Mediaboss Marketing

By Janese Silvey

Monday, July 2, 2012

University of Missouri Press employees reported to work as usual this morning, even though the phase-out of the university system's publishing house officially started yesterday.

It's unclear when the press office will actually close. UM System spokeswoman Jennifer Hollingshead said there is no timeline, even though the system 2013 budget, which no longer includes a $400,000 subsidy for the press, went into effect yesterday.

There were no signs of the office closing shop this morning at the building off LeMone Industrial Boulevard. The titles still in print were on display on a front office bookshelf, and copies of the current catalog were up for grabs at the reception desk. Also on display was a copy of the press's history by former interim UM President Melvin George, written to mark its 50th anniversary four years ago.

Employees declined to come out of their offices to speak with a Tribune reporter. No press employee has left since May, when UM President Tim Wolfe made the announcement that the press would close, interim director Dwight Browne said last week, clarifying misinformation the MU Faculty Council had received.

Reached by phone, Editor-in-Chief Clair Willcox said he and another acquisitions manager at the UM Press expect to be the first to go, although they have not yet received a layoff date. Some employees could remain on the payroll through late fall, he said, because the UM Press is contractually committed to a fall list of books that still must be edited, designed, produced, distributed and marketed.

"We have not been given a timeline in terms of when we will be laid off as individuals or an exact timeline for when the press itself will end," publicity manager Jennifer Gravley said in a phone conversation.

Wolfe has said the Columbia campus is exploring ideas for a new type of press that would be self-supporting. Those involved in the discussions on campus said it is too early to announce details, although the system has suggested student interns would be used.

Ned Stuckey-French is in the English department at Florida State University and is helping to lead efforts to protest the closure. He fears a new model will ignore the need for a professional editorial staff and a marketing department. He also worries any new press would live off proceeds from the existing back list of 2,000 titles the UM Press created over its 54-year history.

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UM Press employees await word on layoffs

Listen to our ten favourite new tracks this week, including Alicia Keys, Lady GaGa and Muse.

Alicia Keys: 'New Day' Following up 2009's The Element of Freedom is going to be no mean feat for Alicia Keys, but judging by this new track she released online last week, she's taking it all in her stride. Better yet, she's steered clear of the current dance trend in favour of classic R&B beats. RC

The Bullitts: 'World Inside Your Rainbow' (out now) UK band The Bullitts are quickly rising through the ranks of the music biz, which has so far led to three of their songs being labelled 'The Hottest Record in the World' by Radio 1's Zane Lowe. With their own brand of evocative, summery and reggae-flecked sound , it's not difficult to see why. RC

Little Mix: 'Wings' (released August 19) Before the last piece of confetti has even hit the arena floor during the X Factor finale result, the public speculate over what the winning act's first single proper will be like. For 2011 winners Little Mix, the answer is a blooming good pop tune complete with clap-happy beats, sassy brass and harmonies tighter than the government's budget. LC

Lady GaGa: 'Princess Die' According to GaGa herself, this track that she debuted at a concert last week "may or may not" be on her next album. As the title suggests it's not the most upbeat of numbers, but given she insists that it's in "no way reflective of the rest of the sound of the album", we'll enjoy it while we can. RC

Muse: 'Survival' (out now) Nobody expected Muse's comeback track to be the official soundtrack to the London 2012 Olympics. However, with their traditional blend of British alternative rock and a chorus bigger than the Olympic Stadium, it's a decision well judged. LC

George Michael: 'White Light' (released August 12) Truth be told, we're still not 100% convinced on George Michael's latest effort, but we're pleased to have him back all the same. While the lyrics leave little to the imagination ("I'm back, prouder than ever baby"), his voice remains as striking as ever. RC

Lupe Fiasco: 'Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)' (release date tbc) The frustratingly under-appreciated rapper finally found US success with last year's Lasers, though he is yet to fully establish himself in British waters. 'Around My Way' is the lead track from his upcoming two-part album called Food & Liquor II and sees him blending vintage soul with his sharp and intriguing rhymes. RC

Aiden Grimshaw: 'Curtain Call' (released August 12) It's rare that a contestant from The X Factor who finished in ninth place gets a fully-fledged shot at stardom, but an undeniable talent like Aiden Grimshaw is far from the traditional talent show mould. 'Curtain Call' reinforces the star's alternative approach to life after The X Factor with a burly but soulful '90s-sounding ballad. LC

Bastille: 'Bad Blood' (released August 20) Dan Smith-fronted band Bastille have quickly cemented themselves as the UK's most exciting new alternative act. After releasing debut single 'Overjoyed', performing shows across the country and recording a sublime cover of Corona's 'Rhythm of the Night', new cut 'Bad Blood' will only continue to increase their ever-growing fanbase. LC

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Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

The cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, on its present voyage catering to a gay clientele, docked Sunday in the southern Spanish port of Malaga after Moroccan authorities prohibited it from making its scheduled port of call in Casablanca.

The vessel, carrying 1,564 passengers and 869 crew members, docked about 7:25 a.m. and was scheduled to depart from Malaga later in the day, Malaga Port Authority spokesmen told Efe.

The RSVP Vacations travel agency, which specializes in organizing tourist trips for gay and lesbian customers, said Saturday in a letter to its clients that its agent in the port of Casablanca had reported that "the authorities have cancelled the scheduled July 1 visit despite having previously confirmed it."

The agency said that they considered this to be "disappointing news" and added that the decision was made after the "visit of a gay cruise ship" turned into "a public and potentially controversial matter."

Despite the cruise ship's claims, Morocco's Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad denied that the ship was somehow prevented from docking.

"We don't ban cruise ships here and we never ask our visitors about their sexual preferences," he told Reuters.

The minister also reiterated that the cruise line can dock in Morocco for future trips.

In Morocco the same-sex relationships are unlawful and punishable to up to three years in jail. Their penal code also bans sex outside marriage, and buying alcohol.

The ship, which belongs to the U.S. company Holland America Line, had scheduled a program for its stay in Casablanca that included a visit to the Hassan II Mosque and to several souks - or traditional marketplaces - in the city.

After the stop in Casablanca, which was supposed to last for about 12 hours, the cruise ship was due to sail to Cadiz, also in southern Spain, and then to continue on to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, then to the eastern Spanish city of Valencia and finally to end its journey in Barcelona.

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Gay cruise turned away by Morocco docks in Spain

VALENCIA, Spain, July 2 (UPI) -- Police have evacuated hundreds of homes in Valencia, Spain, and just to the north in Andillas as two forest fires blazed along the east coast, officials said.

The Valencia fire, which broke out Thursday, was started by workers installing solar panels at a home in the Cortes de Pallas area, ThinkSpain reported Sunday.

The fire had consumed about 123,000 acres and destroyed at least two log-cabins in Turis. Many other homes were badly damaged, Turis Mayor Pilar Lozano said. About 900 homes had been evacuated.

The fire is one of the worst in Valencia in 20 years, outmatching a 1994 blaze that destroyed more than 60,000 acres in eight days, ThinkSpain reported.

The Andillas fire in the Los Serranos district to the north of Valenica was started Sunday by a bonfire that got out of control, authorities said. About 200 homes were evacuated.

Aerial footage of the two fires shows that together, they are bigger than the nearby island of Ibiza, which is about 140,000 acres.

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Fires in Spain force people from homes

Rita teamed her catsuit with red Nike trainers and so much bling she must have had a nightmare getting it all through airport security

Rex

With Tulisa and Little Mix in dress-down Sunday mode, there was one clear winner in the T4 On The Beach fashion stakes Rita Ora.

The 21-year-old singer was in Weston Super Mare for the 10th anniversary T4 beach bash in a figure-hugging blue-and-white striped catsuit.

(Not sure why we thought of this as its completely unrelated, but anyone use Aquafresh stripey toothpaste?)

She teamed it up with red Nike trainers, natch, and so much bling she must have had a nightmare getting it all through airport security.

Meanwhile Tulisa, whos been frolicking on the beaches in Ibiza so would have felt right at home in Somerset, went for the denim shorts, trackie top and high-top trainers.

Little Mix majored the denim look too in Jades case double-denim as they performed their new single Wings for the first time (well, in public anyway, theyve probably rehearsed it a few times).

Rita Ora no relation to popular orange squash Kia Ora, apparently wasnt the only one to make an effort, though. Alexandra Burke went for a red-and-white chequered dress and Marina & The Diamonds was in a baby pink sheer minidress.

Anyway, take a look through our photos of the beach babes and beach boys (Rizzle Kicks, Dappy and The Wanted) in our gallery.

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Lovely Rita Ora wins the T4 On The Beach fashion stakes in blue and white catsuit