
Guide Dogs (Interbrand)
Independent Age (Corporate Edge)
Instruct (Fairley & Associates, Hildebrand and Felt Branding)
Merlin (Spencer du Bois)

Best rebrand from the Consumer Services Sector
Greene King (Handsome Brands)
Little Chef (venturethree)
Travelodge (Corporate Edge)

Best rebrand from the Financial Services Sector
FNZ (Tayburn)
Global Blue (Goosebumps Brand Consultancy)
Hawksford (MerchantCantos)
The Share Centre (Radley Yeldar)

Best rebrand from the Professional Services Sector
DWF (Living Group)
Futurestep (Further)

Best rebrand from the Education Sector
University Campus Suffolk (Radley Yeldar)

Best rebrand from the Media & Telecommunication Sector
Emailvision (Design by Structure)
Ocean Outdoor (Heavenly)
Vertere (Interstate)

Best rebrand from the Property Sector
Merseyside Shopping Centre (Studio North)

Best rebrand from the Retail Sector
Argos Bush (Bonfire CI)

Best rebrand by region: Baltic Region
Onet (DragonRouge)   
Grupa Zywiec (DragonRouge)   

Best rebrand by region: DAS   
Bauwerk Parkett (Scholtysik Niederberger Kraft AG)   

Best rebrand by region: Eastern Europe
Tiriac Holdings (BrandTailors)   

Communicate is the UK’s leading magazine in corporate communications and stakeholder relations. Communicate is the only magazine to help organisations present a consistent and coherent image to all their stakeholders, including the media, investors, employees, regulators, the supply chain and the communities in which they operate.
 

The Arab Free Press Forum opened Monday in Tunisia with a celebration of the gains that have been made in Middle East press freedom, but with a reminder that much more needs to be done.

“If Tunisia is the country in the region that has most advanced in the construction of democracy, other countries in the region are still suffering under the yoke of authoritarianism,” said Moroccan journalist Aboubakr Jamai, opening the conference on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). “Reporters thus face different situations. Some have won — like their fellow citizens — their freedom of speech, while others continue to risk their freedom and even their lives.”

“Some are more advanced than others in constructing democratic society, but if the level of democritization differ, there is little doubt about the dynamics that have begun in our societies,” said Mr Jamai, laureate of WAN-IFRA’s Gebran Tueni Award. “There is a sense of history, one that leads to respect for liberty and dignity.”

More than 200 journalists, editors, publishers and others from the region and beyond gathered in Tunis for the two-day annual conference, organised by WAN-IFRA.

The event, supported by a partnership between WAN-IFRA and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), is unique among conferences in the region in that it brings together discussions about press freedom with practical strategic advice for building viable media businesses. More on WAN-IFRA’s media development work and the projects conducted under the partnership with Sida can be found at http://www.wan-ifra.org/microsites/media-development.

Other partners in the Arab Free Press Forum include UNESCO, the World Editors Forum, Google, Agence France-Presse, International Media Support, World Press Photo and the Dutch Ambassador to Tunisia.

WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses.

WPP announces that Burson-Marsteller, its wholly-owned global public relations and public affairs firm, has agreed to acquire a majority equity stake in Viestintätoimisto Pohjoisranta Oy ("Pohjoisranta") in Finland.

Pohjoisranta, based in Helsinki, has a team of more than 40 professionals and is one of Finland’s largest communications agencies.

Pohjoisranta has been Burson-Marsteller’s exclusive affiliate partner in Finland since 2006 and now joins the network as Pohjoisranta Burson-Marsteller. The company’s clients include HP, Metso, SAP and Stora Enso.

Pohjoisranta's unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately Euro 5.1 million, with gross assets as at the same date of approximately Euro 1.8 million.

This acquisition continues WPP's strategy of investing in important markets and sectors. WPP businesses in Scandinavia, including associates, generate revenues of over US$500 million and employ nearly 3000 people.

The African Media Initiative (AMI) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) have launched an ambitious strategic partnership to provide professional training and other form of technical support to develop media businesses across the African continent.

The partnership will include a series of joint projects aimed as strengthening media business in Africa, expanding access to finance and development of new revenue streams, harnessing the digital revolution through technological adaptation and innovation, and building a competent leadership of the media sector through a commitment to improved ethics and management.

The two organizations will work together specifically on developing digital innovation for the African media industry, the development of pan-African curricula and training in media management, joint research activities, and advocacy of press freedom, quality reporting and other areas.

WAN-IFRA is the global organisation of the world's press, representing 18,000 newspapers, 15,000 online sites and more than 3,000 companies in 120 countries.

AMI is the continent's primary umbrella association of African media owners, top executives and other key industry stakeholders.

“We are delighted to enter into this strategic partnership with WAN-IFRA, one of the most trusted media development institutions in the world,” commented Amadou Mahtar Ba, the CEO of AMI.

“Our industry is undergoing profound changes that redefine the ways news and information are collected, distributed and consumed around the world, particularly in Africa. It is therefore essential for AMI to partner with the best available knowledge sources in order to fully fulfill its mission to support the emergency of a professional and sustainable media landscape on the continent,” he added.

Christoph Riess, the CEO of WAN-IFRA, said: "AMI has emerged as a thought leader in Africa for top-level media executives, and is active is defending press freedom and the professional interests of media. We are looking forward to working together to further the development of strong media companies in Africa through a joint and coordinated effort that engages stakeholders, especially in the private sector. Cooperation is a key to success."

Among other initiatives, AMI conducts the African News Innovation Challenge, which provides seed funding and other support for creative solutions to challenges facing Africa media. WAN-IFRA will provide media management training to the project. The Omidyar Network, Google, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and the U.S. Department of State have all pledged either funding or technical support for the initiative.

AMI also organises the African Media Leaders Forum, the only gathering of media owners, operators and senior executives on the continent.

WPP announces that it has agreed to acquire, through the Kantar network, a majority stake in Oasis Insights (Private) Limited ("Oasis"), an insight and consultancy business based in Karachi, subject to regulatory approvals.

Founded in 1996 by Mr Moazzam Al Qadri, Oasis offers insight and consultancy services to clients across all business sectors. Oasis employs 105 people and clients include Engro Foods, Mobilink, PTC, Ufone and Unilever.

Oasis' revenues for the year ended 30 June 2011 were approximately PKR 254 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately PKR 109 million.

This investment continues WPP’s strategy of developing its services in fast-growing and important markets and sectors. Pakistan is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, identified by Goldman Sachs as one of the Next 11 economies to watch. WPP businesses (including associates) in the Next 11 markets generate revenues of more than US $700million and employ more than 9000 people.