Erika’s posterous

From the trade publication Inside Radio today:

Mandatory news is one idea as the FCC will weigh the future of broadcast journalism. Democratic commissioner Michael Copps is reportedly circulating a proposed Notice of Inquiry that would examine the state of broadcast journalism. CNSNews.com says it would look at consolidation’s impact as well as how the internet is picking up the slack following traditional media’s cutbacks. It also considers issuing “behavioral rules” for broadcasters, including mandatory newscasts. An FCC spokesman tells Inside Radio the agency doesn’t comment on pending items that have been circulated to the commissioners. The state of journalism has had Copps’ attention for years. In a speech to Free Press in May, he called for a “serious national discussion” on changes in the media landscape and the rise of “infotainment” instead of hard news. But Copps believes government intervention may not be the way to go. “Certainly we need more regulation than the country has had these past several years, but regulation isn’t always the answer,” he said. One possible solution he suggested, for instance, is a public broadcasting system “on steroids.” Conservatives worry stricter public interest standards could be a backdoor attempt at reviving the Fairness Doctrine, but Copps insists that’s not the case. In his Free Press speech, he responded, “We will not lose this opportunity to make real and lasting progress on media reform because some find it is in their self-interest to keep this phony issue alive.”

Loading mentions Retweet

The Rise of the C-Tweet

Points to Consider for Twitter-Friendly CEOs and CMOs

By Jonathan Paisner

Published: April 21, 2009

Social media has obviously given voice to employees in ways that never existed before. Early corporate bloggers were often brand enthusiasts themselves and tended to "get" the brand a gut level; soon enough, voice and tone guidelines became more actively put in play to govern blog writing. But Twitter is different. The nature of the medium encourages users to transmit an interchangeable mix of musings about life, work, daily observations and whatever else. Employees on Twitter are either designated brand ambassadors or simply have personal accounts -- and these lines of distinction help offer guidance. But that line grays with the advent of the "C-Tweet." C-level execs are part-lead ambassador, part-celebrity. Twitter accounts can build a cult of personality and extend a dynamic that has long existed for top CEOs into a broader set of C-level executives.

Zappos CEO Tony Hseih has come to be considered the gold standard for CEO tweeting, thanks to a comfortable style that leverages both the brand he helped create and his own personal voice.

Photo Credit: Bryan Haraway

Among C-level execs, Twitter holds an allure as a seemingly simple vehicle to communicate thought leadership while staying connected to the market. Yet a daily supply of profundities in 140-character increments is a lot harder to pull off than it sounds. One natural obstacle blogs offered was the demand to actually have to write. Twitter is much less intimidating -- and the immediacy and ostensible intimacy of the platform may suggest that it is perfectly alright for executives to say things ranging from "Wow that was a delicious hamburger! Jalapenos, yum" to "Holding firm in my negotiations with Yahoo right now." And herein lies the greatest challenge of the C-Tweet: Where does the voice of the brand end and the voice of the individual begin?

Notable tweeting CMOs include Jeffrey Hayzlett of Kodak (@jeffreyhayzlett) and Barry Judge of Best Buy (@BestBuyCMO) -- each of whom ties his account closely to his brand. And each interprets the boundaries between the personal voice and the voice of the brand a bit differently. Of course, each brand has different social-media agendas that these executives are trying to push forward -- with variables ranging from the brands themselves and the strategic objectives to the audiences they serve (and aim to serve) and the styles of these individuals. Is there a blueprint for doing this right?

Tony Hsieh (@zappos), Zappos CEO, has come to be considered the gold standard for CEO tweeting, thanks to a comfortable style that leverages both the brand he helped create and his own personal voice. And he has gained a reputation for responsiveness and accessibility via Twitter that has come to epitomize the entire Zappos aesthetic. Padmasree Warrior (@padmasree), Cisco CTO, has also built a successful account on Twitter, finding that balance between business and personal that offers some good, relevant insight into the Cisco brand while putting a very human voice on a heretofore more removed role. While Hsieh's efforts are overtly endorsed by the Zappos brand, Warrior's does not carry the official endorsement of the Cisco brand.

As we see more such accounts in the rise of the C-Tweet, three things to think about:

1.The objective
An executive's objectives for a Twitter account are likely a mix of the brand's interest and self-interest. A simple rule of thumb here: If it is conspicuously endorsed by the brand (via the account name or use of the logo, for example), then the objectives should directly align with the vision and mission of the brand. If the brand is merely a description of the executive's occupation, there is more room for flexibility. And, with an endorsed account in particular, have a discussion with internal counsel to set up some basic legal guardrails before you jump in.

2. The commitment
Twitter is a hungry beast. If you're truly in it, you've got to tweet. Conventional wisdom seems to have it at somewhere between five to 10 tweets per day as the minimum for an active account with a healthy following. Generating 30 to 50 compelling, pithy statements (or links or retweets) each week may sound simple, but it can easily turn into a chore. Carve out time in the day to address this need -- to feed the beast without turning this into a distraction.

3. The exit strategy
Admittedly, this is a tough one -- considering the lifespan of Twitter itself and the questions that may exist around its own future. At the end of the day, an executive's account will be more of a reflection on him or her than it is on the brand. Executive impermanence is a fact of life -- and while creating deeper connections between a brand and its key executives can have tremendous value for partners, customers, analysts, employees and investors, an executive's inevitable departure along with several hundred thousand Twitter followers is likely to sting a bit. A strong Twitter following is becoming a brand asset -- and succession planning for the future of this asset is an important consideration. It may be worthwhile to try to mirror an executive's Twitter following within a more overtly corporate account. Or perhaps encourage junior executives to build their own followings, assuming this does not conflict with the points above.

Twitter is yet another example of where brands have to accept a loss of control. In this case, it is not about putting the brand in the hands of the market but in the hands of the people for whom the brand is their livelihood. A certain amount of letting go is a necessity. We will undoubtedly see a few missteps in C-tweets, and we'll learn and move on. Ultimately, the medium may change but basics of branding still apply -- both for the brands themselves and for their executive stewards: Be true, be relevant, be transparent, respect your brand and your customers, don't make a promise you can't keep.

~ ~ ~
Jonathan Paisner is brand director at CoreBrand. He works with Fortune 500 clients in areas of brand architecture, strategic alliances and brand messaging. CoreBrand clients have included Cisco Systems, AT&T, Internet2, ADP, TV Guide, American Century Investments and BearingPoint.

Copyright © 1992-2009 Crain Communications

http://adage.com/print?article_id=136159

Loading mentions Retweet

From AllAccess.com

Loading mentions Retweet

I submitted this recipe for a Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association fundraising cookbook, and they used it ... so in addition to my newspaper gig, I can say I've been *published.* (tee hee)

Tuscany Peasant Soup (for crock pot or stove top)
The recipe is originally from a Web site, but I’ve rewritten it according to our tastes.
http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl22c9.htm

-- Erika Engle, proud daughter of Mariko Engle (and business reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. Italian sausages, or turkey Italian sausage, mild or hot, about 1 pound
1 celery stalk, diced (the soup’s great without it)
1 onion; small, diced
2 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped or 1/2 teaspoon dry basil
(add oregano too, if desired)
salt and pepper to taste
3 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (I slice it thick for the lengthy cooking)
3 cups low-sodium beef stock (chicken stock also works great)
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

grated parmesan, romano or a blend, for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown Italian sausages on all sides; slice sausages 1/2-inch thick rounds. (I remove casings and crumble sausage for browning so the sausage bits go all through the soup.)
If using turkey Italian sausage, oil the pan with cooking spray or olive oil before cooking. Pour off excess fat.
2. Add the celery and onion to the skillet, add dried basil, oregano, salt and pepper and sauté until translucent. (If using fresh herbs, don’t add them until the end!)
3. In crock pot, combine beef broth and tomato sauce. Add sausage and vegetable mixture; add zucchini; cover and cook on LOW for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.
 
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve this hearty soup with garlic bread or crusty Italian bread.

EE notes:
- To make the soup even heartier, add white beans during step 3; either 1 can, drained and rinsed, or a couple cups of dried beans that have been soaked overnight.
- To add fresh flavor and bright color to this long-simmered soup, you can add chopped Italian parsley or finely sliced green onion (or both) right before serving.
- If making recipe ahead, prep the first 6 ingredients and go all the way through Step 2. Cool the meat mixture; meanwhile, slice zucchini. Put cooled meat, zucchini and beans, if using, into a zip-top bag and refrigerate. That way, all you have to do in the morning is empty the bagged mixture into the crock pot with the stock and tomato sauce, give it a stir and turn the slow-cooker on low. When you get home from work all you’ll have to do is prepare the bread to serve on the side.

Loading mentions Retweet

e-mailed to me by a friend.

Kinda cool, but I'd not want my daughter trying it.

Twitter hitchhiker lands in Wichita
By Anne Meyer
Story Created: Mar 12, 2009 at 9:55 PM CDT
Story Updated: Mar 12, 2009 at 11:32 PM CDT
WICHITA, Kansas - A British man has traveled from the United Kingdom to Wichita in 12 days, and it's all thanks to strangers on Twitter.
Paul Smith, the "twitchhiker," is using the social networking site to see how far he can go on the kindness of others.
Since he left March 1st; Smith's been to Amsterdam, Paris, Pittsburgh, Chicago and now Kansas.
"The idea was born out of frustration," Smith said. "I had been using Twitter a lot, I'd been for the last year or so and I decided while I was in the supermarket where else I could be in the world and I got to thinking about how I could use Twitter to travel the world."
Smith is now off to Austin, Texas with a new friend he met on Twitter. Along the way, Smith is raising money for a group called "Charity: water".

Loading mentions Retweet

This is a PR pitch I just received. Nothing Hawaii-based about it, so I can't use it for my column. However, there are sure to be plenty of Hawaii companies with these types of annoying individuals in them. Some of them may even be combination plates!

I can think of a few others and have added them below.

A major part of job security is getting along and fitting in, so you don’t want to be known as the most annoying person in the office, i.e. the one your co-workers avoid like the plague.

As one of the top consultant teams in the industry, career experts Christine Lambden and Casey Connor have worked on hundreds of projects in their thirty combined years of consulting and have encountered and worked with people of all personalities.

Authors of the new book, Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants, they are revealing the list of “The Thirteen Most Annoying People To Work With”. This list can save a lot of employees embarrassment, teasing and most importantly their job.

Please review below Lambden and Connor’s list and hope you can share it with your readers. They are also available as expert sources on any career, workplace or business articles you may be working on.


Don’t Be That Guy! The Thirteen Most Annoying People To Work With

1. Pontification Person – This person goes on and on, telling you what their going to say, saying it and then telling you what they said.

2. Um Person – To avoid losing control of the conversation, this co-worker fills ever pause with “Um,” not realizing that they might be able to think better if they weren’t talking.

3. Too Much Detail Person - ‘nuff said.

4. 50,000 Foot-Only Person – He or she is eloquent when you talk about the big picture, but refuses to allow anyone to get into the details...which we all know is where the real work gets done. Unless you’re the CEO of a multi-national corporation, you have to be willing to work at any altitude.

5. Hypnotized-by-Email-Person – If you go to the trouble to think of a meeting topic, send out an invitation, invent an agenda and prepare slides, you naturally expect people who show up for your meeting to pay attention while you talk. Wireless technology has made it possible for people to multi-task very effectively, but there is nothing more defeating than presenting to the tops of the people’s heads because everyone at the conference table is hunched over his or her laptop.

6. Buzzword Person – This employee is annoying in meetings, team rooms and in cubicles. In fact, this person is just plain annoying all the time.

7. Foul Language Person – Much like Buzzword Person, this co-worker is obviously too lazy to think of the right words to express what they are thinking, if indeed they are thinking at all, but this person isn’t trying to impress you with his knowledge. They aren’t trying to impress you at all. They don’t care what you think of them.

8. Reiteration Person – If only the contribution you have to make at work is to restate what has already been said, you don’t have any contribution to make.

9. Too-Busy-To-Be-Prompt Person – If you are always late to work or every meeting, there is something wrong with the way you manage  your schedule or time. Fix this behavior. It’s rude.

10. Can’t-Control-the-Meeting Person and their arch-nemesis Wants-To-Take-Over-the-Meeting Person.

11. Secondary-Conversation People – These folks are only annoying if their conversation is less interesting than the meeting.

12. Disagrees-With-Everything Person – This co-worker honestly believes he is just being practical, or serving as the Voice Of Reason, or playing Devil’s Advocate. This may be true sometimes, and even helpful occasionally, but when it becomes a habit, everyone else just tunes them out. Don’t give up your influence by being this person.

13. Obscure Metaphor Person – This employee is as annoying as the fool in a troupe of Morris dancers. (See? Wasn’t that annoying?).

Christine Lambden and Casey Connor teach consulting and interviewing skills workshops and seminars around the world.  After a combined total of more than 30 years in the consulting industry, they now bring their accumulated wisdom to business professionals in various industries. For complete bios, please visit www.ConsultantingStance.com/about.htm

Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants can be purchased at www.ConsultingStance.com, www.amazon.com and other major online outlets.

Website:  www.ConsultingStance.com

Now for my contributions, from my own experience.

• Sports analogy person -- not everybody in the room will understand the reference. In fact, some people's eyes will glaze over and their ears will tune out (mine, for instance).

(Then there was the boss that would say -- seemingly oblivious to its inappropriateness in mixed company -- "When it gets down to the short strokes ...")

• We did this in (mainland city) and it was a rousing success person -- just because it played well in Peoria doesn't mean it'll pan out in Palolo.

• Overusing Hawaiian words to seem local person -- overuses words such as "ohana," and "kuleana." Probably doesn't use the word "pono" because they haven't a clue what it means. Wouldn't use the first two if they did.

• Stealing someone else's food/drink from the lunchroom fridge person -- also see cork-socking icehole.

Please feel free to add some more. This could be fun.

Loading mentions Retweet