StoryTeller Media & Communications | Public Relations | Marketing | Video Production
Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller
media relations
Who is Following You on Twitter?
It used to be that whenever I received a notification that someone was following me on Twitter that I would get a little excited thinking, “hey, I’m building a nice little group of followers.” However, as Twitter has grown and changed and become infiltrated by marketers and people schlepping product, I find myself asking more and more, “why does this person want to follow me?”
The I Generation
Has anyone labeled this current generation of teenagers? I mean, we have Gen Y, Gen-X, Boomers, etc. How about this: Gen-I? It would be fitting, wouldn’t it? This group has grown up with the iPod, iPod touch, iPod shuffle, iTunes, iPhone and iPad. Heck, if they have $100 a year, they can even have a me.com account. My question is, will this be a generation that has the ability to think of anyone but themselves first? You say, well, at least there’s YouTube, but even their moniker is “Broadcast Yourself.”
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.
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.
The Key to Happiness: Setting Realistic Expectations
Parenthood teaches you many things. Some things you expect to learn, like changing a diaper in the back of a car or simply changing a diaper! Then there are things that I’ve learned through raising children that have less to do with bringing up kids than about life itself. They have taught me that most things in relationships revolve around expectations.
Are You Afraid of Social Media?
Fear is powerful. Think of all the things you do, or don’t do because of fear. It’s certainly a factor for a lot of people who remain on the social media sideline and in some cases I can’t blame them. For example, any business that isn’t doing a great job and knows it, any company that isn’t taking care of their people or customers or any company that generates income by taking advantage of people should be afraid. If I were any of those people or businesses, I would really be fearful of social media because it can ruin me much faster than I would otherwise ruin myself.