Somebody has to acknowledge the obvious so I may as well do it. The New York Social Media Club, floundering and searching for leadership and purpose, is dead. For months, members have been begging for direction, offering to help, to no avail. Howard Greenstein, who is supposed to be heading the thing in NY, does not call. No meeting is set for this or any other month. I left several suggestions to go forward on the club blog – no response. Chris Heuer and Howard Greenstein, co-founders with big aspirations, had a parting of the ways and it seems like the whole endeavor is going down the tubes before it had a chance to take off. I have removed the Social Media Club tag from my site. Next?
“Really good PR is so rare”
June 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Those are the words of Jodi Kantor (left) of The New York Times. She recalls few times when she dealt with a PR person who really made a difference in a story, someone who was able to ‘anticipate’ what the Arts & Leisure section, which she used to edit, might need. It’s a digitial world but it’s an old story. PR people aren’t reading the paper and thinking like journalists. Kantor now covers politics in general, and Barack Obama specifically, for NYT.
Kantor was on a panel called “The Era of Citizen Journalism” with Dan Gillmor, Director of the Center for New Citizen Media, moderated by Steve Rubel, Micropersuasion blogger with Edelman’s me2revolution. The event, held earlier this week and archived with bios, links, and videos on this web page, were part of the Edelman/PR Week New Media Academic Summit.
If it’s Monday, this must be Paris
June 10, 2007 By 1 Comment
The world stopped on Friday, as crazed paparazzi, dueling lawmen, lynch-mob commentators, and one over-the-top distraught heiress collided to make us all, for one shining moment, remember the glorious days of OJ. It’s no mistake that this stuff happens in L.A., which has established a news apparatus that can handle the celebrity handcuff moment. Does she have the cuffs on? Is she handcuffed? was the big wagging question for about 20 minutes. Then there are the helicopters that follow every move - that may or may not be Paris Hilton down there in that police caravan. Just the hope that it might be Paris down there was enough to keep us glued to the Internet raw footage from the local TV news outlets. The footage can be real raw. Cameraman kibbitzing with producer in the studio. Logistical banter. But it keeps you in the scene, in the news, until you flow into the official “Breaking News” interruption that is shown on TV.
Justice served, Paris jailed, appeal filed
June 8, 2007 By Leave a Comment
4:00 PM, EST, NYC: We are not less human than Paris Hilton, hallelujah, say the mass of commentators who are exulting “this great day for America” as a crying, disturbed Paris Hilton is shipped back to jail to fulfill her sentence. The picture of Paris, handcuffed and crying in the back of the Sheriff’s car on her way to court accompanies the accounts of Paris crying for her mother in the courtroom. She was also heard saying “It’s not right.” One witness said that Paris was “physically escorted” out of the courtroom by a female deputy. Programming has been interrupted, specials are planned for this evening. This case is sparking a showdown between the Court and the Sheriff as Paris’ legal team is preparing an immediate appeal. Yes, this is really happening. You can’t make this up.
OJ-style frenzy follows Paris to court.
June 8, 2007 By Leave a Comment
2:35 PM EST, NYC: Cut all programming. It’s live every second, every move, with hundreds of paparazzi and media swarming the Sheriff’s car 
with a handcuffed prisoner in the back, being taken to face the judge. Photographers and reporters were trampled outside the Hilton’s Hollywood Hills estate, and a couple of frenzied paparazzi even ran after the squad car as it made its escape. Choppers hovering overhead are following Squad Car #865 on the freeway as it makes its way in light traffic to the court. The sheriff’s car is currently at the intersection of the 10 and the 110 freeways, pulling up to the courthouse. Media from all over the world is set-up in front of the court. See live coverage through KNBC.com Los Angeles. “Why oh why are we so fascinated with all this?” asks the TV Anchor. I don’t know but if you are it doesn’t get better than this. Are we ready for Paris in Jail – the sequel? And this story has not even really yet begun. Love the live feeds from local TV. They pull in raw footage you never see on TV, and other web-based video sources. It’s more raw and immediate than TV.
Judge to Paris: Get in Here Now. She’s on her way.
June 8, 2007 By Leave a Comment
It was reported this morning that Paris Hilton would not leave her house for a 9 a.m. (Pacific time) court session with the judge who originally sentenced her and that she would instead testify by phone. But at 8:45 a.m., the judge rejected that arrangement and ordered the sheriff to pick Hilton up and bring her to court. The Sheriff is at the Hilton residence now. “This tells you that the court is angry and she could well be going back to jail,” says the KNBC anchor. See KNBC (Los Angeles) live raw footage on the web. She is leaving now.
Paris is cold and we all shiver. She’s out.
June 7, 2007 By 1 Comment
The reports, mostly from news-driven gossip celeb central TMZ.com, were intially grim. Paris was complaining that she was freezing cold, the lights were always on, she had no pillow, the loudspeaker was blaring ”You have one minute left,” when she was on the phone. She was crying and she couldn’t sleep. She spent two hours with her shrink. Paris was freaked because the whole experience was so much like, you know, prison!
So after serving three days on her 23 day sentence Paris was sprung from jail to serve the full 45-day sentence with an electronic ankle bracelet at home. The LA County Sheriff referred to a “medical condition” for the release, although TMZ says it is more mental than physical.
RSS Real Simple
June 6, 2007 By Leave a Comment
I have been to several conferences and meetings lately where somebody is stumbling around trying to explain RSS to the uninitiated. Really Simple Syndication is powering all the information bouncing around the web, says the RSS cult, yet like a cultish secret nobody seems able to explain it in a really simple way. Well, leave it to YouTube to elevate our popular intelligence once again. Want an RSS reader to get all your news, blogs and info updates in one place? Try Google Reader, Bloglines, or NewsGator. (thanks to “Social Media Tools & Strategies” forum at MyRagan for tip on YouTube videos).
Cruxy Cantina NYC Tomorrow Night
June 6, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Don’t forget the Cruxy Cantina Thursday, June 7th, between 7 and 9pm at Jimmy’s No 43 (43 East 7th street, Manhattan), a funky underground (literally) space that is a regular host to independent performers. Jimmy’s also has handcrafted beer and organic cuisine.
The Cruxy Cantina is about screening popular videos, listening to music (both recorded and live), and talking about what makes Cruxy special. There will also be free giveaways, snacks, and drinks. Please RSVP to nathan@cruxy.com if you plan to attend. This is the first Cruxy Cantina so they need to get a handle on it. See Cruxy player on the right sidebar under “Music” and PRBlogNews New Media Lab Introduces Cruxy. Cruxy – Born and raised in Brooklyn!
Kempner Swallows Blogola Whole While We All Gag
June 5, 2007 By Leave a Comment
One of the greatest public relations skills is being able to discern ‘the wind.’ You may think you have a greatest argument in the world – you are so absolutely, totally, completely right – and lose if it is the wrong argument. The ‘wind,’ blowing against you, will make you eat your words. Michael Kempner, CEO of MWW, if he is capable of separating reason from self-delusional PR, should soon feel that harsh wind blowing back at him following his ridiculous rant in favor of blogola for his client Nikon.
