Tag Archives: media

Social Media, Milkshakes, and Life After Death (Father’s Day Re-Post)

EVERY FATHER’S DAY I use this space to remember those who don’t or perhaps never had fathers. Usually I just repost this story, originally published in 1990 when I was a newspaper columnist. Today, however, I decided to reach all the way back to 2010 and share a post I wrote titled “Social Media, MilkshakesContinue reading “Social Media, Milkshakes, and Life After Death (Father’s Day Re-Post)”

Why Most Brands Will Suck at Storytelling

“STORY” IS THE NEW “CONTENT.” As buzzwords go, story isn’t entirely bad — for years I’ve pushed clients to be storytellers. I’ve berated the descent of story into a furtive sea of “content,” stripping all emotion from human pursuits. So I’m good with story. But let’s be honest, success lies not in the idea butContinue reading “Why Most Brands Will Suck at Storytelling”

Digital is a Platform

Digital is not a “publication.” Digital is a “platform.” Publications are static, one-way, monotone. They live in comfort. Publishing is an act of control, and in that sense, it is little more than anachronism. You can publish via digital, but digital is not a publication. Digital is a platform. Digital is a relationship reset, anContinue reading “Digital is a Platform”

Beware the Flying Cars of Progress (Redux)

When my sister was young – a long, long, long time ago – a teacher told her that by time she was old enough to drive, everyone would have a flying car. She did get a Ford Cobra II, but every time she tried to fly, the California Highway Patrol brought her back to Earth.Continue reading “Beware the Flying Cars of Progress (Redux)”

Knowledge vs. Awareness: My Near-Death Experience on Market Street

AS THE FIRE ENGINE CAREENED toward me, mere seconds from slamming my startled soul into the pavement of San Francisco’s Market Street, two thoughts competed for my attention: 1) I could die right now 2) I deserve it Obviously I survived. The engine slowed just enough and I looked up just in time to stayContinue reading “Knowledge vs. Awareness: My Near-Death Experience on Market Street”

Introducing “PEARL” – A Tool for Determining What People Will Pay for Online News

The easy answer to how much consumers will pay for online news – if there is such a thing as an easy answer – is “they’ll pay what it’s worth.” Of course that’s’ the problem: In a world where free access to news is a presumed birthright and stories have been reduced to commoditized piecesContinue reading “Introducing “PEARL” – A Tool for Determining What People Will Pay for Online News”

Murdoch, The Daily, and Journalism as Art

“I do certainly see the day when more people will be buying their newspapers on portable reading panels than on crushed trees. Then we’re going to have no paper, no printing plants, no unions. It’s going to be great.” — Rupert Murdoch, Sept. 14, 2009 “Thanks for the trial subscription, but so far, it isContinue reading “Murdoch, The Daily, and Journalism as Art”

Personal is the New Social

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held last week in Las Vegas, is both a birthplace and a graveyard for technology. Some devices will “make it” and even change our lives, while others will never get to market. If T.S. Eliot were alive today and a tech nerd, he would have called January the cruelestContinue reading “Personal is the New Social”

CES 2011: And the Winner Will Be…Reading

Predictions are a fickle business, but with the new year just begun and CES still days away, the writing for 2011 is already on the wall (and I don’t mean Facebook). There will be stories, tweets, posts, photos, videos, slides and all sorts of content spewing from CES about the latest technological gadgets and guessesContinue reading “CES 2011: And the Winner Will Be…Reading”