Canuckflack

Colin McKay: Gov Web 2.0 Communications Pioneer

// July 17th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Blog Strategy, Career, community

Reposted from John Cass’ PR Communications, and one in a series of reminisces about Global PR Blog week, which was published five years ago this week.

Colin McKay was an early Canadian pioneer in blogging and social media, but also in the Government use of social media. In my continuing series of interviews with Alumni from the Global PR Blog week, I ask Colin questions about the conference.

John: What did you learn from the Global PR Blog Week?

Colin: Global PR Blog Week was my first real opportunity to work with like-minded people from around the world. Collaboration, community and crowd sourcing are words that are thrown around quite easily today: just five years ago, it was unusual to pull together virtual teams working to a common agenda. YoungPrPros and other listservs were the most similar beast.

John: What did you learn about blogging, if you learned anything about blogging, from the blog week?

Colin: By July 2004, I had been blogging for nearly a year. I had been posting short observations, longer analytical pieces, and even commentary. I didn’t, however, truly realize the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience that could be shared if bloggers pulled their resources together and focused on a common series of topics.

John: Did the conference give you any new insights into PR, and if so what were they?

Colin: I had been aware of the different fields of PR and communications, but hadn’t really spent much time really thinking outside my own day-to-day work. PR Blog Week really demonstrated that there were inspired and influential bloggers who could bring insight to issues common across all these fields.

John: What were the lasting effects of the Global PR Blog Week?

Colin: Personally, I am still in contact with many of the contributors. Participating encouraged me to write longer form posts and articles on my blog and elsewhere, and to consciously look to other bloggers and online sources for inspiration and ammunition.

John: How did the Global PR Blog week influence you and the industry?

Colin: I’m not sure how influential PR Blog Week was for the industry. We’ve certainly seen an explosion in the number and quality of PR pros expressing themselves online. I’d hope that PR Blog Weeks 1 and 2 demonstrated that sold, well-reasoned and influential work could come out of blogging, and that blogging was not just a distraction for disaffected employees.

Interestingly, I look back at the list of participants, and I notice many names that are still influential in the field – personalities that have remained consistent and have continued to contribute, often without a care for being identified as influential, or a guru or a thought leader.

Reviewing the post(s) you wrote for the Global PR Blog week what has changed? What has not changed, since you wrote your post?

Colin: In year 1, I covered crisis communications. I notice that I didn’t cover online tools in any detail. That would definitely change today, but my advice on the preparation, attitudes and approaches to a crisis would not.

In year 2, I focused on the intersection between online communications and the development of government policy. For the longest time, that article remained current – it seems that the ground has begun to shift over the past nine months or so. #Gov2.0 has taken a great leap forward with the arrival of the Obama administration and the experimentation of the Labour government in the UK.

John: Give an update on what you’ve been doing in the last five years, and what you are doing now?

Colin: Well, canuckflack is still well and alive, although it has received greater and less attention over the years. I continued as a communications manager at the Department of Industry until 2007, when I joined the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. At the moment, I’m the Director of Research, Education and Outreach, and have been able to launch some fairly novel outreach tools that draw from my experience blogging and fooling around with social media: http://dpi.priv.gc.ca, http://blog.privcom.gc.ca and http://youthprivacy.ca. Not to mention our fledgling Twitter account http://twitter.com/privacyprivee.

John: Thank you Colin. Great insights into the virtual event, how PR has changed and not changed. Also I think your point about the faster pace of change in Government is very true.

Unsung victims of recession

// June 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Career, Economics

“Weekly haul: It’s dead now. My paycheck used to be $500 to $550 a week, but now it’s like $280 to $300. It’s all by commission and started to go down a year and a half ago. We never go to Wall Street now. It’s all basically the fashion industry. We risk our lives for models basically, bringing clothes and books to models. It’s all garment bags. Models’ portfolios. And candles.”

- NYT talks to a New York City bike messenger

My new site and synergies of my job

// April 5th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Career, Creativity, Government 2.0

My day job involves a very interesting balance between two distinct functions: research and public education.

To many working in the public sector, there is a very clear line dividing these two roles.

In research, the organization attempts to examine an issue of some importance, identify options that may want to be explored by the organization, conduct research largely in secret (there’s a reason why the Treasury Board had to mandate that government-funded public opini0n research be released to the public) and then set out some possible policy approaches to addressing the issue.

Public education? Many consider this function to be the loose-lipped and overly indiscreet part of the organization. The bar hopper. The close talker. The desperate car salesman of the public service.

Luckily for me, a small organization finds it more efficient – and more productive – to try and tap outside resources in most circumstances. You’ve conducted a multi-national survey on the policy implications of X? Great. One more thing I don’t have to commission. Your area of academic specialization is remarkably similar to a subject we have become deeply interested in? Fantastic! Can we invite you up for a day of consultations and maybe a public discussion?

The research conducted by our organization can be opportunistic. We have an institutionalized willingness to hear out and even incorporate outside opinion into our research process, especially when there are dozens of specialists honing in on very defined areas of expertise in privacy and data protection.

Many of these specialists also invest a lot of time and effort in communicating their work – whether through meetings of their professional associations, by publishing their academic or legal research, speaking to public meetings or through loud (or quiet) activism.

What does this mean? Sometimes, my roles as researcher and educator meet – even amplify each other. Amplification doesn’t necessarily mean the goals of our work meet, but there are enough synergies and benefits to be shared.

This leads me to our latest research project (http://dpi.priv.gc.ca) – a collection of essays discussing deep packet inspection (DPI). As we were beginning to research DPI as a privacy issue last summer, we recognized that there are many, many sides to the issue and to the application of the technology – each with its own proponent and each with its own school of thought and support.

Instead of preparing a summary of the issue, or commissioning contrasting research papers, we decided to take two separate tacks:

• build a collection of varying points of view on DPI, solicited from experts from as many fields as possible; and
• providing those with a professional or private interest in the issue with an opportunity to comment and provide additional resources on DPI and its implications.

This is the result:

That’s right. It’s an online publication designed to offer an opportunity for the new spirit of collaboration and cooperation to take hold – in a constructive way. It also happens to incorporate now common social media elements.

It’s not a social media project looking for a convenient home. It’s a practical and reasoned application of innovative public education tools to a real research need.

And I hope it works.

Changing priorities or evolving interests

// November 9th, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Career, Design, Graphic

The Easiest Job Promotion In The World

// May 1st, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Career, Creativity, Marketing

Meet Hunter Somerville. While an intern at Ogilvy & Mather in Toronto last summer, he was asked to chip into a campaign by taking a shot at redesigning the back of the Shreddies box.

He now works there as a creative.

The key to winning a promotion in the advertising world?

Demonstrating a canny understanding of the product and its features. Groundbreaking insight into the market you are targeting. (And more than a dash of Machiavellian office intrigue, but let’s leave that to the senior creatives.)

Somerville’s fantastic insight? Tilt the square Shreddies by 45 degrees – thereby creating Diamond Shreddies!

“…”It came from an exercise of redesigning the back of the cereal box,” says chief creative officer Nancy Vonk. “We gave the task to a lowly summer intern Hunter Somerville. His joke idea–make the back look like the front of a new bogus product–was quickly seen as a bigger idea that could become a 360 campaign.” (Creativity-Online)

The idea was so simple, yet so fundamental, that it stopped me cold in my feet. Or cold on my sofa, waiting for American Idol to come back on.

Nothing had changed in the 67 year-old product. Nothing had to change on the production line. Yet the product was positioned as having fundamentally changed.

Even the focus groups were fooled. That’s right. As part of the marketing campaign, Ogilvy & Mather conducted focus groups to test the perceived difference between traditional “square” Shreddies and newfangled “diamond” shreddies. See for yourself. Focus group participants work themselves into identifying the improved qualities of the new product.

As the CMA blog wrote, “Poor consumer. They didn’t stand a chance.”

Even the food obsessives at the Kraft Canada forums are praising the campaign.

In perhaps the funniest twist of the re-branding, Vancouver lawyer George Gould put the “last square Shreddie” up for sale on ebay.

[tags] Shreddies, cereal, O&M [/tags]

A career jump or just a transition?

// April 28th, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Career

Well, that’s it. I’m no longer professionally obsessed with the ebb and flow of daily news coverage.

For the first time in ten years, I do not work in corporate communications. Instead, I am now the Director of Research, Education and Outreach.

What does that mean? A startling change in work environment, for one.

There has always been one certainty in my life: that a call from a reporter would upend my day and reshuffle my work priorities.

That tends to encourage short-term thinking and discourage extended periods of reflection.

It has also fed my short attention span.

As the title would suggest, the Director of Research is responsible for managing long term research agendas.

I’m not unfamiliar with this world: I toyed with becoming an academic before this crazy communications work came along.

These people, though, have always been my clients.

(By people, I mean economists, statisticians, computer scientists, accountants … You know, skilled and trained professionals)

Now it’s time to raise my nose and look beyond the daily, weekly or monthly news cycle. Develop plans that have real strategic outcomes, instead of tactical milestones.

And, apparently, I’m no longer a talking head. Now, I’m a technical expert.

That means more public speaking.

“…and now,let’s all welcome Colin McKay, the Director of …”

At least I’ll still have a sizeable public education agenda to keep my marketing chops busy.

Career paths you never thought of

// April 8th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Career, Criticism

Ever catch yourself looking at a courtroom sketch, either in the paper or on television, and wondering “that’s great work, but how much demand is there for a courthouse sketch artist?”

Ironic Sans provides an overview of the work of seven artists – inside the court and out. Did you know that one courtroom sketch artist also did the storyboards for The Day After Tomorrow?

There doesn’t seem to be any shortage of reporting on the work of these artists, as any Google search will reveal. Some of the comments, however, reveal that the job can driven by multiple deadlines in a day, restrictions that vary from courtroom to courthouse, and even criticism from your subjects:

“… [Maryiln] Church was sketching at the first World Trade Center bombing trial, she said, when “at one point the lawyer for one of the defendants came over to the juror’s box (where we were sitting) and said, ‘My client thinks you are drawing him looking like an angry terrorist and he resents it.’” (Columbia News Service)

Being Will Ferrell

// March 2nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Career

Apparently, $15 million in opening weekend box office may not be enough to build buzz for Will Ferrell’s new movie, Semi-Pro. Which is a pity, since it seems like he’s been working hard – including the back alleys – to promote it.
Back alleys? Well, alternative newspapers. This funny tidbit from the San Antonio Current:

“… “I had a slew of, uh, I was a bank teller, a valet parker, um, what else? I worked at an art auction house. I was the appraisal coordinator.

I would send the appraisers out, as they would — they’d bring their appraisals of art back and I would have to type them up. But I was pretty bad at the job, because I would just leave and go on auditions. But I kept employed by being completely honest with my employers.

When they would say, you know, “That appraisal was due a month ago,” I would say, “I know, it’s — it’s terrible.” And, uh, “When do you think we can expect it?” “I have no idea.” It would almost stun them into, “OK, well, get it [done]. Right away.” “OK, I will. I’ll try my hardest. But — there’s no guarantees.” …”

[tags] Will Ferrell, Semi-Pro, alternative newspapers [/tags]

A fresh attitude to your work

// February 4th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Career, Creativity

“Act like you just quit” – fantastic advice from Advertising for Peanuts.

That’s doesn’t mean flip your boss the bird, or burn down the Initech division where you work.

Instead, challenge the conventions, the traditions, the ingrained habits that have held you back.

Do you have a great idea gnawing away at your soul? Are there business processes you are certain can be improved?

Or do you just feel disaffected and detached from your work? Chances are, your colleagues and boss have noticed as well.

Think about that period between an old job and a new one. What’s your normal behaviour? You:

• immediately forget all the petty interpersonal conflicts that took up your workday
• begin forecasting the work environment, work projects and personal relationships you want to develop at your new job
• maybe even take a stab at career planning – imagining two or three steps into the future

That’s right. You embrace the opportunity to change, the opportunity to abandon all your old habits and your less-than-favourable practices.

Why not do that now? Change does not require packing boxes. It just demands a level of confidence and a willingness to risk the status quo.

You’ll be surprised by how others welcome your willingness to change your life and your performance.

Quitters may be dismissed out of hand, but you’re rarely faulted for trying your hardest.

Walking the talk

// November 6th, 2007 // 9 Comments » // Career, social media

Okay, people. It’s taken four years, but I’m finally getting some work done at the office that relates to my online obsessions.

A friend of a friend of a friend … a flash presentation about social networks and privacy.

Before you complain: yes, it should have an embed link. It should be available on a sharing app. It should have links to sharing sites.

We’re the government. We’re working on it.

UPDATE: And … we did it.

[tags] privacy, identity, social networks, government communications, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Orkut [/tags]

Office Politics 101

// October 24th, 2007 // 4 Comments » // Career, Guides

Taking up the challenge from UGA’s Karen Miller Russell that “PR bloggers would write about topic x,” I submit my guide to Office Politics 101

1. Read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. TWICE.

2. Never annoy the assistants in the office. They can make your life unbearable.

3. Identify the five essential office characters:

• • Knows Where the Bodies are Buried
  • Boss’ Right Hand
  • The Office Klinger (aka scrounger, thief, fixer)
  • He Who Knows Everything (aka corporate memory)
  • Everybody’s Social Butterfly

4. Acronyms are not your friend. Not when you don’t understand them, and not when you throw them around trying to look intelligent.

5. Read up on learning styles. The way a person collects, interprets and processes information affects how they behave in a conversation with you, how they interact with others in meetings, and how quickly and violently they will try to shoot down and bury your cool new idea.

6. Figure out the conversation nodes in the office. Where do people hang out and exchange information? The office kitchen? Starbucks down the street? Twenty years ago, your best bet of learning the latest corporate rumour was by hanging out with the senior executives as they had a smoke on the sidewalk.\

7. You have not explained your idea well enough. Whether you’re twenty or forty, you’re the new person in the office. You need to make reference to the past ideas, experiments, and failures of your new colleagues if you expect them to engage and understand what you’re trying to sell.

8. Always dress for the job you would like to have, not the job you have now. In some offices, that means kicks and jeans. Personally, I’ve just laid out a lot of money on suits.

9. Manage your online social networks and your offline social networks discretely. Facebook and other social networks have a place in the office, in my opinion. And I’m not upset if you take some time to organize your weekend while sitting at your desk. But I don’t need to know the details of your personal life – either by you speaking to loudly in the office, or by posting inappropriate pictures. (Hey. If the first thing you did at work was “friend” your new boss, then don’t complain when I notice the pictures.)
10. Share credit more than blame. Nothing says you’re a high performer more than being able to deliver high quality work – and convince others to help you do it. If you spend all your time complaining about how others are keeping you from doing well – then you’re the problem.

11. Speak to people. Email and IM can only get you so far.

[tags] office politics, office conflict, new job [/tags]

Change agent: a sisyphean task

// June 27th, 2007 // 1 Comment » // Career

Stolen directly from Dave Gray’s blog, Communication Nation:

“…A blog is a way of getting support and affirmation from the outside, for the things you are trying to do on the inside.

A blog is a way to keep your faith alive.”

I know blogs, podcasts, general and specialist social networks and plain old Yahoo newsgroups have helped me explore new ideas as a:

• public relations specialist
• government communicator
• blogger, and;
• all around know-it-all

[tags] evangelism, xplane, Dave Gray [/tags]

A letter to the new interns

// June 5th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // Career

To the new interns:

Welcome! I assume by now you’ve met Trish, our administrative assistant. (She’s married. Forget about it. This isn’t Wedding Crashers) She will be able to help you settle into your new space (behind the coat rack) and find the supplies you will need for a productive term (making copies of your ass and phoning your friends in Europe) here at the agency.

We’re really excited to have a new crew of energetic public relations grads (whose spirit hasn’t yet been crushed by the blunt reality of the real world) with us, ready to leap at any challenge (like wearing a mascot costume on a 95 degree day, little kids kicking at your shins). We’ve made an effort to pull together a group of talented and outgoing young professionals (Is it the Hamptons or a quick flight up to the Cape this weekend?), and we think the agency will benefit from your insight and fresh thinking.

After reviewing the workload facing our more experienced account executives (like finding a new job after the merger), I think we’ve lined up a full slate of interesting (Get me a bagel and a coffee, will ya?) and rewarding projects (Here’s 500 brand stickers. Hit the bricks, and don’t come back until you’re busted by the Port Authority for vandalism) for you to tackle over the next eight to twelve weeks.

Over your term, there will likely be opportunities to take part in new business pitches (the Practice Leader needs you to drive him to the airport – tomorrow morning at 3), client account reviews, focus groups, presentations, and maybe even some travel!

The agency is in the process of developing a PR 2.0 practice, and I’m sure that some of you will want to share your experiences growing up (Want to buy some Second Life jewellery?)and living in an interconnected world (where Yo la Tengo and Ted Leo are considered mainstream and popular).

Just remember: the agency’s success depends upon your ability to bring it. Expertise. Insight. Confidence. Creativity. It must be brung, and brung well.

Trish will be providing you with our standard welcome package, which includes helpful guides on the office’s standard software, suggestions on appropriate office wear (it’s the motion of the ocean that counts), and the agency’s code of ethics and acceptable business behaviour (sex in the office is NOT okay. save it for after work. at my place on the beach).

Oh. If, god forbid, you do have any problems with your pay or benefits (what benefits? you mean the sesame street band aids?), make sure to get in touch with Trish.

Thank you for choosing our agency, and don’t hesitate to contact me (Do you really think I care? As Chris Rock says, minimum wage means I’d pay you less, but it’s against the law) if you have any concerns over the course of your internship.

Eric ‘Otter’ Stratton

(Sorry if you got multiple versions of this in the feed. I tried a neat little floating span trick – that apparently breaks IE)

Bacteria Cafeteria: like a wetnap with your lunch?

// April 16th, 2004 // No Comments » // Career

Ah. The office cubicle. Those precious 96 square feet of semi-autonomous privacy! The cartoons, the art class pottery, and the cat pictures.

And the germs. Billions of them, as WSJ’s Cubicle Culture tells us today:

… the desktop surrounding you has 400 times as much bacteria per skuzzy square inch as the toilet seat; the keyboard and mouse have 67 times and 34 times as much bacteria, respectively. So says Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. The difference, he says, is that someone cleans the toilet. “Basically what you have in an office is an unregulated restaurant,” says Prof. Gerba. “We’ve turned our desks into bacteria cafeterias.” …

… To stifle whatever wafts from nearby plates, or the hot breath of garbage cans, [securities trader Leslee] Byron paints her aromatherapy oils onto Post-it Notes and sticks them under people’s desks above the trash cans.

Bacteria Cafeteria! That would make a nice SchoolHouse Rock special! A short animated industrial film, to be shown at team meetings and OSH conventions:

I know a little place,
Just around the bend,
Where you’re never on the mend!
Someone’s always sneezing, someone’s always wheezing!

Bacteria Cafeteria
Don’t let them germs get near ya!