Archive for October, 2008
October 30, 2008 at 12:08 pm · Filed under America, Media Industry
Last night I saw a preview of “Frost/Nixon” thanks to the event organisers at Hoyts Cinema and The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia. This Ron Howard-directed film chronicles the post-Presidency bid for redemption by Nixon, and his undoing by British talk show host David Frost. (An exceptional performance by Frank Langella as Richard Nixon - he will be nominated for an Academy Award!)
The story centres on a series of television interviews. Frost wants to get Nixon on tape admitting culpability. Nixon wants to restore his reputation and drive his agenda of leadership. Clearly only one can win.
Through the interviews Nixon holds the upper hand. His responses are rehearsed and his answers are long (one was 23 minutes!). Kevin Bacon plays an advisor who whispers in Nixon’s ear saying the long answers ensure he dominates the discussion. Until the very end it looks as if Nixon will have his way.
Films based on actual and well-known events that can still build suspense are masterful. We know Nixon falls - we’re waiting to see when.
In the end the undoing is made for television. Frost understood the impact of close-ups and how a facial expression conveys everything to television viewers. Nixon folded. Langella recreates it perfectly.
Watch “Frost/Nixon” because it is a masterful film. But watch it also to learn how masters try to win in media interviews. And Nixon was a master. But in the end, he was out-gunned by Frost and done in by his own dirty deeds.
October 29, 2008 at 8:59 am · Filed under America, Public Relations
Public relations is more convincing than advertising - consumers feel the additional scrutiny placed by an independent reporter provides a level of assurance that is missing in mainstream advertising. Working for clients to secure positive media coverage is the basic building block of public relations.
Given it’s fundamental to my business, I was pleasantly surprised to positively respond to an article endorsing Barack Obama.
As a disclaimer I am a life-long Democrat and would have voted for Obama. (In fact as an overseas American I posted my ballot a fortnight ago.) Yet until today I lacked solid conviction that Obama merited my vote.
Time Magazinethis week features and essay and interview by Joe Klein (”Why Barack Obama Is Winning“). In it Klein chronicles defining moments in his coverage of the candidate. When McCain suspended his campaign to be in Washington for emergency finance meetings (where McCain did NOT succeed), Obama instinctively responded, “A President has to be able to do more than one thing at a time.”
Best of all though is the report of a meeting with Iraq war commander General Petraeus. The two discussed strategy for an extended time then agreed to disagree - Obama knew a never-ending campaign would be disastrous for America. Here’s a great summary:
Unlike George W. Bush, who had given Petraeus complete authority over the war — an unprecedented abdication of presidential responsibility (and unlike John McCain, whose hero worship of Petraeus bordered on the unseemly) — Obama would insist on a rigorous chain of command. (Source: Joe Klein, Time Magazine)
I recommend a full read of the article - it demonstrates how a well considered essay can boost the brand power of a person, a product or a presidential candidate.
October 24, 2008 at 8:37 am · Filed under America
Tina Fey has rocketed her career by mimicking Vice President candidate Sarah Palin. With her trademark glasses, haircut and clothes the imitator has become more real than the target. Most Americans attribute Fey’s joke (”And I can see Russia from my house”) to Palin herself.
So Palin took up the invitation and appeared opposite Tina Fey on “Saturday Night Live” last weekend. She was in two skits. At the opening she demurely interacted with the show’s producer and a witless Alec Baldwin. It was a neat, tidy appearance - and showed the woman knew how to take a joke.
As a communications professional, I give this five stars - it showed Palin’s human side, poked fun at the comedians and defused the power Fey and Saturday Night Live had to mock her.
The second skit was abysmal and Palin’s appearance in it was a dreadful mistake.
The skit consisted of a rap song with dancing Eskimos, a stand-in for Palin’s “First Dude” husband and a sacrificial moose. All the time Palin rocks to the rhythm - when she should have been grimacing.
Comedy is a powerful tool to restore damaged credibility. When Tom Cruise crashed and burned on Oprah’s sofa no one would pay to see him headline in an action film again. So he skillfully took a comedy role incognito as the producer in “Tropic Thunder”, the Ben Stiller directed film. We were laughing at Tom - now we laugh with him.
In the end, Palin overstayed her welcome on “Saturday Night Live”. If she’d exited after the first skit I’d be applauding her smarts. But now we’re laughing at her, not with her.
October 13, 2008 at 10:25 am · Filed under America, Australia
This weekend Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd convened a crisis cabinet to develop policies in response to the global financial crisis. He came out Sunday night with a raft of policy changes with immediate effect. These include unlimited guarantees on bank deposits, bank guarantees and funds to purchase mortgages from non-bank lenders. By Sunday night he was on national news programs explaining the specifics - with releases and spokespeople sent out to ensure Monday’s newspapers were awash with the information.
(The Mayne Report offers an excellent synopsis and editorial on the importance of Rudd’s package.)
This is a clear example of how to lead in a crisis. Kevin Rudd has remained objective and practical without pulling punches:
“We are in the economic equivalent of a rolling national security crisis and the challenges are great.”
- Kevin Rudd, 12 October 2008
Contrast this with the G7 and G20 meetings held at the weekend in Washington DC. As of 8:00 pm Sunday there were no group decisions or announcements. Prepare for Bloody Monday on Wall Street. The biggest outcome of the weekend meeting was a photo op with all the world’s finance minister’s posed on the steps of Capitol Hill. That’s supposed to reassure us?
In times of crisis what you do and what you say is magnified a thousand times over. If you tell staff not to be concerned then lt Mary in Accounting go because of discipline issues, they’ll put one and one together to get five. Be calm and consistent in crisis - and start telling staff now how you plan to ride out these challenges.
October 10, 2008 at 3:47 pm · Filed under America
In all the confusion, smeone has simplified subprime. Visit Buy My Shit Pile - where you can uplod your assets in the hopes the US Government will buy the from you. Everyone is invited to upload photos and descriptions. And to help you uderstand the economic mess, here’s their insight:
And remember, when estimating the value of your 1997 limited edition Hanson single CD “MMMbop”, it’s not what you can sell these items for that matters, it’s what you think they are worth. The fact that you think they are worth more than anyone will buy them for is what makes them bad assets. (Source: www.BuyMyShitPile.com)
What do you thinkI could get fo a lightly-used CEO? Business Week profiled Dick Fuld in their “Personal Best” section and said he’s easy to reach:
“If I need Dick Fuld on something, I can usually get him in five minutes,” says one staffer. (Source: Business Week)
Any offers for Dick?
October 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm · Filed under America, Public Relations
God bless John Stewart. The comedian hostof “The Daily Show” is now the primary source of news for more than 50% of Amrica’s high school students. And these budding minds are in safe yet sarcastic hands. Here John shows how George Bush sold the Iraq War and the $700 billion rescue plan with the same language.
See the video by clicking here.
What’s reassuring is to see the death of “politics of fear”. We’ve lived under a cloud of fear, doubt, suspicion, divide and concern for 8 years and 1 month. I guess Americans are saying enough is enough. Let’s tp being scared and let’s start solving this mess.
October 10, 2008 at 11:01 am · Filed under America, Globalisation
Enough’s been said about the world’s financial situation. So instead let me share a mock magazine cover making the rounds.
October 8, 2008 at 2:34 pm · Filed under Globalisation
The global markets are in free fall and the end appears nowhere in sight. In reality the end for America is in late January. Until the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America the world financial crisis will continue.
No one likes uncertainty. If we don’t know what to expect we cannot plan. If we cannot plan we panic. So Wall Street doesn’t know who will be in charge in a few months, and are also unsure what the new President’s policies will be. Debates and campaign promises are illustrative but not indicative.
Now apply this same thinking to your own embattled employees. eBay is shedding 1,000 people. Car companies reported record low sales. Banks are folding. Certainty is gone.
Provide your people whatever news you can - even if they’re only calm reassurances that management is actively working to control the impact on your company. Tell them what you can when you can - and never, never lie.
People need your reassurances right now. Stop blogging and start talking.
October 3, 2008 at 11:53 am · Filed under America
Like many I’m tuned into the Vice Presidential debate waiting for Sarah Palin to implode. She’s been pilloried for her failure to manage her Katie Couric interview. So record numbers are listening right now.
Palin is doing great. She’s coming across confident and conversant. Her all-night study sessions paid off. SO far so good…
The story centres on a series of television interviews. Frost wants to get Nixon on tape admitting culpability. Nixon wants to restore his reputation and drive his agenda of leadership. Clearly only one can win.
