Articles by Dave Miller

The video below should tell you all you need to know about the state of media right now.  Recently on HBO’s Costas Now there was a fascinating breakdown, heated debate and sometimes not-suitable-for-work discussion over the sea change that is sweeping over the media industry.

I’m a huge fan of Will Leitch and Deadspin, as well as Buzz Bissinger.  What this video really illustrates is a generational gap and a debate over where value lies in journalism.  Does value lie in the speed and sometimes brutal honesty of blogging or is it in the time-honored craft of reporting and filling a beat.  Probably somewhere in between.  Enjoy.

To the pr/marketing firm who will almost certainly co-opt this ploy to launch a viral campaign for an energy drink/videogame/R-rated cartoon and inevitably be forced to face nightmarish backlash all for trying to come across as edgy.

 Dear PR/Marketing firm, 

I know you think that this stunt will be the guerilla campaign that puts all other guerilla campaigns to bed.  I know you think that staging a fake kidnapping will be cool.  Maybe you’ll create scratchy, blurry videos to go along with it and hide clues across various websites and, for all I know, it might work.  But don’t.  Just don’t.   

Sometimes marketers can get caught up in the race to be the most cutting edge.  Sometimes marketers like to think that by creating the illusion of danger or adventure that they’re really connecting with consumers on a gut level.  And they might be.  But sometimes there’s something to be said for the good old fashioned techniques that PR and Marketing are built upon.  We can’t forget the basic building blocks in the race to be the next big thing.   

Sincerely,  

Your Audience