"Eyewitness News" finally a reality.

The catch/marketing phrase "Eyewitness News" has been used for decades. According to Wikipedia, the earliest use in American television was in April 1959 by KYW-TV in Cleveland.

The whole point was their crews were on the scene of news, seeing it person giving "Eyewitness" accounts which we then watched at home. It was the stations however, who decided what we actually got to witness ourselves, and when we did.

Flash forward to September, 2013 in Colorado and flash flooding. The most compelling images arguably coming from actual eyewitnesses, folks like you and me on the ground with our smart phone cameras, instantly sharing pictures and video to the media or on Social Media.

 

Words not necessary

Time and time again I've seen local outlets thank citizen journalists for their content and encouraging then to send more. The earliest pictures were stunning to see. Sure, some of the shots were shaky but who cares. A wall of water coming down a canyon on city street is powerful stuff. Folks living there got the pictures while traditional news crews were either on the way to the scene, or simply couldn't get there because of the aforementioned walls of water.

 

Impactful

This is a compelling argument of the power of Social Media. Sure, there have been rare instances, at least up until now where folks have posted things on Facebook or Twitter that failed the standards of journalism as to accuracy and fact-checking. But in breaking news situations, even the most seasoned of journalists make mistakes. (Sadly at a growing rate but that's for another blog post)

But today's it's all about the image. A picture is worth a thousand words, video is worth a hundred thousand words. To their credit, Denver area news operations have enlisted us to help tell the story. Because sometimes we are part of the story.

That said, we ourselves become our own news outlets. We can publish accounts, videos and pictures on any number of Social Media outlets. With that, at least morally and ethically comes the responsibility to get the story right.

Nothing spreads faster than misinformation. As with international relations and "Eyewitness News," trust, but verify!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

How would Watergate have played in today's 24/7 News Cycle?

There have been more than a few comparisons between the current trials and tribulations the White House is experiencing to Watergate. The IRS targeting of conservative groups, hassling reporters for doing their job and of course, Benghazi. I admit to having more than a passing interest just where POTUS was while the latter was going on and why his handlers remain "hesitant" to tell us. I'm absolutely aghast with the 1st Amendment implications of the DOJ targeting reporters. But that's just me.

Watergate started out as a stupid political burglary. It ended up with President Nixon forced out of office in disgrace. Not for the burglary, but for subverting the Constitution covering it up. Those who forget the past are always doomed to repeat it and I'm seeing a lot of repetition.

Carl and Bob back in the Day (That's a typewriter on the desk)

What's got me really thinking however,  is how differently things were covered then and now. During Watergate it was the dogged determination of Woodward and Bernstein and the Washington Post. Real journalism and real personal risk to those covering Watergate. The story took a while to catch the attention of the rest of the news media but when it did, wow. What's really key is we had to wait for news as the story unfolded. We didn't hear about it until the latest edition of the Post came out. There were no websites, Tweets or Facebook posts and 24/7 outlets like CNN or FOX.

Yes, we had to wait for what was "New." But we had time to digest it before the next information dump came as Woodward and Bernstein dug and dug and dug some more. Both being of the belief that news is indeed what's new, they would go several days before publishing new stories. At least early on.

Today, it's non-stop. You can't avoid it. On both traditional and digital media. Regurgitation of old news plus information and misinformation at the speed of light. Then there are the pundits. There are times where I simply say "ENOUGH!" I love a chocolate shake once in a while, but not every minute of the day.

Regardless of whether you agree or not between comparisons of what's happening today compared to Watergate, what's making a difference at least to me, was how we got the news a generation ago compared to today. It was solid, it was backed up and while we had to wait for it, it was worth waiting for. Today, not so much.

If you really study the history of Watergate, how it unfolded and compare it to today's rash of scandals, they are eerily familiar. But is the information overload because of today's technology turning us off to what could be something that is potentially dangerous to our civil liberties moving forward?

In other words is too much of a good thing ...a bad thing? You know, for us?

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you?"

How do you watch TV? Is it even ...on TV?

I'm hooked on a news series on NETFLIX. Called House of Cards it's the story of a "Ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood." Think of it as The West Wing, minus the idealism.

Kevin Spacey, arguably one of the best in the business stars. He's also Executive Producer. Robin Wright and the rest of a terrific cast make for great entertainment. NETFLIX obviously believes in it because they've invested $100 Million in the series.

What makes the viewing experience different:

• It's on a streaming video channel which you can watch on your iPad or TV through various devices. You do have to subscribe to NETFLIX to view the series.
• All 13 episodes of the first season are available for viewing at your convenience. Watch when, where and on what you want. I used to watch Entourage the same way. Why subscribe to en entire premum channel when you just want to watch one series?

As someone who is old enough to remember being the first house on our street with a TV, and just one channel that signed on at 4pm, this sort of thing always amazes me. Technology empowers us, including how we watch TV. I watch House of Cards on an iPad mini with Bose headphones. So am I even watching TV? Long answer: No, I'm consuming video content on a mobile device. Short answer: I'm being entertained on my own terms.

There is no difference between watching a program on a 60 inch big screen or an iPad mini because it's not the size of the screen, it's how close you are to the screen.  So kicking back with my iPad a foot or so away from my eyes and the awesome sound from those Bose headphones is as good as any home theater experience.

Of course while I'm watching the show, I'm not watching traditional TV, nor the ads that still run on the bulk of TV whether it be off-air or via satellite or cable. The way we watch programming is changing with the rapid evolution of the technology we use to consume it.

It's empowering and an important step forward for us.

We as consumers are achieving a long-time goal, "A la Carte" programming. Just watching and paying for what we want to watch. Like at our house, if you subscribe to a satellite or cable television service, you buy program "bundles." You buy a package of channels, maybe watch 10 of them but are stuck paying for another hundred channels you never watch. It makes sense as consumers to pay for just what we consume, right? Up to now, those who control content distribution have prevented us from doing that.

To be fair to satellite and cable companies, they're victims to some extent of major programmers who say "If you want to carry this channel from us, you have to also carry these other channels. Take it or leave it." We as subscribers ultimately end up picking up the tab. A growing added cost for us are the so-called regional sports channels. Many cable systems have no choice but to provide them  at extra cost to us, even though we could care less about the teams or sports covered. It's about to change and here's why:

• We can get an amazing amount of digital channels, many in HD using a simple off-air antenna.
• Companies like NETFLIX are providing a huge and growing number of programs like House of Cards via the Internet.
• Technology like Apple TV is yet another video content pipeline. Ditto for YouTube, already producing several series, they've just announced a new country music channel.
• Many networks themselves are providing their shows on-demand. Watch how, when and where you like.
• We're willing to give up a little, to gain a lot AND save a lot. Heck, I'm willing to give up ESPN if they don't stop creating financial and fan-killing monstrosities like the Longhorn Network.

Consumers have a funny way of getting what they want, and these days are more than willing to shop around for what meets most their needs and save the most money. Outlets like NETFLIX get that.

When I told my wife about YouTube's plans, she said it's time to cancel our DISH Network service, or at least cut way back on it. I don't think she was kidding.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Fiscal Cliff: Cutting Through The Crap with Social Media

 This past Friday we were talking Social Media Strategies at a Meetup group we sponsor. Social Media has absolutely changed the way we communicate and listen, to interact and be empowered as consumers.

What's too often lost in all the Social Media Jargon (and there's far too much) is content. Telling a story, making it impactful. You know, meaningful on Main Street. Passing the "So what?" test.

We're being bombarded right now with terms like "Fiscal Cliff" and "Kick the can down the road" to the point of not giving a darn anymore. It's just so much noise. The same noise. Over and over and over.

The huge deficit hanging over our heads is going to most impact the so-called "Millennial Generation." These are the younger folks entering the work place, looking to live the good life like their parents did. The above mentioned "noise" isn't getting their attention.

So here's a perfect example of using Social Media to grab them by the shoulders, shake them hard and tell them to wake up before it's too late. I'm not surprised it features my old friend, veteran straight talker and now Gangnam dude, Senator Alan K. Simpson.

Watch:



Now that's the power of creativity, messaging for successful communication in today's digital world! It all starts with stepping away from the traditional and being anything but.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Blizzard not impacting Blizzard Coverage

Winter has come early to many parts of the country, even parts of the country that don't see a lot of winter-like weather.

The East Coast is getting hammered today, but we're getting full coverage. A generation ago such a storm meant cutting off a main news pipeline like the daily paper. It just couldn't get delivered. With pretty much three choices for news, snow kept a lot of reporters from even getting to work.

Not so in today's wireless world. Online editions of papers are reaching people's computers and PDA's. Live shots are being done by Skype. Reporters stranded on trains trying to get to work are filing stories from their laptops and PDA's.

Stations that are forced to do more with less these days rely heavily on their own viewers. Great snow pictures and videos are being shared on various news outlets websites. People are also posting on Twitter and Facebook. Here's a time lapse video of the storm from one person on YouTube. It's had over 13-thousand hits.

People stuck at stations, truck stops or airports are able to re-book (if not immediately) flights online. At the very least it's a coping mechanism and a way to keep up on what's going on.

Who knows where and when the next storm will hit? It doesn't matter because WE'VE got it covered.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (Even in snowstorms)

Hackers hack me off.

I'm starting to realize the hackers are in charge. Anonymous and deadly to computer systems. Proof comes from the on-going drama surrounding Wikileaks and the jailing of Wikihoncho Julian Assange.

Reprisals from his supporters are coming from hackers who apparently can shut down the systems of companies like Visa and Mastercard.

They're the newest breed of terrorist. As if we need new ones.

Governments and corporations, if they aren't already, better start getting ready for cyber wars from an invisible enemy that can destroy commerce with a click or two on a computer. We've become far to dependent on technology. It's a new reality and in this case, reality does indeed bite.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (As long as the servers are working)

Pearl Harbor a Must-See When In Hawaii

Today marks the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. A day which President Franklin Roosevelt described as a "day of infamy." It marked the entrance of the United States into World War II which already had been raging in Europe.

Should your travels take you to Hawaii, especially Honolulu, you owe it to yourself and those who both died and survived that day to tour both the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri. (BB-63) The Arizona took a direct hit down one of her smokestacks and sunk with much of the crew trapped below decks. Just down from the memorial built above the sunken ship is the Missouri, where the war officially ended in August of 1945. My late father-in-law was aboard the Missouri when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay.

We recently returned to Pearl Harbor and toured the Missouri. Here's a video tour in two parts:





Sadly, very few of those who made it through that day of infamy remain with us today. It's my hope you someday get to visit Pearl Harbor. You feel the history when you're there and you'll never forget your visit.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you" (And keep memories alive)

Where there's no will, there's no way.

Op-Ed

You've likely heard of, but perhaps not read the recommendations of the Presidential Debt Reduction Commission. You can read it here. The commission is led by former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson and Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. (This disclaimer: I've known Senator Simpson for some 25 years, seeing him most recently this past September)

Simpson's comments while making the rounds of interviews have been his usual colorful self. Bowles has been a bit more scholarly in tone. Either way, the focus is clear: Increase revenues and cut spending.

It's basic economics, which is understood everywhere else except government. It's hard to understand, why government can't understand, that you can't spend money you don't have.

The nation is broke. Deficits and debt are measured in the Trillions and we'll soon have to invent a new word for the next level. For now I'll use a Gazillion.

Gadzooks.

There of course have been howls of outrage about what needs to be done to dig out of this hole. Simpson responds, ""America, you have a serious problem and time is short to address it." Bowles makes his feeling clear as well describing Washington's penchant for spending money like drunken sailors as " a cancer, destroying our nation from within."

Some pundits question why we on Main Street should bear the brunt of all this. They say it was Washington, not us who created the problem. Actually it is our fault. We elected the same people year after year, decade after decade to bring home the bacon. It's our job and responsibility as citizens to pay attention to what's going on in Washington. The power lies with us, we only lend it to those we elect to represent us.

We were asleep at the switch while Washington maxed out the national credit card, manufactured new ones and maxed those too. The bills have come due. We've run out of paper and plastic.

If we have the will, we will find a way to dig out from the mountain of debt that is our sad legacy to our kids, our grand kids and their kids. It's going to hurt, big-time, for a long time.

But if we don't have the will, there's no way out. China owns the second mortgage on the White House and are licking their chops to foreclose.

Think about it.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

S.I. knows "J"

I read just two weekly magazines in the traditional print format; Bloomberg Business Week and Sports Illustrated. Both are my "End of the day, curl up and read cover to cover before lights out" pleasures. As long as they continue to publish, I'll subscribe and read.

My focus today is on the extraordinary journalism delivered each week in Sports Illustrated. The current issue featuring Sportsman of the Year Drew Brees is a perfect example. Inside there's a fascinating dissection of Syney Crosby's goal that led Team Canada to a win over Team USA in the Olympic Hockey Final. S.I. and writer Michael Farber committed 8 pages to the 8 second sequence of how the play developed with the resulting score. Slow-mo in print.

Then there's the piece by Thomas Lake on the death of High School Football player Max Gilpin, one of at least 665 kids to die playing the sport since 1931. No tidy ending to this story, just a well documented account of something that shouldn't have happened.

A few weeks ago in the November 15 issue, S.I. thoroughly documented what a farce the current BCS system is, and where the money really goes. (It's not the teams despite what the BCS Cartel claims.) I was surprised, make that shocked and angry by the time I read the article. The kind of emotions good journalism should and must create.

S.I. over course is also digital, and various incarnations are available on the Internet and as apps for your iPad.

But in this case, I'm going to savor the pleasure of holding a terrific print publication in my hand, to enjoy turning each page to read brilliant and responsible sports journalism.

And the Swimsuit Edition.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Losing your cool isn't cool.

Did you see Arizona QB Derek Anderson laughing on the sidelines while his team was getting stomped by the 49ers? Did you see him launch into a tirade when a reporter asked him about it in the post-game news conference?

The tantrum heard 'round the world.

It was everywhere and a classic case of how not to deal with the news media. Anderson laughed, later threw a tantrum and both incidents went viral. There was some attempt at damage control but that horse already left the barn leaving a big pile of manure behind.

Reporters get paid to ask questions of their choice, not ours. Whether or not you think they're fair doesn't matter. It's how you handle the question that's important.

More than a few execs have asked me, "Why did they ask that question, why didn't they ask what I wanted to talk about?" What they should be asking is why didn't they spend time on media training.

If you or your company/organization is in the public eye, or think you might be, you'd be wise to invest in media training. Even more so if you don't think you'll ever be in the spotlight. Better to be prepared and have nothing happen than the other way around.

Think of media training as building a fire break before the fire starts.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you" (Especially when someone else starts it first)

"Frank" comes out the digital closet

Anyone NOT heard about the latest series of mass document dumps from WikiLeaks? The site is dedicated to ferreting out and distributing secret, or at the very least sensitive information. WikiLeaks is run by Julian Assange who is well, reviled by a lot of folks these days and may even be facing some legal problems of his own.

Much of what's being released contains stuff we only hear described as "Frank" and "Candid" discussions in news conferences after diplomats meet. WikiLeaks just let "Frank" out of the digital closet. Don't call me Shirley, and don't call me Frank.

This sort of thing isn't new. Think back to the Pentagon Papers.

Regardless of how you feel about WikiLeaks, Assange or the nature of the information released it should give all of us pause to remember that "If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it." Or post it.

The alleged source for much of the WikiLeaks documents is a US Army Private. A Private, with the ability to expose a lot of private information way above his proverbial pay grade.

We all send e-mails, post things and say things. In today's digital world there are two certainties:

1. Once it's "out there", it's out there.
2, What you say can and will be used against you.

The diplomatic fallout from all this will be remains to be seen. Certainly it comes as no surprise that we have less than kind things to say about certain "Allies," who are allies only because they're the lesser of two evils.

But if a low-level enlisted soldier has access to top secret military and diplomatic information, what about your business or organization?

It's bad enough that anyone, anytime can post or say anything they want about you on the Internet, usually anonymously. Don't give them extra ammunition.

Should something less than pleasant come out about you, true or not, consult with experienced communications pros immediately if not sooner.

Brian Olson
Converesation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you" (Or stop them)

'Bama, Pretty Woman and ROR.

Did you see the pregame of the Iron Bowl? They had a shot of the 'Bama players arriving, making the traditional walk between their fans. All of them had headphones on, looking straight ahead and ignoring their adoring fans.

Then came a shot of Auburn's Cam Newton, who was jumping up and down and waving his arms to the fans as he actually came over to them. Regardless of how you feel about Newton, he was practicing ROR. Return on relationship.

The 'Bama players reminded me of the shopkeeper in Pretty Woman who ignored Julia Robert's character. Big mistake.

Tigers 28.'Bama 27. 'Bama Fans 0.

It's a lesson in customer care we can all learn from. Ignore customers at your own peril. You can have a great product, but if you don't thank them enthusiastically each time they're in your store, they'll shop elsewhere.

Fans, like customers, are fickle.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

The Case for Space

With NASA's Shuttle program grinding to a halt, what's next? Nothing apparently. American Astronauts will fly to and from the Space Station on Russian Spacecraft. Galactic hitchhiking.

This past Saturday I got to hear from two Astronauts, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger (STS-131 Shuttle Discovery) and Gene Cernan (Gemini 9, Apollo 10 & 17) who is the last human to walk on the moon 38 years ago. Cernan was honored with the "Spreading Wings" award at Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

Here are their thoughts about their experiences in space and why it's important we get a new generation of Americans interested in finding out what's "out there."

Metcalf-Lindenburger:


Gene Cernan:


Speaking with some aerospace engineers recently, the concensus seems to be that the best way to move forward in space exploration is turning it over to private enterprise. Richard Branson is leading the way. The Russians have been charging space tourists $25 million a pop for a trip to the Space Station.

Can you imagine what Apple or Google would have been willing to pay to have their logo on the Shuttle?

We're a nation of explorers. Or at least used to be. This line from The Right Stuff says it all, "No bucks, no Buck Rogers."

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Honoring the Last Man on the Moon

I had the chance to attend the annual Wings over the Rockies gala this past weekend which honored Astronaut Gene Cernan. He flew aboard the Gemini 9, Apollo 10 and Apollo 17 missions and is the last human being to have walked on the surface of the moon, lifting off on December 14, 1972.

We've never returned since.

It was a grand event and Wings over the Rockies is an extraordinary venue for hosting an event for your company or organization. But the focus this past Saturday was on a true "stick and rudder" guy, Gene Cernan.



The future of space travel is uncertain at best, the Shuttle program is about to end with nothing in the pipeline to follow it. Cernan and other astronauts in attendance told us that it's the kids in school today who hold the key to our future as space explorers and that we must do everything we can to encourage them.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Social Media-One is the loneliest number.

What's the status of social media at your company or non-profit? Who is tasked with the job? In too many cases social media is something handed off to a staffer with an already full plate.

Social media provides so many opportunities beyond the obvious. Have you thought about spreading the social media load? Why not create a social media team across your organization? From the boardroom to the stockroom. Up and down the food chain.

All have different views of the same subject. By making them part of your social media outreach you bring in fresh perspective and at the same time empower your team as "Brand Ambassadors."

Granted, you have to be selective, there has to be guidelines and focus, but do it right and all of a sudden you have a vibrant and active social media plan.

One is the loneliest number in social media. Make it a team effort.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Hunger not a seasonal thing.

Last month was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The folks at Komen have created an extraordinary event driven juggernaut. Sadly, there are so many different cancers and cancer is a 24/7/365 disease. The pink is gone. Cancer isn't.

The same applies to hunger in America. This is the time of year when the hungry are in the news. Like cancer, hunger is a year-round problem and growing. What's changed the most is who is going hungry in our nation. You'd be surprised. Volunteering at a local food bank recently, it didn't take long to realize that the scruffy image of the hungry/homeless too many of us have in our minds isn't the norm. The people we helped were well groomed, intelligent and...hungry. Single people, families with kids, people who could be our neighbor. They just might be, we just don't know it.

I'm priviledged to serve on the board of directors of the Jeffco Action Center. Along with a food bank, the Action Center provides counseling, emergency shelter and rent assistance, operates a clinic, provides free clothing and other services. The food bank distributes an average of 4 tons of food a day.

4 tons.

Special focus is put on the hungry at Thanksgiving. Many, but not all the hungry get a Thanksgiving dinner through the generous help of donors and volunteers and agencies like the Action Center.

Many, but not all and Thanksgiving is just one day. That leaves 364 other days.

The need is year-round. The economic mess has forced many families to go from donors, to receivers of help instead. Solid "middle class" families.

It's a problem we have to solve. It all starts with volunteering an hour or so each month. It all starts with donating a dollar or a can of food. It all starts with us.

Please give in some way today, tomorrow and every day you can. This is the United States of America. No one should go hungry in this great nation.

No one. Otherwise we stop being a great nation.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Video for Social Media 101

Video has become a key element of social media outreach and thanks to technology and very affordable prices, a good fit for any company regardless of size. Earlier this year I attended a Ragan Communications seminar on social media hosted by the folks at Coca-Cola in Atlanta. Among the many things discussed is how Coca-Cola uses Flipcams distributed all over the company for employees to shoot and post videos about what they do.

If it works for Coke it can work for you. If you already use a video camera, or are thinking about it, here are some tips to produce some pretty good looking videos. Remember, you're not shooting a major motion picture here, just some quick shots to tell your story. As the folks at Coke told us, "Good enough is good enough." That said:

1. Avoid being "shaky." Today's video cameras are very light, which makes them more prone to jittery video. Use both hands whenever possible. Hold the camera with one hand, support it with the other. Become "one" with your camera. Practice.

2. Available light. If you can afford a lighting kit and have the time and expertise to use it, go for it. If you don't, use the light you have. Keep the light in front of your subject, not behind. Today's cameras shoot wonderful quality video with natural light. Again, practice makes perfect. Experiment.

3. Natural Sound. "Nat-Sound" can be a very effective way of telling your story. If for instance it's a shot of kids having great fun with a toy or project, no amount of voice-over can beat it. NBC's Bob Dotson taught me years ago, listen first before you shoot video.

4. You can get great sound from your interview subject with the onboard microphones on today's cameras. But if the background noise is loud and distracting, move your subject to a quiet place for best quality. Other than asking a question you want included in your video, don't talk! This is especially important when shooting your "Nat Sound" clips.

5. Shot composition. Look for interesting ways to shoot your video. Certainly keep your company logo in the background when interviewing someone if possible. It's all about branding. Avoid shooting downward at subject matter. If you have to get down on one knee, do so. Think in terms of how the video will look when your target audience sees it on their computer or PDA.

6. Flipcams are great fun. But for a few hundred dollars more you get get a very high quality HD Camera which will provide you with excellent results. Video editing programs like iMovie are very intuitive and easy to use. It takes a little longer to edit and post your video, but the results are worth it.

7. Shorter is better. Keep your video short and to the point. You can tell your story in less than two minutes once you get the hang of it. With the exception of basketball, short is good.

Above all, go for it. Get a camera and start shooting and posting. Empower other members of your team to do so. Get everyone involved. When the next customer raves about your product or service, be ready to ask them, "Would you mind saying that on camera?"

Shoot it. Post it. Have fun.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you" (Video is a great way to do just that)

Planes a Pain? Try a Train.

"Don't touch my junk" has quickly become a viral sensation. TSA screenings to say the least are becoming a tad intrusive. Cops copping feels. OK, we live in a dangerous world and the bad guys are finding ingenious ways to try and attack us. They're not going to give up. So air travel at least, is simply going to be more of a hassle than ever before. Add inexperienced travelers to the mix during the Thanksgiving and Christmas crush and well, patience will be more than a virture but a necessity.

So let me suggest an alternative. Travel by train. It's something my wife and I have discovered in recent years. I'll write about it more, but first this video of a trip from Los Angeles to Seattle aboard Amtrak's Coast Starlight.



This video has had almost 13,000 views on YouTube so there's more than a passing interest in train travel. The trip took 36 hours, and yes, we had to fly from here to Los Angeles and then back home from Seattle. But the experience itself was terrific. We had to be at the station about a half hour before departure and the only security check was for I.D. The scenery was spectacular, meals grand and the afternoon wine tastings were delightful. While we were on a "Train-cation" others on the train traveled by train on a regular basis. It was simply more affordable. Factor in time spent going to and from airports, waiting for security etc, it's also faster depending on how far you're traveling. It's certainly the case for travelers of all sorts in the northeast part of the country.

If I had to go to San Francisco from Denver for example, either for business or pleasure, I'd definately think about taking the train instead of the plane. But for our regular trips to Atlanta, the plane is our only and best choice. Getting there by train would take about 3 days with the trip routing through Chicago, Washington DC then south. OK, one last video and if you're thinking about a trip to Alaska worth a look. We did a "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" vacation to the 49th state this past summer and the Alaska Railroad was a key part of our journey.



Alaska's scenery is spectacular and there's no better way to see it than by train and I highly recommend the Alaska RR, but not the cruise line cars. Travel on the actual railroad-owned cars. More of a real Alaska experience.

There was one, and very nice surprise when we flew back to Anchorage from Fairbanks on ERA. Other than an I.D. check, there was no TSA security screen. We simply walked to the gate then on to the aircraft. An added bonus by the way is the view of Denali from the air. Wow.

So there are real alternatives to air travel. Travel by train is worth looking into depending on where you're going and how fast you need to get from here to there. Either way, safe travels everyone.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

ESPN, Pipelines and You.

Back in the 1980's news consultants and news operations bemoaned that while news and weather coverage was evolving with the times, sports remained in a rut. It was the same "Player-Coach" interviews with a few highlights tossed in for good measure.

Ultimately predictable as heck and boring.

As cable (and later home satellite) replaced rabbit ears an upstart channel came along called the Entertainment and Sports Programing Network. We know it today as ESPN. It launched in 1979 on a wing and a proverbial prayer. Content ranged from Australian Rules Football to the Canadian Football League. But shows like Sports Center came along and changed the way sports was being reported, and more importantly watched by viewers.

Today ESPN is the definitive sports programming network in the world. Make that networks. A look at the electronic program guide shows ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN News, ESPN Classic, and of course, "The Deuce" along with a few ESPN Alternate Channels thrown into the mix including ESPN Radio which is available both on-air or by satellite. Since it's acquisition a few years back by ABC it's as powerful a sports programming juggernaut anywhere with the NFL, College Football, MLB plus a variety of network produced programming. From upstart to ruler of the sports universe.

If you like serious sports coverage, you can tune into programs like The Sports Reporters. If you think sports should be taken a tad less seriously, then check out SportsNation with Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle. You choose.

SportsNation blends traditional broadcasting with viewer involvement via the Internet which is another area where ESPN continues to be the lead innovator in sports coverage on ESPN websites and social media channels like Twitter and Facebook.

Ultimately it's about multiple pipelines and choices for viewers. They not only program for viewers, they empower their viewers and digitally include them in the mix of what we see and read. Those viewers become "Brand Ambassadors" by sharing content with their friends.

I've had the chance to work with ESPN on projects several times and a visit to their campus in Bristol, CT boggles the mind. It's an incredible facility filled with incredibly creative people fully aware of the multiple ways they can reach out to us with content on demand. They also market themselves with very witty promos, featuring their on-air team along with real sports figures. Their coverage is fun, and so is the way they get you to watch it.

Information + entertainment = success.

So how can all this apply to your business, big or small? Simple.

1. Continue to innovate. Every day think of a better way.
2. Your customers are your best brand ambassadors. Use them. Provide them ROI when they promote you.
3. Take advantage of all the communications pipelines available to you, both traditional and new media.
4. Above all, make your content meaningful on your customer's Main Street. If you provide good information, deals etc. they will come back to you, they will follow you and get their friends to follow you as well. Content is king.

If it works for ESPN, it can work for you.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Spam better than no Spam for some.

I'm privileged to serve on the board of an agency that provides food, shelter, counseling, clothing and other emergency services for thousands of people each year. Part of our duties include "Learn the load" days where we work in different departments of the agency to better understand what we're responsible for administering.

Today I'll be working in the food pantry. By the end of the day we'll have distributed 4 tons of food. 4 tons. The doors open at 9am, people start lining up long before and this morning it will be a chilly wait.

I also read this story about the Denver Rescue Mission and their worry they won't have enough turkeys to distribute this Thanksgiving.

So I remain dismayed as to the media's obsession with the cruise line passengers "stranded" because of an engine room fire. Much of the coverage focused on the delivery of Spam to the ship while it was being towed. (Thank you US NAVY and the crew of CVN 76) It was the lead story this morning on one of the local stations here in Denver.

The lead story?

Don't mis-understand, I've been on cruises and would be as upset as anyone if something similar happened to me. But in this case there were no injuries, no one went hungry, everyone gets a refund plus a free cruise to make up for the inconvenience. Plus get on Network TV.

It all has be wondering what's worse. Being "stranded" on a cruise liner, or lining up in the cold to get something to eat. Even Spam. These folks are families, so very many just the victims of circumstance. I remember one morning seeing a mother and her two kids pulling a wagon full of groceries as they left the food bank. The kids were excited, not because they just got a new video game, but for the fact they had something to eat.

Think about it.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"