To Write is To Write

Apologizing is a New Approach?

There is a lot of talk lately in the media and within the healthcare industry about apologizing when things go wrong.  The talk is is that this is a NEW approach. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? Why is this a new approach?  Shouldn't this have been the approach all along?  Being human and admitting one's mistakes and having compassion for people and families is a new approach??  Ugh! 

This is where publics relations and the legal world collide.  As mentioned in this Indianapolis Star article that I read that prompted this post, such an apology approach would have been unheard of years ago because "lawyers and insurance companies would not have allowed it and hospitals would have feared a backlash."

Now, I understand the reasons for refraining from disclosing information...the admission of guilt would be devastating to a legal case and to insurance costs.  But, if the incident truly occured, isn't it going to come out in court/arbitration anyway...and why not be open and honest and compassionate with people right from the start?

I think about it like this...  If I were to borrow a friend's sweater, wear it and accidently spill something on it to the point that it is irreparable, would I simply give it back, ruined and not explain what happened, apologize or offer to compensate her?  OR if I were to be driving and hit a bicyclist and hurt him/her, would I simply drive off and not stop, call 911, get help, apologize to the person and the person's family and offer to be by their side throughout the process and eventually have to talk through what happened and show how sorry and distraught I was?  Of course I would not just give back the sweater or drive off.  I would apologize and do the right thing.  And most people would in those situations.  So why have hospitals and doctors have done this for so long?  Fear, legal departments and comprising integrity.

Well, I think it is awesome that hospitals are wanting to start to do the right thing and get back to treating people with respect. This will go a long way with their patients, patients' families and for their reputations.  I am glad to see that legal folks and PR people are sitting down and coming together on what is right .  Afterall, ethical behavior = PR, lies = spin, and when dealing with human life, no one appreciates spin. 

Bloggers Don't Have to Reveal Sources

This is huge for bloggers and freedom of speech. 

Naked Conversations -- A Book, A Blog -- Necessary Reading for Communicators

So, I took a break from my work Friday and was tooling through CW, IABC's magazine.  I didn't get through the whole magazine, but I did read Neville Hobson's review of Naked Conversations.  If you are hanging in the PR blogosphere, you most likely have already heard of this book, this blog, its authors and Hobson.  But if not , I wanted to point you in the right direction. 

If you are at all interested in learning more about how blogs (and other social media) are changing the way businesses talk and engage with their customers, you have to check out this book, which was written by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel.  The book is one of the most talked about business books in publishing history because the authors solicited their readers (blog readers) feedback via their blog while they were writing the book.

Hobson explains that Scoble and Israel included 50 case studies based on interviews with more than 50 who are involved with blogging.  Such people ranged from corporate CEOs to small business leaders and to self employed individuals.    The book makes the point that

"corporate communication is one-way and that customers are tired of being talked at.  They want to be talked with, to be engaged by people in organizations in a way that 'strips out all the crap that gets in the way of understanding and trust.' "

This is a definite read for anyone in the communications profession.  As communications vehicles change and as more customers enter the blogosphere, companies will have to understand how to enter in to the conversation with the same means or be left behind.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Business Blogging, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Robert Scoble, Neville Hobson, Shel Israel, Naked Conversations

Drive Traffic to Your Blog--Like Big Time Traffic!

BlogBurst launches tomorrow.  Don't know what BlogBurst is yet?  Well, stop reading this and click through the links to check it out.  It will be a great way to increase traffic to your blog.

Here is some media coverage of BlogBurst by Pluck and the official Burst Blog.

I'm back...and swamped!

Hey All, I am back from Jamaica (and Nashville for work).  I had a splendid time.  I soaked in the sun, had many water adventures (I am not the biggest water fan, but I did good on this trip) and spent much quality time with my boyfriend and friends.  I am refreshed, but returning to the office has proven to be overwhelming!  With approximately 500 and some unanswered e-mails and a gargantuan mound of mail, magazines and newspapers to get through, I may not  be blogging a whole lot yet for another week or so. 

I did take a few to scan my RSS reader and found Ryan May's post about the recent Chief Executive article about CEOs not understanding PR people.  It's a very interesting read.  The part I love the most are some of the responses from PR people.  Take a look...I am so glad that Bill (the author) is keeping the comments public.  Hopefully with all the feedback, the CEOs will start understanding that perhaps their PR people do know what they are doing, and journalists will start to understand that sometimes we are not the one controlling the final say (about how media materials look when they cross the wire).

Think like a Journalist: Lead with the Benefits

Recently I sat in on a teleseminar entitled " How to Write a Better News Release, Pitch and E-mail Release" presented by Ann Wylie.   She gave tips about how to improve upon your PR writing skills to craft better, more placeable media stories.   I was going to blog about this topic then, but never got around to it.  Then, I read Paul Holmes post about lousy press releases the other day.  And, last week, I stumbled upon Ann's latest article in PR Tactics about "leading with the benefits" in PR writing.  So, now I feel compelled to add to the conversation about writing good press releases. 

I totally agree with Paul and don't understand why PR people continue to write such lead paragraphs that are so old-school...such as "My Wonderful Company Announces That So-and-So Joined..." or "My Wonderful Company Announces the Launch of our new Fabulous Widget."   (Full disclosure here...I actually have been guilty of it.  I am learning though and encouraging my folks to think differently about how "they have always done it").  Ann makes the point that PR professionals should lead with the benefits of the announcement and follow with the features. 

In her article, Ann uses an example that I think is brilliant.   She poses the question, "Which would you rather read: a story about David Barton Gym? or one about how to look better naked?"  She makes the point that the gym is the feature and that the benefits of using/becoming a member of the David Barton Gym (most likely her client?) is looking better naked.  PR professionals and others in charge of writing/approving PR materials are often caught up in our own stuff and tend to forget to write with the reader in mind.  The key to getting placement however is by doing exactly that. 

I always talk about it by saying you have to think like a journalist/reporter/editor/producer in order to get placement.  By writing press releases and other media materials with the benefits at the forefront, you are showing the editor/reporter/producer that you are thinking about how to make their jobs easier by providing them with valuable content that their readers want/need/should know. 

Blogging Jobs Gone in 2016

Last night I attended an IABC networking event here in Minneapolis.  I have been a member of IABC for about eight months now and last night was my first official appearance at any meeting with my local chapter.  I have to say that I was rather impressed by the turnout for the event and was impressed with the variety of communicators who attended.  I got to meet many existing and future board members and definitely look forward to getting more involved in my chapter.

The one thing that I wanted to mention though that bothered me to hear last night is about a comment (and a facial gesture) from one of the past presidents (who I will not name because I was rather impressed with this person minus this one thing). 

I always talk about my excitement surrounding blogging and other forms of new social media.  And last night was no different.  I inquired with many folks about their thoughts on new media and how they are or are not using them in their professional lives.    When I asked this of her,  she grimaced and referenced the recent Fast Company article about the "Six Jobs That Won't Exist in 2016," which includes bloggers.  Well, from her response, I inferred that she is not on board with blogging or the like. 

Now, I understand that blogging and other consumer driven mediums are scary for some, but when I hear things like this, and I do quite often in my local market, I start to wonder if all that I read about new mediums and all that I surround myself with are just all livin' in a crazy-ole world? And then to see it in Fast Company.  Is this just another way that MSM is not embracing the new mediums?  And then I think...is this how folks advocating for television felt when the radio people were speaking out about "this new fad"? 

My thought is...even if you are not going to embrace new mediums, shouldn't you as a professional communicator be open enough to learn about them in order to be able to offer your clients and/or your organization the very best strategies for their business objectives?  or am I just livin' in the crazy-ole, drinking-the-blogging-kool-aid world too?

As for the blogging jobs issue (that started my rant), do you really think they'll be gone in 2016?

Reuters Tom Glocer Says Old Media Should Embrace the Amateurs

In a recent article in the Financial Times, Glocer speaks to the need for traditional media to embrace new media and consumer driven content.  He makes two very good points.

"In the news industry, professional and “amateur” content combined creates a better product. It tells the story at a deeper level. "

"We are now at our crossroads. Old media – and I now would include the first wave of online publishing – have a choice: integrate the new world or risk becoming less relevant."

Glocer  will lead an online Q&A with FT readers about how mainstream media should respond to this shift in the news industry.  If you have questions you would like him to address, e-mail him and visit next week to view the debate. 

******************

This is a great example of how MSM is attempting to use new online methods to engage and participate in the new world of conversational communications.  It is interesting to see that they chose to ask readers to send questions in ahead of time (or visit the day of) and then, I assume, Glocer will answer them on the web page.  I wonder if this debate/Q&A will be done real time?  In blog format or forum format?  We'll have to wait and see.

Wouldn't it be cool if FT and Glocer truly embraced the new mediums and developed a blog to discuss this very topic...inviting mainsteam media folks to come together with the bloggers and other citizen journalists to engage in a conversation about how to work together to tell bigger  and better stories?  Perhaps it could a week long blog event or an ongoing blog conversation?  Now that would be cool!

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Mainstream Media, Media, Reuters, Financial Times

Love, Love, Love...and New, Grooms Guide to Getting Hitched!

Happy Lovely, o-Lovely Sweethearts Day!  I hope all are cherishing the moments today with your special sweethearts! 

On this day of love, I wanted to post about a new magazine that I think is rather cool and fits right in with the theme of today's holiday.  My mom actually gave me the heads-up about it as she about it in my hometown's newspaper.  One of the founders of the new publication, Today's Groom, is from my hometown of Ashland, Wisconsin.  This new magazine is the first of its kind, will be published quarterly and aims to help men prepare for their "big day."

What a great idea, hey?!?! 

I just want to say congratulations to Jake and Bill, the young entrepreneurs who developed this idea in a college course at St. Thomas. 

Now, I am not married and make it a point to not look at bridal magazines.  However, when I was in agency life and did media relations work for HoMedics, I often found myself combing bridal magazines for opportunities to pitch my client and its products.  And I often wondered where are the magazines for guys regarding wedding planning? and why don't the mens magazines feature articles about wedding planning?  Perhaps it was because at the time the metrosexual, be-okay-with-your feminine side trend was just emerging and before that no man would ever admit he was "in" to helping his soon-to-be bride plan the biggest day of their lives.  And now that society takes a shift toward both genders planning weddings, I am excited to see this magazine hit the stands! (Plus, if you have ever planned events before, PR-wise or otherwise, you know that they are a ton of work and frankly too much frickin' stress for one person to handle).  My hope is that this magazine will further that "okayness" with men and help generate more "parnership" planning of the "big day."

So, hooray to Today's Groom and its ambitious staff!  Best of luck to you!

Technorati Tags: Happy Valentines Day, Today's Groom, Wedding Planning, Media, Public Relations, Ashland, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Minnesota