SON-OF-A-PITCH

Duran Duran Set to Invade SecondLife

2006-08-10T08:28:00.000-04:00

Eighties icons Duran Duran are primed to become the first major pop act to have a presence inside of Second Life.

According to their official Web site, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Andy Taylor have commissioned a set of custom avatars that they plan to use to perform concerts and schedule media appearances that mirror their real world activities.

DD keyboardist Nick Rhodes sees endless possibilities in Second Life: "our community will be able to help develop the island into a fully functional, futuristic utopia, where you can never be quite sure what to expect."

The quintet is expected to make their virtual debut later this month.

Another One Microsoft Blogger Bites the Dust

2006-08-09T16:52:00.000-04:00

Four months into his gig at Microsoft, fellow RSS-addict Niall Kennedy has decided to part ways with the company, citing a desire to venture out on his own.

Whether or not the big M decides to move forward with development on the feed platform he was hired to lead is anyone's guess, but Niall certainly hopes so.

So do I.

Primp Your Avatar

2006-08-08T12:25:00.000-04:00

Sponsored by Wal-Mart, The Yahoo! Avatar Fashion Show invites consumers to dress their virtual selves in the retailer's gear and submit their creations for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards.

Launched this morning, the competition is already heating up. Best in show will be determined by an open vote.

Add Your .02 to the New Rules of Marketing and PR

2006-08-07T16:21:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite PR bloggers, David Meerman Scott, is planning a new book on blogging, podcasting, viral marketing and online media.

David intends to blog his way through his journey and has invited us to follow along, contribute to the process, offer suggestions and keep him on track.

He expects the final product - tenatively titled The New Rules of Marketing and PR - to be completed by the end of the year.

Google to Add Viacom Programming to Video Store

2006-08-06T18:46:00.000-04:00

With the ink barely dry on their deal with AP, Google has just announced an alliance with Viacom Inc., parent company to MTV Networks, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, DreamWorks, that will bring more than 100 hours of ad-supported content to their growing video store.

While additional details related to their partnership remain confidential, an unnamed Viacom exec close to the negotiations told The New York Times that his company would retain at least two-thirds of the ad revenue generated by the union, an arrangement that marks the first of its kind for the search engine giant.

Akin to their agreement with iTunes, the clips - from programs like Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV's Video Music Awards and seventeen others - will be made available for download at $1.99 a pop.

Dignity Outshines Freedom of Speech in Chinese Blog Defamation Case

2006-08-04T14:17:00.000-04:00

Journalism professor Chen Tangfa was awarded a whopping 1,000 yuan (that's $126 to you and me) after a Chinese court ruled that critical comments made by a student on his personal "bo-ke" (or blog) amounted to defamation.

After initially arguing that his company had no right to edit content posted on the blogs they host, Fang Huaifeng - a spokesman for Blogcn.com - said the network would now "review every complaint received and delete material deemed offensive," according to China's Xinhua News Agency. Close to 5 million users make up the Blogcn.cn community.

Meanwhile, back in Nanjing, Tangfa - whose case may very well represent the first of its kind in his country - said "winning shows personal dignity outweighs freedom of speech."

Hat-tip: AP.

New and Improved Windows Spaces Unveiled

2006-08-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, Microsoft began rolling out an enhanced version of Windows Spaces, the popular blogging platform used by over 120 million unique visitors each month.

According to a company statement, the new product - dubbed Windows Live Spaces - includes social networking features "designed to help users discover and connect with friends through their trusted contacts and allows customers to personalise their Windows Live Spaces with gadgets."

Unfortunately, the relaunch has suffered from a series flaws, as Mary Jo Foley of Microsoft Watch reports.

In lighter news, the big M has also introduced Live QnA, a service (currently in beta) that's been described as an online forum that allows consumers to ask and get answers to questions on a variety topics.

Online News Audience Broad, Not Deep

2006-08-01T14:48:00.000-04:00

A biennial survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press has found that 48% of all Americans spend at least 30 minutes getting their news from broadcast television. By comparison, 10% were found to pass that same amount of time getting their fix from popular portals like MSNBC, Yahoo!, CNN, Google, AOL and FoxNews.

Among those polled, sites maintained by newspapers were almost as popular as network news sites; The New York Times and USA Today led the pack in terms of those most frequented.

Pew's News Consumption and Believability Study has also identified blogs as a popular source for a "significant number," of consumers aged 18-24. Nearly 10% of the test group that fell within this demo admitted to reading at least one news blogs regularly.

YouTube Bests the BBC, MySpace

2006-07-31T11:01:00.000-04:00

For the month of May, YouTube's reach outgrew that of the BBC's Web properties writes Mark Sweney of MediaGuardian.

"Its success," he says, "has been such that a price tag of as much as $1 billion (£536 billion) has been put on the company and rumours are circulating of a possible initial public offering."

Among the potential suitors eyeing the video-sharing phenom? Yahoo!, NewsCorp., Google, Sony, Time Warner, Adobe Systems, Viacom, Microsoft and Apple, according to ZDNet's Russell Shaw.

With any luck, one of them will have figured out a way to translate a 3.9% daily share of all global Internet traffic into dollars and cents... if that's even what it's all about.

CEO Blogging Not an Extreme Sport

2006-07-30T10:24:00.000-04:00

Despite encouraging employees to blog, many of the CEOs behind our biggest companies have chosen not to, leaving what Randall Stross at The New York Times, describes as "an embarrassing silence at the top that the combined clacking of those underlings cannot fill."

Whether we focus on those who get it versus those who don't, there's no denying that CEO blogging is a popular topic these days. "For the chief executive sincerely interested in increasing information flow to the fullest range of stakeholders," writes Stross, "a blog is a hydraulic wonder."

So where is everybody?

Has Unilever Discovered the Key to Successful MySpace Marketing?

2006-07-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

Unilever has aligned itself with Christine Dolce, a California cosmetician with over 900,000 MySpace friends, in a campaign designed build some buzz for their Axe brand of deodorant.

"To draw in the 18- to 24-year-old lustful lads to whom Axe is shamelessly marketed," says The Economist, "Dolce hosted an interactive game, called "Gamekillers," based around dating tips and designed subtly to promote Axe."

The key to the program, according to Unilever's Kevin George, is subtlety. "When you deliver content they want to engage with, they don't mind if it comes from a brand."

To date, more than 75,000 MySpacers have signed up for the game.

Hat-tip: Ross Fadner, Online Media Daily.

Disclosure: Unilever is a Weber Shandwick client.

One-time Wonkette Named Time.com Editor

2006-07-27T13:58:00.000-04:00

Craving the "comparatively literary world of newsmagazines," blogger/author Ana Marie Cox has accepted the position of new Washington editor for Time.com.

Cox joined Time in March as a contributing writer.

She's expected to assume her new role on July 31.

Hat-tip: Reuters.

J&J Seeks Mommy Bloggers for New Directory

2006-07-26T14:49:00.000-04:00

This Fall, Johnson's Baby, a division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies will launch their Mom Blogger Project.

Described as a "powerful blog publicity engine," the initiative is designed to draw newbies to the blogosphere and help those already active to attract more readers.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Blog?

2006-07-25T19:57:00.000-04:00

CEOs at some of our largest companies, that's who, according to Debbie Weil.

Followed are five of her tips for blogophobes along with commentary from yours truly:

Think about blogging strategically.
Don't lose sight of the tactical stuff: why do you want to blog? Does blogging fit into your overall marcomm strategy? What do you want to say? More importantly, what do your customers want/need to hear?
Consider starting an event-specific blog.
There are two schools of thought here: one that sees value in blogs designed to "live" for a limited period of time and another that believes that unless you're in it for the long haul, there really isn't any point. Which side of the fence are you on?
Get familiar with the convention of blogging.
More importantly, get familiar with the language of blogging. Test your mettle behind your firewall and practice, practice, practice. Passion has a way of shining through - with any luck, you'll know if and when to make your views public.
Don't worry about running out of things to say.
Occassional posts about your company, products or services are okay, so long as you don't overdo it. Go deep and blog about your industry instead.
Just do it.
But only if it makes sense - 'nuff said.

Technorati Unveils New Look

2006-07-24T11:59:00.000-04:00

Easier and more intuitive to search, simpler and brighter design, redesigned search results pages and better sorting options... what do you think?

Social Computing for Dummies

2006-07-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

Today's quote - courtesy of The Register's David Tebbutt by way of Neville Hobson - is actually a couple of days old:

"Think of social computing as a platform upon which people can collaborate in ad hoc groups, where they can share their expertise with others, possibly strangers, and where the by-products of their activities automatically add to the wealth of retained corporate knowledge."

While Tebbutt names wikis, blogs, RSS and tags as the "main software elements," he goes on to suggest that "more traditional elements like forums, directories and discussion boards," should also be thought of as "part of the mix."

YouTube Buzz Helps Resurrect Shelved Sitcom

2006-07-22T15:32:00.000-04:00

One month after showing up on YouTube, Nobody's Watching - a comedy pilot developed for the WB by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs and Spin City) and writing partners Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman (Family Guy) - has caught the attention of NBC.

According to Variety, the network has ordered six additional scripts and plans to promote the show through a series of viral clips hosted by the popular video-sharing site. The first batch is expected to debut this Fall.

Commenting on the renewed interest in his project, creator Lawrence stated that "if network TV doesn't embrace the Internet as both a place to launch and test shows but also as a place where shows can live, they're going to fall further and further behind."

To date, program snippets one, two and three have racked up over 750,000 views.

CIA Contractor Fired Over Controversial Blog Post

2006-07-21T18:05:00.000-04:00

When Christine Axsmith - a CIA software contractor/blogger employed by BAE Systems - posted her views on the Geneva Conventions and torture to Intelink, the intelligence community's highly-classified Intranet, she wasn't expecting to lose her job.

But that's exacly what happened, writes Dana Priest of The Washington Post.

Despite an immediate apology, Axsmith, a self-proclaimed "loudmouth with a knack for writing a catchy headline," reportedly had her security clearance before being subjected to a rather harsh inquiry and allegedly threatened with criminal prosecution for "unauthorized use of a government computer system."

Quoted in the article, Axsmith says she stands by her decision to voice her opinion. "I know I hit the radar and it was amplified," she admits. "I think I've had an impact."

New Features Being Tested at AOL CityGuide

2006-07-20T16:30:00.000-04:00

Dynamic lists of events and venues (ranked in popularity by users), improved locators and expanded photo galleries are among the new features being tested behind the beta walls at AOL's CityGuide.

Twenty-five cities are part of the test - here's a look at new and improved hub for New York:

Wal-Mart's New "Social Network" Too Uncool for School

2006-07-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

Wal-Mart and Sony have teamed up to create The HUB, "a quasi-social-networking site for teens designed to allow them to express their individuality," writes AdAge's Maya Frazier.

HUB-monitors will narc out "hubsters" who wish to participate/contribute content by ratting them out to their parents, screening/scrubbing all submissions and preventing them from directly interacting with one another.

Sounds like a hit to me.

Beyond Blogger: India Blog Ban, Part Two

2006-07-18T20:35:00.000-04:00

India's Blogspot ban is "picking up momentum in India and the entire Indian blogosphere is speaking in one voice against the ban," writes Digital Inspiration's Amit Agarwal.

Since Saturday, the story has garnered a fair amount of international coverage, landing on the likes of Michelle Malkin, Boing Boing, and The Mercury News' Silicon Beat.

Geocities sites and blogs hosted by TypePad are also being blocked, writes Amit, while "blogs hosted on WordPress, LiveJournal, MSN Spaces, Rediff.com, IndiaTimes and Yahoo! 360°," have seemingly been spared.

Social Networks Going to the Dogs (and Cats)

2006-07-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

"As human social-networking sites like Friendster.com and MySpace.com have become increasingly popular," writes Newsweek's Malak Hamwi, "similar sites have popped up for pets."

Dogster.com, Catster.com, Hamsterster.com and Petster.com are among the growing communities helping pet lovers connect to one another.

Oh, and they're fair ground for marketers, too.

Technorati Tags: cat, cats, Catster, Catster.com, community, communities, dog, dogs, Dogster, Dogster.com, Friendster, Friendster.com, Hamsterster, Hamsterster.com, Internet, Malak Hamwi, marketing, MySpace, MySpace.com, Newsweek, online community, online communities, online marketing, pet, pets, Petster, Petster.com, PR, public relations, social media, social network, social networking, social networks, Web
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Blogger Blogs Blocked by Indian Government

2006-07-15T09:32:00.000-04:00

Following what amounts to cries of censorship among bloggers in her part of the world, Mridula of Travel Tales from India is wondering if the recent blockage of Blogger blogs is in fact the work of her country's Ministry of Communication.

~~After days of speculation, her ISP confirmed it.~~

UPDATE: Apparently, this all happened today, and according to Mridula, it's her company's ISP - Spectranet - that's enforcing the blockade. After another go-around with a customer service rep, government orders could neither be confirmed nor denied. "Things are not so simple," she writes. "It is utter confusion."

Technorati Tags: blog, Blogger, blogging, blogs, blogspot, censorship, government, India, Indian Ministry of Communication, Internet, ISP, politics, PR, public relations, social media, Spectranet, Web
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New Search Engine ExactSeek Launches Beta

2006-07-14T17:35:00.000-04:00

Jayde Online's new search engine/directory - ExactSeek - has gone beta, promising to "provide searchers with a quality database of around 100 million Web sites."

Specialized databases and niche search engines are among the resources tapped by their algorithm for image, blog and article results.

Hat-tip: iMedia Connection.

Technorati Tags: Best-SearchEngine, beta, beta test, Blog-Search, blog monitoring, blog search, blogs, ExactSeek, FreeWebSubmission, GoArticles, image search, iMedia Connection, Internet, Jayde Online, Jayde Online Network, marketing, NewWebDirectory, PR, public relation, search, search engine, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, SEM, SEO, SEO-News, SiteProNews, social media, Web
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Moving Beyond the "Blogging-as-Sales-Tool" Mindset

2006-07-13T16:10:00.000-04:00

eMarketer says it's time for businesses to reconsider blogging.

"A generation for whom sharing information via social networks and personal blogs is second nature will demand being addressed as human beings without the filters applied by traditional corporate communications," says senior analyst James Belcher, and "marketers and PR professionals who want to remain relevant in this environment will add blogging and blogosphere literacy to their skill sets, or risk falling behind their customers."

Good advice.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, business, eMarketer, Forbes, Forbes 200, Forbes 500, General Motors, GM, Internet, James Belcher, marketing, PR, public relations, social media, Socialtext, Sun, Web
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Avoiding the Pitfalls Associated with User-Generated Content

2006-07-12T20:45:00.000-04:00

"Whether it's an ad created by a customer and posted on YouTube, lavish praise (or a blistering review) on a blog, comments posted to a consumer portal or something else," states Robert Moskowitz, "user-generated media is on the rise as a key force in marketing."

In case you missed it, he's written a great piece on consumer-generated content - it's a keeper and definitely worth sharing.

Quoted in the article, Max Kalehoff of Nielsen BuzzMetrics advises curious marketers to "practice common sense ethics," when engaging in UGM campaigns. "Be a champion of the consumer," he says, and always lead with a product that doesn't "suck."

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, brand, branding, brands, business, Business 2.0, buzz, BuzzMachine, Cluetrain Manifesto, consumer generated content, consumer generated media, consumer marketing, conversations, Dell, Dell Hell, General Motors, GM, honesty, Internet, Jeff Jarvis, marketing, Max Kalehoff, measurement, Nielsen BuzzMetrics, PR, public relations, Robert Moskowitz, social media, strategy, truth, UGM, UGM nightmare, user generated content, user generated media, viral, viral marketing, Virginia Miracle, Web, YouTube
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Kicking Engagement Up a Notch

2006-07-11T16:30:00.000-04:00

If you agree with Riverside Marketing Strategies' Heidi Cohen, you get that "doing social marketing right takes time, thought, caring and an ability to listen and respond with empathy."

"It's about having a public dialogue in which consumers and marketers alike participate and respond," she writes. "Marketing is no longer just about broadcasting a message to a mass audience to drive sales and buzz."

Here are five of Heidi's tips for adding social marketing to your mix:

Create message boards, forums and wikis to reach out to customers.
Develop a corporate blog and post on relevant third-party blogs.
Solicit consumer input on your site to track and engage in a one-on-one conversation.
Engage in public forums relevant to your brand.
Advertise on relevant forums to get users to engage with you.

Got more?

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, brand, branding, brands, business, buzz, consumer, consumer engagement, consumer marketing, consumers, corporate blog, corporate blogging, corporate blogs, forum, forums, Heidi Cohen, Internet, marketing, message board, message boards, PR, public relations, Riverside Marketing Strategies, social marketing, social media, Web
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Why Blogging Everyday Doesn't Matter

2006-07-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

A few days back, Eric Kintz posted an interesting bit on Marketing Profs Daily Fix Blog on Why Blog Post Frequency Does Not Matter Anymore. While I can't say that I completely agree with Eric's POV, his ten points did make me feel less guilty about my occassional bouts with blogger's block and the demands of new business.

How many of these do you agree with?:

Traffic is generated by participation, not posts.
The number of visits is irrelevant to a blog's success.
Loyal readers coming back daily to check your posts is so Web 1.0.
Frequency may have a negative impact on loyalty.
The pressure of posting daily is too much for some senior execs and thought leaders to handle.
Frequent posting may affect content quality.
Too much of a good thing may threaten the credibility of the blogosphere.
Frequency will push corporate bloggers into the hands of PR agencies.
Too many posts = blogging landfill.
I love my family too much.

B'way Producers Using New WOM Tactics to Sell Tix

2006-07-09T10:46:00.000-04:00

The New York theater circuit has always relied on word of mouth to make or break a show.

In the online world, new tools are reshaping the way producers are reaching audiences, writes Jesse Green of The New York Times.

And if you think it's all "e-mail blasts, Web sites, banner ads, search-engine pop-ups and blog coverage," think again.

DC to Host Launch Party for New Book on Corporate Blogging

2006-07-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

If you happen to be in the DC area on Tuesday, July 25th, head on over to the 4th Estate Grille for a sneak preview of The Corporate Blogging Book by Debbie Weil.

In preparation for the book's official August 3rd steetdate, Debbie has made a free chapter available for download on her site.

Quote of the Day

2006-07-07T19:57:00.000-04:00

With news of Amanda Congdon's departure from Rocketboom just hitting the mainstream, Stacy over at TeevBlogger serves up the following words of wisdom to those seeking attention:

"The advice I’d give to all the future reporters, directors or actors out there is to buy a camera and start a video-blog because that seems to be the new way of getting yourself noticed."

Yeah, that's all it takes.

Meanwhile, Congdon's former partner-in-crime - Andrew Baron - has allegedly done what many said couldn't be done: found himself a replacement in time for Monday's broadcast.

Technorati Tags: Amanda Congdon, Andrew Baron, blog, blogging, blogs, Huffington Post, Internet, Joanna Colan, mainstream media, media, news, PR, public relations, Rachel Sklar, Rocketboom, social media, TeevBlogger, video, video blog, video blogging, video blogs, vlog, vlogs, Web
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Got Game?

2006-07-06T18:07:00.000-04:00

If so, the folks at GameTap want you!

They're looking for a few good beta testers to beat on their latest rev.

Get a load of their library and sign up here.

See ya ringside!

Technorati Tags: AOL, AOL beta test, AOL beta testers, beta, beta test, beta tester, beta testers, beta tests, games, GameTap, gaming, Internet, PR, public relations, video game, video games, Web
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There Are a Dozen Reasons Why Businesses in the UK Aren't Blogging

2006-07-05T19:13:00.000-04:00

Understanding that blogs aren't for everyone, businesses across the pond remain cautious when dipping their toes into the blogosphere, says E-consultancy's Chris Lake. Most CEOs in the UK, he says, tend to favor one or more of the following excuses:

They don’t understand why they’d want - or need - a corporate blog.
They're not comfortable with allowing employees to blog.
It's too risky.
Their PR agency has recommended against it.
It's in their development schedule.
They haven’t identified a contributor or agreed on a topic.
Blogs are a waste of time.
They can’t see any ROI.
They don't how to set one up.
Blogs are all hype, a passing fad or for the kids.
Sure, they have taken off in the US - but this is the UK.
They don't think blogging is right for their business.

Hat-tip: E-consultancy.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, business, CEO blog, CEO blogging, CEO blogs, Chris Lake, corporate blog, corporate blogging, corporate blogs, E-consultancy, employee blog, employee blogging, employee blogs, Internet, PR, public relations, social media, UK, Web
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Researchers Get Fat Contract As Blogs Hit USAF Radar

2006-07-04T13:33:00.000-04:00

Hoping to provide insight into the war on terror, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research is planning to dedicate $450,000 to a three-year program that includes an exploration of the blogosphere.

Led by Drs. Brian E. Ulicny and Mieczyslaw M. Kokar of Versatile Information Systems Inc., "Automated Ontologically-Based Link Analysis of International Web Logs for the Timely Discovery of Relevant and Credible Information," will focus on three key areas of interest:

incomplete information and metrics;
search, interactive design and active querying; and
cognitive processing.

The review, explains Kokar, will be based on relevance, specificity, timeliness and credibility. To aid in their process, the VIS team is said to be developing an automated (?) tool that will help identify the topics that bloggers are most interested in at any given point in time.

Technorati Tags: Air Force, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Automated Ontologically-Based Link Analysis of International Web Logs for the Timely Discovery of Relevant and Credible Information, blog, blog monitoring, blog monitoring tools, blogging, blogs, Brian E. Ulicny, Internet, Mieczyslaw M. Kokar, media, politics, PR, public relations, research, social media, Syracuse University, terrorism, United States Air Force, USAF, Versatile Information Systems Inc., war on terror, Web, William J. Sharp
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No Disclosure, No Dice

2006-07-03T08:47:00.000-04:00

In the latest issue of Business Week, Jon Fine takes a closer look at PayPerPost.com, a virtual product placement service that "pays bloggers to write nice things about corporate sponsors."

Here's how it works:

"Advertisers pay to post details about their 'opportunity,' specifying, among other things, how they want bloggers to write about, say, a new shoe, if they want photos to be included, and whether they'll pay only for positive mentions. Bloggers who abide by the rules get paid; heavily trafficked blogs may command premium rates."

And what of disclosure, you ask? Well, "it's up to the bloggers to be their own morality police," says founder Ted Murphy, who apparently believes that "it's better for a brand to get into a blog than to surround it as a banner or text ad," whatever the cost.

Shady.

Technorati Tags: ad, ads, advertising, blog, blogger, blogs, BlogStar Network, Business Week, disclosure, ethics, Jon Fine, media, MindComet, paid placement, PayPerPost.com, product placement, shill, shilling, social media, Ted Murphy, unethical word of mouth tactics, Web, word of mouth, WOM, WOMMA
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Customer Service the AOL Way

2006-07-02T14:52:00.000-04:00

Vincent Ferrari's recent chat with an AOL "retention consultant" - and the reaction to an audio clip that captured his request to cancel his account - was among the topics discussed at the 2006 PRSA Technology Section Conference on June 27.

Today, his hellish experience made The New York Times.

Technorati Tags: AOL, audio, blog, blogging, blogs, cancellation policy, cancelling AOL, customer service, Eliot Spitzer, Federal Trade Commission, Insignificant Thoughts, Internet, Nicholas J. Graham, PR, public relations, Randall Stross, Scott Falconer, The New York Times, Vincent Ferrari, Web
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Podcast Directory + Social Network = Blubrry

2006-07-01T10:39:00.000-04:00

Riding the swell of post-Gnomedex buzz, RawVoice, Inc.'s Blubrry - a site for podcasting enthusiasts that works more like a social network than a directory - has opened its virtual doors to beta testers.

Blubrry adds RSS-enabled tag clouds, show rankings and del.icio.us functionality to features like profile photos, links to friends and comment boards.

Here's a closer look:

It ain't perfect, but it does show promise.

Hat-tip: PRWeb.

Technorati Tags: ad, ads, advertising, beta, beta test, Blubrry, Brian Yuhnke, community, content, del.icio.us, download, downloads, Gnomedex, Internet, Jeevan Padiyar, podcast, podcast directory, PodcasterNews Network, podcasting, podcasts, PR, public relations, RawVoice Inc., RSS, social media, social network, social networks, tagcloud, tagclouds, Todd Cochrane, Web
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MTV Seeks Broader Digital Reach Through Expanded iTunes Partnership

2006-06-30T13:38:00.000-04:00

MTV Networks is adding to the range of programming offered through Apple's iTunes.

US audiences will soon be able to download Spike TV's Blade: The Series, TV Land's Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg and MTV's Viva La Bam for $1.99 per episode.

Hat-tip: vnunet.com.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Apple iPod, Apple iTunes, Blade: the Series, broadband, Carl Taylor, download, downloads, Eddy Cue, iPod, iTunes, MTV, MTV Networks, MTV Networks Digital Media, Nicholas Lehman, podcast, podcasting, podcasts, Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg, South Park, Spike TV, television, television programming, television programs, TV land, video, Viva La Bam, vnunet.com, Web
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AOL Launches Podcast Search Beta

2006-06-29T14:47:00.000-04:00

After months of "any day now," AOL has finally taken the wraps off of their Podcast Search tool, releasing it in beta form this afternoon.

With it, users can search the Web for podcasts by topic or by keywords within the files themselves.

Cool.

Technorati Tags: AOL, AOL beta, audio, beta, beta test, download, downloads, iPod, Internet, MP3, podcast, podcast search, podcasting, podcasts, PR, public relations, search, social media, video, Web
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NBC and YouTube Bury the Hatchet

2006-06-28T17:48:00.000-04:00

Six months after threatening legal action against YouTube, writes Erik Sass in today's installment of MediaDailyNews, NBC has "publicly reversed course," signing a deal that makes them the portal's first major network partner.

As part of the agreement, NBC will create a branded channel to promote properties like Saturday Night Live, The Office and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. New clips will be added weekly as will contests inviting You-sers to submit their own 20-second spots and compete for best in show.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, eh?

Technorati Tags: content, Erik Sass, Internet, Jack Black, Lazy Sunday, media, MediaDailyNews, NBC, NBC Universal, network, network television, PR, public relations, Saturday Night Live, social media, The Office, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, user generated content, video, video sharing, Web, YouTube
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AOL Sports + Fusion Entertainment = Lat34.com

2006-06-27T15:22:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to preview Lat34.com, an AOL Sports-sponsored portal dedicated to skate, BMX and FMX.

According to Caroline McCarthy over at News.com, the beta's gone public and plans to "expand over the summer to include on-demand video and photo content about action sports culture from stunts to fashion," are well under way. Eventually, she writes, "Lat34 will feature a searchable database of athlete biographies, Web links and events, plus social-networking functions such as blogs, message boards, meet-up groups and the AOL Instant Messenger client."

Mountain Dew, Panasonic and Jeep are among the advertisers featured in the latest rev.

Technorati Tags: action sports, action sports culture, ad, ads, advertising, AOL, AOL Instant Messenger, AOL Sports, athletes, beta, blog, blogging, blogs, BMX, Caroline McCarthy, DaimlerChrysler, events, extreme sports, fashion, FMX, Fusion Entertainment, Jeep, Lat34.com, meet up, message boards, mobile tour, Mountain Dew, News.com, Panasonic, portal, PR, public relations, skate, social media, social network, social networks, sports, video, Web
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Is the Writing on the Wall for MySpace?

2006-06-26T17:54:00.000-04:00

Site traffic doesn't always add up to business value, says Henry Blodget - at least not in the case of MySpace.

According to Blodget, the Web's largest social network is still "so irrelevant to the financial performance of the larger entity - News Corp. - that it doesn't even merit describing."

Today, MySpace and its 80 million registered users remain a "blip on the balance sheet," despite netting approximately $100 million in revenue last quarter.

Sure they've gotten tons of attention, but success "hasn't happened yet," says Blodget. "And if it doesn't in the next six months, MySpace will fall the way of its predecessors."

Technorati Tags: ad, ads, advertising, business, Henry Blodget, Internet, marketing, media, MySpace, News Corp., PR, public relations, Rupert Murdoch, social media, social network, social networks, Web
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Small Biz Blog Network Growing

2006-06-25T14:04:00.000-04:00

John Jantsch has added fourteen new blogs to his Duct Tape Marketing network, bringing the grand total up to twenty-two.

"Some of the blogs on the channel are authored by well known small business folks," explained Jantsch on Friday, "some are written by people you may not be familiar with, but whom I have watched and felt had much to say."

Followed is his new and improved roster:

Smart.

Italian Blogger Found Guilty in Defamation Case

2006-06-24T14:34:00.000-04:00

Following complaints of defamation by four people - two of them journalists - blogger Robert Mancini has been ordered to pay $16,900 in fines and damages by an Italian court.

Launched in 2005 as a means to uncover government corruption in the Valle d'Aosta region of northern Italy, Mancini is seemingly "being punished for his bad language and not because he posted false information," said press watchdog Reporters Without Borders in an official statement dated June 20. And that, they added, "is unacceptable."

The author is also being held responsible for comments posted by his readers, "a decision which goes against European legal jurisprudence."

Seems to go against the open nature of the blogosphere, too, no?

Political Blog Off Limits to 34,000 KY State Employees

2006-06-23T14:05:00.000-04:00

Censorship is alive and well, and not just in countries where repressive regimes rule.

Government officials in KY have decided to block state worker access to Mark Nickolas' BluegrassReport.org for what the author says are concerns over his recent criticism of Governor Ernie Fletcher and the political nature of his content.

Buckling under pressure from a handful of online media outlets, Fletcher's camp "offered a phony pretext that they were banning all blogs and not targeting for content," writes Nickolas in today's post. "Nevermind that blogs by media reporters were not banned and sites like Drudge Report, Rush Limbaugh and the Republican National Committee's blog are still accessible."

Political bloggers - as you'd expect - are all over this.

Hat-tip: AP.

Can I Get a WOMBAT? West Side!

2006-06-22T14:28:00.000-04:00

Totally jet-lagged (and more than a little dain bramaged) today, but thought I'd share this neat little souvenir from yesterday's closing WOMBAT 2 session:

From left to right: Brandimensions' stunner Maxine Friedman, yours truly, my partner in ethical crime, David Binkowski and the one and only shocker, Robert Scoble.

Behind the lens? The inimitable Jeremy Pepper.

Seriously, how not cool are you feeling right about now?

15 Golden Rules for Blogging

2006-06-21T16:32:00.000-04:00

Aside from this morning's keynote address - presented by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel - one of the highlights from today's WOMMA sessions was a lively how-to discussion that brought Pinny Gniwisch, VP of marketing for Ice.com and Mark Schiller, CEO of Electric Artists, together to discuss blogging in corporate America. Moderated by Debbie Weil, both agreed that unlocking content was the key to the best corporate blogs.

Followed are fifteen golden rules for corporate blogging as offered by Schiller:

Recognize that every client has a different set of business objectives - are you blogging to reach a specific niche or blogging to increase customer loyalty and boost sales?
Don't get hung up on results - document your process give your audience a peek behind the curtain of your company.
Don't force your employees to blog - passion can't be faked.
"Copywriter" does not equal "blogger" - the worst blogs are those that over-written.
Offer advice and recommendations to your readers - you are the expert after all.
Always strive to be best in class.
Avoid stealth blogs; character blogs are bad, too.
Share your plans with your lawyers and PR team - get them involved early.
Don't let your branding or advertising compete with your content.
Let your bloggers publish early - give them the scoop.
Update frequently - every day if possible.
Start conversations that encourage your readers to participate and come back for more.
Keep your content eclectic.
Make sure that your bloggers are prepared to respond to legal issues should they arise.
Be benevolent.

Always Do the Right Thing

2006-06-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

The need for ethics took center stage at WOMMA's Basic Training 2 session in San Francisco this morning. Speaking before an audience of brand managers, advertising and PR agents, ringleader (and WOMMA CEO) Andy Sernovitz announced what he called "the fight for good," a call-out to those who continue to execute shady campaigns that make word-of-mouth tactics a tougher sell for the rest of us.

Adding to the discussion, Gary Stein, Director of Strategy for AMMO Marketing offered the following Ten Commandments for practitioners striving to stay the course:

Know thyself.
Sweateth the small stuff.
Know your story.
"Influencers" are not always the "cool kids."
All your base belongs to word of mouth.
Make (sure) it happens(s).
Assign it.
Measure it.
Drip with ethics.
Share!

More when time permits...

Wikipedia Bests CNN and Yahoo! in Search for News

2006-06-19T13:49:00.000-04:00

"At its core," says Katie Hafner of The New York Times, "Wikipedia is not just a reference work but also an online community that has built itself a bureaucracy of sorts."

It also happens to be the Web's third-most-popular news and information source according to a recent Nielsen//NetRatings report.

Technorati Tags: CNN, collaboration, community, information, information source, Internet, Katie Hafner, New York Times, news, news source, Nielsen//NetRatings, PR, public relations, social media, social software, tech, technology, Web, wiki, Wikipedia
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Cymphony Set to Explore New Communication Dynamic

2006-06-18T10:26:00.000-04:00

Cymphony's corporate blog has apparently undergone something of a facelift, morphing to become the Influence 2.0 blog.

Because "the worlds of marketing, public relations, customer service and all market-facing functions know that the old mass media/marketing models are broken and major change is afoot," wrote company Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Jim Nail, Cymphony has decided to "kick-off an industry-wide dialog around this idea to expand it, clarify it and capture the best thinking about how to respond."

They've even launched an eBook and a wiki that will feature contributions from Nail, his co-worker Brian Cavoli and Todd Defren of Shift Communications and The Good Pitch Blog fame.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, customer service, Cymphony, ebook, Good Pitch Blog, Influence 2.0, Internet, Jim Nail, marketing, PR, public relations, Shift Communications, social media, strategy, Todd Defren, Web, wiki
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Brand Champs, While Tempted, Still Afraid of User-Generated Content

2006-06-17T09:46:00.000-04:00

The point that James Cherfkoff makes in his most recent post - that not all user-generated content is "rubbish" - is one that's gotten quite a bit of play on this side of the pond, particularly around my offices.

Here's an anecdote - respectfully borrowed from James' blog - that calls into question the perceived advantage that professional content creators think they have over the average Joe or Jane. I think it's worth sharing:

"It's the equivalent of going into a pub and demanding that everyone put down their beers, stop their claptrap (aka fun) and listen only to the professional people with special skills at talking. It completely misses the point of massive, online, social interaction - the real 2.0 phenomenon. I suspect this arguement (sic) is because people with special skills at creating content feel threatened by what they see as the riff-raff trying to get in on their act. It also often seems to be a view held by people who don't participate online. The reality is that user-generated content on the 2.0 scale is just new. And different. And nothing to do with Steven Spielberg."

I think many of us would agree that any form of expression that allows - and in some cases, invites - the public to manipulate the messages we all hold so dear makes us (not to mention our clients!) more than a little uncomfortable. But can we truly believe that we can control our audiences and prevent them from retelling our stories in whatever manner they see fit? Granted, their efforts may fall short of perfection on occassion - especially to those who have grown attached to the value of their well-calibrated brand - but shouldn't they still get props for trying?

Technorati Tags: advertising, blog, blog monitoring, blogging, blogs, brand, branding, brands, business, business blogs, Collaborate Marketing, community, consumer generated content, consumer marketing, interactive marketing, James Cherfkoff, marketing, media, PR, public relations, social media, user-generated content, Web, Web 2.0
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ebay Introduces New Auction Tools

2006-06-16T15:50:00.000-04:00

The world's largest online marketplace - ebay - has added two social media tools that will allow merchants to share their experiences. The first - a blog - has been described as "another avenue for providing additional information about products over and above sales information on auction pages," by Robin Arnfield of NewsFactor Network.

Here's a closer look:

The second - a wiki - is intended to give "users the ability to learn about specific topics of interest, contribute their expertise for new members, and share insights and opinions."

Both - says Nielsen//NetRatings senior analyst Heather Dougherty - "make a lot of sense."

Technorati Tags: auction, auction tool, auction tools, blog, blogging, blogs, ebay, Heather Dougherty, Internet, NewsFactor Network, Nielsen//NetRatings, PR, public relations, social media, tools, Web, wiki, wikis
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Gates to Give Up Position as Microsoft Chairman

2006-06-15T17:21:00.000-04:00

Truth has once again emerged from the Microsoft rumor mill as Bill Gates has announced his decision to abandon his post as company Chair in favor of the philanthropic endeavors pursued by his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"This was a hard decision for me," said Gates, whose full transition is expected to take up to two years. According to AP, Microsoft CTO Ray Ozzie will immediately assume the role of Chief Software Architect and begin working with Gates to oversee all issues related to technical software design.

Technorati Tags: AP, Associated Press, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Microsoft, news, philanthropy, PR, public relations, Ray Ozzie
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AOL Releases AIM Pro Beta

2006-06-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

When AOL announced plans to release a Professional Edition of their popular AIM application back in February, it was to meet the need of the growing number of consumers who rely on the tool to communicate with their colleagues. According to their own statistics, 135 million individuals use Instant Messenger at work. The company expects that number to reach about 477 million by 2009.

Today, AOL released the latest build of AIM Pro. It's ad-free and far from perfect, but with it users can easily collaborate and share presentations, browse the Web with co-workers and allow desktop access. The built-in calendar function can be used to organize WebEx meetings while the voice conference feature lets up to ten participants get together, speak and view video. It's said to be more secure and designed to play nice with Microsoft's Outlook, too.

Among the features yet to come, anti-virus file scanning, the ability to audit/log chat sessions and integration with the AIM's Phoneline Internet telephony service.

Technorati Tags: AIM, AIM Pro, AIM Pro beta, AOL, AOL beta test, AOL AIM Pro beta, AOL Instant Messenger Professional Edition, AIM Phoneline, beta, beta test, business, enterprise, IM, Instant Messenger, Instant Messenger application, Internet, Internet telephony, Microsoft Outlook, PR, public relations, Web, WebEx
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How Companies of All Sizes are Tapping Into Consumer-to-Consumer Dialogue

2006-06-13T18:12:00.000-04:00

According to Jupiter Research's latest study, Managing Word of Mouth Online, more small companies are allowing their employees to engage customers through corporate and employee blogs, discussion boards and RSS feeds. This, claims Jupiter, is because small companies are more "confident than large companies in their ability to monitor and control consumer product discussions," and therefore more apt to dive right in. High on their list of goals? Getting evangelists to promote their products or services.

That's not to say the big boys aren't in the game, too. "Large companies," says Jupiter, "are more likely to have the resources to launch more elaborate or expensive word-of-mouth efforts, such as the testing of unique or breakthrough marketing campaigns and marketing to third-party seed lists." For them, it's all about "increasing brand awareness" and "brand affinity."

Here's a closer look at how these organizations - large and small - have implemented word-of-mouth marketing initiatives in the last twelve months:

Source: Jupiter Research, Managing Word of Mouth Online, June 2006.

Technorati Tags: ad, ads, advertising, blog, blogging, blogs, brand affinity, brand awareness, business, buzz, buzz marketing, consumer-to-consumer dialogue, conversations, corporate blog, corporate blogging, corporate blogs, employee blog, employee blogging, employee blogs, Internet, Jupiter Research, Managing Word of Mouth Online, marketing, measurement, media, message board, message boards, podcast, podcasting, podcasts, PR, public relations, RSS, social media, viral, viral marketing, Web, Web site
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MarketingSherpa Announces Reader's Choice Blog and Podcasting Awards!

2006-06-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

MarketingSherpa has just announced their Reader's Choice Blog and Podcasting Awards!

Stop by and nominate away - just keep in mind that in order to qualify, your favorites must be:

Primarily on the topic of marketing
Launched prior to January 1, 2006
Actively updated - at least once a week - over the past six months
Written by a named individual or group of named individuals

The deadline for nominations is June 16th at midnight - voting begins on Tuesday, June 20th.

Let the games begin!

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, Internet, marketing, MarketingSherpa, MarketingSherpa Reader's Choice Blog and Podcasting Awards, podcast, podcasting, podcasts, PR, public relations, shameless self-promotion, social media, SON-OF-A-PITCH, Web, Weber Shandwick
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Scoble Bids Farewell to Microsoft

2006-06-11T18:59:00.000-04:00

Robert Scoble, one of my favorite bloggers and a recent guest in our Seattle offices, is saying goodbye to Microsoft. On July 5th, he assumes his new role as VP of content for PodTech.net.

Despite his decision to leave the "best big company in the world," Scoble says he still loves his former employer and will continue to be a "supporter and friend."

Back in November, Scobilizer was among the blogs that inspired me to officially enter the fray and join the discussion. I had the opportunity to hear Robert speak and sped through the book he and Shel co-authored in record time. Scoble took the role of "corporate spokesperson" to a whole new level. I admired his no-nonsense, "beat reporter" style and still do.

How this slipped past me yesterday, I'll never know, but I do wish him the best of luck.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, corporate blog, corporate blogger, corporate blogging, corporate blogs, gadgets, geek, Internet, Microsoft, Naked Conversations, podcast, podcasting, podcasts, PodTech.net, PR, public relations, Robert Scoble, Scoblizer, software, social media, tech, technology, Web
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What's All This Blogging Business About Anyway?

2006-06-10T14:32:00.000-04:00

Why do you blog? Is it to stay connected to friends and family or to express yourself?

Are you blogging to make money, promote yourself or do a bit of networking?

In a reader poll posted today, John T. Unger asks these simple - yet profound - questions.

With only twenty-four votes in thus far, the concensus seems to fall in favor of self-expression:

Powered by MajikWidget. Visit Guy's Blog.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, business, Internet, John T. Unger, media, poll, polls, PR, public relations, social media, survey, surveys, TypePad Hacks, Web
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Sage Advice for Aspiring Journalists

2006-06-09T18:17:00.000-04:00

With intern season in full swing, 22 year-old Myron P. Medcalf, a full-time general assignment reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, offers the following pointers to journalism grads everywhere:

Don't be put off by the competition - apply for a job with your campus newspaper or another local publication.
Discover your writing interests and learn how to meet deadlines - show editors what you can accomplish under pressure.
Explore the full range of on-campus opportunities - communications takes many forms.
Complete an internship and rack up some clips - without them, you're a long shot.
Don't get discouraged - being a journalist is hard work.

To which I'd like to add, always be on your guard - news is all around.

Hat-tip: Poynter Online.

Technorati Tags: journalism, journalist, intern, interneship, internships, journalists, media, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Myron P. Medcalf, Poynter, Poynter Online, PR, PR 101, PR advice, public relations
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HBO and MySpace Launch Virtual Entourage

2006-06-08T19:08:00.000-04:00

To promote the new season of their hit series, Entourage, HBO has launched a MySpace campaign that invites fans to set up their own virtual clique for a shot at a grand prize trip to LA.

The program, explains Ian Schaferm, founder of HBO agency partner Deep Focus, is designed to "keep audiences involved and engaged over an extended period of time." He's counting on MySpace’s community tools to do just that.

According to PR Week, over 20,000 users have already added "Entourage" to their MySpace friends list; over 100 have signed up for the competition.

Deep Focus has also created a microsite where visitors can prove that they've got what it takes to work for Ari via a one-on-one interview... funny stuff.

Technorati Tags: Deep Focus, Entourage, HBO, Ian Schaferm, Internet, MySpace, PR, PR Week, public relations, social media, Web
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Gorbachev Enters Russian Media Market

2006-06-07T18:50:00.000-04:00

In a first for former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev, he and billionaire Alexander Lebedev have acquired a 49% stake in Novaya Gazeta, an opposition bi-weekly renowned for its investigations into corruption in Chechnya.

According to the agreement, writes Parmy Olsen for Forbes, Gorbachev's share amounts to 10% of the publication, Lebedev's 39%. The remaining 51% - and control of content, says Gorbachev - will remain in the hands of the journal's editorial staff.

Interesting.

Technorati Tags: Alexander Lebedev, business, Chechnya, Forbes, media, Mikhail Gorbachev, newspaper, newspapers, Novaya Gazeta, Parmy Olsen, PR, public relations, Russia
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Microsoft to Sponsor New Windows Mobile Blog

2006-06-06T17:54:00.000-04:00

Microsoft has hired Jason Dunn to author a new blog dedicated to Windows Mobile media and entertainment.

"Coverage," said Dunn in his June 1 post, "will be focused purely on Windows Mobile devices, which includes Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and of course Portable Media Centers."

"Because of the Microsoft sponsorship on this project," he added, "this site (will be) 100% advertising free: no affiliate links, no banners, no text ads, nothing."

In addition to his latest assignment, Dunn will continue to maintain his other projects: Pocket PC Thoughts, Smartphone Thoughts and Digital Media Thoughts.

Subscribe to his RSS feed and wish him luck - sounds like he's gonna be a busy boy!

Disclosure: Microsoft is a Weber Shandwick client.

Technorati Tags: app, application, applications, apps, blog, blogs, Digital Media Thoughts, Internet, Jason Dunn, Microsoft, Microsoft blog, Microsoft blogs, Microsoft Embedded, Microsoft Mobile 5.0, Microsoft Mobile & Embedded devices, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Mobile, mobile API, mobile APIs, mobile app, mobile application, mobile applications, mobile apps, MSN blog, MSN blogs, Pocket PC Thoughts, Pocket PCs, Portable Media Centers, PR, public relations, RSS, Smartphone Thoughts, Smartphones, software, tech, technology, Two Inch View, Web, Weber Shandwick, Windows, Windows Mobile
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A Portrait of Those Who Post Content Online

2006-06-05T18:14:00.000-04:00

"Home broadband adoption is going mainstream and that means user-generated content is coming from all kinds of Internet users," writes John B. Horrigan, Associate Director for Research for the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

According to his company's latest Home Broadband Adoption report, 35% of all Internet users have published at least one form of online content. Their findings suggest that such activity is driven by young broadbanders under the age of 30: fully 51% have engaged in maintaining a personal blog or Web page, worked on a company blog or Web page or shared a personal creations like artwork, photos, stories or videos.

Here's a closer look at this group:

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, December 2005.

Technorati Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, broadband, content, content creators, digital content, digital content creators, Internet, Home Broadband Adoption, John B. Horrigan, personal blog, personal webpage, Pew Internet & American Life Project, photos, PR, public relations, research, social media, statistics, technology, Web
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It's 11PM... Do You Know Where Your Blog Post Is?

2006-06-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

What to write, what to write - we've all been there. Coming up with new and interesting things to say can be challenging, especially on a quiet Sunday. While his is not the first post to address blogging under such circumstances, Andy Merrett does offer some sound advice to those who feel compelled - like yours truly - to post at least one entry each day:

Do nothing - accept that there’s not much happening.
Post an opinion - not all entries have to be "hard fact."
Stray from your topic - it's okay not to have a one-track mind.
Revisit old news - update your readers by a providing a fresh take on an older piece.
Publish an article you’ve written in advance - keep a private stash of evergreen posts.

Merrett warns that popular bloggers might experience some fallout - I say that's hardly likely, so long as you bounce back before too long.

Just remember: "slow news days don’t usually last."

Hat-tip: Darren Rowse.

Technorati Tags: Andy Merrett, blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, Darren Rowse, media, news, PR, problogger.net, public relations, social media
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Blurring the Lines Between PR and Advertising

2006-06-03T11:09:00.000-04:00

In a recent op-ed piece for Bulldog Reporter, News Generation, Inc.'s Susan Matthews Apgood and Lynn Harris Medcalf asked "what does a guaranteed placement sound or look like and more importantly, does it provide the same value as a true earned media placement?"

To get the answer, their company - which specializes in radio media tours and audio news releases - conducted an online survey that found that five out of five PR broadcast services companies admitted to paying for coverage on television and radio.

Reacting to the piece, K. Cavender had this to say:

"Our ability to communicate with important target audiences should not be limited to a pitch and a press release. Sophisticated communications professionals use all the tools available, including the production of brochures, newsletters, podcasts, Web sites, RSS feeds and blogs, special events and, if appropriate, paid placements. Our job is to communicate and influence behavior. Well-scripted and information-rich stories can provide companies, clients, and the publics they serve with important insights. We shouldn't shy away from doing what it takes to get those messages to key stakeholders."

Sounds like this ethical storm's still brewin'...

Technorati Tags: ad, ads, advertising, advertorial, Bulldog Reporter, editorial, editorial coverage, ethics, Lynn Harris Medcalf, media, News Generation Inc., pay for play, PR, public relations, radio, Susan Matthews Apgood, television, TV
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Health Topics Still Popular Among Info Seekers

2006-06-02T07:44:00.000-04:00

More than 83 million consumers flocked to the Web in search of health, fitness and nutrition info during the month of April according to Nielsen//NetRatings.

Women made up 58% of the overall group, men 42%. 15% fell between the ages of 25 and 34. 36% were in the 35 - 49 range. The 45+ set accounted for nearly 52% of the total audience, followed by boomers (55+) and seniors (65+) at 25% and 9% respectively.

Among their favorite sites: WebMD, MSN Health, About Health and Fitness, Walgreens, Weight Watchers, RealAge, AOL Health, Medco, Mayo Clinic and Yahoo! Health.

Technorati Tags: About Health and Fitness, AOL Health, fitness, health, Internet, Internet search, Mayo Clinic, Medco, MSN Health, Nielsen//NetRatings, nutrition, PR, public relations, RealAge, search, Web, WebMD, Yahoo! Health
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BBC to Stream World Cup Games

2006-06-01T18:26:00.000-04:00

On June 10, the BBC will begin streaming World Cup matches in real time. Available at BBC Sport and on the special World Cup 2006 microhub they created, streams will be identical to those being offered via telly, commentary and all.

"We know a lot of online viewing is done in the office," says BBC director of sport, Roger Mosey, "so we suspect this will allow people both to do their job and to keep up with the very latest action from Germany."

Yeah, right.

Meanwhile, back in the States, the media giant continues to promote their new cable news network, BBC World, by offering clips in 30- and 60-second form through YouTube.

Disclosure: BBC World is a Weber Shandwick client.

Technorati Tags: BBC, BBC Sports, BBC World, Internet, PR, public relations, Roger Mosey, sports, stream, streams, streaming, streaming video, video, Web, Weber Shandwick, World Cup, World Cup 2006, YouTube
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