NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Shopping network QVC has hired an outside agency, Zimmerman Advertising, to help with interactive and social-media efforts. Full Article at Advertising Age

While digital shops have fared better than their traditional counterparts in recent years, a hot-button question points to their still-debated status: Can these agencies move beyond their primary role of tech jockeys to become leaders of brand strategy? Full Article at AdWeek

The Advertising Club of New York is undertaking two initiatives to help find and cultivate young men and women to join and stay part of the ad industry. Full Article at The New York Times

¶Pizza Hut, Wichita, Kan. , part of Yum Brands, named the Martin Agency, Richmond, Va. , a unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies, as its lead creative agency, assuming duties that had been handled by BBDO New York, part of the BBDO Worldwide unit... Full Article at The New York Times

BBDO laid off 20 staffers in its New York headquarters today, the Omnicom Group agency has confirmed. Full Article at AdWeek

Are digital shops starting to leapfrog traditional agencies? In the past two weeks, AKQA and R/GA, two of the industry’s top digital shops, have won lead agency assignments from brands. Full Article at Brandweek