The Sour Side of Online Marketing

Why just the other day I bought some lemons. They were just your average, typical lemons.
Except for one big difference...

Yes, my lemons now are a part of social networking.
And here I thought social media couldn't get any more niche...

Of course, me being the inquisitive being that I am, I had to save the sticker and investigate.
Finding the page took a little bit longer than I first anticipated - better get your online marketing consultant onto that, Abbotsleigh!
But, alas,  the result was dismal...I bought my lemon at Woolworths. Now, I think of the hundreds of thousands of lemons in Australia that are sold to thousands of customers each week, and how many hundreds of those people like myself, notice the sticker.

Your eyes are not mistaken, only a mere 219 people including myself have actually liked Abbotsleigh Citrus's Facebook Page. Considering they joined Facebook on March 3 2011, and I could get 219 people to read my blog in 1 day if I wanted to buy using social media - I'm calling this an Online Marketing FAIL.

This only reinforces how IMPORTANT online marketing can be in making or breaking a company's success. For one, the used of not including "citrus" on their sticker has lost potentially hundreds of page likes,  and all that could have been avoided with adding a single word. Considering their stickers have been this way for over a year, it's more than a simple mistake...

Businesses need to constantly be cautious of the marketing they pursue, make sure you utilise a company or individuals that are trained in online marketing strategies to avoid simple mistakes as these, and even more importantly, make sure social media is actually RIGHT for your business. I am still stumped as to why these guys need a page.

By all means, if you love your citrus and you're a Facebook user, you can always help them out like I did by liking their page: https://www.facebook.com/AbbotsleighCitrus

Public Media

Lecture Week 8 - 16/4/12


"The difference between commercial broadcasting and public media is the difference between consumers and citizens." - Nigel Milan (former Managing Directer of SBS)


What a great little quote. A quote that very much sums up my own opinion in a, lets be honest, much nicer way. Now, we all remember commercial media is profit driven. The definition of public media is:

"In general, a media whose mission is to serve or engage a public...it may be for profit as long as it's ultimate goal is to serve the public and not to turn a profit." 

- WGBH Educational Foundation Conference Open Content and Public Broadcasting (19-21 September 2006)

The main reason's why we need Public Media are

1. Public Value - embedding a public service ethos
   - Value for licensing fee
   - Weighting public value against market impact
   - Public consultation
2. Geographic universality - access to the whole of the country
3. Universality of appeal - cater for all interests
4. Special provision for minorities - eg, SBS in Australia
5. Relationship to the sense of national identity and community - National building, heritage, identity and conversations
6. Distanced from all vested interests
7. Liberate rather than restrict broadcasters

Public media has a huge role on impacting a country, and ensuring those companies which are purely commercial and ensuring the public has access to many different avenues of not only news but of light entertainment. A huge area of this though is the news where Public Media really is in place to ensure we are able to have a less bias account of the news, as we trust public media news more than we would trust news programs such as 'Today Tonight' and 'A Current Affair'. 

41% of Australian;s get their news from ABC, however, there is the argument that public media news can be elitist, of limited interest and possibly out of touch as some people would prefer to watch news casts such as 'The Project' rather than ABC 7pm News. Public media is getting less prominence, and investigative journalist is slowly decreasing as we as a world have less resources in Journalism. The problem with this is that investigative journalism is the journalism that changes the world, and acts as a reality check to many companies, individuals and even nations.

While Public and Commercial media outlets are very different, they do have the same challenges. They both need audiences. To sum it up: Without an audience, there is no ratings, without ratings no profit, without profit no journalists.

Basically, like any media outlet, public media must follow the Journalist Code of Ethics to remain honest, independent and relevant. The Australian code is found here.

It is safe to say it is a hard road ahead for Journalists in yet another area. It seems the more I study this course, the more I'm being persuaded to take a different career path... But what is rewarding if it's not a challenge?

3 Cheers for QPS...

If you've managed to find yourself under a rock, and missed what happened this Easter long weekend in Brisbane, let me fill you in.

• Sunday night in Zillmere 4 men fled in a stolen vehicle and were followed by police
• The driver charged through a police road block and towards an officer causing shots to be fired with 1 man injured with a shot to the leg
• All 4 were arrested
• Monday morning a Brisbane task force named "Taskforce Kilo Perpetual" was launched as the 4 men were part of a wanted 30 for over 190 offenses in the past 4 months
• Approx 2 hours later, 2 stolen cars became part of an over 2 hour long car chase across Brisbane City, tracked by Seven, Nine and Ten news helicopters to assist police
• After successful use of road spikes, the cars came to a stop at a Shopping center, leading 7 young men ages 13 to 19 to be arrested.
• The man who drove towards the police on Sunday night has since been charged with attempted murder and the other men face a variety of punishable offences ranging from 14 years to life if found guilty in the coming days.

Police arresting a suspect at Mt Ommaney shopping center Monday afternoon.
Picture: Glen Barnes. Source: Courier Mail

I have had a few thoughts racing through my head since this has unfolded and I sat in front of my television, while constantly refreshing twitter to learn the news as it happen. The first, of course, is how absolutely AMAZING it is that we have the news literally as it happens. If you have read any of my other blog posts, you're probably aware by now that I have a love-hate relationship with the media...

Well, today my friend, is one of love. And for many reasons...

For one, QLD Police only recently received their first helicopter, based on the Gold Coast. In moments like these (no matter how rare they are) this does seem like a minor oversight. Without the commercial media's use of helicopters tracking the separate cars and relaying the information to the police, catching the cars would have been, lets just say - much more tedious
MEDIA - 1
EMILY - 0

The news was literally instantaneous. I was able to receive a tweet from someone at ABC, and next thing I know, the information is being relayed over my television set with images to match. The power of social media, web 3.0 and the media making use of such powerful tools created a huge awareness of what was going on, to further assist in bringing justice.
MEDIA - 2
EMILY - 0

As for Zillmere, I did notice over the past few nights odd police behavior along Zillmere Road (which happens to be where I live, with lovely windows looking right over onto the street). My partner and I had had conversations about 'what are they up to?' and 'who are they going to catch?' only to be out maneuvered by clever police tactics and precautions. Heck, I felt safe in my own suburb when literally meters away road blocks were being set up, of which we knew nothing about until reported on the media. The Queensland Police have again reinforced why I feel safe somewhere where others might be quick to judge for a suburb that is currently in the news for some very serious crimes. Not a single person was injured, other than those committing crimes and resisting arrest, and in the end, the bad guys got caught. Not one alarm bell in my head went off...but I still like to think I am savvy and noticing their odd driving behaviors makes me in the loop ;) who knows, I could be a crime reporter yet!
MEDIA - 1
EMILY - 0
QUEENSLAND POLICE - 9999999999999999999....

Well done, QPS! For now I know I am safe, and my faith in Australian Media (at the very least) has been restored.
Plus, I like to imagine some 'The Raid'-esk moves going down in some apartment building near by....you never know!

Ten Reasons I Love Leo

This April I jumped on to the Titanic bandwagon. After watching the movie again for the first time in years (and having a great big sob afterwards like every time I have watched it), I am left enchanted by the then 22 year old Leonardo DiCaprio. Lets take a moment to reflect on the transformation that is Leo, and my Top Ten reasons I can't get those eyes out of my dreams at night...

1. Of course, I am a fool if I do not list, first and foremost Leo's beautiful acting in Titanic. What heterosexual female does not leave that cinema crying over the death of Jack for Rose's life, and the true, honest love those young star-crossed lovers found. While not his first claim to fame, you'd be surprised to learn DiCaprio initially turned down the role, doubting his own acting ability. So a big double thumbs up to you, James Cameron, at coercing this young Leo into my heart, and the roles of many more amazing future films. Oh please, Leo...Paint me like one of your French girls!

2. Keeping on the theme of Leo-mania, his portrayal of Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's modern adaption of Shakespeare's classic, Romeo + Juliet. I can never read the play again without picturing Leo's face as my sweet Romeo - although, that's in no way a bad thing! 

3. DiCaprio's portrayal of Johnny Depp's mentally handicapped brother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape is hands down one of my favourite performances by anyone. Ever. If you have never watched the film, do it. Right now. Why are you still reading this sentence? Seriously. As a then 18 year old actor, Leo in my opinion easily deserved the Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. I'm yet to see another film tackle issues of mental handicaps so tastefully, let alone find an actor skillful enough to portray them.

4. Catch Me If You Can, inspired by the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr always gets my heart racing, and it's no wonder why. The film was shot in 147 different locations, in only 52 days, making for one skillful actor who can perform under pressure ;) . For the first time, we see Leo not as a charming romantic, but a conniving, womanizing playboy...who we still can't help to swoon for like the girls in the film. 

5. One of the most haunting and original films I have ever seen is of course Shutter Island. The ability for Leo to portray a character that had me questioning his sanity alongside him, left me feeling terrified as piece by piece I put it together only seconds before DiCaprio's character does. I believe every muscle on DiCaprio's face, and watched that movie for the first time with a burning intensity, like  U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels to get to the bottom of it all. How many movies can you say you watched with full intensity before?

6. Inception. How many conversations have you had since that movie came out debating what the ending meant. For me, it's countless. I loved every second of that movie, and DiCaprio's outstanding acting ability to only show what we need to know, that we saw in Shutter Island came in to play again with us. Was it going to stop spinning? Did he know it was a dream and just accept it? Or even worse, was the whole movie just a dream? Damn, you Leo! Damn you and your wonderful ways!

7. Let's step away from his acting and into his personal life. Not only is his house entirely eco-friendly, but Leo has purchased an island in Belize which he plans to build an eco-friendly resort. 

8. He is a human rights activist - During the filming of Blood Diamond, Leo worked with orphaned children, he donated $1,000,000 US in relief after Haiti and supported the Obama campaign, donating $2,300 the maximum amount you can donate as an individual.

9. He campaigns for animal rights too. In 2010, DiCaprio donated $1,000,000 to Wildlife Conservation Society in Russia and in 2011 joined Animal Legal Defense Fund's campaign to free Tony, a tiger who has spent the last decade at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana.

10. He is ridiculously good looking. I mean, c'mon! All cycles of his life, he has remained a stunning specimen of human nature.

Chocolate Day!

Happy Easter to my fellow bloggers!


Of course, for some that means more than others. As a self confessed atheist, this long weekend is about eating crap, catching up on rest and spending time around those I love. Which I have to say, is a good weekend to look forward to each year (sorry about the death, Jesus - I'm in it for the candy!).

How could you honestly say no?! $11.99

Now I've always had the trouble of what to get people as a token of appreciation on Easter time. I stuck to the traditional Darrell Lea Turkish Delight Half Egg for the boyfriend, but this year for the lucky ladies I went for something sweeter on the nose and better on the hips. The Body Shop released an absolutely to die for range this year - Chocomania.

The decadent tin with small sizes of most of the range costs only $45.95

The range, like most Body Shop products uses Community Fair Trade ingredients, sourcing cocoa butter from Ghana harvested from hand by the women of the Kuapa Kokoo social fund, which invests in clean drinking water, medical and educational facilities. Now, that's some chocolate good for the heart and the body!


However, if you were lucky enough to receive mountains of chocolate like myself, and happen to not be on a never ending diet...here are some fun facts I pulled from the charming site Cacao Web, as well as a few things some wise women once told me...

• Cocoa beans contain polyphenols with antioxidant properties which are health beneficial.
• The antioxidant flavinoids also reduce the blood's ability to clot and thus reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Chocolate contains Phenylethylamine which is a is a slight antidepressant
• Cocoa and chocolate can increase the level of serotonine in the brain. PMS symptoms be gone!
• IT TASTES DELICIOUS!!!

So, I say for this weekend, enjoy the treats you've been given! Bask in the love of those who surround you, and the  Phenylethylamine that enters your body. Think about the calories and cavities later!

If you still want more reasons to eat it, watch the 2000 romance film 'Chocolat' featuring the tasty Johnny Depp. You'll never say no to chocolate again!

Commercial Media

Lecture Week 6 - 2/4/12

In $$$ We Trust

Week 6 lecture delved into everything I hate about mass media. Yes, commercial media is necessary, but to what extent? When does it go too far, and how aware is the general public when it comes to what information they receive?

Commercial Media is a hugely important part of Australia's economy, as it is estimated that 99% of households have a television.The use of privately owned broadcasting (Ten, Nine, Seven, Foxtel, Austar, News Limited...the list goes on) completely shadows the publicly funded broadcasts (ABC, SBS) in Australia.

Yes, we need to make money to produce these Television broadcasts. We need to sell advertisements and promotional shows, but how do we ensure the 2 things do not mix? In my opinion, as far as Television journalism goes - we don't...

My concern is, the difference of advertising and endorsements and true journalism becomes a very blurred line in certain programs such as 'Today Tonight' and to a lesser extent, simplifying the news on shows like 'The Project' makes me wonder how many consumers are aware of who is financing the "news".

Last week, McDonald's advertised what they called a "documentary" that was aired on channel 7 after the popular prime time program 'Revenge'. What the program failed to make clear to it's viewers was the documentary was entirely self funded. Channel 7 executives have defended the program, saying "There is plenty of negative as well as positive information in the program ... We have no reason to think the information in the program is other than accurate" (Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/producer-defends-mcdonalds-documentary-20120401-1w67r.html#ixzz1rMTxcUbu) and denied the program had anything to do with the heavily advertised new season of 'My Kitchen Rules', of which McDonald's is a major sponsor.


My beef with commercial media is that our integrity as Journalists is at risk. If our audience is being fed advertisements as news, how do we expect people to ask WHY, or HOW about things going on in the world?


I know that one day, somewhere somehow I will most likely end up working in commercial media, but I must say, I will NEVER push something like what channel 7 did as investigative factual journalism. The day I do sell out as a journalist, is the day I willingly invite you to kick me in the stomach.
Seriously.

Factual Story Telling - Sound

Lecture Week 5 - 26/3/12

Now, listen here!

"Radio is a much more intimate medium" 

I never thought much of radio. I was never one to listen to much radio. I tried pod-casts on my iPod, but never had the time to focus on the conversation, and conversation is what sets is apart from other means of reporting. 

I must admit upfront, while listening to our sound lecture I did have troubles being "genuinely interested" in the whole thing that was reiterated as being a hugely important thing in radio journalism. I often found myself wandering on to other web pages, or checking my twitter to see what was happening in the world instantly. Basically, I have been brought up in a world of instant social networking where when I think of something I can Google it.

However what I did learn was the often calm and relaxed mood of a radio interview in comparison to print or television (in most cases) via the use of humour and trying to make them act like a "normal human being". This is possibly why radio is able to withstand the changing technology and the power of downloading a pod-cast, because it is so informal and casual in comparison. For all I know, you could be sitting in your underpants drinking coffee talking into the microphone...But maybe that is just my imagination running away with me.

My favourite part was the closure of the interviews - "if you really want it, don't give up."

I managed to get to the end of the interview, and while my mind has been opened, I'm still not sure I am one to listen to radio...