Bell Pottinger USA Blog

Super Bowl XLI: Make room for casual fans

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:10:00 GMT

With the Patriots no longer contending and Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, I have been thinking about the kind of sports fan I am. Talking with friends and co-workers, this is a phenomenon that deserves attention.

I am talking about the casual fan—those who enjoy the sport from a distance. Sometimes referred to as bandwagon or fairweather fans, these are people who enjoy the excitement, anticipation, celebrations, passion and personalities that emerge as the regular season comes to and end and playoffs begin.

These supporters- many of them female- rarely read sports pages or watch ESPN, but come playoff season, start to pay attention, becoming minor experts in a short period of time. They collect fan gear, and at work, talk about games, players and discuss how they plan to watch the next big game.

Bandwagon fans face ridicule by more devout supporters. They are criticized for not knowing the game and for showing interest only when a team is winning and the good times are rolling.

While there may be truth to that, it’s time to defend the casual sports appreciator. Fairweather fans bring balance to the party, not flying off the handle when things go badly and maintaining a more philosophical approach to winning and losing. We recover more quickly and find enjoyment in many of the less obvious aspects of a game, like uniform styles, stadium design, music selection, menu planning and the antics of fans, staff and players away from the center of action.

As the forty-first approaches, it is safe to say that Super Bowl Sunday has earned a place on the American calendar comparable to a national holiday. And, as with most national holidays, groups and individuals honor, observe and celebrate in diverse ways.

As you sit down (or not) for this weekend’s event, take a moment to appreciate the bandwagon fans in your life: how they signify the closing of a good season and the positive, if not naïve, energy that they bring to the sporting experience.

In Praise of Small Publications

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 23:49:00 GMT

Dealing with clients and prospects, PR people often run into a familiar problem—a hesitance to “waste time” on small, lesser known news outlets in favor of the large national publications, which they feel promises greater exposure. Many don’t realize though that a well-placed byline or feature story in a smaller, more targeted publication can be far more effective in driving the right people to the business.

Case in point - managing public relations for a technology manufacturing company, the account team recently succeeded in gaining coverage in Maximum PC Magazine. As a result of the positive product review, phones in sales began ringing. The client could not keep the product in stock and had to hire a new customer service representative to keep up with demand.

Later, the company gained coverage in USA Today, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, but in terms of sales, nothing approached the leads generated by that one tech publication review.

By no means am I suggesting that companies target only smaller circulation outlets. My point is that successful public relations involves pursuing and respecting all targets, large and small.

What clients do not always appreciate is that, in many cases, niche publications deliver better business results than splashy national coverage. Whether it’s an independent blogger, an engineering-focused newsletter or an industry-specific trade publication, clients should never underestimate the power that readers of such publications can yield.

It’s about reaching the right audience – the people most likely to respond to a message and be motivated to purchase or investigate the product or service. For a B2B software firm, that might mean being covered in a vertical like Product Design and Development, which is read by people who are directly concerned with achieving more effective business processes.

For a wireless consultant, coverage in a telecom trade like Wireless Week can be infinitely more valuable in driving sales than coverage in a major business publication like Forbes or Business Week.

Remember that reporters have careers too. They change beats and move from publication to publication. Establishing good relationships with editors across relevant media can deliver lasting rewards. Reporters remember the companies who provide valuable information and who are cooperative in helping to round out stories, meet deadlines or just hold an informal conversation on a given topic.

Today’s niche trade reporter may be tomorrow’s national news publication writer, so it’s important to be versatile and responsive in the way clients and PR people relate to all members of the media. And the news food chain moves in both directions- reporters from large publications turn to small publications for research on an unfamiliar topic. The more an organization appears in online searches, the more it creates a reputation for itself when the “big” reporter- or customer- goes looking for information.

Boston 1/31- better safe than sorry?

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:58:00 GMT

All of Boston is buzzing with the controversy surrounding yesterday's mistaken, so-called terror scare. The majority opinion is that the city bumbled at every level and that we should be appalled at the chaos, confusion and waste created by local officials. In addition, those responsible for placing blinking, battery-powered devices under bridges and on public landmarks- essentially shutting down the city for hours- are described as artists and innocent scapegoats. While it is clear that officials over-reacted, I can't help but think Mayor Menino and his minions are being judged too harshly. The gross arrogance of the entertainment industry seems more to blame. As the competition for dwindling broadcast audiences grows more heated everyday, tactics to gain attention of fickle viewers with too many choices become more desperate and tasteless (really, a cartoon character giving the finger qualifies as art?). I can't help but think that in placing the Lite-Brite-esque signs at such points around the city, those responsible were well aware of the "terror" associations they might be making, albeit tongue in cheek. In following today's outpouring of criticism and analysis, there is a smug air of "oh you silly, brainwashed, post 9/11 people" running through. While some of us may in fact be jumpy and confused when it comes to public and private safety, it's an understandable condition. In a time when baby formula, shampoo and lip gloss are classified as dangerous weapons, it should come as no surprise that blinking electronic plaques stuck under bridges could set off panic. It is arrogant of the program producers to assume their images are so well known that passersby would simply smirk in recognition and look forward to catching the next episode. Granted, similar campaigns were launched in other cities simultaneously and no other administrations "freaked" the way we did in Boston yesterday. But that is not an argument, in my opinion. As most of us learned as kids, when you play a prank on a group of people, there is always the chance that someone will end up suffering for your sense of humor. In recent years, officials in other parts of this country have been ripped apart for not responding adequately to threats and warnings. In Boston yesterday, officials may have gone too far in trying to ensure the same did not happen here.

This Press Release was Written for Google

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:05:00 GMT

These days we find ourselves knee deep in the rebirth of the press release. Not only are our press releases getting distributed by e-mail and fax (yes, for some the fax does still exist), it is now necessary to ensure that they are optimized for online searches. No longer mere news announcements, press releases have become part of a client’s marketing content that is indexed by search engines.

That means hyperlinks, images and keyword phrases, (all strategically placed throughout the document to ensure maximum exposure), contribute to the all-important effort of making sure the client’s name and news come up when someone enters a particular search phrase into Google. The challenge here is to maximize search engine criteria while at the same time keeping the news somewhat “human,” so that editors and the average reader take interest in the story, instead of passing over an obvious piece of marketing material.

Interestingly, journalists are also beginning to optimize stories as content, albeit cautiously. (See New York Times article from April 9, 2006: This Boring Headline was Written for Google). For a given article, mainstream media writers are composing multiple headlines for a given story- one that appeals to search engines and another that captures the eyes of human beings.

This split also seems to be where public relations is headed. There’s the press release compiled for digital perception, followed by the version for human consumption. What I wonder is, as “search engine optimization” becomes the business mantra, will the key-word-driven text ultimately replace the more narrative, informative versions?

While there are definite advantages to making the most of SEO standards, there are also concerns. As everything and everyone grows more consumed by the online marketing game, we may be teetering on the edge of a new world of communication and expression. PR people have long been accused of twisting messages and creating spin, but this may pale in comparison to the new age of Search Engine-ese.

What I like about HIMSS

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:45:00 GMT

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society annual convention in New Orleans. Not typically a trade show fan, this one was more informative and energizing than most. Here a few reasons why I look forward to the next HIMSS event: 1. Having myself experienced the inefficiencies of existing US HIT systems (redundant forms, lost files, inefficient billing, prescribing errors), it was gratifying to meet and talk with the passionate, intelligent people who are doing things to address such problems and to see the progress that has been made so far 2. Working for years with clients in various healthcare and IT "silos," I feel like I am on history's doorstep witnessing the ways in which systems, policies and practices are coming together to improve the care, conditions, opportunities and environments for so many 3. Vendors, speakers and attendees from across the industry conveyed excitement, as IT products and services begin to bridge payer, provider and patient interest gaps, helping to cure the ills of our healthcare system and enhance the value for all parties 4. Convention planners did a superb job managing the show. Everything was well organized and easy to find, considering the hall is miles long and over 800 vendors participated. 5. New Orleans was sunny, warm and beautiful. People were generous, friendly and happy to have convention crowds returning to the city.

Art and observation in the medical practice

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:14:00 GMT

Two items in the news this week may indicate the next frontier in healthcare technology development.

An article in the 3/19 issue of American Medical News describes how students and residents at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and other institutions are turning to artists and the arts in order to improve observation and diagnosis skills. Poets and painters such as Ted Kooser and Mark Gilbert serve as guest lecturers, teaching students to draw on all of their senses when observing patients. Sketching live models helps doctors in training to “see” in a different way, frequently recognizing physical gestures and facial expressions that otherwise might have been missed.

The goal of such programs is to push students beyond “trained” or stereotypical thinking to improve patient/provider communication and reduce diagnosis errors. One student acknowledged that before the arts coursework, she often saw “what she expected to see” instead of what was there.

Furthering this school of thought is Jerome Groopman, MD, esteemed author, physician and medical researcher. In his new book, “How Doctors Think,” which comes out today, Groopman explores this very theme: how doctors successfully—and unsuccessfully-- use critical thinking to diagnose patient conditions.

In an interview on NPR last week, Groopman discussed the pervasive problems of stereoptyipcal thinking, snap judgments, and quick conclusions on the part of doctors that doom as many as 25-percent of patients to unnecessary suffering or even death. Groopman promotes creative thinking, active listening and closer partnership between patients and doctors. This, he claims, will not only lead to improved health and care experiences, but will reduce costs and system inefficiencies as well.

With so much present emphasis on EMR, CDH and achieving system-wide transparency, I expect, as these two items suggest, that enhanced physician observation and communication skills may be the next domain of technological research and product development. I can imagine an exciting world of software and interactive tools that teach doctors to see beyond the obvious and catch themselves before making what could be an incomplete diagnosis.

As the television world’s passion for “House” and his frequently out-of-the-box thought processes seems to suggest, I think we are just beginning to grasp the possibilities for addressing this fascinating yet troubling area.

Corporate Social Responsibility and PR

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:59:00 GMT

As a longtime CSR enthusiast (some mornings I can’t help checking idealist.org or ChronicleofPhilanthropy.com before Outlook), I have been thinking a lot about this concept and the way it is portrayed in marketing. Corporate social responsibility is often defined as a “holistic approach to business,” looking at companies as community partners and contributors, rather than entities existing solely to make a profit. When compared with the finite number of individual donations and the limits of government funding, the potential of corporate financing to improve specific social, environmental, or health issues seems boundless. Admittedly, CSR gets its fair share of criticism as a trendy facade. Most businesses aim to generate profits, and why, many critics ask, would they put money into something that did not serve the main purpose of improving the bottom line? Research has shown consumers are more likely to purchase products or stocks in a company they deem to be socially responsible, and I have no doubt there have been many board meetings in recent years starting off with someone noting this and asking, “So, which cause do we align with? What is our charity?” Companies jumping into CSR programs simply because their competitors are doing so and because consumers expect it should not be an immediate cause for concern for public relations advisors. CSR initiatives (with differing sources of motivation) have provided invaluable assistance to non-profit organizations and have enhanced many company reputations. Avon is almost synonymous with the fight against breast cancer and Google is equated with employee work-life balance. The Shell Group, despite past problems, is associated with comprehensive environmental and human rights reporting. When supporting CSR activities, what should be of concern to PR practitioners are programs created without long-term goals or benchmarks for success. Well-planned social initiatives are investments, requiring patience, persistence and self-scrutiny. To generate mutual value, the best programs include a plan for sustainability and identify the sources from which funding will be allocated. As public relations consultants, we can help by educating the public on the dedication, planning, and commitment behind client CSR campaigns and policies. It is also important that we admit any downsides to great new programs, such as potential layoffs or decreased funding for previous years’ grantees. Of course, such honesty may raise a few more questions from journalists and may not produce the publicity boom desired, but it can save a lot of work and possibly a client’s reputation, should the wrong details surface later. According to CSRWire, eighty percent of Fortune 100 companies employ CSR directors and issue annual CSR reports. As its popularity continues, I hope companies take the time to ensure their campaigns have credibility and lasting effect. Additionally, CSR is often thought to be synonymous with philanthropy. Although this is a large component, being socially responsible encompasses much more. Ideally, a company’s chosen values echo throughout business strategies, touching all company levels and activities. In a May 2006 presentation entitled “Communicating Your Company's Values: How Corporate Social Responsibility Impacts the Bottom Line,” CSRWire offered the following three tips for companies looking to start CSR programs or policies: - Have systems in place for open communication, and use them with new CSR policies. - Present/publicize goals, establishing a mission and illustrating “stepping stones” of progress. - Admit negatives; communicate obstacles to success as well as positive results. As communications consultants, we can work with clients to identify core values and convey them through sustainable practices and media strategies. Together, we can most effectively win the admiration of peers, customers, citizens, government and NGOs alike…and of course, drive a more successful public relations program.

A Whole-Hearted Effort

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:13:00 GMT

Have you heard of the Race Across America (or RAAM)? I hadn't until we were contacted last fall by Bernie Kaeferlein, who told us he planned to form a RAAM team and had chosen Camp Odayin (one of our pro-bono clients!) as their charity. Needless to say, we were thrilled, and now that the race is just two months away, I thought I would let everyone know about this impressive event. Considered "The World's Toughest Race," by Outside Magazine and The Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, the Race Across America (RAAM) is an intense, no-stops-planned, annual cross-country cycling race. It begins this year on June 10, in Oceanside, CA, with a finish line Atlantic City, NJ. RAAM attracts seasoned and amateur cyclists (as well as other hard-core thrill seekers) not only because of the rigor of the challenge, but because of the opportunity to raise enormous donations for charities. In 2006, RAAM teams were successful in raising over $1 million for charities spanning the nation with causes such as leukemia, MS and juvenile diabetes. This is the first year a team will be racing specifically for children with heart disease. Bernie and the rest of "Team Strong Heart" plan to raise $100,000 to sponsor campers and to raise national and international awareness of heart disease in children. Camp Odayin (www.campodayin.org) is one of the only low-cost summer camps in the United States specifically for children with heart disease. These kids are often unable to attend summer camps due to health risks and financial concerns; many medical specialty camps cost $500 or more per session and only admit children associated with a particular pediatric care center. Odayin requires only a $25 registration fee and accepts campers from around the world, regardless of treatment affiliation. Its programs are staffed by volunteer pediatric cardiologists, nurses and other highly trained counselors. It is a rare gem of an organization (led by the amazing Sara Meslow), and more families should know about the opportunity this organization provides. Odayin's program costs are financed by corporate grants, individual donors, three annual fundraisers, and special events such as the Race Across America. We are really excited to be a part of this fantastic effort and will be so proud to have our logo cross the country on the Team Strong Heart jerseys! Bernie and the team will be accepting corporate and individual donations until the start of the race (Spread the word! You can donate or volunteer through the team's blog).

And the winner is

Thu, 03 May 2007 00:38:00 GMT

Last night marked the final event of the 2007 Ignite Clean Energy competition, (ICE) sponsored by MIT and for which BPUSA has provided public relations and event planning services. This event brought together entrepreneurial students, business people, potential investors and others, all with a shared passion for launching clean energy enterprises in New England. Pretty much everyone in our office was involved in supporting this event in one way or another, and much valuable experience was earned in the process.

The ICE competition began in 2004 to stimulate the growing clean energy industry in New England. This was Bell Pottinger USA's first year supporting the competition. The project began at the first of the year, with initial steering committee meetings to plan and prepare for the competition. Feb. 13 marked the official start of the competition, with a kick-off event that featured keynote speaker, Massachusetts's Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles.

Following the kick-off, the committee received 61 applications for entry – the highest number of entrants since ICE's inception. The competition was featured in a Business Week article dealing with clean energy business competitions. ICE news also appeared frequently in Mass High Tech, The Boston Business Journal and other regional publications.

Yesterday’s final event was held at the Hyatt Regency Downtown and featured guest speakers Massachusetts State Senator Robert O’Leary and William A. Swope, vice president, director, corporate affairs group at Intel Corporation. Over 300 people filled the auditorium to see the finalists make a case for their business presentations. It was a festive, upbeat atmosphere with plenty of food, beverages, interesting people and stimulating conversation.

Big congratulations go to RSI Silicon of Westborough, MA for presenting the winning business plan. RSI Silicon is a new energy materials company that has developed a process for manufacturing solar-grade silicon at a fraction of the cost of current processes. With this technology, RSI expects to compete with large silicon manufacturers and revolutionize the way the material is developed, thereby promoting the wider adoption of solar energy applications. Sharing second place were Fox 2 Technologies of Hampton, N.H. and student team, Bagazo of Cambridge. Third-place winners were GreenRay of Lincoln and the student team of C3Bio Energy of Cambridge.

As the winner of this year’s competition, RSI Silicon receives $25,000 cash, three months worth of public relations services from Bell Pottinger USA, legal services provided by Mintz Levin and one year of office space from Cummings Properties. The team will use the funding to build a pilot line and R&D facility, followed by a large silicon plant to produce up to 15,000 tons per year.

ICE is a fascinating competition that puts participants and spectators on the frontline of the next wave of energy development. We will be watching the progress of this year's winners and look forward to another round ICE in 2008.

Special thanks to Linda Plano, Chair of Ignite Clean Energy, for her leadership and enthusiasm surrounding this event.

Protest? What protest?

Tue, 08 May 2007 13:32:00 GMT

In the days leading up to this week’s BIO convention right here in Boston, the news media warned of massive, potentially violent protests and demonstrations that stood to threaten the three-plus day event. The city prepared for the worst- barricades were erected, police and security presence heightened.

While I have not followed the protest warnings closely, I know off-hand that environmentalists, animal rights groups and religious organizations all have, at one time or another, raised their hands in objection to the very idea of biotechnology- most specifically genetic engineering, animal testing and stem cell research.

This being my second day at BIO, I have yet to see a single protester, and in all honesty, have to wonder if such people really know what they are angry about.

No matter what side of the political spectrum a person is on, it is hard to flatly reject fields of innovation and research whose goals include the better treatment of disease, elimination of food shortages, improved nutrition, promoting economic opportunity in underdeveloped regions, cleaning up toxic waste, preserving endangered species and much more.

In concept, the idea of a genetically modified potato may concern some, but the reality of famine and crop shortages troubles most of us more. It is human nature to take knowledge ever further and to pursue new ways of addressing old problems. Perhaps what frightens people most about biotech -broadly defined- is that it operates at a level that most of us find difficult to comprehend. That in itself can be a cause for concern and anxiety. Where in the past industrial and medical revolutions were born of steam engines and antibiotics, today they involve shattering cells, splitting molecules and splicing DNA.

Dizzying in its depth and scope, the BIO conference is a marvel of humanity, science, creativitiy and ingenuity. We welcome this event and all of its attendees to our city and hope to see them soon return.

America recycles?

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:53:00 GMT

From web servers to water bottles, people are thinking twice about the things they consume and the things they throw away. After decades of mindless consumption and disposal, the reality of where we dump our junk is beginning to hit home.

Because of my work with clients and a general concern with the IT industry, there is no escaping the news that the great Green Wave has reached the data center as well as the home office. Across traditional and social media, a chorus of voices disputes and debates what to do with mounting piles of e-waste- the outdated or no longer functional cell phones, monitors, servers, laptops, keyboards, copiers and printers that litter basements, attics, storage rooms and landfills around the world.

Is it the responsibility of the consumer, retailer, vendor or local community to ensure toxin-filled electronic equipment doesn’t end up in a hazardous heap outside an impoverished village somewhere in Asia or Africa or recycled into consumer goods found in local department stores?

State by state here in the US, bills are being passed in an attempt to put a handle on this fastest growing source of consumer and business waste. For the most part, legislators are placing responsibility on the vendors of computer equipment to ensure proper disposal.

While this may seem like a logical response and I agree something needs to be done, I question the approach. Holding vendors responsible does little to educate consumers, large and small, on the impact of their purchase decisions. Nor does it train us to rethink habits and discover ways to reuse, donate or extend the life of existing investments. Although in essence, passing the cost of disposal on to vendors will in the end only increase costs at the retail level. There will be no free or easy lunch.

I find it strange though, all of the current emphasis that technology vendors take responsibility for the products they produce and sell. Where are the mandates that auto makers assume responsibility for the vehicles they produce once their lifetimes have expired? What about the makers of household appliances, tires, plastic containers, junk food packaging, medical supplies, diapers, cigarette butts, furniture, construction materials and other goods?

While I think it is important that people address the e-waste issue, it makes more sense that we broaden the discussion to include behavior and responsibility as it relates to all of the materials American businesses and individual consumers so casually discard. Placing the blame on select manufacturers not only distorts an industry's image, but further infantilizes those who make the decision to buy.

Outsourcing and my summer vacation

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:49:00 GMT

Across industries today, the practice of outsourcing has taken on new life. Long associated with off-shoring, domestic job losses and cheap foreign labor, outsourcing has earned a new name.

From vendors hosting customer deployments of their software applications, to for-profit organizations storing and protecting thousands of enterprises' critical data, and pharmaceutical companies turning to outside parties to develop and test new drugs, outsourcing is taking on new forms, inspiring new business models and creating new jobs- even here in the US.

A client recently announced that its new, multi-billion dollar enterprise customer has elected to host on third-party servers the deployment of a highly strategic application. This, the client tells us, is becoming a trend, with over a third of new customers choosing to deploy in this way.

The outward reason for this is that the hosted deployment saves time and alleviates the implementation burden for internal IT staff, allowing them to focus on other business priorities. Hosting, or outsourcing, the deployment also lets the corporation more quickly begin using and seeing the benefits of the newly purchased application.

Outsourcing, in this case, equals immediate gratification, but it also means something else: even the largest corporations have developed confidence in the reliability and security of technology and the internet, enough so that they will place mission-critical product data in the hands, essentially, of an outside party.

The internet, in fact, facilitates the relationship between, in this case, the complex corporation and the more focused technology experts, i.e. our client and the hosting partner. This allows for business efficiencies on a scale not previously seen.

While technology may be opening the doors to dynamic new business partnerships, in essence, the concept is nothing new. As I prepare for my summer vacation, it occurs to me that I will be doing some outsourcing of my own.

Before I go, I plan to outsource a change of tires and oil for my car, as it will allow me to realize more quickly the benefits of a well maintained vehicle than if I were to try doing the work myself.

Rather than let the weeds run wild and the cat go hungry while I am gone, I will outsource the care of pets and garden to a neighborhood girl whom I trust with such tasks and who charges a reasonable rate for the service.

While in Canada, I will outsource the preparation of a few meals to cooks whose culinary skills exceed my own, thus allowing me the time to focus on other priorities, such as reading, traveling, visiting with friends and enjoying the wild surroundings. I will do the same with making beds, vacuuming floors and cleaning the bathroom.

Since it is late June and I will be in Nova Scotia, I also intend to outsource the catching of fresh fish and crustaceans to the local fishermen who possess the skills and infrastructure that my family and I do not.

The locals look forward to my tourism and investment in their goods and services. All in all, a very favorable and reciprocal way to spend a couple of weeks.

Here's to a great summer and beneficial partnerships wherever you go.

Let's hear it for Texas

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:00:00 GMT

Last week, in my comments about IT recycling initiatives, I questioned the fact that more pressure is not placed on the makers of other kinds of goods to assume responsibility for discarded products, like washing machines, medical supplies and baby diapers.

Today, it is interesting to see that the state of Texas is implementing local television recycling programs. This comes in advance of the anticipated mass-chucking of exisitng TV sets, when in 2009, US broadcsting goes from analog to digital. Although viewers can convert to digital with a conversion box, is expected the majority of households will use the switch-over as an occasion to upgrade to higher-quality flat-screen TVs. The state expects that by 2009, TV manufacturers will be responsible for the disposal of the sets that they sell, as are computer equipment vendors who currently do business in Texas.

The rest of us had best take a look at Galveston and Texas City programs soon, before The Great Abandoned TV Storm of 2009 overtakes our streets and neighborhoods.

Back to School � September 4, 2007

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:39:00 GMT

I remember when Labor Day weekend meant getting my new book bag packed, traveling with my mom to the “big department stores” in downtown Pittsburgh to shop for new school clothes and going to bed early on Labor Day night so I’d be rested and ready for the first day of a new school year.

I don’t carry a book bag anymore and a lot of the “big department stores” in Pittsburgh are gone, but this week still feels a little like back-to-school for me.

Summer has been great here in Boston and everyone on the BPUSA staff has had their share of vacations, beach and mountain weekends and family outings and picnics. While, the office has been busy this summer, there is a feeling in the air today of all that autumn will bring for the agency and many of its clients.

We’ll be handling the media for the 11^th Annual Scientific Meeting for the Heart Failure Society of America in Washington, D.C. September 16-19.

Some of us will be attending the 5^th International Bird Flu Summit in Las Vegas where our client Inov8 Science will be unveiling a revolutionary new product to combat airborne infections.

In October, we’ll be helping our Highmark client combat bullying at the Bullying Prevention Institute in Hershey, PA in October .

We’ll also be launching a brand new health care financial product that will be the very first of its kind in the nation (more on that when the time is right).

We have a team that will again be working with The MIT Enterprise Forum on the annual Ignite Clean Energy Competition, a fantastic event that promotes clean energy business plans among students and entrepreneurs.

We’re working for a fascinating new client, The Open Learning Exchange, a social benefit organization working with local organizations around the globe to ensure free and open basic education for all the world’s children and youth by 2015. Their work is important and literally life-changing and we’re proud to be associated with them.

Add to that all the projects and regular work for our other clients and in a nutshell that’s what our autumn at BPUSA looks like – we’re excited and ready to jump in and get the work started.

An editorial in yesterday’s New York Times summed up better than I can how Labor Day is best viewed:

September Pause

Labor Day brings a little stock-taking: how the days have crept in already, where the summer has gone, how you can feel the energy of autumn — the true season of rebirth — gathering just beyond the hedge of this holiday. But after all, it’s only a little stock-taking.

Labor Day brings no urge for redemption or spiritual re-examination. It demands no particular patriotism. If you get choked up on Labor Day, you’ve probably just been eating too fast. There’s a breeziness to the day, a whatever quality, that keeps you from trying to make the day carry too much weight. The kids may have started school, and when did work really ever wait for anyone? Being human, we are in love with and defeated by transition. Some years time jumps, and some years it can barely put one foot in front of the other. We can do nothing about it either way, except to pause and take notice. Labor Day may be no more than a slight elision in your calendar, or it may feel like the wall the test dummies are always crashing into for science. It isn’t much of a consummation, and it really won’t do for a prologue either. But here it is — another day, another season, another year pivoting around us.

Believing in ghosts

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:29:00 GMT

As the concept of corporate blogging matures and expands, an interesting debate concerning what is right and wrong, ethical and unethical regarding blogger conduct continues to brew.

Perhaps because of the blog’s journal-like origins, expectations regarding authenticity, substance and quality of content are high. As corporate blogs tend to reach some of the more discriminating and informed audiences, the most critical of eyes are upon these publications. Inspiring the wrath or distaste of such readers can cause problems.

One of the issues I find most interesting involving blog scrutiny is the one surrounding ghost bloggers- the notion that someone behind the scenes is coaching, helping, revising or actually going so far as to do the writing on behalf of the busy corporate spokesperson. Once revealed, the ghost blogger can bring shame and scandal upon any organization that could stoop so low as to have an anonymous scribe filling in for the esteemed executive.

As a PR and marketing communications person, this is peculiar to me. I and my colleagues have spent years endorsing the by-lined article, the proactive pitch and third-party contributions toward the development of award submissions, collateral pieces, speaking events, editorial responses and technical white papers.

These are established practices and no one has ever thrown back the curtain to say, “Ah-ha! It is you who drafted this article submission, not the chief technology officer as it says here in this byline! This is deception and an outrage and I will never again think the same of company X as I did before!”

Quite to the contrary, I am typically thanked for my efforts in compiling the article, meeting editorial requirements, sharing valuable insights and information with a broader audience and for getting the material in on time.

Anyone who has ever worked on a project like this, with technology executives in particular, knows that it is a highly collaborative process. Marketing and PR people consult with the experts and thought leaders, extracting the stories and arguments that make most sense and that are most compelling for a given opportunity. Together, we make revisions, develop graphs or illustrations and finally, seek approvals. We don’t do it alone and the execs are not in the dark on the finished product. They have an important stake and are typically quite involved in the process.

The reasons communications people take responsibility for such projects is because it is an area we know well and which, from start to finish, can be time consuming. I am sorry to remind the critics, but corporate executives are busy people. While their heads may be jam-packed with great ideas and important observations, they can often use help in getting those thoughts on paper (or screen) and into a thorough and publishable form. Some love to write and do it well, others prefer providing an outline or list of bullets and leaving the rest to someone whom they trust.

The same is true for blogs.

The expectation by critics that the blog be the genuine and unedited words of the blogger is, in my opinion, unrealistic.

Of course the company blogger needs to be closely involved and engaged. She or he has to want the blog and feel strongly about its purpose. But since the dawn of written communication, scribes, translators, interpreters, secretaries, stenographers, Dictaphones, lawyers, interns, editors, muses, advisors and assistants have all lent a hand in getting the story to the people. To expect the blog to remain free of this dynamic is naïve at best.

Naturally, a good C-blog reflects a level of insight and thinking not available elsewhere in the corporation’s communication channels. That is what makes them exciting and unlike any outlet previously available.

Done well, readers get an advance or up-close view of strategic thinking, technological visions and industry perspectives that cannot be found elsewhere. In addition, a good C-blog allows those who care to to ask questions, share comments and engage in a conversation with the blogger and with other readers. When this happens, authenticity is obvious. Whether or not text has been screened or revised is irrelevant.

When Blognostications Come True

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:21:00 GMT

A few posts back, I wrote about the problem of inaccurate medical diagnoses here in the US and the trend at certain med schools toward implementing fine arts curricula in order to enhance an MD’s perceptive powers.

In that passage, I concluded that we would likely soon see a new generation of technological games and tools developed to improve the communication and observation skills of medical professionals. I could envision, I wrote, “an exciting world of software and interactive tools that teach doctors to see beyond the obvious and catch themselves before making what could be an incomplete diagnosis.”

Not to take credit, of course, for the development, but alas, visions become reality!

UK-based TruSim makes engaging training and visualization tools, known as “Serious Games.” Serious Games are developed according to client requirements, with input from subject matter experts, and are intended to improve professional skills and help tackle serious, real-world issues-- from preventing hospital infections to improving diagnostic and surgical skills-- while at the same time being incredibly fun to play with. The games can be played on PCs, mobile devices and standard gaming consoles.

This should come as good news to video game-loving surgeons, who already, it’s been argued, exhibit better laparoscopic skills than their non-gaming peers.

Everything we enjoy, it seems, is not bad for us after all!