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."