The transformation is complete. With its coverage of the Ft. Hood tragedy, my hometown paper has officially accepted that in a 24-hour news cycle, print newspapers no longer “break” the news.
The lead on the front page reads: “The suspected lone gunman in the shooting rampage that killed 12 people and wounded 31 at Fort Hood in Texas was a mental-health doctor apparently terrified that he would soon face the same horrors of war that patients had described to him.”
The story assumes that the reader of the print edition is already aware of the tragedy, having learned about it either through the online edition or some other source. Instead of beginning with the What, Where and When, the story leads analysis of the Who and the Why.
Only on page three do you see the traditional news lead: “In an act of violence that sent shock waves through the American military establishment and raised questions about base security, an Army psychiatrist armed with two handguns opened fire Thursday afternoon on the grounds of Fort Hood, Texas, military officials said.”
I’m ambivalent about the change in direction. I can understand how in today’s world, a majority of readers might be expected to have already heard about major news such as this. At the same time, I miss picking up the paper and seeing the traditional, hard-news lead that I learned to write in my journalism classes so long ago.
One year ago I saw fast-talking Peter Shankman speak in Orlando. He told a story about being jobless several years earlier in Manhattan and relying on creative methods to get his resume in front of employers. He had recently started distributing a free e-mail service to PR folks and doing all the work himself. That was then and this is now.
Shankman is responsible for the wildly popular Help A Reporter Out service, commonly known as HARO, which now boasts a subscriber base of more than 90,000 business and communications professionals. Created as a way to connect journalists with quotable sources and ideas for stories, HARO is a must-use service for those in PR. HARO e-mails have an unheard of average 90 percent open rate, which Shankman’s advertising team proudly proclaims as “e-mail crack.”
I remember that day hearing Shankman say he might begin to allow companies to sponsor his e-mails through paid advertising. Here in late 2009, not only does HARO accept paid sponsors for its three-times-a-day e-mails, it also allows companies to pay to place job postings and giveaways, all the while generating thousands of dollars of revenue five days a week with little overhead.
Peter Shankman struck me as unique, and as successful as HARO has become, something about the service he created is just as unique as him.
Maybe it’s the fact that Shankman’s team does the write-up of the sponsored company in “his voice;” or that HARO continually threatens to blacklist subscribers if they SPAM others or pitch journalists off-topic; or even that HARO’s plain text rate card (an important tool for ad-generating businesses) includes too many exclamation points and three “P.S.” thoughts after the closing; whatever it is, these attributes combine to make this successful business venture that much more surprising.
I sent an e-mail this morning to advertise and received a reply in less than two minutes … ads are booked through February 2010. I bet Shankman isn’t on the street corner in Manhattan any longer looking for work.
Do you think your company can benefit from HARO? C&P frequently identifies opportunities for our clients monitoring this service each day.
It isn’t all that often that a client earns global recognition, and when it comes in lockstep with recognition of the chief executive’s personal contributions via a “lifetime achievement” award, you have to reflect on how fortunate you are to be associated with such an organization and its leaders.
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council has frequently been recognized as a model for super regional economic development driven by higher education partnerships. Now, the International Economic Development Council based in Washington, D.C., has honored the Corridor Council with its Partnerships in Education award in recognition of the FHTCC’s Matching Grants Research Program and workforce development initiatives, calling the Council “a clear standout” for the award.
“Furthering economic development is rarely a simple task in the best of times, and advancing the cause in the midst of a global financial crisis is nothing less than arduous,” said Ian Bromley, IEDC chair. “As the consequences of the widespread economic turmoil have taken hold, we have seen our members become even more ardent proponents of economic development, flying in the face of one of the most challenging economic environments we have experienced in our careers. We proudly present this award to the Florida High Tech Corridor Council for its superior work during these difficult times.”
High Tech Corridor Council President Randy Berridge accepted the honor at the IEDC’s annual meeting in Reno, Nevada, just four days after being singled out himself with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce where a host of Central Florida leaders took the time to sing his praises.
Berridge is a tireless community leader. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is changing the way regions across the nation look at growing their economies.
We’re proud to be part of such a game-changing strategy.
I wrote the other day about the speed of our digital world and wondered what might be next to fall off our radar as the next great thing is invented. I’ve seen it, I think in Google Wave which was just demoed at a Google developer conference. You’ll need to spend 5 or more minutes watching what is a 40-minute presentation to see just how important Wave can be to your world.
If you’re like me, you’ve often wondered why Microsoft makes us go all the way back to the beginning of a thread to understand a conversation in e-mail. It works counter-intuitively. We don’t read up any more than we read right to left … we read down. It can be maddening.
Seth Godin noted the folks at Google are previewing Wave just as Microsoft is announcing a $100 million marketing play for a search engine it calls Bing(“a better way to search from Microsoft”). They might as well have called it Jase (“Just another search engine”).
Godin is right to chide Microsoft for trying to be better than Google. Wave demonstrates that Google is trying to be better than itself … that’s how companies become great – never resting, never being satisfied, always anticipating and always looking over the horizon so they are always the next great thing.
I try to stay away from politics here, but there are things political everyone is talking about that provide plenty of room for conversation regardless of your persuasion. The impact of federal stimulus dollars cannot be denied. Whether we will regret the enormity of the expenses is a topic for political debate, but one thing is sure … the availability of stimulus dollars has spawned an awful lot of creativity.
Take for example the folks at Workforce Central Florida who had shut down two offices due to budget cuts then received $13 million in stimulus dollars to fund short-term programs that will end in 15 months and did an about face to put that money to work in the community. They served an amazing 125,000 people last year, but now they are ramped up to provide help to as many as 185,000 in 2009.
I think their WCF Paid Interns program is ingenious in this economy. Companies that need summer help will see the tax dollars put to work to pay them at a time when most companies are struggling to afford the staff they have. And here’s a great way to kick the tires on future employees, as well as lighten the summer load of staff that are probably ready for a break.
Then there’s Planar Energy Devices (full disclosure … they are a client) that stands on the verge of creating a whole new industry for Florida if successful in its bid for a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Governor Charlie Crist’s Energy Office stepped up in support of that grant that would allow Planar to create hundreds of jobs in the Gainesville and Orlando areas for the creation of next generation hybrid vehicle battery technology and manufacturing.
Who would ever have thought of Florida as a player in the automotive industry? Planar has some of the most cutting-edge battery technology in the world and is developing next generation concepts at its headquarters here in Orlando. Now it’s acquiring a recently shuttered but state-of-the art lithium ion battery plant in Alachua near the University of Florida and plans not only automotive batteries but is set to provide much of the U.S. military’s battery needs, as well.
With Planar’s plans for research partnerships with UF and the University of Central Florida could come a whole new cluster of next gen energy storage activity … a great addition to our economy.
As the Wall Street Journal noted today the federal government is betting $2.4 billion that stimulus funds can help turn the U.S. into the center of battery manufacturing. Planar’s proposal is to set up shop almost overnight, put people to work in weeks and churn out product in a few months while other applicants are still preparing to break ground. Another creative play with what amounts to a pittance of the overall stimulus dollars because Planar seized on the opportunity to do this in Florida and reopen that valuable plant rather than building from scratch.
As everyone and their mother moans about the ailing economy, the “nationalization of our banks,” the housing crisis, massive corporate layoffs and yes – even the peanut butter recall and the outbreak of the swine flu, I’d like to take a minute to talk about something much more warm and fuzzy.
What could be more comforting than a blanket with sleeves? The Snuggie has received so much national attention that it’s been discussed on late-night TV, has garnered a large following on Facebook, and even has its very own widely visited YouTube channel.
It’s amazing. Even though most consumers are paring back expenses for nonessentials, The Snuggie’s sales have skyrocketed.
You may think this seemingly cheesy product with its low-budget infomercial is not worth discussing, but perhaps the creators can be credited with their approach to marketing in a rough time. The Snuggie doesn’t even own its own domain name, but when you do find its official site you’ll see it’s only one page: because the short- and to-the-point video and ordering information are all you need.
Could it be that the timing is right and American consumers want a comforting and low-tech product that doesn’t require a manual or an “app”?
Or maybe it’s the rhyming and exaggerated explanations of how to use The Snuggie featured in its infomercial that have made it a sure-fire success?
Whatever it is, The Snuggie is now part of pop culture and it’s a welcome diversion from the doom and gloom in the daily news. The NY Times even joined the conversation by tracing the history of what could be the original snuggie-type product – the lesser known Slanket.
We all need comfort and can appreciate practically and simplicity. And, at the low low price of $19.95, who could say no?
So, if you are unemployed and sitting at home watching your bank account get lower and lower, at least you won’t be wrestling on the couch with a too short blanket.
Thanks to Tameka Kee at paidContent.com for the news about Dow Jones’ new list of rules for professional conduct, which now include rules for journalists’ use of social media.
The full list of rules available from Editor & Publisher includes common sense guidelines (“Never misrepresent yourself using a false name”) but also includes “gray area” recommendations that could be controversial, especially if other news organizations follow suit.
For instance, the guidelines state that “business and pleasure should not be mixed on services like Twitter.” There are hundreds of journalists on Twitter that already are mixing business and pleasure, tweeting not just about articles they’ve written and information they’re trying to find, but also their thoughts on sporting events, restaurants, movies, etc.
Is that any different from having lunch with a source and sharing personal information as part of building a relationship? If a journalist hosts a “Tweet up” and sources attend along with personal friends, does that qualify as a violation?
I don’t profess to know the answers, but I’m sure these rules will lead to many more questions.
“Over The Hill” parties have become cliché as a means of poking fun at folks as they get older … designed I guess to let the honoree laugh off the implications of passing a milestone birthday. Draping your office in black just isn’t that funny when you reach 60. After all, they are probably using bunting left over from your 50th birthday party.
Yesterday I had real reason to celebrate and forget the signs of aging when my two business partners and staff gave me the sweetest gift you can give an old man on the 60th anniversary of his arrival.
I was simply stunned arriving at work to be greeted by nine former employees who acted in character to take me back through many of our company’s 25 years. I grinned all day at their stories and the truly joyful tone of this reunion. You couldn’t give someone a greater gift.
Each of them – all ladies – has gone on to great achievement … in business and personal life. They are leaders in higher education, association management, economic development, public relations consulting, graphic design and agency management.
One of them said “there are so many successful people who have come through this company that are in so many important positions. It is a testament to the firm.”
I look at it differently. They shaped the culture and the success of this firm and they make me so proud. I think of them and the wonderful people I work today as my company children.
Do you Tweet & live or work in Central Florida? If you answered yes, this is your lucky week. The second Orlando Tweetup will be Thursday, April 30, at the Enzian’s Eden Bar.
Tweetups are a great way to connect and network with local Twitterers; so far almost 100 people are confirmed to attend.
For more event details, visit the event Facebook page here.
Of course, you can also follow Otweet’s tweets for more information.
My old colleague, incredibly talented Orlando Sentinel Editorial Cartoonist Dana Summers’ front page cartoon told such a sad story. It reminded me of one of my old posts (Ode to the Paper Boy) in which I worried about the day I’d wander out to the curb before dawn and wait for my paper to arrive on my cell phone.
Then my favorite Miami Herald Columnist Leonard Pitts took off on a variety of culprits he seems to blame for the impending death of his industry and I cried some more … but for a different reason.
Pitts was commenting on statistics in the latest Pew Report on the State of the Media in which the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalsim found more than 60 percent of those it polled said they wouldn’t miss their local papers if they folded.
“It is the insult that compounds the injury, by which I mean the growing sense that we are working on the last major story of our lives, and it is an obituary. Ours,” wrote Pitts. And although he at least let the newspaper industry share some of the blame “because we failed to anticipate and strategize,” what has to be discussed is whether the responsibility goes beyond having missed the mark on transition to the Internet.
People haven’t turned away from newspapers because of the Internet. They are turning away from newspapers because papers aren’t meeting their needs. Pitts says “…only the local paper performs the critical function of holding accountable the mayor, the governor, the local magnates and potentates for how they spend your money, run your institutions, validate or violate your trust. If newspapers go, no other entity will have the wherewithal to do that.”
He’s right. But papers used to do so much more. It isn’t just about investigative journalism. It isn’t just about being a watchdog.
People want to read insightful articles about what is happening in the world around them. They want to be alerted to things that can enrich their lives. Sure, they want to know about scoundrels … but a steady diet of what’s wrong gets old just like beans and franks for dinner.
The question has to be asked whether the industry has invested way too little in basic news coverage and way too much in things that drive readers elsewhere.
Pitts said, “Sixty-three percent of all Americans think they won’t miss the daily paper? I think 63 percent of all Americans are wrong.”
I think 63 percent of all Americans already miss their daily paper.
Posted by Curley & Pynn - The Strategic Firm 
Posted by Curley & Pynn - The Strategic Firm 
Posted by Curley & Pynn - The Strategic Firm 
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