This one doesn’t even need a post so I’m going straight to the prescription: Every publicist needs a guy like this next to their spokesperson!
O.J. in Illegal “Cell” Thursday, September 20, 2007
Don’t take a picture of O.J. Simpson with your cell phone if you work in a courtroom!
TMZ has obtained a letter written to the Juice, sent in care of his lawyers, apologizing for the actions of one of its “contract employees.” In the letter, dated today, the Executive Office of the Clark County Courts says a court reporter took a cell phone picture of Simpson as he left his court hearing yesterday.
The executive called the behavior “abhorrent” and told Simpson and his attorneys it “would not be tolerated.”
The letter also says that the issue has been “addressed” with the employee, and the picture has been deleted from the cell phone.
The unemployment line forms to the left.
Prescription: Whomever took this photo should have pictured himself making a lot of money and not getting caught.
Read the letter here: http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0920_simpson_apology.pdf
Why I want to be Osama Bin Laden’s Publicist..an editorial Thursday, September 20, 2007
Just before the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden released a new videotape, in which he adopts a neo-Marxist posture, suggesting that mortgage debt, global warming, growing wage inequality and other ills are a result of greed from multinational corporations and politics of the West.
Osama released a new message today calling for attacks.
The hype surrounding the release of Osama’s new tape got me to thinking– if Osama was a rap star, or a big movie actor like Tom Cruise, I would probably be the richest publicist on the planet. So rich I could buy up all the world’s oil and sell it in cute little bottles at the 99cent store.
He seems like he would be a typical client… always wanting the world to hear what he’s got to say. And, he would always be coming up with some new idea or theory for me to publicize. Just like most celebrity clients, he would be somewhat hard to get on the phone.
It wouldn’t matter if people liked me or not because I would be holding the key to the voice of the most notorious person on the planet. Imagine it. This guy releases a new tape almost every year and if it was available on iTunes, it would make a killing (not literally). He changes the color of his beard and people pay attention. Osama is, in fact, the new Britney Spears.
And just like Britney, at some point people will no longer pay attention to what he has to say and who knows, one day an Osama tape just might flop. But none of that will happen until Osama walks the red carpet in a hideous outfit. But then, that would be new, news right?
Battle of the Black Blogs: Mediatakeout.com vs. Bossip.com Saturday, August 25, 2007
According to Wikipedia, a PUBLICITY STUNT is a planned event designed to attract the public’s attention to the promoters or their causes. PR stunts are great ways to drive sales, increase viewers or… attract advertisers.
In today’s webisode of I Love My Publicist we look at what seems to be a fairly new online magazine called Expozure.com that posted an “exclusive in-depth interview” with Fred (no last name given in the story), founder and creator of Mediatakeout.com.
In the article, Fred gives up some big numbers about his site and really expo(z)es how he feels about his competitor Bossip.com.
“They aint got nothing on us. They cant mess with us! Man we have 80 million page views in a month. When you start talking 80 million page views, that’s not black blog numbers, that’s New York times, USA Today, that’s not black blogs numbers. Not even the white blogs can mess with us.”
The interview with Fred gives insight as to how MediaTakeOut.com gets it’s exclusive content and closes with some very interesting reader comments. The comments are angry and suggest that the person conducting the interview isn’t even a journalist and that the story is riddled with typehoes. I mean typos. It also suggests that MediaTakeOut.com lies about their juicy scoops setting up Bossip.com for an inevitable rebuttal.
Now USUALLY, when publicists allow their clients to be interviewed “exclusively” they pick the media outlet with the highest circulation and biggest demographic that suits their client. According to the comments, Expozure.com doesn’t seem to have been around too long.
Is this all just gossip or an attempt to take somebody out?
The Remake of Keyshia Cole Into Mary J. Blige Friday, August 24, 2007
The seeds were planted early. When we first heard Keyshia Cole’s raspy yet distinguished voice it reminded everyone of only one person we had heard before- Mary J. Blige. Keyshia had that same swagger and toughness and that “thing” that made her a little rough around the edges but very likeable. Just like when we first met Mary back in the 90’s. Then we saw Keyshia team up with Diddy. Just like Mary. And sometime early last year the comparisons were just too many to overlook which brings us to the current marketing campaign for Keyshia Cole’s new album.
Both ladies are on the same record label so the hype can be controlled and managed internally. Nice set up right? Smart.
At first, the tag line doesn’t really make sense. Just like you? Is she trying to connect with her fans in a more personal way, trying to drive home the message, you and I are one?
Or, is there an underlying message to fuel new rumors, spark excitement for sales and set the stage for the entrance of a new diva into the world of R & B?
Do you think the record label is setting up a controversy to drive sales?
Read about the new cover and news here:
http://www.vibe.com/blog/vc/2007/08/keyshia_coles_new_cd_cover_sur.html
