The Power of a Link

Over the past decade, the Internet has transformed news consumption into a social experience. Readers can now participate in the news process by sharing articles that they find interesting. This dissemination of news often takes place through social media. According to a recently released survey by the Pew Research Center, 52% of online news consumers have posted a link on a social networking site and 51% of people who see links on these sites have read them.

I am the perfect example of this phenomenon. This morning I read a report that I found interesting (see above) and wanted to share it with people (you). So, I’m linking to it in a blog and will then post the link via Facebook and Twitter. This starts a chain reaction where my followers repost the link for their followers to read. It’s quick, it’s fast, and it’s a powerful way to participate in the news process.

Chris Georgacas honored by Minnesota Republicans

Chris Georgacas, Goff & Howard president, was honored last night with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Republican Party of Minnesota.

The award, which is presented annually at the GOP’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, recognizes the recipient’s contributions to the party. Chris served two terms (1993-1997) as state chairman of the Republic Party of Minnesota, transforming its fundraising, communications, technology, and grassroots organizing operations.

At the dinner, current party chairman Tony Sutton hailed Chris as having been a “transformational chairman” who modernized the state GOP and made later election successes possible. Other tributes to Chris were made by Governor Tim Pawlenty, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and former Republican National Committeeman Jack Meeks.

Steve Sviggum, former House Speaker and current Minnesota Commissioner of Labor and Industry, was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. Previous honorees include U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad, former Minnesota Governor Al Quie, and former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz.

Congratulations, Chris, on this remarkable honor.

Rock Head PR Move: Feeling the Payne

If you're wondering how to turn one unhappy patron into more than 3,300 people supporting an all-out boycott of your business, just ask Steve Payne. He managed to do so with one hot-headed e-mail in response to a moviegoer who had a less-than-enjoyable evening at the St. Croix Falls theater that he runs. Throw in a little social media (Facebook) and a few unreturned calls from reporters, and you've just turned a blockbuster into a bomb.

Read more here.

Rest in Peace, Ron

Every time Ron Maddox walked through the doors at Goff & Howard, his presence was immediately and enthusiastically felt. He was always filled with passion, new ideas and deep loyalty for his family, his community and his beloved St. Paul. Ron will be sorely missed by all of his friends here at Goff & Howard.

Read the Pioneer Press story here.

Spoiler Alert – This Year’s Olympic Controversy

The world is buzzing with Olympic fever, and the Olympics wouldn’t be the Olympics without a controversy – seemingly underage Chinese gymnasts in 2008 and a skating judging scandal in 2002, to name a few. This year, the controversy involves the media. Some Americans are outraged that other media outlets are reporting event results as they happen instead of after they are broadcast on NBC.

This is a classic example of how the world has changed in the Internet and social media age. During the pre-Internet Olympics, the media – or NBC – controlled the flow of information, and I was forced to wait until just before 10 p.m. to know if Lindsey Vonn won the downhill. Now my phone buzzes with tweets the second she leaves the starting gate.

By refusing to publish results as they happen, NBC is underestimating the savvy of its audience. Even if they find out Shaun White won the halfpipe before it was broadcast on television – which they most likely will, they will still tune in to see the Flying Tomato twist and flip through the air in a true testament to his athletic prowess.

Rather than spoiling the results, media outlets are reporting news as it happens. Isn’t that what we want them to do?

Click here to read more about the controversy.

Take the Tiger Woods News Conference Poll

Tiger Woods is set to host a news conference Friday morning where he will speak publicly for the first time since his car accident and marital infidelity was exposed three months ago. This news conference is a huge opportunity for Tiger, whose reputation was tarnished by a nine iron and a multitude of women claiming to have had affairs with him. Tiger will speak at 11 a.m. EST from the headquarters of the PGA Tour in Florida.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

This Month in History: Happy Birthday to a Great Writer

“Writing – the art of communicating thoughts to the mind, through the eye – is the great invention of the world.”

So said Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth President, whose birthday we celebrate today, February 12. Although Lincoln is best known as one of our most beloved Presidents – the one who sustained our country through the Civil War – he is also known for his eloquence. He prepared speeches with great care, selecting just the right turns of phrase. He wrote correspondence filled with genuine emotion, connecting him to the common people of his time. Perhaps his most notable letter was sent in 1864 to Mrs. Lydia Bixby:

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Today this letter reminds us of Lincoln’s literary achievements and sincerity, his enduring gifts to us on his 201st birthday.