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November 28, 2006

Who cares about ethics?

By David Binkowski

I was floored when a co-worker sent me this article from MarketingVox. It talks about the Edelman/WOMMA ethics review and concludes with this:

"In the long run, does any client really care if its agency is a member of WOMMA? Of course not. Some people will see this as [Edelman's] taking the arrows for its client," Dave Taylor, founder of Intuitive Systems consultancy, is quoted as saying.

Dave Taylor — you're incorrect, my friend. The company writes the check, sure, but ultimately the consumer writes the company's check. Do they care if Edelman is a member of WOMMA per se? Maybe not. But to suggest that consumer don't care if they're lied to or not is ridiculous. And that will hurt the bottom line in the long run.

Tagged: Dave Taylor, WOMMA

Posted by staff at 03:56 PM
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November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to this post from Boing Boing this past May, you can enjoy these vintage Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade photos, posted over at Swapatorium, after a long day of turkey consumption.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 11:52 AM
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November 22, 2006

Vlogging politics

By Chris Clonen

On my drive into work this morning, a news program that discussed the future of British politics and how blogging might be a deciding factor in the country’s upcoming elections intrigued me. Conservative Party members in the U.K. are using the same strategies to get their message out that we use every day to get our clients noticed—the blogosphere.

The party’s young leader, David Cameron, has surfaced in every internet-capable home in the U.K. The ambitious politician’s video blog, or vlog, www.webcameron.org.uk, contains videos of the party leader at home with his kids, working late at night, and discussing issues facing British citizens. Throwing the proverbial gauntlet down within the blogosphere is not a new approach for conveying a political agenda, but this puts a new spin on the battle for public office.

By taking the politician out of the esoteric halls of parliament and revealing his personal life for all to see, British citizens can relate to the person they recognize on their monitors. They too have kids; they also have to make breakfast in the morning; they also bring work home and are tired at the end of the day. And what better way to show that those running for office are human, feel the same way you do, bleed when they are pricked, but by inviting them into your house for a proper cup of tea?

Vlogging could be one of the new approaches to winning office here in the U.S for the 2008 elections. John McCain, Hillary Clinton, or any of the party frontrunners, may use their own vlogs to get their message out. They could be at home explaining why they are the best candidates. We can enter their study on a Tuesday night, listening to them speak about their concerns not just about war, but about their daily lives, putting dinner on the table, discussing latest book they read, and how they worry about their children—scriptless and from the heart. We can share experiences and personally interact with those we elect to represent us.

This is where we come in.

The political parties are looking for new and innovative ways in which to persuade the American public that their message is the right one. We can help. We have the capabilities of producing video blogs, just like David Cameron, in which to change political sound bites into personal words from home. Maybe our next clients are not just those with products that clean our houses, but those with ambitions to clean house in the next race for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 03:40 PM
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November 17, 2006

The need for moderation

When reports that Bo Schembechler, former Universtiy of Michigan head football coach, had been rushed to the hospital this morning, the Detroit Free Press posted the news bulletin along with a forum for readers to comment. Normally this wouldn't have been an issue, but with just one day before the rivalry-fueled Michigan/Ohio State University game (to determine the top college football team in the country), it didn't take long for vocal OSU fans to give their thoughts on Schembechler's condition and then the news of his death.

Another one bites the dust And another one gone, and another one gone Another one bites the dust

Posted with angry "devil" smiley faces, commenter, and OSU fan, Hope&Glory's comment immediately ignited passionate, and uncensored, remarks from fellow bloggers.

Hope & Glory — I hope you don't burn in he** for what you just said. Typical OSU fan - mean-spirited and ignorant.

By 4 p.m., 138 comments had been posted, completely unfiltered. While I applaud allowing both negative and positive comments to be posted on a blog normally, moderation is sometimes necessary when dealing with sensitive subjects, such as the death of a well-known individual. User jmu1016 sums it up best:

How come the moderators on this forum doesn't ban the moron, I posted a comment over at the columbus dispatch and they get read first and any inappropriate behavoir doesn't get posted. Get him off here Free Press. Tressel 5-1 after tomorrow.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 03:38 PM
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November 10, 2006

Got the flu? Spread it around...

By Chris Clonen

Not the flu itself, but information about the flu and how to prevent it; and not around the office, but in the virtual world.

At least that’s what the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is hoping you will do on your next visit to Second Life.

The CDC recently took a chance and launched its message into SL. Instead of the typical media outreach, the CDC decided to create something novel — a presence in Second Life’s virtual world to promote the significance of disease prevention.

This exciting venture from the Department of Health and Human Services features a modest, two-level property, furnished with educational posters and links to web libraries full of information. It’s a portal that discusses real disease prevention issues within a virtual foundation. You can even instant message an avatar named Hygeia Philo, who in real life is John Anderton. He’s the person responsible for bringing the CDC to Second Life. If you have any queries concerning the inner workings of the government agency, along with questions about diseases and where to find information on prevention, he’s the one.

This venture has yet to be called a success, but the idea that government agencies are joining the ranks of social media gurus by opening its doors to the virtual public is something to take notice of and learn from. The CDC’s job is the same as ours — to get the message heard.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 11:53 AM
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November 09, 2006

Rebooting an ad campaign

According to Radar’s blog, Fresh Intelligence, Apple is ditching the “Mac Guy” from its popular “Get a Mac” campaign as the “PC Guy” was actually the preferred character, citing Justin Long’s portrayal as annoying hipster to be the cause.

Virtually everyone who watches it comes away liking the "PC guy" while wanting to push the "Mac guy" under a bus.

Slate’s Seth Stevenson has been calling Long’s character a “smug little twit” for the past few months.

As the Mac character, Justin Long (who was in the forgettable movie Dodgeball and the forgettabler TV show Ed) is just the sort of unshaven, hoodie-wearing, hands-in-pockets hipster we've always imagined when picturing a Mac enthusiast.

PC Guy’s John Hodgman, also a correspondent on The Daily Show and This American Life, is actually a writer and editor with The New York Times Magazine. If his popularity hadn’t grown enough, Radar met up with Hodgman earlier this fall to talk to the audience-favorite computer star with an article titled, “Hodgmania!”

Surprised? You shouldn’t be if you’ve been following the lack of love for Mac Guy in the blogosphere:

• AdJab wonders if PC Guy will become a converted Mac Guy.
  
• Gizmodo features a funny cartoon comparison of the two characters, with Hodgman saying, “I’m a NY Times editor,” and Long saying, “I’m a b-list actor.”
  
• CDinFur’s graphic comparison provides a laundry-list breakdown.

The audience has spoken. And posted.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 05:30 PM
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November 08, 2006

Comedy Central: a now-credible news source

I usually read Comedy Central's CC Insider blog to find out what I missed on last night's episode of "The Colbert Report" or to see if new Demetri Martin, youth correspondent for "The Daily Show," video clips have been posted. You can imagine my surprise when I checked in on the blog today and found that they'd scooped ALL mainstream media Tuesday night when they predicted the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

The buzz I'm hearing from a friend, and a totally unconfirmed White House source (remember Comedy Central doesn't have journalistic standards), is that Rumsfeld will be out of the administration tomorrow. This is a shocker even to the totally unnamed source in the White House. Already, we are seeing reports of a White House Press conference scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m. Could this be it?

"Token Conservative" to the blog Michael Brendan Dougherty posted the news just after midnight Wednesday. Shortly after President Bush's announcement at 1 p.m. today, Dougherty's news tip proved to be correct. CC Insider posted a blow-by-blow account of the story, with a tone that made it seem like they were amazed, too. The Detroit Free Press even included a brief on the blog break with its report on the resignation.

"How could this be?" many traditional journalists must be asking themselves. Good question.

Dougherty was in the political know and, more importantly, is an active blogger ready to post at a moment's notice, once again reinforcing the power of the citizen journalist, or in this case, the citizen blogger.

Gawker sent out its own congratulations to the blogosphere with this quote:

Nice work, media! You got scooped by the folks who write web promos for Mind of Mencia!

And in case you were wondering, CC Insider included a special "Mind of Mencia" web-only promo with their Rumsfeld-wrap post.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 03:47 PM
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November 03, 2006

Getting the message to the people — online

It’s a tough time for the state of Michigan right now. The economy is hurting, jobs are leaving, and cuts can be felt across the state’s budget. On top of all this, the governor’s job is up for re-election this year, and these challenges have set the tone for many heated, passionate campaign points.

There are just a few days left for voters to decide if they want to re-elect Democratic incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm, or allow Republican Dick DeVos, former Amway president, a shot at the job. For those voters still uncertain on how they should vote, turning to the candidates’ blogs can offer different insight from the negative television ads and heated debates. Both candidates have campaign blogs, documenting their cross-state stops.

On at Granholm’s site, her blog not only allows her to speak with a more relaxed, candid tone, it also gives a voice to some of her campaign workers. The comments on the blog range in tone, from praise for a job well done to asking for help in tough times. The blog is filled with current posts, sometimes several a day, and it has archives that date back to January, beginning with her State of the State address.

DeVos’ blog also includes perspectives from the road, but includes photos from recent campaign stops, a nice addition that Granholm’s blog lacks. However, DeVos’ posts tend to attack the governor more than they give new ideas and thoughts on topics.

Messages received by way of television ads, radio commercials and even live debates can be quickly forgotten; campaign goals with a permalink now have an undefined shelf life and a resource for voters to easily refer back to. Not only are blogs effective for candidates, they’re a less-expensive form of “advertising,” when compared to the cost of purchasing on-air time and printing/mailing direct-mail literature.

Campaign blogs aren’t a new marketing tactic. The 2004 presidential election saw candidates Howard Dean and John Edwards, for example, blogging and finding new support online. A CBS News headline from 2004 sums it up best: “Campaign Blogs Outlive Candidates.”

When it comes time to select your votes for this Tuesday’s election, look online. Perhaps your candidates are already blogging their objectives.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at 04:56 PM
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