“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday just after 8 AM and 5 PM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of October 4, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Naming Names
The
recent shooting in Oregon raises questions about how we do the news
in the modern era. I’m not so certain of my answer to that question
any more.
recent shooting in Oregon raises questions about how we do the news
in the modern era. I’m not so certain of my answer to that question
any more.
Following
the shootings it all began. The wall to wall coverage on the news
channels, the creeper headlines across the bottom of screen on most
broadcast networks and many other channels. Information, some
factual, some speculative, began to flow at fire hose speed. In
relatively short order the actual ordeal ended with the death of the
shooter. It’s at that point that the pivotal moment took place as
far as this commentary is concerned.
the shootings it all began. The wall to wall coverage on the news
channels, the creeper headlines across the bottom of screen on most
broadcast networks and many other channels. Information, some
factual, some speculative, began to flow at fire hose speed. In
relatively short order the actual ordeal ended with the death of the
shooter. It’s at that point that the pivotal moment took place as
far as this commentary is concerned.
Douglas
County Sheriff John Hanlin notified the press that he did not intend
to reveal the name of the shooter at that time, saying “I will not
give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and
cowardly act”. Almost immediately several media outlets,
including CNN, did what the sheriff had chosen not to do. They
revealed the name of the shooter. I’m not surprised by that.
Apparently more than a few people on the Internet were. There was a
large out cry against the media’s decision.
County Sheriff John Hanlin notified the press that he did not intend
to reveal the name of the shooter at that time, saying “I will not
give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and
cowardly act”. Almost immediately several media outlets,
including CNN, did what the sheriff had chosen not to do. They
revealed the name of the shooter. I’m not surprised by that.
Apparently more than a few people on the Internet were. There was a
large out cry against the media’s decision.
I
must admit that I am no longer completely convinced that it’s the
right decision. Maybe the sheriff was right. Maybe that information
doesn’t need to be shared in that moment.
must admit that I am no longer completely convinced that it’s the
right decision. Maybe the sheriff was right. Maybe that information
doesn’t need to be shared in that moment.
At
this point I can hear the cries of “The People’s right to know!”.
Sadly, that phrase is too often used as a lever to meet our
voyeuristic tendencies rather than insuring that we get the
information we need to know. What do we NEED to know? We need to
know if this is a general threat(a bomber, for example) or a specific
threat (someone trying to kill a former boss or spouse). We need to
know if the threat is ongoing or over. If ongoing, we need to know
what areas we need to avoid.
this point I can hear the cries of “The People’s right to know!”.
Sadly, that phrase is too often used as a lever to meet our
voyeuristic tendencies rather than insuring that we get the
information we need to know. What do we NEED to know? We need to
know if this is a general threat(a bomber, for example) or a specific
threat (someone trying to kill a former boss or spouse). We need to
know if the threat is ongoing or over. If ongoing, we need to know
what areas we need to avoid.
What
value is there in knowing the name of the shooter in those moments?
Since criminal trials are public (to one degree or another) in this
nation, the name will eventually be known. If we can lower the
appeal to a certain attention seeking portion of the population by
downplaying the name of the accused, are we being deprived of some
information vital to our daily lives or national interest? Do we
truly NEED to know?
value is there in knowing the name of the shooter in those moments?
Since criminal trials are public (to one degree or another) in this
nation, the name will eventually be known. If we can lower the
appeal to a certain attention seeking portion of the population by
downplaying the name of the accused, are we being deprived of some
information vital to our daily lives or national interest? Do we
truly NEED to know?
I
know it’s not a clear cut situation. Sometimes we need to reveal
that information in order to bring the ordeal to an end. There’s no
easy answer.
know it’s not a clear cut situation. Sometimes we need to reveal
that information in order to bring the ordeal to an end. There’s no
easy answer.
Is
gaining even a tiny sliver of safety for our nation worth giving up
that tiny sliver of information?
gaining even a tiny sliver of safety for our nation worth giving up
that tiny sliver of information?
I
don’t have that answer. But I believe it’s a question we need to
consider.
don’t have that answer. But I believe it’s a question we need to
consider.
Logos
It
was just a week ago that I mentioned working with an organization to
change a logo. In our case our logo was out-dated. It was time for
a change and we made it.
was just a week ago that I mentioned working with an organization to
change a logo. In our case our logo was out-dated. It was time for
a change and we made it.
But
I’m always puzzled when I see companies making changes in logos that
do have high recognizabilty. There is a very real danger of doing
more harm than good in those cases. Two instances from the recent
past spring to mind.
I’m always puzzled when I see companies making changes in logos that
do have high recognizabilty. There is a very real danger of doing
more harm than good in those cases. Two instances from the recent
past spring to mind.
The
first, of all people, is Google. The change was pretty simple
really, they changed a slightly formal font for a very simple one.
The rationale was that it would be easier to read on smaller screens.
That makes a certain amount of sense since more of our time on the
Internet has moved to mobile devices. For me the problem is that
they have left a distinctive logo for one that is utterly lacking in
personality. The question of how much personality a search engine
really needs remains open for discussion. Nevertheless, the old logo
was distinctive and experts tell us that it could have been made to
work on mobile with only some minor changes. Ejecting a logo that
makes you distinctive for one that is indistinct is rarely a sound
marketing decision.
first, of all people, is Google. The change was pretty simple
really, they changed a slightly formal font for a very simple one.
The rationale was that it would be easier to read on smaller screens.
That makes a certain amount of sense since more of our time on the
Internet has moved to mobile devices. For me the problem is that
they have left a distinctive logo for one that is utterly lacking in
personality. The question of how much personality a search engine
really needs remains open for discussion. Nevertheless, the old logo
was distinctive and experts tell us that it could have been made to
work on mobile with only some minor changes. Ejecting a logo that
makes you distinctive for one that is indistinct is rarely a sound
marketing decision.
The
other change isn’t a logo so much as it is changing an iconic symbol
of your company. This time I’m focusing on KFC’s decision to mess
with the image of Colonel Sanders. Prior to this spring the white
haired Kentucky gentleman with the distinctive facial hair and black
bow tie had been missing for over two decades from their marketing.
In the spring they launched a new look Colonel played by comedian
Darrell Hammond. Hammond’s version of the iconic character came to
be referred to as the “creepy colonel” and he was replaced in
August by comedian Norm McDonald. Now the choice of actors tells you
something upfront about the new approach. They want to bring a
comedic slant to the advertising campaign. The problem is that
neither of these guys are funny. While MacDonald’s version is
slightly less creepy than his predecessor, it still feels like either
a really bad impersonation or that some kind of zombie colonel has
invaded. Either way, KFC is taking whatever value was created by the
real life Harlan Sanders and dumping it on a bet that somehow this
rather weird version will pay long term benefits. Lots of KFC fans
have been loud with their feeling that the real “Real Colonel
Sanders” is being disrespected by this spin.
other change isn’t a logo so much as it is changing an iconic symbol
of your company. This time I’m focusing on KFC’s decision to mess
with the image of Colonel Sanders. Prior to this spring the white
haired Kentucky gentleman with the distinctive facial hair and black
bow tie had been missing for over two decades from their marketing.
In the spring they launched a new look Colonel played by comedian
Darrell Hammond. Hammond’s version of the iconic character came to
be referred to as the “creepy colonel” and he was replaced in
August by comedian Norm McDonald. Now the choice of actors tells you
something upfront about the new approach. They want to bring a
comedic slant to the advertising campaign. The problem is that
neither of these guys are funny. While MacDonald’s version is
slightly less creepy than his predecessor, it still feels like either
a really bad impersonation or that some kind of zombie colonel has
invaded. Either way, KFC is taking whatever value was created by the
real life Harlan Sanders and dumping it on a bet that somehow this
rather weird version will pay long term benefits. Lots of KFC fans
have been loud with their feeling that the real “Real Colonel
Sanders” is being disrespected by this spin.
Changing
a logo that never worked is one thing. Changing a logo that has been
a core part of your identity is usually a terrible idea.
a logo that never worked is one thing. Changing a logo that has been
a core part of your identity is usually a terrible idea.
Old Media vs New
I’ve
spent a lot of time on this program over the last couple years
talking about the ongoing conflict between old media and new. Sadly,
those stories have a certain sameness to them because the old media
folks never seem to grasp that the change is not only coming, it’s
here. In virtually every case, they try to cling to what they know
rather than finding a new way forward.
spent a lot of time on this program over the last couple years
talking about the ongoing conflict between old media and new. Sadly,
those stories have a certain sameness to them because the old media
folks never seem to grasp that the change is not only coming, it’s
here. In virtually every case, they try to cling to what they know
rather than finding a new way forward.
There
is a truly classic example of that going on in my hometown of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just over a year ago a long time sports
writer at both of the two major Steel City newspapers turned away
from the old media model to try something new. Dejan Kovacevic,
known to most of his fans simply as “DK”, launched a website
dedicated to Pittsburgh sports. The site is called “DK on
Pittsburgh Sports”. For transparency I will note that I am a
subscriber but the folks at “DK on Pittsburgh Sports” had no
influence on this commentary.
is a truly classic example of that going on in my hometown of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just over a year ago a long time sports
writer at both of the two major Steel City newspapers turned away
from the old media model to try something new. Dejan Kovacevic,
known to most of his fans simply as “DK”, launched a website
dedicated to Pittsburgh sports. The site is called “DK on
Pittsburgh Sports”. For transparency I will note that I am a
subscriber but the folks at “DK on Pittsburgh Sports” had no
influence on this commentary.
Here’s
the deal. The site is very narrowly focused. Pirates, Steelers,
Penguins get the majority of the attention with lesser nods to local
pro soccer, college football at Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia
and just a tiny bit of attention to other local sports programs. In
the summer of 2014 the website was a two person endeavor of DK and
his wife Dali. The goal was to hit ten thousand subscribers in a
year and eventually add some more staff. They hit their subscriber
goal with months to spare (today they are somewhere north of sixteen
thousand) and have a staff of six people. Last month saw them hit a
million page views in a month for the first time. A tight focus on
their market and their goals seems to be paying off beautifully. It
might not work in every market but the concept of picking something
that a large number of people are passionate about and super-serving
them will win more often than not.
the deal. The site is very narrowly focused. Pirates, Steelers,
Penguins get the majority of the attention with lesser nods to local
pro soccer, college football at Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia
and just a tiny bit of attention to other local sports programs. In
the summer of 2014 the website was a two person endeavor of DK and
his wife Dali. The goal was to hit ten thousand subscribers in a
year and eventually add some more staff. They hit their subscriber
goal with months to spare (today they are somewhere north of sixteen
thousand) and have a staff of six people. Last month saw them hit a
million page views in a month for the first time. A tight focus on
their market and their goals seems to be paying off beautifully. It
might not work in every market but the concept of picking something
that a large number of people are passionate about and super-serving
them will win more often than not.
And
boy, does that seem to annoy some of the old media folk down in the
‘Burgh. It’s funny, when I was in the media we were taught that if
you’re the leader you never talk about who’s behind you. The rule
inevitably gets broken when the leader starts running scared. Why
would they be scared? Because sports is a money maker that comes
with a dedicated subscriber base. If this new fangled way of doing
business can give the audience what it wants then it’s one more
reason to leave the old media behind. And theold media simply does
not have answer for that. Every time somebody in the media
establishment takes a shot at the website, and I’m told it’s a small
but steady stream, they are telling the world that they’re pretty
sure they’ve seen the future. And that future isn’t them.
boy, does that seem to annoy some of the old media folk down in the
‘Burgh. It’s funny, when I was in the media we were taught that if
you’re the leader you never talk about who’s behind you. The rule
inevitably gets broken when the leader starts running scared. Why
would they be scared? Because sports is a money maker that comes
with a dedicated subscriber base. If this new fangled way of doing
business can give the audience what it wants then it’s one more
reason to leave the old media behind. And theold media simply does
not have answer for that. Every time somebody in the media
establishment takes a shot at the website, and I’m told it’s a small
but steady stream, they are telling the world that they’re pretty
sure they’ve seen the future. And that future isn’t them.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Stories Are My Life 
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