Front Office

TV stations can capitalize on current economic challenges to improve their competitive positioning by providing advertisers the combined value of their on-air and online capabilities. The closer local media outlets can align their online ad sales with the advertiser's demand for click-through Web traffic, the more likely they will be able to grow their online revenues.

Lean economic times have many companies cutting back on personnel to save costs, but layoffs could undercut their competitive position when business bounces back. Recognizing the costs of recruitment and training, some far-sighted companies are focusing of retaining key employees.

Especially now that McCain and Obama are about to open wide the lids of their campaign war chests. They will be looking primarily for broadcast time, but stations can also sell their online opportunties.

Between the Web and the conversion to digital, TV stations have a number of ways to create new businesses and revenue streams. It would be a mistake not to pursue them.

Over the past four years, the mediascape has changed, presenting new challenges and opportunities for media companies. It's time for all media to up their game.

With increasing competition for recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest executives, managers and technicians, forward-looking companies are looking for ways to help employees keep their work from overwhelming their lives.

More and more companies are focusing on strategic sourcing, having discovered that small decreases in supplier costs can equate to big increases in profit margins.

To benefit advertisers and the bottom line, many media companies are conducting special promotions and events that generate so-called non-traditional revenue—NTR. Knowing the proper way to account for it will keep you on the right side of the SEC.

Campaign strategist Jeff Eller advises TV broadcasters to be smarter about selling to candidates, while lawyers Erwin Krasnow and John King offer guidance on how to avoid trouble with the FCC and FEC.

We're changing our name to the Media Financial Management Association to embrace the new media that are reshaping our businesses. And here's some advice from Scripps' Ken Lowe on how you can embrace change too and create the next "black swan."