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Social media is a gift to cartoonists and talk-show hosts. But the cherry on top is when a politician is caught using a communication tool such as Twitter in thoughtless, irresponsible ways. Such as this one of Democrat, Anthony Weiner:
No less ridiculous as the naivete of Republican, Christopher Lee:
Capturing a sound byte used to be a great way to thread a breaking story. News organisations such as NPR, or BBC for instance use the formula well. Some use it to balance a story, others, to tilt one in favor of a point of view it wishes to hold up.
Audio is also a great way to capture the ambiance of a particular environment. A machine grinding away on factory floor, a call to prayer from a far away minaret, children on a playground…
So why is it that the poster is suddenly making a comeback? It’s one dimensional, after all!
I think of it as a powerful tool not only because of what it says but how it is displayed. In other words, there is more contextual detail that surrounds a poster that adds to the story, even though it is a frozen moment. Two things come into play that make a poster powerful:
- The image is at once analog (when printed) and digital (when photographed and preserved in a digital stream).
- The message feeds a story because it tends to be connected to a human who holds it up, or a group of people in which it seems to be rooted
There is a third element – mystery. The unknown or un-clarified details take on greater significance, goading our curiosity, and our need to fill in the gaps of the larger story.
The protests in the past few weeks in Egypt demonstrate this. From the simple pen sketches, to the large-font messages to the administration:
No face here, but the reference to another country adds a new dimension to political intrigue in the region.
Adding more context, a paper poster is just another element to counterpoint the heavy machinery around it!
The moment you see this website you want to have a good gaffaw.
It’s a cross between The Onion, and the fake BP Global PR Twitter handle.
But it highlights the seriousness of social media monitoring, and why you can’t be asleep at the wheel.
On Monday NPR ran a story about Ben Quayle, and how his ‘dirty’* Google juice was pushing down search results to the positive things his campaign wanted to emphasize. Problems like that won’t get buried easily.
Jon Kaufman of Zog Media was quoted as saying this industry is dependent on who controls the message.
Really? Control, or Manage?
Recall how BP faced a logo attack as well. How do you stop that? Or take a look at this Press Release. It’s Chevron’s statement on….
Just kidding!
Try controlling that!
“Was he a talk-show host masquerading as a politician? Or a politician masquerading as a talk-show host?”
Editorial in the Arizona Republic, on J.D. Hayworth, giving up his 3-hour slot on talk radio, to possibly run against John McCain.
“Democracy in a nation of 300 million people can be noisy and messy and complicated.”
Barack Obama, State of the Union address, 2010
“Reverse Psychology: Chinese Knock-Off Firm to Sue Apple Over iPad”
Fast Company, on Shenzen Great Long Brother Industrial company claim that the iPad is a knockoff of its P88 model, presented six months prior at the IFA
“It’s time to find your voice and get an online printing press.”
Wayne Kurtzman, at MediaBullseye
For all those who equate young people and the Me-Generation, with limited interests, take a look at Voices of 21.
It’s a project by students of the University of Pittsburgh, and it’s named for a god reason -to add a 21st ‘voice’ to the 20 global voices at G-20 summit going on in their neck of the woods. It’s goal is
to inspire a more inclusive and constructive dialogue on global economic stability that will resonate with the Pittsburgh community and beyond.
This analysys of the protests, for instance is enlightening. A rather long post, it is written by fourth-year student majoring in Law and Global Political Economy, Eli Baumwell. I don’t mind the length, and will probably use it as an example of those who complain that wonder if this generation is all about short form content and Facebook-y status updates!
Thanks to Danny Stoian, at the Department of State, for pointing this site out.
“He took the long view. He never gave up. And though on most issues I very much wished he would give up.”
John McCain, on his friend and Senate adversary, Ted Kennedy who passes away this week.
“IBM is trying to push this debate onto social nets via the most convenient device–the remote you’ve just used to switch channels. “
Fast Company story on the new move to get TV viewers to micro-blog from the couch.
“I would say I’m a different GoDaddy Girl.”
Erin Kalin, a mother and singer who is the latest GoDaddy Girl, who hopes to be a role model for young girls.
“I like to call that person The TMI Guy.”
A post from CaliberPulse, on how each one of know someone who posts Too Much Information
“a kind of virtual race to get as many people online by the Olympics alongside all the real physical races that will be going on.”
Martha Fox, the British government’s digital champion.
“It’s a balance between the issue and the (one) person …“Pick people who symbolize the issue.”
Kimberly Dozier, on the challenges of being an ‘embedded journalist’ in a session (‘Reporting from the frontlines’) at the SPJ Journalism Conference in Indianapolis.
“We’ve just had a demonstration of democracy.”
Senator Arlen Specter, after a person attending a town hall meeting shouted at him. The man was escorted out of the room, at a Harrisburg Community College.
“The Obama administration has delivered … a message of tough love. We are not sugarcoating the problems. We’re not shying away from them.”
Secretary Hillary Clinton, summing up her trip to Africa
“The Internet disrupts any industry whose core product can be reduced to ones and zeros ..it is the biggest virgin forest out there”
Jose Ferreira, founder and CEO of education startup Knewton
“Doing sustainability is fine, but being sustainable is where we want to wind up.”
Michelle Bernhart, author of “The Rules of the Game” in an upcoming edition of IABC’s Communication World magazine, interviewed by Natasha Nicholson.
“FriendFeed, in my mind, is the new RSS reader.”
Robert Quigley in Old Media New Tricks
“Macaca Day, for those of us who make our living from video on the Internet and elsewhere, is a holy day – the day that marks the birth of YouTube politics, and reminds us that citizens with cellphone cameras and a YouTube account – or at least an election.”
Dan Manatt, at Tech President, on the infamous comment by senator George Allen during the election campaign
“Google Voice “is merely symptomatic of that larger question.”
Ben Scott, public policy director of Free Press, a Washington-based consumer advocacy group in Washington, on the investigation on whether the carrier (AT&T) and handset maker (Apple) had anything to do with banning Google’s voice application from the iPhone.
“This is a decision based upon consumer experiences, child protection and our strategic investment to build up MSN Messenger.”
Geoff Sutton, GM of MSN Europe, on the decision to shut down Microsoft chat rooms in 28 countries.
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“The narrow prism of terrorism”
John Brennan, President Obama’s new counter-terrorism chief, saying the present administration won’t be looking at allies and other nations this way anymore.
FACT: You do own your brand and brand messaging
FACT: You don’t own relationships customers have with your brand
Beth Harte, at SocialMediaToday.com on Brand Vs Brand Relationships
“Washington Post Magazine ceases its XX Files feature in Sept. Probably cause?…the essays tended to focus on negative experiences with men.”
“But the pleasure of turning the page! I protested. The feel of something organic, not electronic, in your hands. The crispness…”
Jessica Burnette-Lemon, on looking at the Amazon Kindle
“Scare you away yet?”
Job description for AXIS Inc., for entry-level marketing position that requires knowledge in PR, customer service, sales…
“Successful candidate will have: 1) LinkedIn, MySpace, and/or Facebook account; 2) Twitter account with consistent, frequent updates; 3) Personal blog”
Job description for Social Media Director at ADF
“It’s a big surprise to me that my blog has meant that 250m people have not been able to enter Facebook.”
A blogger names Georgy, on the reason for the denial of service attacks on popular networks Facebook and Twitter.
“Military computers off-limits to tweeting GIs.”
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