As an agency owner and keen observer of the circus that doubles as the American political process this election year, I’m finding it difficult to hold my tongue. I was reminded of this recently when tech influencer and newly minted VR executive Robert Scoble laid down the rules for continued inclusion in his Facebook-capped group…… Continue reading Keep Politics Out Of Your Business
Tag: PR
Trump Campaign Manager Accosts Reporter
The industry’s most effective public relations professionals zealously guard and champion the interests of their clients. They know the mindsets of those they’re paid to serve and what keeps them awake at night. Sometimes, however, this unfettered devotion crosses an ethical boundary as several folks witnessed last night when Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski…… Continue reading Trump Campaign Manager Accosts Reporter
Detritus In My Inbox
As a veteran PR professional and sometimes journalist, I am frequently on the receiving end of emailed story pitches from other PR types. More often than not, I empathize with the sender, offering tips on how to improve his or her pitch. (One tip: I write about media, tech and marketing/PR…only.) On a single day…… Continue reading Detritus In My Inbox
Content Marketing Is So Last Year
KIMOJI’S APP LAUNCHES TOMORROW!!! pic.twitter.com/aXl8hiMobn — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 20, 2015 Many in my line of work will view the title of this post as heresy. Nonetheless, an admittedly unscientific look at who or what really moves the needle nowadays will likely reveal that those carefully crafted pieces of branded content contributed to…… Continue reading Content Marketing Is So Last Year
Al Jazeera: America’s Not-So-Warm Embrace
Several years ago when Al Jazeera announced its ambitious plans to expand its TV news footprint from the Middle East to the United States, I scratched my head and pondered the foolishness of such an idea. After all, didn’t Al Jazeera built its brand identity as the propaganda arm for the Intifada and a few…… Continue reading Al Jazeera: America’s Not-So-Warm Embrace
Netflix As Trusted News Source?
This is clearly Netflix’s moment. On a macro level, the company’s streaming programming service has upended the business model for the TV industry as we know it, in spite of what the broadcast network chiefs contend. Yesterday, company CEO Reed Hastings gave the gadget-hungry media gaggle at CES a taste of something different by announcing…… Continue reading Netflix As Trusted News Source?
Full Frontal Media: Kylie vs. Kim
No. Kylie Jenner is not a client of my firm’s. In fact, I find her latest PR stunt offensive on so many levels. Yet, here I am writing about it, as an unwitting marketing pawn in a carefully choreographed chess game designed to add more media fuel to the fame flame that has kept her…… Continue reading Full Frontal Media: Kylie vs. Kim
How Anonymous and Southwest Airlines Fight Terror
Governmental, organizational and individual reactions and overreactions to the terrorist attacks in Paris and Mali run the gamut and have spurred both fear and action. Global hacker group Anonymous suddenly morphed from Guy Fawkes to Charles Bronson in mounting an attack on ISIS vast online and social networks. “A hundred thousand twitter accounts have been…… Continue reading How Anonymous and Southwest Airlines Fight Terror
The Home of Guinness Gets Geeky
Some 40,000 tech geeks descended upon Dublin this week to attend, speak at, report on, sell and/or demo their wares at one of the biggest and most condensed web events in a sea of such events globally. Now in its 5th year, the sold-out “Web Summit” is not without a fair share of intrigue, including…… Continue reading The Home of Guinness Gets Geeky
Threats Create Dilemma for SXSW Organizers
As I prepare to head off to Dublin this weekend to attend Web Summit, I’m reminded of another overwhelmingly large gathering of geeks (and those who wish to profit from them). I’m talking of course about South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive, which today finds itself in the proverbial PR pickle. Before I delve into SouthBy’s…… Continue reading Threats Create Dilemma for SXSW Organizers