CHANGING MEDIA BY THE DAY, BY THE MINUTE
Every media training which we have recently given begins with telling our clients to assume everything they say is being recorded, in every forum. Every public discussion they have, every speech to an obscure group can constitute media, and we direct them to ask if anyone in the room is recording their speech (and should always assume it is). Anything and everything is searchable, not deniable, and on the record. It can be posted on Youtube and elsewhere, leaked to the media (including trade outlets), given to competitors (or family members), twitted about, and it becomes instant “media” – Leaving no room for misstep.
Last week I had dinner at the home of a friend for 20 years who has recently been elected to the Israeli Knesset (Parliament), and despite the fact that he’s one of the straightest people I know, he relayed that he assumes every phone discussion he has is taped. He refuses to make any decisions on the phone at all for fear of one’s ulterior motive. This is symbolic of something many here, I assume, will now adopt (albeit for different reasons).
With media layoffs occurring daily, the Twittergate Affair should be examined closely by all media analysts – A major major story was leaked by an insider. More self-reporting (which happened to be accurate this time) – It costs a lot of money for media to be instantly available to be available and respond quickly, and not many media outlets are able to adapt.
Moving forth, will people confess to crimes via these non traditional media outlets? What about marriage proposals? This is real and actual media, continuing to take eyeballs from traditional media – Television, newspapers and the like. Everyday we learn more. This Al Roker Item is also worth nothing; it happens every day, but received attention simply because it was Roker.
The world is changing by the minute (and please feel free to record that).
Ronn Torossian
5W PR
