Getting on the box
TV wannabes looking for an entry point into the industry should take note of an initiative from Channel Nine launched at the recent Sydney Festival.
A one-year television internship, based a Channel Nine’s studios in Sydney, is being offered to emerging scriptwriters and producers. Entry to the talent search, called What’s Your Big Idea?, includes the submission of a 15-minute original idea on a 3 X 4 digital DVD format.
The best of the entries will be and showcased at the 2005 Sydney Festival and the winner will be awarded an internship. Details of the competition can be found at www.sydneyfestival.org.au
Career promotion
CAREER options WA, a newspaper that focuses on recruitment advertising and training opportunities, will launch a new advertising campaign next month. According to Career Options WA marketing and production director Dianne Whiteley, the campaign is a strategy to boost its profile in the community.
“It’s an awareness campaign to increase the knowledge out there about our product. We have been established since May [2003] and the campaign is about building awareness that this is the place to look for jobs and training,” Ms Whiteley said.
“There will be extensive radio and outdoor advertising. It kicks off on February 18.”
The creative was developed by Alan Stobie at The Write Idea, and the media strategy devised by Ergo Media Group.
Nova moves
NOVA 937 has promoted its music director Mark Hales to the position of program director. He takes over the role from the station’s inaugural program director, Andrew Jefferies.
According to Nova 937 managing director Gary Roberts, Mr Jefferies has decided to go back to the UK to launch a new radio station.
“It was always our succession plan that Mark would take over, it’s just happened 12 months sooner,” Mr Roberts said.
And the process has also led to secure what Mr Roberts describes as “one of the best in the game” as the new music director.
“We banged our heads thinking who would we get to replace Mark and we thought about Anna [Willems] and thought she was ungetatable, even though she works for the company,” he said.
Ms Willems is program director at DMG’s Hot 91FM on the Sunshine Coast and starts at Nova 937 on February 16.
Divided contract
THE contract for miscellaneous advertising services for The Department of Premier and Cabinet has been awarded to three advertising agencies.
303 Advertising, Gatecrasher Advertising, and Marketforce have been awarded parts of the two-year $750,000 contract. The three-way split was the result of a number of campaigns needing to commence immediately. Gatecrasher will work on the Office of Crime Prevention and 303 will commence an information campaign about the Government’s new job board.
Marketforce will provide campaign work for varying agencies that include the Office of Multicultural Interests, Office of Native Title, Office of Science and Innovation and the Physical Activity Task Force.