The Day the Press Release Died (Again)
Okay, before the PR purists get their keyboards in a digital wad, I know that the press release is still alive and still has a purpose, especially with regard to investor relations.
Nevertheless, today was significant. Today was another step on the road toward the erosion of online and offline media, toward the marginalization of traditional "massive" media and toward the democratizing effect of media created by and for the masses.
For today, the world learned that Barack Obama will explore a bid to become president of the United States not from a leak to CNN and not from a press conference on the Capitol steps, but from a video posted on his personal web site. The first candidate for the You Tube era has arrived.
Continue to do you job the same way, with the same tools and tactics, and with the same mindset and assumptions of who and what is media, and you will be fine for a while. You just won't be in this business for much longer.
[Sigh] - If only he'd used a Social Media News Release! ;)
Close enough, though.
Posted by: Todd Defren | January 16, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Your point probably would resonate more if your post wasn't behind the times...
> The first candidate for the You Tube era has arrived.
Uh, John Edwards? NPR has called him the YouTube Candidate already.
> I know that the press release is still alive and still has a purpose, especially with regard to investor relations.
Actually, the future of the news release in IR is up in the air as well.
Posted by: Dominic Jones | January 16, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Dominic, you're right, good point -- I should have said the first "viable" candidate for the YouTube era :-)
Posted by: Gary Goldhammer | January 16, 2007 at 12:01 PM
>>before the PR purists get their keyboards in a digital wad<<
solid!
Politicians announcing their candidacy online started back in the dotcome days when Steve Forbes threw his well- self-funded hat into the ring in 2000.
Posted by: Kevin Dugan | January 17, 2007 at 03:27 AM
Not to mention John Edwards already did this what-- 2 weeks ago?
Posted by: DougH | January 17, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Okay, okay, I give -- "Uncle" or whatever you're supposed to say. Obama is indeed the first candidate to do this who will actually "matter", but that's a discussion for the political blogs.
Guess that's the last time I do a quick post, I'll just go back to my usual twice a month columns that no one ever comments on ;-) gg
Posted by: Gary Goldhammer | January 17, 2007 at 10:44 AM