To Write is To Write

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. 

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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

Pitching Bloggers via Podcasts?

It worked for Karen over at Media Relations Blog.  What a great way to connect with bloggers and spread the word!

NewCommunications Forum 2006--Educate Yourself about New Media Strategies

The 2006 New Communications Forum, being held in Palo Alto, is right around the corner!

Attendees to this event will learn about how blogs, wikis, podcasts and other emerging tools, technologies and modes of communication are affecting organizations and how communications professionals from across the spectrum are harnessing these tools to engage in market conversations, deepen and strengthen relationships with key audiences, gain new insights into their audiences' perceptions and behavior and achieve bottom line results.

Pre-Conferences Boot Camps will be also happening!  These are meant to be "101s" on blogs, wikis, podcasts and vlogs to prepare attendees for the discussions during the conference.

This is the 2nd Annual New Comm Forum, developed by Elizabeth Albrycht of Corporate PR and Jen McClure of the Society for New Communications Research, and looks to be a very informative and exciting conference!  I wish I could go!

Welcome Harold to the Blogosphere!

To all the blogging skeptics and the blogging-is-just-a-fad-ers out there, I'd like you to meet Harold Burson, founding chairman of Burson Marsteller.  He turned 85 years old last week and started a blog. 

In his first post, he recites a piece of advice that his father gave him when he was young-- "always be in the know."   I think this is excellent advice for public relations professionals and for all people.

In my mind, "being in the know" means that people are challenging themselves to continually learn and evolve.  Harold mentioned that his father's way of "being in the know" was by reading omnivorously.  This is something as a public relations professional I have to do, but I also want to do this.  I often run into people who never pick up a book or a magazine (other than People or Cosmo) and can't even fathom it.    (They are also the people that I generally find it painstakingly dull to be around, and those that tend to resist change, but, hey, to each his/her own, right?).

"Being in the know" is certainly what Harold is with the start of his new blog!  I am excited to see "the century's most influential PR figure" (as deemed by a survey by PRWeek)  take the leap!  I look forward to see what other things he has to blog about!  Welcome Harold!

The Blog Run Blog

The Blog Run is the newest PR round-up blog for the executive that does not have time to read everything out there. This blog aims to be a one-stop source for the issues that are being written about on blogs. But, it will also concentrate all other issues in public relations.   It will pull from the 330+ public relations blogs that are out there now. The Blog Run will feature three to five a day and commentary from PR blogger Jeremy Pepper of POP! Public Relations.

Steelers QB Blogging Before the Game, And Partying?

So apparently the Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger blogs?  And he's blogging from Detroit (with the help from his agent) before the big game!  (Steve Rubel of Micropersuasion originally posted about this).

My first thought was: "How Cool!"  Here is a player using blogging to "connect" with the fans and giving fans a look "behind" the scenes.

Well, then I looked at these pictures posted over at Deadspin!  Then, I thought: "Oh, boy, I guess the Vikings aren't the only ones who need lessons in PR!"

My thoughts:  This just shows the relevance and the importance of understanding the blogosphere and all the new types of online media in this changing media world we find ourselves in. 

First, individuals and businesses can use blogging to benefit them by building connections and building and maintaining positive reputations.  Yet, just as easily, the blogosphere and these new forms of media can spread the word so quickly that maintaining reputation becomes more and more difficult to manage in a situation like this (of course, if the pictures were positive or the story was positive that would be good).  So, as new media forms and evolves, we PR pros have the task of counseling folks, like Ben, or executives we work with on how potentially beneficial and detrimental they could be.   (Is this situation going to be that detrimental for Ben?  Probably not.  After all, he's a young guy and the pictures are not THAT bad, right?  I just have to say: Nice shirt Ben!  Glad that America's children are looking up to you!)

For Ben and Ryan, Ben's agent, I'd like to hear from you regarding these photos.  "Are you going to use your blog to address these photos and make a statement?"  (Another way that blogs can be effective from a PR perspective is using them to communicate quickly in a time of "crisis").

Technorati Tags: Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Blogging, PR, Blogs

Odeo! Free (& Easy) Podcasting Tool

Easton over at Business Blog Wire posted about Odeo the other day, and I had to check it out.  Odeo provides a free and easy service to publish audio to the web and share it with others.  Founders of Odeo, Noah Glass and Evan Williams, started it a year ago and already numberous people are using it, including many prominent bloggers and many mainstream media.

I've been looking for an easy and free tool for some time now.  I haven't necessarily had the desire to create audio for myself or this blog.  Rather, I have looking to find a tool that it is easy for businesses to use to further make a personal connection with their audiences.  Blogging and podcasting from a PR perspective are tools that make it easy to broadcast a company's voice and opinions.  Doing this helps clients/customers and other stakeholders understand a company which translates into trust and loyalty.   So, I figure now that I found the tool, I better try it out. 

Here is my first audio post.  Let me know what you think.

Interesting -- McDonald's Corporate Responsibility Blog

Bob Langert, Senior Director for Corporate Social Responsibility at McDonald's, has started McDonald's corporate responsibility blog, Open for Discussion.    This is one of the first (that I have seen) that is focusing on this community relations efforts.  Langert is opening the doors of the giant corporation to "open the discussion" with the public to learn and improve from its customers.  Frankly, I believe that this is a very bold move.  Considering the complex issues that a fast-food company faces in a nation of ever-increasing obesity and a society that desparately needs to rethink its thoughts on "convenience" foods, it is brave of the organization to open up.  From a public relations perspective, this communications vehicle is perfect for helping such a large organization give the public a clearer picture of what happens behind the scenes and offers a way to humanize the company and the issues it faces.  Even Langert states that McDonald's and its blog readers "may not always agree on the root causes or best solutions, but we can have a conversation" about the issues. 

I'll be interesting to see how McDonald's uses this blog along the way--in good times and during crises.

Look Before you Leap

Tom Hespos from Online Spin (Media Post newsletter) makes a good point about blogging in a recent article entitled "Don't turn off the Microphone."  He refers to the Washington Post and their recent decision to turn off the comments portion of their newly created blog, post.blog, after negative comments from the blogosphere flooded in as a result of Deborah Howell, the Post's Ombudsman, wrote that lobbyist Abramoff gave campaign money to both major parties.

He predicts that in this new state of attempting to leverage community and conversation through online media/communities, companies will not be understanding the online culture enough before they make the leap, as was the case with the Post. 

He makes an excellent point with this.  The key to understanding the online culture though is to participate in it.  There are so many times that executives/business owners are jumping into blogging, but simply don't have a clue about the blogosphere.  I advise (as does Tom) that folks take some time to "lurk," if you will,  in the blogosphere.  Check out other blogs in the same industry as your business.  Check out blogs in other industries and especially pay attention to those that focusing on blogging or business blogging.   There is etiquette, best practices (including allowing for open conversation) and a culture that is important to adhere to in order to be credible and successful as a business blogger. 

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Business Blogging

Blogonomics Business Blog Conference

Check this out everyone! 

Jim Turner (and his crew) of One by One Media recently announced the Blogonmics Business Blog Conference of 2006.  This is going to be one unique conference!  It will be held on the ever-fabulous Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship on October 5-9, 2006.

The conference presents some of the brightest blogging minds in the business including:  Jeremy Wright of b5media, who recently released his book Blog Marketing and B.L. Ochman (What's Next Blog) who spearheaded the recent blog campaign with Budget Rental Car.  “These presenters were chosen for their forward thinking in the use of blogs as business marketing and advertising tools,” Turner said.  In addition, the cruise will feature emcee Scott Goldblatt, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and now professional blogger.

The presenters will talk strategy and share practical tips and tactics, address the tough questions, present success stories and examine what the future has in store for blogging.

For more details and to register, check out the Blogonomics web site.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Business Blogging, Blogonomics