Media Coverage Report 5

New Apple TV will Compete with the Amazon Echo
Author: Kate Rooney
Summary: Apple announced last week that they are upgrading the Apple TV to be the center of a person's home.  It could take on passive listening like the Echo, which would make it the closest device in function to the Echo. 
Significance:  This is perhaps the beginning of real competition for the Echo. 
  
Amazon is Bringing 2,000 Jobs to this Rust Belt Town
Author: Leena Rao
Summary: Amazon is opening a new fulfillment center in Joliet, Ill.  The author indicated that this fulfillment center is being created to keep up with massive Amazon Prime demand.  She also indicated an increase of five percent of Amazon's goods being sold from outside sources. 
Significance:  This appears to be good PR.  Amazon is creating new jobs in the Midwest region. 

Amazon counterfeiters wreak havoc on artists and small businesses
Author: Ari Levy
Summary: Independent artists who sell their work on websites like Zazzle are finding their products being sold for less on Amazon than on Zazzle.  The more the artists try and defend their work, the more fraudulent work they find on Amazon.  This is not a new problem on the internet, websites like Ebay have struggled with this since it began. 
Significance:  This is potentially a huge problem for Amazon, it potentially indicates a lack of preparedness or interest in artists integrity. 

Amazon will no longer give price adjustment refunds (except for TVs)
Author: Natt Garun
Summary: Amazon is making its return polices more strict because of the emergence of price tracking third party startups that can help customers track refund potential. 
Significance:  Many customers are unhappy with this change and could result in negative public perception of Amazon.  It could be viewed as Amazon going back on its word. 

Amazon in Trouble? How Google aims to outsmart Alexa with Home
Author: Alissa Williams
Summary:  Google announces the Home which is a device that is supposed to take on the increasingly popular Amazon Echo.  Google has not yet released a purposed price for the device.  It will be able to change colors and learn the owner over time. 
Significance:  Similar to the Apple TV real competition is on its way for the Echo.  

Media Coverage Report 4

Amazon Proves Infertile Soil for Unions, So Far
Author: Nick Wingfield

Summary: Amazon continues to utilize union avoidance policies by disallowing employees represented by a union to communicate with Amazon directly.  Amazon employees primarily seek job security rather than health or pay benefits, which they already have. 

Significance: Anti-unionization polices are neither new nor uncommon among giant companies like Amazon.  This article demonstrates benefits Amazon employees receive while not painting Amazon in an unfair manner. 

Amazon Introduces a Dash Button for Cloud Services Because Why Not? 
Author: Barb Darrow

Summary: Amazon announced a Dash Button for cloud services.  The button allows the user to call or alert someone, unlock your car, track your items, and many other multi-purpose tasks.  The button requires set up, but paves the way for IoT (Internet of Things) technologies. 

Significance: Many technology companies are "scrambling" to be viewed as strong IoT providers.  Amazon shows a high degree of assertiveness with their cloud IoT dash button. 

Amazon to Expand Private-Label Offerings - From Food to Diapers
Author: Greg Bensinger

Summary: Amazon pushes into private-label products to capitalize on high profit margins because of the lack of necessary advertising and marketing of otherwise name brand products.

Significance: The article emphasizes the point that since Amazon is moving into the market of perishable items, any recalls would seriously damage their reputation.  The author is not confident in Amazon's second push into private-labels because of their failed attempt with the Element line. 


Donald Trump Threatens Amazon as payback for Washington Post Articles he doesn't like
Author: Matthew Yglesias

Summary:
Donald Trump claims Jeff Bezos engages in tax evasion strategies because of fear of Trump himself.  The article criticizes the factual accuracy of Donald Trump's claim and indicates that Jeff Bezos wants it to be easier to tax multimillion-dollar companies. 

Significance: The article highlights how inaccurate statements about the company could harm Amazon's reputation.  Potential customers could believe Trump and not engage with Amazon because of his harmful rhetoric. 

Wal-Mart is sharpening its attack on Amazon
Author: Anne D'innocenzio

Summary: Wal-Mart’s three-day free shipping program ShippingPass was just trimmed to two-day shipping and costs $49 for a year subscription.  The goal of ShippingPass is to compete with Amazon Prime but is only a pilot program and will not extend its program to all customers. 

Significance:  Amazon is gaining an increasing among of competitors and should observe the progress of programs like ShippingPass.  It is important for Amazon to track the success of the program and determine if it will remain as a worthy competitor. 

Media Coverage Report 3

Amazon needs to simplify Prime Video to compete with Netflix

Author: Nathan Ingraham

Summary:  Amazon now offers a monthly Amazon Prime payment which puts it closer to Netflix.  Amazon has competitive content lineup against Netflix.  Netflix is streamlined and condensed while Amazon Prime is too complex.  Amazon has no compatibility with the Apple TV.  Amazon has no Amazon Video app in Google’s Play Store.  

Significance:  This article written by Nathan Ingraham highlights the differences between Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streaming.  Although he notes that “none of the these problems are deal-breakers”, the highlights do indicate weaknesses to Amazons product.  It could be significant for Amazon to address these issues through developing their Video Streaming services.  

                          

How Amazon turned a big failure into an even bigger hit

Author: Bill Murphy Jr.

Summary:  Bill Murphy wrote a list describing how the Amazon Echo was initially mocked for being an outlandish project but then developed into the creative device that Amazon predicts will be the centerpiece of futuristic homes.  He interviewed members of the Echo’s several hundred employees spread across three major cities.  

Significance:  This article demonstrates that giant multi-billion dollar companies still have the creative resources that they are often criticized for lacking.  It shows how Amazon is capable of returning from an unstable start to a project. 

Netflix’s CEO does not believe Amazon’s growth will hurt his service

Author: Daniel B. Kline

Summary:  Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, sees Amazon’s push into the video streaming services as healthy for the evolution from linear television to Internet television.   He sees the move from linear television to Internet television as the natural evolution of the entertainment industry.  

Significance:  This article demonstrates the move away from cable television as a business opportunity for Internet service providers to capitalize on the evolution of the entertainment industry.  It highlights the understanding of Reed Hastings of the changing entertainment industry.  This article is significant to Amazon because it highlights ability for Amazon to capitalize on the changing industry.  

Amazon sues alleged providers of fake reviews

Author: Ángel Gonzáles

Summary:  Amazon sued providers such as paidbookreviews.org, amazonverifiedreviews.org, and six other online fabricated review producers creating false reviews of their retail products.  Amazon’s efforts to reduce false reviews might be irrelevant, but they are still putting in the effort.  

Significance:  This article demonstrates Amazon’s rapid and diligent action to preserve its reputation.  Although people will continue to generate falsified reviews, Amazon still is doing its best to weed out those who do. 

Amazon to open 2 new facilities, provide 2,000 new jobs in N.J.

Author:  Spencer Kent

Summary:  Amazon will open two new fulfillment centers in Middlesex County and Burlington County New Jersey.  These two new centers will create 2,000 more jobs.  Amazon is expanding free same-day delivery to central counties of New Jersey.  

Significance:  Kent shows that Amazon is an expanding company that invests in the areas it creates fulfillment centers.  This article shows a positive and healthy reaction to Amazon’s expansion programs.  

Media Coverage Report 2

Amazon’s Bezos defends corporate Culture in letter to shareholders

Reuters

Summary:  Reuters demonstrates Amazon’s resolve to defend and justify their corporate actions that are sometimes disliked by the public.  The story also investigates the controversial story written by Jodi Kantor and David Streitfeld of the New York Times, titled Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace.  

Significance:  This article could be significant to the corporate interests of Amazon because reintroduces the ideas of Amazon as mistreating their workers. 

Taliban app surfaces on amazon

David Goldman

Summary:  Goldman makes the difference between Google’s Play Store and Amazon distinct.  A recruitment app created by the Taliban was originally added to both Google’s Play Store and Amazon.  Google promptly removed the app from their store but Amazon has yet to remove theirs and has declined to comment.  The app is also available to download on the Taliban’s Twitter account.  

Significance:  The fact that this app is available for download currently and the decline of comment by an Amazon spokesperson could potentially be considered bad PR.  This could cause Amazon to be viewed as Taliban sympathizers.  I suggest fast and immediate action. 

Kohl’s, Best Buy and Macy’s Look to attack Amazon

Brian Sozzi

Summary:  Sozzi indicated that Amazon might have stiffer competition since Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Macy’s have increased or gained their ability to provide same day delivery to customers.  Although they have gained the ability, the prices for same day delivery provided by Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Macy’s are much higher than Amazon’s. 

Significance:  Although the prices for same day delivery services are higher than Amazon’s, Amazon is now not the only provider offering the service.  The article depicts Amazon as a titan losing its grip on the service.  

Amazon has been selling surveillance cameras infected with malware

Jacob Siegal

Summary:  Siegal wrote the story of Mike Olsen, a security researcher, who purchased a set of six security cameras from Amazon that was infected with malware.  The security cameras had decent reviews, but contained no mention of the infection.  The cameras seem to have been removed from Amazon’s store, but the article did not mention what Amazon did to rectify the situation.  

Significance:  Since the article did not mention how Amazon rectified the situation, or if they even did, it lets the reader guess about Amazon’s actions.  This could cause customers to be less confident in their online software purchases. 

Google, Facebook and Amazon may be forced to reveal tax haven activity

Gianluca Mezzofiore

Summary:  Mezzofiore wrote that multinational companies with profits exceeding £600 million a year ($840 million) must report their total profits to the European Union.  Included in these profit reports, companies must include the profits they made in global tax havens.  Companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google will be affected.  

Significance:  This article is of significance to Amazon because it could reveal corporate tendencies of tax evasion Amazon possibly participates in.  This could affect consumer confidence in the company and cause Amazon to pay large legal fees. 

Media Coverage Report 1

Amazon takes on PayPal with Expanded payments-processing Service
James Rufus Koren
Summary:  Amazon announces a payment option called 'Pay with Amazon' to replace Amazon Payments and challenge existing payment middlemen such as PayPal and Apple Pay.  The service intends to make online shopping easier with fewer entries such as name and billing address. 

Significance:  The article indicates an "uphill battle" for Amazon to establish itself among merchants.  It could be important to counteract this by showing merchant approval of the new payment option. 

Twitter Beats Amazon, Verizon for Global NFL Streaming Deal
Peter Kafka
Summary:  Twitter purchased rights to streaming ten NFL games in the fall of 2016.  In the process they outbid both Amazon and Verizon. 

Significance:  The article indicates a factor of surprise that Amazon did not get the streaming rights despite showing a propensity towards purchasing digital media assets it desires.  The article shows what could perhaps be interpreted as discontinuity within Amazon. 

Jeff Bezos Calls Amazon 'Best Place in the World to Fail' in Shareholder Letter
Ryan Mac
Summary:  Ryan Mac summarizes Jeff Bezos' annual shareholder letter.  In his summary, Ryan Mac emphasizes Amazon's failures, and potential failures or stumbles that were omitted from the letter.   

Significance:  This summary emphasizes mostly the negative aspects of Amazon's success and indicates a reckless business attitude.  It would be a worthy use of our time to reiterate Amazon's successes with from a less reckless business attitude. 

Should J.C. Penney Be Worried About Amazon.com Doing This?
Rich Duprey
Summary:  Rich Duprey concludes that Amazon's move into the private label fashion industry should significantly worry department stores such as J.C. Penney, Macy's, and Kohl's, who all receive upwards of 77% of their total revenue from private label fashion brands. 

Significance:  This article is positive press.  Rich Duprey indicates a strong potential ability for Amazon to succeed in the online retailer business. 

How Amazon could become the next big luxury fashion retailer
Hilary Milnes
Summary:  To summarize Hilary Milnes, she concluded that Amazon will have difficulty convincing established high-end fashion companies to sell on their website.  Milnes wrote that Amazon has yet to establish itself and lacks an authority voice for luxury shoppers.  She indicates that there is an inevitability about Amazon's ability to enter the market. 

Significance:  The article demonstrates Amazon's ability to enter any market as inevitable, but seems to shine a negative light on its ability to do so.  She indicates Amazon as a threat to logistics and supply chains of high end fashion.