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How many PR companies have a data governance strategy?

I recently claimed that one of the curious paradoxes of PR companies working in the technology sector is that while they pump out information on behalf of their clients regarding best IT practice, etc, the number of agencies with a robust and properly documented data management strategy is rare.

Mr Waddington at Rainier pulled me up on this and commented: “I can’t believe that in 2008 most agencies don’t have a data management policy or a centralised media management system and tools.”

Interesting therefore to read in the latest issue of Information Age about the results of a survey into data governance in UK companies generally. From a poll of 279 organisations of varying sizes, the magazine found that 42pc had a formal data governance strategy – which means 58pc do not. Admittedly, 27pc hope to implement one in the next 6 – 12 months. But that still leaves nearly a third of businesses without a data governance strategy.

According to Information Age: “It seems clear that many of the obstacles to driving a data governance strategy forward are largely cultural, stemming from both the upper echelons of the organisation and the rank and file. In 30pc of cases, ‘obtaining organisational buy-in’ proved the chief challenge, a problem that seems to stem from a general lack of ‘ownership awareness.’ Indeed, it seems the data governance evangelists are chiefly those in middle management, who are flanked by the disinterested or the unenlightened.” Sound familiar?

If Wadds is right, then the PR consultancy sector is a shining example to the rest of British industry in terms of data management and governance. The reality, I suspect, is that the PR consultancy world is no better or worse than than any other UK business sector on this particular matter.

Information Age magazine

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Technology PR Uncategorized Web/Tech Weblogs

Wikipedia’s definition of Digital PR

This Wikipedia entry for Digital PR is curious for a variety of reasons.

First up, it has clearly been flagged as an orphan entry (ie few or no other articles link to it). Second, it has been marked as a blatant piece of ad fluffery.

And when you read it, you note the very poor use of English. The final line had a certain odd quality to it:

“Digital PR is also a new style of pr not just an agency! Many agencies do this form of pr not just the above group.”

Which seemed a rather mangled way of saying “other PR agencies are available.” As well as a lame attempt to make out that this item had been written independently.

I was curious to know more about this H&K division – clearly I’d missed something. On checking out the Digital PR web site, I discovered that they are: “an agency specialized in the research and implementation of the most advanced digital communication tools.”

Hmm. Lots of non-existent links. Garbled English at every turn. The most recent “news” dated from May 2007.

Perhaps these guys could do with some help. It was only after looking at the contact page that it revealed they are based in Milan (they also have an office in Madrid). I’m sure the copy is fine in Italian and Spanish – but it felt like they’d hired a cheap translator to do the English version.

However, I came away with a general sense that they were shooting themselves in the foot – as well as, by association, tainting the view someone might get of H&K’s overall capabilities in this area.

Having a key search term like “digital PR” linked to a high ranking Google slot (via a Wikipedia entry) would on the surface appear to be a good thing – but allowing this entry to remain there –  as well directing English language speakers to unhelpful content – (if they can even be motivated to click on the link as most people will realise it is a very unsubtle plug) does seem rather counter productive – both to Digital PR and H&K.

Anybody who feels like helping Digital PR to remove this unhelpful Wikipedia entry can of course go here.

Not only that, but we could do with someone writing a more detailed and objective entry to replace it. Any takers?

Wikipedia entry on Digital PR

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Early doors @ fhacks

Early doors @ fhacks

—- 
Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

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Flackenhack Awards tonight – pix assured

Test pic

Making sure I can upload pix from my mobile in preparation for capturing incriminating evidence at tonight’s Flackenhack Awards. See you there!

—- 
Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

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Timothy Sprigge, 1932-2007

Sad to hear of the demise of one of my philosophy lecturers from Edinburgh University, Timothy Sprigge. A link here to his poem, The History of Western Philosophy – all you need to know really.

Legal Theory Blog: Timothy Sprigge, 1932-2007.

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Accountancy and PR – professions with similar problems?

The never ending wishlist « AccMan:

Dennis Howlett tipped me off to this Rick Telburg survey, entitled Client Satisfaction: Make It ‘Priceless’. Although covering the accountancy sector, in many places you could simply insert the word PR and you’d have a pretty accurate client view of flackery.

Some examples:

“The responses indicate a general, if not unanimous, consensus: clients want service. Lots of it. Now. And it better be good. … and cheap.”

“CPAs who care, who do more than audit or prepare taxes, who are proactively involved in keeping clients updated and duly informed, all at a price that clients tend to call “reasonable” and CPAs tend to call “cheap.””

“Most want cheap fees and even cheaper software to clean up the messes they created,” he told us. “A few value your efforts and want more from you.” Indeed, “cheap” came up quite a bit. The all-too-human urge that creates a demand for cheap beer, cheap cars and cheap clothes extends to audits and accounting services.”

“Clients want guidance. They don’t need their CPA to be a guru in their business, but they expect their CPA to take an active interest in their business. Being willing to listen and learn the business is important. Clients want sound advice when it’s given, and they want to know what the numbers mean. They want accuracy and the confidence in knowing what they hire their CPA for will be done right.”

It doesn’t take too much brainpower to see that these are the kind of client concerns encountered in the world of PR.

I used to be irked by the fact that accountants wouldn’t take any responsibility arising from errors made by them ie I’m a company director – but if our accounts are wrong, I’m the one going to jail – not my accountant. I also used to get annoyed that we had to spend time checking their numbers – and then take responsibility for signing them off. It was then pointed out to me that PR companies don’t take ultimate responsibility for results (certainly in the realm of media relations) – on the basis that you are ultimately reliant on a third party – the journalist – over whom you have no control.

He who has no sin, etc.

Nevertheless, as Dennis says, the same old client wishlists keep popping up.

His question: when is the profession going to DO something about the things clients request instead of simply acknowledging them?

I guess because if it were easy to fix, we (accountants and PRs) would have done it a long time ago – still, no excuse for not trying.

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Socialstream – aggregated social networks from Google

Social Networks: Google, Yahoo start from scratch – Valleywag

Interesting Valleywag piece about Google sponsoring a project at Carnegie Mellon University, which, instead of serving as a social network itself, attempts to unify multiple networks. As VW says: “That’s a product that users, drowning in multiple logins and passwords, could badly use.”

I could certainly do with it – lets hope it moves into beta soon.

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Thank You For Smoking

Thank You For Smoking is one of the funniest films I’ve seen for a long while – with added bonus of the main character being a PR guy. As the IMDB puts it: " A satirical comedy that follows the machinations of Big Tobacco’s chief
spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying
to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son."

The dialogue is priceless – check out some of these gems:

Kid #3:
My Mommy says smoking kills.

Nick Naylor:
Oh, is your Mommy a doctor?

Kid #3:
No.

Nick Naylor:
A scientific researcher of some kind?

Kid #3:
No.

Nick Naylor:
Well then she’s hardly a credible expert, is she?

—————————————-
Nick Naylor:
My point is that you have to think for yourself. If your parents told
you that chocolate was dangerous would you take their word for it?
[Children say no]

Nick Naylor:
Exactly! So perhaps instead of acting like sheep when it comes to cigarettes you should find out for yourself.

————————————————————-
Joey Naylor:
Why did you tell that reporter all your secrets?

Nick Naylor:
You’re too young to understand.

Joey Naylor:
Mom says it’s because you have dependency issues and it was all just a
matter of time before you threw it all away on some tramp.

Nick Naylor:
Well, that’s one theory.


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Test mobile post

Test mobile post
With pic.

—- 
Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

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Mobile/e-mail posting on Typepad

I guess you’ve been able to do this for a while – but I’ve just not
got round to trying it out.

So let’s see if it works.