Journalism

I couldn't help it... I have to post this journalist request just by virtue of the fact that it is so detailed and thorough...

A journalist writing for a major women's magazine sends the following query: I'm looking for a variety of unique experts who can explain how you can (successfully) have sex in the following locations: in the ocean/pool/hot tub; during a dinner party; in the mountains (while on a hike, for example); on the beach; in a movie theater; in a public library; in the shower. For example, what should you consider beforehand? What should you wear? When should you try it? What "props" prove helpful ? (For example, perhaps a sleeping bag is better on the beach than a blanket because less sand gets in. Also, maybe applying baby powder beforehand is a good idea because it helps remove the sand stuck to your body.) Ideally, in some of these cases, the expert had experience with this sort of thing (a former librarian, for example, can weigh in on the library scenario).

A dinner party? Really?

Twitter a Journo

@ericasmith, who runs the graphicdesignr blog, has posted an amazing list of 793 reporters, editors and newspapers who are using Twitter. Following these folks will not only help you get a better perspective on what they are writing but also could lead to a valuable reporter relationship.

Crap, they're on to us...

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." - The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus.

Message boards are to gamers what the wretched teaming shore is to the huddled masses. Yearning to breathe free, gamers flood comment sections, forums and messageboards eager to spout their opinion, extrapolate on what they think is newsworthy and generally look for the opportunity to make the next poster feel like absolute s#$! about themselves.

It's a fascinating ecosystem to watch, and one in which I participated in as a voyeur for many years before coming to my job which made it a requirement. Silently watching, scrolling we’ve been tracking what gamers are saying, what industry announcements are significant, and what new ways to say pwned have emerged for years now. Well apparently, they’re on to us.

1UP has an extensive article examining the effects of messageboards on the gaming industry, featuring interviews with developers, journalists and people just like me (except they have more impressive sounding job titles and significantly bigger pay checks). The stories of these individuals range from those who have tried too hard to fit in to the crowd, those who ignore the crowd, and those who love messageboards for exactly what they are. A ridiculous, over-the-top, mind numbing source of fiber and news.

The article asks “Do marketers keep their ear to the ground at NeoGAF and other message boards? Do they track public reaction to their promotional efforts?”

Some PR types admitted to doing exactly that and commented on how it affects their plans.
“At every level, we have people who follow the trends closely and pay attention to what the community takes to and what the community skewers.”
Elizabeth Tobey (community manager, 2K Games)

Others tend to be more cautious:
“We live in an online world where anything we say and do is disseminated on a global scale in an instant. This has revolutionized the way we do marketing and PR. While we are always thinking about our campaigns through a digital, global lens, we do not micromanage our campaigns in reaction to any one online moment.”
Tammy Schachter (senior director of PR, EA Games)

A NeoGAF moderator, one of the prime examples of a vitriolic and fantastic gaming messageboards, noted that his community does not respond well to such efforts, saying “I'd like to think GAFers could smell a rat, but it seems like a good percentage of them can't even smell the ones right under their noses.”

So with such a huge potential of backfiring, questionable analysis of content, and enough bad grammar and hate mongering to make a Klan member feel bashful, what’s the value of a messageboard and how do PR types go about using it? How involved with the conversations should we get, considering how easy it is for a forum moderator to look up your IP address and tell everyone exactly who you work for and the latitude/longitude of where you posted from?

I’ve seen success to a certain extent with “MVP” programs where companies designate particularly level-headed forum posters, and encourage them to actively remain a voice of reason. By providing these individuals with slightly increased access to the company, community members tend to congregate around every post these individuals make. It doesn’t stop more high-strung posters from calling these MVPs corporate shills and digitally spitting in their face, but it at least insures that a larger crowd is seeing some more levelheaded messaging. Other than that, these forums are excellent sources of news and trends. With 1000s of people posting leaked info, screenshots, developer interviews and much more daily, messageboards are like google alerts on steroids.

What do you think?

Oh yeah, and really, go read the 1UP article.

American Journalism

Today I take a break from reposting reporter inquiries and making snarky remarks about them to talk about something of much greater importance. Blogs. Some people in our office say that they'll be big in 2008.
First lets talk about hawt blog-on-blog action. Blogs have a long and valued history of backscratching for each other. But what happens when those relationships turn sour? Kotaku and Time magazine recently traded blows after Lev Grossman declared that the Kotaku writers spend too much time writing about game-related food, pornstars, tattoos and art projects. Personal objections aside (I see nothing wrong with mixing games, food, pornstars, tattoos, art and projects; in fact I'd consider that an excellent weekend), I was really hoping that this would turn into something bigger, on the scale of a Pulitzer v. Hearst, a Yellow Blogging incident that would escalate until it eventually starts a war in a remote location after a random Gawker site mysteriously explodes. Unfortunately, both sites’ writers just maturely agreed to disagree. Blegh, lame.
To make my dreams come true, I’m going to go on a hunt and find another site similar to Fizzle-Pop and call them out. I will make sure to out-sensationalize everything they do until they feel the need to fight back. I will use only my best “yo mama” jokes to cut them to the bone. And when all is said and done, only one blog will be left standing atop the corpsey bits of html code. Fizzle-Pop.

So if anyone has any suggestions on which blog should become my next target, leave a comment and it will be done.

American Journalism

I'm looking for a pro who can give tips/tricks on how to unstick a zipper that has gotten caught on an item of clothing.

I really need to learn to start posting something new but these are just too good to pass up. I could have saved so many pairs of pants and backpacks and body bags if I could have just had these handy tips that I'm sure this profnet will generate.

Peter Shankman--THIS IS WHAT NOT TO DO

Thanks Peter! These are hilarious.

1. QUERY I am looking for Long Islanders 50 and older who are in debt or have been in debt, to interview for a Newsday article.

Answer: My client is a 30-year-old bank executive who can talk about how Americans no longer face debt, given today’s booming economy. Please call me.

2. QUERY As the number of people “pimping their rides,” has increased, so have questions about what is covered in car insurance. I have spoken to many insurers, but now need the other side of the equation.

Answer: My client is the leading used car sales company in Edgewater, New Jersey. Used cars are the wave of the future, given today’s sinking economy. Please call me.

3. QUERY I’m working on a piece for MSN.com about things to look for in a school system when taking a teaching job.

Answer: My client owns an arts-and-crafts store that caters to teachers. We have exceptional end-of-year sales in March, which your readers may want to take advantage of, given today’s booming economy. Please call me.

4. QUERY I need someone who can discuss credit card basics, such as choosing a card and managing debt.

Answer: My client is the leading manufacturer of ATMs sold to mom-and-pop grocery stores. Did you know that cash is the wave of the future and consumers are opting out of using their credit cards, given today’s sinking economy? Please call me.

5. QUERY I need two experts who can advise parents of tweens and teens about money dilemmas.

Answer: My client owns a baby clothes boutique nestled in the heart of Soho.Parents love her charming designs for infant boys and girls, particularly in today’s booming economy. Please call me.

6. QUERY Is there anyone out there who has had a 401(k) since the 1980s? I’d like to hear from 1-2 people who can talk about they’re glad (orunhappy?) that they’ve been investing in their 401(k) all this time.

Answer: My client runs the largest 80’s-only karaoke club in all of Bayside, Queens. Karaoke is making a comeback, as it is an inexpensive way to spend a fun evening in today’s sinking economy. Please call me.

7. QUERY I am looking for individuals to talk about their experience with government jobs versus “civilian” jobs.

Answer: My client is the President. He’d like to talk to you about today’s booming economy. Please call me.

American Journalism

PARENTING/TODAY: I Left My 9-Year-Old at Bloomingdale's to Find His Way Home Alone in NYC
My son kept begging for the chance to be "left" somewhere so he could figure out the subway and bus he'd need to make his way home. So on a sunny day two weeks ago, I left him at a Bloomie's perfume counter here in New York, with a MetroCard and $20 for emergencies. Naturally, he made his way, no problem (we live in Manhattan). He was happy, I was happy; but some friends think this was tantamount to child abuse. Since New York City is as safe as it was in 1963, I don't see why we keep our kids penned up as if this is Baghdad. But I'd like to hear your thoughts on whether we baby our kids too much.

Although this is not much of an inquiry (as in what sort of credible experts is this reporter hoping to find with this profnet), it is a fine illustration of excellent parenting. If more parents did this, it would teach their kids self-sufficiency and street smarts in addition to exercise (nothing gets the heart rate going like running from Crackhead Jerry on the corner). Unfortunately, most kids will be learning to navigate the streets while picking up hookers and blowing up cop cars in Grand Theft Auto IV which comes out next month. At least they'll be getting their street smarts from somewhere.

American Journalism

"I need to talk to health care providers on the types of health conditions that may hamper a satisfying sex life in men and women over age 75 or 80+. What steps can be taken to renew their vigor, and increase intimacy?"

I know this is really immature of me to post, but if my boss can get a kick out of googling male enhancement patches then I get to post journalist requests of how to get it on once the walker and cane are bedside.

FYI this picture of G.O.B. from Arrested Development will now be used for every "American Journalism" post because when I think of America, I think of G.O.B. and when I think of Journalism, I think of puppets.

Now back to surfing youtube... what the... why is it blocked all the sudden...

American Journalism

1. DATING: Men's Shoes and Dating -- I'm looking for dating stories from women who have either been turned off or turned on by a pair of men's shoes on a date. Both experts and non-experts welcome. Feel free to share the whole story. These will appear in a series of articles I'm writing about what men's shoes say about them and their love potential.
Really?

8. RELATIONSHIPS/TODAY: 30-Day Sex Challenge
I'm looking to hear what people think of a minister's request to have his followers have sex on a daily basis for 30 days to help stem the soaring divorce rate. Since time is short, e-mail me your thoughts directly.
I've never heard of a better reason to get married.

American Journalism

"For a top U.S. daily, I need *on-the-record* anecdotes from people willing to speak about their feelings about romancing on the road. Can you comment on how you felt when a colleague indulged in a reckless one-night stand on a business trip? Have you ever been approached on a plane or train, and/or had to rebuff someone because you are married or simply not interested? Does your company have rules about it? Does business travel tend to lead people to cast away their fears?"
Who is going to go on the record for this sorta thing?

"I'm looking for a style expert or pop culture scholar to discuss how Hitler made it forever impossible for men to sport a little mustache, even if that's the style that looks best on them."
Is this the best his legacy has to offer? The loss of a little mustache that looks like your frat brothers smeared crap on your upper lip?

"I'm interested in talking to folks about the Twodaloo, a toilet that features facing seats that allows couples to, well, do their thing together. Feel free to e-mail me your comments directly. Please include your identifying information, as well as a phone number, in case I have to follow up."
My favorite thing ever. Nothing says true love like blasting the porcelain together, as a couple. And nothing says great journalism like a story about true love.