» 2009 » January - The Cycle

Join in the measurement discussion

Posted January 30, 2009

Based on conversations I’ve had with a number of people in the industry, measurement (and measurement during this recessionary economy) is a hot topic. Join me and PR executives from SAP, FedEx, and Weber Shandwick on February 17 where we’ll be discussing this topic via Webcast. Details are below, including a link to register:

Measurement in an uncertain economy

Historically, PR measurement was one of the first things to go when organizations cut budgets. But smart PR client-side professionals are making the compelling case to their bosses that measurement is even more important during times of uncertainty. These PR professionals will discuss the cases they make for measurement, how it impacts the bottom line, and will show the audience how to answer questions that might come from their clients or the C-suite.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Time: 1pm est/10am pst

Featured speakers:
Saswato Das, director, global communications, SAP AG
Bill Margaritis, SVP of worldwide communications and IR, FedEx
Tim Marklein, executive VP, measurement & strategy, Weber Shandwick

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Are you on the list?

Filed under: Announcements, Events, Journalism 2.0, Measurement/Monitoring, PRWeek

Tags:FedEx, measurement, PRWeek, recession, SAP, Webcast, Weber Shandwick

“No one wants to be the next ethanol”

Posted January 30, 2009

This week’s story “Obama’s pledge empowers green comms” reported that many green energy companies are mobilizing to take advantage of Washington’s $71 billion planned investment in green. But not all green companies are reaching out for dollars – yet. One PR rep for a wind power company told PRWeek that some companies are keeping a lower profile because “no one wants to be the next ethanol.” Ethanol, once touted as the leading alternative to crude oil, has also endured backlash from several trade groups and organizations.

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Filed under: Green

Tags:Ethanol

AOL layoffs impact unclear

Posted January 29, 2009

Yesterday AOL announced it is cutting 700 jobs, in response to economic troubles. Tricia Primrose Wallace, EVP of corporate communications at AOL, told PRWeek it’s not clear whether the layoffs will impact communications because there have been no announcements made along those lines yet. In 2007, AOL refocused its communications department after it cut 1,200 jobs company-wide.

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Filed under: layoffs

Tags:AOL

On PETA’s ad…

Posted January 29, 2009

I suspect this is right -

… The animal rights organization says they sent this “Veggie Love” spot to NBC for approval to run during Sunday’s Super Bowl. This is of course complete cow manure. PETA submitted this spot for one reason—the disapproval publicity NBC’s rejection is generating (this post included). No, they’d sooner go on a fox hunt riding bulls with their bodies smeared in rabbit blood then waste $3 million on 30 seconds of TV ad time.

Via Andrew Sullivan

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Filed under: Advertising, Politics, Viral Video

House votes down digital TV delay

Posted January 29, 2009

The deadline for the national switch to digital television remains February 17, after the US House of Representatives voted down a bill on January 28 that would have moved the date to June 12. A coalition of organizations, which contends that about 20 million people are not prepared for the switch, has pushed for a delay.

A postponement, backed by President Barack Obama and passed by the Senate, required two-thirds House support for passage. Democratic House members may try again next week, but with amendments that would require only a simple majority for approval, according to a Reuters report.

Qualcomm is one corporation that could lose tens of millions of dollars if there is a delay, according to a January 27 in The Wall Street Journal. The company invested hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment and wireless licenses, to be used immediately after the switch.

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Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Blogs, Consumer, Crisis Communications, Media, New Media, Politics, Technology

Tags:Barack Obama, Digital TV, House of Representatives, Reuters, Senate, Wall Street Journal

Government and fashion mix, sometimes

Posted January 28, 2009

From day one, Michelle Obama has had America at the edge of its seat waiting to solve the mystery of her next fashion choice. The unlikely mix of mass market, quintessential American style with high-end, new fashion names gives her an edgy, accessible image, but that’s nothing compared to the promotional opportunities the endorsements provide the brands she’s worn. White House Black Market converted its Union Station store in Washington, D.C., into “inaugural dress headquarters – and offered a special collection for the balls; J.Crew issued statements; and Jason Wu… well, he didn’t have to do much besides cake on the pressure for his upcoming show during Fashion Week. The 26-year-old designer now has a name. I smell a Target Go International collection…

President Obama sadly could not do the same for established men’s wear company Hartmarx Corp. when choosing the brand for campaign events and the Inauguration. WWD reports that Hartmarx recently filed for Chapter 11. Read more »

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Filed under: Branding, Consumer, Marketing

Tags:Barak Obama, fashion, government, Michelle Obama, White House

‘Washington Post’ closes stand-alone book section

Posted January 28, 2009

The Washington Post is the latest major news outlet to change its stand-alone book section. Book World will no longer appear in print, but book coverage will be folded into the Style & Arts and Outlook sections. The last day of Book World in print will be February 15, and then its coverage can be found online.

Previously, outlets including the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, NPR, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have decreased or changed book coverage. Now, the and San Francisco Chronicle are the only two major newspapers with a stand-alone books section.

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Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Media, Web sites

Tags:Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Book Publishing, Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post

The Sunshine hookup?

Posted January 28, 2009

Today’s Page Six column in the New York Post has a nugget that alleges John Thain’s post-ouster interview with Maria Bartiromo was arranged by Ken Sunshine, who reps both Thain and Bartiromo. Sunshine wouldn’t confirm whether he had a hand in making the arrangement. The Post goes on to question Bartiromo’s ethics (!) for not revealing the connection on air. Transcript of the interview here.

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Filed under: Agency-client relationship, Financial/IR, Media, Public Relations

Tags:John Thain, Ken Sunshine, Maria Bartiromo, New York Post

Time slots irrelevant?

Posted January 28, 2009

This week’s media analysis examines CBS’ foray into prime time with an 8 pm broadcast of its Evening News with Katie Couric tonight. The network contends this is a one-time event to attract new viewers to its 6:30 pm broadcast, but most people I spoke with wondered if this would work. Among those not featured in the analysis is Judy Muller, an associate professor also at the USC’s Annenberg School of Communication. She believes time slots are irrelevant anyway, given the many TV recording tools and the Web.

“Networks scrambling for a lot of eyeballs at a certain time are fighting a losing battle,” she says. “What they’ve got to do is find content that gets a lot of eyeballs.”

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Filed under: Media

Tags:CBS News, Judy Muller, Katie Couric

GSK, WellPoint, Edelman, Cleveland Clinic get high marks in survey

Posted January 28, 2009

Media Mind just completed its annual survey of healthcare journalists, tallying their thoughts and views on pharmaceutical companies, insurers, agencies, and medical centers.

GlaxoSmithKline, WellPoint, Edelman, and the Cleveland Clinic came up as the top outlets for journalists to work with. Seventy-five top-tier journalists contributed to the survey, conducted from December 2008 to January 2009.

“There’s a lot of similarities with what the media is looking for,” says Tony Plohoros, president of the media relations firm. “They still want access, they still want responsiveness.”

He also noted that more than half of the journalists who reponded reported that more than half of their work is published online, rather than in print.

“We, as communicators, need to educate our clients that [online] is a great place to be,” says Plohoros.

Here’s a Q&A about last year’s survey.

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Filed under: Healthcare, Journalism 2.0, Media

Tags:Cleveland Clinic, Edelman, GlaxoSmithKline, Media Mind, WellPoint

Join in the measurement discussion

“No one wants to be the next ethanol”

AOL layoffs impact unclear

On PETA’s ad…

House votes down digital TV delay

Government and fashion mix, sometimes

‘Washington Post’ closes stand-alone book section

The Sunshine hookup?

Time slots irrelevant?

GSK, WellPoint, Edelman, Cleveland Clinic get high marks in survey

Agency Business Report

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