Though researchers using different methodologies often arrive at different figures, most experts agree that digital media is on the rise. Specifically, researchers are putting emphasis on interactive advertising's growth as a percentage of total ad spending.
GumGum has announced that the ad-supported licensing platform has secured financing from First Round Capital and Crosscut Ventures. Both venture firms specialize in providing seed capital. With two new members on its board of directors, GumGum exits beta with technology that no longer uses Flash and is reportedly more flexible.
Getty Images announced that it has shot and is distributing the most coveted news images of the moment: exclusive first pictures of the twins born to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The deal follows a 2006 arrangement in which Getty's Brent Stirton photographed the couple's daughter Shiloh, and the company negotiated licensing terms on behalf of Jolie and Pitt.
For an industry that talks about creative research, the amount of pre-Olympic promotions that focus on mundane concepts and imagery is baffling.
After a period of sustained economic softness, U.S. print magazines are beginning to show a significant decline in ad revenues. According to figures released by the Publishers Information Bureau and TNS Media Intelligence, the first half of 2008 closed with a 3% revenue decline over the previous year. Ad pages went down by over 7%.