by I am always explaining to risk averse media specialists that the ability of organisations to control the message has gone in these days of interactive media. By way of example I show them sites like Qantas Sucks and Council Gripe.
This eveining I came across this wonderful example (thanks to Bob Crawshaw whose Twittering alerted me to it). The video is pretty self explanatory – United Airlines broke this guy’s guitar. They then failed to make any reparation for their mistake so he is making three songs about them. The first one (featured here) has had over 3 and a half million plays on YouTube and United’s share price has dropped 10%. If you want to know more have a look at this story by Chris Ayres in the Times.
I can’t wait for the next one.
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When I was a City Councillor, I observed the metrics around positive to negative media stories – one manager's role was to direct the spin – ah "Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome" – I used to observe – you need to think substance not just style – ie actually make positive change – not just spin it
I'm a communications and marketing specialist with a huge involvement in social change, based on my 20-year shamanic and spiritual journey, a facsimile of which is narrated in Peter Senge's book "Presence".
As I have been telling my clients and the public organisations with which I am dancing the dance of change – the Settle Public School District and its board of directors – the only way forward is to make decisions and take action from a place of authentic integrity, considering the holistic whole… the only way to win trust and to achieve 'buy-in' is to come from a place of total transparency….
There is some resistance to this "new: way of doing things!
I think its the fear of losing 'control', which paradoxically they never had in the first place!