Archive for November, 2007
November 29, 2007 at 3:03 am · Filed under Public Relations, Social Media
Curtin University has an active communications department. Katharina Wolf is a lecturer in the marketing department and is conducting a survey on the state of the public relations industry. The focus is on social media, education needs for the industry and - that perennial favourite of all - salary comparisons.
Take the survey TODAY by clicking here.
Katharina and her students should benefit from as many opinions as possible. And I’ll make sure we share highlights of the study when it is completed.
As they say in Louisiana politics - “Vote early and vote often!”
November 28, 2007 at 7:01 pm · Filed under Learning to Blog, Social Media
It’s odd making virtual friends. Usually you have a chance to see someone, speak in-person and size them up before entering into a friendship. Yet on-line you’re suddenly abandoning that dynamic and speaking with people you’ve never met - and are unlikely to meet in-person.
On Tuesday I flew from Adelaide to Melbourne and met with Anna Whitlam at Market U. Anna’s a class act who is also a high-end executive recruiter. It was disorienting to have her so familiar with my thinking and background - all gained by reading this blog.
On Facebook I’ve had in-depth conversations with people in South Africa, London, Dubai, Budapest and LA. I’m unlikely to meet them - ever.
But there’s a psychological closeness we gain from strangers in different lands. We can share intimacies knowing they’re unlikely to come back to us. We can try on different skins, act out fantasies or talk of details so close and painful we’d never entrust them to people in proximity for fear it may boomerang.
It’s a new social order when we retreat to a room alone in order to get close to people we’ll never meet - and leave alone those in our own household.
November 27, 2007 at 5:17 pm · Filed under Learning to Blog, Social Media
We’re all trying to be young. What else explains the obsession with casual clothing, fitness and cosmetic surgery. As Baby Boomers enter retirement and Gen Y dominate the workforce, most are seeking what Juan Ponce de Leon sought in Florida in 1513 - the Fountain of Youth.
Add to this love of youth (or denial of aging) the growing influence of social media and we’re witness to a growing informality of language.
I like the latest ad from Seek.com.au -
“Why do we need to know what’s in there, what’s up there or what’s out there?”
On a pair of Puma gym shorts I bought yesterday there are four symbols with short instructions below each:
Heart: Love Your NeighbourLeaf: Eat More GreensCar Driving into Water: Cheer Up It May Never HappenWater Drop: Wash This When Dirty
Social media allows us to get to know each-other better - in French we'd abandoning parlez-vous for "tutoyer". There are less barriers and that's starting to be reflected in casual banter.
We're younger. We're more connected. We're more social. So let's abandon the formalities, okay buddy?
November 27, 2007 at 3:48 am · Filed under Australia
This was the first USA-style election in Australia’s history.
Mass media played as large a role as ever. (Ever since JFK spent the afternoon before his debate against Nixon on the roof of The Drake Hotel in Chicago perfecting his tan the importance of television hasn’t diminished.)
YouTube became a campaign tool, with 60+ year old PM Howard launching policy on-line to a new generation of voters. But beware - don’t play in the social media arena if you’re still on “P” plates. The TV commercial style ads didn’t play well, whereas satire still gets a great response.
And on the night election results were called, Deputy Prime Minister-elect Julia Gillard talked about the importance of messaging. The losing Liberal Party went into the election with the pitch, “Go for Growth.” Weeks in they felt it was best to undermine the Labor Party’s economic credentials - and talked of “Storm Clouds Ahead - Who Do You Trust with the Economy?” Throughout the winning Labor Party stayed on message, “New Leadership - Fresh Thinking.”
This ability to remain on message - and deliver it consistently without rancour or emotion - made a difference.
And I know I’m being pedantic - but we do need to teach Mr Rudd new hand gestures! The paired hands chopping and moving in unison became….annoying!
November 25, 2007 at 8:59 pm · Filed under Australia
Australia had a king tide of political change on the weekend. After 11.5 years in power the Liberal Party was resoundingly thrashed in the election. Even the Prime Minister lost his home seat. This wasn’t a wake-up call. It was an explosion!
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating wrote in today’s “The Sydney Morning Herald” -
“On Saturday night, when it was clear the Howard Government had been defeated, many Labor supporters around me said: “You must be so happy.” But my emotion was not happiness; rather, it was relief.
“Relief that the nation had put itself back on course. Relief that the toxicity of the Liberal social agenda - the active disparagement of particular classes and groups, that feeling of alienation in your own country - was over. And over in the only way that could be final: with a resounding electoral instruction of “No more”.
After more than a decade enduring political conservatisim it’s a relief to see the electorate agrees - it’s time for change!
November 21, 2007 at 6:08 pm · Filed under America, Australia
To all my American friends and family - Happy Thanksgiving! Today celebrates the first successful harvest after Pilgrims settled in America and nearly starved their first winter. The next spring Native Americans helped them grow crops suited to the climate - and they flourished. Thanksgiving started to give thanks for the harvest - and cooperation, and friends, and family.
To all my Australian friends and family, Thanksgiving is a great American tradition. Family members travel cross-country to gather together - and eat. The menu is as prolific as it is diverse. Turkey is usually the centrepiece. From there it’s anyone’s guess - and everyone’s tradition. It’s less stressful than Christmas (no gifts) and it’s only about family and close friends (the family your choose!).
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In New York is the annual Macy’s Day Parade and two or three gridiron football games are played. Some gather in the kitchen to cook - some gather in front of the television to watch sport. In early evening everyone gathers to celebrate a great meal - and the wonderful links of family and friendship that enrich our lives. Small cinema captured it well in the film, “Pieces of April.”
In Sydney it’s a Thursday. The sky is overcast and it’s cool for early summer. There are no turkeys or cranberry sauces in the markets. Everyone is at work. It’s as if nothing is different - and that’s the hardest bit about being an expat.
Save me a plate of turkey and mash, will ya?
November 21, 2007 at 2:50 am · Filed under Learning to Blog, Social Media, Uncategorized
I’m thick, I admit. It takes me longer sometimes to come to terms with new concepts. Social media gift giving is on area I have yet to fully come to terms with. It is money for nothing. Or is it?
For the rest of the class: Social media sites (MySpace, Facebook) allow users to connect and inter-connect with friends (and strangers) in a number of ways. One application allows you to give a gift to a friend. There’s a gallery of images and - get this - you pay $1.00 to send it to another person. What does the receiver get? An image and your message.
When you care enough to send the very best…
Seems like a killer application to me. If I could get all my loyal readers to spend $1.00 to click through and send me a four leaf clover or a piece of sushi or a traffic cone or a baby chick then in time those would add up.
And hence the incredible promise of social media. People pay to send a picture to a friend. They are that attached to the network and its reality.
Send me a dollar. I’ll email you a picture - what do you want? The slice of pizza? The inflatable shark?
PS: Have any of the global brands realised not one of those gifts is branded???
November 18, 2007 at 9:28 pm · Filed under Media Industry, Public Relations
Canberra author Bob Burton takes a dive into the public relations industry in his book, “Inside Spin.” This morning Bob Burton was interviewed on “The Book Show” on ABC Radio National. He said there’s been little written in Australia on the industry. I look forward to reading his book.
On the upside Burton calls for greater transparency and suggests more could be done to reveal client links to media relations activities. Journalists should write about which public relations agencies are providing materials for their stories. They should also dig to find which advocacy groups are funded by corporations - and which get support from that company’s PR firm.
On the downside the interview paints the industry in the worst light. Publicists are out to deceive and hide. Companies use “spin” to manage their images. In repeating these myths Burton undermines his research and demonstrates he didn’t look deeper into the custard than the skin.
I’ll reserve full judgement until I’ve read the book. However I’d suggest Burton get an agency to help him refine his key messages!
November 15, 2007 at 6:17 pm · Filed under Australia
The glitterati of Sydney and the establishment in Melbourne are quick to sneer when you mention Adelaide. Poor Adelaide! The capital of South Australia has a chip on its shoulder because the East Coast has ignored it for too long. (Side joke: How do you spot a well balanced Australian man? He’s got a chip on both shoulders!)
But the coastal capitals are wrong to be dismissive. There’s a lot more to Adelaide.
Yes, it is a large country town. The streets are quieter and rush hour lasts from 5:30 to 6:00 each night. Rundle Mall has fantastic shops and is free of vagrants and litter (mostly). I love the time difference - Adelaide is a half hour behind Sydney and Melbourne. Now if that’s not telling then what is?
But isolation has its benefits. Adelaide is a centre for entrepreneurial technology and development. Yesterday I had lunch with millionaire entrepreneur Ross Williams. He was the driving force behind Rocksoft’s success - and is now founder of Carbon Planet. He’s one of many powerful, inventive and clever business professionals in Adelaide.
And along with a vibrant city - that’s just big enough - you have wineries in the hills and white sandy beaches at the shore. What’s not to like?
November 15, 2007 at 1:20 am · Filed under America, Learning to Blog, Australia
I get grief in Australia because I’m from New Jersey. And America.
It’s not bad enough that Australians feel comfortable “giving heaps” to Americans (aka Septics - precedes Tanks which rhymes with Yanks. Ah, the subtleties of Cockney!). But mention you’re from New Jersey and folks feel inclined to pitch in a bit more.
Must be all that Joe Pesci did in “My Cousin Vinnie.” Or Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos.” But New jersey is synonymous for “tough under dog” and “brash but no class” around the world. I think of Joan Cusack in “Working Girl” (even if she was from Richmond [aka Staten Island]).
So I left New Jersey - a long, long time ago. But they do say “You can take the boy out of New Jersey, but you can’t take the New Jersey out of the boy.” I am a little loud. Down here that’s called being OTT (Over The Top). I like loud cars. Sunshine and sand aren’t enough unless you add Banana Boat Coconut Oil. Classy, no?
And then today all my battery hens come home to roost. I find I’ve been hot-linked by “The Newark Star Ledger” and their blog site. Is this infamy? Or final recognition from my home state - come back to the five and dime!
It’s too much to ponder. Besides, I got me a Corvette to polish - I’m outta here!
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