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

I’ve had two or three posts whirling around in my head of late, but been a bit too tired at night to type them out. (Must be the time change.) So, I’ve been in a questioning mood. Thanks to Ed, Kami and the others who have contributed their valuable insight and $0.03.

One more question, though:
Why does there seem to be such a difference in the various site traffic counters in use?

For me, I have four programs to track traffic (all free).

One is AWStats which is what my IP host has. That says I averaged 326.48 visitors a day during October. Now, I assume that at least half of that is from comment and trackback spammers. (Though, I plan to verify that someday. It’s probably > half.)

Via MyBlogLog, I average about 30 visitors a day, Monday through Friday.

Via Google Analytics, I seem to register 10-25 visitors a day.

Via Sitemeter, I’m averaging 10 per day the past week. (Sitemeter is the only counter that lets me exclude the computers I use. And, trust me, I don’t visit my own site more than two or three times a day, depending if I’m posting.)

Though I’d like to believe the AWStats count, I’m sure the actual real visitor count is much lower.

So, I’m wondering what others use and if anyone can explain why there’s such a difference in counts.

OTHER GREAT POINTS

Old People Like Web Video!, Louis Hau/Forbes.com

Video New Releases… fake news?, Philippe Borremans/Conversation Blog

Sony’s PS3 Plan: Lose $300 On Each Unit, But Make It Up In Volume, Carlo/TechDirt

Reasons to continue this blog, Mindy McAdams/Teaching Online Journalism

A Missed Opportunity?, Paul Holmes/Holmes Report Blog (Using ministors, pastors, etc., as a WOM medium.)

Who Should Be Named 2006 Media Person of the Year?, I Want Media.com. Get your nominations in now. Online-only voting starts Nov. 27.

Milton Friedman, 94, died Thursday “of heart failure after being taken to hospital near his home in San Francisco,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Subscription required. (Image from http://www.ideachannel.com/Friedman.htm.)

Or, search for it here.

One of my two majors in college was in economics. (That’s how I was going to get rich! Ah, to be on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors . . . . )

Anyway, whether one agreed with Friedman or not, you can’t argue his legendary status as an influential economist.

Technorati tag: Milton+Friedman

Is the difference in whether or not a person is confident or arrogant dependent on our individual view of that person (i.e., if we like him or her), or can those terms be objectively applied?

(UPDATED Nov. 15, approx. 9 a.m.: See end of post for a snippet of Jeff Jarvis’ take on Scheer’s idea and my $0.02.)

Peter Scheer had a thought-provoking and worth-considering article in the “San Francisco Chronicle” Sunday. You can also view it at the California First Amendment Coalition, where he is executive director. (Story courtesy of Poynter’s Romenesko.)

His idea is:

Newspapers and wire services need to figure out a way, without running afoul of antitrust laws, to agree to embargo their news content from the free Internet for a brief period — say, 24 hours — after it is made available to paying customers. The point is not to remove content from the Internet, but to delay its free release in that venue.

Scheer makes a great point about the main advantage — information — that newspapers have. And, the problem they also face when it comes to news on the national and larger realms:

Despite this advantage for newspapers, individual papers generally cannot charge for their content online because similar content is available elsewhere on the Internet for free.

My thoughts? No, newspapers should not embargo their feeds to Internet resources. They should embrace the Internet — and take advantage of it, as I’ve said before.

Newspapers should focus on local and regional news. NEWS PEOPLE CANNOT GET ELSEWHERE! Yes, even from blogs. No media outlet gives as much in-depth coverage as newspapers. Not radio. Not TV. And, with the Internet, newspapers can compete with the real-time advantages of radio and TV. USE IT!

I will repeat and yell that from the highest mountain tops until the end of time. Or, until the bulk of newspapers get it.

Also, increase online advertising revenue rates. Geez oh petes! Newspaper sites are the most heavily-trafficked sites. Use that advantage.

And, don’t be afraid to charge for some of your more highly-coveted online content. Be like the “NYTs” with its TimesSelect. (Though, now the Times is offering free temporary access.)

Or, allow for only basic viewing of news, but charge for features or in-depth stuff. Strike a balance between generating ad revenue for heavy traffic pages of your site, and charging for access. (With giving print subscribers either a reduced rate for online content or not charging them at all.)

Newspapers shouldn’t fight the Internet and its real-time capabilities. Use the professional news-gathering force you have in place and take advantage of the Internet!

UPDATED: BuzzMachine’s Jeff Jarvis also commented about Scheer’s idea, and he agrees with me that it’s not a good idea. (Okay, Jarvis did make his post first, but I didn’t see it before I posted mine. Honest.)

Part of his response is:

Uh, counselor, you assume that you can still control the news. You can’t. That’s the whole point of the internet. Others can easily step into whatever void there is and report what you don’t report;

Newspapers and other media never assumed they controlled the news. That’s wrong to think that. While the media may make the news, they predominantly report it.

And, unlike what Jarvis and others seem to think, no one individual or entity can do a better job of reporting the news than newspapers. No one or entity has the news-gathering resources and relationships to report the news any better than newspapers.

Yes, as I’ve said, there are other sources for national and global news, but nothing that currently exists now can “scoop” the papers as the best information-reporting source.

Now, if the newspapers can only focus on local and regional news — and embrace the ‘net — they’d be better off.

– Mike

I remember growing up and being in high school when you joined the army or other military branch to earn money for college. That was it. There was really no chance you’d see combat. I never served in the military, though my dad served a couple years in Germany in the 1950s. My wife’s dad served in the Navy, I believe during WWII.

Now, and during the past decade or so, the world is a much different place. If you join the military and earn money for college as your goal — you’d better be open to the chance that you’ll see live combat.

There’s no greater potential sacrifice than the chance that you’ll be putting your life on the line for someone else and/or your country.

All those in the military, active and retired — Army National Guard, Army Reserves, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines — deserve a heartfelt thank you and our sincere respect for the time they are devoting to the military and service to their country. If I’ve left out any military branch, please let me know. (Cartoon from Cox & Forkum. I know it says 2004, but looks like one isn’t done for ‘06 yet, and I didn’t see an ‘05 one. Still the message is the same!)

We also should thank their spouses, children and other family members for their support and own sacrifices in name of those who serve in the military.

On the left, I link to several military blogs. I’ve repeated some below (focusing on service milblogs, not friends/family). Please visit their blogs, take some time to read and learn about the authors. And, post a thank you in the comment or send them an e-mail.

I plan to do the same. For those active and retired military personnel and your families, let now me say to all of you: THANK YOU!

Milblogging.com: The self-proclaimed “world’s largest index of military blogs.” Even if it isn’t, it’s still pretty long.

A Storm in Afghanistan: Even though SC Eagle is now stationed in Germany and he’s moving to the states (for very good reason), still very much a worth-while read and perspective on the military.

A Soldier’s Perspective: Started by CJ, it’s grown to the “Noble Duty Milblogger Coalition.” Great posts. Not afraid to voice what many of us are thinking. See this YouTube clip (Pittance of Time) about what little we can do to honor military personnel.

Blackfive: Very insightful posts. Often links to other milbloggers’ posts.

American Citizen Soldier: Buck Sargent is a good writer and has some great YouTube clips. Currently stationed in Iraq.

One Marine’s View: A relative new one for me. Don’t visit there often (unfortunate for me in the case of many of the milblogs), but still good posts.

Michael Yon: A former Marine, he’s likely one of the more famous milbloggers. Gives an insider’s view (and embedded view) of Iraq.

Fire and Ice: Michael Fay gives not only his written views on the military and the war on terrorism, but he’s also an artist.

There are many, many other great milblogs out there. Visit the few I’ve listed, or search for your own.

– Mike

Technorati tags: milblogs, Veterans’ Day, military

who is politically conservative/Republican?

(UPDATED 11-08-06 approx. 9 a.m. with another great social media-related post, this time from Josh Hallett.)
Enjoy!

Shaking Out Things in Social Media Consulting, Josh Hallett/Hyku

Introducing the Social Media Pitch, Gary Goldhammer/Below the Fold. (RAOTFLMAO-funny, yet, insightful.)

Social media reflections, Ed Lee/BloggingMeBloggingYou

WOM is DMZ For PR, Ad Folks, Mike Manuel/Media Guerrilla

Gannett enlists citizen journalists, Yahoo! News

Gannett introduces “the newsroom of the future”, Poynter Forums

Wired News: How to Catch a MySpace Creep, Cyberjournalist.net

School newspaper censored, “St. Petersburg Times”

The Internet is neither negative nor positive. It is simply a tool. It and the related technologies offer an abundant of opportunities.

A few weeks ago, I read the story about a national sting that netted 125 perverts in a child-porn case.

It seems like we are often hearing or reading about sexual predators, child porn and other sick society stuff. Was this “stuff” still as prevalent 10, 20 or 50 years ago? If alive 75 years ago, would these people still be participating and/or watching these sick activities?

Or, is the opportunity to view this perversion on the Internet bringing it out from the evil bowels of their souls?

Okay, let’s move on to something not nearly as important, like public relations and social media. Blogs, boards and other online social media have opened up a lot of opportunity for companies, associations and individuals to reach out to customers, prospects and others of like-mind.

As PR and communications professionals, we have a lot of opportunity to serve our clients/employers. But, as with the degenerates above, we have a judgment to make. Decide what is right and what is wrong.

We can take the opportunity to set up a fake blog, leave positive client comments posing as an everyday Joe or Jane, we can start slanted threads on discussion boards.

Or, we can be transparent, upfront, honest and ethical, and not become swayed by wanting to please clients/our employer and make money.

I’m not in anyway connecting or insinuating the sick perversion in the first example with what I see as unethical — or at least dishonest — PR pros in the second. It’s just a thought spurred by the porn case that I’m brining into my world of PR.

Just because the opportunity is there — and knocking on your door — you don’t have to answer it.
– Mike

Technorati tags: PR, public+relations, social media, opportunity