OBSESSIONS
- Media/Comm
- Writing
- Education
- Music
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
arch
emisou
panton
Phil's Blogservations
Friday, December 30, 2005
Posted by philgomes 2:49 PM
In 2006, Let's Try A New FocusIn 2006, Let's Try A New Focus
I've been thinking a lot about the some of the directions that PR- and online-marketing-related blog chatter has been taking.
In the vast majority of cases, I've found the discussion rewarding, interesting, thoughtful, and constructive. I'm also excited that 2005 saw the emergence of a number of strong new voices in the PR blogging community, like John Wagner and Scott Baradell, to say nothing of the great work that Robert French has been doing with his students, one of whom Edelman is fortunate to have in its Atlanta office.
However, I see a little too much emphasis on some of the following &mdash not enough to be chronic, but disturbing nevertheless:
My NYE 2006 wish, and resolution, is as follows:
- Tips, tricks, and ways to otherwise "game the system" somehow. This, I feel, is unsustainable and is not what PR is really about. Unfortunately, a bit of this discussion takes place in PR's name.
- Finger-pointing at "who's doing it wrong" and not enough of "who's doing it right." This, I feel, is not very constructive.
- Somewhat artificial and meaningless double-talk that takes the form of:
Face #1: "Companies and business leaders must blog!"Face #2: "But, as soon as they do so, I'm going to shed my thin veil of "thoughtful communications counselor" long enough to jump up and down, point, scream, and jeer about how so-and-so doesn't 'get it' instead of offering constructive criticism or sound arguments."
I've started casually re-reading some of the great works of classical literature and philosophy. I've also taken a look into more modern thinking in the art of persuasive communication. All told, I'm coming away with the notion that Aristotle pretty much wrote the best marketing book when he penned Rhetoric. Save for this book and a few others, most everything else is just rather trendy or otherwise ephemeral window-dressing.
- We need to get back to focusing on the craft of writing. As my former colleague Bill Mandel used to say, "Writing is the user interface." If someone's style or tone works for their blog (and the online community in general), let's ask "Why?" Are there any broad truths we can discover and share? Are there elements that only work in a specific field-of-use?
- Let's also focus on the rhetorical arts — argument and persuasion — and, beyond that, what elements (if any) might be most useful in the blogosphere. (For example, I see hyperlink usage as bringing the technique of praeteritio to its fullest possible effect.)
Looking forward to the new year. My best wishes to you all.
Update: Double-entry accounting between Notepad and Blogger.Com resulted in some bits missing when this was originally posted at the date above. Links added and errors caught/corrected just a couple of minutes later.
Technorati Tags: pr, public relations, writing, rhetoric, argument, persuasion
HOME | OBSESSIONS | FAQ | HEROES | CAREER | BLOG | CONTACT
This site has virtually no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Clicking on a link doesn't automatically send a 1/2-cent donation to UNICEF. You can't buy, sell, auction, swap, find a date, win friends, influence people, cross the chasm, or decode the human genome using this site. You won't get free email. You won't win a free video game console. This site will not end world hunger, foster peace in the Middle East, help you smell better, teach you how to swing dance, or move the global economy from petroleum to hydrogen fuels. You'll learn a lot about this site's master, though, which amounts to a haphazard collection of strange and useless facts that pretty much won't help you at all.
Note that the views expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect those of Phil's employer, its business partners, its clients, or anyone or anything that doesn't come from Phil's demented imagination. Hell, to be perfectly honest, even Phil disagrees with what he thinks sometimes.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
This is the blog of Phil Gomes, SVP with Edelman Digital and senior advisor to the Society for New Communications Research. This blog not only discusses PR and media matters, but Phil's everyday observations about a variety of topics. Phil currently resides in Chicago, IL.
- phil[at]
philgomes.com
SYNDICATE
Feedburner
YAHOO! IM
SKYPE
PITCH POLICY
MY PHOTOS
| www.flickr.com |
COMMENT AND TRACKBACK POLICY
Comments and trackbacks are unmoderated, though I will delete the patently offensive ones.
Any comments and trackbacks are the opinions of the individual writer of those comments and trackbacks, and not those of Phil Gomes, his employer, its clients, or its business partners. If you have a bone to pick, bug the people who wrote the comment or trackback.
