PR from the Beach

Hurrah - I'm a Newspaper Publisher

A longtime fan of NewsCred, their latest development is seriously cool - just think of the possibilities for this type of off the shelf publishing. Check out my new 'newspaper', PR Dimensions, and tell me what you think I should add - I am looking for global public relations feeds, public relations news, comments and blogs and would be delighted to check out your recommendations.

The Tweet Imperative: Practitioner Beware

Little story today about problems at a tween star's autograph signing, but one with major implications for communicators who regularly use Twitter to advise, inform and attract people to events.

There are different versions of the story around - one says the executive was arrested for not tweeting when told, while another says it was because he tweeted too much, drawing a large, over-stimulated, hormone-fuelled crowd of screaming teens.

Whatever the actual situation, practitioners and communicators everywhere should take careful note of this one. For example, how does 'being ordered to communicate' sit with free speech? What if, in your professional opinion, tweeting would make the situation worse? And what impact would that have on your organisation's reputation? 

Equally, in a 'non-democratic' environment, what if you are 'ordered' to tweet something that will put others in danger? And for the journalists who live tweet material - what if your story is the catalyst that causes chaos? What liability would mainstream media assume?

This is a small story about an action taken - or at very least suggested - by some US police officers. Its implications however, are enormous, not necessarily at this moment, but certainly as we rush towards the future. Bet there are a few people out there live tweeting events as I write. As the event manager are you at some point, going to be held responsible for what they say or the actions their tweets precipitate?

I know it's a consideration that I'll be building into programmes from here on in. 

Media sharks miss out on a great bite

When I first came to New Zealand from the rough tabloid environment that rules the UK, I found the news reporting here rather charming. It was polite, sometimes bordering on the reverential and always, always, tied firmly to local affairs.  Even my sons remember the five minute slot awarded to a child's lost goldfish on the main TV news.

These days I find I am bemused by the mainstream media's news priorities, particularly on the broadcast side. Take yesterday. Great story on a shark at Kelly Tarlton's that performed an 'emergency c-section' on a female, releasing four baby sharks into the tank.  Alright, so it isn't earth shattering stuff, nor is it likely to change the world.  But it is interesting, diverting and, for New Zealand, most definitely of local interest. Was it covered on broadcast media here? No. Other mainstream? Barely.  Does this matter? In the great scheme of things, probably not. But I'd guarantee that online sources, NZPA and others reaped great rewards from their coverage of this diverting tale as the intrigued and curious searched for pictures of the newly-released newborns.  The world's a pretty grim place at the moment and to hear of a shark doing a good deed - well, it's a hopeful kind of thing. My unscientific poll today, covering about 350-ish fellow Kiwis indicated that at least 75% were wanting to know more and frustrated by the lack of coverage.

At present, the mainstream news agenda here seems over-punctuated by news from the US, but not the wider world. The focus is on the shallow, not the deep (yes, I know this shark tale is somewhat shallow, but they do live in the deep), the mundane rather than the extraordinary. Which is a shame, because with just 4.5m people to cater for, mainstream media has a potential for influence here greater than in many other places. Given that social media has revolutionised the news environment and given that all mainstream media outlets are in decline, one would have thought those in charge might capitalise on such potential advantage. Evidently not.

Shake it up guys - we expect more. Get your teeth into the news we want to hear and you might just be amazed at what you unleash.

Financial crisis latest: New Zealand to run out of 'experts'?

It would seem things have got really serious.  Anyone watching Kiwi mainstream media in the last few months may, like me, have begun to conclude that the first visible impact of the global financial crisis here is a total lack of experts in the field.  The  main 'financial' pundit we are faced with day after day at the moment is Bernard Hickey.  He seems to have been elevated to the role of chief national commentator. He is in fact, a career journalist and the editor-in-chief of a financial website. The ubiquitous - and I must say very personable and charming - Bernard can be found speaking at conferences, interviewed on Close Up or Campbell Live, adding his tuppence-happeny on the news or the latest doco-style coverage. And not just on the financials either - Bernard is called upon to comment on everything from stock dives to the latest technology. I think he may have even popped up during fashion week. And good on him for stepping into the breach at such a crisis point in world history and being concerned enough to selflessly make himself endlessly available to guide us through all this with his personal thoughts. When I read his latest article in the Herald today, I found myself wondering if, in truth, he would end up being elected Prime Minister in our forthcoming election as he would appear to have far more air and editorial time than the current crop of candidates. It is just possible that he is even outdoing the coverage given to Barack Obama and John McCain, which appears to outstrip our own domestic election discussions.

So good for Bernard - but what a sad indictment of mainstream media that they can't be bothered to do some decent research and unearth some other 'experts' in the field, rather than just commentators or fellow journalists.

This trend is not limited to New Zealand - all around the world mainstream media opt to talk to other journalists and commentators rather than the people at the centre of a situation. Is this because it is easier or because they then don't have to ask any tough questions? Or is it because their chosen commentator will reflect the editorial stance of the media outlet concerned?  Or is it, as I suspect, just lazy journalism brought on by staff shortages and other drivers?

If mainstream media has a role to play in this current crisis (other than hype and hysteria), surely that role should be to accurately reflect and record what is happening and provide their audiences with as wide a perspective as possible, rather than just a narrow view?  Analyse the online search results and you will see that people are searching for answers to questions that are not being responded to in mainstream media. Something which I take as a serious indication that mainstream - or traditional media - is seriously out of touch when it comes to understanding what we want and need to know.  Perhaps they should be asking Bernard what to do next - otherwise their circulation, viewer and listener figures will start to dive alongside the financials.

Has US medal mania surplanted good sportsmanship?

Like many millions, I have been watching the Olympics at a distance, full of admiration for those who simply compete as well as those who win. Those dedicated individuals who have trained, worked and sweated their way to be there, often overcoming considerable obstacles in the process. The discussions around the opening ceremony where the singing child was reportedly replaced by a 'prettier' version were not surprising, nor the digital enhancement of the fireworks - such things were always to be expected.

However, I have been both mildly amused and very disappointed by the manipulation of the medal tables by the USA. A recent Guardian blog post showed how USA media is manipulating the medal figures so that it looks like the States are 'in the lead' over China. How silly. Perhaps it is due to my British upbringing, but 'fair play' and 'being a sporting loser' were given as much emphasis as the winning itself.

People often, in my experience, manipulate reporting mechanisms to create favourable perceptions, rather accept and learn from the reality of a situation. As an individual, does it matter to me that China has more golds than the USA? Of course not - I simply admire each of the individual athletes and competitors who have done so well and think all this table manipulation makes those undertaking it look like complete losers.

I heard of another 'table' via a friend - although I can't track down the link - that ranks medal winners proportionately depending on the population size. Slovenia wins on that one, with my adopted homeland, New Zealand, coming a close second. Apparently, per person, the UK would have to win something like 126 medals to equal the NZ achievement. I don't know how true this all is and personally, I take it with a large pinch of salt. But one thing I do believe to be true is that media commentators - and the media moguls who control them - should think carefully before they get into the type of manipulation and misrepresentation visible on the 'tables' they put before their audiences.

Ultimately, they damage their country's reputation, demonstrating only a petty, small-mindedness, just when their talented citizens have achieved so much for the nations they represent.

A funny old day - pervs on the pavement, PM's in the sun...

Ridiculous thing the 'Boobs on Bikes' parade in Auckland. Cheap porno peddlar gets free promo for expo by parading busty beauties through the streets - council displeasure incurred, acres of free publicity on TV and broadcast. My favourite crack came from TV3's Campbell - who dubbed it 'pervs on the pavement' as opposed to the more headline friendly 'boobs on bikes'. From now on that's what I hope it will be called. Why should this bloke be allowed to gain such a huge amount of free publicity for what is essentially a trade show? I don't see other exhibitors parading their rugs, furniture and other wares down Queen Street when they have a 'do' up at the Showgrounds! Should Campbell's crack stick then I suspect next year not too many people will want to be attend and be dubbed 'pervs on the pavement'!

Meanwhile, out in the Islands, Helen Clark is at the Pacific summit. Only the Australians stuffed up nicely by releasing a brief that allegedly called her controlling and suggested she trusted few outside a select circle. As is her way with this sort of thing, Helen took it on the chin, decribing it as a 'hoot'. The Aussie author will have egg all over face and Helen keeps my vote for never, ever taking herself too seriously.

New twist on cheque book journalism?

This post about Six Apart on TechCrunch made me laugh. As they search to find who has been bought by - or who is buying - the owners of this very platform, the winning sleuth gets an engraved iPod. Wow. Much cheaper than some of the mainstream media offerings made for information and tips...