Sound Communication

MORE than six million people have so far been emailed a spoof video blaming them for electing Republican John McCain as the next President of the United States.

The video is going out to more than 30 new people per second as a direct and personal reminder to them to vote in next Tuesday’s Presidential election.

The spoof video is set after the election and “reveals” that Democratic candidate Barack Obama has lost by just one vote. The ‘missing’ voter is the person receiving the personalised video!

In the spoof news-style video, the missing voter’s name is blazed across headlines in the New York Times, is personally thanked by George W. Bush and is castigated by irate US citizens (including an hilariously foul-mouthed grandmother, pictured above) and a lonely goat herd who now fears his flock is about to be bombed by ‘President McCain’.

The video is witty, irreverent and extremely well done – and it may have the desired effect in helping to Get Out The Vote as well as becoming a global hit.

Research shows that this kind of social “nudging” is extremely effective. The organisers are aiming to reach 10 million people before Election Day in the USA – but look set to easily reach their target.

To see how it works, you can fill in your friends names and send the video to them today.

Send the Spoof Video

[Read more →]

Tags: Digital communications by Matthew Finnegan
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THE charge is damaging: that US Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama cancelled a hospital visit to wounded troops in Germany because he was not allowed to take the press with him.

It feeds into the popular global cynicism about politics and politicians: all spin and no substance. Obama is the cerebral dilettante concerned only with image and appearance rather than genuinely interested in the well-being of our brave boys.

And it undermines Obama’s campaign credentials as being an authentic voice who offers a clean break with the Washington machine politics of the past. Just like all the rest – a self-centred ego-maniac.

 The allegation of snubbing wounded service men now appears a central part of Republican John McCain’s attack on Obama, potentially fatally undermining the Democrat’s credibility as future Commander in Chief.

Republic campaign ‘attack ads’ are being aired on TV and YouTube and McCain has started touring the TV studios, this week levelling the ‘snub’ charge on the influential Larry King show on CBS.

But what is the truth? [Read more →]

Tags: Digital communications, Media relations by Matthew Finnegan
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THE age of the citizen journalist has arrived – and that’s official.
YouTube has this week created a special ‘reporter channel’ where anyone can upload film about news and events in their local community, organisation or business.
The channel is designed to encourage ‘citizen journalists’ to share their own films about news and events with the wider world.
YouTube say their ‘reporter channel’ is specifically aimed at airing ‘on-the-spot’ film, student newscasts, interviews with community figures, comment on issues and even professional journalists seeking a wider public for their work.
It goes on to provide a wide range of examples of the work of ‘citizen journalists’, from interviews with a local Mayor in the US, to Tibet protests at the Olympic torch procession in Canada, captured on a mobile phone.
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHfd1nDv48A

Now anyone can become a reporter – and they can broadcast from their very own YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, as Hillary Clinton bows out of the Democratic race for President of the United States, the Independent on Sunday greeted the dawn of a new era in political reporting thus:

“a first-of-its-kind election dominated by bloggers of all political hues, by citizen journalists armed with camera phones and cheap digital recorders, and played out on YouTube and across the web.”

It goes on to describe the dynamic and influential role so far played by ‘citizen journalists’ in the US election – a trend which looks certain only to increase as the battle between Obama and McCain intensifies.
Whether Britain will ever embrace this exciting new age of digital communication with quite the same enthusiasm, open-ness and commitment remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear – effective communication with global audiences is no longer the preserve of multi-millionaire media tycoon’s like Rupert Murdoch.
And that can only be A Good Thing.

Tags: Digital communications by Matthew Finnegan
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With the bruising Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America showing no sign of ending either quickly or painlessly, the formidable Republican contender John McCain must be rubbing his hands with glee from the sidelines.

With that in mind, we thought we would share with you this brilliant YouTube insight into the current Republican President, George W. Bush – and the unknown, but obviously extremely gifted, ‘spin doctor’ who has helped craft the public persona of the most powerful man on earth. We hope you enjoy it.

video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0f6_B9w5LE

Tags: Digital communications by Chris
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