Mike’s Points

if we know they’re fake.

B.L. Ochman doesn’t agree. BTW, thanks to her blogging about the Hotel Campari campaign (promoting Italian liquor). Apparently, MRM Worldwide — the agency — has set up fake profiles on Flickr, MySpace and YouTube in conjunction with the campaign. (See Richard MacManus for details.)

Ochman writes:

I think this campaign is just as unethical as Wal-mart and other flogs. And that it abuses the trust upon which social media is built. What do you think?

The Edelman/Wal-Mart fake blogs were purposefully deceitful. Intended to look like a grass-roots, genuine effort. That was wrong.

However, unlike Edelman/Wal-Mart, we know from the get-go the Hotel Campari blog and the social media profiles are fake. If a blog is upfront, fake is fine. It makes it into a game. That’s what many social networking sites are about anyway — entertainment.

If a company wants to try to sell me along the way, that’s fine. Transparently fake is fine.

Just look at John Tucker or Borat. Those are obviously fictional characters set up on MySpace to promote a movie. (Disclosure: Borat is a friend.)

So, go ahead and set up fake blogs and social profiles. Involve us. Just make damn well sure we know it’s fake.
– Mike

Like my brethren blogger Colin and others hosted by the remarkable Greg Brooks, I’ll be moving from MovableType to WordPress. I have no particular loyalty one way or the other, but am moving to help reduce the spambots from overloading my server.

So, in the meantime, I’ve turned off comments and trackbacks. If you have anything you want to say, just e-mail me, and I’ll create a post for you. It’ll be no problem.

By next week (after migrating the blog to WP), hopefully, I’ll be back up and running — though could still post this week. Guess it depends on the spambots.

Also, for the Comcast subscriber in Ann Arbor who found my site Tuesday around 9:16 p.m. “googling” for “jeff docking is stupid,” I appreciate the visit. However, what is your problem with Dr. Docking? What, you don’t like ice? Or a football stadium on campus? What is your problem?

Take care,
Mike

I shake my head everytime I read about the Center for Media & Democracy’s “fake TV news” efforts.”

Yeah, I know this is an old topic, but one that I don’t quite get.

I understand CMD’s concern that the public might be duped to purchase something or support a cause when that topic is shown as news or a TV feature story.

But, no where can I find in CMD’s VNR information where it talks about the role of TV journalists — news assignment editors, news directors, producers, etc. — in deciding what and if VNRs are aired.

Give them — those TV journalists — some credit! They are not stupid. They recognized news-oriented VNRs from salesy, promotional VNRs.

How is the broadcast of VNRs different than a newspaper or magazine using an exerpt from a news release in an article? Or, using a news release as a basis for a story?

Do you know what John Stauber, Sheldon Rampton and other CMD staff and board members . . . .?

Journalists are not stupid. They can recognized fluff from news. They’re trained. The decision-makers (i.e., editors) are experienced. They can weed out the junk that doesn’t serve their audience from the news releases and VNRs that have value.

Sure, journalists are getting overworked and under pressure. But don’t think that the ones still working have lost their news judgment.
– Mike

Technorati tags: PR, public relations, Center for Media & Democracy, video news release

Through blogging and involvement in various discussion boards, I’ve come to the point where I expect to be able to comment on a news article or a board topic, if I so desire. Damn it! It’s my right!

Well, it’s not my right, but definitely my desire to.

However, being in public relations and working for an agency and representing more than a few companies, I’ve found the past few months that I should not comment as freely as I desire.

It is because of either how my comments might impact my relationships with local media or how the opinions of my clients might be affected. (Photo from http://www.speakersofbromley.org.uk/news.htm.)

Mostly, my personal restraint has been with a popular local board, ToledoTalk.com. I’m there posting and commenting on topics of personal and professional interest. There have been numerous discussions about the actions of the local media, events, people and political issues. I’ve refrained from offering my $0.02 now and then because how other visitors might view my employer and/or clients based on what I say.

That need for restaint by PR pros came up around the 30:41 mark of the Oct. 31 Edelman Earshot podcast, Ethics in Social Media Communications. (Thanks to Robert French/InfOpinions for the pointer.)

Essentially, the point was made by Rick Murray that, even if you are voicing a personal opinion on your own time about a work-related client or project, you can’t comment just as a consumer. Under the blogosphere’s expected disclosure obligations, you’d have to state your relationship with the subject or topic.

Else, you’d be putting yourself, your employer and client in potential harm because it might appear that your comment is part of a concerted communications campaign.

Even if you state your relationship, Murray said you’d have to ask yourself if you are “empowered” to speak on behalf of the client or your employer.

Participating on blogs and boards can be personally and professionally productive — but there is also some personal restraint that is needed.

If you don’t like being restrained, find a new job.
– Mike

Technorati tags: Public Relations, Social Media, PR, Communication

Okay, I’m not into reporting the news, but WXYZ in Detroit is reporting that legendary UM football coach Bo Schembechler died this morning during a taping of a “Big Ten Ticket” Show.

Not to dismiss the personal tragedy of Coach Schembechler’s death and his role in college football history, but what affect will this have on Saturday’s game?

I’d say it’ll give the UM players an incentive that OSU cannot match. Granted, after the first series or two of plays, emotion dies down and talent, skill, experience and luck take over. But still, something like “Win one for Bo!” is no typical rallying cry.

Technorati tags: Bo Schembechler