My wife and I finally had a chance to catch up on some flicks during last weekend’s rain-fest in New York. (There’s only so much bingeing one can do on “House of Cards,” “Billions” and “Vice.”) We decided to test our tolerance for the tasteless “Trainwreck,” the tortured NYC love story written by and starring…… Continue reading Schumer’s No Trainwreck
The Flack
Keep Politics Out Of Your Business
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
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
Can Vice Be Trusted?
Washington Post long-time media reporter Paul Farhi today takes to task millennials’ favorite media empire Vice for allegedly modifying or expunging news stories in order to placate or avoid embarrassment for its advertisers. He wrote: “But there’s another side to Vice’s pace-setting journalism and dramatic business rise. At times, the company has blurred the lines between…… Continue reading Can Vice Be Trusted?
Newspapers’ Waning Clout in Scalia Battle
As our impossibly divided nation chooses sides in the battle over whether President Obama has the Constitutional right to nominate a replacement for Justice Scalia (hint: he does), more bad news keeps coming about the future sustainability of newspapers: Gannett’s revenue falls on continued declines in advertising sales and circulation https://t.co/NYn5Ip6w2f pic.twitter.com/uz47g9RXfq — Wall Street…… Continue reading Newspapers’ Waning Clout in Scalia Battle
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
Peyton Manning: This Bud’s For Me!
As branded sports sponsorships go, there is no more powerful spotlight than an overt plug during the Super Bowl telecast. And last night, the plugged brand’s marketing team no doubt convulsed with tears of joy when the game’s winning quarterback delivered it organically to an audience of more than a billion viewers. A paid promo?…… Continue reading Peyton Manning: This Bud’s For Me!
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?