There was a time when corporations could merely say, “We’re green,” and consumers, not yet as scrutinizing as they are today, or perhaps simply less equipped to check up on corporate claims, would believe it. For corporations, those days probably feel like a lost Eden. “We help the environment,” Mega-Conglomerate X would announce, and Consumers Y & Z would smile and nod, and be duly impressed, and lo, it was good (for the companies, anyway).

Now those days are gone, and big businesses can’t just talk the talk, but must walk the socially responsible walk. Such is the argument of Who Cares Wins, a new biz book and pseudo CSR manual by David Jones, CEO of the French advertising giant Havas.

via An ad exec’s wise warning about social media – Fortune Features.

Refill the cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and know you’re not alone.

via 20 things PR clients should know | Articles.

The media want to cover your organization and its goings-on. Problem is, they have limited resources and need your help putting together a compelling story.

For everyone to succeed, you need to know some things. Here are 33 of them:

via 33 things the media wish PR people knew | Articles.

Why doesn’t digital talent want to work at your company? It’s not because you’re a consumer packaged goods company, rather than Google. It’s not because you’re in Ohio instead of Silicon Valley. It’s not because your salaries are too low, or because you don’t offer free food and laundry services.

It’s because you’re not providing them the right opportunity. The talent you want would be happy to work in an un-air-conditioned garage in New Mexico if it meant the chance to change the world.

This, the opportunity to do great things, to make a real difference, is what drives most digital talent–whether they’re developers, designers, producers, marketers or business folks.

via Why Digital Talent Doesn’t Want To Work At Your Company | Fast Company.

Interesting piece of data from digital marketing guy/VC Darren Herman: Just five companies control 64% of all online spending. Incredibly, Google controls 46% of all online spending.One thing to note, says Herman: “With Facebook only now starting to monetize their platform, you can start to see how big an impact they could have on the dominance of the digital advertising landscape.”

via CHART OF THE DAY: These Five Companies Control 64% Of All Online Ad Spending.

DigitalDesignAgency’s Channel – YouTube.

Special mention for the effects and the amazing vision of social media. Enjoy …

There is more information out there than ever before, but thanks to shifts in the media world there are fewer reporters. This means that it can be increasingly difficult to attract the attention a story deserves (or that you think it deserves).

Based on my experience as a network television news producer and my years on the other side of the fence in strategic marketing and communications, I have compiled 10 commandments of media outreach.

via The 10 commandments of media outreach | Articles.

The PR industry is suffering from an image problem, according to a new poll.

Gallup asked adults in the U.S. whether they have a positive, negative, or neutral view of 25 industries, and PR and advertising didn’t fair too well—though not as badly as that of the government sector.

According to Gallup, 32 percent of Americans have a positive view of the two industries—Gallup combined them for the poll—while 29 percent took a neutral stance, and 37 percent had a negative view.

via Gallup poll: More people have a negative view of PR and advertising | Articles.

McCann Worldgroup – Truth About Youth.

An interesting update about aspiration of young people

Whether you write for fun or profit, do graphic design, paint, draw, or make music, you know it can be difficult to come up with new and original ideas every time you have to start a new project. Over at Paul Zii’s Tumblr blog, he has a list of 29 great one-line tips to help you stay creative or get inspired if you’re feeling the sting of writer’s block, or your muse hasn’t visited in a while.

LIFE ON MICHIGAN AVE.