The editor of The Financial Times has announced big changes at the paper, reflecting how digital is continuing to transform even the most venerable and longstanding European-based news media titles.

An email by editor Lionel Barber to his staff announced that the news organization would cut 35 jobs, relegate print second to digital and hire 10 digital journalists as “old titles” like the FT continue to be “routinely disrupted by new entrants such as Google, LinkedIn and Twitter.” 

The strategy signals a “big cultural shift for the FT that is only likely to be achieved with further structural change,” Barber’s email continued. Journalists need to become “content editors rather than page editors," he said. "We must rethink how we publish our content, when and in what form, whether conventional news, blogs, video or social media.”Continue reading...

Apple joins Google in $500M+ bid for Kodak patents; smacked by USPTO as 'Steve Jobs Patent' for iPhones and iPads deemed invalid and Siri secrets revealed.

Diageo seen as unlikely to bid for Beam following UK report that drinks giant talked to Suntory about joint bid.

Barnes & Noble cuts Nook price from $99 to $79.

Michael Bloomberg weighs making bid for The Financial Times, which includes the paper and a half-interest in The Economist. 

Caribou Coffee celebrates 20th anniversary.

Carlos Slim brings Telcel brand to U.S. for Mexico calls.

CVS Caremark reportedly aims to acquire drug-store chain in Brazil.

Chili's begins soft rollout of new menu items.

Darden Restaurants looks to retool value proposition for its Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.Continue reading...

U.S. President Barack Obama wins re-election, defeats Republican Mitt Romney soundly in electoral votes and with slim popular-vote margin, and puts "Forward" campaign slogan to the test.

American Express and NBC Universal try to create "TV commerce."

Del Monte reminds consumers that its canned products meet their needs.

eBay reaches out to auto buffs with new channel.

Famous Dave's plans expansion, mostly in California.

Financial Times seen as going on the block.

Ford pins hopes on Lincoln MKZ to refresh luxury brand.

Goldman Sachs partners pocket $22 million.

Kevin Bacon helps rebrand UK's Everything Everywhere as EE.Continue reading...

AIG unveils new corporate logo as part of rebranding.

Sprint left behind as T-Mobile talks about merging with MetroPCS.

Boeing lowers global forecast as GE calls for inspections of certain Boeing models with its engines.

Air Canada debuts plans for low-cost carrier.

Airtime startup by Napster founders stumbles.

Alexander McQueen show sets Paris abuzz.

American Airlines finds seat problems on six aircraft.

Better Place CEO resigns from EV-charging-station startup.Continue reading...

Apple passes 15 billion app downloads. 

EBay buys Zong mobile-payments firm.

CNN and Financial Times rank among most popular media brands with affluent Europeans.

Fox News takes on Media Matters.

Geico hatches yet another campaign based on saving money.

Google says its Google+ platform isn’t quite ready for brands, but chairman Eric Schmidt insists it’s getting there.

Groupon faces eroding customer loyalty.Continue reading...

While eyes remain on the impact of the recent tsunami that devastated Japan, the latest State of the News Media report from the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism describes another kind of tsunami — digital news.

This year's overview of the major trends impacting American journalism brings bad news for news organizations because "in the digital realm, the news industry is no longer in control of its own future."

While some may think the media has been obsessed with fretting about its own death, on the business side major media brands haven't done enough to adapt to digital, mobile and social media.Continue reading...

MotorWorld gives auto brands due recognition. [CNN Money]

BMW beats its competitors in the vehicle industry. [WSJ]

The National Enquirer lacks a Pulitzer Prize award. [Business Insider]

Paramount, Seagate pre-load movies on hard drives. [Reuters]

Scripps, Weight Waters, Lorillard among worst companies. [NY Times]

Companies use sports arenas for promotions. [Boston Herald]Continue reading...

Bloomberg LP rebounded from last year’s crash strong enough to be able to pick through the detritus of this year’s media crash and buy venerable but struggling BusinessWeek from McGraw-Hill.

Now, to revive the brand, Econsultancy reports Bloomberg execs hope to follow The Economist’s model – and leave behind BusinessWeek’s also-ailing segment mates, Forbes and Fortune.

Bloomberg reportedly plans to boost the page count of the magazine, upgrade the paper stock, double the number of stories, broaden its global coverage, charge subscribers more for the print versions and add Bloomberg to its name.Continue reading...