Blurring the lines of Journalism

(My opinion piece appeared in Ragan on September 24, 2009)

A big UUUM moment – looks like I’ve caused a furor over an opinion piece that appeared in Ragan.com today about the blurring lines of journalism. The central focus of my opinion piece was David Pogue, tech columnist for the New York Times, and some recent comments he made about him not being a journalist. Apparently, I took his statement out of context and applied it incorrectly.

Notwithstanding, I read Pogue’s posts religiously and I value his comments – as do thousand/millions of others. He knows what he’s talking about. That’s why he’s an expert and that’s why tech companies will continue to court him and fawn over him – as they do other influential columnists, technology-focused or otherwise.

Do I think any less of him? No.

Will I stop reading or respecting what he says? No.

Am I trying to make enemies? Absolultely not.

Can I voice my opinion? Yes.

Here’s a link to the entire post on Ragan.com, "Times' David Pogue blurs journalism lines"

Say NO To More Recession Talk!

(The original article appeared in MediaPost on July 15, 2009)

Argh! Just when we thought things were looking up, the Department of Labor spoils it with the latest unemployment figures. I'm sure many companies upped their cutbacks again, rather than upping their PR budgets this past week.

So, really, this isn't a recession anymore -- it's a global gut-check. And there aren't any Lucky Dip bags filled with taxpayer money waiting for us at the end of the recession rainbow. Businesses everywhere have been paralyzed over which course of action to take. Be bold, be innovators? Or bring out the hatchet to those bloated costs and inefficient operations driven by years of faux-plenty? It's been a wake-up call for all.

Inevitably, in such a challenging (and changing) environment, many businesses have trended toward batten-the-hatches, slash-the-budget tactics. But in these actions, they may have failed to see that strategic positioning and public relations could actually help their companies gain market share, increase sales, and experience organic growth.

You may think I'm biased, but when we look at recent history, we see such opportunities have indeed arisen out of uncertainty.

Click here to read the whole article, Say No To More Recession Talk

8 Reasons Why Marketers Should Ramp Up Their Visibility Strategy

(My original article appeared in Mobile Marketer on August 18, 2009)

Are we in the throes of a recession hangover yet? Yes and no, depending on who you listen to.

Recession or not, however, businesses and consumers remain wary and cautious about spending. The road to recovery is likely to be slower than we thought. But as I wrote in my column in Mobile Marketer today, this is precisely the time when businesses and marketers should be ramping up their visibility and getting back on their customers radars.

Why now?

Because history has proved time and again that the bold survive. Knee-deep in the discount dustbins is not a strategic position, nor is being invisible to your customers. Companies that survive and grow are marketing from a position of strength, not a defensive crouch.

A conservative approach, prudent as it may seem after almost a year of negative GDP, is actually counterproductive.

It is shortsighted to view this recession, or any recession, as anything less than an opportunity for future growth. It is impossible to engage with your audience if your brand has gone into hiding, waiting for the markets to rebound.

And it is very hard to make a comeback without being visible or without customers.

Click here to read the article in Mobile Marketer 8 reasons why marketers should ramp up their visibility strategy.

The Tale Of PR And Social Media

(This article appeared in MediaPost on July 28, 2009)

Like any disruptive innovation, social media has come at a time when everything in our lives – online and offline – has changed so dramatically. We could almost document the rise of social media over the past 18 months of turbulence in the US and abroad. So it’s no coincidence that social media will become the marketing be-all as we kick off a new decade: social media will be to 2010 what email was to 2000.

We’re starting this journey and mapping out a new course, making it up as we go along, friending each other – PR and Social Media – until we get it right. There are many lessons to be learned and like anything new, there are bound to be mistakes. Practice, after all, makes perfect. Companies big or small are not immune to public ridicule in having “tweeted” out of line or handled a social media crisis poorly. Corporate Tweeting now comes with a 25-page “how to” manual. PR companies, digital marketers and corporate Tweeters – we are bound to mess up along way. The point is that most of us simply don’t know until we try.

To read my entire article in MediaPost’s Marketing Daily,"A Tale Of PR And Social Media", please click here

Journalism Rocks

(This appeared in MediaPost on May 29, 2009)
Talk is cheap, but good content, labor and product are not. In an era of thrift and the return to newfound values — where less of everything is the new world order — everyone is talking about what will happen to American newspapers. I think, more importantly, we should be asking what will happen to American journalism right now? I’ve been harping on about this topic for some time (like as far back as 2006), and my words have usually been met with equally strong worded opinions.

Opinions, coarse or otherwise, are good. In fact, they are to be encouraged — they stimulate critical thinking and discourse. Look, plain old-fashioned thinking is good — that’s why we live in a democratic society, right? But opinions are just that — a personal viewpoint like this very piece you are reading. And so, while I like to think of myself a good writer, a journalist I am not.

Journalism is a profession, ignited by a thirst for the facts and the truth, accompanied by deep passion for telling it how it is and in a way that will impact lives. These are skills which cannot be acquired via a webinar or a Bulldog Reporter Media Blitz one-day circus for $399.

While the business model for newspapers may be broken — and, yes, they’ve been irresponsible, unresponsive to changing needs — let’s not miss the point here. What happens to news, and in two words, our intelligence, if we don’t support journalism?

To read the entire article "Journalism Rocks", click here.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

(This article originally appeared in MediaPost on August 18, 2009)

As an agency owner, I work with companies across various industries and verticals, and so it strikes me as illogical how many -- even nonprofits -- hire marketing and PR firms to tout their company's abilities to the media and beyond with the exception of marketing (and related) firms. The irony here is that in an industry focused on selling ideas, brands and images, many marketing firms don't practice what they preach. When was the last time you PR'd or promoted your company in a calculated, consistent and authentic manner? (A canned press release on PRWeb does not count.)

Some time ago, I had a conversation with a client (before he became a client) and asked about his agency's work. "Our work speaks for itself", he told me. Really? "Then why do you want to hire me?" I shot back.

For me, that was the crux right there. Getting others to know who you are and what you do, whether your company is built upon selling tangible goods or marketing those of others. As a marketer, what you do for your clients is something you should be doing for your firm at every opportunity. You know, creating authentic, credible communications. If you aren't committed to your brand or don't convey that same passion about your "products," how can you expect others to?

Read the article on MediaPost in full here, "Do As I Say, Not As I Do"

Think you Know PR? Think Again

My article in MediaPost, Think You Know PR? Think Again, seems to have struck a nerve with the many people – and not just in the PR community.

Earned media has never been more valuable; it's impossible to buy, after all. And while paid media's supporting role is very strong, companies are continuously looking for new ways to distribute authentic messages and engage others in what they do; corporate shtick has no place in that equation. But earned media is just that -- earned. As much as we'd like, we can't make people say great things about us (or our companies) unless they truly value and believe in what we do.

So if PR is playing a greater role in achieving that missive, do we (and our clients) really get it?

PR can achieve many different things, but the game is changing quickly. As an industry, we need a firm grasp on what the marketplace demands, and our ability to deliver. We need to get tougher when it comes to expectations: We're being called upon to do a lot more with a lot less. It's time for us to gain more respect in what we do, by communicating exactly what it is that we do.

Do you understand PR in today’s terms, and what PR can or can’t do? I invite you to join in the conversation!

To read my entire article on MediaPost, "Think You Know PR? Think Again", click here