A Little Bit of Watford in Washington

I’m lucky enough to have been asked, and subsequently accept, a two week secondment in Edelman’s Washington DC office for a couple of weeks.

I’ve landed safe and sound, done the tourist thing (pictures soon) and i’m now preparing to get myself into working the DC way.

Astoundingly, the first song I heard on US soil was ‘Your Song’ by Elton John, it reminded me that there are some things that transcend cultures, no matter how far geographically apart they are.

That, and Watford’s 3-1 win against Middlesbrough on Saturday got me thinking – how many other people are there from Watford, living and working in DC?

As if to not put too fine a point on it, the lady I shared the 8 hour flight with works with Thomson Reuters – two people in the same industry, somehow sat together, you couldn’t write it.

London Bloggers Meetup: PRs v. Bloggers

The London Bloggers Meetup took place on Wednesday, the PR edition aimed to address concerns and questions about the relationship between bloggers and PRs with a debate featuring representatives of both sides.

UPDATE: In my excitement I forgot to add Edelman sponsored the event :)

Alas, the PR vs. Blogger discussion did not turn out to be the ‘rumble in the jungle’ some had touted it as and was a rather serene affair. Indeed the six strong panel had six bloggers, three of whom are indeed PRs: Stephen Waddington, Cate Sevilla, Chris Osburn, Pete Stean, Lolly and myself (I tried to play devil’s advocate, some things were indeed tongue-in cheek…).

Here’s the points we were looking to address, and my thoughts…

All bloggers welcome pitches from PRs

I disagree – just because a blogger shares their email, doesn’t mean they are inviting pitches. It may well be an invitation for comments and questions that a reader may not necessarily want to publish as a comment. The PR should research the blog and blogger to recognise if they are happy to be pitched, and if it is still not totally clear, an email asking the question could be sent.

PR shouldn’t treat bloggers like journalists

PRs should treat bloggers like people. A blogger may write about a range of topics as they have different passions and enthusiasms, it’s up to the PR to recognise this. A clear way of creating a definition is that, by and large, most bloggers do not get paid to write about their interests. Journalists however earn a salary and are required to fill column inches. A totally different mechanic applies.

Bloggers don’t understand what a PR agency needs

Some bloggers do understand, others don’t and it is not up to them to acknowledge this either way. The PR should make clear from the outset of any correspondence what they require, as this will of course vary on an email by email basis, allowing the blogger to opt-in or out.

PR agencies don’t understand what bloggers need and want

Again, I think this varies, and often from PR to PR rather than by agency. There are some very good PRs who ‘get it’, but there are also many PRs that don’t. it is up to those who do understand digital culture to help those who don’t, learn the behavioural mechanics of the Internet and digital communications or in the very least, be aware of the benefits of using digital as part of a wider communications strategy.

Bloggers and PR agencies would both benefit from industry standard rules of engagement

This is a moot point. The pace at which any regulatory body could organise any such guidelines would be much slower in comparison to the velocity at which the Internet and digital comms moves. It simply would not keep up.

I’d be interested to know your opinions on the above point and what other factors you think are at play.

The Death of 9-5

I read this blog post last week about the shift from the traditional 9-5 working culture to that of a 7-9 and it wasn’t until now that it processed enough to think about it properly.

The digital age has brought with it continuous connectivity and as a result a presumed expectation that regardless of location, time or state of mind, we are able to be involved in and prepared to work erroneously for our employers – be that your company or your client.

The millennial, research tells us, will not put up with working if sais millennial does not feel it is fulfilling a series of needs, perhaps more complex than those of previous generations. I wonder then if the millennial will continue to work as the current trends are indicating 7-9, or if the millennial will say ‘enough is enough’?

With a 7-9 culture should come increased flexibility of working pattern, rather than a prolonged intensity of working pattern.

It would appear that this is not the case.

In the post 2008-2009 recession period, we are still extremely aware that there is a scarcity of job opportunities and that employment is a bit of a blessing. Does this mean however that the current millennial working population are more willing to put aside their generally accepted behaviour, or are they widely adopting the new working patterns because they enjoy it?

Is there also perhaps a feeling of panic that if you do complain about the hours you are working, the pervasiveness of degrees means anyone can replace you, be trained up and instantaneously disregard you, tainting your record as the perfect employee?

Or does the blame lie at the top with a Thatcherite age group dominating managerial roles who see the shift as the perfect opportunity to increase productivity levels and thus profits?
I am all for the digitisation of working practice, but with this comes a greater need to separate work and life.

Perhaps the millennial needs to take a look at itself and decide where it stands.

What do you think?

Image Ban Forces Local Paper Re-think

The Swindon Advertiser has come up with an innovative way to recreate scenes from a football match with Southampton using Subbuteo.

Southampton Football Club recently banned the taking of photographs of their players as they felt they should be paid for image rights.

At the time, the Hampshire club said:

“The club has decided to make available to external media organisations photographic images taken by the club’s own professional sports photographers only.

“These images will be available to all media organisations on normal commercial terms. The purpose of this is solely to protect the club’s commercial revenues derived from the use of its wholly-owned images.

“Saints fans will of course continue to be able to see a wide range of match day photography on the club website.”

Anthony Marshall, the brains behind the idea to use Subbuteo said:

“Everyone is trying to get around it. We just have to be as imaginative as possible. It is a bit quirky and hopefully the readers will see the funny side of it.”

“Football clubs need newspapers as much as newspapers need football clubs. The partnership is mutually beneficial.

“Clubs essentially receive free advertising, with their team and sponsors splashed across the back pages every single day, while the readership of papers is boosted by those who want to find out what is going on at their club.

It is appalling, yet not surprising, that as the current state of the game dictates, image rights of footballers should come under scrutiny, and is a damning indictment as to the state of the game.

There are strange goings on at Southampton at the moment: manager Alan Pardew was sacked after a 4-0 win last week, despite guiding the club to success last year winning the Johnston’s PaintTtrophy and pushing for a playoff spot with a ten point deduction hanging over the team.

That is of course no excuse for the odd behaviour and banning of photography. There are strange things afoot and it is a shame that local newspapers are being sucked into the swirling mess.