Mike's PointsMike's PointsVarious public relations and journalism resources. Plus, providing "points," comments & links about PR, journalism, blogging, communications, marketing, branding and other items of interest. 
Articles
Tech products: Ya got 10 minutes
2007-03-19 14:15:00 WSJ columnist (and blogger, of course) Jeremy Wagstaff started his own online publication of reviewed technology, Websites and related products and services: tenminut.es. tenminut.es takes a look at new and old products, services, software, gadgets and people, the only requirement being each is given no more than ten minutes (excluding download and installation times.) You can read more about it in this announcement. Oh and, speaking of new media outlets, there’s Social Media Today (pointer to Mike Manuel/Media Guerrilla). (But, why do we need a collection or “media” of bloggers? Isn’t that what feeds are for?) - Mike (Clock image from: http://www.sharelibrary.com/Desktop/Scree nsavers/Mechanical_Clock_3D_Screensaver03 060268.htm ) More About: Products , Tech , Product , Minutes , Minute
U.S. manufacturers: Blame others & die, or change & grow
2007-03-19 04:21:00 Sunday’s Toledo Blade Business Section has a great story about a cat fight going on at Tecumseh Products, a Fortune 1000 company based in Tecumseh, Mich. Essentially, the Herrick family (who started Tecumseh Products and still have a good deal of say) doesn’t like what the board and a consulting firm (AlixPartners) are trying to do: take control of the the company. Tecumseh is a old U.S. industrial manufacturer of engines, compressors and related items, and employs 19,000 people (about 70 percent of them outside the U.S., according to the Blade article). The power struggle is over financial trouble for Tecumseh in recent years, and differing opinions as to who should run the company to try to steer it toward better times. All in all, it sounds like good corporate drama. But, a couple items caught my eye. According to the article: “Mr. Herrick has blamed the company’s problems, including financing issues that some feared could push it into bankruptcy, on g... More About: Manufacturers , Change , Other , Others , Fact
Awww, poor wittle Twitter cat
2007-03-18 04:33:00 Okay, I’ve been dying to try to come up with a clever, catchy Twit ter-related blog headline. (How’d I do?) Anyway, with the Twitter chatter out there among the Twittter haters and Twitter lovers, I’ve thinking about it myself of late. Twitter is nothing more than another tool. If/How it gets used will determine if it out-lasts its current 15 minutes of fame (though it seems like its fame is pushing 20 minutes). So, I thought of how could Twitter be used for the good of all mankind. And, here’ what I came up with: Internal use: For company-wide announements, why not Twitter them, rather than e-mail. Of course, these would be brief announcements (like the Outlook server will be down at noon for a five-minute reset). Though, with internal use, there’d be some licensing involved, which would allow the licensee to expand the dialogue box limit. What about integrating a Twitter box into a Wiki-like page or even a service like WebEx when collaborating on a ... More About: Cat , Poor
Who’s gonna invent a double-sided laptop screen?
2007-03-14 02:10:00 Yeah, I know it was an eBay hoax a couple years ago. (Though I just found out while doing a search a few minutes before starting this post.) But really, wouldn’t that be a great idea: to have a dual-sided screen for a laptop? That way, you could share with others around a table a particular Web site or other bit of information on your laptop computer (rather than projecting to a screen or crowding behind you to see the monitor). Chalk this up to as another one of my great technology predictions. – Mike More About: Screen , Laptop , Double , Side , Vent
One of the early corp bloggers is leaving
2007-03-13 04:12:00 One of the early corporate bloggers — and one that doesn’t seem to get as much press as GM and others — is retiring as of the end of April. Boeing Commercial Airlines Vice President of Marketing Randy Baseler announced his pending retirement on March 9. He is leaving Boeing as of the end of April: So I’m coming down for a landing, and looking forward to enjoying more time together with my wife, Linda, and our family and friends. Those of you who’ve met me might have guessed that I’m a “country boy”at heart. My plan is to settle into my cowboy boots, blue jeans, and flannel shirts, and stay closer to the ground …. Of course, I’ll still be sticking around Boeing for the next couple of months, and continuing with the blog until then. Mr. Baseler started blogging in January 2005 — the same month that GM’s Fastlane blog debuted. I’ve read Mr. Baseler’s blog periodically, but mostly early on in my own blogging efforts. ... More About: Blogger , Blog , Bloggers , Early , Logger
Survey Says: Education of the PR industry?
2007-03-08 14:44:00 The moderator of Image Management, one of the Yahoo! PR groups I belong to, publishes a monthly PR e-zine: PR-e-sence. It’s pretty informative, and gives a good perspective on the PR and related industries in another part of the world. An upcoming issue will focus on the university/college education of PR professionals and related issues. To gauge how the industry fares on this issue overall, a survey was developed: http://www.primepointfoundation.org/poll/ public/survey.php?name=PReducation The results will be published in the issue, and the survey will be live March 13. While some questions are specific to India, there are several of the 13 that anyone can answer. So, please take a few minutes and give ‘em your $0.02 (or, your two rupees, in this case). – Mike More About: Education , Cat , Industry , Survey , Ducati
Other great points . . .
2007-03-06 14:53:00 Be careful. That seems to be the message for many of the “other great points” below. So, without too much further ado, I offer: Leaving the Bad News Trail, Jeremy Wagstaff/loose wire blog. I’ve always said that news is typically negative because, by definition, “news” is out of the ordinary and most of the ordinary is good, positive. But, Jeremy makes a great point: “Old media should look for a way of using its reporting strengths and resources and tell … stories that reflect the community, the good parts and not just the bad parts. They’re harder stories to tell and they run against the grain of every newsroom lesson we’ve learned, but if we’re serious about connecting to the communities around us, we need to understand them better.” Bloggers are wimps, Colin Mckay/Canuckflack If you’re using Google Images for your Chyrons, make sure you read what they say, Peter Shankman/PR Differently Blogbots replace boring bloggers, A... More About: Other , Great , Point , Points
Are you out of your mind? Hopefully, yes
2007-03-05 05:15:00 One’s mindset is an interesting thing. When you’re single, it’s predominantly about you. You do what you want when you want to do it. When you get married, it’s not so much about you. It’s about her (or him), too. There are other considerations. So, you adapt. Then, you have kids. And, you adapt again. It’s predominantly about the kids, some about your spouse, and relatively little about you. Your mindset about what’s important and what needs to be done and how you do it changes. Whenever one changes his/her environment, whether it’s a relationship, a home, a job, etc., your mindset changes and you get perspective. One’s mindset changes either by force — such as a life-changing event like becoming a parent — or by being open to change. Our industry — professional communicators, no matter what service we offer — has been expanding in recent years. The socialization of marketing has started. For the most p... More About: Mind , Hope , Hopeful , Full
PR: A big (bad?) melting pot
2007-03-03 04:56:00 Unlike many industries, the marketing communications industry — specifically, those relating to PR — is very big, very fragmented. You range from the multi-nationals and behemoths to the solo practitioners. The size of our industry and the opportunity for new companies to spring up quickly (relatively little cost to entry) means that there is competition to (hopefully) keep us on our toes. It also means there are enough poor quality practitioners to give the rest of us a bad name. In that whole bunch, you get the good, the bad and the ugly. I firmly believe that most companies operating in PR — whether off line or online or a combination — are good. Honest. Ethical. And, that gives companies a lot of good choices — whether they want an “integrated” firm or one specialized in some way. But, there’s enough of the bad. Some unintentional and just poor, but honest judgment. But, in the end, they give the majority of the good firms a bad...
I have seen the future of PR, and ….
2007-02-25 04:02:00 I have seen into the future (of public relations, of course) . . . and it is good. It is filled with strategy-focused communicators. It is filled with people who know the difference between affect and effect, and can spell correckly. It is also filled with media relations professional who know more than a thing or two about the professional media — and the BadPitchBlog has nothing to post about. It is filled with professionals who are familiar with a range of PR-like tactics and techniques. There will be no need to differentiate between “social media releases” or “social media newsrooms” and traditional news releases and newsrooms. We will know what’s best for communicating our clients’/employers’ messages in formats each of our media targets want them. As experts in communicating and dealing with people (i.e., social science), we will have the right tools for clients and employer’s needs — and recommend the right tools bas... More About: Future , The Future , Hell , Have
Copyright protection v spreading the word: When is technically legal actual
2007-02-20 05:23:00 Yes, this is old, but like Marie/Flackette and Todd, I’ve been busy (even shoveling snow here in SE Michigan). But that’s likely not why you’re here, so . . . for an update on the YouTube copyright saga, see here. Now, in a logical and common sense world, in every decision we, clients and other corporations make, we weigh the positives and the negatives. The risks and the rewards. The opportunity costs. (There’s that social science theme again.) Tech nical ly, I would agree that YouTube is in the wrong for allowing users to air copyrighted material from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart or David Letterman’s Top 10 Lists. But, if unless those uncopyrighted, illegal re-broadcasts are taking money away from Viacom and the producers, portraying the particpants in a negative light, or otherwise doing some harm, what is the problem? Could it be that these unauthorized re-broadcasts are cramping CBS’ own use of YouTube? I’m no lawyer and am definitely ... More About: Reading , Word , Legal
Other great points . . .
2007-02-13 18:32:00 For your reading, learning, browsing and thinking pleasure, I offer: Account planners can be your friend, PR; Colin McKay/Canuckflack 24-Hour News Cycle (R.I.P.); Mike Manuel/MediaGuerrilla Five Lessons for Viral Video Campaigns; Todd Defren/PR Squared I Get Letters from Idiots, Michael Brooks/HistoryMike – Mike More About: Other , Great , Point , Points
Getting ’social’ in public relations
2007-02-11 05:31:00 (UPDATED Feb. 11, approx. 9:15 a.m. with examples below, marked **. These examples either involved me, or my current employer.) More and more I’m convinced that public relations should be categorized as a social science in colleges, universities and in the professional world. Not in “Communications.” Not part of the journalism or English curricula. (I’m also convinced that journalism is more of a trade than a profession that requires a degree. Ask, and I’ll explain why.) At its roots, public relations — and, I suppose, advertising and other marketing communications — is about communicating to people. (Very similar to one of my two college majors, economics.) Soci al media like blogs, online communities, boards, etc., is a couple steps closer to a true social science than traditional marcomm activities. While I’m still a firm believer that corporations have the most significant control over their brand, you can employ a bit of social sci... More About: Public Relations , Public , Relations
Branding: Better to build from scratch or rebuild?
2007-02-08 05:28:00 They say (whoever “they” is) that it’s more cost effective to retain current loyal customers than it is to generate new loyal customers. Along that same line of thinking, is it best to start with the right brand positioning and try to promote it or rebrand — that is recreate — yourself? It seems as if Brian Connolly and the others behind the famous?/infamous? Strumpette blog are trying to rebrand the blog. If you’ve perused the PR-type blogs you’ve undoubtedly come across the strumpette blog. Early on (still now?) it has a reputation for lashing out against some bloggers and companies involved in social media. And, it often labeled those posts as “satire.” (Search for yourself. I’m not providing links here. I’ve done that enough.) But, of late, has strumpette been turning over a kinder, more civil and credible leaf? Former PRWeek Editor and now author Phil Hall with his regular Friday “gospel” posts? And,... More About: Branding , Brand , Better , Build , Bett
Moving on to . . .
2007-02-08 03:49:00 No, not Edelman! (Geesh, just about every blogger you read who posts about a new job post says he/she is joining Edelman. Not me, I’m moving on to some place better. ) I’ll make this short and sweet: Officially effective today, I’ve joined Hanson Inc. as a messaging strategist. Essentially, it’ll involve less traditional PR and media relations than I’ve been doing, and more social media/blogger type work; more diverse writing than what I’ve regularly done in the past; and more strategic input into clients’ direction, working with clients and/or their traditional agencies. Hanson is like many of the firms who are involved in social media: low profile, but doing excellent work. The kind of excellent work that you don’t read about. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and comes at the perfect time in my family’s life. (For background, see my more personal, parenting-focused blog.) I’ll be eternally grateful for the oppor... More About: Moving , Ving
Fake blogs are fine . . .
2006-12-02 21:17:03 if we know they're fake. B.L. Ochman doesn't agree. BTW, thanks to her blogging about the Hotel Campari campaign (promoting Italian liquor). Apparently, MRM Worldwide -- the agency -- has set up fake profiles on Flickr, MySpace and YouTube in... More About: Blogs , Blog , Fake , Logs , Fine
Comments, migration and Jeff Docking
2006-12-02 21:17:03 Like my brethren blogger Colin and others hosted by the remarkable Greg Brooks, I'll be moving from MovableType to WordPress. I have no particular loyalty one way or the other, but am moving to help reduce the spambots from overloading... More About: Men , Comments , Dock , King , Comment
SourceWatch must think TV journalists are S-T-U-P-I-D!
2006-12-02 21:17:03 I shake my head everytime I read about the Center for Media & Democracy's "fake TV news" efforts." Yeah, I know this is an old topic, but one that I don't quite get. I understand CMD's concern that the public... More About: Watch , Journal , Source , Lists , List
In PR, you can't always say what you want
2006-12-02 21:17:03 Through blogging and involvement in various discussion boards, I've come to the point where I expect to be able to comment on a news article or a board topic, if I so desire. Damn it! It's my right! Well, it's... More About: What , Hat , Want , Always
Other great points & one more question
2006-12-02 21:17:03 I've had two or three posts whirling around in my head of late, but been a bit too tired at night to type them out. (Must be the time change.) So, I've been in a questioning mood. Thanks to Ed,... More About: Question , Other , Great , More , Quest
Newspapers should embrace the 'net, not fight it
2006-12-02 21:17:03 (UPDATED Nov. 15, approx. 9 a.m.: See end of post for a snippet of Jeff Jarvis' take on Scheer's idea and my $0.02.) Peter Scheer had a thought-provoking and worth-considering article in the "San Francisco Chronicle" Sunday. You can also... More About: News , Newspapers , Fight , Race , Paper
Bo Schembechler dead at 77
2006-12-02 21:17:03 Okay, I'm not into reporting the news, but WXYZ in Detroit is reporting that legendary UM football coach Bo Schembechler died this morning during a taping of a "Big Ten Ticket" Show. Not to dismiss the personal tragedy of Coach... More About: Dead , Chem
Nov. 11 is Veterans' Day
2006-12-02 21:17:03 I remember growing up and being in high school when you joined the army or other military branch to earn money for college. That was it. There was really no chance you'd see combat. I never served in the military,... More About: Veteran , Veterans , Tera , Veterans Day
Adapting the messenger to your audience
2006-12-02 21:17:03 A few of us members of a Yahoo! PR Group are involved in a great discussion, debating message vs. medium, and whether the medium for delivering an honest message really matters. (Pony Express image courtesy of LegendsOfAmerica.com.) I don't... More About: Audi , Your , Messenger , Esse , Messe
Am I the only PR blogger . . .
2006-12-01 10:09:05 who is politically conservative/Republican?... More About: Blogger , Blog , Only , Logger , Blogg
Other great points
2006-12-01 10:09:05 (UPDATED 11-08-06 approx. 9 a.m. with another great social media-related post, this time from Josh Hallett.) Enjoy! Shaking Out Things in Social Media Consulting, Josh Hallett/Hyku Introducing the Social Media Pitch, Gary Goldhammer/Below the Fold. (RAOTFLMAO-funny, yet, insightful.) Social media... More About: Other , Great , Point , Points
Confidence vs. Arrogance
2006-12-01 10:09:05 Is the difference in whether or not a person is confident or arrogant dependent on our individual view of that person (i.e., if we like him or her), or can those terms be objectively applied?... More About: Confidence , Arrogance
When opportunity knocks, do you have to answer?
2006-12-01 10:09:05 The Internet is neither negative nor positive. It is simply a tool. It and the related technologies offer an abundant of opportunities. A few weeks ago, I read the story about a national sting that netted 125 perverts in... More About: Answer , Port , Opportunity , When , Have
Milton Friedman, 94, dead
2006-12-01 10:09:05 Milton Fried man, 94, died Thursday "of heart failure after being taken to hospital near his home in San Francisco," according to the Wall Street Journal. Subscription required. (Image from http://www.ideachannel.com/Friedman.htm.) Or, search for it here. One of my two majors... More About: Dead , Milton , Milton Friedman
What did you say?
More articles from this author:2006-12-01 10:09:05 I caught up on my work reading this weekend, including the Oct. 2 issue of "PR Week." Page 1 had a story about Weight Watchers International unifying its "traditional meetings business" under one agency. The story is fine, but one... More About: What , Hat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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