So not only am I unsure why there is a fight about this, I’m not sure why they have a dog in the fight.

I suspect that some of the emotion is being generated (maybe even without those involved realising it) because the hRelease/SMNR is an idea that is trying to create another construct to superimpose over the dry, deathly old one.

In the spirit of the web these days being more about de-constructing old mores than about constructing new ones that are just as problematical, I thought I’d ask…

Do we really need another construct (the SMNR/hRelease) that defines the tool enabling transfer of information between the originator of the conversation and the initial receiver of the information. Don’t we have email already?

Surely we are talking about conversations here. I don’t remember ever needing a format to enable me to start a conversation?

The web is enabling us to have conversations just as we always have, only with people we have never met before (everyone), and with richly interacting tools that enable us to aggregate views and actions for the improvement of our knowledge and experiences.

Do we need a tool to start those conversations and enable them or do we just need a web page from which we can drag and drop possible additional tools (Digg, De.licio.us, etc) into an email that we then send to one blogger, then a new and potentially very different email and attached tools to another, etc., etc.

Surely we are moving towards the age of individual communications that respect and acknowledge individual differences rather than towards a new 2.0ed mass communications format?

Not saying, just asking.

Lyle

People don’t like/have become cynical about releases because they are pronouncements from on high which, to varying degrees, are trying to “sell” us something. In an age of online dialogue, that becomes increasingly at odds with the general mood. But if a company/organisation constantly reveal its beliefs and behaviours via devices such as blogs, then I think it is foolish for people to believe that a certain type of press release should not be effective and accepted alongside these tools.

Recipients increasingly avow their right to decide on what is “true” but that does not deny the issuer the right to make their “pitch”. Indeed, knowing that the pitch will be dissected may lead to their crafting better releases in the first place.

First. This is quite the manifesto. Thank you for putting so much time into such a specific response to everything that’s going on (this week especially).

One thing that I think most people are forgetting about is all the other press releases. The ones besides the consumer product launches. There are thousands of releases issued every day. Of those, few are announcing new product launches or something that would necessitate a social media release, mnr, nmpr, storycrafter,
PRX, hRelease, etc.

Is this the problem? Yes and no.

Yes: Wouldn’t it be great if corporations saved some of their communication budgets to make larger and more impactful announcements? Yes and no. (Yes, they’d be more significant. No, it would be terrible for SEO.)

No: The majority of press releases that are targeting small trade publications, local print, local broadcast, etc. are numerous.

Should ACME send their press release about a new Managing Director of Doohickies out in a format that costs a lot more time and money? No and no. Sure, it could be blogged about, but there would be hundreds of journalists missing the release and it doesn’t meet disclosure (assuming ACME is publicly traded).

What about an earnings reports for Big Oil, Inc. (yes and no. Imagine CEOs delivering the state of their union via an MNR)? How about an update announcement for powerline outages for Smog and Coal Energy Co. after a hurricane?

My point is: All the linked-to arguments resonate with tech crowds and consumer groups because MNRs are the most effective way to get news out to every audience/person… especially those who know what a trackback and blog is. BUT, when it comes down to it, sending a release out (especially an optimized NMPR) is the easiest, and most efficient and effective way to get the most possible clicks/readers/conversations/sales and largest impact. Doing both is the best of both worlds, which is what we do.

As someone who presents and counsels many of the largest agencies in NY, I’m fighting an uphill battle. This makes your blog
an invaluable resource and ally.

So, as always, thanks again for your 25 cents.

David Weiner, PR Newswire