Media Bullseye

Jen highlights Todd Defren's idea of bloggers applying badges to their sites, which will clearly show PR people who they may--and who they may NOT--pitch. She also takes a look at the challenge social media presents to companies that franchise.

Corporations have started to realize the value of social media, and are responding to customers quickly and with a very high level of service. Is this level of service scalable, or is scalability the Achilles' heel of social media?

It's summer. We all might need a break from "The Conversation" to kick back and giggle at a few cakes that are shaped like fungus-infected feet, right? And so, here is my top-ten list of blogs that have absolutely squat to do with communications, PR, social media or technology. Enjoy!

Does "manners training" for Olympic athletes cause them to be less than authentic, and can it be compared to the standard "media training" that PR pros conduct? And, when an entire generation believes that everything it reads online is questionable, how should communicators approach them?

In the age of DVR, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, and other sites that make it possible to watch our favorite programs without commercial interruption, I'm surprised many ads resonate at all, but some have been making a splash of late--online. Outside of the Super Bowl (and sometimes even not then) commercials are generally nothing to write home about. They do, however, make a decent jumping off point for creative online content producers.

This week, Jen looks at controversial advertising and the study that proves we are all separated by seven (not six) degrees of separation.

Jen takes a look at the online v. offline reading debate, what content makes for the most vibrant "communities." She also asks, "are we missing life due to our obsession with gadgets and online communities?"

Another (print-gasp!) magazine is launched, and Twitter gets its spot with Charlie Gibson.

A few final thoughts--at least final from Jen--on the Congress/Twitter issue. What would James Madison have thought of Congress corresponding directly with the entire citizenry? Likely, he wouldn't have thought much of it. And, does the response to the issue call into question the usefulness of social media?

Congress and Twitter: can they peacefully coexist? Mark Story takes another look at the Issue Of Our Time and points out that as is typically true in Washington, a boring rules revision has taken on a partisan air and the whole "conversation" has degenerated.