Connecting the Dots on Facebook’s Smear Campaign

Perhaps you’ve probably heard: Facebook and Google are at war, and Facebook’s not afraid to play dirty. Thursday’s revelation that the social networking site hired PR firm Burston-Marsteller to plant a negative story about Google’s privacy settings raises a number of questions. Like, “Who at Facebook thought this was a good idea?” The company isn't responding to the question right now. Until they do, it helps to look at the players involved. There’s Burston-Marsteller, the global PR firm run by CEO Mark Penn. There’s Jim Goldman, the former Silicon Valley bureau chief for CNBC (and frequent target of high school-style ridicule). He’s become the fall guy for Burston-Marsteller. There’s Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s universally praised COO. And then there’s Elliot Schrage, Facebook’s VP of communications and public policy. Penn, of course, is a Washington heavy hitter: he worked as a pollster to President Clinton during both of his terms and the Washington Post noted how “thoroughly integrated into the policymaking operation” he’d become. Penn’s also no stranger to criticism from Washington observers: he gained notoriety for missteps as chief strategist to Hillary Clinton during her 2008 Presidential bid. He eventually stepped down after feuding with other aides, and for reportedly offering Clinton some of her worst advice (like, emphasize Barack Obama’s foreignness). Penn’s also no stranger to the tech world—he’s credited with making Microsoft into one of the country’s most... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2011-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #googles head #silicon valley #focus attention

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Wilson heads campaign celebrating the power of books

Jacqueline Wilson has helped launch a campaign for Book Aid International celebrating the power of books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The UK’s Book Aid International Opens ‘New Worlds Through Books’ Campaign

In a coordinated effort for the rest of the month, book charities Book Aid International and World Book Day are raising funds for the annual goal of a million donated books. The post The UK’s Book Aid International Opens ‘New Worlds Through Books’ Campaign appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coordinated effort


Will Facebook Users Soon Be Making a List and Checking It Twice?

Remember the days when Facebook's News Feed was full of listicles from the likes of BuzzFeed? A new feature from the social network has them poised to return, but from your friends and family, not from publishers. Facebook Tuesday began rolling out Lists, which enables users to create and share... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook users #enables users


Giant advertiser Unilever threatens to pull its ads from Facebook and Google over 'toxic content'

One of the world's largest advertisers is threatening to pull its ads from social sites such as Facebook and YouTube if the tech companies don't do more to minimize divisive content on their platforms. Unilever's chief marketing officer, Keith Weed, will call on Silicon Valley on Monday to better... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook’s new branded-content guidelines will force some publishers to abandon a business model

A change Facebook made to its branded-content guidelines has scrambled several publishers' distribution strategies. The post Facebook’s new branded-content guidelines will force some publishers to abandon a business model appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post facebook #business model #distribution strategies


PubTech Connect 2018: Meet Ben Lerer, Our Closing Keynote Speaker

Ben Lerer brought together four leading lifestyle brands to create Group Nine Media; he's among the most forward-looking CEOs working at the intersection of new platforms and innovative content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google and Facebook make up less than 5 percent of publishers’ digital revenue

Revenue from third-party platforms represented 16 percent of publishers' total digital revenue in the first half of 2017 -- nearly unchanged from a year earlier. The post Google and Facebook make up less than 5 percent of publishers’ digital revenue appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers eye LinkedIn as Facebook’s reliability falters

"When I look at all the platforms, the biggest opportunity to grow audience and revenue is LinkedIn.” The post Publishers eye LinkedIn as Facebook’s reliability falters appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digiday Research poll: Facebook’s algorithm change isn’t all bad for publishers

Digiday Research conducted an online survey to see if Facebook's news feed algorithm would help or hurt publishers. The post Digiday Research poll: Facebook’s algorithm change isn’t all bad for publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PPC recognises 'standout' campaigns of 2017

Hodder’s Louise Swannell and Pan Macmillan’s Dusty Miller have been recognised for their “standout” campaigns for Erin Kelly’s He Said/ She Said and Adam Kay’s junior doctor diaries This is Going to Hurt at the PPC Annual Awards for 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Flipboard cozies up to Facebook-weary publishers

Flipboard has begun a charm offensive, launching its first brand campaign as publishers are taking it more seriously as a referral traffic source. The post Flipboard cozies up to Facebook-weary publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PubTech Connect 2018: The Flash Briefs - Extending your Digital Story

Meet three presenters who will offer a power-dose of actionable ideas about how to make a splash in the digital future. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Says People Are Spending Less Time on Its Platform

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says time spent on the platform took a hit as it implemented changes meant to improve the experience for users.On Tuesday, Facebook announced quarterly earnings, and the CEO said in a statement that already people have been using the social network less because of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Facebook execs who turn to Twitter for publisher charm offensive

These are the Facebook execs using Twitter to promote the social network and attack its critics. The post The Facebook execs who turn to Twitter for publisher charm offensive appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook bans ads for cryptocurrencies and ICOs

Facebook has announced a new advertising policy which ban ads for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The ban also applies to ICOs because they are "frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices." The social network says that the new policy is a part of a drive to... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2018-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers eye push notifications in aftermath of Facebook news feed changes

Push notifications have gotten more sophisticated as publishers try to build deeper direct connections with readers. The post Publishers eye push notifications in aftermath of Facebook news feed changes appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook will prioritize local stories in your News Feed

You may start seeing more posts from local publishers popping up in your News Feed. Facebook announced today that it will begin prioritizing local news, bumping it up higher in your feed if you follow a local publisher's Page or if a friend shares a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Download: The publisher’s survival guide for the post-Facebook era

In this special Digiday guide, Digiday editors and reporters walk you through what to expect in the post-Facebook era. The post Download: The publisher’s survival guide for the post-Facebook era appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ahead of GDPR laws, Facebook publishes privacy principles and promises to educate users

Facebook has published its privacy principles for the first time, ahead of the European Union's general data protection regulation (GDPR) which comes into force on May 25 -- although the company is pitching it as being part of Data Privacy Day. On top of this, the social network has also... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2018-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Still Have Plenty of Questions Amidst Facebook’s Latest Pivot

Despite lingering uncertainties, systemic shifts over the past year offer a silver lining for magazine media. The post Publishers Still Have Plenty of Questions Amidst Facebook’s Latest Pivot appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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