June 2008
COMMENT
EPN is about to change its editor. Mike Green leaves in July - and he’s the last remaining member of last year’s editorial team following the departure of both Julien Happich and, more recently, Wolfgang Patelay. Mick Elliot (ex-publisher of Electronics Weekly) and Mike Green will still both contribute to the publication but the search for a new full time managing editor has proved a tough one. Paul Whytock, editor-in-chief of Penton’s Electronic Design Europe, turned it down, citing Penton’s increasing commitment to publishing innovation to Europe as the main reason. Whoever ends up taking the job, it will almost certainly mean other editorial changes in the UK electronics press - watch this space.
I’m off for a break this summer, so this is my last Publitek Media News until October. Mick Elliott who, as well as writing for EPN, is a media consultant to Publitek, will take over for the next three months, so you’ll be treated to a professional journalist at the helm! Please continue to send contributions to editor@publitekmedianews.com.
Speaking of professional journalists, Richard Wilson, editor of Electronics Weekly, makes his pitch for the re-designed publication the end of this issue of Publitek Media News. I welcome more of these from editors for future issues.
Onto the news....
Appeal court rejects PSDE claims against Bodo's Power Systems
The appeal court in Munich has overturned an earlier ruling from January this year in which Bodo was ordered to refrain from using the title “Bodo’s Power System” for a free of charge trade publication. At the time, Bodo was also told to refrain from using a yellow cursive script in the title or a coloured bar under the title with the words “System Design Motion Control”. The action was brought against him by AGS Media Group, which publishes Power Systems Design Europe (PSDE). Bodo has told Publitek Media News that “the OLG in Munich, as the appeal court, has rejected yesterday all PSDE claims in the legal case”.
ECN adds staffers
ECN, Electronic Component News, has recently added two full-time staffers and one contributing editor. Jason Lomberg has been added as technical editor, and Chris Keuling, as associate editor. In addition, ECN will be adding another contributing editor, Alfred Poor, to write a new optoelectronics, lighting, and displays column called “On the Light Side”.
With an English degree from Rutgers University, Jason Lomberg has 12 years of experience as an editor. Jason is also currently a signal corps lieutenant in the Army Reserve. A recent graduate of Marist College with a focus on English and Communication Arts, Christopher Keuling has studied overseas and in the USA in the area of print and video content development. An independent technology industry analyst, Alfred Poor is an expert in optoelectronics and display technologies and has written multiple books on technology, including the recently-released “Professor Poor’s Guide to Buying HDTV”.
“We are very pleased with our new hires”, said Alix Paultre, Editor-in-Chief of ECN. “In a time where other technology trade publications are cutting staff, it is heartening to be able to announce staff additions that will improve our ability to provide compelling and interesting original content of value to the EE and the electronics industry”.
TechInsights rescues UK Embedded Systems Show and magazine
TechInsights has bought the Embedded Systems Show (ESS) (www.edaexhibitions.com/ess/), the UK’s largest forum for the embedded system design community to share knowledge and expertise, from EDA Exhibitions, Ltd. The addition of ESS, and its companion print property Embedded System Engineering, complements the company’s Embedded Systems Conference, embedded.com and Embedded Systems Design magazine. ESS announced that it was folding a couple of months ago, so the rescue will no doubt be welcomed by some of its staff and freelance suppliers. Philip Ling has been signed up to edit the show’s companion publication, Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE), for the next 3 months - he was the editor before the announcement that it was going to close - but we’ve heard nothing about plans to continue the publication beyond that date.
In addition to the Embedded Systems Show and Embedded Systems Engineering magazine, TechInsights acquired a second media property, MCAD, the UK’s leading journal for decision makers in the CAD/CAM/CAE application spaces and a second event, the Auto ID & Data Capture (AIDC) event for OEMs and end-users of RFID, NFC, and wireless sensor networks. Both businesses dovetail with existing TechInsights products, AIDC with the RFID event and MCAD with the Mechatropolis online environment.
Andrew Porter, former events director at EDA Exhibitions will assume the position of director of events for Europe and the Middle East for TechInsights. Porter said, “I am delighted that EDA Exhibitions was acquired by such a highly esteemed market leader as TechInsights. This will give us a hitherto unrealized opportunity to fulfill the potential of such market leading products as MCAD and the UK Embedded Systems portfolio. I am greatly looking forward to working with my colleagues, new and old, to achieve renewed growth and development of the existing and newly launched events in the UK and across the EMEA region”.
The Embedded Systems Show is held annually, the next show being held at the Birmingham NEC on October 1-2, 2008.
Paul Miller, CEO of TechInsights, stated, “This is an important step for TechInsights. When we launched TechInsights earlier this year we announced our intention to make the investments we needed to extend the reach of our information services as well as to deepen our commitment to key market segments. This acquisition shows our commitment to the important European design community and it comes at a time when our online portfolio is growing rapidly in the region. We are very excited to welcome Andrew and the team to our fast growing global business”.
Two Darnell events for your diary
The Fifth Darnell Digital Power Forum takes place in the Hyatt Recency, San Francisco Airport from September 15-17.
The first International Workshop on Power Supply on Chip takes place in Cork, Ireland from September 22-24.
Web: http://digitalpower.darnell.com Web: http://www.powersoc.org
EE Times launches Market Intelligence Unit (MIU) web site
EE Times has launched a dedicated web environment (Translation: web site) for its Market Intelligence Unit which claims to feature up-to-the-minute analysis of markets and global business conditions. It includes archives of market analysis from firms and research organizations, information on investment activity and trends, financial surveys and analyses, and news of companies and people that are driving the business. The site also features a subscription-based research library with technical reports authored by the EE Times MIU staff.
“What began as a company library for our staff research reports grew into a centralized market research resource for the electronics industry” said Loring Wirbel, director of the MIU. “We will spotlight research studies from our own team and our partners, but we want readers to make up their own minds by comparing and contrasting what many analysts have to say”.
In addition, the site features aggregated news from TechInsights and other news sources. On its launch, the site features an investment column from Loren Lancaster of Core Capital Group on mergers and acquisitions in the electronics industry, and a business analysis of the recently announced merger of two optoelectronics firms, Finisar and Optium.
“The EE Times Market Intelligence Unit is an integral part of our strategy” said Paul Miller, CEO of TechInsights. “We know that the design development community, and senior managers throughout the electronics industry need access to detailed, actionable information about markets, technology, business and the competitive environment”.
The MIU is collaborating with Semiconductor Insights and Portelligent to provide a one-stop site for ordering industry reports.
EE Times Market Intelligence Unit Debuts ‘Venture Capital Scoreboard 2007’ Report
The EE Times’ Market Intelligence Unit has released its first investment and finance related report: ‘EE Times Venture Capital Scoreboard 2007’, a detailed review of significant venture investments in the technology space made during calendar year 2007. Prepared under the direction of Peter Clarke, news director of EE Times Europe, the 50-page report focuses on topics including ‘cleantech’ and green technology investments, fabless semiconductor investments, and end-market investments in wireless areas such as WiMax. Covering deals involving companies from 22 different countries, the report compares investments by region, and drills down in detail in several specific areas including Israel and the U.K.
The report tracks a total of $2.6 billion in 168 transactions over the course of the year.
“Access to this type of information is critical for companies charting their investment and development strategies” said David Blaza, vice president, EE Times.
EE Times Venture Capital Scoreboard 2007 is offered at an introductory price of $300, or $500 with an integrated spreadsheet providing more details on all the companies receiving venture investments in 2007.
IEEE MTT-S 2009 International Microwave Symposium announces Microwave Journal and Penton Media as Media Partners
The International Microwave Symposium announced that it has signed two Media Partners for its 2009 event scheduled for June 7-12, 2009 in Boston, MA. Media Partners represent the highest level of participation at IMS available to media companies and indicates a significant level of interaction between the publishers and the face-to-face event.
The agreements call for both Microwave Journal, a publication serving the Microwave industry and Penton Media, publisher of a number of electronics related titles, including Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF, to promote IMS through their channels while receiving recognition and exposure to IMS attendees and exhibitors as Media Partners.
Web: http://www.mtt.org
Huethig Publishers relaunch online portal all-electronics.de
Huethig Publishers (Heidelberg, Germany) have re-launched their online portal all-electronics.de. The online service contains daily updated news, product reviews, events, job markets and articles. There is also a weekly newsletter associated with the site. All editorial content from the the publisher’s magazines: elektronik industrie, AUTOMOBIL-ELEKTRONIK, IEE, productronic and elektronikJOURNAL.
Huethig adds new sales representative for Austria and the Netherlands
Christiane Voelzke has been appointed as Huethig Publishers’ (Heidelberg, Germany) new sales representative for Austria and the Netherlands. She will be representing elektronik industrie, AUTOMOBIL-ELEKTRONIK, IEE, productronic and elektronikJOURNAL. She is based in the office in Landsberg close to Munich, where she previously worked as media consultant for elektronikJOURNAL.
Voting open for PSDE's 2009 GreenPower Leadership Awards Program
Voting has already begun for the 2009 GreenPower Leadership Awards Program and will continue through the April 2009 issue of Power Systems Design Europe. Editorial content on energy efficiency to be judged for next years program, should be sent to Cliff Keys, editor-in-chief, cliff.keys@powersystemsdesign.com
For the 2008 award, presented at the recent PCIM show in Nuremburg, readers of Power Systems Design Europe voted for the best editorial contribution in the area of energy efficiency. Power Integrations’ article, “New Power Supply Puts a Freeze on Air Conditioners” by Silvestro Fimaiani, was the winner. A significant component of the 2008 GreenPower Leadership Awards program is an educational donation, given to the European Engineering University of choice by the article author. This year’s donation of 3000 Euro was awarded to Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy and was made by Infineon Technologies, National Semiconductor & Power Systems Design Europe Magazine.
Funkschau celebrates 80th anniversary
The German telecommunications magazine that spawned the electronics title, Elektronik, as a spin-off in 1952, celebrates its 80th birthday this year. Funkschau was founded in 1928 with the mandate to “promote and spread technical know-how”. The August 2008 issue will be its anniversary edition, for which the advertising closing date is 7th July. Publisher WEKA tells us that media decision makers who are more than 100 years old can benefit from a special anniversary discount! (Just feeling like you’re over 100 apparently doesn’t count - Ed.)
MMG Publishing takes Electronics Sourcing Europe-wide and adds staff
MMG Publishing is pleased to announce that Charlotte Morgan has joined the company as advertisement manager of the new launch title Electronics Sourcing Europe. Iris Steinbacher has been appointed as the editor of Electronics Sourcing Europe and she will be working from Munich.
Publisher, Mark Leary enthused: “Charlotte & Iris are two great additions to our growing team and both have good reputations and contacts in the electronics industry. Although the first edition will not be published until November (launching at Electronica), this provides an ideal build-up to the first issue. A 16-page dummy issue has already been produced and this highlights the editorial content in dual language”.
EDITOR'S PITCH - Electronics Weekly
A time of change and investment at Electronics Weekly
Editor, Richard Wilson outlines the changing editorial roles, new in-depth technical content, redesign of print and website.
The aims of the changes are to refocus EW’s editorial in print and on the website so that content more precisely matches the information needs of readers and provides even greater support for the technology announcements of advertisers. A refocusing of editorial resource is being supported by an investment in redesigns for both the print publication and website. Ongoing reader research has confirmed the view that the reader is looking for ever more in-depth analysis of the technology and product announcements from companies across the industry. As a result EW is changing from being a straight reporter of news to taking a more analytical approach which will place technology news in context.
Technology news from the European market will be covered by Editor Richard Wilson and Technical Editor Steve Bush, former engineers who together have over 30 years experience writing about technical developments in the electronics industry.
For unmatched insight into the business and technology plans of companies EW will draw on the experience and insights of David Manners, one of the most knowledgeable journalists writing about the electronics industry anywhere in the world.
To support the European editorial team EW will draw on the technical content from its US sister publication EDN. The two magazines have been sharing content on their websites for a number of years. EW will now extend this to its print publication. As a result we will be able to deliver to our readers a weekly technical news magazine with a unique combination of in-depth technical analysis and new product information aimed at the needs of engineers and managers working in the local European industry.
Another feature of the editorial changes will be a new level of interaction been the print publication and the website. The website will be the place to read about news as it breaks. The print publication will take a more considered analytical approach to news events adding the context which is so important in understanding the impact of new technologies.
The website will build on its reputation for viewpoint articles and industry blogs and the print publication will reflect these changes with its own opinion columns. Underpinning these changes, which will take place over the coming weeks and months, is an investment in a redesign of the print publication and the website.