| |
| Jesson + Company Blog |
 |
| |
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
 |
McLuhan's 21st Century Renaissance |
| |
I just read the New York Times reveiw of Douglas Coupland's new book on Marshall McLuhan. In summary, McLuhan revealed the workings of an emerging global village in which the medium or means of conversation defined it and really set the framework for understanding. Reviewer David Carr begins with the following: "Oh boy, yet another modern thinker who suggests that 'electronic interdependence' is the defining aspect of our time." Coupland's point is of course that fifty years ago, McLuhan predicted phenomena that have now become accepted fact -- the medium is the message.
All true, but I would argue that we have moved way beyond that. In fact, the messenger has become the message. If we examine much of the babble streaming through solcia media, content is less irrelevant than participation. What is at issue is the connectedness itself. There is a new profundity in the notion that the connection itself is now the communication.
It's almost as if we were all side-tracked for five hundred years on a spur of human evolution. From the Renaissance onward we sought to define individuality, carving out a life of the interior, only to merge again in this vast on-line sea. In many ways we have returned to a more feudal sense of community in which notions of privacy have given way to the priorities of connection and even the exploration of thought itself has been replaced by mythic codes.
I'm not arguing that it's all bad. In fact, it is endlessly fascinating. Sure wish I could be around for the next fifty years to see where it all goes.... |
| |
|
| |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010 |
|
It Ain’t Over Yet |
| |
Mark Twain responded to reports of his death, “Rumours of my death have been highly exaggerated.” The same could be said of newspapers. A year ago it was believed they were down for the count. Advertising revenues had crashed and it was widely believed that readers had already migrated to the internet when the recession hit. A year out there is evidence that the perceived crisis was mainly in North America and even on this side of the pond the Economist reported in June that most have returned to profitability.
To survive newsrooms cut over 13,000 jobs changing the face of reporting for some time to come. Newspapers are slimmer and some, like the National Post which eliminated its Monday edition during the summer months, have survived by reducing services to customers. Many increased their reliance on service bureaus such as Dow Jones and Reuters. In the United States as the auto industry tanked car reviews disappeared. Ditto film critics and food and beverage writers whose spots have gone to general reporters. All of these things make it tougher to get attention for products and services. Newspapers have returned to delivering the news!
One sidebar of the recession is that the industry has become less dependent on advertising revenue -- which may be a good thing. But to survive long term they are going to have to pick that revenue up from subscribers. To do that, they will need to create value for their customers. Whether consumers prop their newspapers in front of their morning coffee or download it to their iPad, newspapers have to deliver something that is compelling and distinctive.
The good news is that they have survived to fight another day! |
| |
|
| |
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 |
|
Buttoning Up |
| |
So I have been reading the lastest fiascos about men undone by their emails. What were they thinking?
I learned the PR business from one of the great characters, David Scott-Atkinson. He was really a Canadian pioneer for the profession. David's mantra was "If you don't want to see it in print - don't say it!" It's a lesson I took to heart and it's my first advice to any client. There are lots of ways to remain polite while refusing to talk about things that are no one's business but your own. You just don't talk about it. In that regard, I have enormous respect for the colourful American skater, Johnny Weir. When asked about his sexuality, he simply replies that he thinks it's in bad taste to talk about who he is sleeping with. Isn't that refreshing?But to come back to Tiger, Adam Giambroni and others, I am not for a minute suggesting that their actions are fine as long as no one knows about them.
But there is some simple advice that we could all learn from their experience. If you don't want to see it on line -- forever -- don't send it. It's really pretty simple. For all that our world has been changed irrevocably by the internet some fundamentals remain the same in both the on-line and off-line worlds. It's one reason why I am so intrigued by facebook and so many other social networking sites. Notions of privacy do seem to be crumbling away. What it all means is anyone's guess. But I, for one, am dipping my toes into it very carefully. It remains to be seen how this all plays out. |
| |
|
| |
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 |
|
Spinning |
| |
I had lots of great feedback and advice from my friends about my blog. (Most people thought I should shorten it up which left me a bit crushed – hence my recent silence.) I even had an offer to “redesign” it – please note the new look. So thanks to all!
Great piece in the New York Times this weekend about the Public Relations profession. It quoted Lloyd Blankfein the CEO of Goldman Sachs on his efforts to manage the company’s public profile through the economic meltdown. The story reported on a speech in which he referenced with disdain advice he had received from various image consultants, reputation managers, and public relations advisors : “Some people come in and say, ‘you are doing too much. Don’t say another word.’ Other people say we should get on the talk shows.”
Reporter Graham Bowley went on to note that these are unusual times for Wall Street. Where the titans were once virtually invincible from public opinion, the rage over recent abuses is costing them big-time.
Bowley took the brief to some of Manhattan’s top PR advisors. Once again the opinion covered a wide range:
- Apologize – admit you were wrong;
- Others disagreed;
- Take out ads, hold news conferences, Rubenstein opined;
- Does anyone really believe anything they read in ads?;
- Give back - donate to worthy causes;
- Will this appear a transparent ploy and beg more questions about the use of public funds;
- Require mandatory employee volunteerism;
- Communicate, communicate, communicate about their valid role in the economy;
- Reduce compensation packages;
- Now there’s a thought;
- Ignore the whole thing.
Why is it so difficult to come up with a single answer to the problem? It is because people still think the public relations profession is about spin and easy answers. And they want metrics – this and this equates that. As I said in an earlier blog, the profession is getting better about measuring, but the truth is that the practice is still more art than science. Frequently there is no “one answer” and certainly no “one size fits all.” The important thing is to decide on a strategy and move in a direction, not sit about sinking in the controversy.
I am always offended by people that think you call in the PR people to pick up a paint brush when they are cover in ****. Any good professional will always tell their client “Do the right thing.” It all falls out of that single insight. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
