Like many in the PR and journalism blogosphere, I get PR pitches by email every day. Like many, too, I welcome pitches if they are relevant to my interests. If they are, the chances are good that I will talk about the product or service, either in my blogs or podcast, or I might Twitter about it. Those emails are currently averaging eight. Every day. The vast majority, though, I regard as spam, pure and simple. In fact, PR spam is a topic that is constantly on the tips of online tongues. What's … [Read more...] about PR spam is mostly the result of being careless
Archives for May 2008
GM Europe launches executive blog
Yesterday, General Motors Europe launched Driving Conversations, a new executive blog. We have an exclusive FIR interview with Chris Preuss, GM Europe's Vice President of Communications, about the new blog, recorded a few days ago ahead of the public launch. In that interview, you'll hear Chris discuss the planned role of this blog in the context of changes and developments in the auto industry in Europe and GM's own plans within that marketplace. In his first post, GM Europe President … [Read more...] about GM Europe launches executive blog
FIR Interview: Chris Preuss, GM Europe, on ‘Driving Conversations’ – May 20, 2008
One of the earliest adopters of social media for a strategic business communication purpose is General Motors, whose FastLane blog began in January 2005. FastLane has been said by Bob Lutz, founding blogger and the company's Vice Chairman, to be an indispensible communication channel, an unfiltered voice for the company, its customers and auto enthusiasts. On May 20, 2008, GM Europe launched Driving Conversations, the latest step in the company's close embrace of social media to support its … [Read more...] about FIR Interview: Chris Preuss, GM Europe, on ‘Driving Conversations’ – May 20, 2008
The Hobson & Holtz Report – Podcast #346: May 19, 2008
Content summary: New FIR Interview published; FIR Live on BlogTalk Radio May 24; Michael Netzley reports from Singapore on internet control in China and asks about the business implications; the Media Monitoring Minute with CustomScoop; marketing Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford on seesmic; IBM and wikis; reflections on Bulldog Reporter's audio conference on blogger relations; journalism and Twitter: too much PR, says BusinessWeek's Stephen Baker; listeners' comments discussion; … [Read more...] about The Hobson & Holtz Report – Podcast #346: May 19, 2008
New FeedDemon 2.7 makes RSS a speed demon
A new version of RSS aggregator FeedDemon was released on Friday which I think is an essential upgrade if you're an existing user. While new version 2.7 does include quite a few bug fixes and improvements to some functionality, according to the release notes, the biggest benefit I've already noticed is how much faster the application is to use. It's especially notable when first loading it up when it checks all your feeds for new or changed content. My perception - it takes about half the time … [Read more...] about New FeedDemon 2.7 makes RSS a speed demon
Bill Gates in black or white
This PC Pro magazine cover-double of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates caught my eye the other day. It's the June 2008 edition of the magazine, just out. Two different covers but exactly the same content in each version. Each contains an eight-page feature along with an editorial with a pretty interesting assessment of Gates and Microsoft over the past 30 years. Whatever you think of Bill Gates and Microsoft, it's clear that both he and his company have massively contributed to the usefulness of … [Read more...] about Bill Gates in black or white
FIR Interview: Craig Silverman, RegretTheError.com – May 16, 2008
"Regret the error" is a phrase that appears daily in newspapers around the world - the standard admission that something has gone terribly wrong in the reporting, editing or printing of an article. This brief notice is generally accompanied by an equally terse correction. But Craig Silverman, founder and editor of RegretTheError.com, goes beyond the boilerplate to ask key questions that concern everyone who follows the news, both print, broadcast and online. In this FIR Interview, Neville … [Read more...] about FIR Interview: Craig Silverman, RegretTheError.com – May 16, 2008
The Hobson & Holtz Report – Podcast #345: May 15, 2008
Content summary: Upcoming FIR Interviews and FIR Live call-in shows; discussion: podcast advertising and different approaches; Dan York reports on the disconnects when buying a new home, and more; the Media Monitoring Minute with CustomScoop; new online tool to measure unconscious emotional reactions to brands; the risk of CGM; journalists live blog their working day; media relations in the age of Twitter; David Philips reports; listeners' comments discussion; music from Sol-Iss; and … [Read more...] about The Hobson & Holtz Report – Podcast #345: May 15, 2008