Mike’s Points

Some blogs and blog comments I’ve read of late have really surprised me about how people view the purpose of blogs and how blogs are supposed to be.

1) Are blogs the be-all, end-all?

Yes, if you ask Kevin Burton who commented on Micro Persuasion that, “Blogs are the future. . . they aren’t perfect but they’re a lot better than what we’ve got now.”

2) Do blogs have to be open to the public?
Yes, if you ask Adrants. If you have a blog and do any publicity for it, then it HAS to be open to the public. (See comment #8 from Steve Hall.)

3) Just because blogs are open to the public, does it mean they are intended for public consumption?

Yes, if you ask Just Surfed On who posted a response to B.L. Ochman’s piece about the firing of Kelly Kreth. Just Surfed On commented:

“Blogs are just a pittance on the net and WAY out of the mainstream.”

My answer the above questions? No, no and . . . NO!

Blogs are not THE future. They ARE part of the future. Blogs are just tools . . . for those in communications, for those who want a public soap box on certain topics or issues, and those who just want a journal or diary. POP! PR’s Jeremy Pepper had a great post and sparked some good discussion on this topic.

And, no, blogs don’t have to be open to the public. I think what DaimlerChrysler is doing with it’s media-only blog is a good idea. An easy, relatively private give-and-take forum between DCX and registered media. See more here.

Finally, just because a blog is public, doesn’t mean it’s intended for public consumption. The great thing about blogs is that people can usually find a blog on a topic or subject that interests them. Very few blogs are “targeted” for the public. Most are industry- or issue-specific.

Adrants says it right when it comes to what blogs mean and what blogs really are:

“That’s all a blog is. A website that just happens to be easier to publish then a ‘regular’ website. . . . As long as published content is being read and influencing the intended audiences, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s a weblog or a hard-coded, old-fashioned website.”

It’s just an easy-to-use tool. Or, soap box, if you prefer.

– Mike

P.S. Yes, I’ve had two really, really long posts. I’m sorry. Just had a lot to say, I guess after being quiet for awhile. Will get back to the more “U.S.A. Today” style.

Technorati tags: Blogging, B.L. Ochman, Micro Persuasion, POP PR!, Adrants, Blogs

Despite what some critics would say about DaimlerChrysler’s media-only blog — www.thefirehouse.biz – the feedback so far is “excellent” as representatives from every major publication have registered, according to DCX’s Ed Garsten, editorial director of TheFirehouse.biz.

TheFirehouse.biz was launched Sept. 12 but, according to Garsten, is “still a work in progress.”

But, why close it to the public?

According to Garsten:
“We want reporters and our executives to feel they can be frank with each other. For sure, there won’t be any company secrets exposed, nor do we expect reporters to tip their hands on future stories in a forum such as this.

“I must stress, this isn’t about secretiveness or exclusivity. It’s all about communicating with a certain subset of people who follow our company and industry, and aiming our content toward them. The benefit is we are reaching reporters who have a solid background on the issues and trends related to the industry and DCX, and we can talk a little more ‘inside baseball,’ as can they.

“A closed site also gives reporters a safe haven of sorts, to broach subjects they might not otherwise feel comfortable doing on a public site. We do plan to launch an all-access site, but the timetable for that has not yet been set.”

Once you hear DCX’s reasons, it sounds like a good idea. A Blog is an easy and quick way to reach to a large audience, while still offering a way for one-on-one communication. And, having it closed gives a degree of privacy (kind of like being “off the record”) that is often needed in working with the media.

Garsten said DCX isn’t looking to use the blog as its newsroom and post news release. It already has that. Instead, as stated above, it’s using the blog as a vehicle for direct communication with the media. For example, DCX broke the story of DCX producing 300Cs in China via thefirehouse.biz.

“It’s a place where we can offer some perspective on issues and texture to stories not ordinarily included in formal news releases. It’s also a chance to hose down rumors that might be swirling about our company or the industry,” Garsten said.

For posting, any DCX executive or member of the communications staff can post or answer any comments or questions posed by reporters.

But, the real question: Why TheFirehouse?

Again, according to Garsten:
“A few years ago DCX started renting out an old, but active firehouse each year during media preview days at the North American International Auto Show each January in Detroit. The firehouse is converted into a relaxing nightspot for the press where they can mingle with our executives, grab a bite to eat and something to drink.

“We want journalists to look at our blog in the same way–a place they can come for relaxed give and take with our folks, while picking up some news nuggets we hope are useful to them.”

While a media-only blog may not be for every company, I can definitely see where others will follow DCX’s lead. AND, if there are other media-only blogs already out there, let me know. Also, do you think a media-only blog for a company, private or public, is a good idea?

Also, if Ed Garsten’s name sounds familiar, you probably saw one of his reports during his 20-year career with CNN. He also worked for the “Detroit News” before joining DCX.

– Mike

Technorati tags: DaimlerChrysler, Adrants, CNN, Detroit_News, Blogging, Journalism, Media

By way of the Detroit News, DaimlerChrysler has received some flack for its media-only blog at www.thefirehouse.biz.

Apparently, Adrants doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and directed DCX to GM’s blogs, which are “all-access.”

I think GM is definitely a “early adapter” for blogs. However, from what I’ve heard directly from DCX, it’s media-only blog has been very successful. I contacted DCX from work, and not as a blogger. So, am in the process of getting permission from my contact about publishing what he sent and other details.

If that comes through, you’ll see some of the results of the DCX blog.

– Mike

Technorati tags: Blogging, DaimlerChrysler, Media

There’s been a lot of talk about citizen journalism. Steve Rubel talks about it a lot, as does Poynter and others. Cyber Journalism has a list of them.

But, likely one of the oldest (if not the oldest) truely citizen journalist site around is www.ohmynews.com. The SF Chronicle has a great piece on it in Sunday’s paper.

Nothing but news from “citizen reporters” across South Korea, and even outside the country. Yes, South Korea. Not the the U.S.

According to the story, the site very much has an “us vs. them” attitude:
“‘So here we hoist our flag and declare war on the old media system. … We are overthrowing the basic principles of news reporting, which for many years has been taken for granted by many of the world’s newspapers,’ declares one of the company’s brochures.”

The site, which pays for submitted stories (about 2 in 3 are accepted) generates revenue from ads (70 percent), syndicated sales and premium contents.

Wonder when the first one will be nearly as successful here in the states?
– Mike

Technorati tags: South Korea, Citizen Journalism, Journalism, Media,

I’ve said it before that the power of Web logging is the immediacy and the intimiacy it offers.

Yes, the Web is known for quick information — a basic site can be up in minutes. Live video. Podcasting. Breaking news.

But, nothing yet is faster than blogging. Especially with the free services available.

That speed and the personal communications blogs enable has never been more evident than the impact of the NOLA.com site in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

MediaChannel has a story from Online Journalism Review’s Mark Glaser about the actual life-saving impact the “Times-Picayune’s” site had on the residents of New Orleans. For example:

“[NOLA.com Editor Jon] Donley said that an aide of Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, the commander of the relief efforts, had tasked a group of people with monitoring the NOLA View blog, and were taking notes and sending out rescue missions based on the postings. ‘In fact, one time we had some server issues,’ Donley said, ‘and [the aide] wrote us frantically saying, “Get this up as soon as you can, people’s lives depend on it. We’ve already saved a number of lives because of it.”‘”

Yes, NOLA.com reported news, but it also allowed displaced citizens to post help for people still trapped, and other information via its blog.

That is the power of blogging. A definite congratulations to Jon Donley and the entire NOLA.com and Times-Picayune staff for their dedicated, life-saving work.
– Mike

Technorati tags: Web log, Blogging, Blogs, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Citizen Journalism, Journalism

Jeremy Wagstaff, technology columnist for “The Asian Wall Street Journal” and “The Wall Street Journal Online,” has some interesting views on the future of newspapers — print and online version (courtesy of techdirt).

To summarize and take from Mr. Wagstaff’s views: Newspapers need to treat print and online as two different audiences. The print version should have longer content for people who love to read and want in-dept storytelling.

Online, meanwhile, is short, to the point: for people who don’t like (or don’t have time) to read.

As a journalist in my early career (and still at heart), that’s an interesting take. TV, radio, etc., can’t give you the detailed information, analysis and even inspiration that newspapers can. A good journalist can really make a subject come to life — expose corruption, highlight the exceptional and every-day good, provide news — all the while making an impact in your life.

However, for those more apt to the Internet vs. print, we shouldn’t short-change the online content (even as Mr. Wagstaff later points out). While I can’t curl up with my monitor as I can with my Sunday paper, I can still be moved and informed (thought I’m not as comfortable ).

Newspapers are still very much needed. However, they can’t just repeat their print versions online. They need to be innovative. Maybe this is one step.

And, speaking of innovation, I think it’s time to check out The State’s citizen journalist site.

– Mike

Technorati tags: Journalism, Media, Writing,

Props to Glen Turpin and his leading of the new branding identity for Quark.

From a writer’s viewpoint, the “Q” graphic logo treatment is interesting. It took me a couple seconds to realize what it was (with the dangling part of the Q shortened). But, I think it’ll be a hit.

Those in the graphics community are very passionate about their programs (and computers). It’ll be very interesting to gauge the reaction.

– Mike

Technorati tags: Quark, business, branding, logo, identity, marketing, publishing

Let me first say that, though I’m not a frequent reader of Microsoft’s Robert Scoble’s blog, when I have, it’s been very interesting and informative.

However, he seems to be getting a lot of props — from here and here – about a TV interview posted with Microsoft’s Bill Gates.

Yes, his boss.

I’m sure the video interview is very good, but it seems like a lot is being made that he got an interview. With his own boss.

Shouldn’t Mr. Scoble have, I dunno know, dibs on talking with his boss. I would think so. Both are celebrities in their own right, so an interview would benefit both — and their company.

Am I missing something, or concentrating too much on the back patting Mr. Scoble is getting rather than the interview content?
– Mike

Technorati tags: blogging, blog, Vlog, Microsoft, Scoble, journalism

Branding, or one’s brand is more than the letters or the graphic image representing that brand.

As my employers, Rob Frankel and I’m sure others have pointed out, a company’s brand should convey a set of values, perception and even a degree or level of emotion (minor or significant, negative, neutral, positive, etc.).

In recent months and weeks, there has been a lot discussed about a company’s valued brand. The most recent is “Legos.” (Yes, I now know it should be all cap’d and not plural.)

Yes, a company’s name and trademark are important, and it should work to ensure that its name, TM and similar items are properly used.

However, those efforts should be done with the thought of how the company’s actions will ultimately affect its brand. Taking heavy-handed legal and other action will dampen a company’s brand. I believe FedEx has taken some hit because of its emphasis on legal tactics for FedExFurniture.com.

Jacuzzi(TM) did it the right way (granted, after some heavy-handed legal correspondence).

The point is: Protect your brand and trademark, but don’t do it at the expense of your brand.
– Mike

Technorati tags: Business, branding, brand, FedEx, Jacuzzi, trademark

Courtesy of TechDirt, it reports that the Virgina woman who owns Katrina.com — and has for some time — is using it to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Though, she could have profited handsomely from it according to TechDirt (like our friend at FedExFurniture.com could have), she had refused those offers.

Katrina.com is set it up as a source for those in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area to try to find those loved ones who are missing. It contains a wealth of emergency contact and other information.

– Mike

Technorati tags: Katrina, FedExFurniture, NOLA, Hurricane Katrina, hurricane