Here is a message to all the high-profile businessmen and women in the world of constantly adapting technology: Never Say Never! Steve Ballmer, has announced that he will be stepping down as CEO of Microsoft, whose operating system monopoly has fallen behind Apple and Google in mobile devices, tablets, and smart phone technology. Perhaps because of lack …
Media Mistakes Not to Make
Some 2,000 dollar bills fluttered from the fifth-floor balcony of the Hart Senate Office Building last week, falling upon activists who shouted “Monsanto Money!” while tossing piles of cash in the air and making snow angels in pools of the bills. Although it may be hard to believe, even the media makes mistakes. The Associated Press misidentified the protest …
Trying to “Satisfry” the Customer
From “Home of the Whopper” to “Home of the Satisfries,” Burger King has changed their brand name “temporarily,” from Burger King to Fries King, and created some negative social media buzz. The fast food chain tweeted the following: “And you thought we were bluffing. Long live the #FriesKing!” According to Ad Week, consumers expressed their confusion of the chain’s new …
Hats Off … to a very Ready John Putnam
Watch the segment here. Recent client, Putnam Accessory Group/Chuck Originals’ John Putnam gave a “textbook” performance on the KTLA Morning News, hosted by Mark Kriski and Frank Buckley . “You can’t hate a guy who makes hats,” he began. As seen here, Mr. Putnam avoided the biggest mistake most executives make of not naming the brand! He branded perfectly, both …
Fore…
“Fore” is the warning shout golfers use when there is a chance that a wild ball may hit other players or spectators. NBC’s Golf Channel hit fans and players alike with a shout heard ’round the Twittersphere: The tweet landed them in the rough. The Golf Channel’s hasty retraction … “Our earlier tweet was inappropriate. The intent was to celebrate …
The Tweet Heard ‘Round the World
In preparation for an upcoming show on teen sex and drinking, The Dr. Phil Show posted a question on twitter, asking “If a girl is drunk, is it OK to have sex with her? Reply yes or no to @drphil #teensaccused.” The question was interpreted as a statement, and instead of answers, disapproving tweets circled the twittersphere expressing anger at …
Not READY, AIM, FIRE!
During a tense conference call meant to rally 1,000 employees, AOL Chief Tim Armstrong publically fired the Creative Director of AOL Patch.com, Abel Lenz, as he began to record the meeting, part of Mr. Lenz’s job description. It was a particularly sensitive moment, as the CEO was announcing the reduction of the number of Patch sites in its local news …
The Accidental Archivist
In contributing to the February issue of Vanity Fair with an article entitled, “The Accidental Activist” commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, New York investigative journalist Joshua Prager found among Jane Roe/Norma Mc Corvey’s abandoned documents: a card from the Los Angeles media training firm Ready for Media with a typed list of pointers. (“Say Versus rather than …