Cross posted from Security Debrief
The Bay Area Transit Police, amusingly known as BART, show that law enforcement still doesn’t understand the value — and challenges — of social media. The police force reacted to planned flash mobs — protests organized rapidly through social media platforms, Twitter foremost among them — by shutting down cell phone service in the BART stations. Hey, if you can’t talk to one another, how are you going to organize, right? Thank God BART wasn’t around when the Founding Fathers were trying to hammer out the U.S. Constitution. Perhaps the transit agency would have drummed the unruly bastards out of Philadelphia before they could dream up the First Amendment.
You can understand why the transit police were frazzled. There is no question that social media has made communications easier, quicker and more effective. By and large, this is a good thing, put to good use by millions around the world daily. Unfortunately, there are people who put this new generation of communications to bad use, too. And the advent of flash mobs is an example of how social media can be used for hooliganism (I’ve always wanted to use that word) and criminal activity. Just look to Great Britain, where so-called protesters are protesting very little other than doors and windows as they smash them in and loot stores. Power to the people.
However, social media — including flash mobs — is also used for noble causes and nonviolent protests. Just look to the Middle East and the Arab Spring. Look to Iran. Admittedly Iran was less flash and more of a truly spontaneous movement, but new tactics such as flash mobs will become increasingly common as protestors in authoritarian states seek ways to make their voices heard while minimizing persecution from state police.
What law enforcement, national security agencies and others in positions of power over civil liberties must understand is that while social media is a new medium of communication, it is still a medium of communication, protected by the Constitution. If the protests in San Francisco were violent and posed a threat to public safety, then BART had a duty to manage the situation and protect the public. Protestors have no inherent right to endanger the safety of commuters in a busy subway station any more than shout fire in a theater. (more…)
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
NJ Gov Christie Pushes Agenda in Campaign-Style Videos (ClickZ)
While online videos are frequently used by political candidates, it’s rare for an elected official not facing an immediate electoral challenge to utilize this tool. But Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is taking a new approach and using online video to complement his broader communications strategy.
Google+: ‘Don’t fight it’ (PR Daily)
Still searching for answers on why you should join the new social network? This two-and-a-half minute video provides (some of) the answers.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Social Media: Changing the Legislative Communications Paradigm (e.politics)
In today’s world, legislators can no longer rely on traditional communications to engage their constituents.
11-Point Facebook Checkup (Social Media Today)
Take some time to assess the health of your Facebook page.
For most PR professionals, continuing education means learning about the latest communications tactics.
Over the past year, Adfero Group and the National Press Club have sponsored the Get PR Smart series to focus on exactly these sorts of tactics: how to use the latest social media tools, how to connect more directly with a target audience, and how to effectively engage in media monitoring.
The next event – scheduled for Friday, December 10 – will take a different approach. The seminar will address one of the most important, but often overlooked, subjects for both PR professionals and clients: Establishing a Meaningful Client/Agency Relationship.
An effective communications strategy requires a healthy, productive collaboration between a client and its agency. Yet, too often, critical mistakes are made early in the formation of the agency-client relationship.
For clients, the approach used to select an agency can be problematic down the road. It is natural to choose a PR firm based on its past experience, its expertise in a particular issue, and its general reputation. But if the criteria end there, clients never evaluate a firm on traits like responsiveness and thoughtfulness – two keys to a successful relationship and a successful campaign.
Particularly here in D.C., where the need for communications support can come up unexpectedly, a client’s chemistry with a prospective agency is often a nonfactor. But fit matters – no matter how good an end product may be, an agency should be enjoyable to work with. Clients should take the time to evaluate a potential firm from all angles.
Agencies also make early missteps by overpromising to win a client’s business. Optimism is great, but an agency must be realistic about its own capabilities and what is actually possible to achieve with a given campaign. In the professional services industry, it is widely accepted that client satisfaction is equal to the perceived results minus the client’s original expectations. Overly lofty predictions by the agency will ultimately lead to a dissatisfied client (and probably the end of the relationship).
To avoid disappointment on both ends, it is crucial for clients and agencies to set reasonable expectations at the beginning of a relationship or project.
At the Get PR Smart event in December, my colleague Shellie Edge and I will focus on what sorts of expectations should be set for a client-agency relationship to be productive. Here is a preview:
- Communicating: The agency needs to receive clear expectations about how to communicate with the client. For example, are standing meetings necessary? Is email or phone preferable? Establishing these protocols at the outset will prevent conflict down the road.
- Tracking Progress: The agency should establish how to update the client on a project’s progress. For example, depending on the nature of a project, it might be appropriate to give the client access to a collaborative account management tool. In other cases, clients may not want or need that level of access.
- Measuring Results: Any communications campaign should have measurable metrics for success. The agency needs to establish corresponding reporting protocols that allow a client to see how those metrics are being met.
To learn more about how to establish and nurture a productive and health client-agency relationship, register today for the next Get PR Smart event.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
How Tweet It Is!: Library Acquires Entire Twitter Archive
(Library of Congress)
Ever tweeted on Twitter? Congratulations, your 140 characters or less will now be housed in the Library of Congress.
10 Books to Seize What is Happening with Grassroots, Communications + Marketing (Advocacy 2.0)
Discover 10 great books to help you understand and capitalize on the current trends in grassroots, communications and marketing.
