Public Relations Cyclist

WAN2TLK TXT?

The other day, my wife buys an illustrated first dictionary/thesaurus at a used book store. Meant for early elementary school (so we're pushing the kids), it was published in 2002.  In back of the book, as part of the common abbreviations section, there's a list of common text messaging abbreviations.  Is this proof for the pundits who say the texting wave, which my generation missed, must have peaked in the US a few years ago? (If it rates a listing in a dictionary for 6-year olds, it clearly isn't cool for older kids.)  My take is that yet another tool has been integrated into the culture. While the sheen of being the "next big thing" fades fast, useful tools are not abandoned quickly.  Texting has taken its place in the tool bag of the 21st century communicators (and I'll make sure to memorize that page of abbreviations).

The Slow Pace of "Green"

Listening to a “flashback” radio program last Thursday, I heard compelling comments by Jerry Brown (ex-Governor, California Attorney General and current Mayor of Oakland).  He talked about reducing carbon emissions and using energy saving motors and appliances to save billions in annual energy costs. Sadly, his call to action was sounded in 1992, and most of our society is still just talking. Coincidentally, I had just read remarks in PR Week by editor Julie Hood commenting on the absence of energy and environmental issues in the current presidential campaign. She speculates that the green movement may be suffering from overkill, and cites a discouraging report in USA Today on a study of 11,000 Americans.  Given that concern about the economy includes spiraling energy costs, it does seem that the urgency around global warming is fading.  Turns out the best supporters of green today are businesses; driven by the real need to reduce energy bills and respond to regulatory action.  I have the opportunity to promote energy efficiency in new electronics and automotive designs for several current clients, and hope to secure more business in this area that will let me contribute to public education.  Hopefully, the companies investing real effort in this area will reap the appropriate return.

What News Matters? Depends On Who Is Reading

Brian Fuller’s always interesting Greeley’s Ghost site has picked up on a discussion begun in a Washington Post op-ed last week.  The original piece, Brian’s commentary and links are worth a read to anyone working in and around journalism. To add one more thought train, look at this review of the roots of the American free press by Steve Boriss, a professor at Washington University of St. Louis.  Among many points, he reminds us that “unbiased” journalism has a relatively short history.  And while my Latin is pretty much non-existent, remember that caveat emptor has always applied to what we choose to read.  Large news organizations that have the will and the resources to pursue enterprise/investigative stories very likely will fade.  Let’s just hope that individuals can find a way to pick up the slack to create journalism that fulfills the goals of the founding fathers.

Pedal Power

Finally have a chance to talk about cycling (despite not spending much time pedaling myself in the last six months).  The SF Chronicle recently ran a story about a Bay Area cyclist using a custom tandem to bring a great message to the world.  Pedaling for world peace sounds corny, but it really is a great way to reach people.  Early in my PR career, I had a chance to work with two kayakers that crisscrossed the U.S. and Canada (covering 18.000 miles). They really just did it for the sake of the adventure, which was fantastic.  The Peace Pedaler has gone one better, combining the fulfillment of his adventure with the hope of changing the world, one person at a time. Worth checking out his story, even if you are not a cyclist.

Celebrate the New (and Old)

Back in October, I meant to comment on a story in The San Francisco Chronicle about the business side of blogging.  It reports that relevant and readable (by implication, well-written) sites are garnering enough advertising and ancillary revenue to become profitable publishing ventures.  It’s a great round-up.  One comment that rankled though was a statement that success stories like these would be more prevalent as “traditional media continue to contract” (Steve King, SNCR).  This is not a story about contracting old media, but just increasing maturity in new media.  And while reports out this month show the number of new magazines launched in 2007 declined from the previous year, continued proliferation of specialized titles ranging from Jewish Living and the uniquely American Garden & Gun, and business publications like Portfolio shows that PR pros must continue to watch all forms of media.  Both print and online, we will see more and more niche audiences reached by creative publishers/editors.  With ever more places for stories to be told, we will see an even greater need for clear and accurate communications.

Will Rupert Stop This?

With News Corp closing its acquisition of Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal, maybe the odd customer retention practice I recently experienced will be eliminated.  Our office print edition subscription recently expired, and the through the snail mail offer to renew for one year was $269.54 (prominenently noted in the mailing as nearly 50% less than than newsstand price).  I passed.  Reading the Journal online has become a habit, but after a few weeks, I missed the good old printed word.  That's when a click-through to "subscribe now" discovered that signing up on the web meant an annual cost of $99; quite a break from the previous offer.  So I'm back on the subscriber rolls, but can't help feeling that the print guys wanted to take advantage of me with the earlier "best offer" that was more than 2.5X the price over the web.

More to Do Every Day

A couple of weeks back, Media magazine had an interesting commentary on the state of print publishing.  One excerpt:

Since 1996, with the dissemination of the new media that's supposed to kill print, the total number of magazines has grown 15 percent, and total magazine readership has grown by 9 percent. An accelerating growth: There were 12 percent more magazine launches in 2006 than in 2002.

This is a good reminder that the web is not about supplanting older media, but creating new avenues for content to find consumers.  The article goes on to note research by Deloitte indicating: “71 percent of those ages 13 to 24 say they enjoy reading print magazines even though they could find most of the same information online.”

For PR practitioners, the data is a reminder that new media expertise is an important addition to our skill set.  But it remains just one of the many communications vehicles in our working universe.

Common Carrier Behavior

Whoops.  More than a month with no new posts.  What can I say? Home and the office have both been busy.

I meant to write a comment several weeks back about disturbing behavior at Verizon. Checking on what others have said on the topic, I found a better voice than mine. 

In mid-September, Verizon made headlines with its no, then yes, regarding text messages that a pro-choice group planned to send to its members.  This link from the San Francisco Chronicle wraps it up nicely (and starts by invoking an all time favorite film).  The incident reminded me of the Reed Hundt discussion I’d commented on in August.  I think the potential for a carrier to limit content distribution bolsters Hundt’s contention that a totally open access wireless infrastructure, using the last swath of wireless spectrum scheduled for federal auction, is the right way to build out the US network. Hopefully, this misstep (Verizon ultimately did allow carriage) sends the right message to the FCC.

Just A Little Outrage

Last year, the social media team at Edelman was raked over the coals for its lack of transparency in work for WalMart.  This week's news about Marie Digby (paid link at WSJ and you can find plenty of comments with a quick search) has seen a more subdued, and mixed, reaction.  Maybe the standards in the music industry are different, but it seems that there should be a little more outrage.

We'll never know if Ms. Digby would have garnered the same fan reaction if her affiliation with a major label was clearly stated on her YouTube pages (and in recent radio and TV appearances).  But when the record company issues a press release in August 2007 about signing a new artist who was actually signed 18 months earlier, this campaign clearly breaks both old media and new media standards for clear and open communications.

Announcing "news" that happened 18 months ago is bad practice.  Not being transparent on the web is bad practice.  The old and new PR worlds have the same rules.

Messaging 24/7

In a comment today about Yahoo's "new" text from e-mail service, an observer at MediaPost described one user scenario: "In particular, parents can now more easily reach teens at school, where they can inconspicuously check for text messages."  To make a comment that shows my age (and is not meant to pick on the poster): Why do we feel the need to reach teens at school via a text message?  Many generations before this one got through school without being that connected.  And when my kids reach that age, I'm not planning to contribute to the inevitable load of both new and old media distractions from classwork.  I want to teach them that one part of 24/7 connectivity is the option of turning it off.