Whatever Suits...

Citizen J-School

We all know that damage control is more than a 24/7 job these days. It's all about anticipating problems, then trying to be prepared for what you haven't thought of, yet.  And, consumers who comprise the growing legion of citizen journalists are getting better and more sophisticated.  Check out this CNN report  on a disgruntled passenger who was recently stranded on a grounded Comair flight at JFK.  He used more sophisticated mobile video gear (not the cell phone variety, mind you, but the real thing small enough to fit into a briefcase) to interview a pilot and coax a revelaing Q&A. http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?rl=/video/us/2007/06/28/intv.passenger.confronts.pilot.cnn

As Karl Malden once asked in his famous American Express commercials: "What will you do? What will you do?

Freedom Fries for Paris!

As we celebrate Paris Hilton's release from jail, let's reflect on the brilliance of her PR handlers and their deft maneuvering these past weeks.  Getting her sprung from jail (news bounce) only to create a tearful re-introduction to the

L.A.

County Jail ("MOM, this isn't fair!") - double bounce. Then, the whole Paris Payola news-for-cash negotiation - trifecta!  But, those were just the appetizers in this buffet of greasy publicity. Now comes the main course - Larry King and a barrage of softball questions that are any publicist's dream ("How can you look SO good after 23 days in jail!?").

I admit I'm intrigued. The Paris Hilton saga reminds us that there's an increasingly murky blur that blocks whatever line lies between news and entertainment. In this case, everyone is wallowing in the muck. Paris, Larry, the rest of the news media who allegedly offered a lot of cake for

Paris

to have...and eat, too.  And, somewhere behind the curtain at each of those places is a publicist throwing balls into the air and juggling tomahawks.  The circus is back in town. 

The World Really IS Flat

As I was reviewing my notes from last week's keynote speeches at the Academy's Spring Conference, it become evident to me these two presenters were addressing the topic of globalization albeit from two very different perspectives.  I swear Robert Scoble, the "number one Robert in America," was blogging away even as he was delivering his keynote.  His Twittervision and various blog examples really brought it home for me. Norman Mineta, former transportation secretary under two consecutive administrations and the current vice-chairman of Hill & Knowlton, was less frenetic in his approach but equally as insistant that our world is shrinking fast. Public relations counselors operate in a 24/7 world where news -- good or bad -- travels at lightening speed.  We had best be prepared to assist our clients in navigating the continuous-news-cycle-blogosphere-attack-ad world in which we live.  Powerful stuff.

And so it ends ... or does it?

Last night's closing ceremonies were something to behold -- I mean there were fire dancers for pity's sake!  Everyone lingered until well after the bar closed (uncharacteristically, I might add) because they didn't want the night to be over.  But just because we are going our separate ways doesn't mean our connections to one another have to go away as well.  We have been linked together by this awesome experience and will hopefully continue that connection through this blog, our e-Groups and everyday email and phone exchanges with colleagues.  Perhaps some of you even will consider helping plan next year's event in Naples (that's Florida, Rob, not Italy!).  Until we meet again!

Chris and Scott

Among the many benefits of Spring Conference is the opportunity to re-connect with old colleagues, as I did with Chris Perez, an old friend and colleague from Southern California.  Chris is typical of many of our members – he got involved with CA years ago and came to Spring Conference as an agency owner.  Today, after building and selling a very successful agency with Scott Smith, another CA member, he’s moving into a new phase of his career as a consultant – and is back at Spring Conference discovering a whole new level of networking benefits among our members.  By the way, Scott went on to start another agency in SoCal that is growing fast.  He has learned how to leverage his CA network, a huge benefit.  And, like many of our members, he has wisely decided to bring along his number two agency leader to start her advanced management training through Spring Conference.  Two smart guys you should get to know this week.

Poolside Chats

The best part about the Spring Conference is the unstructured time we get to spend with our peers discussing various issues.  Yesterday's poolside chats were a prime example of the kind of insightful conversations we can have with one another.  Our table, which was headed by Eric Morgenstern, was literally standing room only.  We talked mostly about employee compensation -- how to truly calculate it, how to structure bonuses, etc.  Everyone was engaged until the end.  I was writing notes on a napkin because so much of what was discussed was relevant to the way in which I need to run my business.  Brilliant!

Scoble: The Highest Ranked Robert in the World

Robert Scoble, arguably one of the most widely recognized and crebible bloggers in the world, was our first day keynote speaker for the CA Spring Conference. He started out with a brief introduction of his experience and credentials, doing a Google search on the name Robert. Scobleizer, his blog was the first listing. He was making a great point - the better your content and the greater the links to it, the higher you rise in the digital world. He provided an anecdote about when he left Microsoft that involved two numbers 15 and 50 million. He told 15 people at blogging conference over a weekend that he had decided to leave Microsoft, and asked them not to tell anyone until the next Tuesday. Word traveled underground and within a few days had been reported all over the world, gaining 50 million traditional media impressions. It also prompted a quick call to his boss at the time to head off a surprise. He used his personal experiences and many others' to make the point that large stories start with small conversations. He also had good insights on using blogs to refute mistruths (especially if they got started there). Here are a couple: 1. with blogs, lack of response lends credibility to the falsehood and quick response is necessary to correct perceptions; 2. video is much more powerful as a response than text - get the organization's leader on video and uploaded fast.

All for now...back to the conference.

Roundtable Puts Competition On Hold

If anyone doubts what we've been saying about Counselors Academy and how it was a non-competitive environment, it was on full display again at the roundtables this morning. I happened to attend one offered by the head of a very successful firm in my market, Mark McNeely of McNeely Pigott & Fox in Nashville. Mark shared with us the metrics and financial models his firm uses to sustain and enhance profitability. The handouts were excellent and he didn't hesitate to share them with me as a participant. Of course, it doesn't hurt that we've become closer friends over the years, which has been another benefit of the CA experience.

Day One Roundtables

The weather was hot but so was the conversation around this morning's rountables.  Unbelievable information on building agency leadership and what to consider when adding partners.  Not only were the table facilitators fantastic but the conversations among those at the table were extremely valuable.  What a phenomenal learning experience!

Time to Recharge

Most of us spend our days tied to our BlackBerries, cell phones, laptops and client demands. Once a year, at least, it's good to step back from the short view of the work and look at the long view of the business and how it's helping us achieve our goals, personal and otherwise.

With such stunning views, the location for this year's Spring Conference is a perfect spot for reflection, recharging, and reminding ourselves why we got into this business in the first place.

A much-needed breath of fresh air.

The "Pre-" Pre-Con

If you're fortunate enough to be able to start your Spring Conference visit on Saturday, then you know that it doesn't take long for Counselors to get down to the business of networking.  Our group is easily one of the most active networking groups in the PRSA family of sections. If this is your first conference and you're already here, find us (you know PR types are easy to spot) and get a head start on a great conference.

The connections make the difference

Tonight during the ExCom dinner it became most clear to me that the secret of Counselors Academy really is in the sauce.  The connections we make, both from a relationship and operational perspective are unmatched by any other industry association or group.  I encourage every Counselor to continue to make those connections that matter most - with each other. 

As an inside joke, if you're part of the Pre-Con, you're in the right place....

CA: A Peerless Peer Network...

Tomorrow I'll head out to Counselors Academy's annual Spring Conference and I'm excited to make the trip. True, the fact it's in Los Cabos, Mexico may help...but I look forward to it every year, regardless of the locale. The program content is always outstanding, and the networking completes the experience. CA is unlike any other organization in our profession...a peer network created specifically for PR firm leaders and independent counselors. In CA, competitive pretenses vanish and open, honest dialogue is the rule. No subject is too great or too small...all in the name of helping each other get better. As a result, friendships run fast and deep among our membership. It's a beautiful thing...nothing like it.

As 2007 chair of CA, I'm also excited about the work done by our Executive Committee this year. It is an incredible group with great ideas and a passion for the organization. More to come from the meeting...as we announce new programs and initiatives designed to enhance the CA experience.