Apr
30
PR disasters lie waiting in business lounges and internet cafes
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Invited to peruse a swish new city business lounge called Bureaux, I’m reminded of the potential for business and personal PR disasters when using these and other remote business facilities such as the Qantas club lounge etc. Over the last three months, I’ve found (and inquisitively read) a press release promoting a new range of swimwear, a full candidate CV and, today, it’s a legal letter outlining and I quote “a number of issues were discussed, including ——–’s anger…however, ——– has provided his assurance that he will not touch ——— in any way…”.
These little finds remind me how, no matter how rushed my day or business trip is, if I’m using a fixed terminal rather than my Mac laptop, the most important thing I do is to check that I safeguard any private information. In the wrong hands (PR author/blogger, journo or other) you could be leaving ammo in an unfired gun.
Swimwear PR girl; you may just have made the cut for ‘PR Disasters’ Vol 2.
Lord, there but for the grace of God go I…
Apr
30
BBC business veteran on how blogosphere affects design
Filed Under Business, Corporates, Media, Online, Technology | Leave a Comment
Saturday morning’s ‘By Design’ programme on Oz ABC featured an interesting speech by veteran BBC business reporter Peter Day. Themed under ‘The Heartbeat Economy: surviving in a global world’, Day’s v listenable address considers the future for design and the handmade.
Peter Day has presented In Business for the BBC since 1988, and The Times (London I guess) has described In Business as ‘the best business-related programme on TV or radio’.
If you’re deep into the blogosphere, the speech says nowt new; if you want some sound situational advice, it’s a useful, informative listen.
Here’s a bit on the Smartworks symposium:
Apr
27
Mark Burnett commandeers MySpace for political coverage
Filed Under Government, Online, Politics, Technology | Leave a Comment
With news that reality TV pioneer Mark Burnett is to stage a new show (in conjunction with MYSpace) to find a presidential candidate for the US elections, I’m thinking what a monty of a PR coup to stir the great unwashed into US political participation (here in OZ tho, it’s compulsory to vote). Previously a reality TV show hater - except for Nerds FC, Contender and Pussycat Dolls (with girlfriend implying that I’m an ageing letch last Sunday night) - I think the latest Burnett brainwave could work a treat downunder in our imminent election bout. I can see Melissa S and Asia in a risque dance off with li’l Kevin and Julia or a tracksuited Johnny H in a bitchfight with the one with the big hair who can’t sing. So, real political democracy coming to a blog near you…watch this MySpace for more details. Sydneysider Trevor Cook will surely welcome this addition to the political arena!!
Apr
26
Like a real life version of Wag The Dog, the good ole USA military and govt has again smeared its size 12’s in deep dog do(o)?
The truth is the first casualty of war and, it seems, every skirmish thereafter. Saying that she blacked out and never fired a shot, Jessica Lynch (a supposed Rambo-ette of the Iraq ‘liberation’) says that the truth was more heroic than the hype. From a blogspot near Katie Couric’s desk, you can see the precis here…
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/04/24/couricandco/entry2723818.shtml
So what is it with media manipulators? Do they really think that in such a transparent and agenda driven media environment that the truth is somehow never gonna leak out?
Apr
20
Where blogs fit into the PR-osphere
Filed Under Blogs, Business, Corporates, Media | Leave a Comment
Addressing a group of the industry’s finest, I was slightly surprised to find that the knowledge and participation levels re blogging was well, a tad lower than I’d expected (amongst some client middle management it’s alarmingly non-existent). Maybe in my enthusiasm for blogging, I’ve lost some perspective so it’s a relief to find this pointer from Tom Murphy to a great (and subtly self-promoting) article on Inc.com by Geri Denterlein.
Only bit from Geri that didnt work for this Gerry, was letting the clients set the ‘theme’ for the PR strategy; experience suggests that when it comes to stakeholder/mass med exposure, the conceptual theme may be suggested by clients, yet the executional melody should be played by the consultants.
Apr
20
PowerPoint, Google, Obama and Blair
Filed Under Blogs, Business, Online, Politics, Public Speaking, Technology | 3 Comments
It may be the end of PPT’s market dominance but, as this article shows, a rash of imitations rather than authentic presentations, is likely to be the upshot. Was that a groan we heard from PPT-hater Trevor Cook?
Meanwhile, UK’s Grauniad newspaper relays how ad agencies are being usurped (at least in terms of campaign analysis) by Google.
And more on politicians using social media to get their message out to da kids - un’stan’ wha’m say’n'? Courtesy of the Age.
Apr
19
Public relations - is this its future?
Filed Under Business, Corporates | 2 Comments
“Despite its privileged position, it is generally not seen by senior client executives as providing critical strategic advice or services…” a new article reads.
The good ole PRIA has posted an interesting piece by business futurist/blogger Ross Dawson that does a bit of crystal ball gazing on the PR biz. Loads of good insight from Ross, tho his starting point for PR is still as an agenda-driven influencer, rather than a two-way comms facilitator. Also a few cliches in there that don’t match up with my PR experience such as; “the formal, stilted, self promoting language of the press release” - wasn’t what I learned or practiced. Also Ross claims that “mass media will never disappear”, tho I’d speculate that it may morph into more of a social mass media, esp given Ross’s point that today’s 15-30’s have switched off mass media; is it likely that they’ll suddenly retro-switch their media consumption habits and start reading broadsheets when they hit 31? Still, a good piece full of optimism for PR’s continued prominence on the comms landscape. Ta Ross & PRIA.
Apr
17
Is this how Don Imus should’ve handled his ‘Kramer’ moment?
Filed Under Celebrity, PR Disasters, Public Speaking | 2 Comments
And these are my comments: “Intriguing post; surely only works in ‘one off’ crisis situations, like when someone ill-advisedly shoots their mouth off? Won’t fly, for eg, in situ’s where the crisis develops and unfolds such as an outbreak of fatal food contaminations, enviro crises or extensive product recalls (like Pan Pharmaceuticals downunder here in Australia). apart from that, don’t feel easy with step 5 (imagine that info getting taped or leaked to the media, eh?). Agree with u both that Don should have apologised sincerely then kept schtum, tho.