News Rants

by Roger Pynn

As a recovering journalist, I understand all too well how hard it must be in these times to stifle personal opinion when covering audacity, but really now, how much longer will the fourth estate have any franchise left if folks like WDBO Radio’s Mike Synan step so far over the line of demarcation that you can’t tell the difference between reporter and commentator?

Don’t know, Mike, but he’s always sounded like an endangered species in the world of radio … a straight-forward news reporter. Until this morning when his coverage of a proposed toll road hike went ballistic and it continues with his blog where he admits as he did on the air that he was out of bounds.

Judge for yourself whether this is journalism or commentary:

“Finally, what type of poor government action can be done without some type of doom and gloom warning? Mike Snyder told County Commissioners last week that if the toll increase does not go through, the people that hold the bonds for Orange County’s roads could come in and take over the agency, then raise the tolls anyway. Now THAT is some serious gall. Have you ever heard of this happening anywhere? Snyder couldn’t give the Orlando Sentinel an example, and they certainly get enough in toll revenue to cover the debt service payments, and keep a good credit rating for the bond market. What he’s talking about is if they continue to borrow the additional 650 million without this toll hike, then they could potentially be in danger. Here’s a tip: Don’t borrow the money! The OOCEA needs to take a step backwards and present this community with a sunset on themselves to go along with any rate increase.”

The question is, “will anyone throw a penalty flag?”

I left the world of news because my heart told me I wanted to participate in the society I was covering … I had a civic streak that said “you can’t just watch the world go by and report on it; you have to be part of what is reported on.” It was a tough decision because I loved the basics of the news business … being there for those who couldn’t and asking the questions they would ask. But I never – NEVER – injected my own feelings in what I wrote.

As a matter of fact, I’ve always regretted the incident that led me to make that decision. The Orlando Sentinel turned to me as a young Vietnam era reporter to pen an editorial in support of lowering the drinking age at a time when young men were being conscripted to fight and die in a very unpopular war. I knew the day the editorial ran that I had lost my credibility. People knew what I thought. Fifteen yards! (By the way, I’ve also regretted that position many times, realizing that drinking and dying wasn’t the issue.)

Nowadays, Mike is just joining the crowd that every day prefaces what is supposed to be a news story with the words “I think,” making me cringe and assuring that people can then approach them appealing to their bias. Not intended bias, just natural bias. We all have it. All reporters have it. The trick is to contain it and not let it creep into the outcome of your coverage.

Competitive Pay is Still OK, Right?

by Dan Ward

First of all, let me say that I agree completely with the Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell and others who believe it is unfair that soldiers risking their lives for our security and teachers educating our sons and daughters earn so little when compared to corporate execs.

What I don’t understand, however, is the implied solution to the problem, and the blame and shame placed upon those who earn high salaries. For those of us who regularly work on behalf of high-salary individuals and hope to one day join their ranks, this populist uprising presents a new communications challenge, as we now must not only communicate how these individuals are impacting our communities, but also defend why they should be paid to do so.

As media hasten to point out, CEOs of huge non-profit institutions such as Florida’s Blood Centers earn very high salaries. But those of us who recognize the impact of their work don’t question for a second that such salaries are deserved. In our community, Florida’s Blood Centers CEO Anne Chinoda is regularly recognized as one of our community’s strongest and most important leaders, helping to drive the growth of the new “medical city.” The salary she earns, while high in comparison to most, is competitive within her industry.

Why must we now shame her and others for being paid competitively, as most of us are in our daily jobs? The last time I checked, compensation in our society was set by a competitive market, and not on a comparative review of “worth.”

The solution implied by some reporters and columnists is that Central Florida should stand up and say “no more!” We will simply drop out of the competitive marketplace for talent and hire CEOs at more “reasonable” salaries so that their “excessive” pay can instead be steered (somehow) to those who are more deserving. Anyone who thinks this would negatively impact our ability to attract the best and brightest to leadership positions is just being silly. Why go to Austin or Charlotte or Baltimore and earn a competitive salary when you can earn much, much less in the City Beautiful?

One idea might be for local media who propose such a solution to show us all how it would work. For example, the Orlando Sentinel could announce across-the-board salary cuts of more than 50 percent so that salaries of its leading executives might be put more closely in line with those of teachers, police and firefighters in our community.

Then, a year later the paper could report on how its executives and reporters all chose to remain in this community and work just as hard at their jobs, rather than moving to other media outlets in communities that continue to pay competitive salaries.

This would provide a great example to us all.

What are you doing?

by Kim Taylor

As Curley & Pynn’s resident social media ringleader, I’m on an endless quest to find out what works, what doesn’t and why in the realm of social media.

Here’s what I know: social media is less like science and more like art … there is no right answer.

My biggest quandary right now: Why will I tell Twitter “What I’m doing,” but I rarely tell Facebook and would be aghast to tell LinkedIn?

Is it because everyone over-shares on Twitter, so I feel more inclined to do so? Is it because my Facebook “friends” are more than just “followers”? Is it because I still view LinkedIn as an online Rolodex?

I can’t answer the question, but would love to know yours.

Deathly Journalism

by Roger Pynn

During the 2008 presidential election many were decrying the death of journalism. Over a period of just two days, the Orlando Sentinel seemed hell-bent to prove them right … prompting one of, if not, the most bizarre clarifications ever and making anyone who ever sat on a city desk wonder who is minding the store.

Here’s the scoop:

On Friday, Feb. 20, The Sentinel Death notices included one William Grant Conomos, 77.

Appearing above those death listings (one-line acknowledgements that give the departed their last bit of ink), was a glowing feature about Roosevelt Holloman whom the headline said “devoted himself to helping others learn.” Frankly, it was a moving tribute to an apparently spiritual man … sharing his daughter’s description of a gentle giant, a professional educator who encouraged people to be their very best “throughout his retirement.”

On Saturday, Feb. 21, The Sentinel’s Corrections & Clarifications pointed out that said featured obit failed to note that in 1978 Mr. Holloman had been convicted of first degree murder … he shot his boss to death. Turns out that Holloman was employed as assistant principal of West Orange High School when he murdered Principal Raymond Screws. In fact, Mr. Holloman was a guest of the Florida Department of Corrections at the time of his demise. Interestingly, the featured obituary extolling the virtues of the late Mr. Holloman appears to have been stripped from The Sentinel Web site. Three days later the correction hadn’t made it to the newspaper’s Web site.

The Sentinel’s feature obituary this day, however, was devoted to a man who would roll over in his grave at such an error.

Bill Conomos had been Editor and Publisher of the Sentinel for a decade in the 60s and 70s, following in the footsteps of his mentor Sentinel Publisher Martin Andersen. “He had the most fabulous memory of anyone I’ve ever met,” said former Sentinel News Editor Bill Summers (himself a man with a memory like a steel trap).

Now here’s an equally disturbing coincidence: at least 50% of Page 1A of the Friday Feb. 20 edition was devoted to a featured headlined “Did These Men Escape Justice?” … an article explaining that “in Florida, the death penalty doesn’t always mean death by execution. Heart disease, fatal ailments and suicide are just as likely to kill.”

Along with the story were color mug shots of 26 killers who died in prison before they could be executed. Fifty-seven other Central Floridians got one line death notices and no picture that day.

There was a time when an editor’s job was too be sure that reporters had fact-checked what they submitted … looking, for instance, in the old news clips to be sure that you weren’t ignoring someone important or paying homage to someone undeserving.

I feel somewhat qualified to make this comment because I sat in the slot on the city desk at the Sentinel myself in the late 60s and learned from guys like Bill Summers and Bill Conomos. They taught you never to take anything for granted and God help you if you did. Getting one of Conomos’ fabled early morning phone calls because of an error he detected was all it took to break a bad habit.

Rest in peace, Mr. C.

Social Media gets Social at Orlando’s First Official ‘Tweet Up’

by Kim Taylor

Last night, Orlando Sentinel Tech Writer Etan Horowitz hosted Orlando’s first Tweet Up – a gathering of local folks who ‘Tweet’ – at Scruffy Murphy’s in College Park.

The informal, no-agenda gathering brought people together from many industries including PR, Real Estate, Interactive Media, Journalism and more.

When I heard about the event a few weeks ago, I knew it would be a good opportunity to meet some folks I’d been “following” on Twitter, but I also thought it’d be a great time to promote myself and Curley & Pynn, by wearing a T-shirt I had custom-made at Zazzle.

At the risk of embarrassing myself I arrived at the Tweet Up, one of 100+ people, wearing this:

Needless to say, I met some great people and had the opportunity to be an ambassador for our firm.

Giving New Meaning to the Word “Networking”

by Roger Pynn

When was the last time you got around a buffet table and people weren’t bemoaning the economy?

Instead of doom and gloom, the chatter yesterday at an event for people refusing to participate in the recession was all about possibilities. Refreshing.

Interestingly, this upbeat discussion came from a group of real “networkers” … the computer network experts at OrLANtech who have refused to participate in the recession, and are instead bringing together groups of their own clients to meet each other and create a new network.

As people grazed on sandwiches and sweets there wasn’t a single comment about “the bailout” or “the stimulus,” but there were plenty of realized opportunities to help each other explore business.

“It is our thought that there exists the potential for great benefit for each of our customers, perhaps simply by them getting to know one another,” said OrLANtech’s Jim Liska, who in his invitation to the “Resist the Recession” event quoted BMI Founder and Chairman Dr. Ivan Misner, who said:

“Don’t let a bad economy be your excuse for failure. Instead, make it your opportunity to succeed. While others are looking at the problems, those of us looking for opportunities will not only get through a bad economy but will prosper.”

Sometimes you forget in the face of adversity that the way out of a hole is up and the folks at OrLANtech provided a ladder at lunch today. Kudos.

What Happens on Twitter …

by Kim Taylor

I think you know where I’m going with this. New mediums, new rules, right? Wrong.

If you’re a Twitter fan, you’ve probably already heard about Ketchum’s Twitter faux pas. And, maybe you even read about the National Post reporter embarrassment.

Both examples are classic Internet 101. What you write, blog or tweet gets forwarded, screencaptured, re-tweeted ad nauseam … especially if it’s inflammatory.

Expanding on a tweet from Bad Pitch Blog co-founder, Kevin Dugan, I’d like to save you from any potential Internet humiliation by reminding you that:

Twitter has the immediacy of Instant Messaging with the Permanency of Blogging

Just remember, you never really know who’s reading.

The Kindle Effect

by Roger Pynn

Books on tape are a nice way to pass the time on a long road trip … particularly when you are driving alone. They usually feature the melodious voices of some of the world’s best known celebrities … or, at least a radio announcer with incredible pipes and the ability to bring the words to life as if you were in a theater.

Now comes Kindle version 2.0. The Kindle is an amazing little toy (yes, in this day and age toys can cost $359) for those who would rather not have books stack up beside their bed and gather dust after they have finished them.

However, the latest version of this electronic book (“wireless reading device”) from the folks at Amazon.com – in addition to a lot of neat features that techies will love – takes the electronic book to a new level: it reads to you in what someone described as “staccato clarity.” I think that means it sounds like a robot.

You know: “thank, you, for, calling, AT&T … please, listen, carefully, as, our, menu, has, changed.”

If you’re like me and were already worried that the demise of daily newspapers is going to have a chilling effect on literacy and citizenship, you should disable this feature if you buy the latest Kindle. You see, in addition to buying and downloading “books” to your device from Amazon, you can also subscribe to and receive from some digital newspaper boy a copy of today’s “newspaper.”

No. No! No! No! Don’t take away my newsprint and turn it into the voice of Oz!

Would someone please invent a pill that makes us all forever dependent upon the sensory pleasures of pulp?

Adapting in a New Environment: Does Starbucks get it Right? Will you?

by Kim Taylor

We’re living in a strange, new world where adapting to the constant flux of a spiraling economy is demanding we stay nimble. This is no truer than in the case with java giant, Starbucks, who today announced value pricing, something contra to the prestige pricing strategy they’ve operated with all these years.

Do you think Howard Schultz thought he’d be aligning strategies with McDonald’s when he created Starbucks in 1971? My guess is no. But, instead of maintaining a rigid stance, Starbucks responded to the needs of the consumer with a pricing strategy perfected by its newest competitors: value meals.

This post isn’t about Starbucks or McDonalds, though. The principles used by the mega brands apply to the mom ‘n pops too.

1. Listen to your Customers.
2. Stay Nimble.
3. Be Proactive whenever Possible, Reactive when Necessary.