Also: Microsoft buys ScreenTonic | Yahoo's Uk mobile search tool | Sky News in Second Life | Tiscali's movie deal | Joost gets hip-hop channel
You might have heard about a new site launched today called Newscounter which claims to offer an alternative to the Press Complaints Commission. Greenslade has already waded in here, but we felt it worthy of a bit more detail.
The idea is that the site offers a right-to-reply for companies and organisations that feel they have been "done over" by media coverage and won't go to the PCC because it is "too slow and ineffective".
The chief executive Matthew Cain, in this 'ere release, says: "Misrepresentation in the media can have a huge impact on an organisation's brand and reputation. With the proliferation of online news outlets, the potential for damage as a result of misrepresentation is increasing. Newscounter is an effective means of using new media to secure a right of reply. It addresses the challenges and opportunities of the changing media landscape."
Newscounter will provide an authoritative platform for a full response, will alert bloggers and stakeholders to that full response, will secure a profile for that response and will provoke debate.
Where do I start?
Effective PR: surely if these companies are properly talking to journalists, there is far less chance that they would be misrepresented?
Credibility: Crucially, who are these guys and what assurance do we have that they are a credible platform to provide an authoritative and credible platform for a right-of-reply?
Newscounter might have one remaining leg to stand on if it didn't require its users to pay £300 for their right to reply. This is just advertising and a dressed-up PR consultancy service, surely?
The, erm, internet: Any brand or organisation worth its salt is out there in the middle of any conversation about its brand or products, either on its own site or blog or by joining in with that discussion - and, if needed, setting the record straight - wherever that takes place.
Why on earth would you fork out £300 to put your own case forward on a third party site? I give up. I'm going for lunch. Right of reply, erm, below.
Microsoft buys ScreenTonic
Microsoft has bought French mobile advertising firm ScreenTonic for an undisclosed sum. ScreenTonic offers various technical services for a range of ads from display to text, as well as management and tracking tools. The acquisition is part of Microsoft's strategy of delivering location-specific advertising that is "mutually beneficial to publishers, mobile operators and consumers", according to the release, and they expect "tremendous" growth in the next five years. (Release)
Yahoo launches UK mobile search tool
Yahoo launched its mobile search service oneSearch in March and has just rolled out the UK version, along with 5 other localised versions. It's not just a web search tool slapped on a mobile, they tell us, but a bespoke mobile experience that does stuff like wrap results to the screen and provides localised results. So if you're in Farringdon looking for Pizza, it will recommend places nearby. oneSearch might also be built in to some handsets soon. (Tech.co.uk)
Sky News joins Second Life
Sky News will launch its Second Life newsroom during the Hay festival at the end of this month. Sky is the exclusive broadcaster during the festival and will run Sunday Live with Adam Boulton live from Hay on TV and through Second Life. The 24-hour SL Sky News room will be a replica of the existing newsroom (of which they are quite proud) and will invite users to upload their own SL news reports, sit in the presenters' chairs and so on. (Release)
Tiscali's new movies channel
Tiscali has extended its on-demand films channel by partnering with Alliance Arts Media. The deal means that its broadband customers can access around 500 films for 99p to £3.49 per film, which may or may not be easier than trekking to Channel One. Films can be watched for even days after download.
Joost gets Hip-Hop channel
Yo. Jump Off TV has signed a distribution deal with the web TV service Joost that launched fully on Tuesday. It's the first hip-hop channel to join Joost (not too surprising) and will offer 135 shows including the World Rap Championships and Street Battles. Joost recently also added a bunch of Viacom properties including MTV, which no doubt helped it get 32 blue-chip advertisers on board including Nike and Sony. (Release)
Mapping the web - the cool way
Delightful map of web communities as you've never seen it before. I just love the icy north, although I suspect Disney and a few other suspect corporates are creeping into the frosty hinterlands. Here be dinosaurs! Nice alt tag. (Robin Cybersoc Hamman)
