Mike Maney

Author: Mike

  • I Promise to…

    In the wake of another blacklisting of PR agencies by reputable tech reporters, SHIFT PR’s Todd Defren mapped out a list of 7 laws PR pros should follow. While the rules included in Todd’s list are common practice for many in the profession, there are still too many others who need the reminder.
    1. The PR pro promises to read several weeks’ worth of previous blog
      posts and/or articles to ascertain whether their story would be a good
      fit for the blog/publication.
    2. If the PR pro ascertains that there is NOT a good fit, they will
      not pitch the blogger/reporter, and promise to push back on
      unreasonable client or management demands to do so.
    3. Before pitching the blogger/reporter, the PR pro promises to
      double-check their method of outreach. They will not only check
      externally-developed media resources like Cision but will also review
      any guidelines made publicly available by the blogger or publication.
    4. The PR pro promises to never send a press release without being
      able to demonstrate its concrete relevance to the blogger/reporter …
      and will never, ever send an attachment unless it’s been requested.
    5. As much as is possible, the PR pro will participate actively and
      transparently within the communities of-interest to their clients. The
      PR pro acknowledges that a “cold call” (in any form) – while sometimes
      unavoidable – is considerably less effective than reaching out as a
      known community member.
    6. The PR pro promises that any correspondence – whether the initial
      contact or follow-up – should contain a message customized to the
      blogger/reporter’s needs and should offer value. For example, “just
      checking to see if you got the press release” is not welcome or
      appropriate.
    7. The PR pro acknowledges that being ignored by the blogger/reporter
      is not to be considered license for harassment. It’s more likely the
      pitch was not of-interest, so any further outreach should be mindful
      that the story idea has likely been quietly rejected. If the PR pro
      must try again, they promise to do so by offering a different, more
      creative and valuable approach to their original pitch.

  • Training Wheels? Who Needs ‘Em!


    Matt Asay is fond of reminding people about the gazillion benefits of working from home near the mountains of Utah (often reminding us by posting videos from his helmet cam as he does midday cruises down the fine Utah powdered slopes).

    I don’t live near the Wasatch, but I do have a career that allows me the flexibility to work where I need to (have phone, have laptop, will travel). So, while it may not be ripping through the bumps while on a conference call, I’ll take being around to see my five-year-old ride a two-wheeler for the first time over a time-sucking commute any day.

  • Measuring the Value of Influence

    I was quoted in an article by the Mistress of Measurement, K.D. Paine, yesterday. Katie explored measuring the impact of media coverage based on the influence of the publication. I argued — via Twitter — that influence is not measured in clicks or circulation, but decided by the value the audience places on the influencer (whether BusinessWeek, a blog, a comment in Twitter, etc.).

  • Don’t Cry for Them Argentina

    According to this post by CNET’s Matt Asay, Argentina’s government is considering moving its entire information technology infrastructure to open source. There’s nothing earth-shattering in Argentina’s cost-savings rationale for considering open source. In fact, governments (and corporations, for that matter) adopting open source is rather ho-hum at this point.

    Matt also points out that an underlying driver behind this is software piracy. Open source helps Argentina comply with proprietary software license compliance by…gasp!…doing away with the issue altogether. Read Matt’s post for more on the cultural issues surrounding this.

    What’s happening in Argentina is an example of the problem Microsoft and other proprietary companies have gotten into. Their businesses are based on selling restrictive software and enforcing licenses through organizations like the BSA. It’s a model that open source sent to the dustbin long ago. In fact, there is little doubt that their core license policing/anti-customer business model is driving sales for open source. Rather than locking customers in, it’s driving them away.

  • Can’t Wait to Read: Schlesinger on White House Speechwriters

    I’ve written my share of speeches over my career. Granted, they were for corporate executives, not for Presidents of the United States. That’s why I’m excited to get my hands on a new book by Robert Schlesinger called White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. According to reviewer Robert Landers, Schlesinger interviewed 90 speechwriters and White House aides, devoting a chapter to each presidency — from FDR to GWB. Should be an interesting read.

  • Linkbait

    I’m finally getting back into the swing of posting again (Twitter has dominated my social media interaction lately). A few items that recently caught my eye:

    • The New York Times’ Steve Heller dissects the logo created by the Martin Agency to promote a new campaign for Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection.
    • In the same Sunday edition of The Times, Dave Itzkoff profiles one of the funniest actors on network television today: Jack McBrayer (Kenneth the page from 30 Rock).
    • While we’re at it, Charles McGrath gets down, dirty and cold with what’s on tap for this season’s Deadliest Catch.
    • Tammy La Gorce highlights New Jersey’s brew pubs. The annual New Jersey Brewers’ Festival used to be a tradition for me. Maybe time for a chauffered road trip to sample the state’s barley and hops wares.

  • The House That Ruth Built


    My mother is a diehard, lifelong New York Yankees fan. For Mother’s Day this year, we reserved tickets for an inside-the-park tour of Yankee Stadium. Good thing, too, as this is the last year the Bronx Bombers will play in the current stadium (a new stadium is being built alongside it). I captured some images of the day that you can view here.

  • Newsreaders vs Journalists

    The BBC gets it right when it describes its television anchors as newsreaders rather than journalists.

  • Earthquake Story Cracks Me Up

    CNN is reporting that a 6+ magnitude quake hit northern Nevada this morning. Reading the story, however, I have to laugh at this quote:

    “We have cracks in our walls,” Jane Kelso, who answered the phone at the Motel 6 in Wells, Nevada, told AP. Wells is 10 miles from the epicenter in sparsely populated eastern Nevada.

    I’m thinking the reporter didn’t even mention the earthquake.

  • The Problem with Verizon’s $100 Unlimited Wireless Plan

    Interested in Verizon Wireless’s new $100 all-you-can-eat voice plan? May want to check out this post by Silicon Alley Insider’s Dan Frommer first.