MarCom Professional

Inspired by Ged Carroll’s daily commentaries I’m going to re-start blogging interesting content that I come across from around the web. Apologies in advance for the occasional item of self-promotion.

PR industry slams ASA for ‘ambiguity’ in proposal to regulate online marketing
A rant in PR Week on the ASA’s lack of clarity on its digital remit

Look, I just want to be paid please
Late payment of invoices: it’s a taboo topic for the agency world. Brendan Cooper is a freelancer that wants his bills paid on time. I think we’d all appreciate the same

Daily Mail caught red handed nicking internet content
Ian Green calls out the Daily Mail for its hypocrisy on matters online after it got into hot water for breaching copyright in its use of Twitpic images

Spinning Around:

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William Hague must have reached the end of his tether. There’s no other reason why he would have issued the statement that he did on Wednesday.

In the 530-word statement Mr Hague denies an improper relationship with his now former aide Chris Myers.

It was prompted according to Mr Hague by rumours on the Internet and Westminster. Followers of Guido Fawkes may have been aware of the speculation and Westminster is always awash with rumour-mongering.

Mr Hague could have applied for an injunction to shut down rumours online.

Social media advocates will of course say that it’s impossible to close down stories online yet its a well applied tactic of both the PR and legal professions. More...

Create an event on LinkedIn using the event application

Share the event with your contacts using the LinkedIn event application

Consider creating a LinkedIn ad about your event using the LinkedIn event application

Share details of your event with relevant groups of which you’re a member (but don’t spam)

Ask people in your company to help promote the event using their status update messages and other social networks such as Twitter

The CIPR has hit out at the ASA for not consulting the PR industry on its proposed regulation of brands in social networks.

In a statement issued by the CIPR (disclosure: I’m a member of the CIPR panel) it said that it was given an undertaking in May that the views of the PR industry would be heard.

"We are disappointed this action has been taken without our involvement,” says Ann Mealor, Interim CEO at the CIPR. “We are writing to the ASA regarding our concerns and advocating the need for closer working relationships on this issue.”

The CIPR said that it has reservation about the planned changes to the ASA’s remit. More...

(Via @andrewgerrard and @shinykatie)

Here’s a delightful little app that you might like. I’ve been using it for the last year or so to rediscover old snaps. Flickr users that sign up to Photojojo’s time capsule are sent a fortnightly selection of their snaps from 12-months ago. It’s such a simple idea that is absolutely delightful.

One of the real benefits of social media is that when a document is published such as the OFCOM Market Report last week or the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) extension to include a digital remit published today, the combined might of bloggers and journalists are quick to review the document and share their thoughts.

Media and marketing experts have been quick to share their views on the ASA announcement published this morning.

Opinion is polarised: consumers need to be protected and advertising standards should apply to all media yet the ASA’s approach is heavy-handed and impinges on editorial engagement. More...

Please consider donating online to UNICEF’s appeal for children in Pakistan.