Hold up Google, are you serious?

Recently, when you Google News keyword search for Richard Parsons, Time Warner CEO, one of the most prominent black executives in corporate America, the results of the search had you looking at a photo of two rhesus monkeys. Yes monkeys!

However, Parsons is part of no monkey business. Parson will depart as CEO of Time Warner Inc. at the end of the year, five years after taking the helm of the world's largest media conglomerate and rebuilding its stature following a disastrous merger with AOL.

Was this a racist move or simple computer glitch?

And since the Don Imus incident, are we on high alert about anything that may seem racially motivated in today’s media?

According to a Google spokesman, the glitch was an inside job and blames its computers and algorithms. Why mention inside job and computer problems in the same sentence? It’s an either or factor here. Google went on to decline to openly discuss details of the primate episode and even unwilling to go on record and explicitly disavow any racist motivation.

After doing a search today, the problem has seemed to be resolved. Whether intended or unintended, the Google situation highlights that the technology industry is not immune to social consciousness nor can we simply point the finger at a search engine, because this issue is much bigger then that.

Save Ellis Island

It's not often that I find myself clicking on banner ads on a website. After being online for 4 or 5 hours each day you start to become immune to them after a while. Today was different.

As I was checking the news on CNN, I ran across the ad that I have placed above and found myself drawn to it for a couple of reasons. First, being a fan of The Soprano's, when I saw Johnny Sack's (Vincent Curatola) face it got me paying attention. Second, the slogan "It would be a good idea you made a donation" isn't exactly something that you see every day in an ad (even if it isn't grammatically correct). Third, the other slogan of the ad, "Save Ellis Island," easily invokes curiousity. I for one, know a little about Ellis Island (where it is and it's significance), but I had no idea it was in need of "saving." Fourth, as much as a corporate sponsorship would usually turn me off from clicking on an ad, the fact that Arrow was sponsoring this (and the whole Save Ellis Island campaign), somehow lent credence to the idea that this was a serious campaign with a serious problem.

Even though this is probably one of the best internet banner ads that I've ever come across, what is even more amazing is what happens when you click on it. weareellisisland.com has to be one of the best advocacy websites that I have ever seen. The videos and images evoked feelings of heritage and history that still have me sitting here with goosebumps. One video in particular has me at a loss for words... The images, the music, everything is perfect. Take a look...

Personally, I don't know if any of my ancestors came through Ellis Island or not, but I have to say that this video has left me wanting to find out.

Prehistoric women were fashionable, who knew?

A headline can make or break an article. An article posted on MSNBC.com recently caught my attention based on the headline, “Prehistoric women had a passion for fashion.” In Plocnik, Serbia, excavations point to a sophisticated metropolis with a taste for art and fashion. The article describes how archaeologists recently uncovered a Neolithic figurine of a girl in a short skirt and ornate top. The tribe lived between 5400-4700 BC at what is now Plocnik and knew about trade, handcrafts, art, and metallurgy. A thermal well might be evidence of Europe’s oldest spas, and this tribe pursued beauty by making clothes and jewelry. The most significant find, however, was the discovery of a sophisticated metal workshop with furnace tools including a copper chisel, which might prove that the Copper Age started in Europe at least 500 years earlier than believed. I don’t normally read articles on archaeology, but this one caught my attention solely because of the headline. A few words hooked me into reading a whole article about the Copper Age, which I actually thought was pretty interesting.

The New Age of Research

With the mobile culture that young people have adopted recently, tracking down college students in the greater D.C. area to attend a focus group about Metro policies must not be easy. Or is it?

Last week sometime I logged into my Facebook account to find an invitation to that very focus group. The creator of the event works for the research group who is conducting the focus group and he had invited a whole lot of his college age "friends" on the social networking site to participate. Other age groups were apparently invited through other means. After all, how many middle aged and elderly people have Facebook profiles?

The interesting part of the invitation was the number of people who had to be invited through Facebook in order to get a reasonable number of people to RSVP "yes" to the event. To get 7 confirmed guests, there is one "might show up" response, 22 people who said "no," and 20 people never responded to the invitation. So what does this say about communicating with young people?

Even though the image of the young professional or college/graduate student today is attached to the cell phone and the PDA, we are so mobile in a physical sense that tracking us down still proves to be difficult. That serves as quite a problem to researchers whose job it is to get people of all ages to participate in events such as focus groups. The incentive had better be pretty good to get us to sit in a room for an hour and discuss something other than our Master's thesis or Monday Night Football.

If researchers realize these sort of problems they should come up with new ways to approach young people when requesting their input. What about a focus group in a sports bar? Buy everyone a round of Cokes and start with game talk. Then get down to business. Don't disguise the fact that it's a focus group on Metro policies or whatever the topic, but accept the fact that to get some research done you have to accomodate your respondents.

I doubt very much that focus groups will ever be run this way, but who is to say that they wouldn't be successful?

Abu Ghraib at AU

Tonight from 5:00-7:30p.m., the AU Museum, Center for Social Media and Washington College of Law's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law will present the acclaimed documentary Ghosts of Abu Ghraib in conjunction with the exhibition Fernando Botero: Abu Ghraib.

The film, featured on HBO and in the American Documentary Competition at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, is an in-depth look into the psychological and political contexts of the torture in the Iraqi prison. Producer Liz Garbus will be in attendance to discuss the making of the film.

Fernando Botero: Abu Ghraib marks the first complete showing in the U.S. of the artist’s seventy-nine paintings and drawings depicting the infamous torture at the prison. The exhibition is part of AU’s ART of CONFRONTation: AU Exploring Human Rights through Art series that emphasizes the overarching themes of political and social protest in artistic expression.

AU was chosen to display the works for its long-standing commitment to international human rights. The film and exhibition are important to the public discourse. As AU Museum Director and Curator Jack Rasmussen claims, “Our students, faculty and, especially, the Washington, D.C. community will be able to discuss human rights and war not through a political lens, but through art. Art cannot change the war but it can bear testimony.”

The screening of Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, will be held at the Katzen Arts Centertonight at 5:30 p.m. and Fernando Botero: Abu Ghraib will begin at 6:00pm.

Sources: http://www.american.edu/cas/katzen/event_description.cfm?event=500
http://www.american.edu/cas/katzen/museum/exhibitions.cfm
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/events/2007_hrfs/695

Photo Source: http://www.artinfo.com/articles/story/21231

A Chance for Answers

Unlike Cindy Sheehan, the ever-suffering military mom who demanded a meeting with President Bush after her son was killed in action, Donna Zovko is going to get to meet with the man she holds responsible for the death of her son.

Jerry Zovko was killed in Iraq while working as a security contractor for Blackwater, and she is haunted by the image of her son being dragged through the streets and mutilated on camera. She has appeared on tv herself, appealing to Blackwater Chairman Erik Prince to speak to her about her son's death.

Donna Zovko told CNN.com that Blackwater chief Prince showed an interest in doing the right thing after the terrifying death of her son, but she was disappointed with the lack of information given to her about the circumstances involved in the incident. She is still looking for answers to the many questions she has.

Prince is doing the right thing by agreeing to speak to Zovko. Blackwater has faced a great deal of controversy about their role in several incidents in Iraq, and the for the chairman to speak to a mother of one of the victims of such an incident will help the company combat the negative image it has acquired. In this case, being upfront with information will help improve how the public sees the company.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/07/mom.blackwater/index.html

Dumbledore is gay?

This summer, after a much anticipated wait, the 7th Harry Potter novel was finally released – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Fans of the novels, written by J.K. Rowling, have followed Harry from his adolescence to his final face off against the evil Lord Voldemort.

Though the primary audience for the novels may be children or youth, even young adults and adults take interest in the stories. Even those who may not read the novels may have seen the Harry Potter movies that have come out. It’s hard to miss the reign of Harry Potter.

Those invested in the books are likewise invested in the characters in the books. They crave information regarding the details of the lives of Harry, Ron, Snape, and so on. That’s why when J.K. Rowling announced this week that master wizard Dumbledore is gay, people were shocked and surprised.

For many, the character of Dumbledore has a special place in their hearts. He is wise, kindhearted, and genuine. He provided guidance for Harry and his schoolmates as well as other wizards in the face of a wizarding war.

Rowling’s announcement was met with a mixture of criticism and support. However, many believe that the outing of Dumbledore will help to increase tolerance toward homosexuality. If people loved Dumbledore before they knew he was gay, why should they change their minds now?

I personally believe that Rowling was wise to withhold this information until the books had all been released, making Dumbledore’s sexuality a non-issue. While some may claim that her announcement was simply a way to generate more publicity for the franchise, I disagree. A careful analysis of the literature shows that Rowling appeared to know that the character was gay long before anyone else did.

In my opinion, her revelation is one that should be applauded. Announcing that Dumbledore is gay is a great way to stimulate conversation and introduce a gay character to a large audience.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071021/ap_en_ot/books_potter_dumbledore

Are PCs Becoming a Thing of the Past?

According to a recent article on MSNBC.com, personal computers may be a thing of the past, if the rest of the world follows Japan’s current trend of slowing personal computer sales. There are just too many other new products to choose from, and the issue of clutter continues. The new iPod Touch and other smart phones that act like pocket size computers are diminishing the need for personal computers.

The Japan technology market continually stays ahead of the curve, and their PC market is already shrinking. MSNBC.com reports that PC shipments in Japan have fallen for five consecutive quarters, the first drawn-out decline in PC sales in a key market, and analysts wonder whether Japan will become the first major market to see a decline in personal computer use, 25 years after it revolutionized household electronics.

Manufacturers of personal computers are aggressively marketing their products in places that have never had PCs, and outside Japan, Asia is a key growth area. They feel that computers are still crucial in linking the digital divide and are releasing laptops priced below $300 for the holidays.

While some have made the leap to checking their e-mail and downloading music and movies directly onto their cell phone, I am still loyally returning to my Mac everyday to check my e-mail and buy songs on iTunes. However, knowing that 50 percent of Japanese people send e-mail and browse the Internet from their cell phones, I know that I will probably soon be doing the same.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21624720/

Brrrring... It's Your Favorite Presidential Candidate

Ringtones, wallpapers, text messages; three things that many of us have and use on our cell phones all the time, but until recently, were not associated with political campaigns. Enter Obama Mobile, a site that Barack Obama's campaign introduced earlier this summer as an effort to utilize the power of the cell phone. 

On Obama Mobile, you can get ringtones featuring popular Obama quotes set to music and wallpapers of Senator Obama and his campaign logo. You can even sign up to receive text messages about the campaign and upcoming events. For those who truly live and die by their cell phones, Obama Mobile also offers text updates on specific issues such as healthcare, education and Iraq. 

While Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Mitt Romney have also introduced text message updates, Obama is the only candidate that has an entire page on his website dedicated to mobile technology and is the only candidate that gives people the option to receive issue-specific text messages. With more and more people owning cell phones (especially those under the age of 30), text messages seem like a great way to keep people interested and informed about the campaign. 

The other aspect of Obama Mobile that is particularly interesting to me is its use of ringtones, since, so far, Obama's campaign is the only one to offer them.  I believe that candidate ringtones, if created and marketed properly, could be a great tool for creating buzz and increasing interest in a candidate, especially from people who do not traditionally vote. 

Imagine sitting at a bar and hearing your friends phone ring to the tune of Go Obama (see example below). At first you would probably chuckle to yourself, thinking about how much of a political nerd your friend is, but after that you're probably going to be curious as to what the heck that was. Your friend then has the perfect opportunity to talk to you about Obama and why they support him, which in turn could lead to you becoming interested in Obama and so on.  

Unfortunately, there is currently no real research on the use and effectiveness of political ringtones, though I hope to do some primary research on this emerging medium this spring for my thesis.

Here are few of the ringtones that Obama's campaign is currently offering:

Letter to Obama (Go Obama)

2004 DNC Speech - Hip Hop

2004 DNC Speech - Alternative

Obama’s Strategic Laugh

After calling Hillary Clinton a “textbook” candidate, Barack Obama takes another jab at his running mate in the opening sketch of Saturday's "Saturday Night Live."

The sketch of Saturday's broadcast featured actors Amy Poehler and Darrell Hammond, as the Clintons, hosting a Halloween party. Toward the end of the sketch a man walked in wearing an Obama mask — which he removed to reveal he was, indeed, Barack Obama.

"I have nothing to hide," Obama said. "I enjoy being myself. I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween."

It wasn’t your best acting; however Senator Obama was strategically able to get this message across about Senator Clinton while gaining a few laughs at the same time. Due to Clinton’s considerable lead over Obama in the polls, I’m sure the Obama campaign has a few more tricks up their sleeves to get Obama some more national exposure.

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071104/ap_on_el_pr/obama_snl_4;_ylt=AqNj2tir9glmhqIt8.ajAxvkbeRF

Take a look:
http://my.barackobama.com/snl

Writers on Strike

This week, Hollywood writers will go on strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), a labor union representing more than 12,000 TV and movie writers, has ordered the strike for 12:01 a.m. PT Monday. This strike will halt production of movies, and force TV stations to run repeats.

Screenwriters say, they are entitled to a bigger share of the royalty payments for the use of movies and TV shows on the Internet and handheld devices, and increases for sales of DVDs. The WGA also faults studios for getting non-guild writers to write character blogs, MySpace profiles, as well as video game, mobisode, and webisode spinoffs.

The online market is becoming an increasingly influential medium. It is the responsibility of studios to recognize the new media’s changing role in the entertainment industry.

Many believe, however, that this strike is a catch-22. The lack of new entertainment on TV will drive more people to watch programming online and as a result many Hollywood writers could move to the Internet.

Hopefully the entertainment industry, studios and writers alike will see that television series, movies and new media are no longer mutually exclusive--sooner than later.

Sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15315098
http://newteevee.com/2007/10/25/what-does-a-wga-strike-mean-for-new-media/

Photo Source: http://www.elsanchez.com

Fallen Star?

Unless you’re living under a rock, you can’t miss all the drama surrounding the life of Britney Spears. Britney “sang” and danced her way into the hearts of millions of teenagers in 1998 when she became a teen pop phenomenon. In the nine years that have passed since then, Spears has experienced a number of highs and lows including two marriages (and two divorces) and the birth of her two children with her second husband, Kevin Federline.

Spears has been out of the music industry’s limelight for awhile now though. However, when she divorced Federline in 2006, she seemed poised for a comeback that many people (including myself) were impatiently waiting for. Britney’s comeback does not seem to be going as well as she probably planned. With an album set to debut on October 30th, there has been more talk about Britney’s personal life than her music.

From shaving her head to attacking paparazzi to losing custody of her children, Spears can’t seem to keep herself out of the media – not that she seems to care. While most stars strategically plan things in their personal lives to occur just prior to career moves in order to generate publicity, this doesn’t seem to be the case with Spears. While the adage in Hollywood is that “all publicity is good publicity,” Spears’ personal drama seems to be affecting her fan base and her credibility as a musician.

Luckily, her record label is still supporting Spears and her career - though it might not last much longer. Spears’ album is already getting negative reviews and her family and friends are encouraging her fans to boycott her album, a move they hope will wake Spears up to her failing personal life.

Spears has yet to realize how her actions are affecting her career, though it couldn’t be more obvious to bystanders. What Spears really needs is to take (another) break from the limelight to take care of her personal life. Until she can regain some composure, no one will take her seriously. When her album comes out, it will undoubtedly be overshadowed by whatever is going on in her own life that day. She needs to realize that sometimes in Hollywood, less exposure is more beneficial.


http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/britney_spears

Oprah’s School Scandal

Oprah has finally hit a spot in her career where she needs a little crisis communication.

Allegations surfaced two weeks ago that a "dorm parent" had been accused of fondling a girl and physically and verbally abusing several others, including grabbing them about the neck, beating them and hurling them against a wall at her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," a tearful Winfrey told angry families who showed up for an emergency meeting at the Academy. “I trusted her," Winfrey told the families regarding the principal. "When I appointed her, I thought she was passionate about the children of Africa. But I've been disappointed."

A recent CNN poll asked the question “Oprah’s School Scandal: Will it tarnish her reputation?” 79 percent of the respondents said “No” while 21 percent said “Yes.” I would have to say that I agree that Oprah would have to do something utterly immoral before her reputation could ever be tarnished. This incident will only be a minor but important hurdle.

As for a crisis communication stand point, she’s doing the right thing. Oprah continues to maintain a reputation for having an overall “open and honest” policy with her publics at all times. “We don't blame you," a father was quoted as saying. "You have more passion for the school and its existence than anyone else in this country, including us parents."

Source:
http://tv.yahoo.com/contributor/30579/news/urn:newsml:tv.eonline.com:20071029:23d20729_b54a41fd_8e65_7a77b14e3914__ER:69381
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/showbiz.tonight/index.html

Travel and Leisure Rates the Least Attractive Cities in America

I was surprised to find that I have lived in two cities with the least attractive people in the United States, according to the recent poll, “America’s Favorite Cities,” rating cities by attractiveness. In fact, according to this survey the only place that has less attractive people than Dallas and Washington DC, is Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation.

Looking into the way Travel and Leisure conducted this survey, I found that instead of seeking out a representative sample of the broader population by randomly selecting people, the survey relied on web site clicks. Nothing kept people from voting repeatedly or finishing the survey, which required them to rank 55 separate attributes of all the cities listed. The methodology was far from scientific, and the survey was irresponsible.

The bikini-clad, synthetically pretty people on South Beach in Miami, who were voted most attractive, are likely to be more appealing than Philadelphia residents wrapped in a coat and scarf with a runny nose. Additionally, South Beach is a tourist spot, and it is hard to tell who lives there. The unattractiveness of residents does not typically repel visitors from a destination so it should not have been included in this survey.

A respected travel publication should concentrate on listing positive attributes about our nation’s cities rather than shaming them based on such a shallow survey.

source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2007/

A Primary State of Disorder

I was fortunate to be invited as a guest of Professor Dotty Lynch to a discussion at the Capitol this afternoon regarding pending legislation that would subject the party primary calendar to federal control. With concern about this coming election's primary rush and heavy front-loading, some law makers and party officials are concerned about the negative effect that could result.

Taking part in the discussion were Professor Lynch, US Representative David Price, US Representative Sander Levin, David Norcross - chairman of the Republican National Convention's Committee on Arrangements for the 2004 Republican Convention, and the moderator, Professor James Thurber.

Congressman Levin presented a possible solution to the primary problem that he has been promoting. His idea involves dividing the country into sections of states. One group of states from each region would go on the same election date. This would be determined by lottery and rotate each cycle. While it is a plausible solution to the problem of front-loading the primaries, I think that dividing the nation up into regions that may or may not coincide with the naturally pre-established regional feelings and identities that already exist. Asking people from different states to subject themselves to a random lottery to determine their primary date will only create more unrest and frustration with the primary system.

It does appear that some action needs to be taken to change primaries are conducted so that candidates won't ignore those small states that take on pivotal roles because of their early primaries. Whatever kind of solution Congress comes up with to straighten out the crazy primary calendar will likely have to wait. It is too late to implement new legislation for the 2008 election, and whoever wins next year will likely be unwilling to change the system that helped get them elected. It is something to look ahead to though.

¿Habla Español?

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority has initiated bi-weekly Spanish classes for its front line employees to ease interactions with Spanish-speaking customers.

Eighteen Metro employees, including bus drivers, station managers, and street supervisors, are part of the pilot project meant to help fulfill federal requirements on language access for customers with limited English. The workers were picked to learn occupational-based, functional Spanish because they represent customer routes that are heavily populated with Spanish speakers.

This issue has sparked debate and raised questions about responsible spending. The Spanish lessons will cost Metro $11,900, and come from the agency's $1.9 billion budget for the 2008 fiscal year. At the same time, the transit agency has proposed increasing rider fares to help cover a $109 million budget deficit.

Still, in an international city like Washington, D.C., I think it is important for Metro workers to communicate with their customers. Latinos are the fastest-growing group in America and make up nearly 9% of the D.C. population. It is vital that city officials adapt to their customers needs and the evolving social trends. While the budget is a major concern, by catering to a Spanish-speaking audience and becoming more accessible to non-English speakers, Metro will attract more customers.

Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402523.html
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071023/METRO/110230061/1004/metro
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11000.html

Photo Source: http://www.thinkoutsidethecar.org/metro.asp

No liveblog...

Unfortunately, they asked us to turn off all cell phones and blackberries once we got in the hall. I was going to try to do it anyway, but I got a scowling look from one of the coordinators right as the President was about to come on stage. However, Iw as able to grab this quick shot before I turned mine off. The University has also posted a video of the event that you can find a link to at the bottom of this post. It's about an hour long, but I highly recommend it to everyone.

Video of President Carter's Speech

Liveblog from Jimmy Carter Speech Tomorrow

Since I was lucky enough to get one of the 100 tickets to the Jimmy Carter speech tomorrow at AU,  I am going to attempt to liveblog the event. They're not allowing laptops, so I will be doing everything via my iPhone. My apologies in advance if things don't work out, but I'm not going to argue with the Secret Service if they tell me to put my phone away. Wish me luck!

When Americans think of Mexican food, they usually think of Taco Bell. When Mexicans think of Mexican food, they would probably never think of Taco Bell as a choice. But, in a bold move, Taco Bell is attempting to open a restaurant in Mexico.

They will be using the slogan “Es Otra Cosa” or “It’s Something Else.” This slogan epitomizes the strategic plan that Taco Bell is using to market the restaurant. Taco Bell will not be moving into the traditional Mexican food business, but rather into “something else,” its own sort of fast food niche.

The restaurant will offer its regular menu with a touch of American food in the form of ice cream and French fries. They will also change the impression of some of their Mexican food by changing some of the names of items like “taco” to “tostada;” obviously their taco wouldn’t fit in the typical Mexican taco definition.

The company has done a lot of consumer research and they expect that the restaurant will succeed. Taco Bell will be something new and different for Mexicans to consume. Consumers won’t go to the restaurant for Mexican food; they’ll go for the experience.

I think that Taco Bell is going about this campaign in the right way. Clearly they have done their consumer research, and they are wise enough to know that the Mexican population does not want more Mexican food; they want something new and different, and Taco Bell isn’t just Mexican food, “Es Otra Cosa” – It’s something else.

Source: http://consumerist.com/consumer/fast-food/taco-bell-returns-to-mexico-after-15-years-309405.php

Igorance and MRSA - a deadly team

If you watched the news at all in the last week, you will probably have seen the media frenzy resulting from the latest "outbreak" of the danger methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection, more commonly known as MRSA. An entire school district in Virginia is in mourning after a student died after contracting the infection and schools across the country, including my home state of Connecticut, are suddenly reporting cases. What struck me as profoundly upsetting about this crisis is the ignorance of the media regarding MRSA and how it is contracted. To me this incident just shows that a large-scale communications effort must be undertaken by the government to inform the public about contagious diseases and how to prevent their spread.

This crisis could literally be washed away with soap and water. The germs are passed by contact, and while it is tragic that a 17 year old high school student passed away from the disease, his death could have been prevented if there were more information about the problem and how to prevent it. If he had just washed his hands more often or at the right moment, his life could have been saved. Yet he was unaware of the dangers he faced by forgetting to wash his hands or cover a scratch, and it cost him his life. More effort needs to be made to inform students that they need to wash their hands multiple times during the school day.

The most alarming result of his death is that the media seems to be placing blame for the student's death on the school system. While CNN hosted health experts who stressed over and over again the importance of maintaining good hygiene and washing your hands, the broadcasters concentrated on what they considered to be inferior efforts of the school system in Virginia to clean up the schools in the wake of the student's tragic death.

Cleaning the schools was simply an effort to put the minds of the students and their parents to rest. It will not prevent the spread of germs in an environment that is probably one of the most highly contagious imaginable. All the students crammed in together, sharing food and lockers and books, it is a theme park for deadly, contagious diseases like MRSA. And yet instead of making an effort to inform students how to prevent the spread of such diseases that killed their fellow student, they pretend to clean up the environment and give them a false sense of security.

The CDC needs to step in and take control of this issue by creating and implementing communications campaigns that teach students the importance of washing their hands and how diseases spread. Interviews with students aired on CNN show that students in the effected Virginia school district have no idea that it was not the school's fault that their friend died. They want to blame the school to help them cope with their loss, but more than that they have no reason not to blame the school because nobody has told them the truth about MRSA. They need to be informed, before more students fall victim to their own ignorance.

Sources:http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-updated-superbug-1018,0,7903588.story?track=rss
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/18/mrsa.cases/index.html?iref=newssearch
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/10/16/staph.death.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

Chemical Levels and Your Body- What You Don't Know

A recent article from CNN.com discusses a new type of testing that reveals industrial chemicals in humans. One family took part in a cutting-edge study to measure industrial chemicals in their bodies and found the chemical exposure in children was seven times higher than the amount found in adults.

The technology used in this type of testing is only ten years old, and it is a hot topic among environmentalists, who call it “body burden,” and scientists, refer to it as biomonitoring.” Though it may have many names, most Americans have never heard of this testing.

A controversial topic, some suggests that industrial toxins could be leading to more childhood diseases and disorders. Rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and developmental disorders have increased exponentially, and it cannot be explained by the human genome. What has changed is the level and exposure of chemicals.

Other public advocacy groups disagree saying that trace levels of industrial chemicals in our bodies do not necessarily pose health risks. The fact remains that industrial chemicals have been found in the human body.

The chemicals found in the family tested were shown to cause neurological damage to lab rats. It leaves me to wonder what I can eliminate from my life to reduce my exposure to these chemicals.

An example of one class of chemicals known as phthalates was found in the family tested. These chemicals are plasticizers, the softening agent found in many plastic bottles, kitchenware, toys, medical devices, and personal care products and cosmetics. Phthalates have been associated with reproductive defects, obesity, and early puberty. The list goes on and on. The complicated words spell out even more complex health problems. From the non-stick surface of our frying pans causing liver toxicity to the foam used to stuff our couches causing thyroid damage, most products we use seem to be made up of toxic industrial chemicals.

The problem is that most Americans are unaware that seemingly harmless everyday products can contain these harmful chemicals. The EPA does not require chemical manufacturers to conduct human toxicity studies before approving their chemicals for use in the market. Perhaps this is the next step to make consumer products safer and increase awareness that this problem exists.

source: www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/22/body.burden/index.html

Oprah “The Mega Hub” Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey recently picked "Love in the Time of Cholera," the epic love story by Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as her next book club selection.

The novel by the Colombian-born Garcia Marquez was published in 1985. Set on the Caribbean coast of South America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it tells the tale of a woman and two men, and an unrequited love that spans 50 years.

"If you love, this book is the best love story ever," according to Winfrey. With this endorsement, she created a national buzz around the novel. “Lover in the Time of Cholera” is currently # 1 on The New York Times Best Sellers List.

Why do I call Oprah a “mega hub”?

Network hubs are individuals who communicate with more people about a certain product then the average person does. Network hubs are often called influencers or opinion leaders according to author of bestseller “Anatomy of Buzz” Emanuel Rosen.

In this case, Oprah’s show reaches an estimated 48 million viewers a week in the U.S. alone and broadcast internationally in 126 countries. Over time she’s able to create millions of one way links with people who listen to her message via mass media, causing her to be labeled as a mega hub.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/10/05/people.garciamarquez.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

The Audacity of Homophobia

In an attempt to close the gap between himself and Hillary Clinton in South Carolina, Barack Obama has scheduled a 3 day tour with gospel singers to try to gain support among the conservative black Christians in that state.

One of those gospel singers is Pastor Donnie McClurkin, an “ex-gay” preacher who has publicly vowed to battle “the curse of homosexuality.”

The Grammy winning McClurkin is popular among blacks in South Carolina, especially black evangelicals, a demographic largely opposed to gay rights.

In 2004 Bush used McClurkin to tap into the homophobic sentiment to win votes and create anti-gay marriage initiatives in several states. Although black evangelicals still voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, they gave Bush the edge he needed to win the election.

To maneuver ahead of Clinton in the polls, Obama is reaching out to this same demographic.

Liberals, however, are up in arms about Obama’s choice. Obama has built his campaign on being the candidate of change that will challenge Bush and the Republican Party. By taking a page from Bush’s 2004 campaign strategy and pandering to an anti-gay sentiment, Obama is alienating the gay rights lobby--a major Democratic constituency, and the increasing number of Americans that support civil rights for gays.

By micro-targeting in South Carolina, Obama has failed to see the bigger picture and anticipate the potential repercussions of this tour. I am interested to see how Obama tries to justify—or rectify this decision.

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/obama-should-repudiate-an_b_69244.html

Photo Source: http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews35_31/index.cfm

The Climate Change Strategy

It’s been a pretty good year for Al Gore. Not only did his film “An Inconvenient Truth” win an Academy Award, but he also won a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Gore has a lot of show for his efforts to spread awareness about man-made climate change and how we can begin to counteract it.

Initially, climate change, the euphemism for global warming, seemed like a fairly boring topic that most Americans weren’t willing to pay much attention to. Similarly, Al Gore has always come across as a fairly boring man that most Americans aren’t willing to pay much attention to. Who would have that that pairing Al Gore with climate change would result in such a winning combination?

Gore has done an amazing job of creating a strategic plan to communicate the seriousness of climate change to the American public. Gore understands his audience. He wisely used the entertainment industry to spread his message. His documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth” was released in movie theaters throughout the nation, and it was largely made popular by word of mouth. He also appeared on an array of television programs from Oprah to morning and late-night talk shows, making sure his message would reach different audiences. He even paired with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio. While Gore himself may be viewed as a celebrity, his influence over the American public is nothing when compared to major movie stars like DiCaprio.

Now Gore has an Academy Award and a Nobel Peace Prize, but for many people the issue of climate change may be losing its appeal. Gore is going to have to work hard to keep the issue in the forefront of people’s minds without losing their interest. Who knows what he will do next?


Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21262661/?GT1=10450

Voting in December?

In Friday's Washington Post, Joel Achenbach reported that New Hampshire's Secretary of State Bill Gardner is considering scheduling the New Hampshire primary December! As the legally mandated dictator of the primary date, Gardner said that he is watching to see what Michigan and Nevada decide to do and will make his decision sometime after the close of the filing period for the candidates on November 2.

The controversy arises from a New Hampshire state law that says that the Secretary of State may select any day he or she chooses as long as it is at least one week before any "similar election." While this never presented any significant problems in the past, many state lawmakers have grown sick of sitting idly by while New Hampshire is catered to by a bunch of political superstars all of whom are potentially the next president. Not to mention the tourism revenue it brings in. In an attempt to get a little piece of the action this year, many states have decided to move their state's primary up to January or February. Then, when it looked like all hell was going to break loose from all the states changing their date, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) stepped in and said that only Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina were allowed to hold primaries before February 5th.

At first, I was a bit troubled by the DNC's ruling, as I have always thought that the tradition of New Hampshire holding the first primary discriminated against the other states and because it created a snowball effect for the winner, giving them an unfair advantage in the elections that followed. I thought that this would have been one step towards leveling the playing field. 

After reading Achenbach's article, my first thought was that if New Hampshire held their primaries in December, it would just make matters worse and further solidify the idea that each winner would likely go on to become their party's nominee. However, as I read the article again, I became less pessimistic about the effect of a December primary when I began to think about Gardner's notion that "an earlier date might allow a candidate who did poorly to regroup."  

This made sense! If there was a full month between when New Hampshire voted and the next primary and two months between them and Super Tuesday, all of the candidates could reorganize and get themselves ready for the long haul. In fact, a December primary could disestablish New Hampshire's influence on the rest of the primary. When you take into account that there are 56 days and two of the biggest holidays of the year between December 11 and February 5th (Super Tuesday), I think it is easy to see how New Hampshire could end up having very little impact on the rest of the primaries.

So, as someone who wants New Hampshire to have as little influence as possible this election year, cheers to December 11!

Underestimating the Power of Black Audiences

Tyler Perry’s "Why Did I Get Married?" featuring Perry, Janet Jackson and Jill Scott debuted at No. 1 at the box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $21.5 million, according to estimates obtained by both the Associated Press and by Reuters.

“Married" ended up earning more than the total of both George Clooney’s “Michael Clayton” and Cate Blanchett's “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” films combined. The film grossed $10,691 per screen while playing on a total of only 2,011 screens nationwide.

You can not deny the power of Black films and there audiences. It was quite amazing to sit in a sold out movie theater at 3 o’clock on a Friday afternoon and see a congregation of African Americans come together to support their own. It was great to see a film dealing with real-life issues without stereotypical portrayals of African Americans. “Married” not only sold out theaters here in D.C. but also nationwide bring in an audience that was 90 percent African American and 65 percent female, a demographic Perry knows all to well.

Word-of-mouth buzz and heavy promotion on networks like ABC, TBS, and BET forced audiences to take notice. Perry also used celebrity to bring attention to the film. Along with his faithful church following, Perry was able to market the film to both fan bases of pop icon Janet Jackson and soul songstress Jill Scott, ultimately generating a larger crowd of viewers.

This representation sent one clear message to Hollywood. No longer can you underestimate the power of Black films and there audiences.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-20224630.htm

A Bruise in Apple's Reputation

According to a recent MSNBC.com article, some believe that Apple’s stellar service is failing to keep up with its rapid growth. Apple’s Mac computers are growing three times as fast at the overall PC market. The iPod is burying competition and the iPhone is the one of the most sought after products in the wireless industry. MSNBC.com reports that as Apple pulls in millions more customers with different kinds of products, it’s getting harder to keep them all happy.

The company has become a case study in the challenges of taking a loved brand with a devoted clientele and broadening its share of the computer market and venturing into new businesses. The customer base is becoming larger and more diverse, and therefore harder to satisfy as a whole. While Apple stays at the top of the computer-customer service satisfaction studies, MSNBC.com reports that for the first time since 2001, Apple is slipped few points. It is important to stress that the findings of the report maintain Apple is still at the top.

Following the controversy surrounding the iPhone pricing issues and restrictions, some people have posted heated entries on Apple-related blogs. Complaints have also risen from supposedly unhelpful store employees and call-center representatives. The recent criticism may be due to the hype surrounding the recent product launches, but it is difficult to weigh their complaints against those directed at the rival organizations. Though Apple may have dropped a few points on customer satisfaction survey, they are still in the lead by a large margin. Having used an Apple and PC, I can say that I have never had the types of problems with my Mac like the problems I had with my PC.

In contrast, Apple reports that their customer satisfaction surveys have shown a rise in the past year. The company says that they’ve invested a lot to become #1 with their phone support lines and 185 Apple stores. MSNBC.com suggests that small cracks in Apple’s pristine reputation can be a sign of a larger problem. For example, Dell shoppers complained about service problems for years before the PC maker’s market share began to drop. Apple’s problems are more noticeable because of the high bar they’ve set for themselves. The devoted fans of Apple will remain loyal as long as the company continues to roll out superior, stylish products. I project that more PC users will switch to Macs as they continue to buy iPods and iPhones. As for the service issue, the products that Apple manufactures have fewer problems than competitors, and as long as people are getting a great product, they will forgive Apple for small service issues.


Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21269419/

Is this the right time to right old wrongs?

Is this the right time to address the proper labeling of a tragedy that happened during World War I? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi thinks so. She is not backing down from the vote to properly label the death of about 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide, and that has caused controversy between the American government and one of its key allies in the war in Iraq, Turkey, which does not want to be associated with the word.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted Wednesday 27-21 to approve a non-binding measure that declares the deportation of almost 2 million Armeniens in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 "systematic" and "deliberate." The measure goes on to say that the US believes the deliberation deportation of the Armenians amounted to "genocide," resulting in the death of most of the people. Now Pelosi is pushing for a vote on a House Resolution stating the same thing.

When asked why this is the time to bring the matter to a vote, Pelosi said, "There's never been a good time," but right now is the best time to take action "because many of the survivors are very old" and they deserve to be recognized while they are living. The presence of Armenians in Turkey still causes tension, and the move by Congress has changed the face of the relationship between the country and the US, who relies on Turkey as a transport route for supplies needed by the troops in Iraq.

But others are arguing that after so long, establishing the correct terminology is irrelevant, and may do more harm than good. The Bush Administration is against the vote, stressing the importance of keeping US relationships in the middle east as friendly as possible.

Turkey's General Yasar Buyukanit expressed similar sentiments regarding the resolution. "If this resolution passed in the committee passes the House as well, our military ties with the U.S. will never be the same again," he said, mirroring the statements made by the White House. That sort of back and forth communication pattern is typical during tense periods pre-crisis. If the resolution comes to a vote and indeed passes the House, the communication will likely become even more intense and accusatory between the two countries. Hopefully Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is prepared to handled a possible crisis that may result from these tensions.

Source:http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/14/us.turkey/index.html?iref=newssearch

Witness Loyalty

The Cleveland Indians haven’t won a World Series title since 1948. The Browns haven’t won the Super Bowl since 1964. This year the Cavaliers made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, and they were defeated in a sweep. Still, Clevelanders are among the most loyal fans in professional sports.

When LeBron James, the Cavaliers superstar and icon of Cleveland sports wore and flaunted a Yankees cap to the Cleveland Indians MLB playoff opener against New York, he created a local uproar and found himself and the Cavs in a public relations nightmare.

Cleveland fans booed LeBron, turned their backs, and screamed at him to get out of their stadium. Cleveland’s hometown hero was rooting for the city to be left title-less for a 43rd consecutive year.

During the game, TBS commentator Craig Sager asked the Akron native, “What the hell?” LeBron calmly explained that he was there “representing the Yankees” and that he grew up a Yankees fan and had to support his team but that he was rooting for the Indians as individuals. Wearing a Yankees cap, LeBron antagonized the fans that love him and broke Cleveland’s collective heart.

The following day, LeBron’s perceived disrespectful behavior had stolen the spotlight from the Indian’s monumental win. Indicating their contempt for LeBron’s stance at the following game, fans displayed signs that stated “No LeBrains,” and much worse.

The Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavaliers stadium which sits just across a plaza from Jacobs Field now sports a large banner on the building wishing the Indians good luck in the postseason. A clear move to divert the negative attention LeBron has garnered.

The Indians have since moved past the Yankees and onto the Boston Red Sox for the American League Championship series, but Cleveland’s fans are not so fast to forget.

During The Cavs’ preseason exhibition game last week, only a few hundred fans were in attendance as opposed to the customary four-six thousand supporters the Cavs have seen since LeBron’s inaugural season.

Since the incident, it appears that LeBron’s media advisors have recommended he stay quiet on the subject, perhaps hoping that the Indians’ continued success will eclipse LeBron’s disloyalty in the minds of the fans.

It will be interesting to see how Clevelanders react to LeBron during the Cavs upcoming preseason games and how the Cavaliers franchise works to recover.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/news/story?id=3050742
http://fairandfoul.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/lebron-james/

Photo Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/news/story?id=3050742

Steriod Use Threatens Image of Sports Industry

Last week track star Marion Jones plead guilty in court to lying to a federal investigator about taking banned substances. For years Jones vehemently denied taking any steroids, but she finally admitted to taking a substance known as “the clear” or THG from 1999 to 2001 which includes her time at the 2000 Olympics.

Her admission has already been costly. She may face jail time, lose her five medals from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and she announced that she is retiring from the sport as a result of her shame.

Jones is just the latest athlete to admit to using steroids during competition. Other track athletes include Dwain Chambers, Michelle Collins, Ben Johnson, and Tim Montgomery. Track and field is not the only sport that has been affected by players using steroids. As time goes on, more and more athletes are pleading guilty to playing under the influence of banned substances.

Individual athletes and the sports industry itself needs to frame this issue very carefully. First of all, they need to be careful not to alienate any of their current fans who might lose faith in the natural talent of their athletes. Secondly, they need to be careful not to turn away any potential fans who may be skeptical of a sport with athletes who use steroids. Finally, the issue should also be framed so that children don’t lose their love of sports and faith in their heroes. Children who are interested in particular teams usually continue to support that team throughout their lifetime. Losing their support could be dangerous for many athletes and teams.

Above all else, the sports industry needs to find a more effective way to keep athletes from using steroids, and they need to make sure that the public is aware of the effort. Without some kind of intervention, sports fans may become jaded and turn to other sports, other teams, or other players. A major image overhaul is needed for the entire industry, especially with the Olympics coming up, or the sports industry could suffer.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/05/jones.doping/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

The Powerful Female Voice

Ann Coulter has never been shy about her disdain for liberals. This past week, Coulter shared with the New York Observer that she’s also a misogynist.

Coulter stated: "If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women."

While I understand Coulter’s image is built on extremism and provocation, I think, as a woman, her statements are irresponsible. The media is an influential tool that can give minorities a powerful voice in society and can promote efforts to advance women’s leadership. By using this type of bigoted hate speech, she not only discredits herself but perpetuates the sexism in our culture she undoubtedly faced her entire life.

Newsweek’s October 15 issue however, highlights Women & Power and the leadership role women play in the 21 century. It is my hope that I will continue to see the media showcase messages of equality. Young women should look to the newest issue of Newsweek for role models and recognize that they can overcome the type of discrimination Coulter enables.

Source: http://www.observer.com/2007/coulter-culture
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/

Photo Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/

Bill Clinton's Potential New Role

In a recent article on MSNBC.com, former U.S. President, Bill Clinton commented on what his role would be in the White House if Hillary were to win the election. After being questioned in an interview in Britain, Bill Clinton said his wife wants him to lead efforts to rebuild the United States’ tarnished reputation abroad. He highlighted that it is important to Hillary to restore America’s standing with the rest of the world. Bill Clinton said that for the first time in his political experience, “ordinary Americans in the heartlands,” were concerned about how the world sees the U.S. after years of unilateralism of President Bush’s administration on issues such as Iraq, climate change, and nuclear nonproliferation. Mentioning the support garnered from around the world after 9/11, Bill Clinton said that it was at that moment that we began to enrage the world. Bill Clinton lauded the six-nation North Korea arms talks as an example of success when the United States moved from unilateralism to working with others.

Bill Clinton has stayed out of the spotlight for most of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Although he has been present at most of her campaign events, he has only been vocal about promoting his new book. I think the idea behind this article is a valuable addition to her campaign strategy, highlighting her husband’s role in the White House if she were to win. Michelle Obama has been present throughout Barack Obama’s campaign promoting the idea that they are a team focusing on change. Although the article of Bill Clinton’s role helped place him in the picture, it focused on what she wanted him to do, not what he thought he might be able to use his new position to achieve. I think Hillary would be smart to draw on her husband’s presidential experience as a valuable component of her campaign.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21148401/

A Music Video Can Say a Thousand (Misinterpreted) Words

John Mellencamp's social activism has not had the reaction he likely hoped it would. His new song about the recent events in the town of Jena, Louisiana and the corresponding music video were meant to tell the story of a the town's tragedy, when nooses were hung from a big oak tree outside Jena High School and a black freshman asked whether black students could sit under it. A white student was beaten unconscious three months later, in December, and five black students have been charged with outrageous crimes.

However genuine his intentions though, Mellencamp's song has not been perceived positively by the town's mayor, Murphy R. McMillin. He does not approve of the juxtaposition of the song's lyrics with the images in the music video, which are primarily representative of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. In response to the video McMillin said, "To put the incident in Jena in the same league as those who were murdered in the 1960s cheapens their sacrifice and insults their memory." He also commented on the misrepresentation of the town of Jena by the media, who have concentrated on the recent alarming incident of racism and all but ignored the positive aspects of the town and how it has come together to support each other in spite of the crisis.

That was not the point of the song, however. "The song is not written as an indictment of the people of Jena but, rather, as a condemnation of racism," says a statement on Mellencamp's website. It seems that the song itself could have had the desired effect had it not been paired with a video of such strong images as Martin Luther King speaking, members of the Ku Klux Klan, and civil rights marches that still have an impact today. This incident is a good example of how words by themselves can have one meaning and that meaning can change drastically when paired with certain images. Unfortunately the attention being paid to the controversy over the song would be much better served if paid to the pressing issue of racism itself.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/06/jena.six.mellencamp.ap/index.html

Name That Arena: Izod or Rocawear

The Continental Airlines Arena will not be the new home for the Rocawear “Roc” symbol. Rap mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, part-owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets, who also plays at the arena, will have to find another venue to name after his clothing company. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority have decided to award naming rights to competing clothing maker Izod. The former Continental Airlines Arena will now be called the Izod Center. According to the Associated Press, Authority officials said Izod's marketing skills were a major factor in their decision to award the company the naming rights, noting that Izod would save the authority money by providing its own marketing and advertising for arena events.

Although the Expostion Authority gave logical marketing reasons for their decision, it is still noticeable that black-owned businesses are still battling image issues no matter how much money is in the bank. According to the official Rocawear website, Rocawear is a dominant lifestyle apparel brand with annual retail sales over $700 million. The brand has also expanded its appeal beyond the national borders, becoming a brand of international significance. Rocawear effectively markets to consumers of an entire lifestyle while using substantial amount of non-traditional methodology within their marketing mix. However this mix was not good enough for the Authority.

Here are some more “possible” reasons why Rocawear failed in the bid:

• The clothing line has only been around for 12 years compared to Izod who’s been around since the 1900s.
  


• Rocawear is marketed to many demographics; however, it was birthed by Hip-Hop culture while Izod has more of a universal, save, All-American “cookie cutter” image.
  


• Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group. The Exposition Authority would then have to deal with several parties, which means more money.
  


• The Exposition Authority could possibly be concerned that the general public will be turned off by the hip-hop connection.
  
  Source: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur37379.cfm?pid=baw
  

Reality TV With a Conscience

The new season of America's Next Top Model is underway, and the show is out to make an even bigger impression than usual this time around. With all the negative attention that the modeling world usually attracts, with problems with eating disorders and diva models involved with legal problems, the reality tv show has always sought to show the positive things modeling can do for a young generation of girls. Each season a couple "plus-size" girls are given the chance to participate, helping to rid young girls of the stereotype of models as unhealthily skinny. The show also travels abroad every season with a small group of remaining contestants, in an attempt to teach the girls about international problems and cultures. This year however, they have gone above and beyond and are trying to use the show's popularity to really do something good.

After the first photoshoot showed the nasty effects of smoking, the show's creator and host, model Tyra Banks, announced that this season will be smoke free. The contestants are forbidden from smoking while participating on the show. This is a dramatic departure from typical image of stick-skinny models puffing away that, although they try to avoid on the show, is inevitable in a house full of young women trying to stay thin. The move is an attempt at improving the image of models and showing the young viewers that it is a cause important to the show.

The show, and Banks, are no stranger to controversy. Banks has made it clear that she wants to set a good example for young girls, both on Top Model and on her talk show, where she often presents controversial topics for discussion and as concepts for photo shoots. In a previous season, photoshoots involved model stereotypes, with contestants posing in dramatic positions and environments. Banks herself has been the subject of media scrutiny after gaining weight when she retired from modeling. She made the most of the negative criticism however by showing that women of all shapes and sizes can be beautiful.

Not only has America's Next Top Model taken a stand against smoking, the show is "going green" this season. The model contestants are encouraged to recycle and take shorter showers to preserve natural resources, and the bus that drives them to photoshoots and challenges runs on bio-fuels rather than gasoline.

Bringing attention to the pertinent issues that the show is addressing can only help to bring about positive changes. The show reaches viewers who are susceptible to media persuasion, and who while they likely won't listen to issues on CNN, they will listen when the same issues are presented in a format they care about. America's Next Top Model may not be the best tool to bring about social change, but it is taking appropriate steps toward addressing problems that are important to its audience.

Dead Air Fights Childhood Obesity

When I was a kid Saturday mornings were all about watching TV. "Saved by the Bell," "Hang Time," "Recess," I couldn’t wait to watch these shows when I woke up. This Saturday Nickelodeon will be airing three hours of a blank television screen in an effort to get kids to go out and play. After the dead air, the network will air the “Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge” which shows what kids have been doing to stay healthy and fit.

Nickelodeon’s participation in the fourth annual worldwide day of play is the network’s response to the growing problem of childhood obesity. To accomplish this goal, Nickelodeon teamed up with the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

Obviously, Nickelodeon is doing its best to promote a kid-friendly image. It’s sending the message that not only does the network want to entertain kids, but it wants them to grow up to be healthy and strong adults. It’s an excellent way for the network to generate positive publicity and portray the image of the caring television network.

Part of the problem, in my opinion, is that the program doesn’t even begin until noon. By noon a lot of kids are already away from the television and out doing things. Saturday mornings are typically when the most appealing shows air. If Nickelodeon really wanted to tackle the issue of obesity, why not have kids turn off their TVs during more popular viewing hours? Or, why not have all the programming for that day be related to health and fitness?

In the end, it doesn’t matter how I view the situation. I’m not a parent and I’m not a kid. Honestly, if I turned on Nickelodeon and saw what they were doing this Saturday, I would most likely commend the network for doing something so unique and proactive to fight obesity. Kudos to Nickelodeon for taking the initiative to fight childhood obesity while boosting their own image.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/28/timetoplay.ap/index.html

To Pay or Not to Pay? Radiohead Tries a New Marketing Strategy

To pay or not to pay? That is the question that Radiohead fans will be asking themselves come October 10th since for their forthcoming album In Rainbows, Radiohead has decided to let each customer decide how much to pay for the album, (including not paying anything) using the slogan "It's Up To You." The new album will only be available for download from their website at first (www.inrainbows.com), though a special edition CD/vinyl box set is set to be released on December 3rd. However, the special edition set is far from being free, costing approximately $80. 

I was a bit skeptical of this at first, so I decided to try it out for myself. At first, I had a bit of trouble getting to the site (which I later found out was because of heavy traffic to the site) but I was eventually able to get to the checkout portion of the site. Sure enough, where a price would normally be listed, there were just two blank boxes, allowing me to charge myself whatever I wanted. Since my net worth at the moment is in the negatives, I decided to go for the free option and listed my price as $0.00. After briefly registering with the site, I finally arrived at my order confirmation page, which does indeed list my order total as $0.00.

Now I imagine that some of you might be scorning me right now for not even offering up a dollar for the album, and actually, I agree with you. However, I did this for two reasons. First, I wanted to see if it was actually true (who isn't skeptical of something claiming to be free), and second, before I offer up anything, I want to hear it. If I like it, I'll go back and "buy" it again, paying as much as I think it is worth. If I don't like it, then I'll probably end up deleting it. 

As I began to think about this marketing tactic more in depth, I realized just how smart of a strategy it is. Take myself for example. While I have heard of Radiohead before and even have few of their songs in my iTunes library, I would have never even thought about, or even known about, picking up this new album. Even though it was free, if it turns out I like it, I will probably be giving them a few bucks for it, and I might even be inclined to purchase some of their past albums. By using this unique marketing strategy, Radiohead is getting tons of free advertising from the media, and is gaining the attention of a huge number of potential customers for the future. 

The other ingenious aspect of this marketing strategy is its timing. Radiohead just announced the release date and pricing details for In Rainbows on October 1st, meaning that there are only nine days before the album is released. This short notice serves two notable purposes. First, it prevents tracks from being leaked on the web, especially since it is only able to be downloaded. Second, it allows the news coverage of the unique pricing model to become the advertising for the album, saving them thousands in advertising dollars.

So why aren’t more artists using this strategy? Well the biggest reason is that Radiohead didn’t use a record label for this album. In a day and age where the top four record labels control about 70% of the world music market, this is almost unheard of. Record labels are responsible for producing, manufacturing, distributing and promoting albums, so without one, a new album could be dead before it even hits the street. Most bands, especially those who are relatively unknown, are not willing to risk launching an album without a record label. 

While the success or failure of this album will indeed have a large impact on Radiohead, I think that the success or failure of this pricing model will have an even greater impact on other musicians and the record labels. If they can show that this model was successful, more musicians will put pressure on the record labels to incorporate it into their next album release. So, if you really want the price of more albums to be “Up to You,” I recommend going and buying this album, no matter what you decide the price should be. 

As Adam Frucci from the tech site Gizmodo.com so eloquently wrote in his story on this new strategy, "Yes, that sound you just heard was the music industry collectively crapping its pants."

A Headache for Advil

According to a recent article on CNN.com, the maker of Advil, Wyeth, will be running ads to clarify that a stronger dosage of pain reliever will not be available. Some retailers were advertising in flyers that the new medicine would be on store shelves soon. Advil’s new ads state, “Any notice of the availability of Advil Maximum Strength was in error: Advil Maximum Strength is not available for sale. We apologize to our retailers and their shoppers.” The article goes on to report the different types of Advil that are currently available to consumers and then reports the recently dropped stock price.

I was surprised that this article was one of the top stories on the health page at CNN.com. It seemed to be extremely biased, shifting the blame to the retailers, claiming that they falsely advertised the product. In the article, Advil is framed as a responsible corporation fixing the retailer’s mistake and using the miscommunication to explain the lowered stock price. The story does not cover any details regarding why the FDA did not approve the new drug. A news story should offer the audience significant information presented with balance and objectivity to be considered newsworthy. There are many other health dilemmas that are far more important that CNN.com should be covering.

source: http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/28/news/companies/wyeth.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes

Saying Less Might Be Best for Bill O'Reilly

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly says his review of soul food Harlem restaurant Sylvia's is being taken out of context and was not racist. On his radio show, O'Reilly spoke of taking civil rights leader Al Sharpton to Sylvia’s and "couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's Restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City.

This comment and others prompted a broader discussion on the persistence of prejudice in American society, circulated by Media Matters for America, a media watchdog group that has been highly critical of O'Reilly. In a snowball effect, other media organizations then picked up the comments. In a written statement, Bill Shine, Fox's vice president for programming, added, "This is nothing more than left-wing outlets stirring up false racism accusations for ratings. It's sad.”

Take a look at some of O’Reilly comments:

• “I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship."It was the same, and that's really what this society's all about now here in the U.S.A. There's no difference."
  


• "Wasn’t any kind of craziness at all" during his dinner with Sharpton: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M.F.-er, I want more iced tea.”

In typical O’Reilly fashion, Bill O’Reilly comments about Black America has once again come under scrutiny. When will it stop? Will I call this man racist? No. However, to be considered a so-called professional American political communicator, he sure is full of stereotypes and misconceptions of Black America.

For example, there are several stereotypes in his recent comments. For starters, why even bring up the fact that a black own restaurant is no different then any other restaurant in New York City? If I’m not mistaken restaurants are categorized by food origin, not labeled by race of owner. O’Reilly also mentioned there was no craziness. Are you implying that black establishments are known to be run chaotically? Lastly, his use of word ‘M.F.-er’. This word is linked to the stereotypical perception of lingo that's used within the Black community.

If O’Reilly continues to produce constant stereotypical remarks, the fire that fuels media watchdog groups like Media Matters for America will continue to stay lit. He can not continue to throw controversial dialog and not expect people to respond or even misinterpret his words.

It’s safe to say that O’Reilly community relations efforts are substantially damaged, especially in the Black community and there’s no real solution other then to watch what he's says.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/26/oreilly.race/index.html?iref=newssearch