Day: January 12, 2005

This is a PR blog, though given I am a gadget fiend, I make no apologies for the incursion of technology products from time to time.

At this stage there are few people in the developed world who haven’t seen the Apple’s latest innovation, the Mac mini. 

Following the recent company-saving innovations of the iMac and the iPod/iTunes combination, the Mac mini looks like yet another step forward and another graphic demonstration of why we need alternatives to the PC clone makers.  The Mac mini starts at $499, though you’d definetely want to increase the memory and hard drive on the basic model.  If there’s any justice it will prove a huge success.

In a vain attempt at linking this post to Public Relations… emmm didn’t they get a lot of coverage? OK I admit it’s pure technology envy…

Ketchum would want to re-evaluate their VNR business.  Is the revenue worth all the grief they are getting?

The fact they’ve been using Karen Ryan in the past is worrying to say the least, given the uproar that followed previous VNRs.  As a result the response to the Armstrong Williams appearance can’t have been a surprise.

Tell me they can’t have been surprised. 

Did they even remember the furore around VNRs last year?

This article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette has the most daming quote of all:

Meanwhile, at least one descendant of the original founders would rather not hear the Ketchum name again associated with this sort of situation.

Carlton Ketchum, a great-nephew of the two founders, works at an insurance agency in town and has never been a part of the agency business. But the distinctive moniker means people he meets frequently ask if he is related to the firm.

He admits it could be much worse. “I’m glad my last name isn’t Enron.”

As I’ve said before, VNRs do have a role to play.  It can provide useful visual background material, but it is not editorial and any parties trying to present it as such have crossed the line between PR and propoganda.

A gentle reader has been in touch with an information request.  They are looking for resources on awards in the US.

I seem to recall there was a dedicated website (or was that a firm?) that offered awards listings, deadlines etc.

Anyone got any ideas? You can e-mail me directly and I’ll pass the information on or leave your hot leads in the comments section!

Thanks in advance…