Read Monica every day soon

In January 2003, Wemf is launching its own regular statistics on advertising expenditure; the project with the working title Monica (Monitor of Investments in Classic Advertising) aims to publish data on a daily or weekly basis. The aim is to report the gross advertising sales invoiced. Wemf has recruited Hans-Jürg Gränicher and Stephan Wyss, the two fathers of Media Focus, for the project. Monica will draw directly on the media's scheduling data for data collection. Wemf boss René Schmutz is offering to work with rival Media Focus (see page 5). Media Focus does not wish to comment on this. "We need more information to make a statement," explains Knuth Hackbarth, responsible for Media Focus at the IHA-GfK. He is relaxed and believes that competition stimulates business. "We are also aiming for faster data publication," he adds. Shorter delivery cycles - once a week instead of once a month - are also being examined. "We are now clarifying what our customers really need." (dse)