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Opinion
The keyboard warrior of Twitter
In this guest post, NBN staffer Scott Rhodie writes an unofficial, personal view on his experience with a hostile Twitter critic.Last night I had a strange incident. While on Twitter I noticed someone saying that Australia’s NBN is already outdated. I wrote a small note back explaining they were incorrect.
And their response? The lovely gentleman (whose Twitter profile says: ‘Father of 5 kids, Loving Grandfather of 10 Grandchildren,and 2 Great Granddaughters. love to give heaps to Pollies and Poofters’) said to me: “Go and lick Gillards C*** out U commie Prick”
What's in a name?
In this guest post, Moensie Rossier wonders about the power of names for brands and marketers.
Brands have been having a bit of fun with names lately, not to mention a fair bit of success. Interbrand just named a headhunting firm Cloak & Dagger. And ‘Share a Coke’ showed how much power there is in a name.
The Coke campaign effectively short-circuited the usual mechanics of communication. It undoubtedly stroked people’s egos. But, I believe, its success stems from the fact that it directly and automatically affected people’s behaviour, rather than doing so indirectly by shaping attitudes.
Best ads from Super Bowl 2012
The Super Bowl is all done and a team from North America won. But as well as some sort of sporting event, it’s the world’s biggest advertising showcase. See the best of them right here… and please tell us what you think.
How to debunk media myths
In this post, UWS’s Ullrich Ecker, John Cook and Stephen Lewandowsky argue that cognitive science can help PRs form strategies in managing media misreporting.
A growing cohort of commentators has bemoaned the descent of contemporary political “debate” into a largely fact-free zone.
How about simply focusing on what consumers want?
In this guest post, Peter Mountford argues that brands should think more about what is really going on for consumers
Who here is hoping their favourite brand of toilet paper is going to be organizing a flash mob on their way home from work today?
What the Optus web copyright victory means
In this analysis first published on The Conversation, RMIT’s Marita Shelly examines the implications of Telstra’s defeat over the online rights to the AFL broadcast deal
This week’s Federal Court ruling that Optus customers are able to view sporting matches minutes after they are streamed live without breaching copyright is a landmark decision that alters our understanding of copyright law, and has significant implications for the AFL’s broadcasting rights deal.
Does Gina Rinehart’s bite of a chunk of Fairfax make her an oligarch?
In an article that first appeared in The Conversation, Mark Rolfe wonders whether the mining magnate’s move could turn Fairfax into something resembling America’s Fox network.
Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has moved to increase her stake in Fairfax Media, owner of The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and a number of radio stations. Rinehart has already shown her desire to play a role in public life, campaigning against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s aborted mining tax. She has also demonstrated a willingness to make media investments to ensure her pro-business worldview is promulgated.
What does this latest move by Rinehart mean?
Gillard's Australia Day crisis
PM Julia Gillard’s media adviser Tony Hodges has been forced to resign over the Australia Day tent embassy debacle.
It came after it emerged he had revealed opposition leader Tony Abbott’s whereabouts, leading to both politicians being rescued by police in ugly scenes.
Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes and advertising practitioner Jane Caro debate the topic on Weekend Sunrise’s masters of Spin segment:
The biggest cock-up I made in business
In this guest post, Chris Savage urges agency staff to live the brand.I still shudder when I think about how incredibly stupid I was when I made the biggest stuff up of my career. And then, 18 years later, I did it again. Do not make this mistake with your clients. Ever.
Hey Groupon. Thanks for fucking up email
In this guest post, Daniel Monheit warns that group deal overload is devaluing email marketingEmail marketing used to be fabulous. Back in the heady days of 2010, brands would work hard to build up well qualified databases, upon which they’d bestow carefully crafted correspondence filled with information, offers and incentives. The recipients, of course would be delighted: “Oh look! An email! From one of my favourite brands! And it’s 40 cents off at Woolies this week!”.
The staggering sway of Harold Mitchell
The Power Index today names Aegis Media chairman Harold Mitchell as the most powerful person in Melbourne. Andrew Crook profiles him.
Harold Mitchell takes pride in dispensing with the niceties. When The Power Index visited his South Melbourne private office before Christmas, fresh remains were scattered all over the boardroom table.
Assumptions kill creativity
In this guest post, Gual Barwell disagrees that the sales success of the Old Spice social media campaign was overstated.Yesterday’s post from Cathie McGinn suggested the Old Spice campaign failed to connect with consumers. Based on the facts and figures, I disagree.
What Old Spice and Wieden + Kennedy has done and done phenomenally well is to create a franchise.
The SMH's readers (are wrong) editor
We are now about five months into the reign of Australia’s first readers’ editor. And I don’t think it is working.
It struck me at the time of Judy Prisk’s appointment to the Sydney Morning Herald that the fact that her boss was editor-in-chief Peter Fray was not going to be ideal if she was going to be the independent voice of the reader.
The emperor's new fragrance: Old Spice’s campaign failure
In this guest post, Cathie McGinn slays a sacred cow of 21st century marketing – the highly awarded Old Spice campaign.One of the biggest myths of recent times (by which I mean a story of great heroism and triumph we’d all like to believe but deep down know to be untrue) is the Old Spice social media campaign. It’s been much lauded and awarded as an example of outstanding content, a creative and collaborative way of connecting with consumers and driving a record increase in sales.
How reliable are radio ratings?
In this guest posting, Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis wonders how accurate radio ratings can be, since the data is collated from handwritten diaries.
So, the radio ratings season gets underway tomorrow. After a well-earned break, Australia’s commercial radio stations will renew their obsession with figures to see how many of us are listening. Are they winning or losing the ratings war?
The much feared radio survey is the only way to measure the success or failure of a station’s playlist, talent, promotions or even good old Black Thunder crosses. With six-figure salaries riding on the make-or-break nature of ratings, just how accurate are Australia’s radio survey results?
This weekend Woolworths can’t wait to give everyone an opportunity to give them a massive kicking
Dr Mumbo is sorry to note that Woolworths has decided to kick off the weekend with a mini social media disaster in the making. Read more »
The new iPad. Coming soon. Or later
When he’s on the go, Dr Mumbo naturally uses his Apple device to access news.com.au to keep up with what Apple will be doing on the mobile device front.
And very informative it is too.
(Hat-tip: David Campbell)
The Sydney Mining Herald
So how would the Sydney Morning Herald look if Gina Rinehart gets full control? It would be the Sydney Mining Herald, for starters.
And there might be some subtle changes in the editorial direction which comedian Dan Ilic has helpfully interpreted… Read more »
The bear necessities of political writing
Dr Mumbo’s award for intro of the year goes to Crikey’s Guy Rundle for this item today:
“Down in Colorado, they have a problem with black bears. They’ll sometimes wander into populated areas, and they have long since ceased to be afraid of human beings. Indeed, they are wont to attack, in dark places in the city. Worse, the male bears when in rut, have been known to attack in an, erm, pretty intimate way — Read more »
I see dead campaigns
A subtle rebranding of Ideaworks, courtesy of B&T Today.
(Hat-tip: M)
Kruger with a C
It always takes a while to get to know a new colleague.
But hopefully the staff of Nine’s new show Mornings will soon get the hang of how to spell Sonia Kruger’s name.
The golden rule
Dr Mumbo had been wondering whether some of the anti-Kyle backlash has been something of a metropolitan media confection.
But when these sort of posters start appearing in car repair workshops in Sydney’s Inner West, one does start to consider other alternatives…
As the poster sits at a Mazda service centre, fair to assume that Mazda will not be an advertiser on the Kyle & Jackie O Show in the near future.
(Hat-tip: BD)
Ledge of reason
Here’s some awkward ad placement:
And happily it’s a placement that works with virtually any news story…
(Dr Mumbo tips his hat at the four separate individuals who all spotted versions of this campaign…)
Sorry, you dumb fuckers
Apology of the day comes from The Suffolk Journal in Boston in the US, over an article published this week.
“In today’s issue of The Journal, we published an inappropriate sub-headline in the article “SLI Involvement Fair a success.” We want to apologize profusely for the mistake and make it clear that we in no way harbor ill feelings towards the Student Leadership and Involvement Office, nor any of the students and staff that work there. The sub-head was put in as a joke, by editors, that unfortunately slipped through our editing process later in the night. We want to make it clear that the reporter who wrote the article had no idea or anything to do with the subhead. We’ve spoken with SLI, who has been extremely understanding. We want to thank them for their support. Moving forward, we hope to learn from this experience and continue to do our best to keep the Suffolk community informed about what’s going on around campus and in the city. As always, thanks for reading the Journal.”
And here’s what they’re apologising for…
We have ways of making you post
Welcome to Things That Don’t Endear PRs to Journalists, part 567:
“The release and any news should be published Thursday at 9AM.”
It’s worth noting that Mumbrella did not publish the story at 9am today. Or indeed at all.
The empty chair
When the news story is all about the sad tale of a man whose green garden chair is now left empty, it may be more subtle not to serve a video next to it featuring an empty green chair.
Cross racial stereotypes off your list. The maid is of no particular race
Here’s an excellent idea for a promotion for Olay created by Arnold Furnace. Win a cleaner for a year.
Or, as Dr Mumbo’s correspondent puts it: “Relax white woman.. while Asian woman cleans your lovely home…”
Nine drops the F-bomb
Some splendidly panicky broadcasting from the studios of Nine News Perth.
And an excellent reminder from Ebbeny Faranda on why you should always treat the microphone as live…
Dr Mumbo understands the broadcast was about five weeks ago, on December 30 last year.
The news reader who can control the weather
It’s always convenient when reading a news story if the clouds behind you align…
In this case, Nine News’ Andrew Lofthouse was telling Queensland viewers about a crocodile.
Leave Alan alone
The media should leave the story of Alan Bond’s bereavement alone, argues Tracey Spicer.
In a 707 word article.
Z grade celebrity seeks flatmate
Remember Ben the marketing tosser with the worst flat in Bondi?
Dr Mumbo is happy to report that there’s also a media tosser in Surry Hills doing his copywriting thing on Gumtree:
I’m a dude and I live with 2 lovely ladies (22 – 28). We work hard and party hard. I’m gay and single so you probably shouldn’t be gay yourself as I’ll just get drunk and try to make a pass at you. Read more »
Tip Top. My mouth goes weird when I eat
Welcome to the first in what may be a very short series… what happens when two ads run together, brought to us today by Mix 106.5 in Sydney.
Today’s example… the new Tip Top ad, followed by an awareness raising message about anaphylactic shock.
Do delete
Some bright spark at Sydney’s Ai-Media has hit on a genius email marketing ruse.
Send out DM emails from the sender “DO NOT DELETE”.
Because that will of course deter the average user from deleting their messages as spam.
No doubt the lack of an unsubscribe option in the email is a mere oversight.
January 30 update:
Ping! The following arrives in Dr Mumbo’s inbox…
Dear Subscriber,
On Friday we sent you a message from this account with the sender’s name “DO NOT DELETE”. Contrary to some media speculation, this was not the product of a new ingenious marketing strategy for the Ai-Live 3.2 Launch.
We simply aren’t that clever.
The truth is, we stuffed up on a holiday weekend.
We are in the process of migrating email systems. This account had been marked up with ‘DO NOT DELETE’ as an internal device to ensure we did not delete it during the changeover. Friday’s comms was sent from an out of date template that also did not include the “unsubscribe” option. We failed to send a test email that would have identified the problem.
Please accept my sincere apologies.
And you are always able to unsubscribe by replying with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
Yours sincerely
Tony Abrahams
Ai-Media, CEO
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