StoryTeller Media & Communications
Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller
Communications
How Long Should Your Online Video Be?
We’re asked this question quite a bit and the answer varies depending on the audience, but by and large, we think brevity is the key when posting online content. For example, this video is a speedy 28-seconds!
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
The Everlasting Christmas Shopping Season
I don’t watch much television these days and when I do it’s usually either a news show or a sporting event. Sorry, NBC, but “must see TV” doesn’t really get seen in our house. That said, I’ve noticed the surge of Christmas shopping advertisements on TV and frankly I find it a bit obnoxious. “Black Friday” hype wasn’t enough, now it has to be “Black Friday,” before Friday, just in case it’s red Friday instead of black! I get it, I understand and appreciate the challenges of retailers, but I wonder at times, where does it end? Will we some day start seeing “early Christmas shopping” specials in August? I can hear it now, “it’s not too early to get a jump on Christmas!”
When our kids were little we used to read to them a Sesame Street story called “Elmo Saves Christmas.”
In the story, Elmo, is granted a wish and he asks that every day be Christmas. Well, that was a great idea until the little red muppet realized that if every day is Christmas, the holiday is really not that special anymore. As I look at the growing Christmas shopping season I think about Elmo and wonder, “where does it end?” Will retailers extend the season so long that Christmas morning gets lost in the sales and deep discounts? Or have we already reached that point?
Broadcast News: The Movie and In Real Life
In the movie “Broadcast News” (1987), 
there is a part in which Albert Brooks character, “Aaron Altman,” says to Holly Hunter’s character “Jane Craig” the following about William Hurt’s character “Tom Granick,” “please don’t take it wrong when I tell you that I believe that Tom, while a very nice guy, is the Devil.” He goes on to explain that, of course the devil isn’t going to look like a devil, he’ll be attractive and nice and helpful and that he won’t really do anything evil, “he will just bit by little bit lower standards where they are important. Just coax along flash over substance…Just a tiny bit.”
That part of the movie resonated with me as I was reflecting upon the television news business and the changes that have occurred over the last 25 years. Clearly, much of the mainstream news media has gone to an “infotainment” format as competition for “eyeballs” has increased with the internet. There are seemingly more “Tom Granick” type of people in the media (flash over substance) and a watering down of coverage to make news easier to “digest” for the general public. In other words, to me, the movie “Broadcast News” has taken on some qualities of George Orwell’s classic “1984.”
When I first watched “Broadcast News” in the theaters in 1987, the most memorable part of the film was Albert Brooks flop sweat while reading the weekend news (still one of the funniest scenes in the movie). However, watching it again some 23 years later, I found myself marveling in the prophetic nature of the flick and wondering how, or if, the mainstream media will ever get back to a higher standard of news.
Lunch with Jeff Prouty of The Prouty Project
One of the most enjoyable part of our work is meeting new people and making new friends in various businesses. We’ve recently crossed paths with a wonderfully creative and interesting strategic planning group called, The Prouty Project. Jeff Prouty, a former Price-Waterhouse guy, is the CEO and founder. He’s also one of our new favorite people. Jeff and his team work with CEO’s, upper level management teams and boards of directors to help them dream big and then reach their dreams. Their mission statement says it all: “We exist to creatively stretch leaders to achieve bigger goals, bolder strategies and better collaboration.
Media Training 101: Fact or Fiction?
It’s no secret to those who know me that I’m enjoying my post-television news career. What I don’t share quite as quickly is the, previously unexpressed, appreciation for the work that is done by those in the news business. The revelation occurred after listening to clients talk about what they believe are “truths” about how the media works. One of the joys I have in our work is helping those same people understand more about how the media actually operates. Part of that process in our media training is something we call, “Media: Fact or Fiction.” Here’s a snippet:
Finding the Right Job Sometimes Means Saying No
We recently offered a job to a young candidate to help with a critical part of our business. This is a job that the young person would grow into and develop, which in plain terms means, what this job is today is not what it’s going to be. We were (and are!) looking for a unique person with very specific skills and experience. Certainly not someone who falls off the proverbial turnip truck. Fortunately, she turned it down.
Are You a Good Business Partner?
Are you a good partner? In business we like to talk about “partnerships” and “building relationships,” but what does that mean? What it means to be a good partner may be different for me than to you. In my mind, being a good partner in business is no different than being a good partner to a spouse or friend.
Social Media Conversation: More of You, Less of Me
The phrase “less of me, more of you” has some “faith” relevance and it also has tremendous relevance in our relationships with other people especially in social media. When you’re online in the social media portal of choice, how much time are you spending “talking” rather than “listening?” How often do you try to help others rather than try to attract more attention to yourself?
When Talking is Better Than Texting
One of the longest running and biggest challenges of emails and text messages is inflection and expression. Sure, you can write in ALL CAPS IF YOU REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE A POINT and you can smile 
or wink;), but so much is still lost in translation. Then there are those who hide behind e-mail in communication. You know the people who do it, in fact, maybe you even do it. But why?
How Does Social Media Effect Traditional Media?
Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo recently proclaimed his “lifer” status with the Spartans after considering a job opportunity with the Cleveland Cavaliers. As Izzo deliberated this life changing decision, the rumor mill was cranking away with reporters tapping sources, staking out near the basketball complex in East Lansing and outside Izzo’s offices. There were even some reporters contacting Izzo’s mother to see if she had any insight into what was going on inside her son’s mind.
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