Mark Glaser, has a nice little backgrounder to citizen journalism, which he says: is that people without professional journalism training can use the tools of modern technology and the global distribution of the Internet to create, augment or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others.
It goes back to some of the early examples and is a light introduction and will offer some insight for those practitioners who want to interact in this space.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Diversity in Social Media
'The Business of Diversity - how PR performance can be improved by embracing diversity'. is to be debated by the CIPR on 18 October, the conference will see leading speakers address the issues posed by Britain's increasingly diverse society. At the heart of the conference is the proposition that it is in the best interests of businesses to diversify their workforce.The report will review the diversity of the PR profession today in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, age and sexuality.
One notes that diversity has not being extended to people without the ability, education or technical skills to be a blogger of Colin Farrington's stature. I have a young dyspraxic friend who is a wizzard Instant Messaging. Perhaps he can attend and explain the problems of using and being accepted as a blogger and with other social media.
One notes that diversity has not being extended to people without the ability, education or technical skills to be a blogger of Colin Farrington's stature. I have a young dyspraxic friend who is a wizzard Instant Messaging. Perhaps he can attend and explain the problems of using and being accepted as a blogger and with other social media.
Knee jerk
Currys has announced plans to launch a low-cost online DVD and CD store aimed at undercutting major offline and online retailers.
The electrical goods firm said it would offer around 180,000 CDs and 40,000 DVDs for purchase online, with free delivery and chart and new releases priced from £8.99 and £12.99 respectively.
This just does not make sense. If online download to to MP3 player. If not, go to store.
Or did I miss something?
If Currys had offered a 'free to play' instore wifi I could believe it. Then they could make a profit selling coffee.
I don't know who their CMO is but its bout they got a new one.
The web magazines with content 95% suppliers by 'users'.
My out takes from the Journalism.co.uk interview with Jeremy Tapp of online publisher Magicalia.
What we learn from this is yet another market that now exists for good copy from the Public relations industry.
"It doesn't take a genius to look at the ABCs this year to know things are changing.
"Frankly, I think a large part of what is happening is because of the web, it has finally started to grow commercial teeth, its bite is becoming as bad as its bark," said Jeremy Tapp.
Tapp and his business partner Adam Laird co-founded Magicalia seven years ago. It is home to 40 specialist website communities.
However, last month Magicalia bought Encanta Media for £2.72 million to get its hands on its woodworking, modelling, patchwork and gardening magazines and initiate its move from solely digital into duel publishing.
"A lot of people say web is important to their magazines but what they really mean is that it is a defensive action, essentially 'how do we deal with this thing that we would rather not deal with,' by which they mean the ingress of something that changes their world.
"We recognise that magazines are fabulous and have a deep connection with readers, a permanent connection with readers and advertisers, and we want to do that too.
"The fully evolved cross-media company in a couple or three years time will be seamless and will have skills in both those worlds."
Many of Magicalia's sites have up to 95 per cent of their content supplied by the users.
Publishing online and having a sturdy technological base has allowed Magicalia to launch titles that would not otherwise survive in print and attract several small audience groups that when combined offer a powerful advertising bait.
"Without the cost of distribution, without the cost of paper, we can reach into a smaller niche."
"Getting money out of readers for content when there is high quality content available for free on the website next door is always going to be difficult.
"You have to create an environment that is really high quality if you are going to do that, the reason that we have not done it yet is for precisely that difficulty. It's a new world and people are still scrambling for market share."
What we learn from this is yet another market that now exists for good copy from the Public relations industry.
"It doesn't take a genius to look at the ABCs this year to know things are changing.
"Frankly, I think a large part of what is happening is because of the web, it has finally started to grow commercial teeth, its bite is becoming as bad as its bark," said Jeremy Tapp.
Tapp and his business partner Adam Laird co-founded Magicalia seven years ago. It is home to 40 specialist website communities.
However, last month Magicalia bought Encanta Media for £2.72 million to get its hands on its woodworking, modelling, patchwork and gardening magazines and initiate its move from solely digital into duel publishing.
"A lot of people say web is important to their magazines but what they really mean is that it is a defensive action, essentially 'how do we deal with this thing that we would rather not deal with,' by which they mean the ingress of something that changes their world.
"We recognise that magazines are fabulous and have a deep connection with readers, a permanent connection with readers and advertisers, and we want to do that too.
"The fully evolved cross-media company in a couple or three years time will be seamless and will have skills in both those worlds."
Many of Magicalia's sites have up to 95 per cent of their content supplied by the users.
Publishing online and having a sturdy technological base has allowed Magicalia to launch titles that would not otherwise survive in print and attract several small audience groups that when combined offer a powerful advertising bait.
"Without the cost of distribution, without the cost of paper, we can reach into a smaller niche."
"Getting money out of readers for content when there is high quality content available for free on the website next door is always going to be difficult.
"You have to create an environment that is really high quality if you are going to do that, the reason that we have not done it yet is for precisely that difficulty. It's a new world and people are still scrambling for market share."
Cultural Organisations - can they now be free?
Lawrence Lessig is a Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, He notes on his blog:
The British Council and Counterpoint has a new publication, “Unbounded Freedom: A Guide to Creative Commons Thinking for Cultural Organizations,” written by Rosemary Bechler. The book will be launched Friday. There’s a discussion page on the author’s blog, which begins with a useful post addressing the question: “So why did I choose to licence my work in this way?”
What is free - and how
The Free Software Foundation has launched a public discussion on proposed changes to the Free Document License, a license designed “can be used for any textual work” but which, in the world enriched by Wikipedia, now attempts to license all creative work.
This is a discussion worth following. It is, after all, about every press release issued and article published. It is about blog posts and video and it is about social media.
It is about mixing 'free' content such as audio and video and where you copyright extends (like the licence for this work).
This is a discussion worth following. It is, after all, about every press release issued and article published. It is about blog posts and video and it is about social media.
It is about mixing 'free' content such as audio and video and where you copyright extends (like the licence for this work).
Can On-line PR keep up with the growth in Social Media
In a research note quoted by Reuters, RBC Capital analyst Jordan Rohan said he had come out of a meeting with Fox Interactive enthused about the site’s experienced management, "massive" global appeal and potential to become "an intellectual property distribution powerhouse".
While admitting his claim sounds “audacious”, he thinks "media investors may not fully appreciate what has already been done with MySpace or what may lie ahead."
He added: "$15bnan> in a few years? It is possible.” Remember that Fox only paid $580 m for MySpace.
Um.....
Well, we jolly well should be thinking in these terms.
Colin Farrington - what do you want to say to the DG of CIPR?
David Brain met Colin Farrington.
Colin asked :
Sixty Second View
Colin asked :
"...what exactly did I and we (you bloggers out there I guess) want the CIPR to do help the industry come up to speed on the issue? Fair enough. Let’s think constructively as a group on this one and see what we can suggest. Answers on a postcard to…"
Sixty Second View
professionals seen to understand strategic, tactical and operational use
Simon Wakeman makes a lot of sense in his post about the CIPR and its role in helping develop social media for the industry.
In particular this comment is valuable:
In particular this comment is valuable:
CIPR needs to take an aggressively positive stance on social media. There are many professions vying for credibility in this space, and as a respected body the institute can articulate the valid credentials for our profession.It’s easy for anyone to get into social media, but the professionals who are seen to understand the strategic, tactical and operational use of these new channels will be those who can benefit most commercially from them.
That’s not to say a debate isn’t healthy - but a corporate stance is needed from the CIPR on social media to give a firm indication of its position - otherwise the messages on behalf of the UK PR community will continue to be mixed.
The changing nature of organisations
An article by Wyatt Kash, in GCN cought my attention.
Despite his use of 'web 2.0' it is interesting because of some of the comments he has brought together.
For example:
"If the Web 2.0 is in its infancy, then Enterprise 2.0 is a total newborn," and "
"...the days when the technologists could impose technology standards, inflicting structure on, and inside an organization" as they have over the past 10 years may be waning."
"...the outcome doesn't have to be chaos. It can be more like an ant colony."
Despite his use of 'web 2.0' it is interesting because of some of the comments he has brought together.
For example:
"If the Web 2.0 is in its infancy, then Enterprise 2.0 is a total newborn," and "
"...the days when the technologists could impose technology standards, inflicting structure on, and inside an organization" as they have over the past 10 years may be waning."
"...the outcome doesn't have to be chaos. It can be more like an ant colony."
PR speak - just rubbish
Andy Lark has this great post about the absence of thought and PR speak.
Lee Gomes on the use of the word Breakthrough in press releases. There are plenty of other common phrases. Like "leading" - if everyone is leading then who isn't? A simple and imperfect Google search on 'press release leading' resulted in 92,700,999 results...
Our laziness in crafting news releases isn't just tiresome, to Lee's point, it perverts the very language we depend on for our trade.
His full post adds more.
It is a real turn off. Why do PR people keep using these obviously nonsense words.
The PR consultancy social media portfolio
What sort of thing can your PR consultancy do beside write press releases and organise events? Can I suggest looking at how football clubs are showing you the way with the portfolio you need.
EVERTON Football Club has reappointed new media company Rippleffect as its online partner in a five-year deal worth a six-figure sum, reports Cheshire Online .
The Premier League club has long been associated with online innovation, and recently became the first UK football club to produce its own dedicated podcast.
Here we see a broad based application of new media. A plan that can be adopted for a range of PR applications.
Check out Everton Mobile, Everton RSS feeds, Everton blogs, Everton TV and lots of other applications.
The new website offers Everton's global fan base massive amounts of exclusive downloadable and interactive content - in addition to the now-established news feeds and Everton TV - and a subscription based-video on demand TV service that has seen a 250% increase in subscriptions since launch.
Comedy, Podcast and good PR idea
Comics Marek Larwood, Russell Howard and Steve Hall have recorded an exclusive Sun Podcast to mark the start of their new Edinburgh & Beyond Tour, in association with Paramount Comedy and Avalon.
This is a great way of using podcasts. The promoter, paper and participants all get good exposure and not far away, I guess, is the special Sun Christmas offer of an iPod or other MP3 player.
A good PR case study.
This is a great way of using podcasts. The promoter, paper and participants all get good exposure and not far away, I guess, is the special Sun Christmas offer of an iPod or other MP3 player.
A good PR case study.
Newspapers leave young people cold
New York Times (NYT) recently appointed 'futurist-in-residence' has claimed that young readers do not have an 'emotional attachment to paper'.
This is not just a US trend. It is true too in the UK. The impact on media relations is obvious and needs to be part of campaign plan development.
Last week the NYT announced the appointment of Michael Rogers as futurist-in-residence - to keep the organisation abreast of how technological developments will affect the newspaper industry notes Journalism.co.uk.
Rogers, a former new-media executive with the Washington Post who writes the Practical Futurist column for MSNBC, told I Want Media that despite great technological advancements newspapers would not disappear, to be replaced by mobile and internet editions, for some time.
For a long time the emotional relationship between print and its readers has been well understood and is based on the research of Guy Consterdine.
At present, it is holding up the circulation of consumer magazines. I see this being in danger as mobile starts to replace such magazines. The emotional attachment to the mobile device is an area of development that needs more research but is already apparent.
This is not just a US trend. It is true too in the UK. The impact on media relations is obvious and needs to be part of campaign plan development.
Last week the NYT announced the appointment of Michael Rogers as futurist-in-residence - to keep the organisation abreast of how technological developments will affect the newspaper industry notes Journalism.co.uk.
Rogers, a former new-media executive with the Washington Post who writes the Practical Futurist column for MSNBC, told I Want Media that despite great technological advancements newspapers would not disappear, to be replaced by mobile and internet editions, for some time.
For a long time the emotional relationship between print and its readers has been well understood and is based on the research of Guy Consterdine.
At present, it is holding up the circulation of consumer magazines. I see this being in danger as mobile starts to replace such magazines. The emotional attachment to the mobile device is an area of development that needs more research but is already apparent.
Are Publishers really 'idiots'
FoxNews has made YouTube remove an interview with Bill Clinton - drawing condemnation from media blogger Jeff Jarvis, reports Journalism.co.uk.
Instead of housing the interview the YouTube now carries the message:
"This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Fox News Network, LLC because its content was used without permission."
Media commentator Jeff Jarvis was quick to condemn the act, in a posting to Buzzmachine titled 'Idiots', he wrote:
"FoxNews takes the Bill Clinton interview down from YouTube. Fools. They would be getting a whole new audience. They'd be even more part of the conversation.
Jeff is of course just talking sense. The news from publishing over the last month is one of just pure lack of understanding.
Instead of housing the interview the YouTube now carries the message:
"This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Fox News Network, LLC because its content was used without permission."
Media commentator Jeff Jarvis was quick to condemn the act, in a posting to Buzzmachine titled 'Idiots', he wrote:
"FoxNews takes the Bill Clinton interview down from YouTube. Fools. They would be getting a whole new audience. They'd be even more part of the conversation.
Jeff is of course just talking sense. The news from publishing over the last month is one of just pure lack of understanding.
Blog PR for Charity
A GROUP of friends who banded together to help a businessman raise cash for Isabel Hospice are charting their progress with the help of the Welwyn and Hatfield Times website.
As reported in last week's WHT, Sam Ahmed, manager at The Pavillion Indian restaurant in WGC, decided he wanted to do something for the community as a thank you for them supporting his business.
He has organised a three-course meal with wine, followed by grand charity auction at his restaurant on Thursday, October 26.
This week his team of helpers set up their own blog through the WHT website.
It will chart their progress as the event draws near.
This is a great way to use social media the link up between a blog, a restaurant and a local newspaper is a nice model.
Telegraph takes readers into darkest corners
The Telegraph has launched a political blog, Commons Confidential, to provide daily updates of goings-on at Westminster, reports Journalism UK.
The blog promises to takes readers 'into parliament's darkest corners - and reveal what the politicians don't want you to hear
The blog promises to takes readers 'into parliament's darkest corners - and reveal what the politicians don't want you to hear
Are blog comments really a measure of popularity?
Nick Farrell writing at The Enquirer reports on an Australian blogger who discovered that spam is the best way to make friends and influence people.
On the bonus side, because BigBlog calculates popularity of a bog on the amount of comments it gets, Wardle is considered extremely popular.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wardle forgot to switch on a comment verification system and has had his feedback section flooded with spam. Most of his recent posts have had about 1200 and 1600 comments each. Most of them were nonsensical spam messages.
The 8 Year Google experience
When I wrote the first edition of 'Online Public Relations' in 2000, Google was one of a handful of search engines that I mentions. This week Google is eight years old and a phenomenon.
Well done Google.
Now there are issues, largely because of its success.
Well done Google.
Now there are issues, largely because of its success.
Our approach to content at the Google Blog explains how it works with content owners and its desire to respect their rights.
The case is well put by Danny Sullivan at Search Engine Watch. He says:
In terms of copyright, Google stresses that it generally sticks to what's known as fair use, though the post doesn't use those words. The idea is that it shows very short summaries of stories, pages, thumbnails of images but doesn't reprint this material, requiring people to clickthrough to the actual material from places like Google News.
Of course, in the case of cached pages, many including myself would argue that Google goes beyond fair use. Cached pages are an example where content can be viewed without clicking through to the original site, and the opt-out approach for that doesn't feel appropriate at all.
Google also notes there are cases when it wants to go beyond fair use, to make broader use of content where permission would be required. The deal with the Associated Press is cited as one of several examples here.
To me, this is also a way for Google to help defuse the idea that some publications have, such as the Belgian newspapers recently, that Google can be bought off to avoid lawsuits. To me, this is Google stressing that it will do content deals in some cases, but that these content deals aren't necessarily being done to avoid lawsuits, especially when it feels it is acting within fair use guidelines. That's my speculation and take on this, of course. Google didn't comment when I asked if this was the reason for raising the AP deals.
Moving past Google saying it respects copyright, it then stresses that it allows people to opt-out, even if it feels it has fair use rights. In general, I agree with this method, which Google along with the other major search engines generally follow. Trying to get permission from each web site to index it would be an impossible task, and one that's not necessarily even legally required. Opt-out through things like robots.txt is an effective way to protect rights holders plus benefit the public as a whole. I do hope they'll change cached pages to opt-in, however.
I have commented before that blocking a search engine is a way of excluding people from finding your organisation. It reduces the digital footprint of the organisation for most people and, with the exception of the enthusiast, denies the organisation benefits available from its online asset.
Of course, whether Google caches a page or not does not mean it is not cached. It is and can be found. The Internet has a collective memory that means all content can be recovered anyway.
The 8 years Google experience has brought great benefits to us all. If some organisations want to throw it away, they will regret it.
Free online monitoring for lucky few
My friend Bill Comcowich at CyberAlert, the online media monitoring company, today announced that, for the fourth consecutive year, the company will award a minimum of 10 public relations grants to not-for-profit organisations. Each grant consists of one full year of free news monitoring / press clipping services, ranging in value from $2,700 to $3,900. The aggregate value of the grants is expected to total at least $25,000.
For a number of years I offered the CyberAlert service in the UK market which was fun but long before the PR industry realised that there are 8000 online publications publications on line that need to be monitored. Even to this day, most UK PR firms are limited to the range of publications they monitor on-line.
For a number of years I offered the CyberAlert service in the UK market which was fun but long before the PR industry realised that there are 8000 online publications publications on line that need to be monitored. Even to this day, most UK PR firms are limited to the range of publications they monitor on-line.
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