This blog post is in response to a blog post from David McInnis, creator of PRWeb.com that was in response to my blog post about being denied access to videotape a PRWeb/businessWire event on Social Media today.
David,
Ouch, that smarts.
First, my apologies for misspelling your last name on my blog post.
I am not sure why you have a problem with my blog post with the exception that you are ticked off that I made fun of the irony of a social media evangelist not being able to record an event about a company releasing a new social media tool. Come on, doesn't that seem at least a little bit funny to you? Just a little?
Since you took the time to write the post in lieu of being a capitalist, I'll try to address each of your points (in italics) the best I can:
If you read my blog last month you will see how aggravated I get by these “social media bullies” that think a video camera or laptop computer entitles them to unrestrained access to content. Deny that access and the best they can do is to ridicule. No honest debate or discussion. – actually, to the contrary, I didn't think I was entitled to content. That's why I asked first and didn't raise a fuss when Sarah told me I couldn't. I did think it very strange that I was denied permission to tape the event since it was about Social Media and commented about that. She did say I could blog about it and that was my takeaway. as for honest debate/discussion…welcome to the blogosphere where all the magic happens! 
1. This was a closed event. business Wire plans on hosting this event across the country as an exclusive introduction to SEO and social media to their client base and prospects. The entire event loses its exclusivity if it is rolled out in a video cast. Giovanni was invited as a guest, not as a video blogger to cover the event. – Understood. I asked for access, was denied and left it at that.
2. People paid to be at this event and took time out of their day to attend. Have you had any luck video casting from SES, adtech or Pubcon? I don’t think so. – While I would question the comparison of any of these events to a $25 chicken buffet and product demo at a chain restaurant, I haven't requested to cover the events you mentioned. The events I have requested to cover have all allowed me full access including O'Reilly's Where 2.0 conference in San Jose, Webmaster Jam Session here in Dallas, Gnomedex in Seattle, Microsoft Mix06 in Las Vegas, and The Podcast and Portable Media Expo in Ontario as well as numerous local events by the adLeague, DFWIMa, DFW-SEM and numerous usergroup and barcamp events. Go through my podcasts at Queso Compuesto and the Media Swamp and you'll find all these conferences and local events represented.
Podcasting and video casting is generally restricted to private interviews. – You may want to revisit this as the landscape has changed drastically since you formed this opinion.
Giovanni never asked me for an interview directly, podcast or otherwise. I had the rest of the afternoon left and would have been happy to sit down with him. – This is correct. Perhaps we could do an interview if you are willing. I'd love to interview you. However in this instance, I was interested in the event and the announcement, not a direct interview.
3. The event would have not made a great vidcast anyway as the aV folks installed faulty equipment and we had no sound in the room. again, not business Wire’s fault. – I completely agree and would have probably not videotaped the event after all because of this very same reason. a video with no audio makes for very few downloads. Of course, I understand that you could have not known what I would have done in this case.
4. Pick content that is of value to your audience. Giovanni, the event was a very basic introduction designed to provide a 30,000 foot view and get PR people thinking about new opportunities. If I were you I would focus on stuff that provides more value to your audience. – So why did business Wire charge the standing room only crowd $25 a head if there was no value in your presentation? It wasn't for the chicken. I disagree with your suggestion that a new product release by a partnership of two of the top PR wire companies is not newsworthy or valuable to a blog/podcast based primarily on interactive marketing, technology and social media.
5. businesses have the right to exist within the confines of our legal system. They also have a need to generate income and yes, profits. Who do you think pays your bills? Let businesses do what they do so that you can continue to enjoy the privileges you have as part of this system. as a side note, “transparency”, at least as defined by the eSocialists of the Cluetrain and their lemmings, is a dying concept. – I'm not really sure where this is going. It doesn't seem to address anything that happened today so I don't know how to respond except to assure you that as an executive and business owner for over a decade and as one who was in business management for almost a decade before that, I know who and what pays the bills. On a personal note, I am more conservative than you can imagine in every sense of the word. as for the transparency comment, keep fighting that. ask Edelman, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Sony and anyone who has to live with Sarbanes-Oxley if transparency is dying.
Finally, to circle around to my earlier comment, ownership of a video camera does not entitle anyone to come in and video tape an event. What ever happened to the “living room” rule? You know the concept, behave in the blogoshpere as you would like to be treated in your own living room. – I honored your wishes and did not video tape the event. again, I requested access, you declined and I dropped the video camera off in the car then returned to watch the event.
You fail to see the irony of someone who is a client of yours who is very satisfied with the service you provide wanting to help get the word out about a social media product you are releasing but being denied to do so. It seems like you fail to get the point of the whole social media thing, but that's just my perception after what happened today.
as we discussed tonight at the launch of the Social Media Club in Dallas, if companies, press release services included, want to pretend that they have control, then go right ahead, that's their right. For you to take this a step farther to chastise some c-list blogger about a post which would've otherwise gotten ZERO traction in the blogosphere and give it more weight than it would have otherwise gotten shows me that you don't "get it" which is exactly why the Social Media Club was created.
Welcome to the revolution. I'd love to interview you so we can discuss this further.
Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm in Irving, TX.
