I want to explore a bit of a “hot topic” right before the long weekend.

Adam Giambrone was once a promising Toronto mayoral candidate, but now has been caught in a career altering predicament. The “indiscretion” of Adam Giambrone is now front page news, and while I’m not going to go into the morals of his situation the fact is that this is just one in a string of other such high profile “indiscretions”. Tiger Woods, David Letterman, John Edwards, Bill Clinton – the names have changed but the predicament was largely the same across the board. I should start by saying that this is not meant to focus solely on men/gender and for the sake of balance I’ll mention Iris Robinson, a member of the Irish parliament and wife of Ireland’s first minister – who was caught having an affair with a 19 year old male. (Her last name being “Robinson” was a coincidence not overlooked by the headlines.)

I’m not really interested in the sensationalism or the “fall of the mighty”, but what I am really interested in are the questions situations like these raise. How far should the personal lives of public figures affect their careers? And more than that, what lessons can all of us take away from those who have been through public backlash and scrutiny?

The one line from the media release that I couldn’t get out of my head after Tiger Woods’ own dirty laundry was aired publicly was; “personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions”.  This struck me as a very powerful and loaded statement.

In certain situations I can see where decisions that reflect the moral character of a person should come to bear on the public’s “right to know”. But should this or any similar situation negate all of the work and reputation of a person? It’s not an easy question.

The reality is that all of us need to be aware that we are our own “brand”. Tiger Woods was a brand for being the PGA’s squeaky-clean golden boy. While his affairs do not affect his sports performance, they do affect his “marketability”. But then do politicians – elected to represent the interests of voters, fail the same credibility test?

For me the one thing that matters in all of this is accountability. When mistakes are made, I think the best decision public figures can make is to accept responsibility with tact, sensitivity and humility. Because when the truth does come out, as it always does, I am much more apt to feel sympathy and respect for a humble figure.

What do you think? Do the personal lives of public figures deserve to impact their careers? What is the best way you feel they should handle any resulting scrutiny?

One evening, TTC rider Jason Wieler uses his iPhone to snap a picture of a TTC booth collector catching a few winks. A few weeks later he remembers taking the photo and posts it to his Twitter account with the caption “Yup, love how my TTC dollars R being spent…”

What happened next is a classic example of how technology and social media are completely changing the face of communication. The photo was re-tweeted and became a top news story in a matter of hours, following on the heels of bad press resulting from the recent transit fare increase. TTC officials were being asked to comment on a photo they may not have even seen yet, and Toronto media were trying to determine the identity of the worker who was photographed. Today, the story has come full circle and the man who was made unintentionally famous by all of this, George Robitaille, has released a public apology.

Thinking about this situation, I was reminded of the very first lesson I had in how an image can alter public perception from a University communications lecture – The televised presidential debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. In a nutshell – those who listened on the radio thought Nixon had won the debate while those who watched the televised events thought that Kennedy came out on top. While listeners thought that Nixon’s arguments were stronger, Kennedy’s appearance, composure and charisma worked in his favor with TV audiences. The content seemed to play less of a role on public opinion than the image.

In a similar way whether it was due to “an underlying medical issue and side effects of medication” as TTC officials and Mr. Robitaille have released, or a case of an employee simply caught sleeping on the job, the photo of the TTC collector reclined and asleep in his booth is what most people will remember.

A picture is an incredibly powerful form of communication, and even after it has been explained or contextualized it is one of the first things we think of. It can impact or reinforce opinions, and change the way we look at individuals, companies or entire organizations. For better or worse, we are becoming an increasingly visual society who relies on images for “proof” and to capture our attention.

Watching the situation unfold with this particular TTC operator created so many questions for me regarding privacy, disclosure and how social media is impacting our actions, interactions and reactions.

How do you feel about the role social media and technology plays in the creation and sharing of information/news?

This is your life, in 140 characters or less! Constant status updates make sure that no one will ever have to wonder if you are having fun at that party you were invited to, or how you are feeling in the wake of your last emotional crisis.

I’ll be the first to admit I love social media and use Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and Blogspot. I enjoy the freedom of sharing my thoughts and ideas, and also keeping in touch with friends and family who are “plugged in”. I even have a friend who recently admitted that they started going on Twitter just to get a hold of me to make plans (I felt fairly guilty, and cocktails were on me that week). But now the tide is turning, and social media critics are vocalizing the issues they feel are created from these online applications.

Today’s Globe and Mail features a very interesting article “Detox du jour: unplugging from Facebook” which takes a look at the reasons behind (as well as challenges to) abandoning social media sites and technology in favor of “more human interaction”. Another great article brought to my attention today (by Joseph Thornley) is the news that actor, writer and until recently, Twitter enthusiast Stephen Fry has decided to “go offline” for a brief period in order to concentrate on his writing.

Want to take things a step further? A recent related phenomenon that caught my attention was the slightly over the top “Web 2.0 Suicide Machine” which flashes slogans such as “So many people you don’t care about”, “Say good-bye with dignity” and “Feel free like a real bird again and untwitter yourself”. The website application completely and permanently deletes your social media profiles in one foul swoop. I think the term “suicide” and the USB noose on the site are a bit dramatic, but are trying to use some dark humor to show how attached people are getting to their online persona.

Personally, I don’t see myself pulling the plug anytime soon. Social media has been instrumental in allowing me to network, meet new people, keep in touch with friends and family from my hometown and overseas as well as provide me with a global learning tool from the blogs of some innovative and respected professionals. Why would I want to abandon all that?

Still, I know many people who are opting for this social strategy in hopes of freeing up their schedules and making a commitment to increasing their face time with friends. Which leaves me with this question, do you need to be unplugged to be productive and social? If the line has been truly drawn in the pro or anti-social media war, which side do you find yourself on? Personally, I’m “pro” on this issue but would love to hear what you think.

Will you be unplugging in 2010?

In a slight shift from my posts where I have been talking about starting my career in PR, I wanted in light of recent events to talk a bit about Public Relations as an industry. Specifically, headlines such as Sunday’s Toronto Star; “Spinning in the First Week of Michael Bryant’s New Life” and today’s Globe and Mail article; “Michael Bryant’s political strategy: PR 2.0”.

Both articles discuss PR in relation to Michael Bryant’s case, and from my reading of it and as someone working in PR I was a bit put off.  To pull a few quotes from the Star article; “It helps to have friends in PR”, “Look, the headline of this story should be: ‘Navigator, changing your perceptions without you even knowing it” and “He refers, of course, to Navigator Limited, the smooth public relations firm hired by Bryant (when exactly is unclear) to massage the message”. The article then continues to a full page analysis of the inner working of the messaging surrounding this tragic incident. The Globe article takes a look at Navigator’s use of social media (Twitter, Blog and Facebook) in relation to their client.

Personally, I resent the fact that PR is often tied to “spin”, deception and manipulation. I do not feel that reflects the work that I do, or the many other professionals who are passionate about communication and social media. However I did find it very interesting that the article pulls into the spotlight a PR firm, whereas usually the agency stays in the background.

I want to make it very clear that I am not choosing sides and making statements about Michael Bryant’s guilt or innocence.  I feel this is a very tragic situation for both sides. Lives have been changed forever. But facing these serious charges and the media onslaught, I can sympathize with Michael Bryant for enlisting the services of Navigator just as I respect the work they are doing on behalf of someone who will be forever affected by this moment in time. PR does not change “the facts”.  A strong team of media savvy professionals helping in the face of any crisis can provide advice, support and direction.

What do you think of the role PR plays in image management issues when a crime or tragedy has occurred?

As you may have noticed, Twitter is VERY “twendy” right now.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Twitter (the micro-blogging site where users can send and read other users 140 character updates known as tweets) has been ALL over the media lately. This was due in large part to the fact that Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) was the first Twitter account to reach 1 million followers. If you want to learn more, my colleague Dave Fleet did an interview with CityOnline on the subject and also wrote a blog post about it.

Twitter has been around since 2006, but only in the past couple months has it really reached its tipping point. I started on Twitter last September when it was still in its growth stage, and it has been very interesting to watch it develop into what it is today.

I like Twitter. I get a little sneak peak into the lives of the people I am interested in. I follow everyone from friends, to coworkers, to news sources, to people who tweet about subjects I’m interested in, to celebrities. And people even follow me too! There are a lot of great things about Twitter, but many people seem to think it’s just a fad.

I think the future of Twitter really depends on how people continue to use it. There are a lot of people who use it to foster an instantaneous and mass-audience type of communication that can’t be achieved elsewhere and also those who simply post really neat information and tidbits about their lives. However, there are others who unfortunately use it to spam or try to get the most followers.

Personally, I think Twitter is an amazing tool for communication and I can’t wait to see where we take it.

What is your opinion on Twitter? A useful tool for communication or just a fad?

Happy Tweeting

Things are kicking into high gear here at TFC (even more so than usual) so I don’t have time to offer my usual thought-provoking insights on women and PR (*wink*wink*). Instead I thought I’d share a video that is making huge waves across the internet and serves as a reminder to everyone that there is often more than meets the eye.

Meet Susan Boyle and watch her ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ performance. Wow, just wow!

Even though I’ve only been with TFC for a mere 3 months now, I have to say, there’s been quite the learning curve. The biggest thing for me has been learning about media relations. Given my background in Journalism, I think I had ‘some’ idea how it all worked, but considering the last month especially has been all about holiday pitching, I think I have a lot better understanding now. Here’s a little bit about what I’ve learned:

Do some research – If you have the time and your budget permits, do a quick scan for similar articles or writers who have covered the topic before. It helps to be able to pitch a writer and say “I noticed you’ve written items on this topic before and I thought this might be of interest to you…”

Media Lists – Before the pitch is even written, it is extremely important to have a good media list. And by this I mean, making sure that you have the right people on your list, their contact information is up to date and it includes everyone you think you message will appeal to.

Know your audience – When you’re making up the list, one of the key points to think about is: Will my pitch suit their audience? For instance, an assignment editor at CBC might not be all that interested in the newest beauty product your client is launching. It might be better to focus your efforts on outlets where you’re more likely to receive coverage.

Writing the pitch – From what I’ve seen so far, the most effective pitches are short and sweet with a descriptive subject line. Given the number of emails journalists receive everyday, something needs to stand out and make them open it first. Then your wonderful words will hopefully persuade them you have something they want to cover. Oh, and bullet points are good to – gives them a glimpse of what you have to offer, quick and easy.

Following Up – This is probably the most nerve-whacking part of the job. Picking up the phone and calling up the journalist only to hear them say “Sorry not interested.” But, then you get the “Oh ya, I saw that, I was meaning to get back to you…” and jackpot, your client’s in Saturday’s paper. Key pointers for following up: Be confident, be cheery, know your pitch and don’t feel get down if they say ‘no’ – it’s nothing personal.

Relationships – Last but definitely not least, remember that all contact you make with the media is about relationships. Building a rapport with media takes time and patience, but eventually you’ll be able to write or call someone and say “Hey, I know you wrote about this before so I thought you might also be interested in this…” If you offer good story ideas and follow through with them, you’re off to a good start.

So, that’s what I’ve learned so far – Does anyone else have thoughts I might have missed? I’m sure there are LOTS more out there.

Just a few quick words to get this off my chest…a lot has been made in the States (particularly among Republicans) that Barack Obama’s middle name is Hussein. I have to say that in the name department, the guy got the short end of the stick from start to finish. Even his wife, when she first heard of him, said “Barack Obama? Who names their child Barack Obama?!” I also should add that lesser men would cower away with a name like that and stay out of the limelight and considering the man’s brilliance, we’d be worse off for it. So I give him kudos for embracing the name and going with it. Lately Sarah Palin (who shouldn’t throw stones about questionable religious practices) has been using his name in rallies, leading to supports yelling disgusting and stomach-turning chants I won’t repeat on this website. There are republicans blogs out there who simply refer to him as “B. Hussein” to further demonize him and feed the fear mongering.

The man isn’t Muslim – his grandfather was. He saw his father all but a handful of times in his whole life and never met his paternal grandfather. He was raised by a white woman from Kansas and her white, Christian parents in Hawaii. It is believed that religion is passed through the mother anyways, so it’s really a moot point. But the fact that I have to explain that or rationalize it is what REALLY gets me. Because…who CARES if he’s Muslim? There are radicals in every religion; radicals are dangerous, no matter their beliefs. To think that every Muslim is someone who wants to bomb the US and terrorize freedom-loving citizens is so blatantly stupid and ignorant, I don’t even have the words to describe my disdain. To say that because someone is Muslim makes them a terrorist is like saying that all Germans want another Holocaust. It’s cultural naivete at it’s best. And it makes me angry and frustrated, but above all that, it makes me sad.

And that, right there, is the reason that so many people outside the US (even when they’re Americans) look at them with shock and disgust.

That is all. For now…

I don’t really have time to be writing this today, but it’s a post I’ve been thinking through over the past few days. So, this election business down south. I wrote back in January, just before Super Tuesday, about my indecision between Clinton and Obama. I voted for Clinton. I decided at the last possible minute, standing in the voting booth, stamper in hand. I feel I made the right choice and even though I will vote for Obama come November, I think Clinton would have been a better candidate. But that’s not what I want to talk about today.

I’ve never been terribly politically inclined. I don’t know a lot about the political process and couldn’t tell you how a law gets passed (I believe the Senate is involved?). But I don’t think you need to be a political pundit to a) realize that this might be the important election in America’s history and b) notice that it’s a damn interesting race. So I started paying attention. I read Time articles about both candidates. I watched as much of the Democratic convention as I could and I’m now trying to stomach watching the GOPs take to the podium.

I have a lot of opinions about this election. I’m going to try to keep this concise and relevant but I caution you that I’ve got a lot floating around in my head and I’m not sure it will manifest itself into a nice little post, all cleverly thought out, with,  you know, flow and structure. You’ve been warned.

First of all, I don’t have a tremendous issue, per se, with McCain. I think he’s too old to be President and I disagree with just about everything his party stands for and I worry that he would continue to lead America on the dangerous path they’re currently following. As a person, however, I can see his appeal. Sure he’s a bumbling old man, but Americans like to think they could “go for a beer with their president” (personally, I want my President to be smarter than me and have better things to do than sit at a bar…) and McCain has that grandfather-esque thing going for him. I’m sick as hell of hearing about his military past. I hate that every time any one mentions him, they must refer to his accomplishments fighting for America, lest they be painted as un-patriotic (the worst insult you can sling at an American) and disrespectful. We get it. He fought in the war. He was a POW. Can we move on and talk about what he’s done for America SINCE then? OTHER than that? Please? Joe Lieberman stating that he is will be a president that will be “feared” represents, to me, everything that is wrong with America today. I don’t want a leader that scares, I want a leader who is respected. I guess when Bush figured he would never get the respect, he’d go for the fear. Well played…it worked.

Now, let’s talk about his running mate. Sarah Palin. We all know the facts: Mother of five, hockey mom, 4 month old with Down’s Syndrome, 17 year old daughter with a bun in the oven. She’s pro-life, pro-guns and anti-gay. She wants to bring creationism back into schools. She has ZERO experience, her husband supported Alaska becoming independent…yada yada yada. You know all of this. Now, here’s where I start to get mad and emotional, so I’ll try to hold back on the swearing. I think it’s fantastic that the GOP went for a woman VP. I wish they had done it for better reasons than to undermine Obama for not picking Clinton to join his ticket. I REALLY wish Palin wouldn’t try to reach out to Clinton supporters by using Hillary’s reference of the glass ceiling. That really pissed me off. Lady, you’re NOT Hillary Clinton. Aside from being female and a mother, you share nothing. Not values or positions on social issues or how America can best face the challenges ahead. Women and men who voted for Hillary will not be swayed towards the Republicans just because you’re a woman. We’re smarter than that and in actuall fact, it just makes us more determined to win.

I have no problems whatsoever with a working mother. I imagine I will be one, some day. I think in today’s world families need both salaries to keep their head’s above water. I think that even if you don’t need the money, if a mother enjoys her job and is good at it and wants to work, great. Go for it. Everyone has to do what’s best for them. I do, however, think that being the VP of the U.S.A when you have an infant with high needs, plus four other children, is a bit much. One will have to suffer and neither should. Her children deserve all the time and attention in the world. So does America. Which will win? Let’s talk just for a second about the pregnant daughter. I can’t STAND the position that teens are getting pregnant across America so what’s the big deal if Bristol Palin is. Instead of justifying it, let’s try to see WHY this is. If teens want to have sex, why aren’t they learning about birth control and STD protection? What’s going on at home? This isn’t any home – this could be the home of the future Vice President. It needs to keep up appearances, as annoying as that may be for the Palin brood. 

This woman has lost control of her family – how will she control a country? And let’s face it- McCain ain’t no spring chicken. She could very well be President.

Now, here’s where I really get mad. Since Friday, Palin has graced the covers of US Weekly, and People , among others, children in tow. But according to the McCain camp, the media is too hard on poor Sarah. YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. You can’t USE the media to get your story out and then rail against the media for telling a story too. You can’t get pissed about an interview in which a reputable reporter asks a fair question and then pull future appearances on the network. You can’t put your kids on the cover of the celeb rags and then say they’re off-limits. That’s politics, people! Welcome to it.

I hate the insinuation that we’re attacking her because she’s a woman. She had to know, and they had to know that whoever they picked, male or female, would be scrutinized. When Obama chose Biden, there were hundreds of articles in the media discussing his record, the plagiarizing, analyzing the selection. They also had to know choosing the first female candidate would get attention. In fact, I’m sure they counted on it. So they had to know that everything that could be, would be discussed. Well, if they couldn’t handle that, they should have chosen someone with less TO discuss. No one knows this woman- of course we have questions. They want the media attention, but only if they control it. To that, I say stick to Fox News. They’ll be happy to tell a one sided story and will even slag Obama while doing it.

To be continued, I am sure…

First of all, I’m not even technically Canadian. I’ve lived here since I was three and am a Permanent Resident/Legal Alien/Landed Immigrant. The shopping might be far superior south of the border and they have Trader Joe’s and 99% of my family but Canada is my home and, in my opinon, a far superior place to live. But the biggest way in which the U.S. has Canada beat is in the celebration of July 4th. Independence Day is serious stuff in the States. Everyone has traditions and plans and they do it up right. BBQ, red, blue and white, singing the national anthem, fireworks, family and picnics. It FEELS like a different day, like a special day. And it is.

In Canada, we have Canada Day (try saying it 5 times fast. Now try after a few drinks) on July 1st. We have fireworks. And there are parades and concerts and lots of people do fun stuff. But everyone doesn’t. To most people, it’s a day off work and those darn kids set off firecrakers at night. I grew up in Ottawa which is a great place to be on the 1st and I recommend it to anyone who has yet to experience it. Most of downtown is closed to traffic (something Toronto might consider) and the whole city seems come together. When I was a kid, we used to bike around all day, visiting the various parks with activities such as rope climbing, face painting, craft making and much more. They have educational booths set up and cultural experiences and it’s hot and it’s sticky and crowded and fantastic. At night, we’d grab blankets and drive out to the river, park a million miles away (perhaps we should have just walked from the start? Gas was cheaper back then), trudge in and watch the fireworks.

When I was a teenager, Canada Day meant gathering with my friends at Major’s Hill Park, drinking (sorry, Mom) and generally having a good time. The bars were packed, the buses were free after 10 p.m. (another something Toronto might consider) and it was awesome.

Why am I regailing you of tales from my youth? Because Canada Day falls on a Tuesday this year and some people think it would be a great idea to make it a floating holiday, like Victoria Day (which is always the third Monday of May, so at least it’s consistent). This would mean that we would celebrate Canada Day on the Monday or Friday (depending on which was closer to the day) instead of on the 1st. To this I say “WHAT!?” How is that patriotic? On Breakfast Television this morning I was shocked to hear that Kevin Frankish was in favour of this, trying to sell it. I’ve always liked Kevin but was less than impressed with him and all the moronic viewers who wrote or called in to support him. Just imagine: every year we’d have to CHECK when Canada Day was.

Yes, it is annoying to have to work one day then have one day off but it’s CANADA DAY for chrissakes. It’s July 1st. We are supposed to be celebrating the day that marks the start of this country as we enjoy it today. It’s about the DAY not the long weekend. The reason I brought up the States in this post is that they would NEVER consider making the 4th a “floating holiday.” Why is that? Why the difference? Is it because the U.S. has been around longer? Because they have more people? Regardless of the reason, it’s a fact: July 4th is a bigger deal than the 1st and that is sad. 

To be fair, since I’ve lived in Toronto I haven’t taken part in “official” Canada Day festivities (except fireworks at Ashbrides Bay a few times) but we go to my boyfriend’s cousin’s for a BBQ and it’s become tradition. When I have kids, I hope to instill in them some pride in the day and start traditions they will remember, as my parents did.

So get out there tomorrow and celebrate Canada and how lucky you are to live here. Celebrate for all the people in the world who don’t enjoy a free and independent country, who don’t even know what that feels like. 

Happy Canada Day!