Late-breaking copy-editing story

From Charles S. Clark, Senior Editor at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges:

Wired magazine recently decided to lower-case the words "Internet" and "Web." The tekkies are upset, judging by the more than 800 protesting comments on Slashdot.com, noted linguist Geoffrey Nunberg on Sept. 30 on National Public Radio. Lots of tekkies think of the Internet as a specific community and monumental place. But Nunberg he says, the Internet by now is a ubiquitous space like the atmosphere, but it is no coherent community. There is no group mind out there, Nunquist says. Americans used to capitalize Radio and Cinema in the 1920s, and he argues that the Internet has receded into the background of American life. So it is more logical to spell Internet with a lower-case "I." I personally don't fully agree, but might be persuaded after a few more years. Yes, the Internet is unique, but there are other types of webs besides the World Wide Web.

Tom Toles explains the debate

The media wins the “lowered expectations” contest.

Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium

Contractors Form Standards Group

The contractors have formed the Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium, of which Murdoch is chairman. It was initially pushed by Chicago-based Boeing and now includes 30 companies such as Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems PLC and Raytheon Co. The group will be self-funded.

The group will identify common operating standards and emerging technology trends. It will agree that technology developed in accordance with the consortium's recommended standards will be made available to all members, industry officials said.

Another sign that open systems is the way of the future.

Riad Ali

CNN producer abducted in Gaza

A group of armed men abducted a CNN producer in Gaza City on Monday.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the abduction of CNN producer Riad Ali, and the militant group Hamas condemned it.

"We emphasize that this ugly incident is a violation of the sanctity of journalism and contradicts the morals of the Palestinian people," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman said he, Ali and CNN photographer Mary Rogers had left their Gaza office in a taxi when a white Peugeot pulled in front of them, blocking their way, around 6:35 p.m. (11:35 a.m. ET).

This is the first time this has happened in the occupied territories. Very worrisome.

Edit - The Media Drop links a CNN story reporting Ali's release.

The power of the free sample

In sales nothing is more powerful than the free sample. Until recently no one came up with a way to do this with software. David Storm points to a service that makes online testing easy.

Open Source CMS

This could be a very powerful marketing tool for small companies.

Microsoft takes on spammers and their hosting companies

MS fires armour-piercing suit at 'bullet-proof' spam host

Microsoft has fired off nine new lawsuits against spammers including an action against a web hosting firm that allegedly offered so-called "bullet proof" hosting to junk mailers. ...

Suppliers of so-called "bullet-proof" services claim that they can't be shut down as a result of complaints. In reality, such services are usually closed within days as the escalation of complaints to upstream providers forces ISPs to close down sources of spam - or risk being kicked off the net themselves. In any case, the trade is probably on the wane. Anti-spam organisations, such as Spamhaus, are increasingly winning coverts in the Chinese ISP community with their argument that local hosts shouldn’t offer such slimy services.

See also: Spamhaus assaults 'Great Wall of Spam'

Well done Microsoft.

Microsoft to secure IE for XP only

From CNET:

"It's a problem that people should have to pay for a whole OS upgrade to get a safe browser," said Michael Cherry, analyst with Directions on Microsoft in Redmond, Wash.

Just because Microsoft can get away with releasing a flawed product and charging for the fix doesn't make it right.

US Treasuries down

From the Financial Times:

US Treasuries broke a winning streak on Thursday, succumbing to profit-taking that helped nudge the yield on the 10-year note back over 4 per cent.

The 10-year yield broke below the psychologically important 4 per cent level for the first time in five months on Wednesday, and opened below that level on Thursday. Traders said it headed higher after failing to break through technical resistance at 3.96 per cent. Following the rise in Treasury prices over the past few days, observers said many participants were also over-extended and that some selling could be related to position-trimming.

Strategists said news that the US was considering lending some of its strategic petroleum reserve to cover hurricane-related problems in the Gulf of Mexico also helped weaken bonds.

At midday in New York, movements were concentrated in longer-dated bonds, and the yield on the two-year note was little changed at 2.462 per cent. The 10-year yield was at 4.007, up 2.3 basis points on the day, while that on the 30-year bond added 2bp to 4.794 per cent.

Technoflak has never heard of lending the strategic petroleum reserve.

Internet Damage Control

Jeffrey Geibel has written a terrific guide to responding to web-based attacks.

Most observers, when they encounter a ‘rant' against a company or organization, will likely go to that organizations' web site to see what it says. This is a opportunity to respond and neutralize criticism. Surprisingly, most companies are clueless when it comes to this basic measure of self-defense. They simply act as if the criticisms don't exist - which is a form of denial.

The beauty of the Internet is that the gate keepers are gone. You can always put things on your web site. It won’t have the same credibility as an independent press organization, but it has the advantage or speed. Responding to negative press should begin with your corporate web site, and your employees' blogs if you are smart enough to encourage them.

Web Content Management Circa 2004: Marketplace, Trends, and Technologies

NCC-AIIM Monthly Meeting
Thursday, October 14, 2004

NCC-AIIM joins forces with IAC (Industry Advisory Council) on Thursday, October 14, 2004 to deliver an outstanding ECM program. After providing an overview of the ECM market and examining the trends facing the industry in September, we need to look at these emerging technologies through the eyes of a stakeholder. How can organizations manage the incredible amount of digital assets that they make available through the Web? The answer is Web Content Management (WCM), but the process isn’t easy!!

Tony Byrne, founder and editor of CMS Watch, will look at WCM trends, technologies, and marketplace from the perspective of a solutions buyer, the federal buyer in particular. Professionals responsible for choosing a WCM solution, delivering Web content to constituents, and/or managing Web content will benefit by attending.

Buyers have never had more choices. Despite repeated warnings of consolidation in the WCM space, the number of viable products continues to expand and several mid-tier vendors are making inroads into the federal sector - mirroring their success in commercial markets. In the meantime, various architectural patterns and organizational best practices are emerging as key determinants for success in managing Web content, regardless of product solution.

Mr. Byrne will provide a thorough snapshot of the vendor community, describe some architectural trends, and then examine some WCM approaches that appear to be gaining traction.

Trevor Cook explains advertising

Advertisers use sex and violence because their other ideas are crap, and we should tell them to stop it.

Deutsche Welle discovers blogging

Neville Hobson (who has a wonderful clock on his blog) points to
THE BOBS - BEST OF THE BLOGS
DEUTSCHE WELLE
INTERNATIONAL WEBLOG AWARDS 2004

Of course I’m a PR flack

Technoflak recently received an email from the Infocom Group offering tips on how to avoid the reputation of a PR Flack. Truthfully, Technoflak only cares about what the public thinks of her clients and is unconcerned with any reporter’s opinion of her.

Reporters will always think we are pitching them because that is how we get paid. We should only be concerned with what reporters think of our clients.

Having said that, there is some commonsense advice here that bears repeating. Technoflak never forgets that the client is the newsmaker, reporters should talk directly to the newsmaker, it makes better copy.

Veteran Journalist Reveals Why the Press Calls PR Pros “Flacks” — And Shares How to Avoid Similar Media Barbs

A recent story filed by John Rebchook, real estate reporter with the Rocky Mountain News, calls out Gerry Freeman as “one of Denver’s most colorful flacks,” and goes on to reveal that the longtime PR pro sold his public relations firms to his partners. Kudos to Freeman for cashing out after a long and venerable career. But JSO couldn’t help but wonder why Rebchook saddled the PR vet with what many see as a dated and derogatory label typically reserved for communicators who are seen as little more than gatekeepers, spinmeisters or even con artists by newsroom hardcases.

So we asked him: “Gerry Freeman is a special case — he’s an old-style reporter who worked for the New York Daily News in the 1950s,” ventures Rebchook, who has covered everything from politics to real estate in his 20 years as a business reporter for the Rocky Mountain News. “This is an old school PR guy who wears an ascot — and who calls himself a flack,” he says. “He’s a real colorful character who is stepping down — that’s all I meant. Plus, I didn’t want to use the word ‘publications’ twice in two sentences.”

His point? “The tenor of the article was not derogatory — actually, it’s pretty flattering. No one called in to complain — they realized it was a term of endearment and not disparaging.” Even so, Rebchook concedes that most in the media use the term disparagingly. “It generally means a person who will say anything for the client — whether it’s true or not,” he explains. “PR people lie to us about stuff all the time. This upsets reporters and feeds into the perception of PR people not caring about the veracity of their [communications] efforts.”

That said, Rebchook offers this advice to PR practitioners who want to improve their media relations — and avoid being called “flacks” (in the negative sense, of course):

1. Don’t drink your client’s Kool-Aid. Rebchook says that PR pros who “make our jobs harder, who practice gatekeeper-ism and who lie — they’re considered ‘flacks’ in the negative usage. Those practices damage your credibility and earn you this sort of [dubious] distinction with reporters. The bottom line is that these kinds of ‘flacks’ have short careers in PR because they alienate the media they’re trying to reach.”
His point: “Basically, I think PR people can avoid being called ‘flacks’ if they don’t pass along the lies their clients push,” says Rebchook. His advice? “Do your homework on clients. Don’t pass information to us that you know has faults or that seems inaccurate or incomplete. You can avoid a lot of negative media feedback by doing this one thing — [vetting] unethical clients and practices. If it doesn’t sit right with you or seem like it will strengthen your media relations — then don’t do it,” he suggests.

2. Come clean — being candid goes a long way toward establishing credibility. “The first thing a PR person can do to avoid being looked at as a flack or spinmeister is tell the truth,” says Rebchook, underscoring his earlier point. “Reporters and PR people alike need to have a high degree of ethics and candor — otherwise people don’t trust the information they provide. For example, it’s much better to tell a reporter that you can’t give an answer to a particular question than to lie to him. If you can’t speak to rumors, then tell us so — don’t give us the run-around or fudge. Following the PRSA’s [guidelines for ethical conduct] is a minimum requirement for ensuring you don’t burn bridges with the press,” he believes.

3. Prove that you value the media’s time — corral clients who push lame stories. “Don’t waste a reporter’s time,” advises Rebchook. “For example, stop sending out crap stories that you know won’t make the [cut]. Again, a lot of those get sent out [in press releases] because the client is pushing them. As a PR person, your job should be to stand up and tell the client that sending that kind of material will only hurt future chances at coverage,” he says. “Sending material that isn’t worth coverage or that isn’t a good fit is like crying wolf — you lose your credibility. It turns us off and we decide we won’t waste our time with your calls or emails in the future.”

4. Tell it like it is — don’t oversell your story. “Hyping or overselling a story is a sure way to be viewed as a ‘flack,’” warns Rebchook. “For example, we get a lot of press releases packed with jargon and hype. That’s a sign that there’s no real story there.”
His advice: “Cut adjectives like ‘best,’ ‘most’ and ‘unique’ from your releases or pitches. Remember, too, that many reporters prefer fact sheets to press releases precisely because the copy is more straightforward — there’s just no room for flowery adjectives.” In addition, Rebchook advises taking a red pen to your release prior to distribution and “crossing out as many adjectives as you can. Editors do that [to our stories] — so it’s a good practice for PR people to follow.”

5. Provide access — don’t tie reporters up in red tape. “There are a lot of PR people out there who get it right,” concedes Rebchook. “The best of them are able to act as mediators, facilitators and brokers of quality information. They bring two parties together and refuse to act as gatekeepers.” For example: “Wendy Aiello is a great facilitator. [She doesn’t] get involved unless we ask for more information. She’s there to make the story happen — not get in the way.”

6. Exhibit good news sense — show you understand the newsroom mindset. “News sense is an important trait of a great PR person,” believes Rebchook. “For example, former reporter Tom Schilling [Intermountain Corporate Affairs] knows what goes on in the newsroom. He’s a great resource and never wastes our time because he knows what kinds of stories we’re covering and what kind of news hooks we’re looking for.”

7. Develop thick skin — don’t take media barbs personally. Does Rebchook think the term PR “flack” is comparable to terms like media “flack” or worse? “I’ve heard PR people call themselves ‘flacks’ more than journalists calling each other ‘hacks,’” he says. “I think the word ‘flack’ has lost its sting because PR people have embraced it. They’ve taken it on as their own,” believes Rebchook.

“On the other hand, never call a journalist a ‘hack,’” he warns. “That word directly attacks the credibility and character of a reporter — it implies that the writing is sloppy and perhaps even calls into question its veracity.”

What lesson is a PR pro to take from this? Rebchook offers this perspective: “As a former journalist and now as a PR pro, Schilling has learned the importance of having thick skin,” he says. “For example, if I called him a ‘flack’, he’d laugh and agree that he’s now ‘flacking for so-and-so.’ He wouldn’t be offended by the term — but nobody would ever consider him a ‘flack’ in the negative sense,” Rebchook assures. “Great PR people are like that — they don’t take things personally.”

Three's a crowd

Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Javier, Tropical Storm Jeanne regional imagery, 2004.09.14 at 1545Z.

You can do a lot in one single day

For instance, you could destroy your reputation as a credible newspaper.

Via The Media Drop

Edit-

Technoflak contacted El Pais and received this response. They write in Spanish, so Technoflak doesn't know what they said.

Estimada Sra. Marshall,

A principios de esta semana ha recibido en su correo un anuncio en el que le invit·bamos a ser suscriptor de ELPAIS.es
En relaciÛn con dicho correo y para aclarar lo mejor posible nuestra opiniÛn nos permitimos adjuntarle el editorial que publican EL PAIS y ELPAIS.es en su ediciÛn del viernes 17 de septiembre de 2004:

EL PAÕS PIDE PERD”N


EL PAÕS pide perdÛn por la utilizaciÛn de las im·genes del atentado contra las Torres Gemelas de Nueva York, ocurrido el 11 de septiembre de 2001, para una campaÒa de captaciÛn de suscriptores a ELPAIS.es. Esta lamentable campaÒa, realizada a travÈs de mensajes por correo electrÛnico, se apoyaba en dos fotografÌas de Nueva York, una con las Torres Gemelas y otra sin ellas, bajo el tÌtulo "Un dÌa da para mucho. ImagÌnese lo que puede suceder en tres meses". La promociÛn comenzÛ el pasado lunes, 13 de septiembre, y fue remitida a m·s de 50.000 destinatarios antes de su cancelaciÛn, el miÈrcoles dÌa 15.


EL PAÕS, su empresa editora y el Grupo Prisa lamentan profundamente que se haya utilizado como soporte publicitario una tragedia, que en este caso costÛ la vida a m·s de 2.700 personas. Pedimos perdÛn por ello a las vÌctimas y a sus familiares, a los ciudadanos de Nueva York que vivieron m·s directamente aquella agresiÛn, a cuantos han visto invadido su correo electrÛnico por tan ominoso mensaje, y a los lectores todos del diario.

Cualquier explicaciÛn es insuficiente ante la cadena de errores que ha llevado al lanzamiento de esta campaÒa, que algunos de nuestros lectores han calificado con justicia de repugnante. Compartimos el rechazo que han expresado en numerosos mensajes y cartas al director y lamentamos lo sucedido.


El grupo PRISA ha abierto una investigaciÛn interna para aclarar cÛmo se decidiÛ poner en circulaciÛn esta campaÒa promocional y adoptar las medidas adecuadas. De manera inmediata ha pedido a la empresa encargada del buzoneo electrÛnico que se dirija a todos los destinatarios de la campaÒa para pedir disculpas.


EL PAÕS quiere expresar una vez m·s, como lo ha hecho en sus 28 aÒos de vida y a lo largo de sus casi 10.000 n˙meros, su solidaridad sin fisuras con las vÌctimas del terrorismo. Tal como decÌa el artÌculo editorial de EL PAÕS del 12 de septiembre de 2001 y ratificamos hoy en todos sus tÈrminos, aquellos atentados alcanzaron a todos los ciudadanos biennacidos, sin distinciÛn de fronteras ni continentes, y constituyeron un ataque "contra quienes compartimos los mismos principios democr·ticos que en nuestro paÌs tanto costÛ conseguir".Los b·rbaros atentados que luego se han sucedido en todo el mundo, entre otros lugares en Madrid, no han hecho sino confirmar la necesidad de una actitud firme y democr·tica ante el terrorismo, de la que debe quedar excluida toda utilizaciÛn irresponsable de este tipo de acontecimientos.
Atentamente,

ELPAIS.es.

A gem of a post

Topaz Partners

Via PR Opinions

Ivan the terrible

Creative Response Concepts throws Little Green Footballs

Salon (subscription or day pass req)

Creative Response Concepts, the Arlington, Va., Republican public relations firm run by former Pat Buchanan communications director Greg Mueller, with help from former Pat Robertson communications director Mike Russell, sent out a media advisory Thursday to hawk a right-wing news dispatch: "60 Minutes' Documents on Bush Might Be Fake." Creative Response Concepts has played a crucial role in hyping the inaccurate, secondhand Swift Boat allegations, with Russell serving as the group's official spokesman. A company spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Contrary to what some have suggested, this story did not originate in blogosphere. It was driven by a Republican PR firm.

The marketing implications are clear, if you can use blogosphere spread a political allegation, you can use blogosphere to market software development tools. Bloggers will read press releases and use them if they are interested. Mainstream news organizations will pick up stories circulating in blogosphere. Every technology marketing plan should include blogosphere.

Satellite Broadcast from MIT in Cambridge

Satellite Broadcast featuring Soldier Tech and National Security

9/23/2004 - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

The MIT Enterprise Forum will downlink a satellite broadcast from Cambridge featuring two companies: Soldier Tech and National Security. These broadcasts are presentations on technical entrepreneurship from members of the MIT community and other leaders involved in building technology-oriented companies. To learn more, visit the MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc

Please Note The Location: Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, 2214 Rock Hill Road, Herndon, Virginia.

Note: You must RSVP prior to midnight September 20 to be assured a seat. Seating is limited and once exhausted no further RSVPs will be accepted.

On the sad anniversary of 9/11

U2’s Peace on Earth

Heaven on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around

Sick of sorrow
I'm sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing
Again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth

Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies

They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

And it's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth

Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

No whos or whys
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth

She never got to say goodbye
To see the color in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth

They're reading names out
Over the radio
All the folks the rest of us
Won't get to know

Sean and Julia
Gareth, Ann, and Breda
Their lives are bigger than
Any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth

To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

Jesus in this song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth

Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth

This peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth