Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Press Complaints Commission - Land Grab?

The BBC reports Press Complaints Commission director Tim Toulmin opposed government regulation of the internet, saying it should a place "in which views bloom". But unless there was a voluntary code of conduct there would be no form of redress for people angered at content.

He spoke during a session on free speech at a London race conference. Mr Toulmin described the phrases "free speech" and "free press" as relative terms because views expressed on the internet are still governed by laws such as libel and data protection.

Not to mention, one might add, the government of fearless people who respond on-line as well.

The 'silent majority' is not as silent as it used to be.

Tomlinson is also reported as saying: "If you want to see how the newspaper industry would look like if it was unchecked, then look at the internet."

well the Internet has now been arround for a long time and the world did not stop. so where is the rub? Or is this a land grab by the PPC to get its sticky fingers on blogs and YouTube?

Sunday, November 26, 2006

CIPR and digging holes

Stuart Bruce made this comment this week:

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations has just published its draft (PDF) for consultation of its proposed code of conduct for social media. I will comment more fully once I've had chance to digest it.

My thought before it was published was - why do we need a separate code, we already have one for CIPR and its principles should apply to social media. We don't have a separate code for media relations, event management, internal communications, newsletters, video or dozens of other PR channels and activities.

This is a rambling document and good in parts. I have Responded here. (You can add your comments too). I am a member of the Institute, I have two books on online PR, have published a number of academic papers and I teach the subject as well. I was even the 1999/2000 Chair of the CIPR Internet Commission.

I think there is a need for the CIPR to get the 'social media' thinkers and do-ers together before it ventures out of doors again as recommended in 1999.


So far we have a blog that does not seem to have a strategy; a CIPR blogger who seems it's OK to jump into people's social space and this document which is thrown together.

My recommendadtion is: Stop digging!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Near Field Communication

Mobile phones are closer to becoming smart wallets, following agreement among mobile operators on an approach to near field communications (NFC).

NFC is a short-range wireless technology like RFID tags, which are used to track stock by retailers. If you use an Oyster on London Underground you will get the idaea real quic

The tags inside phones could have personal information stored in them and so could act as car keys, money, tickets and travel cards says the BBC.

Mobile firms representing 40% of the global mobile market back NFC.

There are two elements to NFC technology, which is sometimes called "contactless" applications - a tag, which is inside the phone and can store data and transmit it wirelessly, and a reader, which can access the information stored on tags.

A mobile equipped with NFC technology could, for example, buy a concert ticket over the phone which would then hold those details, together with the details of the phone user, on the tag inside the handset.

An RFID device at the concert would then "read" the concert ticket details on the tag when the phone is passed close to it.

NFC technology could also be used to exchange data between phones, such as photos and music. Not to mention corporate and brand messages. How fast do you really want to issue financial information... here is your chance....

Mobile phones are seen as powerful tools for NFC technology because they are able to download new pieces of information - from topping up a travel card, to new songs, ticket information and electronic keycard data etc.

Now all you Public Relations folk..... don't get too excited. You may need to be a tiny bit creative to use this form of communication.

Near Field Communication

Mobile phones are closer to becoming smart wallets, following agreement among mobile operators on an approach to near field communications (NFC).

NFC is a short-range wireless technology like RFID tags, which are used to track stock by retailers. If you use an Oyster on London Underground you will get the idaea real quic

The tags inside phones could have personal information stored in them and so could act as car keys, money, tickets and travel cards says the BBC.

Mobile firms representing 40% of the global mobile market back NFC.

There are two elements to NFC technology, which is sometimes called "contactless" applications - a tag, which is inside the phone and can store data and transmit it wirelessly, and a reader, which can access the information stored on tags.

A mobile equipped with NFC technology could, for example, buy a concert ticket over the phone which would then hold those details, together with the details of the phone user, on the tag inside the handset.

An RFID device at the concert would then "read" the concert ticket details on the tag when the phone is passed close to it.

NFC technology could also be used to exchange data between phones, such as photos and music. Not to mention corporate and brand messages. How fast do you really want to issue financial information... here is your chance....

Mobile phones are seen as powerful tools for NFC technology because they are able to download new pieces of information - from topping up a travel card, to new songs, ticket information and electronic keycard data etc.

Now all you Public Relations folk..... don't get too excited. You may need to be a tiny bit creative to use this form of communication.

Near Field Communication

Mobile phones are closer to becoming smart wallets, following agreement among mobile operators on an approach to near field communications (NFC).

NFC is a short-range wireless technology like RFID tags, which are used to track stock by retailers. If you use an Oyster on London Underground you will get the idaea real quic

The tags inside phones could have personal information stored in them and so could act as car keys, money, tickets and travel cards says the BBC.

Mobile firms representing 40% of the global mobile market back NFC.

There are two elements to NFC technology, which is sometimes called "contactless" applications - a tag, which is inside the phone and can store data and transmit it wirelessly, and a reader, which can access the information stored on tags.

A mobile equipped with NFC technology could, for example, buy a concert ticket over the phone which would then hold those details, together with the details of the phone user, on the tag inside the handset.

An RFID device at the concert would then "read" the concert ticket details on the tag when the phone is passed close to it.

NFC technology could also be used to exchange data between phones, such as photos and music. Not to mention corporate and brand messages. How fast do you really want to issue financial information... here is your chance....

Mobile phones are seen as powerful tools for NFC technology because they are able to download new pieces of information - from topping up a travel card, to new songs, ticket information and electronic keycard data etc.

Now all you Public Relations folk..... don't get too excited. You may need to be a tiny bit creative to use this form of communication.

Near Field Communication

Mobile phones are closer to becoming smart wallets, following agreement among mobile operators on an approach to near field communications (NFC).

NFC is a short-range wireless technology like RFID tags, which are used to track stock by retailers. If you use an Oyster on London Underground you will get the idaea real quic

The tags inside phones could have personal information stored in them and so could act as car keys, money, tickets and travel cards says the BBC.

Mobile firms representing 40% of the global mobile market back NFC.

There are two elements to NFC technology, which is sometimes called "contactless" applications - a tag, which is inside the phone and can store data and transmit it wirelessly, and a reader, which can access the information stored on tags.

A mobile equipped with NFC technology could, for example, buy a concert ticket over the phone which would then hold those details, together with the details of the phone user, on the tag inside the handset.

An RFID device at the concert would then "read" the concert ticket details on the tag when the phone is passed close to it.

NFC technology could also be used to exchange data between phones, such as photos and music. Not to mention corporate and brand messages. How fast do you really want to issue financial information... here is your chance....

Mobile phones are seen as powerful tools for NFC technology because they are able to download new pieces of information - from topping up a travel card, to new songs, ticket information and electronic keycard data etc.

Now all you Public Relations folk..... don't get too excited. You may need to be a tiny bit creative to use this form of communication.

Near Field Communication

Mobile phones are closer to becoming smart wallets, following agreement among mobile operators on an approach to near field communications (NFC).

NFC is a short-range wireless technology like RFID tags, which are used to track stock by retailers. If you use an Oyster on London Underground you will get the idaea real quic

The tags inside phones could have personal information stored in them and so could act as car keys, money, tickets and travel cards says the BBC.

Mobile firms representing 40% of the global mobile market back NFC.

There are two elements to NFC technology, which is sometimes called "contactless" applications - a tag, which is inside the phone and can store data and transmit it wirelessly, and a reader, which can access the information stored on tags.

A mobile equipped with NFC technology could, for example, buy a concert ticket over the phone which would then hold those details, together with the details of the phone user, on the tag inside the handset.

An RFID device at the concert would then "read" the concert ticket details on the tag when the phone is passed close to it.

NFC technology could also be used to exchange data between phones, such as photos and music. Not to mention corporate and brand messages. How fast do you really want to issue financial information... here is your chance....

Mobile phones are seen as powerful tools for NFC technology because they are able to download new pieces of information - from topping up a travel card, to new songs, ticket information and electronic keycard data etc.

Now all you Public Relations folk..... don't get too excited. You may need to be a tiny bit creative to use this form of communication.

10 Minute News


Jon Silk was working his fingers hard at Lewis PR' Industry Forum this morning blogging my comments in near real time. This is Public Relations served up fast and fun.

My points are well reported which is nice . The significance of 'The Long Tail' is one that needs to be deeply implanted in the minds of both publishers and Public Relations people. Articles, photos and videos have a long , long life.

The picture is not as frightening as it the photo seems to show. Paul Charles of Virgin Atlantic chose to bring two of its new Premium Economy seats to the Forum and I just had to try one out. Paul Hender from Metrica is the other guy measuring it up.

Of course, The Lewis Forum also showed good practice. Here was an event that they presented, and blogged about at the same time. It extended the reach of the event and the Lewis brand.

PR has changed.

Very comfortable and roomy. Better than most club class seats. I now need to try out for real.

Slagging-off legal in California

PC Pro reports The California Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - such as bloggers - who use the Internet to distribute information from another source may not be held to account if the material is considered defamatory. This is a reversal of a previous lower court decision.

The ruling supports federal law that clears individuals of liability if they transmit, but are not the source of, defamatory information. It expands protections the law gives to Internet service providers to include bloggers and activist Web sites.

'We acknowledge that recognizing broad immunity for defamatory republication on the Internet has some troubling consequences,' California's high court justices said in their opinion.

'Until Congress chooses to revise the settled law in this area, however, plaintiffs who contend they were defamed in an Internet posting may only seek recovery from the original source of the statement,' the decision stated.



The law in Europe is NOR the same - don't defame.

Bono ay Habbo

The Guardian has sniffed out Bono and the rest of U2 hosting a pub quiz for all comers, while elsewhere R&B star Jamelia holds court in her own beauty salon.

Next door, teen pop sensations McFly and Shayne Ward are chatting to a throng of inquisitive fans and a new boy band is wandering the corridors trying to drum up attention.

No, these are not the wild fantasies of a tabloid gossip hack, but scenes typical of Habbo Hotel, a 3D online world popular with teens which is being targeted by record companies desperate to find new ways to reach this crucial audience.


So Second Live does not have it all its own way!

On-line Retailers grab the money and run - survey

In a Release issued by Chameleon PR for Blast Radius, Research examining the whole online shopping experience - from first visit to returning unwanted items at the UK’s leading non-food online retailers - has found that even the best online retailers could deliver a very much better shopping experience.

The research, carried out by Marketing Assistance Ltd analysed the top 28 UK online retailers (selected by traffic volume) grading their performance in the run up to the expected boom in web shopping predicted for Christmas 2006.

The researchers purchased a single item from each of the sites, and then sought to return the product once it had been received. They graded their experience against a set of 36 subjective and objective criteria at every step of the process.

The study results show that investment by online retailers tends to focus on what they care about most, securing the sale.

The loosers seem to be B&Q and HMV.

HMV is still, one presumens fighting Napster and music file shareing by ripping off custmers.

1. Amazon UK
2. Dell EMEA
3. Apple Computer UK
4. Next
5. Comet
6. Tesco/ QVC UK
7. Currys/ Littlewoods
8. Asos
9. John Lewis
10. Hewlett-Packard/Marks and Spencer



I think that Wiltshire farm Foods is darn good too.

Enterprise blogging tools

Automattic, the company behind Wordpress, has announced a partnership with RSS platform provider KnowNow to extend its publishing tools to the enterprise market.

The two companies have developed KnowNow WordPress Enterprise Edition, a blog platform for businesses which will be in direct competition with Six Apart’s Movable Type.

The platform will include Automattic's spam solution Akismet and a stats package, and will be marketed by KnowNow to its base of enterprise customers.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Remember when

I have been looking back at the early days of the Internet and came across the early citations still held about Usenet posting in Google Groups.
Today they seem quaint:
----- 11 May 1981 Oldest Usenet article in the Google Groups Archive
|
-------- May 1981 First mention of Microsoft
|
-------- Jun 1981 A logical map of Usenet when it was still small

|
-------- Jun 1981 First mention of Microsoft MS-DOS
|
-------- Aug 1981 First review of the IBM-PC
|
-------- Oct 1981 TCP/IP Digest #1
First mention of Microsoft!

Who remembers the debate between Word Perfect and Word. It was a big issue when we were all decisding which standards we are going to use (and I remember the pain moving to Word)

Newspapers send bloggers to comment on Ashes

Manchester Evening News blogger Graham Hardcastle flew out to Brisbane on Friday and will be filing regular reports for the paper from Australia. As England attempt to get through the Ashes series without suffering any more injuries (and who knows, maybe actually retain the damn urn as well) Graham will be reporting for the paper and he'll also be sharing his thoughts in his own blog on this site.

Perhaps it is now time for PR people to have a list of media bloggers.

Important news

Cricket fans will be able to watch video highlights of the Ashes tests at the end of play every day on the internet.

BBC Sport will show 10 minutes of the best moments of every day of each Ashes test.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Monitoring video coverage

Eric Schonfield has noted a new PR service that allows PR people to monitor video on the web (e.g. YouTube posts). He also notes some mashup opportunities too.

Teens rule the web

Joel has this snipit: if website A has 700 incoming links from 700 different websites and website B has 700 incoming links, all of them from various pages on MySpace, website B will be ranked higher in Google's search results.

Social bookmarking

TRhank you Barry for the widget to add the social bookmarking boxes below and to Joel for finding him. This is on Blogger beta so it was a bit of a fiddle but works ok.

The end of Knitting as we know it

Well, you know... that jumble of wires behind your desk. The power for the wifi connections, the camara power cable, the phone charger... knitting behind the desk.
It could all just go away according to BBC reports.
Imagine... full .... no batteries... mobile.

Mobile Moguls Mashup

What happens if you bolt on services and charge for it.
Customers leave in droves.
3G technology was seen as just such an opportunity by the cell phone companies . No one played. It cost a fortune.

Now

At last

Beeb tells us 3 says it is going to make the mobile internet more interesting.

It is launching a partnership with internet firms including Skype, Google and eBay.

The promise is that users will be able to make free internet phone calls, watch their home television on their phone and tap into their home computers on the move.

The price for all these services will be a flat-rate monthly fee.

What took so long guys?

Now we can run some serious integrated (mashup) PR campiagns.