David G. Domeshek

There is overwhelming positivity in the media coverage surrounding Barack Obama's inauguration, much of it pegged to the story line of the United States' first "black" President.  Accuracy has taken a back seat to drama in this story line, however -- even though the facts are no secret.  To call President Obama "African-American" is literally true, since his father was the former and his mother the latter.  But in the popular vernacular, "African-American" is synonymous with "black" and connotes a descendant of slaves imported to America from Africa generations ago.

How to resolve this accuracy dilemma?  Perhaps we should call President Obama "Half-rican American"...

There are lots of ways to gauge the effectiveness of your company's communications.  Chances are you use several already, perhaps with varying degrees of success.  And chances are senior management dutifully digests the reports, then checks them against good ol' "gut feel".

But to know how your company is doing compared to your primary competitors on an ongoing basis, you need a series of snap-shots over time.  Enter the "buzz-o-meter" -- a new analytic tool that aggregates relative performance and rankings of a company vs. its primary competitors in key media, blogs, search engines, and industry events.  The "buzz-o-meter" gauges whether and how much opinion leaders in your market are talking about you, and to what extent your company is part of the "buzz" in those venues that matter most to your customers and prospects.

If you'd like to learn more about having a "buzz-o-meter" created for your firm, and how it can help you visualize your company's place in its market, contact David Domeshek at (508) 873-7068, or domeshek@comcast.net.

It has been said timing is everything.  But in public speaking, pausing is everything.

Take John McCain's recent RNC nomination acceptance speech, for instance.  McCain was touting the accomplishments of his new running mate, Sarah Palin, when suddenly -- with an ill-timed pause -- he created an image in my mind's eye that got me laughing so hard it was impossible for me to focus on what he said for the next five minutes.  McCain said (or I heard), "She's helped run a small business. She's worked with her hands and nose..." 

WHAT? She's worked with her nose? I wrestled for a moment with this information and image.  What is she, part blood hound?  A food tester?  A cocaine inspector?

Then, following his pause, McCain went on: "...and knows what it's like to worry about mortgage payments, and health care, and the cost of gasoline and groceries."

Oh, I thought, NOW I get it: he meant "knows", not "nose"!  Well, that made more sense -- but it wasn't nearly as funny.

The moral of the story: Don't stop speaking in mid-sentence!

Once again, public relations -- specifically, how it is practiced by the White House -- is in the news.  Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's new book resuscitates discussions/debates about the difference (if any) between PR and propaganda, and whether PR professsionals are mouthpieces with or without brains (and ethics) connected.  I think it's good to periodically have a bright light shine on the field, because it reminds us that words matter, truth matters, and courage of conviction matters.  McClellan says he got it wrong a few years ago (when in service to the President) and now he's setting the record straight.  Embarrassing to all concerned, I'd say, but the conversation his story has sparked is definitely a net positive.

David Domeshek blogs occasionally about the practice of public relations in contemporary society and broader communication issues.  Please check back for new posts.