===== Introduction ===== Having worked in this industry for 20 years, I decided to remind myself of the definition of PR. The most accepted and widely-used definition, according to the Public Relations Society of America web site, is "Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other." Personally, I find that statement about as much use as a chocolate tea pot. At a quick glance, the UK's Chartered Institute of Public Relations web site is event worse. I couldn't find any definition. But a little book of quotations came to the rescue with "The practice of public relations is like taking a vase of flowers and arranging it so that all the good blooms are at the font." What journalists then do to the carefully arranged vase of flowers is something entirely different, of course! A short issue this month, onto the news... ===== Global Sources partner with PartMiner Inc. for info supply ===== Global Sources and PartMiner Inc., a global third-party supplier of electronic components and online provider of component information, have entered into an agreement that enables them to present PartMiner component price and demand data in their Electronic Components (EC) and Electronics Supply & Manufacturing-China (ESM-China) websites and publications. The data includes volumes shipped and average prices for ICs, discrete actives and passives; list of top 10 parts in demand; and list of top 10 parts in shortage. Lifecycle analysis for two key component categories rounds out the content package. Global Sources' project manager for the initiative was Vivek Nanda. Nanda explains how procurement professionals can use the information: "The demand and shortage data helps them anticipate market movements and make near-term purchase plans. The charts showing shipment volume and prices keep them updated on the prices of selected components over the mid-term. The lifecycle analysis is useful for long-term planning. A decline in the number of parts you can choose from within a product category indicates market maturity. A sharp decline may indicate the introduction of a disruptive technology that is replacing the parts in this category." ESM-China's online registered users can access the latest component market update [[http://www.esmchina.com/NEWS/COMPONENTSMONITOR_041101.htm|here.]] At EC Online, the information is available [[http://www.electroniccomponents.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Electronic-Component/a/9000000061494.htm|here.]] In print, the information appears in the respective Components Monitor section in each magazine. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Vivek Nanda, \\ Advertising US: Chuck Armitage, \\ Advertising Europe: Patrick Flynn, ===== Tech-On! goes Chinese ===== Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. has opened "Tech-On! China," a comprehensive website delivering technology information in the Chinese language. The opening of Tech-On! China follows the Jan. 4-launch of Tech-On!, a one-stop online platform delivering specialized information to engineers in Japan's manufacturing sector. To date, Nikkei BP has been delivering online news in the Chinese language on "Nikkei BP Network China" by translating news from Nikkei BP's flagship site "nikkeibp.jp." The publisher says that Tech-On! China will fortify its technology aspect to cater more to the needs of the engineers in the Chinese manufacturing industry by carrying translations of news and analyses primarily from the Japanese language website "Tech-On!" Nikkei BP plans to expand its endeavours in delivering technology information targeted at Chinese readers in the future. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Asami-san, \\ Advertising: Matt Findel-Hawkins, ===== Tech-On! goes English too, and claims half-million readers ===== Nikkei Business Publications, Inc., has announced the English language version of "Tech-On!," a portal site dedicated to providing technical and business information aimed at the technical community. The address for the English language Tech-On! site is http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/. Following the introduction of the Chinese language site, Nikkei BP now provides timely and focused information easily accessed by engineers and other professionals throughout the world, claims the publisher. Launched on January 4, 2005, Tech-On! is a technology news portal site aimed at providing a unified view of information about recent trends in the automobile, digital consumer electronics, semiconductor, communications, electrical components industries, machinery, embedded software, and other fields for the Japanese manufacturing market. Information for Tech-On! is provided by the editors of the Nikkei BP magazines -- Nikkei Automotive Technology, Nikkei Electronics, Nikkei Microdevices, and Nikkei Monozukuri. Nikkei BP claims that Tech-On! is already being read by over 506,000 registered readers. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Asami-san, \\ Advertising: Matt Findel-Hawkins, ===== Penton's Electronic Design Europe goes online ===== Electronic Design Europe has launched a website. Take a look at http://europe.elecdesign.com ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Paul Whytock, Editor-in-Chief, \\ Advertising: Bill Baumann, Publisher, ===== UK's EPD gets new sales manager ===== Neal Henry has been appointed as the new sales manager of Electronic Product Design (EPD). Formerly the sales & marketing director of Prestige Media, Neal also has a long and successful association with both Nexus Media and Morgan Grampian. He brings with him 18 years experience across the B2B press, events and new media. Neal said " Electronics is where I started my career so I am looking forward to returning to my roots. I will be joining IML at a very exciting time developing integrated marketing solutions for EPD clients". EPD is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year! ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Caroline Hayes, editor, \\ Advertising: Neal Henry, sales manager, ===== Elektronik i Norden adds readers, according to audit ===== Nordic publication Elektronik i Norden has revealed it latest TS circulation audit figures for 2004. The independently verified figure is now 24,600 copies, 2,000 more than the previous audit. "This shows that Electronik i Norden is still the leading electronic trade paper distributed throughout the Nordic Region for the electronics professional said advertising director, Tommy Jagermo, adding that "Even if you look at the TS figures for Sweden only, it shows that the readership has increased to 17,900 copies." Currently EiN is distributed to more than 25,400 controlled circulation readers across Scandinavia. Forthcoming editorial features include opto and high speed communication and the latest developments in test technology on May 9th when it will also carry a instrument survey. Issue 8 to be published on the May 20th will cover microcontrollers and packaging. The June 3rd issue will focus on programmable logic and automotive electronics. The last issue before the summer break, on June 17th will cover power semiconductors and system design. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Gunnar Lillliesköld, senior editor, \\ Advertising: Tommy Jagermo, advertising director, ===== Microwave Engineering Europe posts first BPA audit ===== Microwave Engineering Europe (MWEE) has successfully passed its initial BPA audit in March 2005. This initial audit shows a 100% one-year qualified circulation of 12,507 readers across Europe. After a 2 year transition period following the transfer of the publication from CMP's Electronics Group London's office to the Brussels office, the publisher claims that MWEE is now ready for growth under the editorial guidance of newly appointed editorial director Jean-Pierre Joosting. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Jean-Pierre Joosting, editorial director, \\ Advertising: Tony Johnson, ===== Ling resigns but lingers on at New Electronics (UK) ===== Phil Ling has left the editorial team of New Electronics in the UK. However, he will continue to write for the publication on a freelance basis and press releases can still be sent to him at . ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Graham Pitcher, editor, \\ Advertising: Peter Ring, publisher, ===== Industrial Control DesignLine site launched by CMP ===== CMP has launched the Industrial Control DesignLine Web site (http://www.IndustrialControlDesignLine.com). This new site is targeted at design engineers and engineering managers involved in the development of networking systems, factory equipment, robotic systems, networking systems, motor control systems, and other devices used in the industrial automation market. According to the publisher, Industrial Control DesignLine is the authoritative online voice for industrial automation and process control delivering practical, how-to design solutions, technical and standards-related resources, new product announcements, expert advice and topical forums covering motor control, sensors, industrial instrumentation, process control, networking and robotics. The site is edited by Terry Costlow. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Terry Costlow, editor, \\ Advertising: Paul Miller, publisher, ===== New editor for CMP's CommsDesign.com ===== Richard Nass has been appointed the site editor for CommsDesign.com, part of the EE Times Online network of Web sites, and Wireless Net DesignLine, one of four vertically micro-segmented Web sites for engineers involved in designing electronic systems. He brings nearly two decades of experience in the electronic OEM industry to CMP Media, with more than nine of those years in the wireless portion of the market. Most recently, Richard spent six years as the editor- in-chief of Portable Design magazine, where he drove the editorial to new heights while launching a magazine and technical conference in China. Prior to that, Richard was a technology editor with Electronic Design magazine. Richard holds a BSEE degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Richard Nass, editor, \\ Advertising: Paul Miller, publisher, ===== Rooney joins Test & Measurement World sales team ===== Test & Measurement World named Steve Rooney, Regional Sales Manager. Based in the Boston Division of Reed Business Information, he will be responsible for selling print and online advertising to the New England states (CT, NH, MA, RI, VT, ME), New York City, and Long Island, NY. ** CONTACTS ** Editorial: Rick Nelson, chief editor, \\ Advertising: Steve Rooney, regional sales manager, ===== SOAPBOX: CMP's Paul Miller says media budgets are spread too thinly ===== Paul Miller, VP & group publisher at CMP Electronics Group, argues that many companies are spreading their media budgets too thinly. Here's why... A quick look at an independent print media advertising market-share report for the first two months of 2005 show that many advertisers continue to 'shotgun' their spend across 5 or 6 or, in some cases 8 or 9 publications. In many cases, this resulted in one page per publication per month. Although one could argue that the publications serving the electronics industry in the US are all of good quality, budgets are being stretched to the point that advertisers will need to consolidate their print advertising with the one or two major publications in the industry and pass on the others. From a recent article in BtoB Magazine:- "..working with a diminished budget, AT&T still runs ads in IT trade pubs, but is has reduced the number of titles from 12 to three...tracking the companies 2004 ad campaign showed that TV, print and other media work better together than individually..." As our clients spend their dollars on their own web site development, web marketing, China, developer's conferences, relationship marketing and other activities, the need to identify a strong media partner with leading products and engage in an integrated, cross-platform approach to help achieve their objectives is the most cost effective utilization of the marketing budget in todays cost-concious marketing environment. Media consolidation is a necessity and is happening already in marketing-driven companies. Paul Miller can be contacted at ---- Publitek Media News is brought to you by Publitek Ltd., a leading press relations, advertising and marketing communications agency serving the electronics industry in Europe, the US and Asia. For more information, or to see previous issues of Publitek Media News, please visit http://www.publitek.com or contact us at Publitek Ltd., 18 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LW, UK. T: +44 1225 470000 To enquire about Publitek's services contact . 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