Three recent avoidable communications no-no’s reinforce the “duh” principle. Think and ask questions before your speak, blog or engage in public conversations. Items:
• National Public Radio SVP of Development Ron Schiller talking with members of a group he has never met before, that it turns out has been organized by a provocateur. Read more
“Perception is Reality” is just one of the bromides quoted regularly whenever the subject of first impressions comes up. Others include, “What You See is What You Get,” and “Clothes Make the King” to mention a couple. Read more
The old adage says that any publicity, even if it’s bad, is better than no publicity. As adages go, this one has been proven wrong enough times to merit relegation to the dustbin of sound bites. Read more
The recent memo from U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to his colleagues at the Pentagon on how to interact with the media comes as no surprise in the wake of the forced resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as commander of American and Coalition forces in Afghanistan. Read more
Ad industry tongues are wagging over the much-anticipated TV commercial and live webcast featuring NASCAR racer Tony Stewart. Stewart signed a lucrative contract endorsing Burger King earlier this year. On Oct 20 he will take a live polygraph test to prove that his mouth truly is where the money is – that he likes and eats Burger King hamburgers. Read more
Media mogul Peter Guber ought to know about storytelling and succeeding in business. It’s the world he has been operating in most of his professional life.
Guber — chairman of Mandalay Entertainment Group — is the former studio chief of Columbia Pictures, former CEO of Sony Pictures, founder of Polygram Pictures, and founder of Casablanca Records and Filmworks. Read more
It’s been a bad week for newspapers. The Rocky Mountain News closed its doors today. Earlier in the week The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News announced they are filing for bankruptcy less than three years after the current group of owners bought the papers. Read more