» 2007 » May - The Cycle

Ready to Make Nice

Posted May 31, 2007

All eyes were on the showdown between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as they took the stage together at this year’s All Things Digital conference. The last time the two legends shared a stage was 1997 – when Gates appeared at the MacWorld Expo to announce he was investing in a then-struggling Apple. Of course Apple has since skyrocketed to the tech stratosphere and the two have become rivals. But those expecting a brawl between billionaires at D5 were disappointed. When asked about their relationship Jobs said, “We’ve kept our marriage secret for over a decade.”

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Filed under: Events, Technology

No hard sell

Posted May 31, 2007

Every now and then, something happens that is legitimately surprising.

The NY Daily News is reporting that the Metro North rail(ways?), after much contemplation, will not enact a alcohol bans in its train cars. Tallboy beer vendors at Penn Station and commuters sigh.

Today, MTA officials announced the task force that spent months reviewing police reports, safety concerns and commuter comments has concluded there’s no need to stop drinking on either railroad.

I’m genuinely flummoxed that they spent that much time contemplating the elimination of a vice (and the implementation of a safety issue), and ended up saying no.This obviously allows for news reports, like the Daily News‘, to say, “[Metro North] has concluded there’s no need to stop drinking on either railroad.”

There was likely less public support for the ban than there was for keeping the “bar” open, but it’s still rare for a utility to side with the people when a “safety” win is so easily attainable.

Steve Cody, Peppercom, managing partner and cofounder, is happy.

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FDA approval rate down
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Filed under: Food and Beverage, Healthcare, Politics, Public Relations

Global Account

Posted May 31, 2007

We’d like to introduce our newest blog. Global Account is the blog for the Global Roundtable, a key element of the upcoming Global Special in the July 2 issue. Panelists from PR firms and corporations around the world will discuss the issues that are central to them both in their own markets, and on the global stage. Click here to follow along.

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All things global
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Bloomberg touts global tourism initiative
Davos attendees

Filed under: All PRWeek blogs, PRWeek

Internet-era character assassination

Posted May 31, 2007

Tucked on the back page of the Metro section of today’s Washington Post is the curious, well-reported tale by reporters Timothy Dwyer and Tim Craig of local Virginia political candidate Jeff Dion, who recently ended his campaign for Prince William County’s seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

A recent target of denunciations for his “gay lifestyle” by conservative bloggers, the openly gay Democrat said he was told by higher-ups in the state party that he declined to name (but which may have included current Gov. Timothy Kaine and former Gov. Mark Warner) that he should step aside for the good of the party — that another, undetermined candidate would have a better chance of winning.

Dion denies that the blog attacks were the reason he was asked to drop out of the race, yet he’s quoted as saying that the statements on the blogs “made a lot of other Democrats really nervous, and it undercut my support and made it really difficult for me to continue.”

The blog Black Velvet Bruce Li, for example, had a posting implying Dion’s marriage broke up because he was living with another man at the time, which Dion denies. Another blog, Not Larry Sabato (whose name refers to the oft-quoted University of Virginia political scientist), linked to a profile posted by Dion on a gay networking and dating site.

Later, some blogs reported Dion had been asked to drop out of the race, though Dion said at that time no one had in fact asked him that.

Perhaps this kind of unfiltered reporting of dirty laundry – whether truth or false rumor – is a preview of what might happen or is already starting to happen with larger political campaigns in ’08. Blogs, as the story notes, provide an immediate conduit for gossip and innuendo that in past years had to pass through the filter of “established” media to reach a mass audience.

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Filed under: 2008 Campaign, Politics

Announcing announcement plans to plan

Posted May 31, 2007

In our Beta-release-tastic world, does anyone ever actually “announce” something when they announce something? Latest instance.

“Thompson Advisers Say He’ll Join Presidential Race Over Fourth Of July Holiday”

Since his supports have said as such, hasn’t he already joined the race?

More on Fox Business Network
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Wild times at Sears
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Golden State healthcare
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What’s Plan B for Plan B?
Politicians can blog too

Filed under: Politics, Public Affairs

Interns of the world unite

Posted May 31, 2007

In a savvy bit of viral marketing, a new organization called Z University has created a spoof campaign called BETI - Businesses for the Ethical Treatment of Interns. Z University is actually a Web site selling video and information packets intended to teach businesses how to manage and create internship programs. When you go to BETI.org, however, you’re greeted by a series of SNL-like skit videos and a link to the Z University site.

Even the press release is part of the chicanery. It begins urgently - “STOP INTERN ABUSE NOW!” - calling internships “the last bastion of of legalized slave labor” and saying that BETI will radicalize if their message isn’t heeded.

However, there is one bit that they’re serious about - Matthew Zinman, executive director and founder, says he looked through 14 semesters worth of intern timesheets and found that an intern supervisor could gain up to 225 full work days of productivity in a year if they made more effective use of their interns.

“If we were to come to the market with a serious tone, I don’t believe people would respond,” says Zinman. He says the goal is to “get internships on the radar screen of the American business community… [to] move the needle among executives and HR professions to implement internships and all of the strategic advantages that come with them.” Treat them with respect because they are future professionals he says. As a former intern, I can appreciate any effort to improve the lot of this underappreciated group.

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That first job
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More World AIDS Day events
Speaking of innovation…

Filed under: Marketing, Viral Video, Web sites

Steal this blog

Posted May 31, 2007

In a lengthy profile by Linton Weeks in the Style section of today’s Washington Post, Fenton Communications founder David Fenton shows how some ‘60s-era political activists have been able to go corporate without selling out.

Some interesting periods in Fenton’s career, as highlighted by the article, include handling publicity for Rolling Stone in the mid-‘70s and representing Abbie Hoffman in 1980 when Hoffman turned himself in to authorities following time spent as a fugitive after his conviction for dealing cocaine.

Today, Fenton’s clients include a number of anti-Iraq war groups and an increasing amount of environmental work, including a forthcoming campaign from the Stonyfield Farms yogurt company called ClimateCounts, which the article says will tout the use of cellphones for buying products from environmentally responsible companies.

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Merger blog
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Filed under: Green, Media, Politics

Quick links

Posted May 31, 2007

GolinHarris’ Idil Cakim

Steve Rubel discusses the top ten PR list I previously linked to.

of influential marketing blogs.

Quick links
Who is worse, clients or agencies? [Life is Marketing] Why hire a PR firm? [Braithwaite Communicati...
Quick links
Is the press embargo dead (take 3,300) [Ned Barnett] Publicis in an acquisitive mood [WSJ] Second ...
Quick links
Ronn Torrosian and Lizzie Grubman opine on Angelina Jolie at Radar Online. Rutgers women agree to m...
Quick links
Quick links

Filed under: Blogs, Technology

‘SF Chronicle’ managing editor steps down

Posted May 30, 2007

The first casualty of The Chronicle’s plan to cut 25 percent of its newsroom staff.

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Filed under: Media

Party’s over

Posted May 30, 2007

Just days after Lindsay Lohan’s rep confirmed Svedka vodka would sponsor the actress’s 21st birthday bash in Las Vegas, she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Well, the party’s off — Lohan checked back into rehab this week and Svedka has pulled out of the sponsorship. But Svedka’s move to be a part of the teen queen’s blowout is dubious considering her less-than-stellar track record of underage drinking – including stints in rehab and allegations of cocaine use. This was more than just bad timing on Svedka’s part.

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Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Food and Beverage

Ready to Make Nice

No hard sell

Global Account

Internet-era character assassination

Announcing announcement plans to plan

Interns of the world unite

Steal this blog

Quick links

‘SF Chronicle’ managing editor steps down

Party’s over

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