Dec 26, 2016 | Advertising, Media
1. Facebook is looking to hire a media veteran to help it rethink news. A recently posted “Head of News Partnerships” job listing seeks someone with more than 20 years of experience in news to be the “public-facing voice of Facebook and its role in the news ecosystem.”
2. Here are the chummy behind-the-scenes text messages between Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Andreessen that surfaced in a Facebook lawsuit. The texts have come to light in a lawsuit over Facebook’s plan to reclassify its stock structure and create a new class of non-voting shares.
3. Instagram is opening up its live video broadcasting feature to all US users. The feature is rolling out over the next few days, according to TechCrunch.
4. Twitter is phasing out its lead generation ads that requested personal information, Marketing Land reports. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the move on Monday.
5. PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, which owns the Doritos brand, will not advertise in 2017’s Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years, Ad Age reports. A Frito-Lay spokesperson said the game did not fit with its marketing plans.
6. Digiday looks at why top publishers are still stuck distributing fake news. Fake stories are still being advertised on top-tier sites.
7. Facebook Live will air its first 360-degree live stream on Tuesday with National Geographic, Marketing Land reports. The video will document crew members emerging back into the real world after 80 days in the Mars Desert Research Station facility in Utah.
8. Twitter has reinstated Richard B Spencer’s account, the while nationalist leader who was previously suspended, The Guardian reports. Twitter suspended him for running multiple accounts.
9. Google employees confess all the things they hated most about working at Google. Take a look at this Quora thread, which is being constantly updated by current and former Google employees to dish the dirt on working for the search giant.
10. Pressure is growing to refer Rupert Murdoch’s bid for Sky to UK communications regulator Ofcom, The Guardian reports. MPs say the deal could put too much power in Murdoch’s hands.
Published on BusinessInsider.com
Feb 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
Jun 5, 2014 | Media
There she stood, GM’s new CEO “LIVE” on CNN this morning admitting to a “pattern of incompetence and neglect”. Here are the highlights or shall we say “low” points from the early release of GM’s internal probe:
2.6 million vehicles recalled to date. 15 GM employees fired after the probe; 5 others disciplined and a promise from the GM to “do the right thing for the victims”. GM says the number of people who died in their poorly manufactured cars is-13- all front impact crashes. Victim families say that number is much larger.
The company still faces wrongful death lawsuits from victims’ families. GM has already faced two days of grueling Congressional hearings in April and agreed to a $35 million fine from safety regulators. GM is the subject of a criminal probe while Congress and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration are continuing their investigations.
GM’s media move today is simple: an attempt to control the message; set the narrative, control the escalating cost and keep a few GM employees out of prison.
While we always coach clients to tell the truth. We often have to remind folks the truth doesn’t come in percentages–like half the truth or 3/4th of the facts. While it might feel like a new day of transparency at GM, any good journalist or jury member can see their victim count remains a bit fuzzy. In GM’s 13, they don’t include any passengers who might have been in the vehicles and died as a result of the accident caused by the faulty ignition switch. How can that be?
While publicly stepping out, taking actions (such as terminating those who were incompetent and neglected the problem), the timing here is key. GM will forever have a black eye because engineers knew about this problem back in 2004. Imagine, if the GM CEO back then took today’s approach and came forward to take responsibility for the problem, do the right thing..and WARN their customers. What kind of difference do we think the victim count might reflect?
Feb 10, 2014 | Media
Samuel L. Jackson provides a perfect “teachable moment” on LIVE TV out in Los Angeles today. Long-time entertainment reporter Sam Rubin was “a bit red in the face”, but Jackson kept his banter light-hearted and not mean-spirited. In our latest book, the ABC’s of Media, we advise you take each interview on a case by case basis…some things aren’t worth correcting or calling someone out on. Also, remember, Jackson has skills..which include delivering funny one-liners. After all–he’s an actor (…and a brilliant Morehouse Man). What you definitely don’t want to do is humiliate another human being (especially a reporter) who makes an honest mistake .Mr. Jackson knows he is going to need this reporter to promote and make his next few films blockbusters!!
Click here to watch.
Then let me know what you think in the comments section.
Jan 23, 2014 | Media
In the heat of the moment, (… with an “open mic” nearby..) walk away.
Mr. Sherman is a smart man. Stanford education and great strategic football skills on the field. In the public arena, he will go far by remembering to say less is more beneficial. Turn the other cheek.
So what, Mr. Crabtree was in no mood to chat after the defeat.
… Let it go.
Mr. Sherman’s rant heard around the world was sad. I continue to remind folks video NEVER dies. Your angry, arrogant outburst will be a clip that last forever. My good friends in the media will dig it up during the good times and the bad. When they assemble your video obituary..this clip will be included.
Mr. Sherman reminds us to manage our message–and our legacy.
Click here to watch.
Then let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Dec 19, 2013 | Media
Here’s proof of what we preach in media training..video lives forever! WIS-TV celebrates 60 years….
Jun 26, 2013 | Media
Our telephone has been ringing off the hook today…so pardon the delay in the obvious follow-up. Paula Deen violated one of the golden rules of managing a crisis: “do no more harm”. While the social media meters are suggesting that she did not move the meter one way or the other after the interview, her publisher reports cookbook sales are up. We want to focus on the teachable moments from this media mess.
It was not clear this morning why she did the interview with Matt Lauer. To make up for her no-show last week? What was the point? If your point and purpose aren’t clear you end up at the mercy of the interviewer–just answering his/her questions. The bigger mistake came when Deen claimed that in her 66 years of life she only used that “N” word one time. Well, in her sworn deposition she mentioned using it at least twice. Then we all learned today, she apparently used it when she came up with that crazy scheme to hire middle-aged black men to work as servers at her brother’s wedding. O.k., the lesson here is NEVER use the words: never, impossible or absolutely (especially if it is not true). The absolutes will get you all the time. Don’t be surprised if the plaintiff’s lawyers use this interview to attack her credibility or attempt to leverage a settlement.
Finally, did Deen really invoke the name of Rev. Jesse Jackson? Jackson you may recall has some experience in this area having offended the entire Jewish community during his 1984 bid for President. His advice to Deen–show people by your actions that you have changed. That might be hard given Ms. Deen’s now infamous quote this morning -“I is what I is, and I’m not changing.” Okay, that’s fine, that’s her choice. Caesars Entertainment made its choice too. The Caesars Entertainment company has released a statement saying it had “reached an agreement with Paula Deen Enterprises not to renew the business relationship.” The company said it is “in the best interest” to part ways. Caesars said it intends to rebrand the current Paula Deen-themed restaurants in the coming months. QVC is still weighing its options.
The best advice we can offer Ms. Deen at this point is to immediately pull back, find a quiet space and replay today’s interview with Matt. Take a note tablet and count the number of times you use the word “I”. It is a pretty good bet that if you offended people, the focus should be on their pain, not yours.
Watch here and then come back and comment below.
