Twentieth Century Fox wants to talk to teens the way that they do with their friends, so it's using GIFs to chat with them on mobile messaging app Kik. The film studio and agency Trailer Park are launching a campaign today for the sci-fi flick Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, the sequel to 2014's Maze Runner based on T.S. Nowlin's book trilogy. In the movie, a group of boys are stuck in a maze, and the only way out is to go through a series of challenges given out by a secret organization called WCKD. To play off of the movie's twisting plot, Fox is using Kik's Promoted Chats to let fans talk to a bot version of the WCKD character. The bot offers text-based information and a total of 12 GIFs that walk users through a series of challenges to help them get out of the maze. Like the movie's story, the app's messaging can go several ways. "It kind of feels like one of those choose-your-own adventure books that you may have played as a kid, but played out in a much more modern way," said Paul Gray, Kik's director of platform services. Fox's campaign is the first time that a brand has used GIFs on Kik, Gray said. It's also the first work to be born from the technology Kik gained when it acquired GIF messaging app Relay last year. "One of the things we're always trying to work on is developing storytelling and combining that with emerging technology," said Glenn Sanders, group creative director at Trailer Park. "The story that we wanted to tell actually matched up... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'
[ AdWeek | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
A few months ago, Federated Media announced it was shuttering its direct ad sales practice and essentially pushing banner-selling into the realm of machines to focus on native advertising. The move got many in the online publishing world fired up—debating whether this was an isolated incident or... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2013-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yet another sign that the media world marches toward digital is at Rodale. In a move to expand the healthy lifestyle publisher's mobile commerce, big data and social technologies, it has hired Condé Nast executive Bobby Chowdhury as its first ever chief technology officer.Mr. Chowdhury, 51, has... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The publishing giant behind the Daily Mail is entering the travel arena with a bookings site. MailTravel.co.uk is described as offering a “robust new sales distribution channel to existing and new suppliers”. A& ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After a year of interviews and discussions, DeAgostini began a product test last year, and the company was encouraged enough by the results to launch a major presence in the U.S. beginning with a debut at BookExpo America (booth 2840) and building to a rollout of a full line next year. The... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Devin C. Johnson, 38, joined Studio One Networks as chief operating officer. In this role, he will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership for the network's partnerships with online publishers and brand marketers. He will oversee the management of the company's finances,... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2012-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Going from paper to electronic catalogues has become one of the biggest upheavals in the way independent bookstores buy, on a par with cutbacks in field sales reps. I dont think our choice is between paper and electronic catalogues, says Carole Horne, general manager of Harvard Book Store in... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The appointment late last month of Hector Sierra as general manager and senior v-p for National Geographic Societys books division completes the new management team that will now drive the book operation for one of Americas best-known brands. The change in the division began last October when... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Glam Media has just acquired Ning, the build-your-own-social-network startup co-founded by Netscape creator Marc Andreessen. Glam is best known for building Web properties and an ad network targeting women, and it says it now reaches more than 200 million monthly users. Last month, it announced... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Wed, 31/08/2011 - 09:00 Hardie Grant has acquired the memoir of Italian chef and restauranteur Antonio Carluccio. World rights to the title, to be published in autumn 2012, were bought by Stephen King, general manager of Hardie Grant UK from... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 12/08/2011 - 10:54 Pan Macmillan has acquired two novels by Diane Allen, general manager of Magna Large Print books. Publishing director Wayne Brookes acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to For the Sake of Her Children and one other novel... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Thu, 31/03/2011 - 08:55 Independent publisher Hardie Grant has acquired three titles by Australian food editor and cookbook author Donna Hay. Stephen King, general manager of Hardie Grant London, acquired UK rights to the titles from Hollie Zondanos,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst has promoted Simon Horne, currently chief financial officer and general manager of NatMag, to the newly created role of CFO, general manager and senior vice-president, at Hearst Magazines International. Continue reading at Media Week
[ Media Week | 2011-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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