alyssagardina.com - media literacy

Disclosure above all else

agardina — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:59:11 +0000

We'll start this post with a little quiz (and if you follow media controversies closely, it's an easy one.) What is the mission of the organization "Focus on the Family"?

It's a vague sounding name. For all we know, it could be a group put together by Milton Bradley to promote game night and togetherness. However, that's not exactly it. From their website: Our mission is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.

Have you heard of them? They're the group putting together an anti-abortion Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow. An investment of around $2.5 million, it's CBS's first advocacy ad sold during the big game, and falls in line with the network's new policy of accepting opinion advertisements.

It's controversial, for sure. But putting aside the ad's subject matter, there's a glaring problem. Instead of telling the organization's story, Focus on the Family has hired college football star Tim Tebow and his mother to tell theirs. There's little doubt that the name and mission of the ad's sponsor won't show up until the end - probably as part of some fancy graphic with small print at the bottom. As with all other advocacy ads, the focus is on one-sided opinions, with little or no disclosure as to the funding, purpose or background of the actual organization.

Regardless of your political, social or religious beliefs, an audience deserves to know who's holding the puppet strings: an insurance company making an ad against healthcare reform, a solar power organization dramatically depicting the dangers of oil - it doesn't matter. With the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning a ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections, disclosure and transparency may be all the public has left. The First Amendment protects our right to free speech, but it doesn't protect our right to concealment.

As marketers, advertisers and public relations professionals, it's our ethical responsibility to disclose our biases and agendas.

Do you agree? Is honesty always the best policy?

Is Mashable the CNN of social media?

agardina — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:19:38 +0000

CNN is one of the most-watched and most-visited news providers in the country. On TV, they provide round-the-clock coverage of news, entertainment and fluff. Online, they have access to video and articles on news, entertainment and, of course, fluff. The 24-hour news cycle emphasizes quantity over quality, with in-depth reporting falling to the wayside in favor of anything that gets higher ratings.

And that works for them. Viewers can complain all they want about biased reporting or shallow headlines, but, in the end, it's the responsibility of the viewer to be an active consumer of information. Don't agree with one reporter? Look for other sources online. Educate yourself. Cast a critical eye on any and all declarative statement you question.

This same idea applies to blogs and social media. Mashable, an online social media news source & educational guide, has over 2.3 million followers, fans and subscribers. They are frequently the first to break Internet news and rumors, and their links fill the tweet streams of almost every person on Twitter. Mashable provides great information & tools, but the danger of the 24-hour news cycle remains. Their top user lists are chosen by individual writers, articles dictated by newsworthiness and other priorities, and polls filled with responses from (obviously) biased readers.

There's an ocean of analysis and how-to guides online, beyond the behemoth that is Mashable. By being an active participant in the world of online information, you'll contribute more, learn more and build better and stronger relationships. Mashable is the CNN of social media - a great starting point and overview, but not a source you can count on in any situation, 100% of the time.

Need some suggestions for some new blogs to read? Check out the Social Media Challenge (#smchallenge).

Facebook at a crossroads with media literacy

agardina — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:05:02 +0000

Facebook is somewhat infamous for its ever changing privacy policies. Facebook's inconsistent approach to privacy has made life difficult for professionals and students looking to monitor their online reputation. In addition, this social networking giant has found itself at a crossroads - moving forward with new features vs. the growing gap in media literacy in America.

A consequence of the digital divide, disparity in media literacy has become more evident as online advertising grows and social media networks expand. Due to a variety of factors, including age, economics, education and geographic location, a significant portion of America's population now has access to the Internet, but lacks the knowledge to ensure that their information remains private. This group is more susceptible to identity theft, fraud and the embarassment of information overshare on social networks.

A story on NPR this morning explores these concerns, which have been made newsworthy by a variety of privacy groups. These organizations have filed a complaint letter (PDF) with the FTC, asking the commission to explore Facebook's privacy settings & recommendations. The letter alleges:

"Facebook’s changes to users’ privacy settings disclose personal information to the public that was previously restricted. Facebook’s changes to users’ privacy settings also disclose personal information to third parties that was previously not available. These changes violate user expectations, diminish user privacy, and contradict Facebook’s own representations."

These claims have a dual impact. For social media denizens, it means that users must proactively review any or all of Facebook's privacy settings and keep abreast of new developments. Second, and perhaps more problematic, privacy organizations, Facebook and perhaps even the government must now look at how the failure to educate millions of Americans about the risks of online information sharing has impacted social networking. For each privacy setting that Facebook adds, more and more users are convinced to use their "recommended" privacy settings. These settings err on the side of sharing, not privacy, as Facebook is, at its core, a business. And the business of selling information is a very profitable one indeed.

Conclusion? Social networking is growing faster than most can handle. Facebook needs to become a more responsible online citizen and take several steps:

Create a recommended privacy profile that is more closed than open
Create informational videos and posts about each privacy update and not just provide general, nonspecific instructions
Become more open about deals with search engines, and provide such information in an easily digestible format

And it wouldn't be social media without expecting a contribution from the public. We must:

Take steps to learn more about privacy on all websites
Share information with our friends and family, many of whom may not have the time or inclination to take a proactive privacy stance
Know our online information privacy rights

What are your thoughts on Facebook's privacy settings? What steps must interested parties take to ensure fairness on all sides?