Hasta La Creative!

LONDON – AOL People Networks president Joanna Shields, who joined the company after AOL’s $850m acquisition of Bebo last year is to step down from her role to pursue entrepreneurial interest in London.

Economic Times, by Mudra

LONDON – Online research agency EasyInsites, online video research firm QualVu and software firm Cint have joined forces to launch a global video research panel.

LONDON – Millie’s Cookies has refreshed its global brand identity to strengthen its appeal to its core consumer base of 16- to 25-year-old women.

LONDON – Twitter will launch a range of tools later this year aimed at helping both big brands and small businesses use the microblogging service, co-founder Biz Stone has revealed to Revolution.

LONDON – VisitEngland, the marketing body responsible for English tourism, is mounting a campaign to promote public houses as unofficial tourist information centres.

LONDON – Orange is supporting the expansion of its RockCorps charity volunteer programme with a TV campaign.

Twitter is proposing a TV competition series depending on your source.

The social-networking service said Monday it has teamed with Reveille productions and Brillstein Entertainment
Partners to develop an unscripted series based on the site, which invites 140-character postings from members around the world. The show would harness Twitter to put players on the trail of celebrities in an interactive, competitive format.

The only problem with this proposal is that the show would get phenomenal ratings and people would love it, but only for a while. Twitter will not only be our “amazing” communication forum, but our favorite reality TV show, too! To me, it sounds like a bad idea, if not a boring one.

However, Reveille has an impressive stable of shows, so “Twube” (I made that up) might be a hit. The producers have brought us “The Office”, “Ugly Betty” and “The Tudors” (Showtime), plus reality program “The Biggest Loser.” Supporters state that the series will show the TV-viewing world the immediacy of Twitter. And Brillstein Entertainment is no slacker either.

“Twitter is transforming the way people communicate, especially celebrities and their fans,” said Reveille managing director Howard T. Owens, who expects the new project to “unlock Twitter’s potential on TV.”

When I have tried to talk to a celeb, they never answer. I’ve even “befriended” LiLo like four times! I don’t want to be the
bearer of bad news, but when Ashton Kutcher found out about the proposed project, he was not happy. In fact, he was Punk’d! Mashable reported that Ashton tweeted,” Wow I hope this isn’t true. I really don’t like being sold out. May have to take a twitter hiatus.” Was that a threat?

Ashton, however, does not have to worry. Twitter denied everything regarding a “Twittervision” spectacular.

Now, on the really down side: It does not make sense for Twitter to have a TV show. Either they become a mode of communication, or stay a novelty; and I LIKE Twitter. I just wonder when we’ll start seeing consortiums for 169 characters because some one figured out that this was the optimal number. I don’t know if you use Twitter a lot, but I use it daily, but mainly for picking up information: It is not only a good learning and news tool, but it can be funny as well. Maybe it’s just me, but the conversations that I have had on the almighty Twitter have been, well, trite and quick. Some people never respond when you answer their question, and others are 2 – 3 Tweets and out.

I have, however, picked up freelance work via Twitter while TV has only provided me with poor eyesight.

Jeff Louis: Strategic Media Planner, Project Manager, and New Business Account Coordinator. His passion is writing. If you would like to get in touch with Jeff, please leave a reply or follow the links: www.linkedin.com or www.twitter.com.

LONDON – Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, has retained his position at the top of Marketing’s Power 100, published in association with Engine.

Samsung is holding a pitch for the global advertising launch of a new, as yet unnamed, mobile smartphone.