Reports broke late last week alleging that Bloomberg reporters were using the Bloomberg terminal to track (some might say stalk) employees at its financial services clients such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, all the way up to high-profile individuals such as Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner — even, apparently, the new company's namesake founder, Michael Bloomberg. 

Following a company-wide email on Friday and a Buzzfeed report that this ability was disclosed by a Bloomberg TV reporter two years ago, Bloomberg L.P. CEO Dan Doctoroff acknowledged in a story published by the Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the a firewall should have prevented its journalists from accessing such user data long "earlier":Continue reading...

Uhh explosions in Boston

— DeLo (@DeLoBarstool) April 15, 2013

On Monday, April 15 at 2:50pm, Twitter user @DeLoBarstool tweeted one of the first internet records of the Boston Marathon bombings. From that point on, social media users, citizen journalists and venerable broadcasters fell down the rabbit-hole of misinformation, spurred by an unprecedented eagerness to capture and respond to the first terrorist act on American soil since 9/11—when things like Facebook, Twitter and smartphones didn’t exist.

Over a week later, the conversation that frames the bombings and subsequent manhunt is not so much about old versus new media, but rather how the proliferation of digital and social tools have reframed the information ecosystem, resulting in an unprecedented and uneasy alliance.Continue reading...

At top: Attention art directors looking for something new and cool. Check out the perspective art of this Beijing Chemical Engineering University student. 

China is the second largest economy in the world and every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse)—but who's got the time?! Here's the week's reads that will make you look like a keen China observer in case you find yourself immersed in a cultural conversation.

This week: ad spend... what China wants in 2013... suspicions about VW's recall... Apple... Buick's recall... Microsoft on Taobao... BMW partnerships... one evil mechanic's genius business development idea... Gangnam grannies take on Harlem noodle shake... and more.Continue reading...

Reuters editor faces charges of helping "Anonymous" hack site when he was with Tribune.

McKee Foods picks up Drakes brand from Hostess.

Chevy chooses McCann for global advertising account.

Boeing strongly defends Dreamliner.

Center for Science in the Public Interest blasts Nickelodeon for airing junk food ads.

Coke seeks world peace via vending machines.

Disney develops unique approach to India.Continue reading...

Last week, educational and consumer (via Penguin) publishing giant Pearson and Bertelsmann combined their book publishing divisions, Random House and Penguin, exponentially increasing their reach and scale in light of prodigious growth from e-books and digital retailers. Now comes word that Pearson's The Financial Times newspaper brand is in play and could be sold for as much as £1bn in a "trophy hunt" by potential buyers following John Fallon’s appointment as head of parent Pearson’s education division, replacing CEO Marjorie Scardino, one of the UK's highest-profile female corporate leaders, who is poised to step down in January after 16 years at the helm.

While Fallon affirmed Pearson’s commitment to the FT, saying it is a "highly valued and very valuable part of Pearson" to the Guardian, analysts predict the £1bn may be hard to forgo. Fallon is said to have no “emotional commitment" to the FT Group, which also own a 50% stake in the Economist and analysts at Deutsche Bank see his ascension as accelerating Pearson's digital transformation, including the "value tied up in non-core assets such as FT."Continue reading...

Heineken to assume control of Tiger Beer producer Asia Pacific Breweries for $4 billion.

NASA sees $2.5 billion Mars Rover "Curiosity" successfully land, Twitter explodes.

Unilever sets sights on overtaking Skinny Cow with Magnum brand.

London 2012 Olympics boosts personal brands of Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Michael Phelps, Gabby Douglas, and Andy Murray. 

Abercrombie & Fitch leads brands entering India via web partnerships.

Apple iPad grabs 68% of global tablet sales.

Applebee's woos late-night diners.

AT&T plans to phase out 2G networks.Continue reading...

Following a week of speculation, News International CEO Rebekah Brooks stepped down today (joined later in the day by Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton) as the beleaguered Murdoch family battles to defend its media interests.

News Corp. didn't include her resignation statement in the press release announcing that Sky Italia CEO Tom Mockridge would move over within News Corp. to take over her role, although the Guardian posted her memo to employees.

“As chief executive of the company, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the people we have hurt and I want to reiterate how sorry I am for what we now know to have taken place," Brooks told staffers.Continue reading...

Apple plans iPhone fix as new iPhone rumors abound.

AT&T targets African-Americans in “Rethink” campaign.

Facebook deepens ties with Microsoft via Skype video chat integration.

Five Guys and other better-burger chains influence Americans to eat more burgers.

Google turns to TV advertising in India.

HP enlists young celebrities to help sell TouchPad.

Huffington Post launches in the UK.

Infiniti creates year-long art show in Europe.Continue reading...