Free Speech Is A Dish Best Served Cold...

In a society where we are so inclined to speak our minds, the concept of the blog seems natural. But blogging as a PR tool? Who knew? Who suspected? Yes, there may be a hint of sarcasm in my voice. There are certain guidelines one should adhere to if blogging for such a reason. However, if used correctly, it can be a powerful source of justified comment. Yesterday, I came across the article below, GM vs. The New York Times. I know, it sounds like King Kong vs. Godzilla. No matter what side you take, this demonstrates how a gigantic corporation used a blog when they just couldn't get their point across.

From Advertising Age:

GM vs. 'The New York Times'

We're sure that when marketers play with the idea of starting a blog, there's a laundry list of reasons not to do it. But blogs suddenly seem like a great idea when you've got a grievance against a major newspaper and that newspaper won't let you get your point across. For a great example of this, see GM's Brian Akre's post about his dealings with The New York Times. The short version: Tom "The World is Flat" Friedman writes a column that, among other things, compared GM to a corporate crack dealer. GM gets upset and wants to write a letter to the editor. GM is told that the letter is too long. And they can't use the word "rubbish." Brian Akre posts the original letter, the edited letter and the e-mails sent back and forth between GM and The Times. The end. The longer version is more fun to read. --Ken Wheaton