If you were over at rubytuesday.com today you got to see a live broadcast of them blowing up one of their old stores. Pretty great marketing idea. Showing a sign of them getting rid of the old style of their restaurants and moving towards the new design.
Check it.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Publicity Stunt, Literally
Michael Ian Black, for those of you who don’t know, is a commentator on “I Love the ‘90s”, as well one of three stars on the cancelled Comedy Central show “Stella”. He now contributes to McSweeney’s occasionally, and is working on a book. (His salami article is my favorite.)
In a publicity stunt, he’s trying to fight noted blogger Tucker Max, who has just published the most hideous movie script ever (highlights can be found on Gawker). Not exactly the new blogger turned Juno writer that Diablo Cody was. Anyway,apparently David Sedaris was Black's first choice, which seems kind of unfair, since he’s like, you know, sixty. Tucker Max accepted, and I’m pretty sure he’ll win, despite the fact that he promised to show up smashed drunk. But hey, you never know.
Kids these days!
How Low Can You Go?
Some people will do anything for attention. A designer has produced an extremely offensive t-shirt. He claims that a college girl who wore the shirt is suing him. Supposedly, four girls outside a New York subway station attacked the girl wearing the shirt. The designer sent this “information” out to the press, with contact info for the girl and her lawyers (why?), who will not pick up their phones. Despite the obvious signs of a bad marketing ploy, Metro ran it on the front page. That editor is now being fired.
Another shirt by the same designer reads "Obama = Hitler". What!? Comparing Hitler to Obama is obviously grossly historically wrong, but also trivializes the atrocities Hitler committed. Even the most staunch anti-Obama spokesperson couldn't accuse him of slaughtering millions. Also notice the girl wearing the first t-shirt is also wearing a star of David necklace in the picture. Because what the Jewish community needs is more negative press. Thanks!
The shirt disgusts me to the extent that I don’t feel comfortable repeating the slogan printed on it (you can follow the link if you must know). And I’m disgusted that a story like this, even if the editor thought it was real, gets front page coverage. In a time when the printing press is dying, it may be tempting to follow the old axiom “if it bleeds, it leads”. But why not offer something that few blogs can: quality, consistent journalism? Newspapers have the time and resources to check out their stories, this angle may be what saves them from going under.
Another shirt by the same designer reads "Obama = Hitler". What!? Comparing Hitler to Obama is obviously grossly historically wrong, but also trivializes the atrocities Hitler committed. Even the most staunch anti-Obama spokesperson couldn't accuse him of slaughtering millions. Also notice the girl wearing the first t-shirt is also wearing a star of David necklace in the picture. Because what the Jewish community needs is more negative press. Thanks!
The shirt disgusts me to the extent that I don’t feel comfortable repeating the slogan printed on it (you can follow the link if you must know). And I’m disgusted that a story like this, even if the editor thought it was real, gets front page coverage. In a time when the printing press is dying, it may be tempting to follow the old axiom “if it bleeds, it leads”. But why not offer something that few blogs can: quality, consistent journalism? Newspapers have the time and resources to check out their stories, this angle may be what saves them from going under.
Perfect Pitch Tuesday #1
No one knows the business of pitching quite like the person listening on the other end of line. If you've heard, "I'm going to stop you right there..." or "I have zero percent interest in this story!"-- You didn't do your research. It's about time you listened to "them" for a change, and today's perfect pitch session highlighted a notable, former Fox9 producer and CityPages writer.
Charlie Hobart sat in on our perfect pitch session today. A movie critic and prolific blogger in his spare time, Hobart also works at Axiom and informed our interns and other account staff about his experiences.
"Time and practice will help change a scripted pitch into a notable one. The more you put out there, the more you'll get back." As PR people, Hobart reminds us that we need to be the experts informing the reporter, not vice-versa. Compelling pitches only come when you know a reporter's byline and that the info you hold will offer something for the publication's readers. If you don't do either and you just read a senseless spiel, "you sound green," according to Hobart.
In closing, don't be a just graduate with a PR degree. Be a superhuman media machine that is concise, potent, and a conversationalist at best.
Thanks for reading,
Stretch
Charlie Hobart sat in on our perfect pitch session today. A movie critic and prolific blogger in his spare time, Hobart also works at Axiom and informed our interns and other account staff about his experiences.
"Time and practice will help change a scripted pitch into a notable one. The more you put out there, the more you'll get back." As PR people, Hobart reminds us that we need to be the experts informing the reporter, not vice-versa. Compelling pitches only come when you know a reporter's byline and that the info you hold will offer something for the publication's readers. If you don't do either and you just read a senseless spiel, "you sound green," according to Hobart.
In closing, don't be a just graduate with a PR degree. Be a superhuman media machine that is concise, potent, and a conversationalist at best.
Thanks for reading,
Stretch
New pitching ground
The media mecca is always changing-- even faster than some of us might realize. Citizen journalism is at an all-time high; all you ever see on broadcast news is something regarding a new or rare face on YouTube. Our coverage methods not only have to be on target but strong and far-reaching, because today's news is old news.Axiom is announcing a new plan of superhuman attack to keep fervent and thorough media relations correspondence at the forefront of its media strategies. At Axiom, we recognize the importance of turning a yes, no, or maybe response into future interest and future placement. Our perfect pitch sessions, occurring every Tuesday, will share guided insight from TV producers and those buffs in PR who have given themselves a voice for effective pitching counsel. We're even going to go so far as to pitch on each other's voicemail- both the crappy and catching.
Remember, as a media maven, you have 10 seconds to impress and a minute to bore a reporter if you aren't careful. Thanks to perfect pitch sessions, you and I won't be doing any more PR fluff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)