The Economist begins the search for its first digital agency.(Brief Article)

The Economist is hunting for a digital creative agency as it prepares to increase its investment in digital marketing.

The search, which is being co-ordinated by PHD, The Economist's media agency, will result in the weekly business magazine working with a specialist digital agency for the first time. It has previously produced banner ads by reformatting its iconic red-on-white posters, created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO.

The change in strategy has been triggered by the magazine's desire to make more of the net's direct-response capabilities. New campaigns to boost magazine subscriptions and to promote brand extensions such as The Economist's surveys and country guides are expected to break this autumn.

The Economist is concentrating on increasing ...