VasGk | Κοινωνικό Νερό

Ευχαριστούμε, Μεταφερόμεθα, Σας περιμένουμε

2012-01-28T16:31:00.000+02:00

Η φωτογραφία από το άδειο μαγαζί στους Αμπελόκηπους είναι άκρως σημαντική. Έβγαλα αυτήν την φωτογραφία πριν λίγες μέρες και πρέπει να πω πως αισθάνθηκα λίγο καλύτερα εκείνο το πρωί.

Δεν το ήξερα το μαγαζί Sugar & Spice, είχε κλείσει πριν μερικές εβδομάδες μου είπε κάποιος από την καφετέρια απέναντι. Αισθάνθηκα πολύ όμορφα, το κατάστημα έφυγε από το κέντρο της Αθήνας και μεταφέρθηκε στην Πάρο!

Η κρίση στην οικονομία έχει φέρει πολλούς καταστηματάρχες σε δύσκολή θέση στο κέντρο της Αθήνας. Αντί να βάλει κάποιος λουκέτο, ας κάνει αυτό που έκανε το Sugar & Spice, ας μεταφερθεί σε ένα νησί!

Τα ανοιχτά μαγαζιά και η ανάπτυξη μας περιμένουν στα νησιά.

Sending Creative Political Emails

2012-01-25T23:24:00.001+02:00

It's me again, blogging from my iPhone. So please excuse any spelling errors and/or abbreviations..

By the by, I will be using the blogger app more!

On topic.. I love how the Mitt Romney campaign actually forwarded an email from the Obama Campaign!

The main message is this:
"If you don't like what you saw in President Obama's State of the Union last night, consider this: Pitch in $3 or more to the Romney campaign now"

Excellent email communications!

Simple, to the point & including the opponent's email in the message! Brilliant!

I like this method of email communications, because it shows that you don't need to structure a huge newsletter, or stay on message, in order to send a great email.

You just need to be creative, smart, and timed!

I think this might be a first..

Ο Νικήτας Κακλαμάνης κοινοποίησε σύνδεσμο

2011-11-30T12:21:00.001+02:00

Μου άρεσε πολύ που είδα τον Νικήτα Κακλαμάνη να κοινοποιεί στο facebook ένα σύνδεσμο από το Blog του Πιτσιρίκου (Άστεγοι χωρίς παγκάκι). Η πολιτική, και πολιτική επικοινωνία, είναι τόσο ρευστή υπόθεση που ο πρώην δήμαρχος Αθηναίων κοινοποιεί ένα σύνδεσμο από ένα Blog που έχει αναφερθεί σε αυτόν ως: "Ο Νικήτας Κακλαμάνης είναι πιθανότατα ο χειρότερος δήμαρχος που γνώρισε ποτέ η Αθήνα – μέχρι τον επόμενο" (Τον gay πολλοί αγάπησαν, την πουστιά ουδείς)

Δεν είναι καθόλου περίεργο πάντως.. Οι ιδέες του Νικήτα και του Πιτσιρίκου φαίνεται να συγκλίνουν και για την πρόσφατη απόφαση του τωρινού δημάρχου Αθηναίων Γ. Καμίνη για τις βιτρίνες των κλειστών καταστημάτων. Όπως λέει σε σχετική ανακοίνωση ο Δήμος Αθηναίων: "Φωτίζονται και παίρνουν ζωή οι κλειστές βιτρίνες του κέντρου και σε συνεργασία με την Ανωτάτη Σχολή Καλών Τεχνών"

Σε ανακοίνωση του, ο Νικήτας "Δήλωση για τις ενέργειες του Γ. Καμίνη σχετικά με το στολισμό της Αθήνας" αναφέρει ειρωνικά πως: "Ο Γ. Καμίνης βρήκε την «λύση» για τα χιλιάδες λουκέτα στα μαγαζιά της Αθήνας!"

Αλλά και ο Πιτσιρίκος στο Πάνω απ’ όλα η βιτρίνα αναφέρει με χιούμορ: "Παράλληλα με τη φιλοξενία έργων τέχνης στις βιτρίνες των κλειστών καταστημάτων, ο Δήμος Αθηναίων έχει αποφασίσει να ντύσει τους άστεγους με γιορτινά ρούχα. Όλοι οι άστεγοι θα ντυθούν Αϊ-Βασίληδες με το ζόρι, για να τους βλέπουν τα παιδάκια να κοιμούνται μέσα στο κρύο και να χαίρονται."

Χαίρομαι που ο Νικήτας κοινοποίησε σύνδεσμο του Πιτσιρίκου! Ο Νικήτας αποδεικνύεται καλύτερος δήμαρχος από τον Καμίνη και ο Πιτσιρίκος συνεχίζει να γράφει απολαυστικά σαρκαστικά!

Πως να ψηφίσετε στις επόμενες εκλογές

2011-11-21T17:08:00.001+02:00

Credit: OSCE/Curtis Budden

Σε αυτό το σημείο θέλω να αναφερθώ στον τρόπο με τον οποίο πρέπει να ψηφίσουμε στις επόμενες βουλευτικές εκλογές. Δεν ξέρω αν θα είναι στις 19 Φεβρουαρίου, όπως λέγεται, αλλά το μόνο σίγουρο είναι πως η ημερομηνία δεν πρόκειται να είναι πολύ μακριά από αυτή.

Στις επικείμενες Βουλευτικές εκλογές του 2012:

Οποιοδήποτε κόμμα και αν ψηφίσετε, να σταυρώσετε υποψηφίους οι οποίοι είναι πρώτη φορά πολιτευτές. Πρώτη φορά, όχι τωρινούς βουλευτές, όχι παλαιούς βουλευτές και όχι πολιτευτές της πολιτικής επετηρίδας του κάθε κόμματος.

Επιλέξτε πολίτες οι οποίοι κατεβαίνουν για πρώτη φορά ως υποψήφιοι βουλευτές.

Είναι ο μόνος τρόπος για να καθαρίσει το πολιτικό σκηνικό, να μπουν νέα μέλη της Ελληνικής κοινωνίας στην Βουλή των Ελλήνων και να εκπροσωπηθεί η γενιά των νέων στην Βουλή.

Οι πολιτικοί καριέρας θα είναι σύντομα παρελθόν με την ψήφο σας!

Ενδιαφέρον άρθρα σχετικά με τις εκλογές και την Πολιτική Επικοινωνία στην Ελλάδα

Πως να κερδίσετε στις επόμενες εκλογές

Το λευκό, το άκυρο, μπορεί να κερδηθεί στις κάλπες

Εκλογές 2010, ένα πούλμαν, δύο πούλμαν, ένας φίλος με το μηχανάκι του

Πολιτική Επικοινωνία μέσω Ίντερνετ και τέτοια...

Οι πολίτες, το facebook και οι πολιτικοί

Πολιτική Επικοινωνία στα Νότια Προάστια

Twitter mistakes in Political Communications

2011-11-04T17:16:00.000+02:00

A recent tweet from President Obama... stated:

President Obama urges Congress to pass the infrastructure section of the American Jobs Act now. Listen live: http://wh.gov/live

I have seen this in many tweets from politicians that have communications staffers operate their Social Media presence. This tweet is absolutely wrong!

Barack Obama says: "President Obama urges Congress..." instead of writing "I urge Congress..." the copywriter wrote a tweet as if he/she is writing on their personal account.

Clearly a big Social Media mistake..

P.S. IAB!

Obama: Read the smears - Republicans: Read the "facts"

2011-09-16T00:03:00.000+03:00

First of all I want to say that I don't believe in websites that debunk Internet rumor. As I said in a previous post Debunking smears on the Internet:

"When you make it an issue, it becomes an issue"

AttackWatch.com is a new website that seeks to put the record strait (according to the Obama campaign). The Obama campaign also keeps FightTheSmears.com a website actually created for the 2008 campaign! The website is still online, along the new AttackWatch.com. Both of them! Comes to prove that websites that re-produce smears and rumors, do just that: re-produce smears and rumors. FightTheSmears.com is a 2008 Obama campaign tool, that still keeps the 2008 smears online!

The Republicans instead of "Getting the record strait" they just serve "the facts" not the rumors; with the StimulusSpotlightProject.com The difference is that they do not re-produce the smears. The website offers bullet point "facts" that target on specific issues of the Stimulus.

There are many rumors online; official campaign sites should not present or re-produce them. Internet political communications should be focused on the message, rather than on the smears.

Romney: Believe in America, Donate

2011-09-14T22:45:00.000+03:00

The Mitt Romney campaign has the message "Believe in America" beneath the Romney logo (my opinion on the 2012 Romney logo) but just beneath that, it has a Donate button. In doing so the message becomes:

Romney - Believe in America - Donate

So, Romney believes in America, you should too.. oh, and donate to the campaign..

I know that that this might be considered a detail, however, when you look at it, it looks like the message is with the word "donate".

Anyway, I just wanted to bring this to your attention in order to point out that: They way you create an email newsletter can be proven to be crucial in changing or shaping your message.

Become a Member of the Conservatives and get free wine!

2011-09-06T17:39:00.000+03:00

In a recent email to supporters, the UK Conservative Party asks people to become full members of the party in order to help shape party policies, attend party Conferences and select the Party's candidates. Also worth mentioning.. members get a free Membership card.

That's all good, but then the email also offers a £40 wine voucher if you register now! WTF?

As an added bonus, new Members will also get £40 off at Naked Wines. After joining online, you'll be directed to the Naked Wines website - where you'll get £40 off any case of wine worth £59.99 or more. (You must be 18 years old to take advantage. Terms and conditions apply

More info about the free wine at the Conservative website here.

I believe this offer from the UK conservatives is hilarious! There are so many ways to rip on this move! But as they say in their email (after ordering the free wine): join today and help shape the future of your Party and your country.
I wonder if the decision to give away free wine is a coalition policy or is it just party politics?

We The People, e-Petition

2011-09-04T15:41:00.000+03:00

David Plouffe, Senior Advisor to the President, in a recent email said:We're about to change the way Americans engage with President Obama and his Administration by launching a new way for you to join with fellow Americans to petition the federal government on a range of issues.

We the People is a new e-goverment solution from the Whitehouse in order to engage with people online. I hope this is not just another 2012 campaign tool...

Although the Whitehouse is not the first administration to launch this sort of opengov initiative, it is always good to give people new ways to interact with Government.

Another initiative like "We the People", that I clearly remember, is from number 10 in the UK. I remember this e-Petition being in place even from the previous labour administration of Tony Blair.

The UK version also states that:You can create an e-petition about anything that the government is responsible for and if it gets at least 100,000 signatures, it will be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.

I have registered for Whitehouse updates on "We The People" Looking forward seeing how this e-gov tool will be used!

Learn to talk on twitter - case study

2011-08-04T16:05:00.062+03:00

I always try to find new ways to talk and engage with people on twitter. Although I maintain what I consider to be a very modest account; I know I need to put more time and effort in my personal tweeting. At the moment, I mostly tweet through the corporate accounts I manage.

In a Blog post back in 2009.. "Twitter as a public SMS pool" I wrote that:

"I think twitter as being, not just a mini-blogging platform, but an open SMS pool"

Through twitter, you have the opportunity to create context between relationships and interact with people. An excellent recent example comes from the account of Kevin Spacey.

One of Kevin's fans, Danielle Luttrell, tweeted: "I had a dream that @KevinSpacey called me to say happy birthday. I cried. #biggestfan" to which Kevin Spacey replied "@DanielleLutt how about a tweet? Happy bday!"

I find this amazing! A Hollywood star like Kevin Spacey with over 2million followers on twitter replied to a fan with 42 followers!

If it wasn't for twitter, how would Danielle had the opportunity to talk to Kevin, and Kevin to engage with Danielle?

I also find this example very interesting since it shows that the number of followers does not necessarily matter so as to make the difference or to be able to engage with anyone on twitter.

So, my simple advice to all.. tweet and engage!

The WTO Engages through YouTube

2011-08-02T23:37:00.001+03:00

A Great initiative from the World Trade Organization! Maybe not so creative, since the World Economic Forum has been running Video Contests for the last Davos meetings, but still a great move from an organization that is one of the most important ones, globally.

The video entry must be related to the WTO Public Forum's overall theme "Seeking Answers to Global trade Challenges", and/or to any of the main topics that will be addressed at this year's forum.

I might be entering the contest myself; it would be a great opportunity to go back to Geneva! I remember attending the WTO Public Forum in the past, and I must say that is definitely one of the most interesting fora.

Also, given that WTO has started to have an active presence in Social Media, it would be rather interesting to see how people and the WTO will start interacting in this public forum.

Maybe the WTO has a lot to learn from Davos in terms of Social Media engagement... however I know that is has a very active online community and an on-line forum and chat area, were people engage daily.

The Greek Finance Minister and YouTube SEO

2011-07-07T14:32:00.002+03:00

I watched a recent interview of Greek Finance Minister Venizelos on Blommberg concerning the developments in the Greek economy. I am not going to comment on the points raised by the Minister; but I do want to comment on the ads that appeared beside the video.

So, while you watch the Greek Finance Minister, talking about how Greece must avoid a selective default, you are prompted with an ad at the bottom of the video to invest in foxex, oil and gold with no commission and bonuses for new accounts.

While at the right corner there is another ad for studying for a Masters in Finance or a Masters in advanced Finance.

I know that YouTube SEO is smart, I didn't know that it had a sense of humor.

GOP asks facebook a twitter question - #AskObama

2011-07-06T15:05:00.000+03:00

It's good to see that the GOP is engaging with the Obama twitter townhall #AskObama. Something that they didn't do during the Obama facebook townhall.

In my post "President's facebook townhall & creative online campaign tactics" I wrote:

I expect to see more smart and creative online campaign tactics; hopefully the 2012 campaigns will use more creative thinking in the coming months.

Reince Priebus send out a tweet, the GOP ReTweeted and posted an update to the GOP facebook page.

One short comment: it doesn't matter if it's facebook, twitter or any other Social Network. Internet communications technologies are used by people at the same time. So, why not let facebook people take part in a twitter townhall? The Obama facebook page does not ask supporters for twitter questions; the GOP asked facebook a twitter question!

Barack Obama Campaign Emails - "(no subject)"

2011-07-05T16:22:00.002+03:00

Email newsletters can be considered to be the first direct to citizen tool of online political communications, before social media or other engaging technologies. The Obama 2012 campaign is using a style of email communication that started in the 2008 campaign.

People in our days are so overwhelmed by email, because everyone is getting so many newsletters that clutter their inbox with advertisements, offers, promotional messages and, in this case, emails from the 2012 campaigns.

So, how can you make your political campaign email stand out?

What the Obama campaign understands is that you don't need fancy graphics, banner ads, or digital signatures. The above email was "sent out" by the President with "(no subject)" in the title of the email. It has no banners, no photos, no videos embedded.

Just like an email you would receive from a friend.

Simple, Short, Single-Issued. (SSS) (Hey! I created an acronym...)

You would except that each and every email that comes out of the Obama campaign would be proofread and double-checked before it got send, so the "(no subject)" would either be replaced with a subject or someone actually typed (no subject) in the title of the email...

Once again, good moves from the Obama campaign.

Το Σήμα στο Σύνταγμα

2011-06-28T16:48:00.000+03:00

Σήμερα στο Σύνταγμα πήρε φωτιά ένα φορτηγάκι κινητής τηλεφωνίας. Αυτές οι φορητές κυψέλες είναι πραγματικά μία τρομερή τεχνολογία η οποία χρησιμοποιείτε από τα δίκτυα έτσι ώστε να ενισχύσει το σήμα σε περιοχές όπου υπάρχει έλλειψη από το κανονικό δίκτυο, αλλά και σε περιοχές που πρέπει να ενισχύσουν το σήμα λόγου της αυξημένης ζήτησης από κινητά τηλέφωνα που κάνουν κλήσεις και χρησιμοποιούν δεδομένα.

Είναι πραγματικά κρίμα διότι αυτές οι κινητές μονάδες κυψελών της κινητής τηλεφωνίας βοηθούν το κόσμο να επικοινωνήσει, να μιλήσει και να στείλει δεδομένα μέσω του διαδικτύου.

Είναι επίσης σίγουρο (και κρίμα) πως οι εταιρίες κινητής τηλεφωνίας θα απομακρύνουν τα άλλα φορτηγάκια που έχουν στήσει στην περιοχή του Συντάγματος, διότι δεν μπορούν να ρισκάρουν τέτοιου είδους καταστροφές στον εξοπλισμό τους.

Δεν ξέρω επίσης αν αυτοί οι οποίοι έβαλαν φωτιά στο φορτηγάκι κατάλαβαν πως αυτό είναι βαν κινητής τηλεφωνίας ή το μπέρδεψαν με βαν εξωτερικών μεταδόσεων από κάποιο ΜΜΕ.

Διάβαση στο Σύνταγμα

2011-06-10T21:06:00.000+03:00

Καθημερινά σταματώ στο Μετρό του Συντάγματος, έπειτα περνώ από την Αμαλίας, (όπου υπάρχει φανάρι εν λειτουργία για τους πεζούς) και μετά προσπαθώ να περάσω από την διάβαση Βασ. Σοφίας - Πανεπιστημίου. Στη συγκεκριμένη διάβαση υπάρχει φανάρι, αν και δεν το έχω δει ποτέ να είναι πράσινο για τους πεζούς.

Η διάβαση Βασ. Σοφίας - Αμαλίας

Μιας και το πλήθος των ανθρώπων που θέλουν να περάσουν από και προς την Βασ. Σοφίας είναι τόσο μεγάλο (και το πεζούλι επί της Βασ. Σοφίας τόσο μικρό), ο κόσμος περιμένει να μποτιλιαριστεί η κίνηση των αυτοκινήτων έτσι ώστε να περάσει ανάμεσα τους ή κάθετε καρτερικά μέχρι να σταματήσουν να έρχονται αυτοκίνητα και μηχανές.

Υπάρχουν όμως και κάποιοι οι οποίοι ακολουθούν μία άλλη στάση.

Ενώ έρχονται τα αυτοκίνητα (τα οποία οφείλουν να σταματούν σε διάβαση πεζών!) κατεβαίνουν από το πεζούλι του πεζοδρομίου, ανακάμπτοντας την ροή της κίνησης, και κάνουν μια αρχή. Τα αυτοκίνητα σταματούν, και έπειτα όλοι οι πεζοί ακολουθούν αυτόν ή αυτήν που έκανε το πρώτο βήμα και όλοι μαζί περνάνε απέναντι.

Όλοι όσοι κυκλοφορούν στο κέντρο της Αθήνας ξέρουν πως πολύ σπάνια, έως ποτέ, οι οδηγοί σέβονται τους πεζούς ή τον Κώδικά Οδικής Κυκλοφορίας. Ο κόσμος που περνά από την συγκεκριμένη διάβαση, εφαρμόζει ένα σύστημα το οποίο παρακάμπτει την αγένεια και την μη τήρηση του νόμου. Με το να απαιτούν να περάσουν, σταματώντας την ροή της κίνησης, όχι μόνο απαιτούν να τηρείτε ο νόμος, απαιτούν όλοι μαζί, συλλογικά, να σεβόμαστε ο ένας τον άλλον.

Η λύση δεν είναι να μπει ένα φανάρι που να δουλεύει, αλλά να καταφέρουμε όλοι μαζί, και οι οδηγοί, και οι πεζοί, να σεβαστούμε τη διάβαση.

Πεζοί περιμένουν να σταματήσει η κίνηση στη διάβαση

Κάποιοι διακόπτουν την ροή για να περάσουν

Μία μητέρα με το παιδάκι της πριν τη διάβαση

Can Anthony Weiner's Social Media Strategy be right?

2011-06-08T20:57:00.001+03:00

Having watched Anthony Weiner admitting sending out an explicit, private, photo to one of his twitter followers I was really amazed that he didn't conclude with resigning from his seat.

But what can we learn from the social media strategy of Anthony Weiner? Well, first of all don't send out private, or explicit, photos to your twitter followers/ facebook supporters a.k.a. your constituents/voters...

But kidding aside, if Anthony Weiner didn't send out photos, or had intimate cyber relations with women online, his social media strategy would be excellent!

A politician that uses Social Media on his own, without having a staffer doing all the work, and actually connecting with followers and supporters actively, is a great example of Political Social Media communications.

Social Media engagement should be done by the politician, without any other people interfering. In Anthony Weiner's case, it just got too personal, and then it really went wrong.

During the past days Anthony Weiner hasn't updated his Blog, facebook or twitter. Big mistake, he could have used these mediums to explain his position, say sorry, and ask people for their advice and help.

Here you can watch Fox News Sean Hannity's interview with Meagan Broussard, recipient of Anthony Weiner's photos.

Campaign Strategies | Obama and Palin facebook posts

2011-05-28T17:57:00.004+03:00

Sarah Palin concludes her latest facebook note with "November 2012 can’t come soon enough.", while Obama promotes a Strategy update video on: "What We're Building This Summer".

When you compare these two facebook messages one can understand that Obama is building on an ongoing campaign with volunteering initiatives and grassroots organizing; while Palin is asking: "Should we be borrowing money from China to turn around and give it to the Muslim Brotherhood?".

This is the time to start organizing to campaign for 2012; not the time to engage in creative political rhetoric or 2012 debate talking points.

Here you can watch battleground States Director Mitch Stewart reporting on the nuts and bolts of what volunteers are building, for Barack Obama 2012.

Οι πολίτες, το facebook και οι πολιτικοί

2011-05-26T13:28:00.000+03:00

Εχθές έγραψα στο twitter:

"Δεν υπάρχουν απλοί πολίτες, υπάρχουν πολίτες."

Η έννοια του πολίτη δεν πρέπει να απαξιώνεται. Δεν υπάρχουν απλοί, ή προνομιούχοι, πολίτες. Υπάρχουν πολίτες, σκέτο. Το γράφω αυτό διότι άκουσα από πολλούς πως "απλοί πολίτες" ή "facebook πολίτες" πήγαν εχθές στο Σύνταγμα. Δεν υπάρχουν "facebook πολίτες", υπάρχουν πολίτες που χρησιμοποιούν το facebook.

Η Βουλή των Ελλήνων.


Ο αδερφός και ο ξάδερφος.

Για πολλούς λόγους πολλοί πολίτες βρίσκονται στο Σύνταγμα αυτές τις μέρες. Τα κοινωνικά δίκτυα έπαιξαν μεγάλο ρόλο στο να γίνουν γνωστές οι κινητοποιήσεις. Μια παρέα, σε πλάκα, φώναζε "FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK".

Που είναι λοιπόν όλοι αυτοί οι Έλληνες πολιτικοί οι οποίοι δήθεν άνοιξαν λογαριασμούς στο facebook και στο twitter έτσι ώστε να έρθουν σε επαφή με τους νέους όπως λένε;

Η απάντηση είναι απλή, οι περισσότεροι Έλληνες πολιτικοί είναι στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα επειδή είναι "της μόδας με τους νέους" (όπως τους λένε κάποιοι δήθεν επικοινωνιολόγοι) ή γιατί έχουν ψώνιο προσωπικής αυτοπροβολής. Βλέποντας τις προσωπικές τους σελίδες στο facebook και στο twitter, βλέπεις ένα καταιγισμό Δελτίων Τύπου, φωτογραφιών και βίντεο αυτοπροβολής. Βαρετά σεντόνια κειμένων και βίντεο από "μάχες" στην τηλεόραση.

Διάλογος; Προσωπική επαφή; Διαδραστικότητα; μηδέν...

Σας παραπέμπω σε δύο άρθρα του Blog σχετικά με την πολιτική επικοινωνία και το Ίντερνετ στην Ελλάδα.

Middle East Change and the Internet

2011-05-20T11:10:00.003+03:00

Having watched the President's speech on American Diplomacy in the Middle East & North Africa I have to say that I agree with the majority of the arguments raised.

Once again, President Obama has mentioned the important role that the Internet and Social Media have played in shaping change in the Middle East and North Africa:

Cell phones and social networks allow young people to connect and organize like never before. And so a new generation has emerged. And their voices tell us that change cannot be denied.

Satellite television and the Internet provide a window into the wider world

We will support open access to the Internet, and the right of journalists to be heard -– whether it’s a big news organization or a lone blogger.

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also mentioned in her Remarks on the Release of President Obama Administration's International Strategy for Cyberspace:

we seek to maximize the internet’s tremendous capacity to accelerate human progress, while sharpening our response and our tools to deal with the threats and the problems and the disputes that are part of cyberspace.

Do read some of my previous Blog posts on the Issue of Social Media and the Middle East:

Also you can watch "Open for Questions: The President’s Speech on the Middle East and North Africa" where Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes takes questions via Twitter on the President’s speech outlining a new chapter in American diplomacy towards the Middle East and North Africa.

Mass media communications have given way to social interactions

2011-05-11T15:34:00.000+03:00

After some days since my last Blog post, I wanted to write something today since there is yet another media strike in Greece. I remembered writing "A country with no Mass Media Communications (for 4 days)" just over a month ago. Well today is happening again but this time just for one day.

Again most people that want to get informed are turning to twitter Blogs and News Portals that don't participate in the strike.

The News are not on strike, just some journalists that report or comment on them. People that want to get informed are keeping informed.

Mass media communications have given way to social interactions (New Media).

Benjamin Netanyahu engages with a global audience

2011-04-24T03:36:00.001+03:00

I really want to commend Benjamin Netanyahu on his initiative to engage with people online. It is truly remarkable that a head of state is coming out openly and accepting questions from a global audience!

The office of the Israeli PM states that:

This will be a unique project since Prime Minister Netanyahu will be the first head of government to be in continuous contact will (with) websurfers, and will not suffice with isolated interviews only.(small misprint there)

I have previously blogged on Israeli politics and social media, and the overall theme is that is clear, straightforward and open. Just like social media needs to be; especially when dealing with global political communications, or international political leaders being active in New Media.

It's about being clear, honest and fully transparent.

I am planning to address a question Benjamin Netanyahu soon, and hopefully he will respond.

On a last note, I want to suggest a bit of housekeeping. The official Israeli PM YouTube channel has sorted the top 12 videos to showcase, with the first video being the "PM Netanyahu's Christmas Greetings". The list needs to be refreshed; it doesn't show good to showcase a Christmas video while people celebrate Passover and Easter.

You can see a print-screen of the official IsraeliPM YouTube channel (as of April 24) here:

Mitt Romney's campaign logo "the number 2"

2011-04-23T01:10:00.003+03:00

According to Bill Maher the logo of the Mitt Romney campaign for 2012 looks like a toothpaste ad; and yes funny enough it does.

My assessment on the logo is different. When you look at it, it clearly represents the number 2. Most noticeably the middle white number 2, but also the left red and the right blue. Isn't it obvious? Any respectable logo designer or copywriter will tell you so!

Now, you don't put the number 2 on the logo of someone aiming for the office of the President of the United States.

Can it be a clue that Mitt Romney campaign is aiming for the VP nominee spot in 2012? Or is it just below the average communications and political management skills?

Here you can watch the Mitt Romney "Believe in America" Video:

Also, do watch a Jon Stewart interesting take on Mitt Romney's campaign for 2012:

The Daily Show - Indecision 2012 - Mitt Romney Competes With Crazy People
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Τα CD της Real News

2011-04-22T17:19:00.000+03:00

Δεν θέλω να αναφερθώ στη δημοσιογραφική δουλειά, όπου δεν έχω να κάνω κάποιο σχόλιο, θέλω να σταθώ στις προσφορές των CD. Δέχομαι πως μία εβδομαδιαία εφημερίδα στην Ελλάδα πρέπει να παρέχει τέτοιου είδους προσφορές για να πουλήσει ένα αξιοπρεπές αριθμό φύλλων. Όμως ο συνδυασμός μερικών CD, όπως στο αυριανό φύλλο της Real News είναι είτε λυπηρός, είτε αστείος.

Το Άγιο Πάσχα με τον Μακαριστό Αρχιεπίσκοπο Χριστόδουλο και τα Ζεϊμπέκικα του Πασχάλη Τερζή.

Μπορείτε να δείτε και τα 2 σχετικά βίντεο με τις προσφορές. Καταλαβαίνω πως θα ήταν πολύ δύσκολο να τα είχαν συνδυάσει σε ένα.

The GOP YouTube contest not Moderated on YouTube

2011-04-22T03:05:00.000+03:00

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, came out with a video on April 15th in asking people to send YouTube videos and tell the GOP why they "Can't Afford 4 More Years". The winning submission will receive a $100 gift certificate to the GOPStore.com and could be showcased in the GOP.com website.

My first comment is that this contest seems outdated. Yet another example of a safe political communications strategy in trying to copy-paste tried ideas. This has already been done before, it's not innovative or cool anymore, and by the looks of it, with 3,355 views of the Reince Priebus video in 6 days, the Video contest is not going to be a success.

It all seems really amateur in setting up a YouTube contest.

But worry not, I am sure the GOP online communications team is only just beginning, that's right, Reince Priebus also opened a facebook page; I bet this comes really handy in getting the video contest "viral".

I don't want to be so hard on the efforts of the GOP webteam, but they could easily have picked the Moderator on YouTube platform to run the video contest and actually be more social (showcasing videos and asking people to vote on them), instead of having a static page on the GOP.com website asking people to submit video URLs.

You can learn more on the Moderator on YouTube here:

Moderator is a versatile, social platform on your YouTube channel that allows you to solicit ideas or questions on any topic, and have the community vote the best ones up to to the top in real-time.

President's facebook townhall & creative online campaign tactics

2011-04-21T02:26:00.001+03:00

So, Tim Pawlenty tweeted before the President's facebook townhall:

Have a tough question for @BarackObama's Facebook townhall today, submit questions that are unlikely to be answered here

When I saw this I thought that it would link to the facebook live page so that people would actually ask the President all the "questions that are unlikely to be answered" but no... it linked to a page at the T-Paw website with a condescending photo of Obama asking people to:

"Use the form below to let us know what questions need to be addressed but won't be asked at tomorrow's campaign event."

This is so wrong in terms of new media communications in Politics!

If T-Paw actually directed people to the facebook live page it could have been a really great tactical move to actually get his followers to ask the questions that "need to be addressed" at the actual event that they could have been addressed!

It could have been a really smart move by T-Paw to act open and transparent, ask followers to watch Obama and flood the facebook live wall with republican messages and questions that "need to be addressed".

Not to mention what the official http://www.gop.com/ could have done...

Harnessing online technologies to engage with people can provide many opportunities for actual communication points; but the candidates need to do one thing first: Actually harness the opportunities and ask supporters to help! That's it!

Anyhow, I expect to see more smart and creative online campaign tactics; hopefully the 2012 campaigns will use more creative thinking in the coming months.

Now, on the President's presence at facebook HQs: I would say that it was a great event, really good organized, however, I expected more questions from facebook users rather than questions from facebook employees.

You can watch the President's facebook townhall here:

Debunking smears on the Internet

2011-04-17T15:56:00.001+03:00

In the age of 24 hour Blogging and Social Media, debunking a smear can be proven to be a near impossible task. You can address or "put the record strait", however you cannot make the smear disappear.When you make it an issue, it becomes an issue.

Back in June of 2008, Barack Obama, launched http://www.fightthesmears.com/ a website to report, explain and debunk smears concerning Obama. At the time I wrote: It is a move that has got mainstream media publicity and a great tool to defend against Internet rumors becoming campaign issues.

Lately, I came across http://www.icorrect.com/ which is something like http://www.fightthesmears.com/ for celebrities and people in the public domain. However, Smears exist not because the truth is not available!

You can watch a very interesting interview of the founder of http://www.icorrect.com/ on the Colbert Report here:

This time around, and with the 2012 campaign coming up, it is still very difficult to once and for all make every rumor stop; or even stop people believing and being receptive in smear messages.

On the CNN politics website, there is a very interesting video that breaks down the facts and the myths behind the "Birthers" claims and shows why Obama was indeed born in America.

These rumours came to the attention of the public again since a possible 2012 contender, Donald Trump had recently talked to CNN's Suzanne Malveaux about the issue.

Maybe the only way to debunk a smear is to tackle it the way Jon Stewart does!

The Daily Show - Tales of Principled Behavior - Obama Birth Certificate Mystery
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

"Obama" Would Like to Use Your Current Location

2011-04-13T11:32:00.004+03:00

When I updated the Organizing for America app in the iPhone, it transformed to the 2012 election app. It is a pretty straightforward app, with news, multimedia, local events and a donation button (although you have to leave the app to make an actual donation). Using the app, I came across the local events function, I found it really interesting when the app stated that: "Obama" Would like to Use your Current Location. Maybe the choice of words isn't the best, I think that "Organizing for America" Would like to Use your Current Location is the correct phrasing; but I might be wrong.

Currently I am in Athens, Greece; but this iPhone app does not offer me any events in my local area, although there are programmed events.

I know that http://www.democratsabroad.org/ are really active in Europe, they have "Country Groups" which organize, promote events, register voters, and encourage U.S. citizens to vote early and post their votes. Maybe it's something that the OFA 2012 app will utilize in the future, in order to mobilize Obama supporters overseas to rally for the 2012 campaign.

A country with no Mass Media Communications (for 4 days)

2011-04-08T14:57:00.010+03:00

From the 7th to the 10th of April the Greek mainstream Media is on strike. This means that almost all journalists, reporters, technical staff and other people involved in the production and presentation of the news are not at their desks.

Greek Journalists on Strike

It's the first time, since I remember, that the Media strike lasts for longer than a day. When I first heard of the strike, I remembered writing this post back in June of 2010, explaining why the Greek Media is at a crucial point. "Greek media crisis". Nothing much has changed since that post. The situation in the Greek Media is going from dire to ridiculous.

Most of the traditional Greek Media do not want to know what is happening online. An explosion of News Blogs, and News Portals, that are independently owned, are not taking part in the strike. Not to mention that some people get their news from twitter and facebook.

Many Greek News Blogs keep posting updates, and most of the people I talked to are informed on what is happening with national news in Greece. People that used to read newspapers and watch their news on TV are discovering the value of the Internet and learning to search, filter and let the news come to them, instead of being served to them.

So people are being informed! People are not being told the news, people search and discover the news that are relevant and interesting to them. It is a really interesting case study, on a country level, to understand the role of the internet in keeping people up to date with news and developments. I will definitely come back and write extensively on the subject (maybe I'll do one of my Greek articles) in trying to debunk the myth of mainstream media in Greece.

The main difference in a country with no mass media is that: All people are informed of the news, but not collectively.

Can New Media break the picket line?

When a journalist maintains a profile in Social Media, should he/she refrain from updating his/her followers or friends during a Media strike?

A facebook friend of mine, a Greek TV Journalist, posted a status update on facebook saying: "Normally we shouldn't even write on facebook (During the strike)". A really interesting reply was: "In facebook you don't write as a journalist, but as one of our "friend".

Shimon Peres & Benjamin Netanyahu talk about the Middle East and the role of the Internet

2011-04-02T12:48:00.002+03:00

Shimon Peres & Benjamin Netanyahu, in two different occasions, talked about the role of the Internet in the recent events throughout the Middle East. Peres at a Chatham House Conference: Sixty Years of British-Israeli Diplomatic Relations (30 March 2011), and Netanyahu in a recent YouTube interview (31 March 2011).

Both messages carry the same principles.

Peres said:

It's actually a revolt without organizers. Nobody knows who organized it. It arrived from an unknown combination of sentiments and knowledge introduced to the younger generation by modern communication, the internet, smartphones, Facebook. For the first time, young people in the Arab world could have seen with their own eyes the ugly face of dictatorship, of corruption, of want. And they could have compared their lot with the lot of other young people in the world. And ask themselves why they're not here. And actually, it is really a revolt, unorganized, spontaneous, against autocracy, against oppression, against starvation, against discrimination.

Netanyahu said:

What is common in this entire region, the reason you have this extraordinary turbulence, this earthquake from Pakistan to Morocco, is because the Arab people, and the Iranians there and others, basically had the 20th century skip them by, and now 21st century technology like the internet and television, is telling them what they missed out on, and so they are rebelling.

It is clear that both the President and Prime Minister of Israel believe that people in the Middle East have been able to explore, educate themselves and organize through the Internet.

In a recent Blog Post "Papandreou talks about the role of Social Media in Government", I pointed out how the Greek Prime Minister, talking to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Athens, referenced that:

We live in a new age, an age of transparency, whether is the twitter or the facebook, or the 24 hour Blogging, and we should be able to use this new technology, this new Social Media, for greater governance, for greater participation of our citizens, for greater accountability and hopefully for inovations in governance.

Politicians clearly acknowledge how the internet is shaping politics. In "The Internet and Social Media in #Egypt, how It really matters" I wrote that: Of course people didn't go out to the streets because of facebook or twitter, facebook and twitter, I mean the Internet. gave people the opportunity to search, read, educate themselves, organize and communicate their message across.

In is clear that the internet played a very distinctive role in the recent events in the Middle East. Definitely a trend to follow in discovering and analyzing upcoming Social phenomena.

Honoring the Greek Independence day at the White House

2011-03-30T21:39:00.002+03:00

It has been some time since my last Blog Post, I have many excuses for that, mainly work, work and more work. (No thoughts in trying to write something about that...)

I just wanted to belatedly mention a great event at the White House, on the 25th, honoring the Greek Independence day.

I must say that watching and reading on how the Greeks abroad have celebrated this day, it is quite remarkable how the overseas communities have embraced their heritage and common history in remembering their home country, whilst being active in their own communities around the world.

Also, I deeply appreciate the message from Archbishop Demetrios in his remarks along President Obama.

You can watch the complete event here:

The President speaks at a reception honoring Greek Independence Day at the White House. March 25, 2011.

"εμείς και ο κόσμος" | Moody's, Spread & CDS

2011-03-09T16:40:00.002+02:00

Έχω βαρεθεί να ακούω αναφορές σχετικά με τη Moody's, τα Spread, τα CDS, αλλά και πολλά άλλα, άγνωστα σε πάρα πολλούς, ακρώνυμα και ξενικά ονόματα, τα οποία έχουν γίνει πλέον γραφικά.

Λες και ξέρουν όλοι τι είναι, και πως αναλύονται χρηματοοικονομικά προϊόντα όπως τα Credit Derivatives, τα Credit Default Swaps (τα γνωστά CDS...), το Hedging και το Arbitrage, τα Future Contracts, κ.α.

Τι γνώσεις Quantitative Finance, Financial Engineering και Risk Management πρέπει να κατέχεις για να αρχίσεις να εξηγείς, πόσο μάλλον να αναλύσεις τέτοιου είδους συναλλαγές;

Παρακολουθώ μερικούς δημοσιογράφους, και όχι μόνο, οι οποίοι τολμούν να ερμηνεύσουν και να αναλύσουν τα ανωτέρω! Τις περισσότερες φορές με τη μέθοδο του ωροσκόπιου ή του τσελεμεντέ.

Τα μπουρδουκλώνουν όλα μαζί με ονόματα Ελλήνων πολιτικών, ξένων πολιτικών (και άλλα ξενικά ονόματα: Merkel, Juncker, Schäuble, Rompuy, Trichet) βάζουν και τους οίκους αξιολόγησης, Moody's, Fitch, Standard & Poor's, και γίνονται όλα κουλουβάχατα!

Οποιοσδήποτε μπορεί να βρει, και να διαβάσει τον ορισμό των CDS, αλλά το να κατανοήσει το τι είναι, να τα εξηγήσει, να τα αναλύσει, να τα εντάξει σε παραδείγματα... είναι πράγματα τα οποία πρέπει να αφήνονται σε ειδικούς χρηματοοικονομικούς επαγγελματίες-επιστήμονες με μεταπτυχιακά και διδακτορικά!

Το επίπεδο της χρηματοοικονομικής ανάλυσης που υπάρχει διάχυτο είναι της στάθμης του "εμείς και ο κόσμος". Το "εμείς και ο κόσμος" είναι μια σειρά εκπαιδευτικών βιβλίων που διδάσκονται στις τάξεις του δημοτικού, μέχρι και την Τετάρτη.

"Something Must Change"... really?

2011-03-08T20:36:00.000+02:00

I thought I received an email from the GOP; but no, it was from Melody Barnes and the White House. Melody Barnes is the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, she works as an advisor in Washington DC.

In the email she states:

The state of the American education system today is unacceptable. (...) For the sake of the next generation, and America's economic future, this has to change.

It is unbelievable that a senior White House advisor is using a 2008 talking point. This is what Obama was talking about in the race for the Presidency. It was all about "Change we can believe in", "Vote for Change" and more...

How is it that change rhetorics are still in use by the White House, is it a sign that change will be the main theme in 2012?

After two years in the White House, the Obama administration states that "Something Must Change". So, what happened during the past years? nothing changed?

I think that the 2012 Obama campaign needs to change the creative copywriting rhetoric, but not only to prove a point.

Gaddafi Political Communications

2011-03-01T20:37:00.033+02:00

First of all, I want you to look at the print-screen below. It's when Gaddafi delivered his first speech after the clashes started in Libya. At the same time, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, made a statement and the BBC carried the two pictures side by side. Can you see the differences?

Clearly there is a stark difference! the man on the left is wearing a suit and making a point; while the man on the right is wearing a brown robe with a turban; plus he is reading a green book.

Now, to any person that has watched cartoons is fairly simple to decide who he/she is going to trust. You can clearly identify the bad person in the picture. But is it really so simple? Obviously not.

In the video below you can watch Gaddafi in a recent interview with the BBC. Watch how he smirks when the interpreter finishes his question.

A BBC report on the ground finds people that support Gaddafi and are loyal to the regime.

Gaddafi is known for his outlandish statements and choice of garments.

If you account his latest appearances, it is clearly that he targets his messages to the Libyan people. They know him for the past 41 years, and are familiar with the way he portraits himself and his beliefs.

To all of us this seems really weird coming from a political leader. But I am certain that to the Libyan people it makes perfect sense! Whether they agree or oppose him. Gaddafi is a very colorful leader that looks really weird in western standards. But for the people in the Middle - East this is the norm. It's the norm for the past 41 years now.

In the video below you can see how Beyonce received a $2m check to perform in one of Gaddafi's sons party. If you think about it this is how the world handled Gaddafi for the past years.

As a commentator in the video states:

"Someone fell asleep at the wheel, or the money was so overwhelming, that they said: screw our public image, we just want to get the cash"

Gaddafi is still in Libya. My guess is that he will not be driven out. I hope that there will not be any more casualties and peace between the Libyan people will come soon.

The Spread of Freedom in the Middle East | Know any good organizers?

2011-02-23T10:35:00.050+02:00

I received two different emails last night, one from Mark Langdale from the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and another from Jeremy Bird, Deputy Director Organizing for America. The title on this Blog Post is the combination of the two email subjects. Can you guess which is which?

I know I should not compare these two emails, but I am intrigued since the themes of the messages are so similar:

One is promoting organizing to

help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.

and the other

works to embolden freedom advocates around the world—creating a powerful network for moral support and education.

Organising for America is promoting it's Summer Organizer Program, and the Bush Institute Stands With Middle East Freedom Advocates.

Below you can watch a very interesting 30-minute program on the current state of Middle Eastern politics.

Is Libya another example of a facebook revolution?

2011-02-22T17:40:00.001+02:00

I've been following what is happening in Libya these days, and I am not sure why this uprising has not been hailed as a Social Media or "facebook revolution". Although this sort of tagging is mostly planted by mainstream media, I am sure that in the aftermath of the middle-east happenings there will be a lot of analysis and even research on how the Internet played a part. In one of my past posts, I wrote on "The Internet and Social Media in #Egypt, how It really matters".

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Muammar al-Gaddafi, on a recent speech to the Libyan people (February 20th) referred to some people that want to drag Libya into:

"what happened in Tunisia and in Egypt and it started by facebook, emails and twitter and in their media campaign".

In an article "Libyan dictator warns against use of Facebook" Emil Protalinski confirms what Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said.

So, not only citizens know how Social Media impact their daily life, but local political leaders understand how the internet is increasingly playing an active role.

I am also Re-Posting some photos from the Social Media Revolution theme...

Social Media & Public Diplomacy, facebook or Chatham House Rule?

2011-02-21T16:15:00.000+02:00

In my Last Blog post "Papandreou talks about the role of Social Media in Government" I promised to write on how New and Social Media impact public diplomacy. I have been rather busy lately (haven't Blogged as much as I would like), however, in this post I want to draw your attention to a recent Facebook DC Live Event: Social Media and the World Stage, which was hosted by Facebook Washington DC.

In this Video Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Senior Innovation Adviser Alec Ross and Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Baer talk about how people around the world have been empowered by social media.

Watch live streaming video from facebookdclive at livestream.com

I remembered Eric Schwartzman saying that there are no secrets any more, only information, that is not yet known.

So, in the age of the Internet, do you believe that the "Chatham House Rule" can be applied in New and Social Public Diplomacy?

Also, let me draw you attention to Dr Anne Marie Slaughter, Director of Policy Planning, US Department of State. She discusses the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review at the Chatham House and talks about the role of Social Media in Public Diplomacy.

In "The First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR): Leading Through Civilian Power" there is a reference on how New and Social Media can play a role in Public diplomacy stating:

Adapting to the Diplomatic Landscape of the 21st Century

Provide diplomats with communication tools for 21st century engagement
For our personnel to engage with publics, citizens, groups, or corporations they
must have modern tools of communication and connectivity. Today, engagement
with foreign publics is increasingly virtual—whether on email or Twitter, Facebook
or Flickr. By the same token, when our diplomats work beyond embassy walls and
outside capital cities they must remain connected with the embassy and have access
to real-time information. Modern mobile communication technologies will make
our people more effective. Through the QDDR, we have set a goal of ensuring
that all State Department employees serving in locations where personal digital
assistants can be used are provided with this technology by FY2012.

Papandreou talks about the role of Social Media in Government

2011-02-11T17:26:00.008+02:00

In a recent speech to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Athens, the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou referenced Social and New Media and their role in Government.

You can watch what Papandreou said here:

Some excellent points there. I also recommend watching the speech in its entirety; a starting point in understanding Greece in current affairs.

P.S. I write this post, having Blogged on "The Internet and Social Media in #Egypt, how It really matters". There is so many information, great examples and ideas that I want to share, on how Social and New Media can play a role in not only public communications, but innovative governance and public diplomacy; I promise to write an extensive post in the near future.

The Internet and Social Media in #Egypt, how It really matters

2011-02-05T12:21:00.001+02:00

I've been reading on how social media has ignited the social developments in Egypt, and also how this argument is silly, since most people in Egypt do not have access to facebook and twitter so as to organize and utilize these new media. I do not want to say that the truth is somewhere in the middle, but there is a point to be made.

During the past few days I've been watching live on Al Jazeera and reading on Blogs and twitter in trying to keep informed, I also read a very interesting article by Eric Schwartzman on "Thoughts on Social Media and Revolutions". He references Steve Coll in the New Yorker in writing:

…youthful populations, high unemployment, grotesque inequality, abusive police, reviled leaders and authoritarian systems” are to blame. So let’s give credit where credit’s due. It’s bad government that led to the situation at hand. Social media just made it impossible to ignore.

Well, it's not really easy to disagree with the above statement, however, the uprising of the people in tahrir square didn't happen over night. What Steve Coll writes in The New Yorker, are social problems, or rather social phenomena that exist or are brewing in many countries, especially in the middle east.

We should not confuse social and government issues with new media. There are people in Egypt, and abroad, that organised using facebook, twitter and Blogs, not just for the recent happenings, but well before. Like the APRIL 6 YOUTH MOVEMENT, with 90.000 facebook members!

As the BBC writes:

The movement began as an Egyptian Facebook group in 2008 to support workers in the northern industrial town of Mahalla al-Kubra and called for a national strike on 6 April that year. Members, who include many young well-educated Egyptians, have shown a greater willingness than others to risk arrest and start public protests.

Also, on an article back on November 2008, Democracy and Social Media ... Really?, I wrote:

Participatory democracy needs people to be involved, and YES you can be involved through social media. You will also need to act in real life.

So, facebook and twitter didn't ignite tahrir square, people that wanted change, people that read and educated themselves (yes you can do that through the Internet and Social Media) learned to think different, explored all ways available to them to organize, and acted upon their beliefs.

Once again, this did not happen over night, or during the past few weeks, it happened during the past few years.

Of course people didn't go out to the streets because facebook and twitter told them to do so, facebook and twitter, I mean the Internet! gave people the opportunity to search, read, educate themselves, organize and communicate their message across.

Why all the major main stream media report on tweets and YouTube videos? because it's how people on the ground communicate their message.

Imagine someone that just recorded a video in Cairo and rushed home to upload it to YouTube and tweet about it, this person believes that he/she is making a difference. And he/she is! It gave me the opportunity to see what is happening now in Cairo because I happent to watch this video on a news Blog, and provided me with raw, uncensored information to make up my mind on the issue.

It is so easy to dismiss the role of the Internet and argue on sober arguments of social issues and government problems that are the cause of the unrest, but the Internet gave them the opportunity to learn, and gives them the opportunity to communicate. There is no denying it. Twitter didn't ignite tahrir square, people did, twitter gave them and me the opportunity to share what is happening on the ground.

So yes, Social Media (the Internet) played a role in educating people, and Social Media plays a role in sharing what people in Egypt are communicating right now.

Dare to compare: CNN Vs The White House Communications

2011-01-22T12:23:00.033+02:00

I have been paying close attention to the communications & multimedia campaign from the White House and I really enjoy the West Wing Week, a video diary that is produced by the White House communications staff. The series aims to be "your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave."

You can watch the latest episode of West Wing Week (1/21/11 or "A Rather Large Painting") here:

Browsing YouTube, I came across the CNN White House week in review. Which is basically the exact same weekly diary, but produced by professional journalists. You can watch the CNN piece here:

I believe that the White House production is far more better, covers more issues, has access to the President that mainstream media journalists do not, and offers a view that was not previously offered from mainstream media.

The White House West Wing Week came out yesterday, the 20th of January, and the CNN White House week in review, came out today, the 21st of January. From yesterday the White House video has over 10,000 views and the CNN video is in single digits.

So, does CNN need to produce these sort of mini-series that cover each week in the White House? And if so, do they need to upload it to their YouTube channel a day after the official White House has uploaded their own version?

People that follow developments are already subscribed to the White House YouTube Channel, or are already aware about the video through the White House, and Barack Obama, facebook accounts.

From this example we can clearly see that mainstream media is lagging behind in covering a news review. The White House team clearly produces a much more detailed account of what happened.

Also, have a look at the tag words in the White House video: West Wing Week President Obama Michelle Obama First Lady State Visit China President Hu Cory Booker villaraigosa state dinner JFK Kennedy Caroline Kennedy MLK Martin Luther King Jr service Richard Holbrooke Zardari Kal Penn
And the CNN video: CNN News Politics white house week in

The White House video will be more popular in YouTube, CNN hasn't used quotation marks, so the video has tags the words: in, house, white and week.

Instead of double covering a "White House week in review", which I believe is very lazy in terms of reporting, CNN can try focusing on reporting as journalists.

Promises Kept - Will you donate today?

2011-01-21T14:03:00.011+02:00

Joe, (VP Joe Biden) emailed Organising for America supporters yesterday, regarding the "Promises Kept Report".

As he states in the email:

Friend --

Telling the story of the past two years will be critical to the fights ahead. And it's not just the story of this president or this White House -- it's your story. And it is literally proof that the organizing you do on the ground -- the conversations you have with your friends and neighbors -- is working.

I understand that emailing OFA supporters with the outcomes of the first 2 years in office is a strait-forward move. Nothing new here, and probably, something that is expected from OFA, which is on a campaign mode all the time.

I want to focus on the donation aspect of OFA. When you visit the "Promises Kept Report" website, you can download a pdf of the document, or you can donate $10 dollars or more, to receive 5 print copies.

In the donate page it states that:

Your donation will cover the cost of shipping and help us continue to build on our historic progress together.

It is my feeling that OFA wants to capitalise on OFA and Barack Obama supporters, just for doing their jobs. But, why did the report come out on the OFA website and not from the WhiteHouse?

I am not questioning the validity of the report. I am questioning why OFA needs to fund-raise just because it published a report. I can understand why a party (like the Democrats) needs to fund-raise throughout the year, and the DNC of course does that.

But the DNC does not provide a link to the "Promises Kept Report"; it redirects people to OFA in order to download or donate. If someone wants to support the President, and give their money, because of the "Promises Kept Report" should he/she contribute to the DNC or donate to OFA?

Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck | "If you make it an issue, it becomes an issue"

2011-01-12T16:47:00.006+02:00

Sarah Palin released a video today on Vimeo (First time she utilized this video service) in response to the shootings in Tucson AZ.

According to THEBLAZE.com (a site managed by Glenn Beck)

Sarah Palin has officially broken her silence and indirectly responded to criticism that she is somehow connected to the shootings in Tucson.

According to CNN, the shooter, Jared Lee Loughner has been anecdotally regarded as very troubled and perhaps mentally unbalanced because of his ramblings spotted on the internet and the way he has been described by acquaintances.

There have also been widespread rumours that Loughners' actions mirrored the Tea Party or the rise of right-wing activists in America. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin were named by some as the moral perpetrators to these despicable acts.

Glenn Beck, from his TV and Radio shows, has defended himself, the Tea Party and Sarah Palin, he also wrote a letter to Sarah Palin, to whitch she replied.

Although they both need to go on the record and talk about the tragedy in Arizona, they should not go as far as acting defensive; or seem that they need to respond to criticisms that they want to dismiss.

"If you make it an issue, it becomes an issue"

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are risk communicating. Glenn from his media presence, and Sarah from facebook (she is only active in social media, she has not yet launched her own website). You can also read Sarah Palin, a republican on fox news, where I explain how she utilises facebook to reach out to supporters.

As a comment on THEBLAZE.com stated:

Facebook, very presidential.

Obama and his YouTube girls

2010-12-30T11:05:00.004+02:00

Ok, I know this is silly, but the above photo is a print-screen of the official YouTube account of the President (as of 30/12/2010). Notice that right next to his profile picture there is the series of subscribers, most of them beautiful girls, also including a user called "NaughtyVideosForYou"!

You might say that Barack Obama is not responsible for the accounts that are subscribed to his YouTube channel, and yes I will agree, however, it shows as a really weird presence of the President of the United States on YouTube.

The people that run the account can either block some users that might be spammers, or deactivate the subscribers from showing in the main channel page.

I just think that it is really funny, and can definitely be picked up from a mainstream media reporter as a fun story.

Looking back on 2010

2010-12-26T22:21:00.009+02:00

I thought to look back and read my last 2009 post. I remembered that I set some goals for 2010. So how did I do so far? Well:

I did write more Blog Posts (this is my 50th for 2010, in comparison to 32 for 2009), a trend that I want to continue in 2011.
I also did a bit of academic work, researching and presenting to the 6th International Political Marketing conference on the topic of "Blogger Outreach Strategies" You can read: "Blogs & political campaigns, what do bloggers want?" & "Political Marketing - Managing Negative Blog Posts".
I also worked on a number of social media campaigns for brands and corporations, let me say one thing here: do it In-House! There are so many bad examples of social media relations that forget the fact that corporate social media should be personal, honest and real.

Which brings me to my 2009 P.S.... I didn't publish my second book in 2010, and I will not try to excuse myself on this. I should have found more time, more energy; and persevered. So, something more to do in 2011! I will try and keep you up to date on that one, and hopefully Blog on my progress.

Merry Christmas and a lucky 2011!

Obama campaigns the troops

2010-12-04T10:49:00.003+02:00

President Obama paid a surprise visit to the troops in Afghanistan. I am intreaged to contrast and compare with President G.W. Bush surprise visit to Al Asad Airbase in Iraq back in September 3rd, 2007.

As you can see there are strark defferences. I wouldn't go as far as this video, but you can understand that Obama is on a campaign mode, speaking to military personel in Afganistan like rallying troops and military families in America.

Now that the mid-term campaigns are over, the 2012 Presidential election is getting closer. President Obama is now also Presidential contender Obama. Although Obama has always been on a campaign mode, even as president, switching to a election mode may proven to be tricky.

Ceteris paribus the economy will be the main election theme in 2012.

But the war strategy, the military families in America, and the outcome of defeating terrorists in Afghanistan and elsewhere can/ will play a crucial role in, not only gaining votes, but providing results for the 2012 election campaign.

The Speaker of House and online communication strategies

2010-11-18T16:38:00.001+02:00

The US mid-term elections were held about the same time that the Greek Mayoral elections, and unfortunately I was preoccupied in keeping up with the local campaigns. But, I did manage to follow some of the news and catch up on US politics online.

John Boehner was elected Speaker-designate by House Republicans and when the full House votes in January, Boehner will become the 61st Speaker of the House.

When you visit the official speaker.gov website it's all about Nancy Pelosi And if you want to connect with the Speaker of the House you are directed to Nancy Pelosi branded social media.

	Twitter» http://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi
	Facebook» http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerNancyPelosi
	YouTube» http://www.youtube.com/SpeakerPelosi
	Flickr» http://www.flickr.com/SpeakerPelosi

I would have expected for the Speaker of the House, whoever that might be, to have an independent presence on social media platforms, and not be centred around people that occupy the position.

The consequence of having multiple accounts in social media, depending on the campaign or position, is that you will disenfranchise people that want to follow the Speaker of the House, and not necessary the politician that is the Speaker.

Nancy Pelosi has a twitter username @SpeakerPelosi, this will be obsolete when she steps down, likewise for facebook (Speaker Nancy Pelosi) flickr (Speaker Pelosi's photostream) and YouTube (youtube.com/SpeakerPelosi).

It would have been much more simple if the speaker.gov website linked to the personal social media sites of each speaker of the House or, in my opinion, for the Speaker of the House to create an independent social media presence that is geared in connecting with people that want to engage with the Speaker regardless of who is, or who will be in office.

I hope the next Speaker will follow a much more structured approach in connecting with people online.

Εκλογές 2010, ένα πούλμαν, δύο πούλμαν, ένας φίλος με το μηχανάκι του.

2010-11-16T11:49:00.004+02:00

Την προηγούμενη Κυριακή, κάθισα να δω τα αποτελέσματα του δευτέρου γύρου των περιφερειακών και δημοτικών εκλογών 2010. Παράλληλα, ακολουθούσα τα hashtag #ekloges & #eklo10 καθώς και updates από το facebook. Αλλάζοντας κανάλια συνεχώς, έτσι ώστε να πετυχαίνω τα επίσημα αποτελέσματα, ήθελα να παρακολουθήσω τους δήμους οι οποίοι κρίθηκαν με διαφορά μερικών εκατοντάδων, δεκάδων, ή και λιγότερους ψήφους. (Δήμαρχος με μία ψήφο διαφορά!)

Παρακολουθώντας τον ΑΝT1 και τα σχόλια του Στρατη Λιαρελη, τον άκουσα να σχολιάζει την διαφορά στο δήμο Θεσσαλονίκης (που ήταν μια στιγμή γύρω στις 21:00 50 ψήφοι) ως ένα λεωφορείο! Όταν έφτασε τους 150 ψήφους η διαφορά, το σχόλιο ήταν 3 Πούλμαν! Οφείλω να πω πως γέλασα, μου φάνηκε αστείο.

Παραδέχομαι όμως πως έχει μία πραγματική αλήθεια το σχόλιο του κ. Λιαρέλη. Αναδεικνύει πως κάθε ψήφος μετράει. Το Λευκό, το Άκυρο και η Αποχή, μετράνε. Ένα πούλμαν, 2 πούλμαν, ένας φίλος με το μηχανάκι του.

Είναι πραγματικά ενδιαφέρον να παρατηρήσουμε πως διάφοροι ειδικοί επικοινωνιολόγοι θα προσπαθήσουν να πουλήσουν Get out the vote καμπάνιες, για τις επόμενες εκλογικές αναμετρήσεις.

Το μυστικό βέβαια δεν είναι να κάνεις τον κόσμο να πάει στην κάλπη, 530.000 πήγαν στην κάλπη και δεν τοποθετήθηκαν, αλλά να έχουν οι πολίτες λόγο να ψηφίσουν!

Ερχόμαστε για άλλη μια φόρά λοιπόν, στο πολιτικό μήνυμα, στο απτό έργο, στην παρουσία και τοποθέτηση κάθε πολιτικού στα κοινά.

Το λευκό, το άκυρο, μπορεί να κερδηθεί στις κάλπες

2010-11-08T18:58:00.001+02:00

Θέλω να αναφερθώ στην αποχή, το λευκό και το άκυρο. Τα στοιχεία που παραθέτω είναι από το Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών και είναι όπως έχουν διαμορφωθεί έως τώρα για τις περιφέρειες.

Γραμμένοι 9.716.362

Ψήφισαν 5.927.303

Συμμετοχή 61,00

Άκυρα / Λευκά 9,10 %

Το λευκό, το άκυρο και η αποχή δεν είναι το ίδιο και δεν αναλύονται το ίδιο.

Λευκό: Μία ξεκάθαρη πολιτική στάση αποδοκιμασίας, μέρος της δημοκρατίας, και μάλιστα από κόσμο ο οποίος φτάνει στην κάλπη, ψηφίζει και παίρνει μέρος στην διαδικασία.

Άκυρο: Τα περισσότερα ψηφοδέλτια κρίνονται άκυρα, και δεν ψηφίζονται ως άκυρα. Αλλά ακόμα και τα επίτηδες άκυρα ψηφοδέλτια είναι από ψηφοφόρους που φτάνουν στην κάλπη.

Στο σύνολό τους (Λευκό και Άκυρο φτάνει το απίστευτο νούμερο: 538.300! Πολίτες, οι οποίοι έφτασαν στην κάλπη, αλλά δεν τοποθετήθηκαν υπέρ κάποιου συνδυασμού ή κόμματος.

Η αποχή επειδή δεν μπορεί να κερδηθεί, ερμηνεύετε! Ως ανοχή, άρνηση, αποδοκιμασία ή δυσαρέσκεια.

Το λευκό ή το άκυρο μπορεί να κερδηθεί στις κάλπες! 538.300!

Είναι άτοπο το επιχείρημα πως το 39% που απείχε θα άλλαζε το αποτέλεσμα υπέρ κάποιου κόμματος, σε κάθε περίπτωση θα υπάρχει ένα ποσοστό αποχής, μικρό ή σημαντικό, αλλά και μικρότερη αποχή να είχαμε, μπορεί να είχαμε διαφορετικά ποσοστά, με ίδιο όμως συνολικό αποτέλεσμα.

Data and Statistics Marketing

2010-10-26T14:26:00.005+03:00

I've read that the science of the near future is statistics. The above video is really an insight of where marketing, advertising and micro targeting is going. Interesting to develop different applications for different markets or products.

Definitely something to watch for!

Πολιτική Επικοινωνία μέσω Ίντερνετ και τέτοια...

2010-10-20T18:47:00.003+03:00

Θέλω να παρουσιάσω ένα καταπληκτικό τρόπο πολιτικής επικοινωνίας μέσω του Ίντερνετ, αλλά και να σχολιάσω πόσο μακρυά είναι η Ελληνική πολιτική κουλτούρα, και πρακτική, από υγιές εκφράσεις άμεσης επικοινωνίας και διαδραστικότητα της πληροφορίας. Γράφω αυτό το άρθρο στα Ελληνικά (η περισσότερη αρθρογραφία μου στο θέμα είναι στα Αγγλικά) διότι θέλω να διακρίνω τις απίστευτες διαφορές στην πολιτική επικοινωνία μέσω Ίντερνετ στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό.

Στις 14 Σεπτεμβρίου, δύο φοιτήτριες από το Κολοράντο αποφασίζουν να κάνουν ένα βίντεο στο οποίο παίρνουν τηλέφωνο το γερουσιαστή τους κ. Michael F. Bennet, έτσι ώστε να αφήσουν μήνυμα στον τηλεφωνητή του. Τα κορίτσια θέλουν ο γερουσιαστής τους να υποστηρίξει την ανάκληση του DADT.

Στις 15 Σεπτεμβρίου ο γερουσιαστής απαντά με ένα δικό του βίντεο, στο οποίο τους λέει ξεκάθαρα την θέση του.

Είναι τρομερό πως μία τέτοια κίνηση μας δίνει να καταλάβουμε πως λειτουργεί η άμεση επικοινωνία μέσω του Ίντερνετ, και πως πολίτες και πολιτικοί μπορούν να επικοινωνήσουν αμφίδρομα, με ευχάριστους και διαδραστικούς τρόπους, χωρίς την διαμεσολάβηση κανενός.

Βέβαιος, το παραπάνω παράδειγμα είναι χαμένο στο διάστημα της Ελληνικής πολιτικής πραγματικότητας, δίπλα σε κάποια μαύρη τρύπα της επικοινωνίας. Δεν κάνω πλάκα, έτσι είναι. Οποιοσδήποτε δουλεύει στην πολιτική επικοινωνία θα σας πει πως "αυτά δεν δουλεύουν εδώ στο Greece", "Καλό είναι αυτό αλλά ο Έλληνας ψηφοφόρος θέλει ρουσφέτι", "Δεν κάνουν αυτά τα πράγματα για την χώρα μας", κ.λ.π.

Για να δουλέψουν "αυτά τα πράματα" στην Ελλάδα πρέπει οι πολιτικοί να είναι διατεθειμένοι να έρθουν σε άμεση επαφή με τους πολίτες, χωρίς διαμεσολαβητές, και οι πολίτες να τολμήσουν ειλικρινείς επαφές, πάνω σε συγκεκριμένα θέματα.

Προς το παρόν, οι Έλληνες πολιτευτές ας αρκεστούν με το να ανοίξουν μία σελίδα στο facebook, για να πιάσουν τους νέους όπως λένε (x-D), και να γραφτούν σε όλα τα άλλα Social Media, μιας και είναι της μόδας, και είδαν και τον αντίπαλο υποψήφιο να έχει πολλά τέτοια στο Ιντερνέτ...

"Rent Is Too Damn High" - Truth messages work

2010-10-20T15:01:00.002+03:00

Rogue candidates are gaining publicity for single-issue campaigns.

Do take the time to watch these videos, it is impressive, and at the same time very positive, that people are turning towards real and straightforward messages. Rent Is Too Damn High

If it's real, it's simple.

Definitely something to watch in future elections!

Πολιτική Επικοινωνία στα Νότια Προάστια

2010-10-18T19:14:00.001+03:00

Εδώ και ένα μήνα έχω μετακομίσει στη Βουλιαγμένη, και είπα να ψάξω τι γίνεται με τις εκστρατείες για το νέο δήμο Βούλας - Βάρης - Βουλιαγμένης. Στη γειτονιά μου, κυριολεκτικά σε ακτίνα 100 μέτρων, υπάρχουν περίπτερα από 3 συνδυασμούς.

Κάνοντας μια βόλτα την προηγούμενη Παρασκευή, είδα 2 ομιλίες από υποψηφίους δημάρχους και είδα αρκετούς υποψήφιους συμβούλους, να δίνουν φυλλάδια, να χαμογελούν στους ψηφοφόρους και να μιλούν για τα τοπικά προβλήματα, αλλά και για το όραμα τους για το νέο δήμο. Ως εδώ καλά.

Αυτό που δεν είδα όμως ήταν το κάτι διαφορετικό. Μείναν στο ίδιο κλισέ κλίμα επικοινωνίας και χρησιμοποίησαν την ίδια ξύλινη επιχειρηματολογία. Τα ίδια και τα ίδια φυλλάδια, με φωτογραφίες σαν από εξώφυλλα λαϊκών δίσκων του 1980, και άπειρα ευχολόγια και συνθήματα με ομοιοκαταληξία. Σε μία συγκέντρωση μάλιστα, ο υποψήφιος δήμαρχος άρχισε να αναγγέλλει τα ονόματα των υποψηφίων συμβούλων του, λες και σε σχολικό έργο, με αποκορύφωμα κάποια ήπια χειροκροτήματα από συγγενείς και φίλους, που πήγαν να καμαρώσουν που ο άνθρωπός τους ανέβηκε επιτέλους στο πάλκο της τοπικής πολιτικής σκηνής.

Μέσα στο πολύ κόσμο βρήκα και μία παλιά γνωστή μου, με ρώτησε που ψηφίζω, και έπειτα άρχισε να μου λέει ποιον να σταυρώσω. Μου φάνηκε πολύ αστείο, και πάνω στην πλάκα, την ρώτησα: Και γιατί να τον ψηφίσω αυτόν, επειδή μου το λες εσύ; Για να λάβω την απάντηση: Κοίτα, όλοι τις ίδιες βλακείες λένε, ψήφισε αυτόν τώρα, να έχουμε και έναν άνθρωπο στον δήμο... x-D

Την δική μου άποψη, για το πώς να κερδίσει κάποιος υποψήφιος στις αυτοδιοικητικές εκλογές, την έγραψα εδώ: Πως να κερδίσετε στις επόμενες εκλογές.

Αυτήν την κατάσταση είδα και απογοητεύτηκα λίγο, γιατί δεν είδα κάτι φρέσκο, κάτι διαφορετικό, κάτι καινοτόμο, κάτι ειλικρινές ή αληθινό.

Phone banks and grassroot marketing research

2010-10-14T13:57:00.003+03:00

I really like the new calling tool by Organising for America. Straightforward tools like this can really help in organising grassroot supporters to take action in a structured and targeted way. This technology serves not only as a phone bank tool, but also as a structured polling questionnaire.

So, grassroot supporters are being utilised for a phone-bank GOTV campaign. At the same time, the campaign gets valuable, individual targeted data, as to what are the intentions and beliefs of people being targeted by the campaign.

Definitely a model for future canvassing campaigns and valuable data gathering.

I was also impressed by the detail of the guidelines for every call. By the way, at the end of each and every call the message is:

Wonderful - Thanks again for being active in 2008. We look forward to voting with you again on November 2nd so we can continue moving America forward.

Have a nice day!

[Hang up]   

It's time to hit the phones.

Political Marketing - Managing Negative Blog Posts

2010-10-11T18:39:00.002+03:00

As part of my presentation at the 6th International Political Marketing Conference, on Blogger Outreach strategies and New Media Engagement, I commented on how to manage negative blog posts in a political campaign. Blogs are becoming part of the Public Relations landscape and being able to engage is crucial in developing a cohesive new media communications plan.

You can watch my remarks here:

Blogs & political campaigns, what do bloggers want?

2010-09-30T17:53:00.000+03:00

Last week I took part at the 6th International Political Marketing Conference, you can read the full abstract of my presentation: Blogger Outreach strategies and New Media Engagement. It was great to talk with fellow political marketers, and academics, and learn a lot from interesting presentations on the topics of political science and marketing.

I presented on how political campaigns need to engage with bloggers in creating and running blogger outreach programs to communicate with influential people online. As people in new media understand, the argument of Blogger Vs Journalist was raised.

My take is that Bloggers should not be treated as main stream media journalists or reporters. Political campaigns need to target them with new media tools and technologies that have proven to be effective in creating personal links, and valuable in gaining trust from online communities. The campaign should be able to provide bloggers with relevant insightful and bundled information, in order to spark and maintain a two-way communication stream with online communities.

When a blogger is interested in a politician or a political campaign, he or she would already monitor their website, follow them on social media, and receive a vast amount of campaign newsletters, press releases and media advisories (not to mention the latest information from main stream media websites).

So, Bloggers have all the raw information they need to write a post.

What do they want?

They want traffic towards their Blog, linking to Blog posts signals that the campaign understands and reads all relevant information online.
Following from that, they want to get mentioned, for the campaign to acknowledge the fact that they spend time in dealing with certain political issues.
Bloggers want to grow their internet presence, in maintaining a multi-subject website.
They want to have a personal connection with the people running the online campaign, and ask questions.
They want to contribute, not just money or time resources, but provide policy or communication ideas to the campaign or the candidate. Bloggers can be proven to be valuable in proving feedback on online communications methods.
They want ideas to write new posts and insightful information that can help them put their argument to perspective.
Some Bloggers want to advance their career, start a online information portal and go into professional journalism.
Also, some bloggers want money, in terms of paid advertising, there is nothing wrong with that, but the campaign needs to always follow it's advertising policy in buying any ad space online.

Blogs are becoming part of the Media and Public Relations landscape. Political campaigns, and candidates, need to open-up and reach the flow of online information, whilst having, or in some cases creating, a comprehensive communications strategy in implementing blogger outreach programs.

Δημοκρατική Αριστερά - Die Linke

2010-09-29T17:16:00.000+03:00

Παραθέτω απλώς το λογότυπο του Die Linke, κόμματος της Γερμανίας, σε σύγκριση με το λογότυπο της Δημοκρατικής Αριστεράς κόμμα που δημιουργήθηκε το 2010 από μέλη της «Ανανεωτικής Πτέρυγας» του Συνασπισμού της Αριστεράς των Κινημάτων και της Οικολογίας, σύμφωνα με την Βικιπαίδεια. Δεν θέλω να σχολιάσω περαιτέρω, αλλά θα ήθελα να μάθω το λόγο επιλογής του συγκεκριμένου σχήματος, μιας και δεν είναι και τόσο αξιόλογο, και αν η δημοκρατική αριστερά είναι "αδελφό κόμμα" του Die Linke.

Πως να κερδίσετε στις επόμενες εκλογές

2010-09-22T18:35:00.001+03:00

Οι ερχόμενες εκλογές είναι μία ακόμα ευκαιρία για πολλούς συμπολίτες μας να αναδειχθούν σε θέσεις της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης. Οι αυτοδιοικητικές εκλογές της 7ης Νοεμβρίου 2010 είναι στο κατώφλι της ελληνικής πολιτικής επικαιρότητας, και με αυτή την ευκαιρία σκέφτηκα να επισημάνω μερικά από τα πολλά θέματα οργάνωσης μιας εκστρατείας και επιλογής ενός στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού.

Πρώτον, πρέπει να ξέρετε τους νόμους: Δημοτικές και Περιφερειακές Εκλογές (πολύ σημαντικό, και καίριο) και να έχετε απόλυτη γνώση του νέου προγράμματος "Καλλικράτης"

Δεύτερον, πρέπει να είστε διαφανείς με τις δαπάνες σας: Διαφάνεια Εκλογικών Δαπανών Υποψηφίων και Συνδυασμών για τις Περιφερειακές και Δημοτικές Εκλογές 2010 (Από τα καλύτερα νέα μέτρα του 3870/2010)

Τρίτον, να καταφέρετε με την εκστρατεία σας να πείσετε τον κόσμο να σας βοηθήσει και να σας ψηφίσει! Οι κλασσικές καμπάνιες έχουν αρχίσει να κουράζουν και το μόνο που καταφέρνουν είναι να επαναλαμβάνουν ένα κλισέ κλίμα επικοινωνίας με σκοπό την ξύλινη επιχειρηματολογική επικράτηση έναντι του αντιπάλου.

Πρέπει ως υποψήφιοι να πείσετε τους πολίτες

να σας βοηθήσουν και να σας ψηφίσουν.

Συμπληρώσετε μία υπεύθυνη δήλωση με 3 έως 5 βασικά θέματα ή ζητήματα τα οποία δεσμεύεστε να υλοποιήσετε όντας εκλεγμένος αιρετός. Συγκεκριμένα, μπορείτε να απευθύνεται την υπεύθυνη δήλωση προς την δημόσια αρχή (ΝΠΔΔ) τον δήμο ή την περιφέρεια, που πρόκειται να είστε υποψήφιος/α.

Στην υπεύθυνη δήλωση αναφέρετε πως

«Όποιος εν γνώσει του δηλώνει ψευδή γεγονότα ή αρνείται ή αποκρύπτει τα αληθινά με έγγραφη υπεύθυνη δήλωση του άρθρου 8 τιμωρείται με φυλάκιση τουλάχιστον τριών μηνών. Εάν ο υπαίτιος αυτών των πράξεων σκόπευε να προσπορίσει στον εαυτόν του ή σε άλλον περιουσιακό όφελος βλάπτοντας τρίτον ή σκόπευε να βλάψει άλλον, τιμωρείται με κάθειρξη μέχρι 10 ετών.

Διαβάζουμε στην βικιπαίδεια

Την ευθύνη για την αλήθεια των γεγονότων που αναφέρονται στην υπεύθυνη δήλωση φέρει αυτός που την υπογράφει και η δημόσια αρχή επιτρέπεται να διασταυρώσει το περιεχόμενό της. Η ψευδής δήλωση ή η απόκρυψη αληθινών γεγονότων με υπεύθυνη δήλωση αποτελεί ποινικό αδίκημα. Αν η ψευδής δήλωση έγινε με σκοπό τον προσπορισμό περιουσιακού οφέλους πάνω από ένα ποσό, η πράξη θεωρείται κακούργημα. Ποινικό αδίκημα διαπράττει και ο δημόσιος υπάλληλος, ο οποίος εν γνώσει του παραλείπει την άμεση καταμήνυση ψευδούς ή αναληθούς υπεύθυνης δήλωσης.

Με αυτόν τον τρόπο όχι απλώς θα υποσχεθείτε, με λόγια, αυτά τα οποία προτίθεστε να πραγματοποιήσετε στο δήμο, ή την περιφέρειά σας, αλλά θα καταθέσετε νομικό έγγραφο, γραπτώς προς την δημόσια αρχή την οποία είστε υποψήφιος/α.

Με την κίνησή σας αυτή θα αναλάβετε την ευθύνη των λόγων σας, θα δώσετε εμπιστοσύνη στους πολίτες να σας ψηφίσουν, ξέροντας, πως εάν δεν υλοποιήσετε τις δεσμεύσεις σας, θα έχετε νομικές κυρώσεις, που φτάνουν εώς και να αποτελούν ποινικό αδίκημα.

Υ.Γ. Είναι τόσο πολλά τα ζητήματα της οργάνωσης μιας αξιόλογης πολιτικής εκστρατείας, που δεν μπορώ να αναφέρω σε ένα άρθρο. Όταν όμως η όλη οργάνωση βασίζετε σε ειλικρίνεια, απτές λύσεις και στρατηγική επικοινωνία, είναι πιο εύκολο να απαντήσετε στο ερώτημα: γιατί είστε υποψήφιος/α;

Mid-term elections - GOP Vs DNC chairs and online updates

2010-09-17T20:57:00.003+03:00

The upcoming election campaigns in the States, are probably going into full mode next week, and the Republicans have launched their new campaign bus along with http://www.firenancypelosi.com/

A cool move by the GOP in energizing grassroots campaigners in every bus stop. So where is the bus now? well have a look:

Also watch RNC Chairman, Michael Steele talking about the bus tour... you know it's ON!

What are the democrats up to? well, they have launched a new http://www.democrats.org website and re-branded with the new "D" logo. I find the new website much more clean than the old one, but maybe thats because they kept a lot of white space. Anyhow, you can learn more about the new democratic branding changes reading "Democrats, the Brand"

Let me also comment on the vast number of email coming from "Organizing for America", I definetly receive around one per day, maybe more. In the latest one today, the Obama campaign is offering "canvass training" to prepare for the final weeks between now and election day. A great initiative I can say. As the email notes: You don't need any prior canvassing experience to participate, just a desire to learn how to make an impact on the political process.

Also, watch Tim Kaine the DNC Chairman, talking about the campaign, and please contrast this democratic video with the GOP video above. See the difference in campaign tactics?

Copy-Paste iPhone 4 communications in Greece

2010-09-05T16:47:00.001+03:00

I found two emails in my inbox asking me to go and buy the new iPhone 4 in Greece (I have already switched to the Blackberry Bold since June, but that's besides the point).

As you can see they are from Vodafone and Cosmote. The funny thing is that they are identical! It's like they got the same exact template, with instructions: (please add your colour and/or company logo/ slogan)

It is just another example of copy-paste advertising by communication professionals in Greece.

To me this says two things, number one, people don't really care about creative advertising, or mobile operator marketing campaigns, and second, there is a lack of creating marketing out there, most communications companies in Greece copy paste ideas and campaigns from abroad.

See the differences, or not:

how to interview a politician - Robert Gibbs On Fox

2010-09-05T15:43:00.004+03:00

I know... I have not posted anything for a while know, but here I go again.

I was really impressed by this recent interview of Robert Gibbs on Fox News.

My comment on the liberal viewer facebook page was:

she was actually right... anyway, gibbs fouled on asking a question to the presenter, he should have expected that answer, he was obviously intimidated. And Yes, she was aggressive, but what else would you expect? soft ball responses? I have to say that I enjoyed the exchange.

facebook communications, politics and lady gaga

2010-07-09T01:55:00.002+03:00

Barack Obama was the second person to reach 10 million facebook likes, after Lady Gaga. Facebook for sure plays a distinctive role in online communications, and politicians in particular seem to be very fond of how facebook helps them connect, talk and get feedback. When politicians become part of someones daily news feed, they connect in ways that are yet to be determined as to how they can shape future relationships and influence voting behavior.

When people spend time in providing feedback, or channel political messages to friends, they need to be acknowledged for that. facebook provides an intimate online technology platform that drives interactions in being more personal. I can understand that engaging in dialogue can be time consuming, but politicians, in trying to help their constituents, need to get personal and provide useful information, just like other "facebook friends".

Last year nobody knew Lady Gaga, she did however passed the 10 million mark before Barack Obama. Social Media communications strategies for artists are totally different, but some core communications principles stay the same.

George W. Bush has not reached 10 million likes yet... he is however utilizing facabook to update people on his status, and recently spoke in his first inaugural address on facebook.

Σύγκριση Χατζηγάκη (Αντιπολίτευση - Κυβέρνηση)

2010-07-06T02:27:00.008+03:00

Ο κ. Χατζηγάκης στο βραδινό δελτίο ειδήσεων του MEGA προσπάθησε να απολογηθεί για τις προσλήψεις που έκανε ως Υπουργός Γεωργίας, σε απάντηση καταγγελιών του κ. Πάγκαλου, που έκανε σε πρωινή εκπομπή του MEGA.

Δείτε την απολογία του κ. Χατζηγάκη

Παραθέτω τον ορισμό της πρόσληψης, σύμφωνα με "Το λεξικό του Ρουσφετιού και της Κομπίνας".

Πρόσληψη

Η πολυπόθητη πρόσληψη... Εννοώντας, βέβαια, μόνο στο δημόσιο τομέα. Ύστερα από την πρόσληψη έρχεται η εξασφάλιση και έπειτα η καταξίωση ή τουλάχιστον έτσι ελπίζουμε. Στην πραγματικότητα, αρχίζει ένας νέος "αγώνας διαρκείας", διότι πρόσληψη δεν σημαίνει και μονιμοποίηση απαραίτητα.

Στο παραπάνω βίντεο ο κ. Χατζηγάκης λέει πως άρχισε τις επιδοτήσεις από τον Ιούλιο...τον Ιούνιο όμως είχε βγει το παρακάτω βίντεο από το http://lamianews.blogspot.com/

Όπως γράφετε στην περιγραφή:

Πήρε τηλέφωνο στου Υπουργείο του και ρώτησε αν έχουν χρήματα; Τον ρώτησαν, πόσα θέλει, τους απάντησε 30 χιλιάρικα, του είπαν έχουμε κι' αυτός είπε στους ψαράδες "πάρτε τα". Αν αυτό που είδαμε και βλέπετε κι' εσείς τώρα, δεν είναι φάρσα, τότε τα πράγματα είναι πολύ τραγικά. Αναρωτιόμαστε αν υπάρχει κράτος και πως λειτουργεί ακόμη!!! Θα πρέπει να σημειώσουμε ακόμη δύο πράγματα που μας έκαναν εντύπωση. Το ένα είναι εκείνο το "αϊ στο καλό τώρα" που ακούγεται να λέει ο νομάρχης Φθιώτιδας στους ψαράδες, λες και του φεύγει ένα βάρος, μόλις ο υπουργός τελειώνει τη φράση "...βγάλε τριάντα χιλιάδες τώρα...". Το δεύτερο είναι εκείνο που λέει ένας από τους ψαράδες, δείχνοντας την ευγνωμοσύνη του στους "άρχοντες" ψελλίζοντας "θερμά,θερμά ...φιλιά" και ξεσπάει σε χειροκροτήματα, ενώ φεύγοντας, παίρνοντας το χαρτί με την υπόσχεση του κ. Χατζηγάκη, για τα "30 αργύρια" δεν ξεχνάει να υποσχεθεί "...εδώ είμαστε κι' εμείς τώρα, ξέρουμε..." Τι κατάντια; Φτάσαμε στο έσχατο σημείο, να εκμεταλλευόμαστε μεροκαματιάρηδες ανθρώπους που για αρκετούς μήνες δεν μπορούν να ψαρέψουν, χρωστάνε στις τράπεζες, οι οικογένειές τους μπορεί και να πεινάνε με αντάλλαγμα μερικούς ψήφους; Σαν δεν ντρεπόμαστε; Ειλικρινά θλιβόμαστε απ' αυτό που βλέπουμε;

Δεν θα γράψω τίποτα άλλο γιατί πιστεύω πως μέσα από την σύγκριση καταλαβαίνουμε πολλά.

Greek media crisis

2010-06-29T15:50:00.088+03:00

Bloomberg's Nicole Itano reports from Piraeus Port, near Athens, on Greece's fifth general strike of the year today, halting ferries, public transport and other state services, 29 June 2010. (Source: Bloomberg)

So, while the International news media are reporting on today's general strike in Greece, once again, the Greek media are absent. The reasons? Well I bet something to do about the new pension scheme and the social security bill about to go through parliament.

But that's fine... What the Greek mass media is reporting is not news. It's a presentation of the news.

Is funny watching some Greek reporters yesterday, explaining why the measures need to be implemented, and then going on strike today in opposition to the measures!

Most popular Greek media, and Greek reporters, are very poor in reporting the news, most of them just copy-paste press releases and announcements, while mixing them with populist arguments. The Greek media reporting on the news is something of a B-movie equivalent to European and Global news organizations.

It reminds me the disclaimer of the daily show:

"The show you are about to watch is a news parody. Its stories are not fact checked. Its reporters are not journalists. And its opinions are not fully thought through."

Just like the Greek news media!

Somewhere along the line Greek mass media has lost it. People in the Greek media can not understand the differences between Journalists, Reporters, News Anchors, News Readers, Presenters, Correspondents, Analysts, Commentators, Press spokespersons, Media representatives, Communications professionals and other Media Management people.

Greek TV news is like a tabloid reality talk-show with amateur reporters and poor acting.

I am a firm believer that news reporting should be sterilized, and investigative journalism should be pursued in good faith and sound professionalism. (This of course in Greek mass media terms translates into: "Who's what now?!")

Dare to compare (2) interviews of Greek PMs

2010-06-22T20:56:00.002+03:00

The idea of this post came to me from a previous one "Dare to compare UK and Greek PM resignation videos"

This time around I want to draw your attention on two videos, the first from current Greek PM George Papandreou, in an interview with Fox Business Network, in New York; and the second from Greece's past PM Kostas Karamanlis, in an interview with the European People's Party, in Brussels.

There are huge differences, not only in political rhetoric, but also language structure and basic interview skills. George Papandreou is hitting all the points, while having a concrete way of communicating his message. Please refer to a previous post of mine "A Greek American PR Campaign"

Kostas Karamanlis is mangling the English language, he looks like a standing PR disaster; and it's obvious that he wants to finish the interview as soon as the press officer can ask him another question.

So here you go, enjoy the differences:

George Papandreou

Kostas Karamanlis

Alvin Greene & Political Communications

2010-06-15T23:28:00.009+03:00

Yesterday I saw these updates on facebook, they were identical, both from Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. They directed to a website, part of the 2010 get out the vote web campaign to "Add your name as a strong supporter of comprehensive energy and climate reform"

I would argue that this can be quite excessive use of Internet campaigning from both these accounts to communicate one message.

BUT that does not matter. Internet campaigns don't matter, raising money in running for office don't matter. Votes Matter. This is what Alvin Greene said, the 2010 Democratic Nominee for Senate in South Carolina. Alvin Greene is an unemployed Army veteran who had been completely unknown until becoming the state’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Who can disagree with "Votes Matter". Alvin does not have a website and does not have any presence on social media. So, Who’s Alvin Greene?

Alvin is running against Jim DeMint, a United States Senator from South Carolina since 2005. He had previously represented South Carolina's 4th congressional district from 1999 to 2005. DeMint is ranked by some as one of the most conservative members of the Senate. Jim has a campaign website, and a senate website, and is also present in all popular social media.

Is this race even ON? It will be an great case study in voting behaviour and political communications. Take a look at the two U.S. Senate candidates for South Carolina. Contrast and Compare!

Alvin Greene

Jim DeMint

Η Ελληνική Αγορά Ακινήτων

2010-06-10T02:53:00.019+03:00

Πόσο μακρυά είμαστε από μια οργανωμένη αγορά ακινήτων; Μιλώντας με αρκετούς μεσίτες, οι περισσότεροι δεν λένε, δεν ξέρουν, η δεν θέλουν να ξέρουν τι συμβαίνει με την αγορά ακινήτων στην Ελλάδα. Έχω καταλήξει πως ο περισσότερος κόσμος δεν έχει την παραμικρή ιδέα. Οι τιμές των σπιτιών στις εφημερίδες είναι ενδεικτικές για το τι συμβαίνει. Ένας μεσίτης την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα μου είπε "Οι ιδιοκτήτες ζητάνε ότι θέλουν, ότι τους λείπει... εσύ θα φτιάξεις την αγορά;". Και αυτό είναι, με αυτήν την ατάκα ο μεσίτης προσπάθησε να μου πουλήσει την "πραγματικότητα" και μου ζήτησε να συμβιβαστώ με τις τιμές του πελάτη του-ιδιοκτήτη.

Προσπαθώντας να με πείσει πως αγοράζοντας ένα διαμέρισμα κάνω μια επένδυση για το μέλλον, μου έδειξε μερικά σπίτια στα Νότια Προάστια της Αττικής.

Προβολή μεγαλύτερου χάρτη

Αν δεν μπορώ να φτιάξω την αγορά ακίνητων στην Ελλάδα, μπορώ να την καταλάβω για αυτό που είναι, και να κατανοήσω πως λειτουργεί προς το συμφέρον μου.

Η Αλήθεια είναι πως εάν δεν εκμεταλλεύεσαι το σπίτι έτσι ώστε να σου προσφέρει έσοδα, δεν είναι επένδυση. Εάν μένεις στο σπίτι, είτε το νοικιάζεις, είτε το αγοράζεις, θα σου φεύγουν χρήματα κάθε μήνα, ενοίκιο ή δόση δανείου.

Εδώ, ας αναφέρω ένα πολύ γελοίο περιστατικό όπου ο ιδιοκτήτης προσπάθησε να μου πουλήσει ένα διαμέρισμα δεκαετίας, ως καινούργιο, λέγοντας πως ο γιος του το χρησιμοποίησε μόνο ένα εξάμηνο μαζί με την αρραβωνιαστικιά του το 2002... και τώρα θέλει τα χρήματα για να εξοπλίσει το νέο του ιατρείο. Εάν η αγορά ενός σπιτιού είναι επένδυση, τότε αν εγώ αποφασίσω να πουλήσω το σπίτι μετά από 5 χρόνια (που μπορεί να χρειαστώ ένα μεγαλύτερο) θα πουλήσω σπίτι πενταετίας ή δεκαπενταετίας; Αυτά είναι χαζά ερωτήματα ενός λίγου σκεπτόμενου αγοραστή.

Δεν θέλω να κουράζω, ούτε να το παίζω ειδικός, αυτό που θέλω είναι μια λογική τιμή σύμφωνα με την οικονομική κατάσταση στην οποία είναι η χώρα, και την αγοραστική δύναμη που διαθέτω.

Αυτό που καταλαβαίνω είναι ότι η αγορά είναι διαστρεβλωμένη σύμφωνα με τις ορέξεις του κάθε ιδιοκτήτη, μεσίτη ή κατασκευαστή. Αυτό που μπορούν να κάνουν οι αγοραστές, μιας και αυτοί είναι που προσφέρουν τις τιμές, είναι να είναι λογικοί και συγκεκριμένοι. Σπίτια υπάρχουν πολλά, και πολλά τα οποία είναι αδιάθετα εδώ και πολλά χρόνια. Οι αγοραστές είναι αυτοί που έχουν τα χρήματα για την αγορά, αυτός που διαθέτει τα ακίνητα, και θέλει να τα πουλήσει, αντιμετωπίζει μία μεγάλη προσφορά με μία μικρή ζήτηση. Οι πωλήσεις είναι λίγες.

Φυσικά και οι τιμές θα πέσουν, είναι αδιέξοδο, και οι μεσίτες, διαμεσολαβητές και ιδιοκτήτες το ξέρουν. Οι αγοραστές έχουν την δύναμη στη συγκεκριμένη χρονική περίοδο.

Προσωπικά πιστεύω πως, και σύμφωνα και με τις αναλύσεις της Τράπεζας της Ελλάδας, οι τιμές που υπάρχουν είναι 30% άνω τον οποίων οφείλουν να είναι. Το φθινόπωρο, και τον χειμώνα του 2010, ίσως να είναι και πολύ περισσότερο.

Στο Ελληνικό Internet μπορείς να βρεις όλες τις παράλογες τιμές, από την Χρυσή Ευκαιρία και την Καθημερινή, μέχρι το χάος της Ελληνικής μεσιτικής αγοράς. Ο απόλυτος παροξυσμός και το χάος της δήθεν επιχειρηματικότητας στο Real Estate.

Εμείς έχουμε την δύναμη, η αγορά έχει την δύναμη. Εάν δεν πουλάς σε λογικές τιμές, δεν πουλάς, και αυτό είναι το πρόβλημα των μεσιτών, κατασκευαστών και ιδιοκτητών. Προσφορά υπάρχει, ζήτηση πως θα βρείτε;

Obama rhetoric played out

2010-06-03T02:56:00.006+03:00

Browsing facebook, I came across an update from Barack Obama:

We have a choice as a nation. We can return to the failed economic policies of the past, or we can keep building a stronger future. We can go backward, or we can keep moving forward. I want to move forward, and I think America wants to as well.

These remarks were made during a speech at Carnegie Mellon University concerning the Economy, on June 02, 2010.

It is astonishing that a forward looking politician like Obama, will end up using a cliché pseudo-dilemma as a campaign message. I suppose that with the 2010 mid-term elections coming up, partisan politics will start to re-appear in political speeches. In a recent article on Politico "Obama must match rhetoric, reality" Danielle Pletka, who served on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that:

It doesn’t matter what the president and his staff say they’re going to do. What matters is what they do. And don’t do.

Phrases such as "We can go backward, or we can keep moving forward" are vague and chaotic; it reminded me of another quote: "Nothing ever changes by staying the same, quite literally" by David Brent from "The Office"...

Also, have a look at the latest Polls and Charts for the upcoming elections from Pollster:

Greece, a country change management case study

2010-05-20T11:02:00.007+03:00

Today, Thursday the 20th, there is another general strike in Greece. The journalists are not taking part, so that people can stay informed on what is happening on the ground. Last time around on May the 5th, the media broke their strike to cover the rallies, and the aftermath of them; the death of three people.

I honestly hope that we will not experience these events again, and no people will get hurt, or die, as a result of them.

You can learn about the New austerity plan for €110bn, or understand the Greek financial crisis with Twitter.

The future ramifications of not changing the economy, and restructuring the way we work and do business will have dire results in the coming years.

Greece is just going through a change management process really fast. People need to understand that, and be more adaptive and realistic.

One definition of Change management

The coordination of a structured period of transition from situation A to situation B in order to achieve lasting change within an organization. Change management can be of varying scope, from continuous improvement, which involves small ongoing changes to existing processes, to radical and substantial change involving organizational strategy. Change management can be reactive or proactive.

Let me also suggest some reference books on "Change Management"

Burnes, B. (2004) Managing Change, London: Prentice Hall.
Hayes, J. (2002) The Theory and Practice of Change Management, London: Palgrave
Brockbank, A. McGill I and Beech, N.(2006) Reflective Learning in Practice, London:Gower
Somekh, B. (2006) Action Research: A Methodology for Change and Development, Open University Press.