Articles published in October, 2009

1. A Fish Supper

   Published on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

   I love my neighbour, I’d be stupid not to. His name is Greg and he cleverly caught the pictured four and a half pound snapper on the Hauraki Gulf on Sunday.

   He and his cousin went out at dawn, apparently pausing somewhere about 40 minutes from our houses, to pull up ten fish and casually make their way home again.

   Yesterday, on Labour Day Monday, Greg made a fragrant bed of manuka shavings, rubbed the biggest of the catch with brown sugar and salt, and smoked it.

   We ate the fish still warm from the smoker with dill potatoes, bread and butter and a salad of greens from my garden.

   It was a wonderful meal; the fish was moist, perfectly flaky with just the right hint of smokiness.

   In New Zealand we are so close to where our food comes from we sometimes take it for granted.

   We shouldn’t, we are blessed with the best food in the world. Wild, farmed or cultivated, we have enviable standards of production, a stunning range and seasonal freshness.

   But one doesn’t just have to hunt and gather for the good stuff, our supermarkets, green grocers, butchers, bakers and fish mongers are a treat.

   For a comparison and a reason to thank our lucky stars go and see Food Inc, an American documentary that seeks to highlight the underbelly of US food production and agricultural processes. It’s a frightening portrayal if indeed it is a fair and accurate one, well worth a look.

   

   Posted in Brand, Health, PR Matters

2. When more than two or three is a crowd…or a circus

   Published on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

   Industrial disputes always present communications challenges, regardless of what side you are on. This is an age-old tenet of industrial relations.

   Each party to the dispute seeks to win hearts and minds to their position, or at very least provide a context for their actions.  In the current bus strike, the union wants people to understand its reasons for a “work to rule”, and the bus company’s objective is having people understand the reasons for the lockout. Behind the scenes, the mediator is working feverishly (we hope) to achieve meaningful resolution.

   If non-daily bus commuters are not disqualified from a judgment on the current state of play, I’d proffer the view that the involvement of the ARC’s Mike Lee and now his “puppet state”, ARTA, are singularly unhelpful.  Their incantations over penalties and dire threats of loss of contract would make lesser folk wonder why we have the processes of employment law, including a special authority, court and mediation service.

   Lee is transparent in that he wants to return bus services to full public ownership – Lord forbid – and a role in the Super City.  ARTA will no doubt fall in behind.  Another to get into this circus ring has been Cameron Brewer, but his motivation is no doubt the interests of Newmarket retailers.

   As a contributor to the daily bus subsidy, I say let’s leave resolution to the parties involved and the employment disputes processes created to assist them.

   That is of course unless Lee and Brewer are suggesting their respective organisations are willing to chip in by making up what the bus company doesn’t want to pay.

   Disclosure: the writer is not a regular bus user.

   

   Posted in Crisis Communications, PR Matters, Supercity

3. New Media gets a dose of ethics from the FTC

   Published on Monday, October 12th, 2009

   It’s fair to say that traditional media has envied the huge freedoms Internet publishers enjoy. On the Internet, any man and his dog can be publishers, editors, ad sales people – at the same time, without the “Chinese Walls” traditional media like newspapers and television are required to have, to avoid accusations of bias and advertorialising.

   Without mentioning anyone in particular, there are influential bloggers and webmasters who have felt that the rules of ethics that bind traditional media do not apply to them. With their enormous reach and clout, they have tremendous power to influence if they decide to endorse products or services, and have at time run foul of the law courts too.

   The trouble is, without transparency, such endorsements could potentially mislead readers.

   There have been some moves to voluntarily introduce for instance a Blogger’s Code of Conduct, but the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has had enough and sharpened its tone against the New Endorsers. New roles have been issued and they state quite clearly that if you have material connections with anyone whose products or services you endorse, it must be disclosed.

   Bloggers paid in any form, and this includes receiving free products or services in exchange for reviews, are said to be endorsers by the FTC. From now on, they must disclose their relationships with vendors right up front. Likewise, a firm that pays bloggers or seeks to influence editorial content by supplying material or services for free must say so up front or face legal liability.

   The FTC rules tighten up what can be said in advertising and promotions featuring consumers relating experiences, stating these have to be typical of what results consumers can generally expect.

   Likewise, research cited has to disclose any sponsorship and celebrities endorsing products and services outside traditional ads (in social media campaigns for instance) have to disclose relationships with advertisers and marketers.

   While New Zealand is yet to introduce similar, stringent rules, it should be noted that the Commerce Commission works close with the FTC. New Zealand bloggers for instance who have US audiences could face investigation by the FTC if they do not follow the new rules.

   For public relations practitioners, it’s important to note that FTC could haul not just “endorsers” but also advertisers – for example, agencies initiating social media campaigns – in front of the courts for false or unsubstantiated claims, or for simply not disclosing the connections between the parties.

   Also, saying “results may vary” is no longer a safe harbour qualification for testimonials that endorse products and services. Celebrities or personalities who take part in campaigns must disclose their relationships with advertisers.

   The rules are new and untested, but ethics behind them are clear and simple and will make life easier for all involved. Full disclosure and increased transparency strengthen relationships and trust with audiences with that in mind the FTC’s new rules are most welcome. 

   

   Posted in Brand, PR Matters, Social Media, Trends

4. Pearls before swine

   Published on Thursday, October 8th, 2009

   Ever had a press release sink like a stone? It can be heartbreaking when the intrinsic worth and value of beautifully crafted, timely and interesting key-messages get soundly ignored by the media.

   Well our newest heroine was not prepared to take it anymore. After Anna Wilding’s media release was spurned by the Christchurch Press, she took this rejection to a higher authority. Anna has chutzpah in spades. Take a look at the Press Council’s ruling out yesterday. 

   Case Number: 979 ANNA WILDING AGAINST THE PRESS
   Council Meeting MAY 2004

   Anna Wilding laid a complaint against The Press because the Editor, Paul Thompson, would not interview her or publish her media releases sent to him in February and March this year. The Press Council did not uphold her complaint.

   Anna Wilding had returned to Christchurch from Los Angeles where she is based. She expected The Press to publish her photos and details of her professional career as a local interest story. The Secretary of the Press Council advised Ms Wilding that the Council had consistently stated that editors were responsible for deciding the content of their publications and that such a complaint was unlikely to succeed. However she wished to pursue her complaint on the basis that other media overseas had published a portion of her press release, proving that it was newsworthy.

   Paul Thompson responded to Anna Wilding’s complaint that, as editor, he had sole discretion on the content of The Press and was not obliged to publish any news releases or interview her.

   The Press Council agreed with Paul Thompson and saw no grounds on which the complaint could be upheld.

   

   Posted in Media landscape, PR Matters

5. Knowing the price of everything and value of nothing

   Published on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

   The Greens fess up to “making a mistake” in the way they used the accommodation subsidy for the benefit of their communal super fund; and Labour colleagues again rush to the defense of fellow MP Chris Carter over the largesse of his and his partner’s travel costs.

   Meanwhile Finance Minister Bill English remains battered, bruised and potentially out of pocket over his Ministerial housing accommodation; and PM John Key travels business class to New York with his wife and children in “coach” on the same flight at their own expense.

   The Hon Dr Michael Cullen spat the label of “rich pricks” at National in the early days of the Clark Government. Although on retirement he tried to expunge this jibe, it seems to have found deep roots in the political psyche. 

   Not only does National not harangue the abuses of others, but by its actions, it is beginning to affirm its wealth.

   Apparently it is excusable for the sanctimonious Green’s to rort the system, and a Labour MP to travel on the most tenuous of causes, but the current Government feels it must account to different standard.  Hence English foregoes legitimate expenses to keep his family together in Wellington, and the Prime Minister’s wife travels coach to the USA on “government business.”

   There is a double standard, and it is that we are in an age when our politicians know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

   

   Posted in Media landscape, PR Matters, Politics