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Describes the background to and main findings from a three‐year MAFF‐funded research project on the role of television in the food choices of young people. The project examined the nature and extent of television’s portrayal of food and eating and investigated young people’s interpretations of this. The findings indicate that food and eating are portrayed very frequently on UK television, but that the “message” in programmes contrasts with the “message” in advertising in terms of the nutritional content of the foods depicted. This disorder and contradiction are reflected in young viewers’ accounts of their own eating habits.

Considers benchmarking to be an important decision making tool for marketing executives. Describes the value of benchmarking to marketers in improving decision making with respect to the “Four Ps”. Outlines steps for implementing such a program.

Considers the nature and extent of sales promotion activity. Examines promotions as a method of protecting a brand in the future, various promotion techniques, and how to prepare for the growth of a promotion. Surmises that the trends that have made promotion so prevalent will continue, so brands that utilize franchise and image‐building promotions will reap rewards in the future.

Risk is indigenous to decision making. Marketing decisions in particular are associated with high risk. This article defines risk, offers insights on how marketing managers may improve their handling of risk, discusses marketers' two key ways of handling risk: various product models and the expected value, considers why finance models are often irrelevant to marketing problems, and offers some insights for marketing managers in dealing with risk.

The purpose of this paper is to inform funders and potential funders alike of the likely outcomes of their financial contributions. Additionally, the authors reported on the assessment of the underlying logic model or theoretical underpinnings of what the authors will term the “Habitat Model.”

This study utilized a one-shot case study design to obtain data. In a one-shot case study the experimental group is exposed to the independent variable (X), then observations of the dependent variable (O) were made. No observations were made before the independent variable was introduced. A one-shot case study design was necessary as this is the first impact study conducted by BAHFH because of the changes within BAHFH over the years as well as the lack of consistent archival data on families and operations.

Most of the feedback obtained from stakeholders was positive. Many of the demographic variables showed significant improvement in partner family life style since moving into a Habitat house.

The findings of this study provide evidence of positive economic, social, and psychological impacts on families participating in BAHFH homeownership and on their communities. It also showed substantial economic impacts on the communities served. Furthermore, this study showed that other stakeholders in the process were substantially and positively impacted. Finally, this study pointed to a number of things that BAHFH needed to change such as homeowner education, financial counseling, and the opening of a local ReStore.

The current study provides data that provide evidence of positive economic, social, and psychological impacts on families participating in BAHFH homeownership opportunities.

Increasing numbers of consumers are expressing concerns about reports of questionable corporate practices and are responding through boycotts and buycotts. This paper compares competing theories of consumer empowerment and details findings that examine the applicability of the theory to “ethical consumer” narratives. The nature and impact of consumer empowerment in consumer decision making is then discussed.

The study takes an exploratory approach by conducting semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with a purposive sample of ten consumers. These were recruited from an “ethical product” fair in Scotland.

Results indicate that the participating consumers embraced a voting metaphor, either explicitly or implicitly, to view consumption as an ethical/political domain. Setting their choices within perceived collective consumer behaviour, they characterised their consumption as empowering. This results in an ethical consumer project that can be seen as operating within the market. It, therefore, suggests some tensions between consumer power and sustainable living.

This small‐scale study relates to a single country and location. A particular group of accentuated consumers was recruited. Studies of the narratives of other consumer groupings would clearly be valuable.

To the extent that political democracy is perceived as failing, it appears that the profile of the market as a site of consumer engagement is raised. Marketers would be wise, therefore, to take increasingly account of “empowered” consumers.

Little attention has been paid to the theory of consumption as voting. However, a continuing rise in the consideration of ethics among consumers and producers suggests its rehabilitation and further exploration would be worthwhile.

Examines the marketing concept (MC) and its foundation of customer orientation. Proposes that the General Electric Company promulgated MC and that this followed the Second World War, before being accepted formally by academics. States that the two major concepts are: that consumers know what they want; and that consumer sovereignty prevails. Believes marketers cannot take consumers as a given nor take them for granted and neither can manufacturers or they will also suffer. Questions whether consumers are always informed about products and what exactly they require and whether firms see themselves as merely responding to the market flow. States, in conclusion, that marketing communications can help shape wants and beliefs and that marketers should aim their best efforts at this area to enable better contacts.

Describes the problems that major brand suppliers face in the context of the growing attractiveness of private brands to the retailer and the consumer. Discusses the factors contributing to this growth. Describes the roles that private brands perform for the retailer. Offers model for the retailer′s decision whether or not to adopt a private brand. Offers supplier options. Delineates management implications.

This article aims to report on research conducted inside British national media organisations. The research was designed to investigate the impact on the working practices of journalists of the process of production convergence – the trend towards news reporting in more than one medium in formerly single‐medium organisations. The article describes the changes that are taking place and the ways journalists are reacting to them.

Interviews were conducted with 20 journalists during 2002 and 2003. The interviews were with journalists working in newsrooms at the BBC, Sky News, The Guardian and the Financial Times.

The data show that while multimedia news is becoming well established, the multimedia journalist has been slow to arrive. This is because of the pressures that multi‐media working adds to the journalist's daily routine and a concern over the impact on the quality of output.

The media environment is evolving rapidly and research findings on this topic quickly go out of date, but the findings presented here offer valuable insights into the news production processes operating in British national media organisations and the ways journalists are adapting to, and are likely to continue to adapt to, changes in production technologies and changed systems of working.

The paper is the first to focus on journalistic practice in a converging media environment.