The Flack

This weblog attempts to shine a brighter light on the subtle role public relations plays in politics, culture, media, business and sports. Through greater transparency, the author hopes to make the profession better understood and perhaps more widely appreciated.

A running theme in this blog revolves around the growing tension between top-down control of news by a company or institution and the forces that advocate a more democratic means of interacting with one’s constituencies.

Citizen journalist evangelist Dan Gillmor, writing in the current issue of PR Week, takes Apple’s communications department to task for its heavy-handed PR approach to the recent Macworld Conference. In his column, titled “Apple’s control of information is a disservice to journalism,” Mr Gillmor opines:

“The “Big Announcement” strikes me as an increasingly irrelevant tactic. There are times when it’s still a sensible idea, such as when a company is telling the world about something truly game-changing… By trying (and largely succeeding) to control every iota of information, Apple ultimately does itself no favors.” 

So when is it “sensible” (to use Mr. Gillmor’s term) to mount a “big,” controlled approach? Is there room in the PR person’s toolbox for both a participatory, grassroots mode and the tried-and-true top-down strategy for making news or managing the message? What does the hybrid look like? Let me first finish Scoble and Israel’s Naked Conversations and I’ll hopefully have more on this vexing PR issue.


Posted in Institutions & Enterprises, Apple, Dan Gillmor | 2 Comments »

“Macworld, Shrouded in Secrecy”

Posted by Peter Himler on 9th January 2006

The headline today on CNET News said it all. Following the much-hyped and resurgent CES Show where MSM reporters tag-teamed with citizen-types to deliver breathless 24/7 reportage, how can a consumer electronics show in its immediate wake ever expect to compete for media share of mind? The answer: by going dark.

Over the years Macworld has experienced more viscissitudes than the DJIA. While CeBIT’s bid to establish a U.S. bulkhead failed, and PC Expo, COMDEX and others have fallen by the wayside, Macworld, and its groupies, held on — some years by a thread. This year, however, Macworld will storm back to its glory days when journalists couldn’t drink enough of the Kool-Aid being served.

It’s not just the iPod’s prodigious market share. The PR folks at Apple have finally learned how to effectively deploy their iconic CEO to make headlines. (There was a time when they seemed clueless. Think Gil Amelio.) Remember the ROKR intro when Steve Jobs pulled the Nano rabbit out of his hat to the surprise, delight and wholesale embrace by a captivated media? This stealth strategy is now in place to build anticipation for tomorrow’s Macworld opening and Jobs keynote.

Hey look. Why do you think they call it news?

Posted in Apple, Steve Jobs | No Comments »

And the Beat Goes On

Posted by Peter Himler on 12th October 2005

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Posted in Google, The New York Times, Apple, AOL, Conde Nast, Comcast, News Corp., NBC Universal | 1 Comment »

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