THE LATEST NEWS
New York attorney general to sue Arbitron over radio-ratings system

By Chad Bray
The Wall Street Journal
(October 6, 2008) New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he intends to sue Arbitron Inc. over the planned rollout of a new electronic radio-ratings system in New York, saying it may drastically reduce advertising revenue at minority radio stations.

In a letter dated Thursday, Mr. Cuomo's office indicated that it intends to begin litigation against the New York media and marketing company over its Portable People Meter system, or PPM. Arbitron has until Tuesday to...
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African-American automotive marketing think tank convened in Detroit

(October 6, 2008) Researchers from some of the nation's African-American advertising agencies met last week in Detroit in a roundtable discussion on automotive marketing issues. The session was held at the offices of R. L. Polk, widely recognized as the leading research source on automotive consumer information. The think tank was organized by Target Market News.

According to Ken Smikle, president of Target Market News, the purpose of the roundtable was three-fold:

- To examine the current advantages and challenges of...
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Codeblack Interactive, YouTube partner to bring original programming online

(October 2, 2008) Codeblack Interactive, the new digital branch of the first vertically integrated African-American-owned film studio, and YouTube, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos, have partnered to distribute original, made-for-the-internet urban programming. The first original series to be featured on Codeblack's YouTube channel (youtube.com/codeblacktv) will be created by the head writer of the hit TV series "The Boondocks," Yamara Taylor. The new animated show...
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Radio One, Inc. names Tim Davies Atlanta vice president/market manager

(September 24, 2008) Radio One, Inc. has announced that effective immediately Tim Davies will assume the role of Vice President/ Market Manager for WJZZ-FM, WHTA-FM, WPZE-FM and WAMJ-FM in Atlanta.

Bruce Demps, Regional Vice President for Radio One stated, "I know Tim has what it takes to lead our cluster as we evolve into the preeminent vehicle to reach the large influential African-American...
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Anne Sempowski Ward named president and COO of Johnson Publishing Co.

(October 1, 2008) Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., announced today that Anne Sempowski Ward, president and COO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, has been named president and COO of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. Rice will continue to lead the company as chairman and CEO.

Ward, who joined JPC a year ago as president and COO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, will oversee the operations of all divisions of the company. She will be responsible for developing the company's financial and operational strategies and implementing diversified initiatives to...
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McDonald's promotes William Whitman Jr. to vice president of communications

(September 24, 2008) McDonald's USA recently announced the promotion of William (Bill) Whitman, Jr. to Vice President, U.S. Communications. Whitman replaces Richard Ellis, who re-joined McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, Limited. In his new role, Whitman will report directly to Don Thompson, President, McDonald's USA.

"A tireless McDonald's brand ambassador and company spokesperson, Bill's unique dedication to our brand has made a true and positive impact on our business," said Don Thompson, President, McDonald's USA. "Over the past two years, our U.S. Communications team has played a greater role in accelerating our U.S. Business results and Bill's appointment further ensures solid leadership in this...
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Essence Communications names David L. Flemister associate publisher, sales
 
(September 29, 2008) David L. Flemister has been named Associate Publisher, Sales for Essence Communications Inc., it was announced today by Essence Communications Inc. President, Michelle Ebanks, to whom he will report. Flemister will be the key executive with responsibilities over the group's advertising and sales functions.  
 
"David's success in building and nurturing strategic client partnerships and his history of working with prominent international brands will strengthen our alliances and complement our sales goals in an extraordinary way," says Michelle Ebanks, President of Essence...
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Coca-Cola partners with artist Big Boi for re-launch of Full Throttle Fury

(September 30, 2008) Coca-Cola North America today announced Hip-Hop superstar Big Boi as the new face of Full Throttle Fury Energy Drink. Big Boi, a Grammy Award-winning artist is half of the world renowned Hip-Hop duo OutKast. The new partnership between Big Boi and Coca-Cola is meant to augment the existing connection between African-American males and Full Throttle Fury. The re-launch of Full Throttle Fury includes a new look, attitude, and a bold...
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Nissan's multicultural account lands at yet-to-be formed Omnicom agency

By Laurel Wentz
AdAge.com
(September 29, 2008) Nissan North America is moving its multicultural account to Omnicom Group, to a new agency that will be set up to comply with Nissan's requirement for certified minority ownership and attempt to create a new model for handling multicultural business.  
The new agency will be minority-owned by Omnicom and draw on the three-agency team that pitched to Nissan. The agencies are Dieste Harmel & Partners, which is the largest U.S. Hispanic agency but couldn't officially lead the business because the shop is majority-owned by Omnicom; small African-American agency Footsteps, 49% owned by...
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First presidential debate between Obama, McCain draws 52.4 million

(September 29, 2008) According to Nielsen Media Research data from across 11 networks, the first presidential debate on September 26 between John McCain and Barack Obama drew 52.4 million viewers.

The TV audience for the first presidential debate of the 2008 election was roughly 16% smaller than the audience for the first debate between President Bush and...
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Black leaders call on tobacco industry to end targeting with menthol cigarettes

(September 25, 2008) African American leaders in California called on the tobacco industry to stop targeting their community with the promotion of menthol cigarettes and deceptive advertising. Menthol cigarettes are not more toxic than regular cigarettes, but the minty flavor and cooling sensation makes them more enticing and easier to smoke, paving the road to nicotine addiction. Seventy percent of African American smokers prefer to smoke menthol cigarettes, compared to thirty percent of White smokers.
 
"We're here today to say enough is enough," said Sharon Eubanks, the former government prosecutor who...
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Rickey Smiley Morning Show adds four markets including Atlanta, Detroit

(September 26, 2008) Syndication One announced today that the Rickey Smiley Morning Show will be heard starting Monday, October 6, on Radio One's WHTA-Atlanta and WHTD-Detroit, Monday through Friday 6a.m. to10a.m. In addition, the fastest growing urban morning show in the country has just been added to Clear Channel's WIBB in Macon and Macdonald Broadcasting's WQHH in Lansing. Also, just recently the morning show began broadcasting on Cox's powerhouse WEDR in Miami.  
 
“The show has never been hotter and the ratings tell the story,” says Gary Bernstein President of...
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Coalition calls Arbitron's unaccredited PPM rollout plans 'unprecedented'

From Radio Ink
(September 25, 2008) In comments filed with the FCC on its own emergency petition asking for an investigation into Portable People Meter methodology, the PPM Coalition says "Arbitron's plan to commercialize an unaccredited currency product is unprecedented."

The coalition -- which includes NABOB and members of the Spanish Radio Association -- tells the FCC that...
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EbonyJet Radio starts streaming live in October with "Global Soul" format

(September 25, 2008) EbonyJet.com has announced it is launching EbonyJet Radio, a new 24-hour online streaming radio station. Scheduled to go live Oct. 1, the station will offer users the latest in rare grooves and independent music rarely heard on terrestrial and satellite radio.

The station calls this format "Global Soul," defined as a concept without genre boundaries that will explore what¹s new and what's next in indie soul, rock, hip-hop, old school, jazz and world music.  

Johnson Publishing Co., which owns Ebony and Jet magazines, is no stranger to radio broadcasting...
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Target Market News to host African-American Internet Summit in October

The First Annual African-American Internet Summit  -- the only such gathering of its kind in the nation -- will take place in Chicago, IL on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 in downtown Chicago. The event is expected to attract 200 professionals from marketing, advertising, media and research.

The Summit will bring together leading consumer marketers, advertising agencies, and Internet-based companies in a long-overdue, comprehensive examination of how African-American consumers utilize...
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The Media Audit: Wal-Mart's still No.1 grocer with black consumers

(September 24, 2008) Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer, along with Costco Wholesale Group, the fourth largest grocery chain by sales volume, are among the top grocery stores that have experienced the most significant increases in market share among consumers in 2007, according to a newly released Grocery Trends Report from The Media Audit. Among U.S. adults, 16.3% shopped at a Wal-Mart for groceries in a typical week, up from 15.2% a year earlier. The figure represents a 7.2% growth in market share in a single year.

Meanwhile, the percent of adults who shopped at Costco Wholesale for groceries grew by...
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Cable TV Ratings for Week of September 15 - 21
'Monday Night Football' scores for ESPN; 'Payne' gives TBS network title

(September 24, 2008) It's game on as ESPN regains the No.1 spot from House of Payne on the list of Top 25 most watched cable shows during the third week of September. Not surprising since the match-up between Dallas and Philadelphia delivered big black populations. Payne did take the second...
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Roland Martin now doing daily news analysis for Tom Joyner Morning Show

(September 23, 2008) Roland Martin, a popular CNN analyst and TV One Cable Network commentator, has joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show as senior news analyst to the nation's No. 1 nationally syndicated urban radio show, company officials announced today.  Martin's daily contribution can be heard every morning at 6:20 am CST. He will offer daily insight into major news events and other issues affecting Black America. 

"I am excited to join The Tom Joyner Morning Show, which has been at the forefront of community...
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TV Ratings for Week of September 15 - 21
Sunday Night Football reaches 3 million; CBS tightens its hold as top network

(September 23, 2008) NBC's Sunday Night Football again was the most popular show of the week in black households, topping just over 3 million viewers. In fact, NFL programming claimed three of the top five positions on the Top 25 chart.

CBS, led by second place winner 60 Minutes, boasted 14 shows on the chart, for a total of...
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Black-owned media seeking more advertising dollars from Democrats

Jeff Kunerth
Orlando Sentinel
(September 23, 2008) A black-owned radio station in Daytona Beach began running ads Monday criticizing the Democratic Party for ignoring black voters in the first salvo of a long-simmering dispute between the black press and Barack Obama's campaign.

Black-owned radio stations and newspapers have complained to the Florida Democratic Party about the dearth of political ads placed in black-owned...
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Journalism trailblazer Nancy Hicks Maynard dies at 61 following long illness

(September 21, 2008) Nancy Hicks Maynard, a foresighted pioneer in newsroom diversity and a former co-publisher of the Oakland Tribune, died today in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness. She was 61.

Her death resulted from the intertwined failure of several major organs, her family said.

Prior to her marriage to Robert C. Maynard in 1975, Nancy Hicks was recognized along with her soon-to-be husband, as among the best and most accomplished of the vanguard of fewer than 50 black journalists who...
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Two Senators express concerns about Arbitron's plans for PPM rollout

From Radio Ink
(September 19, 2008) Sens. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) have written to Arbitron Chairman/President/CEO Steve Morris to express their concern about Arbitron's plan to expand the commercialization of the Portable People Meter. They write, "We encourage you to take all steps available, prior to rolling out the PPM system in additional markets, to ensure that the system accurately measures the listening behavior in a market and no station is unfairly...
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Gospel Today magazine pulled from Christian bookstores' shelves over cover

By Christopher Quinn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(September 18, 2008) Smiling women on the cover of a slick magazine. Sold from under the counter. Must request it from store clerk.

That's not something a buyer would typically find in a Christian bookstore. Not unless it's one of the more than 100 Lifeway Christian Bookstores across the United States, including about six in metro Atlanta...
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Four A's makes first installment on $5 million partnership with Howard Univ.

(September 17, 2008) The American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) presented Howard University with a $250,000 check on September 15 to establish The Center for Excellence in Advertising.

David Prince, a senior vice president of the AAAA, presented the $250,000 contribution to Dr. Jannette L. Dates, dean of the John H. Johnson School of Communications, and to Dr. Laura Fleet, co-director of the Howard University Professional...
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Turner Patterson signs licensing rep agreement with actress Janet Hubert

(September 17, 2008)  Veteran actress Janet Hubert, who starred on the first three seasons of NBC's hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, has inked a licensing and merchandising representation deal with Chicago-based branding firm, Turner Patterson.

Hubert has created a line of children's merchandise based on characters from her to-be-released children's book and DVD animated series, J.G. and the B.C. Kids. Created with...
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Cable TV Ratings for Week of September 8 - 14
'Payne' beats NFL for No.1 and gives TBS most watched cable network title

(September 17, 2008) In their first head-to-head match-up of the season, Tyler Perry's House of Payne overtakes ESPN's Monday Night Football to take the week's No.1 spot on the Top 25 most popular cable shows. The sitcom also took the third, fourth and fifth spots.

"Payne" delivered the most watched network of the week title to TBS, thanks to its...
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Johnson Publishing Co. announces launch of Ebony, Jet product lines

(September 15, 2008) Two publications considered staples in the  African-American community for decades now have a line of apparel and  accessory merchandise named in their honor. Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.  (JPC), publishers of EBONY and JET magazines, recently announced the official launch of branded products through Ebony-Jet Licensing.

"The African-American community has been extremely loyal and supportive of our  brands for many years," said Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of JPC.  "This product line further establishes the quality...
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TV Ratings for Week of September 8 - 14
NBC's Sunday Night Football is No.1; CBS is week's watched network

(September 16, 2008) Black households have pledged their allegiance to football as week two in the NFL took the No.1 spot again on the list of Top 25 most popular shows of the week. NBC's pre-game program took second place, but CBS was able to jump in the mix with its Thursday night urban police drama...
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Cable industry's diversity efforts still don't reach upper management suites

By R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News
(September 16, 2008) With the biannual NAMIC diversity employment survey as a backdrop, several cable executives said the industry is improving its hiring of people of color, but still has a long way to go to fully reach its goals.

Speaking Monday during the 22nd annual NAMIC Conference's opening general session, DiversityInc. co-founder Luke Visconti said while the industry is better than most industries in its overall hiring of minorities, he says the industry still has a ways to go, especially when compared to competitors like...
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Arbitron plans cell-phone-only sampling, increased incentives to listeners 18-34

(September 15, 2008) Arbitron Inc. has announced an expansion of its sample quality improvement programs for diary markets. The new efforts are designed to further enhance the participation of 18-34 year olds in the company's diary-based radio ratings services. Arbitron plans to:

- Add cell-phone-only households to the survey sample in an 125 diary markets beginning with the Fall 2009 survey;

- Increase cash and other incentives for persons age 18-34 while reducing incentives for age 55+ only...
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'Tavis Smiley' on PBS to celebrate its 1,000th episode on September 18

(September 15, 2008) On Thursday, September 18, TAVIS SMILEY on PBS will celebrate the milestone of its 1,000th episode. The commemorative program will feature highlights of its eclectic mix of current events, politics, pop culture and entertainment that have distinguished it from other talk shows in the late night TV landscape.

TAVIS SMILEY made its debut on PBS in January 2004 on 76 stations with outreach to 54% of American households. Today, the show is carried to...
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Glam Media debuts online black women's network with Lexus as lead sponsor

(September 11, 2008) Glam Media, Inc., a pioneer of vertical content networks, today announced the launch of Glam Black Life (blacklife.glam.com), a new vertical providing brand advertisers with access to the largest network of African American woman-focused sites.

Launch advertiser Lexus will roll out its Luxuryawaits.com campaign to Black Life bloggers and publishers in October. More than 50 sites are part of Glam Black Life, where Glam Media represents their premium ad inventory as part of the larger Glam network of 640...
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Cable TV Ratings for Week of September 1 - 7
MTV Awards beats 'Payne' in households count and gives network top net title

(September 12, 2008) During the first week of September, the MTV Music Video Awards special edged out perennial No. 1 cable show, "House of Payne," more black households to take the top spot. "Payne" took the second through fourth positions.

When MTV coupled four other chart-making shows with the awards special, it pulled in 5.2 million black viewers and...
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Reginald Hudlin exits BET post as president of entertainment

(September 12, 2008) In an publicly released memo issued yesterday to staff, BET Networks CEO, Debra Lee, announced that Reginald Hudlin, president of the cable channel's entertainment division, was leaving his position after three years. Lee wrote that he was "returning to his entrepreneurial roots."

The exact departure date for the 46-year-old Hudlin has not been set. Stephen Hill, BET's executive vice president of music programming and talent, will serve assume his responsibilities until...
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TV Ratings for Week of September 1 - 7
Sports is the theme for viewer's favorites; NBC takes top network honors

(September 11, 2008) Football is back, and it instantly returns to its usual position at the top of black viewers list of most popular shows for the first week of September. NBC's Sunday Night Football led the chart, while its Thursday and Sunday night NFL specials took second place. Both shows drew at least two million viewers.

NBC was the most watched network for the week with 10.6 million viewers. Fox was second with...
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N.Y. Attorney General initiates investigation into Arbitron's PPM

By Katy Bachman
Mediaweek
(September 10, 2008) Pressured by a group of Hispanic broadcasters and Inner City Broadcasting here, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has initiated an investigation into Arbitron's portable people meter system.

Arbitron received a subpoena Tuesday from the AG's office requesting documents dating back to 2003. The company has until Sept. 19 to produce the paperwork...
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Two new commentators to replace Tavis Smiley on Tom Joyner Morning Show

(September 11, 2008) Tomorrow Tom Joyner Morning Show listeners will finally hear Joyner announce that the search for "The Commentator" is over, and in a surprising twist, the weekly spot will go to two personalities, Jeff Johnson, special TV host on Black Entertainment Television and Stephanie Robinson, president and CEO of the Jamestown Project. The two winners will now be heard every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:17am EST, starting this Tuesday, September 16th.

Johnson and Robinson will be replacing Tavis Smiley, who presented commentaries every Tuesday and Thursday for the last twelve years...
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American Airlines selects Burrell as agency for African-American advertising

(September 9, 2008) American Airlines today announced it has hired Burrell Communications as its agency of record for its advertising for the African-American market. In addition to its work with the African-American consumer market, the Chicago-based agency also will work closely with the airline's longstanding general market agency of record, tm Advertising, on general market...
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Denise Campbell named associate publisher of Who's Who in Black Chicago

(September 9, 2008) Who's Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, Sunny Martin, has announced that Denise D. Campbell has been named associate publisher of Who's Who In Black Chicago.

Campbell, a Chicago native, has worked in sales leadership for a variety of high-profile companies, including the Chicago Defender, BET, ABC Disney, Cox Communications and the Tribune Company.

Her passion for mentoring, coaching and developing people led her to the creation of...
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Six African-American sites sign with Gorilla Nation for ad representation  
 
(September 9, 2008) Gorilla Nation, the world's largest online ad rep firm, today announced that it has been selected to exclusively represent the online ad inventory of six African-American web properties through its GNMulticultural division. The new sites include:

BlackNews.com, the leader in African-American news and information, featuring expert content in economic, political, business, social, and entertainment...
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The County News, a black newspaper in Statesville, NC, is purchased  
 
By Herbert L. White
The Charlotte Post  
After 29 years selling advertising for a newspaper, Fran Farrer-Nash is running her own.  
 
Fran Farrer-Nash of Charlotte has bought The County News, a black-oriented newspaper in Statesville, from Mason McCullough. Farrer-Nash, a former advertising and marketing director at The Charlotte Post, plans to turn The County News into a weekly publication serving five counties.  

Farrer-Nash is making immediate changes, starting with its frequency and format. The County...
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Kenard Gibbs resigns as publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines

(August 5, 2008) Kenard Gibbs has resigned from his position as publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines on Wednesday, according to a story from the Associated Press.

Gibbs, 44, joined Johnson Publishing Co. in June 2007 as group publisher and was also named president of the newly formed Ebony/Jet Entertainment Group. Plans for the division included the creation of branded entertainment content.  

JPC spokeswoman Staci R. Collins Jackson told...
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Arbitron to hold Urban Sales Clinic to review new PPM and diary developments

(September 5, 2008) Arbitron has announced that it will be holding a two-day Urban Sales Clinic focused on its diary and the Portable People Meter data collection on September 30th and October 1st at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

On Tuesday, September 30, the day will be devoted to reviewing the numerous enhancements that will be implemented into the Diary service beginning with the Fall Survey and understanding how sales teams can take full...
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Essence Communications names Joy Collins general manager

(September 4, 200) Joy A. Collins has been named General Manager for Essence Communications Inc., it was announced recently by Essence Communications Inc. President, Michelle Ebanks, to whom she will report. Collins will be the key executive with responsibilities over the group's financial, planning, production and administrative functions.

"We are proud to have Joy's expertise and level of talent in this role as general manager," says Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications Inc. "I'm looking
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NABOB joins others in call for FCC investigation of Arbitron's PPM system

(September 4, 2008) Jim Winston, Executive Director and General Counsel of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Inc. announced today that NABOB has joined with the Spanish Radio Association, the Minority Media Telecommunications Council, and several other companies and organizations, in filing a petition requesting that the Federal Communications Commission investigate Arbitron's Personal People Meter audience measurement system.

In the Petition, NABOB and the other petitioners point out that the current PPM methodology grossly undercounts and misrepresents the number of minority radio...
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Nielsen reports blacks are largest ethnic segment of all TV households

(August 28, 2008) The Nielsen Company has announced that the total number of television households within the U.S. for  2008-2009 season will be 114.5 million. That's an increase of 1.5% from last year. Nielsen also estimates that the number of Persons Age 2+ in U.S. TV households will increase by 1.3% to a total of nearly 290 million.

The National Universe Estimates show that African-American TV households will again be the largest segment among ethnic audiences. The number of Black or African-American TV homes increased 300,000 to 13,950,000, an increase of 2.2%, or nearly twice the...
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Gabrielle Austin named president of Ethnic Print Media Group 9-3-08

UPTOWN Magazine unveils study on spending by affluent African-Americans 9-3-08

Wells Fargo announces $2 billion lending goal to black business owners 9-2-08


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