Articles published in May, 2010

1. The revenge of the people with red hair

   Published on Thursday, May 27th, 2010
   It’s a topic that has garnered more interest than mining: hug a ginga, says The Edge.

   This polarising issue featured two nights running on Close Up, which means they’ve struck a topic that gets people engaged.

   As far as a media performance goes, on Tuesday night I tipped my hat to teacher and father of two red heads, Stephen Simpson, who gave Edge radio jock Dominic Harvey a lesson in managing your messages for television. Harvey was ill-prepared and over confident, and Simpson was not awed by the celebs. 

   Harvey’s final blunder was to call host Mark Sainbury, “Sainsso”. Another cosy radio relationship?

   Round 1 to Simpson.

   On Wednesday evening the performances were reversed. As if bolstered by the success of his previous performance, Simpson was too cocky and overbearing.  In contrast, radio jock Harvey was conciliatory and measured, and the arrogance of the previous night was gone.

   Round 2 to Harvey and The Edge.

   Lessons: when it comes to television, one success does not make you an expert; and quit while you are ahead.  Simpson would have been better to decline the studio interview on the basis that he’d said all he had to say.  Had he done so, he’d still be a winner.

   For me, the last word goes to the Wellington woman who says: my response to being hugged will be: thanks moron!

   Posted in Journalism, Media landscape, PR Matters

2. No cure, but other miracles

   Published on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
   As PR and communications specialists we are sometimes humbled and often inspired by the communications initiatives of those whom typically we’d regard as amateurs. (Perhaps this is a sign that we take ourselves too seriously.)

   One such experience has been a blog titled Mike’s Big Adventure which was started in February by Tracey as a way of sharing with family and friends the journey on which husband Mike and her set out to beat his recently diagnosed aggressive form of stomach cancer. Given little hope by traditional oncology, they traveled to a clinic in San Diego for a different solution.

   If you’ve ever had someone close to you very sick, you’d agree that this little blog was a wonderfully effective way of staying in touch. Narrative updates at the press of button, without the need for endlessly repetitious phone calls.

   Mike and Tracey returned to Auckland around mid-March to carry on the treatment with the comfort of family and home. 

   While there was no cure, there were miracles – the simple ones of support and love.  Almost every day, without fail, Tracey blogged on the joys and anguish of this terminal adventure. She shared a very personal perspective and her blog following grew exponentially.  At times it has surely been the best-read blog in New Zealand.

   What started as a journey of hope, became a mechanism for coping with the struggle and powerlessness of saying goodbye and losing the one you love most.  

   There was no happy ending, and at the funeral Tracey said that the only way that she could cope with speaking at the very large gathering to farewell Mike was to treat it like another blog.  Later that evening there was a Blogger Party, the modern equivalent of an Irish wake.

   Through her blog Tracey showed us how natural communications can be. Outside of her close family, whanau, friends and workmates (of both her and Mike), she built a community of support through a modern tool of communications.

   Thanks Tracey for showing us how good and purposeful a blog can be.

   PS: This blog touched thousands of people in different ways. At Network PR, it was a special experience because Tracey is the mother of a colleague, Cameron.

   Posted in Health, PR Matters, Social Media

3. Another tragedy and chorus call for the Government

   Published on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
   The nation is shocked by the death the young James Webster, caused in all probability by drinking a bottle of vodka taken from his grandmother’s cupboard.

   It is an absolute tragedy and without doubt we all feel for his grieving mother, father and sister.

   Another young person dies.  This week it was alcohol poisoning, and a few weeks ago it was a car accident.

   In these tragedies we have become used to the chorus urging the government to “do something”. Now it’s arguing the age of purchasing liquor; a few weeks ago it was about raising the driving age. And just last week, PR Matters featured Jane Dodd’s blog talking about how to encourage changes to teen drinking habits.

   It appears that if we don’t know what to do as parents or as a community, there is blind faith that the Government will solve it.  This has now become a reflex action.  In the latest case, doctor and mother of a student at the same college as the dead boy Margaret Abercrombie says: “…people look to the Government for leadership and that’s wholly appropriate.”  She goes on to say, if there were a broader change in our behaviour and attitude to alcohol that would reduce the costs to society and the likelihood of this occurring again.  This is a young man dying of alcohol poisoning, but I seriously doubt any amount of legislation could have changed the outcome for this boy, because as far as I can ascertain, teenagers have always, and will continue to, do silly things.

   Perhaps it’s worth reflecting that one reason for people’s lax behaviour and casual attitude may be that for too long we have relied on governments, not personal conviction, for our frameworks and moral compass.  In reality it might be argued that the more our government takes control of our lives, the less responsibility we feel we need to take ourselves.

   James Webster consciously did a very stupid thing.  He took vodka without his grandmother knowing; we’re told he was intent on doing something “naughty” that night; and he wasn’t upfront with his parents. 

   The fact is that alcohol, in some form or other, has been part of the right of passage for young people.  For young James it was a dead end.  

   Let’s stop looking to government to provide life’s behavioural and ethical framework.

   Posted in Education, Health, PR Matters

4. Why do the words poo, boobs and underage drinking all have similar effect on young people?

   Published on Thursday, May 6th, 2010
   Communicating effectively with young people is considered a special skill, even a gift. They can be the harshest critics and their responses unpredictable.

   It was therefore a brave set of comedians who took to the stage in Auckland at the weekend at the Stand Up for Kids show as part of the international comedy festival programme.  Most began their sets with a reference to having thought specifically about what kids would find funny – given they usually entertain adults.

   And funny it was, to all of the audience no matter what their age with simple, old-fashioned humour that entertained without patronising.   One of the comedians began by reading out a list of words he had told himself to avoid, given their age.  You guessed it: bum, farts, boobs and the like were amongst them, and of course, the kids loved it.     

   It put into sharp relief what has been making me feel uneasy about the way we are communicating with older ‘kids’ around drinking alcohol.  It is an area that I think needs a serious rethink if we are to make any useful changes to teenage drinking habits.

   The way the ‘grown-ups’ are talking about how the ‘kids’ are, or rather are not, handling their alcohol intake will surely only add to the naughty factor and therefore its appeal.  Where is the communication that aims to teach our kids how to develop a healthier attitude towards a product that they can enjoy in moderation? 

   The debate in the media and around office water coolers is probably small fry compared to the debate that is likely being stirred amongst many young wannabe drinkers themselves, none of whom are likely to be supporting an increase.  Maybe we need some good comedians to get onto the job of helping build understanding amongst younger people that alcohol can be both good and bad depending on how you use it.   

   By the way, there are two more shows this weekend.  I highly recommend it for kids of all ages.

   Posted in Health, Politics, PR Matters, Trends