News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Laura Martinez’

Spanish-language television, with its upfront still underway, is expected to net only a small gain in ad sales compared to previous years of double-digit growth. But the prospect of a modest growth (estimated at between 4% to 5% from 2007) in a time of economic uncertainty has not deterred Hispanic television networks from launching new shows and trying out new formats.”*

There are three books that I regularly recommend (in no particular order) to those who wish to sell to or communicate with Hispanics, and Mexicans specifically: Distant Neighbors by Alan Riding, The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz, and The Children of Sanchez by Oscar Lewis. But I now have an addition to the list: Talk Dirty Spanish by Laura Martinez and Alexis Murnier.

Talk Dirty Spanish offers a non-official guide to the slang, lingo and dirty words of the Spanish language. Through sixteen chapters, each one addressing different social and individual situations, the book presents words and phrases with literal and contextual explanations as well as examples of use within the context of a conversation. “*

On March 31, I inadvertently started a marketing scandal that culminated with an April 4 public apology by the corporate communications department of V&S Absolut Spirits, the makers of Absolut Vodka.

The story behind such brouhaha began on Sunday, March 16, when, sitting by my mother’s sick bed in a Mexico City hospital, I started browsing Quién, the Grupo Expansión-owned ultimate source for celebrity and socialite gossip. Buried in a sea of uninteresting pictures and pseudo-articles, I found the following Absolut Vodka ad from the series “In an Absolut World.”
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*From: http://adage.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Among the more spirited writers under The Big Tent is Laura Martinez, whose credits include founder and editor-in-chief for Marketing y Medios magazine, which was the premier source for news and opinions on Hispanic marketing before conglomerate VNU made the asinine decision to fold the publication. Then and now, Martinez has never hesitated to state her positions with insight, wit and the subtlety of a sledgehammer blow to the temple.

Martinez recently pondered why Hispanic TV programming isn’t as good as Hispanic advertising, prompting a flood of reactions. To read the original piece and comments, click on the essay title above.

The Martinez post irked the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies Board of Directors, who fired a nasty letter to Ad Age editor Scott Donaton. The letter appears below, followed by a MultiCultClassics response.”*

“I recently read ‘Why Can’t Hispanic TV Be as Good as Hispanic Advertising?’ a post on AdAge.com’s ‘The Big Tent’ blog by Laura Martinez on October 10, 2007.

Ms. Martinez states the following regarding Spanish-Language television, “We now have more of nothing to watch. Or rather, there are now more Spanish-language “choices” serving me — and my people — with the same crap we are used to: dating contests, gossip and paparazzi shows, court fights, reality TV, wrestling and, of course, lots and lots of T&A. In a nutshell: the exact same things I grew up watching on Mexican TV, now expanded and proudly ‘Made in the USA’.”

As I read whole this piece, certain thoughts came to me regarding the blog piece and the blogger. “*

“A week ago, a former colleague told me his new employer, a “huge” multinational bank, was desperately looking to hire an Executive Vice President of Human Resources. “You’re perfect for the gig!” he assured me. “They’ll hire you in a second!”

I really like this guy but I wasn’t sure of what he was talking about. Other than being fond of humans (well, some) and having a desire to have lots of resources in a bank, I couldn’t really see why someone with my background, would be “perfect” for the gig, especially one with such a pompous title.

“They need to hire minorities. You’re not only Hispanic, but you are a woman,” he informed me. “