Disqus - Friends of JonAston

Re: Only at GMU

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

The Fed is unstoppable.

Nadal had the best chance, and Roddick was outmatched.

Maybe if Nadal can get Fed back on clay...

Re: Who’s the Materialist?

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

Dionne's bumper-sticker philosophy assumes that intent is uniform, instead of allowing that free markets and capitalism deserve consideration because they are effective at making everyone better off than they were before.

Here's my counter-example that the Dionne's of the world can't explain: people who buy thousands of acres of rain forest to preserve it themselves. Where's the materialism there?

Re: Wages at Wal-Mart

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

Russ -- know anyone who might care to tackle a longitudinal study to determine how much upward mobility those Walmart employees might enjoy within their own company?

Re: The Psychology of Climate Change and Intervention

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

Science isn't counseling me about any such thing. I read the journals, and I do so looking at the graphs with an eye for how they've been distorted and manipulated, using cherry-picked data and assumptions of positive feedback for carbon.

No, it's politicians and entrepreneurs who are "counseling" me about the course of action I ought to take. They are operating with a vested interest in obtaining and solidifying power over everyday activity, or leveraging a position in a newly created market for a gas.

Re: I Don’t Want Those People to Have a Say in How I Live My Life

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

I think Mitch is spot-on, and Don is too.

But my wrath is more aimed at the agenda-setters in the media who are too lazy to make any real decision about how to size up Jackson's importance, and are instead providing a positive feedback mechanism to overinflate Jackson's legacy.

Yes, he is iconic, but he is not more important than the dozens of other stories his passing sucked the oxygen and attention from.

As Albom put it -- what happened overnight? Four days ago, he was a freak and a punchline; now he's some saint?

Re: I Don’t Want Those People to Have a Say in How I Live My Life

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

Adam, maybe you need to hang out on my Facebook page, then.

I was raked over the coals for even suggesting there was anything aberrant about Jackson. I was accused of "hatin'" on Michael, and accused of being racist because I didn't have handy things to say about Farrah Fawcett (who, as far as I can tell, died of cancer and not an overdose of painkillers administered by a doctor to overcome the agony of years of failed plastic surgeries.)

I have my own beef with trending topics on Twitter, but I know there is no agenda there -- it's just the masses at work.

My beef is with the editorial decision-makers at the networks, who inundated us with information, but provided no illumination. You'd think he was a pope or something.

Re: My wife and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary today

Ike Pigott — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:00:00 -0000

I'm now told that "hiking the Appalachian" is a euphemism for cheating on your spouse.

Re: Open Season

Ike Pigott — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 05:00:00 -0000

Calacanis gives advice that anyone can easily follow, provided they have already developed the same degree of internet notoriety and following.

In other words, if Mark Cuban wasn't listening then Jason's words don't matter.

Re: The Key Message Is Dead

Ike Pigott — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:17:22 -0000

Allow me to disagree -- not with the insight, but with the application.

I've always trained my clients that a "key message" was not a statement. It is a principle, or core value. No one will remember the exact text of what you say, but they will remember what they thought you were trying to say.

The biggest practical application of the Key Message is not that it's a mantra worth repeating in every answer. Rather, it's the final thing you say. MOST interviews end with a simple question: "Is there anything I failed to ask that I should have?"

Work in the core value from your Key Message, and in many circumstances, that's the soundbite that will air. Teevee types under deadline are VERY prone to backing up the tape just far enough to the first usable soundbite. (And I am in a position to know that is true.)

Re: Same Old Messages from Same Old Sources = Balance

Ike Pigott — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:08:49 -0000

I find it Richard's recent lament interesting.

I tried commenting on a media-related post of his. His thesis was that high-dollar PR flacks were obfuscating the truth and confusing the media with big-oil drivel.

My point was that the issue incredibly complex, and "consensus" so hard to attain and define. His side has a massive inherent hurdle to overcome, and blaming flacks is the least of their troubles.

My comment was deleted, with nary an explanation. I certainly hope my situation was an aberration, but it might just be possible those editors sensed he doesn't want a dialogue -- he wants a monologue and the final word.

Re: 28% of Americans Think Wal-Mart Is the Friendly Giant

Ike Pigott — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:33:02 -0000

One of the key differences here is Wal-Mart had a decades-old tradition of giving money to local causes. When the recent PR emphasis materialized, there was a track record to speak of.

Had Wal-Mart tried building a PR campaign out of whole cloth -- simply buzzwords and branding -- there would have been far more hollow echos and harrumphs. Sadly, too many PR advisors are bullied by their clients who already "know" what the prescription ought to be before a real diagnosis. Reality is what it is... and effective messages reflect reality.

Re: Quick Tip – Key Messages Rise from the Dead

Ike Pigott — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:50:47 -0000

Spot on, Eric.

Let me add that this is preventative medicine -- an 87mg aspirin a day, that keeps the spin doctor away.

Re: Politicians in Comedy Sketches - A Calculated Risk

Ike Pigott — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:34:08 -0000

"Sock it to ME?"

If Nixon could pull it off, anyone could. And perhaps that was the ultimate turnaround -- the man who lost to JFK by losing the "telegenic" battle found a new hipness on Laugh-In.

The formula generally works, even for Janet Reno on SNL.

Re: Time’s Person of the Year: Stereotypical White People

Ike Pigott — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:18:11 -0000

Eric --

You claim that when it comes to CGM, Time "gets it."

Yet, when they put an on-line post of the story, they stick to static images instead of grabbing them randomly from a Flickr stream.

They could have screened thousands of photos (to avoid the liability of nudity or pranking), and let them wash in and out of the story.

But sadly, they don't get it.

Re: Time’s Person of the Year: Stereotypical White People

Ike Pigott — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:04:31 -0000

Hey Eric, you should be proud.

John Dvorak over at PC Magazine apparently reads your blog!

Re: Like Sex, Media Relations Requires You to Pay Attention to your Partner

Ike Pigott — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:40:40 -0000

(rapping knuckles, waiting for Amanda Chapel to weigh in...)

Re: Ike’s back!

Ike Pigott — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:59:41 -0000

Wow, Lee... you really know how to make a Nobody feel welcome!

Thanks for the kind words. Let's see where this thing ends up.

Re: Feedburner having hiccups?

Ike Pigott — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:41:30 -0000

Did you add any plugins to your Wordpress, Lee? I know there is one that automatically redirects your native blog feed to your Feedburner version, where it can be properly counted. Maybe you're just now capturing the stats on those who have been "subscribers," but coming through the side window.

"INCONCEIVABLE!"

Re: Quick Tip - Mention the Company Name in Interviews

Ike Pigott — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:30:32 -0000

Although, in your second example, the parenthetic expression "At Company Z" would get snipped for time -- and the soundbite would start with "we believe that..."

It takes some practice, but you can sneak your company name in the middle.

"Flexible schedules have worked out well here at OccamMedia, because our employees respond well to less commuting and more communing with family."

Now, if you are making some sort of apology, I don't know that you would go overboard in cramming it in there.

"Here at OccamMedia, we are deeply sorry for the problems our razors caused. The OccamSlash 5000, when used properly, only trims away the unnecessary, but OccamMedia agrees that better instructions would lead to fewer facial gashes."

Re: Humour in PR? Steve’s your Guy

Ike Pigott — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:34:28 -0000

If it weren't for Steve weighing in on someone else being a Nobody, I'd still be a Nobody instead of a Somebody pretending to be a Nobody.

Re: ‘Spin Cycles’ Avoids Blanket Condemnation of the PR Industry

Ike Pigott — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:00:49 -0000

Eric--

I felt the wrath of many colleagues when I left news for PR, who claimed I was going to "the Dark Side."

The fact of the matter is that modern journalism is seldom about "truth," but more about "the best we can do with limited resources."

Reporters and editors don't wait until they have the whole story -- just until they get enough. The worst example is the "he-said/she-said" school that achieves balance through mediocrity. As a communications professional (in PR) I am expected to get it right, without being a slave to arbitrary deadlines.

Re: What My Neighbours Are Saying – the b5media Business Channel

Ike Pigott — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:41:05 -0000

Oh Eric, you know full well who took that picture. Nice way to sneak in a couple of links! (Maybe Brian Clark ought to take a lesson from you!)

;)

Re: What My Neighbours Are Saying – the b5media Business Channel

Ike Pigott — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:36:25 -0000

That's the spirit! b5-group hug!

Re: Steve is wrong about my little flashing dork

Ike Pigott — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 22:30:16 -0000

I figure that if they bothered Steve that much, I really ought to go out and get one!

Re: Online Reputation Management for Students – Lie, Cheat, Blackmail

Ike Pigott — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:23:11 -0000

Mr. Eggertson:

We regret to inform you that you are no longer a candidate for the position within our company. Our online research indicates you display a lack of regard for proper spelling - particularly your penchant for dropping unnecessary U's in words such as 'humor' and 'behavior.'

We wish you well in your future endeavors.