Rev. Wright’s speech: unifying or divisive?

Watch this speech: Rev. Wright Speech at NAACP

Despite your views on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, despite your political stance, despite your personal like or dislike of Wright’s religious or political views, one has to admit that his speech last night at the NAACP dinner delivered one, if not many powerful messages. Both directly and indirectly.

Wright’s speech attempted to illustrate the need for change, by revisiting the past, and illustrating what Blacks have endured, and have had to systematically overcome. To do this, he used the ‘writing for the ear techniques’ (rule of 3, repetition, anaphora, imagery, metaphor, hyperbole, balanced phrase) to grab your attention and give a very descriptive history lesson on Black history in America. Wright’s tactics definitely are memorable, and aim to entertain.

To get his point across, he sings classical, jazz, gospel, even beat-boxes at one point, he references and cites ALL Faiths, noted educators, linguists, and accounts in recent political history. His highly animated dancing, acting, yelling, joking around and sharp sarcastic remarks all work together to deliver quite a profound performance, despite how obvious the messages may be.

But…he’s been criticized for being divisive, among other things. And I think it’s worth examining. I mean, how can you honestly get away with saying, in the 21st Century, that “Black people learn differently from White people.” I take personal offense to that one. If that’s not divisive I don’t know what is. And the term “yellow” offends me too. Don’t use it again, Wright.

His his various bold and offensive remarks, may or may not detract from the overall tone of his speech, that’s for the individual to decide. However, I can honestly say that his reinforced key phrase, “Different, not deficient,” and the main theme, “I believe a change is going to come…” is still relevant and still very much needed in Black America today. This is sad, and true.

I really urge you to watch all parts of the video, you’ll definitely be entertained. After you’ve watched it, let me know your thoughts…

Thank you!

Staffeen

everybody’s going to miami!

Between March 25 and 29, 2008 – the Winter Music Conference will take place in Miami. If there’s one event that pulls it all together for musicians – it would be this one. This week-long event hosts a series of seminars, exhibits, award shows, networking events, night club showcases, and a must-have event - the DJ spin-off. It strives to bring music industry leaders, artists, participants and the media together in one venue, engaging in conversation.

In discussion are issues affecting the industry such as innovations in technology, online tools, distribution and retail, radio exposure, legal issues, the media, promotion, the labels and much more…

Scheduled to speak is artist and producer Erykah Badu, along with performances by world renowned DJs and live artists such as, Andy Caldwell, Armin Van Buuren, DJ Heather, Fred Everything, Mark Farina, Nick Holder, Quentin Harris…to name a few.

NEW debunkd. SERIES:
To usher in Spring, I’ll be launching a new interview series called, ‘IN SPIN’, that will highlight a few of my favourite Djs & Producers – many of whom will performing at the Winter Music Conference.

For more information visit: http://www.wintermusicconference.com/

Photo: Courtesy of Colin Burwell.

FACEBOOK IN PR - YESTERDAY’S NEWS?

It has definitely been an addictive and somewhat indulgent pastime – with 68 million active users worldwide, 65 billion page views per month, and Canada as the third largest country with 7 million users.

So I found it interesting when told that Facebook was in fact “old news.” So in the spirit of debunking Facebook’s existence in a previous post, I now find myself defending its contribution to the world of PR & Communications.

Has Facebook actually passed its prime? And here I was thinking its momentum had only begun.

Two questions came to mind:

1. What has Facebook actually contributed to the world of PR & Communications?

2. If our beloved Facebook has fallen as the next best trend in the Communications world, where can it go from here?

In trying to discern a more practical and legitimate use for it, I became increasingly curious about the role of Facebook in PR Practices and have chosen three areas to briefly examine.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

In the 9th installment in the “PR-Squared’s Social Media Tactics Series” by Todd Defren of SHIFT Communications, he highlights the use of social media practices including FB, in current and up-to-date PR & Marketing practices.

Defren outlines relevant and useful FB groups recommended to PR pros, highlighting new social media forms, such as Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as forms of social media measurement. Also mentioning mainstream publications with an FB presence, and popular reporters with FB profiles. Defrens says,

“In other words, whether you’re reaching out to bloggers, consumers or mainstream media, Facebook probably should be a consideration.”

He also outlines strategies to using FB and provides a useful slide outline “Facebook Group Rules of Outreach”, which seems intuitive, but still probably requires mentioning.

The series also mentions the use of other forms of social media such as, blogging, twittering, social bookmarking like del.icio.us, RSS feeds and podcasts – used as marketing tactics for highlighting news releases for example. So perhaps alone FB would be less effective, but in combination with other forms of social media – a powerful social media cocktail.

UNVEILING ‘THE CORPORATION’ & EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS

From the post “Putting a Face on Social Networks: Corporate Facebook Pages”, by Dan Greenfield of Bernaise Source, he highlights what the corporate FB page does, and examines the dynamic of that platform.

With the emphasis this type of corporate transparency, Greenfield says,

“Corporate FB pages and social networks serve different audiences and different purposes. They both however are intended to engage customers in a conversation and leverage the power of the network to have users virally spread the word.”

Clearly this exposure explores how ‘the corporation’ has assumed a new sense of responsibility, as well as become more targeted regarding their publics. And it also it bears repeating, corporations have been forced to become more accountable for their actions and forced to both interact and disclose their practices to their public.

Greenfield highlights corporations such as Paramount Pictures, Lush Cosmetics and CBS Sports who use FB to connect with their target audiences. He also highlights success stories of small businesses taking advantage of FB and actively engaging in viral marketing.

His conversations with communicators Blockbuster, Verizon Wireless, Sprite discloses their strategies for success. Greenfield also outlines his own strategies for success using FB, and asks pertinent questions. Again, may be somewhat intuitive – but are very useful and relevant.

THE FUTURE – WHAT’S NEXT?

There could be a thousand conversations about the future of social media, here are a few:

An article published by the editors at Inside CRM shared a series of itemized reasons supporting FB outlining, advertising tips, marketing opportunities, ways businesses can use tools & applications, ways to target your demographic, how-to guides, small business strategies, the dangers of FB and miscellaneous resources.

A word from the creator himself, in an article by Caroline McCarthy of CNET News.com posted on Australia’s ZDNet.com.au, Mark Zuckerberg admits that the way to compete is to keep innovating and says,

“I think that what we’re watching out for is not one specific company, but just how the whole trend goes and what our role is going to be.”

SO…

After absorbing quite a bit of information – I’ve come to the conclusion that FB is not really dying. There is emphasis on other forms of social media, but FB almost always has a presence.

It’s definitely relevant and definitely current, has contributed substantially to the world of PR & Communications, and can be considered a valid part of an intricate web of tools for future communicators - as long as it adapts to the next wave of social media trends. Not “old news” at all!

on the corporate conscience: International Women’s Day

This Saturday, March 8, 2008 is International Women’s Day, and it’s inspiring to learn that there are currently 564 International Women’s Day events listed from 50 different countries. From luncheons to conferences, from coffee & cake affairs to large extravagant galas across Canada – there are festivities celebrating this positive movement. Often there are companies/organizations attached to these events – and on the IWD website is very comprehensive list of those actively involved. Under TOP COMPANIES SUPPORTING WOMEN & IWD, they have listed HSBC, Deloitte, and Cisco, as their top global corporate supporters stating:

“They provide strong corporate leadership and social responsibility in actively developing and advancing female talent.”

Also mentioned were the following:

FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING IWD
IWD Toronto Committee

FEATURED GOVERNMENTS SUPPORTING IWD
The Government of Ontario
The Government of Saskatchewan
The Government of Alberta

FEATURED MEDIA GROUPS COVERING IWD
The Women’s Radio Fund in Vancouver

Outside of this list there are many other bodies making IWD their top priority including Scotia Bank and Yves Rocher - it’s a union that speaks volumes. I have a huge amount of respect for organizations and corporations that can ‘move with the times’ and realize the importance of giving back. That said, the more the public demands this progressive social conscience – the more they will have to comply.

In three years it will be the International Women’s Day Centenary – it’s encouraging to know that some organizations have already started planning special events for that occasion!

let it snow on our reputation

A dear friend that I grew up with sent me a text on Friday, telling me that she was coming into the city and that we should visit. Yes, during the storm. I called and asked her if she was crazy and she asked me to remind her where I grew up…

I’m always reminded of our inability to withstand a little snow and a little cold. Wimps they call us! Mind you she has a good point, being raised in a small town called Elliot Lake, where we had this much snow (if not more), almost regularly during the winter months – this really should be second nature to me. I remember having to walk in the middle of the main road in a blizzard, with mounds of snow to get to school. And I remember it being so cold, that icicles would form on the tips of my eyelashes. It’s marred (or prepared) me for life, either one.

Torontonians are branded! We may love the idea of snow, but we just can’t stand how it ruins certain aspects of our lives. We enjoy making it seem overly crucial, as though our ‘survival in the city’ is deeply affected by it. Do you remember the year when we called in the Army? Maybe you had to live here to understand…

promoting places (that don’t exist)

GAS Jeans publishes a youthful magazine called the maGASine that has a general “rethink” theme, which highlights everything from art and architecture, to clothes and travel. In one edition, an article called nation obscura highlighted a number of countries that were unknown – either unrecognized internationally, or cast off by its neighbouring countries, whatever the political case may be.

The countries include: Brunei Darussalam, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Djibouti, Timor-Leste, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Nauru, Kyrgyzstan and Micronesia.

This leads me to one my favourite authors, Simon Reeve*, who created the 2005 documentary Places That Don’t Exist, which essientially highlights a number of countries, that again – are technically not there.

Some of the countries he visited are: Somaliland, Transniestria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Ajaria, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Somalia, Moldova, Taiwan, and the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

It makes me question how countries can establish & promote themselves as a nation, despite not being an official nation, recognized by the rest of the world. According to Reeve, there are approximately 200 official countries in the world, but there are dozens of “breakaway states” which are deemed separate or independent. They have their own governments, implemented their own authories, their own passports, and even currency and stamps, but all which mean absolutely nothing to the rest of the world. (For example, their currency, passports and stamps are valid, but aren’t accepted in any other country other than their own.) It’s not just a matter of not being taken seriously, it’s much more contrived. And of course there is a downside, where they are taken advantage of by neighbourging countries, and are often made silent partners in other unsavoury activities.

So how does one (a potential collective) do PR for a nation? Similarly, who does the PR for Canada, and how is it contained? How do one of the above-mentioned nations establish themselves, control how they’re perceived internationally, when they’re stamped with such dismal uncertainty and basically exiled from the rest of the world?

*Simon Reeve produced the 2003 documentary called Meet The Stans, which took him to the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.