CustomScoop PodJots

As a new weekly feature on the CustomScoop blog, we'll be discussing topics on select PR podcasts, and hopefully having a few insightful comments of our own.

We’ll begin working from the esteemed Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson’s “Podroll” over at “For Immediate Release,” but feel free to suggest other new or interesting PR podcasts as you come across them.

Speaking of Shel and Neville, let’s begin with the most recent FIR:

For Immediate Release - June 14, 2007 – Are we experiencing social media overload?

Of particular interest on Thursday’s FIR, Dan York reports on lifestreams, Jaiku and what he calls “fractured conversations.” He comments on the fragmentation of social media from the dissemination of platforms, networks and microblogging tools. Dan thinks the conversation lacks cohesion due to the need to be logged into a specific network to respond to someone at a given time, and the next evolution of social media will bring the tools together into one.

Neville comments that every social media platform would love to be the aggregator that brings them all together, but which to choose? It’s an interesting discussion that will no doubt continue, as communicators struggle to keep a presence on each of the myriad social networking options available (and as more emerge almost daily).

Neville mentions Steve Rubel’s recent post, The Attention Crash, which addresses the issue as a warning for a potential bubble burst: “We are reaching a point where the number of inputs we have as individuals is beginning to exceed what we are capable as humans of managing. The demands for our attention are becoming so great, and the problem so widespread, that it will cause people to crash and curtail these drains. Human attention does not obey Moore's Law.”

Topaz Partners Probecast - June 9, 2007 – Solving the Ghostblogging Dilemma?

Mentioning Shel Holtz's recent post on ghostblogging, Topaz’s Todd Van Hoosear seeks to issue a final word on ghostblogging. He notes the various arguments that support it—many CEOs or corporate execs may not have the time or ability to write good, engaging posts, corporate communications are often ghostwritten, why should blogs be treated any different?

Capitulating, Todd admits that blogs are indeed different. He thinks a quick solution to the problem is to simply not refer to any ghostwritten material as a “blog,” or if you must? Put a very clear disclaimer at the end. Tony Sapienza chimes in with the interesting position that if we compare blogs to other media relations activities, they should be considered more an interview, than a speech (or any other commonly ghostwritten communication). No one would ever impersonate a CEO in an interview, so refraining from doing so in blogs is the safest bet.

Inside PR - June 12, 2007 – Do Big PR Agencies “Get It”?

Terry Fallis and David Jones discuss, among other things, a comment from David Philips left for FIR last week, about big PR agencies not “getting” social media. Phillips’ position is that when a client has a specific need, PR agencies must “be in the position to advise wisely,” and that many global firms, he feels, are not yet in that position when it comes to social media. Phillips says too many people believe social media to be in “experimental” mode, when in reality it is the “here and now.”

Terry isn’t sure that Phillips had the evidence to back up his claim, and David notes that for every major PR agency that hasn’t yet fully grasped social media, there are just as many small firms that are equally ignorant; size isn’t the issue, it’s a company’s leadership that must play the role in educating practitioners regarding social media. Terry wonders if all the references to the segment of the public relations landscape that has not been an early adopter make social media seem like an exclusive clique of “wannabe technology geeks,” therefore undermining its importance.

This is a particularly interesting question, does the “clubby” nature of the online PR community have the potential to alienate those in the industry just getting their social media feet wet? And how do comments like David’s strengthen that argument?

Technorati tags: Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Topaz Partners, Terry Fallis, David Jones, podcasting

Comments

[Brian H.]

Social media is a great way to get all the news we desire at our fingertips, but it does force us to ask the question, "Are we overloading ourselves?" and "Are we getting more or less information out of social media as it grows?"

How can anyone stay on top of all the information out there, even with RSS, Blogs, Wiki, Google Alerts and the like.....it is becoming a full-time job just to stay informed and organize all the information.

If only someone could think up a medium to simplify and organize Web 2.0 as a whole. I think we might be seeing a glimpse of the not so distant future...."rubs crystal ball"