And That’s Why We Call It AdWeak
March 13, 2008
In case you didn’t know Nielsen is AdWeak and AdWeak is Nielsen. How do people forget this? Easily. Get it straight in your brain. A tipster send us the ad for the editorship of the ad publication where it reads that:
“The new Adweek provides the most comprehensive source of news, ideas, information, trends, forecasts and analysis in the advertising industry coupled with Nielsen exclusive data.”
Mediapost pointed out the real issue with all that sharing:
“-acknowledging what Nielsen’s communications department, and Adweek’s editorial department have been loath to: That the publication is an exclusive outlet for Nielsen’s research.”
Yes, of course, units support other units of the same company. Editorial autonomy should remain at the back of your mind and especially, when they write about their parent company, which they do almost every day in one way or another. Check it out here.
Really though… There are so many reasons to call it AdWeak. This is just one.
March 14, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Ok, I’m not generally one to rush to the defense of Adweek, but this post is so far off the mark I have to say something. I was news editor at Adweek for almost 2 years, and the idea that it’s somehow a mouthpiece for Nielsen is just totally absurd. We spent as much time as anyone trying to get access to research, or new initiatives, or even just getting them to return our calls. Believe me, my job would have been much easier if Nielsen had been funneling us data and what not. But it’s just not the case.
So I don’t care what some outside headhunter says in a mass e-mail (seriously – this is a reliable source now?). You can say a lot of sh*t about Adweek, but this one is just wrong.
March 14, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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