Would you like News with your Analysis, Sir?

by Dan Ward

Perusing the Web sites this morning for coverage of the Vice Presidential debate, I was struck by how each of the major 24-hour news networks chose to provide its own analysis of the debate before providing any details about what the candidates actually said.

CNN called the debate for Biden: “Palin Defies Expectations, Biden Wins”
FOX ignored Biden completely : “Palin Performance Boosts McCain”
And MSNBC called it a toss-up: “Palin Didn’t Win Debate, Didn’t Lose Either”

Just to make sure, they were all watching the same debate, right? They weren’t filming separate debates for each network? Or perhaps doing a separate debate for the West Coast feed?

Whatever happened to news that provided facts, and allowed viewers/listeners/readers to make up their own minds? Did the change start when all of us in the “blogoglobe” (blogosphere is so 20 minutes ago … blogoglobe has a nice balance to it) began attracting readers? There’s certainly no shortage of opinions and analysis on the blogs.

Perhaps the bigger question, though, is whether this “analysis first” mindset in the traditional media will expand beyond political coverage. Instead of seeking news coverage for our clients, will we seek news analysis instead? Will we be forced to pitch stories differently based on the perceived bias of the media outlets we contact?

I imagine a day in which watching the news will be like listening to Pandora Radio … choose a certain channel, and let the rest of your decisions be made for you.

Weather report: confusion reigns.

by Roger Pynn

As the day progressed it was clear that the skies were clouded with confusion as “The Fed issued a brief statement Friday saying that while it and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency had conducted an extensive review of a deal announced Monday to have Wachovia’s banking operations purchased by Citigroup, it had not yet had time to review the new offer from Wells Fargo,” according to MSNBC.

One has to wonder what ads will run on Monday.

Dewey wins. Citi loses.

by Roger Pynn

Talk about uncorking wine before its time. How many markets do you think Citibank advertised its new “partnership” with Wachovia in today, only to wake up to the realization it had been courting a runaway bride?

Many of us probably read the full page ad that heralded “A new partnership. A new world.” before morning news shows announced another bank takeover … this time one that won’t cost the taxpayers a dime because in an all stock deal that suave San Francisco outfit Wells Fargo & Co. had wooed the lovely Charlotte girl away from her Big Apple suitor.

Given the cost of a full-page ad, it reinforces our longstanding advice to clients that you never announce a deal until the ink is dry.

By the way, Citbank’s trademarked positioning statement? “Citi never sleeps.”

Something I wish I’d said

by Roger Pynn

Talking to a group of very smart students last week at the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida required preparing a list of “life tips.” So what could I say that would be meaningful to young people from majors as diverse as anthropology, music, engineering, computer science and communication?

Well, for starters, I wish Seth Godin, one of my favorite bloggers, had written his latest post a week ago because it would have been easy to pass out a printed copy and be done with my assignment to “share thoughts that will help them through their lives.”

What I did tell them was that there are six important things they won’t be taught in college that they ought to strive to master:
1. The art of listening
2. The importance of asking “why?”
3. Everything about consequential thinking
4. Being “outcomes” based
5. Getting to know cool people
6. Being passionate about something

I can only hope some of them might find Taking Aim now and redirect themselves to Seth’s blog because “standing for something” is #7. Seth’s a brand master. A brand is a promise. You can’t promise anything if you don’t stand for something.