Does this Newsletter look weird? Click here to view it on the web.
april 2012
newsletter
| the road ahead | ||
|
The age of the quantum computer and its nearly simultaneous billion operations is upon us. It crept over the horizon of possibility with Lockheed Martin's purchase of such a device for use in its worldwide security services. What does it do and how does it work?
Well since it is a security device, it's a secret. However, David Vranicar, writing for www.TechNewsWorld.com (see links below) offers this simple description of quantum computing. "Traditional computers rely on information stored as zeros and ones. Together, the 0s and 1s form bits. Machines that use quantum technology, however, have a different type of bit. Unlike a conventional bit, a quantum bit, or "qubit," has the physical properties of an atom. And because of an atom's' ability to be in dual states, a qubit can simultaneously be 0 and 1. "A qubit, in this sense, is a coin resting on its edge, capable of going either way and, as a result, performing at a higher level than conventional bits." – which Vranicar compares to a string of heads or tails coin flips. He says, "30 quantum bits can allow a billion 10^9 operations at once. Whereas, a gate with 30 classical bits does only one operation." That means doing much, much more computing with less and doing it much, much faster. However, Kaila Colbin in an Online Spin column (A Million Views On YouTube -- And Other Lotto Wins) points out the conundrum of the more content available the less chance of any specific content being seen. Just as our ability to "friend" thousands via social media doesn't increase the average persons ability to maintain more than 150 "meaningful" relationships. Evolution may solve that in the future. Chinese research found that teenagers addicted to computing (more than 30 hours on the computer per week) actually evidenced changes in their brain functions. However, a Pew Research Center survey about the future of the Internet, "technology experts and stakeholders were fairly evenly split as to whether the younger generation's always-on connected to people and information will turn out to be a net positive or a net negative by 2020, " as summarized by a Center For Media Research Brief, "The Impact of Hyperconnectivity." Whatever the impact, it appears we will rely on search engines and other aggregators of content to filter the flood of our incoming Internet data.
Quantum computer links: |
||
| road signs | ||
|
Lotus staged a technical press workshop for small groups of journalists invited to its Sterling Heights, Michigan offices earlier last month. Frank Sheronsky, a veteran automotive engineer, was among them and he provided Torque News with an insightful summary of some intense one-on-one sessions as well as photos and footage. For the report, go to: http://www.torquenews.com/119/lotus-engineering-cues-media-future-automobiles-technical-press-workshop/
Wooden Horse News reports "Apple's Newsstand, a feature that is included in Apple's new iOS 5 operating system for its iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch gadgets, has sent publishers swooning. Conde Nast (VOGUE*, GQ*, GOLF DIGEST*) announced a 268% spike in subscriptions since the Newsstand launched. Publisher Hearst (WOMAN'S DAY*, ELLE*, CAR AND DRIVER*) has seen a 10-fold increase from September last year. The new nail biters are whether ad sales will follow and if the enthusiasm will last." . . . AOL and Huffington Post don't have to pay their bloggers, a US District judge ruled Friday, according to the Associated Press, and dismissed the lawsuit filed against them by Jonathan Tasini and other bloggers. The bloggers knew from the start they wouldn't be paid, the judge declared, and could have taken their work elsewhere. | ||
| regional news | ||
|
WEST Captured at the 2010 event and re-circulated to promote this year's recent Legends of Riverside TV Racing Film Festival & Legends Gala, this photograph of Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones and Dan Gurney (l-r) may become a treasured keepsake of American racing's golden years.
Because the Petersen Automotive Museum calendar is too full to carry complete in this Newsletter, contact cbrown@petersen.org for your own copy or suggest your readers do so if they plan to visit L.A. From kids to hard-core enthusiasts, the museum offers something bound to appeal. SOUTHWEST TAWA, in addition to its famed truck rodeo and recently added annual Texas Auto Roundup (coming up April 29) initiated a scholarship program for college journalism students. Shown l to r below are Brenda Fanara, Director of Development, University Of North-Texas, Mayborn School of Journalism, Harold Gunn, for whom the scholarships are named and recipients Margo Maldonado and Brittnee Edmonds.
Mid-Atlantic Jessica Anderson is the new president of WAPA SOUTHEAST More than 1800 profehttp://w outstanding Amelia Island Concours event are available in print or digital form from: www.neilrashbaphotography.smugmug.com. Jaimie Florez was elected 2012 President of SAMA New England Unidentified to protect the innocent, these NEMPA volunteers checked their dignity at the door and became elves, Grinches and Santas at the group's annual Christmas/Hanukah/ Kwanzaa/New Year's get-together at the Boston Globe. It also captures the lighthearted camaraderie that makes NEMPA perhaps the busiest of the nation's automotive press associations.
In addition to regular monthly dinners, members take part in the "Ask The Experts" feature at the New England Auto Show, select a "Winter Vehicle of The Year" (Won this year by Jeep for the second year in a row) and help select the "Pre-Owned Vehicles of The Year" for Wheels TV. They also will select the winner of the Gene Ritvo Memorial Design & Elegance Award in conjunction with Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation. The award is named for the late Gene Ritvo, a NEMPA member and veteran concours photographer who had an unusually keen eye. "The Ritvo" honors the best in design in the automotive world, whether it is a production vehicle or a concept car, a marketing campaign, a logo or some element of a vehicle that "defines elegance in design." Then, there is The Autonomous Vehicle Panel to be on stage at MIT and the Yankee Cup Technology Award to be determined by a panel of MIT professors. Both taking place on NEMPA's 25th Anniversary dinner at MIT. A portion of the proceeds from the annual dinner and the advertising space in the program book will go towards the Autism Speaks charity. The annual Ragtop Ramble/Crustacean Crawl is July 19-20 and right after that, July 21, Cool Cars For Kids will provide 25 young patients from the Dana Farber Institute and their families with rides in cool cars provided by participating manufacturers and NEMPA members. |
||
| awards honors and events | ||
|
Awards TheDetroitBureau.com reports, "In a surprise move, a panel of 64 journalists named the Volkswagen Up! the World Car of the Year during a ceremony at the 2012 NY Auto Show - besting the Porsche 911 and BMW 3-Series.
Hyundai topped the Brand Keys 2012 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index in the automotive category. It was sixth among all brands worldwide and the only automotive brand in the top 20. Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys, noted in Marketing Daily that Hyundai's Assurance program probably accounted for its win but he added, "Who cares that there are probably eight people who actually took the Assurance deal; it was the right thing to do for the time." Derek McNaughton, Postmedia Network's national driving editor, was named the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada's Automotive Journalist of the Year. The award is sponsored by Land Rover of Canada. . . Henry Biedrzycki of Charlotte N.C. won two Porsche vehicles in the 2011 Continental Tire Dream Giveaway that raised more than $200,000 for charity. Biedrzycki's winning ticket among 54,000 entries brought him a Porsche 911 GT3, a Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, the IRS withholding requirements for the package and a personal driving lesson with Hurley Haywood. . . . . The Toronto Globe and Mail's GlobeDrive.com, won and Editor & Publisher "Eppy" for "best automotive web site."
Andy Stonehouse won the first annual Outstanding Automotive Journalist award presented by vote of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association. He writes weekly reviews for Colorado's Summit Daily News and is a frequent contributor to the Boulder and Salt Lake City daily newspapers. . . . "Senna," by Asif Kapadia and Manish Pandey, a full-length documentary that follows the Formula One career of the late racecar driver Ayrton Senna, won the 2011 Dean Batchelor Award, presented by the Motor Press Guild. The Guild's "Lifetime Achievement Award" went to Brock Yates while Tom Stahler won "Best Article." Janos Wimpffen, "Best Book" and Reinhard Klein, "Best Photography." Warren Brown's weekly On Wheels column in The Washington Post earned him the Washington Automotive Press Association's 2011 Golden Quill Award. . . . A Ford van was the only domestic brand to break into the final rankings in the first German Blogger Awards as voted by 27 Deutschland auto bloggers. . . . Juno sports prototype driver Sarah Reader was crowned 2011 champion of the British Women Racing Drivers' Club. EVENTS Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Road America will host Girls Go Racing The Art of Racing, Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6 and MAMA's annual Spring Rally Wednesday and Thursday, May 23-24. The female drivers event, organized by Susan Frissell, publisher/editor of www.Womenwithwheels.com, includes some classroom instruction, track time monitored by professional drivers, relays and slalom. The event schedule includes a cocktail reception Saturday night, May 5 and full day at the track May 6. For more information and a registration packet for the driving adventure, contact girlsgoracing@gmail.com or 847-224-7506. Media are welcome to cover. About 100 automotive journalists and 50 PR professionals are expected to take part in MAMA's 2012 Spring Rally that starts with a manufacturers gathering the night of Wednesday May 22 and continues with track and off road driving evaluations of new model cars. . . . . On May 15, top marketing chiefs from GM, Honda, Hyundai and Mazda will discuss "Projecting (and Protecting) Your Brand in Marketing's New World" at an Automotive News seminar in Los Angeles. Contact www.Autonews.com/seminar for more information. |
||
| pit notes | ||
|
Amazon's E-Books and Kindle Fire are changing the publishing business with legacy publishers and literary agents being pushed to the sidelines according to an article in the New York Times by David Streitfield. He quotes Amazon executive Russell Grandinetti, "The only really necessary people in the publishing process now are the writer and reader. Everyone who stands between those two has both risk and opportunity." For writers, the Internet offers a simple proposition: the more readers you attract, the more you get paid. Forbes has been doing this for awhile under the aegis of "Entrepreneurial Journalism." This presents some problems for writers Andrew Boer notes in his MediaPost column on performance-based pay. He says, "The biggest problem is that performance–based pay shifts nearly all of the risks on to the writer ... how can the writer control whether publishers promote their content on the home page, have decent page rank or promote content in newsletters?" A second concern Boer lists is the system's built-in downgrading incentive for authors to write many quick and easy pieces, hoping one of them strikes a bonanza of reader hits. And third, pay for performance has a stigma of commercialism authors used to distain. But, Boer advises they may need to change their minds "because authors are rapidly becoming the primary driver of content distribution." In another article for Online Publishing Insider, Boer sees the writer being "transformed from a freelancer to a minor brand. The author becomes the true publisher in search of a content aggregator with a willingness to pay for his or her audience." It seems like yesterday that pundits were sure Americans would never pay for online news and commentary. Now they are starting to ante up, according to Steve Smith, in a piece titled "Pay?" appearing in Data and Behavioral Insider, a Mediapost offering, he cites Press+'s experience with metered tariffs that makes the company think peoples' expectations of free content may be shifting. Press+ works with hundreds of publishers to promote metered payment models and now has 285 sites using the system whereby consumers pay to read more after linking to a number of articles for free over a given period of time. According to Smith, "Press+ says that readers often will opt to subscribe before the system actually cuts them off from more access and forces them to buy-in or abandon. Some papers are seeing more people elect to subscribe off of Subscribe Now house ads on the site than wait until they hit the article limit." Smith adds, however, "Of course, it's still unclear whether the metered approach is realizing the kinds of revenues news publishers need to sustain journalism as we have known it." |
||
| new roads | ||
|
Former Edmunds.com editor-in-chief Karl Brauer has his TotalCarScore.com web site up and running. The "Total Car Score" that gives the site its name incorporates a default list of nine equally weighted authoritative auto industry sources including: Consumer Guide, Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com, JD Power, MSN autos, The Car Connection, and US News & World Report. In addition, Brauer has assembled a team of automotive journalists and data experts to add reviews, news, commentary and used car prices. Brauer can be reached at: karlbrauer@totalcarscore.com.
Racer magazine has been re-acquired by Paul Pfanner's Race Media & Marketing Inc. Lawrence Foster continues as editor-in-chief. . . .Wooden Horse News reports Collier's magazine re-launched after being out of print since 1957, taking a "55 year nap." Like the original publication, the new edition covers current events and literary topics. Look for features on the arts, cinema, politics, business, health and finances, as well as other aspects of American life and culture. The magazine is seeking submissions. John Elduff, is the editor, and can be reached at editor@colliersmagazine.com. For information visit www.colliersmagazine.com. . . . . Bloomberg Businessweek* re-launched the companion www.Businessweek.com website on February 28. The revamped site is designed to more closely reflect the print magazine's look, with additional photos and brightly color-coded section tabs. Visitors also will find more analysis, and more links to www.Bloomberg.com. Yet another revival is National Speed Sport News which, under new owners, slated its first print edition to debut one year after its storied predecessor bit the dust. As Speed Sport magazine, it is a glossy monthly supplemented by constant updating of Speed Sport Mobile, Speed Sport Digital and its web site: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com. The goal is to continue and expand the exhaustive coverage of all forms of professional motorsports that its predecessor provided under editor emeritus, Chris Econommaki. The new editor is Mike Kerchner. For inquiries email info@nationalspeedsportnews.com. . . Motor Trend launched a YouTube channel, where new episodes of various series will be offered five days a week. It will include material from other titles owned by Motor Trend's parent company, Source Interlink Media. Among them will be Hot Rod and Motorcyclist. Source Interlink Chief Content Officer and Motor Trend Channel Executive Producer Angus MacKenzie, said the company's new move, "continues its transformation from a legacy magazine publishing business to a media-neutral content creation company," according to David Goetsl in Media Daily News. Also new on the Internet is: www.motorsportmagazine.com from the United Kingdom. The site is an extension of the print version with, as expected, an emphasis on the European circuits and drivers in podcasts, interviews, columns and reviews. . . . Closer to home, Roman Mica and Nathan Adlen signed an agreement with Shankly Productions to produce and distribute a new automotive TV show based on their popular YouTube videos, Fast Lane Car. Shankly is based in Hollywood, Calif. and London, England with affiliates worldwide. . . Drive On YouTube launched in January and takes its audience on the road to races, factories and movie studios. Featured are Leo Parente, Chris Harris, Matt Farah, Alex Roy, Mike Spinelli and Ray Wert (www.youtube.com/Drive). . . Test Drive, is a new digital magazine launched by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and produced by Totem Communications Group. It can be downloaded at: www.testdrivemagazine.ca . . . www.Carguynation.com is offering enthusiasts a means to create their own online group buys as well as take advantage of vendor group buys through its redesigned web site debuting April 9. |
||
| lane changes | ||
Scott Burgess and The Detroit News have split, again. After reconciling
a much publicized spat when the paper
edited one of his columns following a complaint by an advertiser, the
erstwhile auto critic left to join AOL Autos as a senior editor.
He can be reached at: Scott.Burgess@teamaol.com . . . Let's
hope it was money and opportunity that lured Burgess and not the shake-
When Automotive.com became a part of
Source Interlink, Joel |
||
| praise agents | ||
|
Mike Geylin reports that Kermish-Geylin PR has been named the communications agency for BMW Financial Services. He will act as media-relations manager for the new client who offers s range of consumer and dealer financial services both within and without the BMW and Mini sales networks. BMW Insurance Agency, BMW Bank of North America (credit card products) and Alphera Financial Services are part of the group. Geylin can be contacted at: mgelyin@kgpr.com.
AutoCom Associates, a Michigan-based public relations firm specializing in automotive and high-tech communications, has signed a partnership agreement with Automotive PR (APR), an international automotive public relations group. . . . Honda North America, Inc.'s presence in America is detailed in charts, tables and videos on a new web site launched by its government relations office: www.HondaInAmerica.com. Manufacturing, employment, purchasing history, R &D, Parts & Suppliers an Investment Map and more information is available to journalists, regulators and policy makers at all levels of government. |
||
| across the finish line | ||
|
Gary Dolson – Popular Goodyear Canada PR man. A lengthy, light tribute to him is in Norris McDonald's Auto Racing column for Wheels, Ca on Feb. 29. Patrick Paternie – Well-liked freelance auto writer and Porsche lover who whose work appeared in AutoWeek for 12 years and in more than 125 magazines over 25 years. He had just finished a race at Willow Springs when he was felled by a heart attack at age 65. Alan Mann - Driver and head of Alan Mann racing in the 60's. A brief tribute to his career: UltimateCarpage.com. March 22.
|
||
| - 30- | ||
|
Glenn F. Campbell
|
Dave Morgan reports in Online Media that there will be a projected
350 million computer-driven Internet connected televisions in the world by
2015.Which he says will mean more content choices, more a la carte programming
and a shortage of quality video content. (Good news for writers). . . Matt
Straz in Online Spin predicts that next year Social TV will
get hot and Magazines will go tablet. Time, Inc. has already announced all
21 of its U.S. titles will be available on tablets in 2012.
The Society of Automotive
Historians honored Caribbean Capers: The Cuban Grand Prix Races of
1957,1958 & 1969 written by Joel Finn and published by
Racemaker
Press in collaboration with Garnet Hill Publishing. Also available
from Racemaker is a remarkable work 40 years in the making: The
O'Keefe Winners Database: A Searchable Comprehensive Database of
Moor Racing Events 1895-2010. Compiled by Jim O'Keefe, its 250,000
pieces of data contains the winners of 22,000 races from all over
the world. The Society presented its Ingersoll Award to O'Keefe for
his monumental effort. Both titles are available from
"Landspeed"
"Landspeed Louise" Noeth thought she was traveling a familiar road
when she bought back the publishing rights to her book: "Bonneville Salt
Flats: The Fastest Place on Earth." But it turned out that the
University of Utah Press wanted to mark the 2014 celebration of 100
years of racing on the salt by updating and re-publishing her tome. She
has been busy gathering photos and interviews about all that was
memorable at the western Utah speed grounds since 1998, where her
original 156-page ‘Bible of Bonneville" left off. "This edition," she
says, "will be held to a higher standard and be suitable for scholarly
academic use." 
up of the auto staff
at the paper. Alan Derringer is the auto editor,
Jaclyn Trop now covers
Ford, Melissa Burden has the General Motors beat and
Alisa Priddle keeps
an eye on Chrysler. Christine Tierney is in the paper's Washington
Bureau covering Michigan interests there and, apparently, auto shows in
Europe.
Mark Williams (
editor-in-chief of its Manufacturing Engineering Magazine. In addition
to the monthly print and digital magazine, she'll oversee yearbooks with
in-depth overviews for aerospace and defense, energy, medical and
motorized vehicles manufacturing. Editorial inquiries can be sent to
John Dinkel, a man of many parts: engineer editor,
consultant, writer, PR man and inveterate punster, imparts that he has
departed Green Tech Automotive, which is developing a new
electric vehicle. "That means, he says, "I am available for assignments, short or long, in the areas of
automotive consulting and communications. The consulting side includes
product planning, product development, marketing/sales, public
relations, sales training, vehicle analysis, and other misc and sunday
(Not a typo--it implies my availability 24/7). Communications? I divide
myself into four areas: punmanship, Editorial Irritant and Carmudgeon.
What's the fourth? I plead the fifth!" . . . Another two-hatter, Marty Schorr added Editor,
Car Guy Chronicles, and chief communications
officer of the Sarasota Cafe Racers to his ownership responsibilities at
PMPR, Inc. in Sarasota, Fla. Email: 
J.D. POWER Automotive Forecasting
is now LMC Automotive and Jeff Schuster's new email address is
Channel's new show "CARnivore," which Max describes as "Pee-Wee's
Playhouse for gearheads." Watch the commercial here:
C. Van Tune is now owner and executive producer at 90
in a 35 Productions, Inc. The company is currently developing a feature
film and co-developing a TV documentary on the original "Route 66"
television series. Van Tune can be reached at
Services Coordinator at Michigan Credit Union League, associate editor,
TheDetroit Bureau and
founder and editor at 
Paul Zangari's new email for Drive-Thru Radio is:
Veteran truck
writer Bruce Smith has added the editorship of Propickup Magazine to his
outlets as well as another email: for material intended for Propickup:
Arellano's email became:
John McCandless' Road Reports consulting service was awarded
The Suburban Collection account that includes 40 franchises in 30
locations including dealerships in Michigan, Florida and California.
Contact Road Reports at: 
contacted 
Dan Kahn, advises that Kahn Media has been named PR agency
of record for B & M and Hurst and will handle social
media, trade show and motorsports support as well as PR. Email him at
Laura Clark Geist - An Automotive News staffer for five years, an
industry freelancer for 19 years and author of two books: Praying
Through Cancer and Free From Fear.
Jizeng "Jay" Chen - Publisher of Asian Fortune passed away on January
31, 2012 from a brain aneurysm.
| table of contents |
Main
Sidebar
|
|
We're dipping our toes into
the twitter waters.... Follow us!
|
| subscription info |
|
Name: (Lname)
|
| advertisements |
 |
 |
 
|
| motoring press organizations |
The 17 regional automotive press associations provide information and background not easily found elsewhere. If they are too distant for you to attend their meetings, belonging usually gives you access to transcripts or reports of these events and other benefits. |
AARWBA
Automotive Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc.
|
|
APA
Automotive Press Association |
| ARPA
American Racing Press Association |
| IMPA International Motor
Press Association |
GAAMA Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association |
| MAMA Midwest Automotive
Media Association |
|
MPG Motor Press Guild |
|
NEMPA New England Motor |
|
NWAPA 
Northwest
Automotive |
|
PAPA 
Phoenix Automotive Press
Association, Phoenix |
| RMAP  Rocky Mountain Automotive Press |
|
SAMA 
Southern Automotive Media
Association |
|
SEAMO 
Southeast Automotive Media Organization |
|
TAWA Texas Auto Writers Association |
|
TWNA 
Truck Writers of
North America |
|
WAJ 
Western Automotive Journalists |
|
WAPA 
Washington Automotive Press Association |
| automotive journalists |
|
Help us make sure you continue to get the information you want the way you want it. Keep your autowriters.com profile current. Fill out the form online. Thank you! |
| talk to us |
|
We're always looking for better ways to put out a newsletter
people want to read and advertisers want to use - - so
talk to us! What do you like or dislike about this
newsletter? What topics or information would you like to
see covered? Have a question you'd like posed to the
autowriters.com readership? How can we make this
newsletter more useful to you? Talk to us!
Send your rants, raves, questions and suggestions to:
talktous@autowriters.com |
| services & rate card |
|
PR, Marketing and Media Relations Pros,
autowriters.com can work
with you to get the right info
to the right people who write
about cars! |
| table of contents |
Main
- the road ahead
- road signs
- regional news
- awards, honors & events
- pit notes
- new roads
- lane changes
- praise agents
- across the finish line
Sidebar
|
|
|
|
|||||
| home | services | newsletter | blog | autowriters registry | contact us |
|
Copyright © 2011 autowriters.com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. | |||||