"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"

Text should enhance talk, not replace it.

I read several articles over the weekend about how today's Facebook and Twitter environment is changing the way we communicate. It seems hardly anyone writes or worse yet, talks anymore. Far easier to just make a post on your PDA or Computer.

It's all great stuff--a fun and ultra-fast way to share quips, stories, information, pictures and video. But it changes the way we communicate because the technology detaches us from each other. We're not machines--we're humans who should use machines to enhance interaction with each other, but not replace it.

Back in the early 90's my newsroom became one of the first to put away the typewriters and computerize our news gathering. It made us more efficient and able to do more in less time. But a strange thing happened as the news department started to use the e-mail functions to communicate with each other.

It's a high stress environment and very competitive. I started to notice small little arguments blossom into full blown e-conflicts. Things were written that normally no one would say face to face. It was something I quickly had to get a handle on. The next newsroom I led through the process also went through the same "adjustment."

Two decades later I'm working with a team on a major project set for this spring. The core team are all very e-savvy and we do most of our communications electronically as we plan and execute strategies. At a recent face to face meeting of the team however, we all agreed that all the e-mails flying back and forth tended to confuse rather than illuminate. We've made it policy to meet as a group in person along with routine e-mail communications. Meeting which are set-up electronically via Meetup.

You can have it both ways, and we should.

Social Media allows us to communicate and market like never before and I'm an enthusiastic ambassador for it. Ultimately though, let's not forget that it's hard to beat talking one-on-one to truly communicate. It's important we never stop looking each other in the eye once in a while and communicate what hopefully what won't be an old-fashioned way. Face to face.

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

Think first, then post/talk/vent.

One of the key elements of media training is this:
"If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it"

Easier said than, uh, said. Or Tweeted.

Did you hear about the employee fired for posting unflattering things about her boss on Facebook? At least for now, the National Labor Relations Board is taking her side. As for the courts, we'll see.

We've all said things, accidentally or on purpose that we wish we could take back. I recall a story about President Lincoln who wrote an absolutely scathing letter to someone, then tore it up and threw it away. He just wanted to get it off his chest. No harm no foul, and no RT's.

Remember this infamous gaffe by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and what he wanted to do to a certain part of now-President Obama's anatomy? He later apologized but by then it was all over cyberspace with millions upon millions of hits and views.

Then there's Republican GOP Candidate Ken Buck who was a veritable hit parade of boot in mouth comments. Buck lost the election by the way.

A reminder to both, and the rest of us of another media truism. "The mike is always on."

Snippets of these kinds of things, taken in or out of context can be turned, almost instantly, into campaign ads by the competition. Or cost you your job and/or reputation.

What you say can and will be used against you.

"Boo-boo's" now spread at almost light speed. Suppose you Tweet something and before you re-think what you posted it's already being shared. Your followers share it with their followers and then on to their follower's follower's followers. Millions of impressions in moments. Follow the leader is now follow the Tweeter.

In the case of the aforementioned lady who lost her job, the courts will ultimately decide. The laws of the land aren't remotely keeping up with the speed of the Internet.

So, one more time: "If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it."

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

Welcome Chemo101

We're pleased to announce the signing of Chemo101 as our newest client at Conversation Starters. Chemo101 is targeted towards cancer patients and their caregivers who face chemotherapy. We have personal experience with all the uncertainties, the fear and impact of chemo in our family. It's one of the reasons we're happy to help promote this terrific group.

There's much work to be done and you'll be able to help us achieve our goals. We'll be sharing all this with you in future blogs, along with news and information on Facebook and Twitter.

So stay tuned as we join Chemo101 in filling an important need.

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

Excess excess.

LeBron James announces tonight where he'll play next year. Unlike Kevin Durant who announced his new deal with Oklahoma City via Twitter, James announces his decision in a live prime-prime time one hour special on ESPN.

Great Expectations Redux.

To his credit, all the advertising revenue from tonight's "event" goes to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. As I understand it, the announcement will be made at a Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, CT. I begin shooting a marketing video for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver today. As BGCMD says, it's a positive place for kids. Here's to all the money raised tonight making a positive difference for great kids. That's a good thing.

But is a one-hour special to say "I'm going to play for (insert city here) and for (insert amount here) dollars" a bit excessive? It's all a matter of perception. If you're a fanatic NBA fan, not a bit. If you're not, yes it is. Remember what I've posted about "Perception is Reality" here earlier.

Then this paper chase tidbit from USA TODAY. It impacts small businesses like Conversation Starters and non-profit organizations including the ones I love to support including Boys & Girls Clubs and the Jefferson County Action Center.

Effective next year, we all have to file a 1099 with the IRS anytime we buy anything from a vendor in excess of $600. Nothing like making things easier for all of us struggling to get something off the ground or helping kids and the hungry.

What's really weird about this, is the new rules are part of the new Health Care Legislation! I guess that's why the bill called for the hiring of thousands of new IRS agents.

As Gomer Pyle would say..."Soo-prise...Soo-prise!"

A bit excessive I'd say. Actually I just did.

Excess excess. It gets in the way of success in so many ways.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We get the conversation started about you"

The difference between a Pipeline and a Pipeline

Pipelines carry stuff from here to there and vice-versa, depending on your location. Most associate the term with oil and gas. But pipelines also carry water, in fact any liquid asset.

Pipelines also carry information. A website is a pipeline of information. So is Twitter and YouTube. Your favorite local radio or television news station is a pipeline. Ditto for a newspaper, if you still have one where you live.

A generation ago we had a limited number of pipelines. If you're old enough to remember it, think of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Far fewer sources for news compared to today. You actually had to wait for news. The crisis in fact, created a pipeline, an ABC broadcast called "America Held Hostage." Today you know it as Nightline. You can watch the show off-air, via satellite or cable and of course the show has its own website. Which connects to numerous other pipelines.

Much is made of the ever growing number of communication pipelines. Each day it seems, comes a new one. Better, bolder, hotter than the others.

"My pipeline is cooler than your pipeline!"

Sadly, lost in the conversation is the conversation itself, i.e. CONTENT.

To be blunt, crap is crap, regardless of how it's delivered. Crap in, crap out.

Holy crap.

Creating impactful content for your pipeline(s) is what we do at Conversation Starters. Your message has to be meaningful on Main Street. Let us help you do just that.

Brian Olson
CEO and Founder
Conversation Starters LLC

Brand Ambassadorship

I've been listening to podcasts since the series of finale of LOST. Plus I've read more than a few articles. While the series wrapped up things generally, it didn't wrap up everything so it makes for interesting listening and reading. Two podcasts I listen to plan to continue on for months, maybe years.

Mentioned more than a few times is the upcoming release of the DVD package of the series. ABC and the producers of the hit show aren't paying a dime for any of this. Wow, imagine reaching huge audiences to market your product for free.

It reminds me of what I heard earlier this year in Atlanta at a Social Media Summit. The folks at Coca Cola (which hosted the event) talked about a Facebook fan page for Coke. It has almost 500 thousand members. But Coke didn't create it. Two fans did.

Customers and fans of your brand, can be your best "Brand Ambassadors." They post on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. They create fan pages.

IF...they like your product and customer service. It can just as easily work the opposite. Mistreat or mislead your customer base and they'll let you have it digitally, big-time.

Then there are cases where good companies get a bad rap on the Internet for no other reason that while the great thing about the Internet is everyone has access to it, the bad thing about the Internet is everyone has access to it.

As one psychologist said, "The Internet has provided a platform for the hateful." Usually, most of these types post anonymously, but believe it or not, some people believe them.

We specialize in helping you make the most out of your brand ambassadors, and how to deal with those who have nothing better to do than pick on you unfairly. There's a time and a place for everything on the Internet, especially when it comes to your brand's reputation.

Let us help you manage your brand in the ever-evolving world of Social Media.

Brian Olson
CEO and Founder
Conversation Starters LLC