Tools, tips and links – Branding Seminar, NABJ 2007
National Association of Black Journalists
Digital Journalists Task Force
August 10, 2007
Bally Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
Express Yourself!:
Branding by Using Current Digital Media Tools
The way you get your brand across is projecting your personality – who you ARE – in every aspect of your business. What your web page looks like, the wording, the inclusionof quotes or not, graphics, the way you handle your customers, how well you deliverproducts, promises and services. You products and your style.
– Susan Dunn, What is Branding and Why Do You Want It?
Ten Tips on Branding Your Website
1. Make sure your domain name is easily identifiable and
promotes your company
2. Understand your website’s/company’s personality
3. Clearly define your – U.S.P – Unique Selling Proposition
4. Create a ‘search engine friendly’ Home Page. Avoid a graphic as the home page.
5. Make it easy for your readers/consumers to find information on your site
6. Don’t get hung up with Design/Logos/Colors, but make sure they are aesthically pleasing
7. Create quality content that is credible and updated frequently
8. Allow site visitors to opt-in for e-Newsletters and distribute them frequently
9. Integrate audio, video, photo slide shows and other useful form of user interactivity
10. Always think keywords and search Engines
Here are links to several articles that are useful. There are many others, and I encourage you to post other links via comments.
What is Branding and Why Do You Want It?
http://www.icbs.com/KB/Branding/kb_what-is-branding.htm
By Susan Dunn
Elements to Effective Branding
http://www.bebit.co.jp/english/column/column021.html
Branding Tips – Implementing Branding on your Website
http://www.alteredimpressions.com/Branding/Brand_Better_Website.htm
Search Engine Optimization – Keyword Phases
http://www.alteredimpressions.com/SEO/SEO_Keywords.htm
Shattering the Branding Myths
by Diane Hughes
http://www.marketingsource.com/articles/view/1466
Social Bookmarking Helps Users Organize and Share Favorite Content
By Ellyn Angelotti,Interactivity Editor
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=125705
For more digital media links, please visite DigitalMediaCrashCourse.com!
Black Journalists Tackling Digital Media – The Work’s Just Beginning
In an aggressive fashion, the National Association of Black Journalists’ Digital Journalists Task Force, under the director of chairman Andrew Humphrey organized a series of strongly attended seminars sprinkled throughout the five day event.Of course, for the digi-media fanatics, like myself, for the thousands of other journalists attending, there need to be more sessions.
My seminar on branding had nearly 100 people in it. While it was scheduled to end at 3:30, the 90-minute session ended at 4PM with a mostly packed room. My panelists were perfect: Sybril Bennett of Belmont University, Barry Cooper, founder of Black Voices and managing editor of pilotonline.com and Katrina Witherspoon, vice president, interactive services for Reach Media – parent company of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and BlackAmericaWeb.com. They each broke down the complexities of branding, and talked clearly and honestly about what it takes to be successful on the web.
What was clear from most of the participants’ questions was that there is a huge knowledge gap. Most of the journalists in attendance fell into several categories:
1) Very afraid of the internet, simply because of the lack of understanding of how the web works;
2) Focused on thinking the web will be the ticket to making money in their next and/or current careers; and,
3) Eager to learn, absorb, grasp anything they can about the internet and digital media.It’s that third group that is the most encouraging – and most frightening.
I’m glad my journalists friends are “eager” to learn, but as Bennett stressed several times, there are too many of us who are so late to the game that we really need to catch up. Basically, many of us are behind and need to get with the program to: 1) try to secure their jobs for the present and future; 2) quickly learn and develop their own personal strategy to create their own brand. So, here’s some quick advice to my journalist friends who are – well – freaking out:1) Learn how to use a digital camera. Yeah, go ahead and purchase even the most basic one from your local Circuit City, Wolf Camera or heck, your local Walgreens! Get us to taking pictures, downloading them, playing around with whichever picture editor is on your computer. Upload those pix; download, email them.
2) Take online class or tutorial to learn more about digital media. Many of the major digital camera and software manufacturers offer free and fee-based classes to help you learn the basics. Check the Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Sony or other sites like CNET or Adode (makers of PhotoShop, Flash and Illustrator.)
3) Be kind to a teenager – your own or a neighbors’ – and learn from them. I’m not trying to be condescending, but just keeping it real. By some pizza and a couple liters of Mountain Dew, then sit down with one or a couple teens to have them teach you everything from texting, Instant Messaging, blogging, FaceBook, MySpace, iTunes. I’m sure you can bribe them for an hour a month – at least – with some pizza and Mountain Dew!
4) Read your company – and your competitors’ – with new eyes and curiousity. Analyze how news and information is being distributed and packaged in new, innovative and exciting ways. Remember, it’s three dimensional – words, pictures and sound! It’s along way, baby, from hot-type, ink and an a scratchy audio or fuzzy analog video. It’s all digital!
5) Don’t get psyched out by the technology. Embrace it!
6) Celebrate – and promote – your skills as a reporter, editor and/or producer. Content is – and will continue to – drive the future of digital media. Media companies of all kinds need individuals who know how to get information, review/edit reams of news and other content quickly and synthesize it in a digestable fashion.
To learn more about digital media issues, please visit DigitalMediaCrashCourse.com, and read my ‘Foot(e)Notes’ column.
Sen. Joseph Biden ‘Apologizes’ for Remarks on Rev. Al Sharpton Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Neil Foote , Director, Communications Reach Media, 972-371-5840
neil.foote@reachmediainc.com
Sen. Joseph Biden ‘Apologizes’ for Remarks on Rev. Al Sharpton Show
( Dallas , TX February 1, 2007) – Veteran Sen. Joseph Biden (D – Delaware) today said he intended to pay a compliment to Sen. Barack Obama and other Blacks who have run for president during a live telephone interview during the Al Sharpton Show, celebrating its first anniversary on the Syndication One radio/talk network.
Biden explained that he was not trying to draw upon negative historical references by using the terms ‘intelligent, articulate … and clean’ in a New York Observer interview, referring to Sen. Obama, a likely candidate for president and previous candidates Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm.
“What I was doing was playing a compliment to a colleague that I respect,” said Biden who declared his candidacy for U.S. president yesterday. “I wasn’t in any way criticizing you [Rev. Sharpton] or Jesse … When I said ‘clean’, I was meaning ‘fresh, new, exciting’. I have an overwhelming respect for you, Jesse and Shirley Chisolm … I worked with her .. I never knew anyone who worked harder… I’m going to compete for every black vote … I’m not going to yield anything … I’m going to compete for the black vote.”
Biden has been part of a n eventful week for the Syndication One network, a joint venture between Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIAK and ROIA] and Tom Joyner’s REACH Media Inc., which launched last year on January 30th. In addition to the Sharpton Show (http://sharptontalk.net), the network also features author Michael Eric Dyson (http://dysontalk.net) and sports talk with the ‘2 Live Stews’ (http://www.2livestewstalk.com).
Earlier in the week, democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton gave Sharpton and the network a huge shout out. “Congratulations on your first anniversary,” said Sen. Clinton, the former First Lady during the Al Sharpton Show. “I really am impressed in you ‘keeping it real’ all year, and I believe you’re going to keep on keeping it real.”
Oprah Winfrey, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Ca) and Martin Luther King III were among the other top names who called in to celebrate the network. At the same time, the 2 Live Stews – brothers Doug and Ryan – are hosting their show live from Miami, lining up interviews with a who’s who in the sports world, including track & field legend Edwin Moses, NFL Hall-of- F amer Harry Carson, boxers Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson, ESPN Analyst Mike Ditka, former Oakland Raider legend Tim Brown and Hall-of- F amer Gale Sayers.
Syndication One is designed to develop African-American targeted programming. Over the past year, each of the shows has been at the center of the nation’s hottest issues engaging all viewpoints. Guests have included New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, R&B legend Aretha Franklin, conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
REACH Media Inc. is the authorized sales representative firm for each of the radio shows.
For more information about the shows or to set up interviews with the hosts, contact Neil Foote, 972.371.5840, neil.foote@reachmediainc.com. Companies interested in any or all of the shows may contact Melody Talkington, vice president, affiliate relations, for REACH Media Inc., 972.371.5845, melody.talkington@reachmediainc.com.
Radio One, the nation’s seventh largest broadcast owner, owns 51% of REACH Media Inc., parent company for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the nation’s # 1 syndicated urban morning show, which airs in 120 markets reaching nearly 8 million listeners. The radio show has distinguished itself over the years as continuously giving back to its listeners with quality programming, highly popular promotions and philanthropy. Since 2004, Joyner has awarded more than $3 million to nearly 2,000 contest winners and his Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students in black colleges. The Morning Show also features news analysis with Jacque Reid, celebrity news with Jawn Murray and political commentary by Tavis Smiley. Joyner’s website, BlackAmericaWeb.com, has more than 1.2 million registered users and features news and interactive elements, including games, dating and downloadable audio.
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Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 00:29 by 
Neil Foote in Keepin’ It Real with the Rev. Al Sharpton Talk Radio Show | 
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Bobby Brown Disputes Radio Station’s Claims on His Jail Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Neil Foote, Director of Communications, Reach Media, (972) 371-5840 or neil.foote@reachmediainc.com
Bobby Brown Disputes Radio Station’s Claims on His Jail Release
During Interview on Tom Joyner Morning Show
(Dallas, TX – March 8th, 2007 ) – In his first comments to the media since being release d from jail, R&B singer Bobby Brown disputed claims that a Washington, DC radio station paid his bail in return for him spending a week on the radio show.
During the nationally syndicated radio Tom Joyner Morning Show, Brown, who appeared on air with his attorney, Phaedra Parks, said that HOT 99.5FM – did not bail him out. “No that didn’t happen,” said Brown who was a member of the hit group New Edition and recently divorced Whitney Houston. “They didn’t pay it. … A bunch of my friends got together and got me out.” When Joyner asked if the radio station was lying, Brown said, “Yeah, they lied.”
In Brown’s defense, Parks said they had spoke to the radio station about doing this deal, “however, they never paid a penny toward Bobby’s bail bond,” she said. She explained that Brown was released Wednesday when his brother brought the $19,150. On his child support, Parks said he was late. “I dare say that there are a million people out there who are more than two months behind and aren’t drug through the media and press like Bobby Brown. … People say he’s a dead beat dad, but that’s not Bobby Brown because no dead beat dad goes and risks his freedom to show that he loves his daughter and he’s going to show up no matter what.”
Also, during the interview, Brown said he and Whitney Houston remain friends and recently celebrated their daughter’s birthday. His daughter is ‘extremely beautiful and great,’ Brown said. “Her mom is happy and I’m happy. That’s what matters.” He acknowledged that Whitney has a new boyfriend – Ray J – and that he, too, has a girlfriend , but declined to reveal her name. Brown also said he is finishing a CD and working on a reality TV show, “Just Bobby Brown”.
A live stream of the Tom Joyner Morning Show is available by clicking on the ‘Listen Live’ button on BlackAmericaWeb.com (http://www.blackamericaweb.com) or listen live on a Tom Joyner Morning Show affiliate. Go to http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/tjms/listen/affiliates to find out where you can tune-in.
The nation’s # 1 syndicated urban morning show airs in 120 markets reaching nearly 8 million listeners. The Morning Show with co-hosts Sybil Wilkes, J. Anthony Brown, Myra J and Ms. Dupre, also features news analysis with Jacque Reid, celebrity news with Jawn Murray and political commentary by Tavis Smiley. Joyner’s website, BlackAmericaWeb.com, has more than 1.2 million registered users and features news and interactive elements.
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 00:11 by Neil Foote | Post a Comment
Minister Louis Farrakhan to Go One-on-One on The ‘Keepin’ It Real’ with Al Sharpton Show Syndicated Radio Talk show
CONTACT: Neil Foote, Director, Communications Reach Media Inc., 972-371-5840, neil.foote@reachmediainc.com
For Immediate Release
Minister Louis Farrakhan to Go One-on-One on The ‘Keepin’ It Real’ with Al Sharpton Show Syndicated Radio Talk show
(Dallas, TX – February 28, 2007) – Minister Louis Farrakhan is scheduled tomorrow to discuss between 1:15pm and 1:45pm his future plans, the state of the Nation of Islam and the war in Iraq on the nationally syndicated ‘Keepin’ It Real with Al Sharpton’ radio show.
The Minister is scheduled to call Sharpton, president of the National Action Network and civil rights activist, whose show is distributed via the Syndication One network, a joint venture between Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIAK and ROIA] and Tom Joyner’s REACH Media Inc. ‘Keepin’ It Real with Al Sharpton’ airs 1pm EST to 4pm EST in markets around the country, and is available via online stream at http://sharptontalk.net.
Last Sunday, Farrakhan made what is reported to be his last speech during his noteworthy and sometimes controversial tenure as leader of the Nation of Islam. During that last speech, the Minister criticized his handling of the War in Iraq, and challenged the all religions to work together to bring peace.
In addition to ‘Keepin’ It Real’, Syndication One also features the Michael Eric Dyson Show (http://dysontalk.net) and sports talk with the ‘2 Live Stews’ (http://www.2livestewstalk.com).
Launched a year ago, Syndication One is designed to develop African-American targeted programming. Over the past year, each of the shows has been at the center of the nation’s hottest issues engaging all viewpoints. Guests have included New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, R&B legend Aretha Franklin, conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Bishop T.D. Jakes. REACH Media Inc. is the authorized sales representative firm for each of the radio shows.
Launched a year ago, Syndication One is designed to develop African-American targeted programming. Over the past year, each of the shows has been at the center of the nation’s hottest issues engaging all viewpoints. Guests have included New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, R&B legend Aretha Franklin, conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Bishop T.D. Jakes. REACH Media Inc. is the authorized sales representative firm for each of the radio shows.
For more information about the shows or to set up interviews with the hosts, contact Neil Foote, 972.371.5840, neil.foote@reachmediainc.com. Companies interested in any or all of the shows may contact Melody Talkington, vice president, affiliate relations, for REACH Media Inc., 972.371.5845, melody.talkington@reachmediainc.com.
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 00:18 by Neil Foote in Keepin’ It Real with the Rev. Al Sharpton Talk Radio Show | Post a Comment