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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Connecting the Dots on Facebook’s Smear Campaign'


'Star Wars' takes center stage in Facebook's 360-degree video rollout

Facebook has added 360-degree videos to its news feed, an immersive feature the Menlo Park-based social media platform said will capitalize on a growing number of video publishers using the format. And to pique the interest of users, The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) and Lucasfilm have published... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2015-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #star wars #growing number #video publishers #walt disney #force awakens


Facebook Brings 360-Degree Virtual Reality Videos to News Feeds

Stars Wars was first to post a 360-degree video. Photo: Facebook Virtual reality is coming to Facebook news feeds. Today the company rolled out 360-degree videos brands and publishers can post to their pages. Desktop viewers just have to drag their mouse over a clip to change the angle, and... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #virtual reality #menlo park #single day


Oculus Connect: 5 key questions at the big virtual reality conference in Hollywood

Oculus VR, the virtual reality technology company owned by Facebook Inc., is set to make several announcements Thursday in the final stretch before its first products start shipping early next year. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oculus vr


Facebook now supports 360-degree video

Facebook videos are about to get more interactive.  The social network announced Wednesday it now supports 360-degree videos. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook videos


Children’s Books Ireland launches reading campaign

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) is hoping to get kids across the country reading in October through the "Read Everywhere in 2015", campaign. For the campaign, also known as "Níl Turas Níos Fearr Ná Turas le Leabhar!" in Irish, CBI will run a range of activities, including a "The Danger is... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #irish author #31st october #national gallery


Facebook videos have fleeting lives

When a brand uploads a new video to Facebook, 94 percent of views it generates in the following week happen on that video, says Visible Measures. The stat shows that while video is booming on Facebook, it’s still difficult for brands and publishers to get people to watch their entire library,... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook videos #visible measures #entire library #popular videos


Wordery founders sell 49% stake to Connect Books

Connect Books has bought the remaining 49% stake in Wordery to become the sole owners of the retailer. Wordery – an online bookseller – was established in October 2012 as a joint enterprise between Connect Books, which owned a 51% stake, and former Book Depository IT director Will Jones and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #connect books #online bookseller #51% stake #book depository


This Infographic Shows Facebook's Biggest Topics Last Month

On Aug. 24, when Facebook drew 1 billion users on a single day for the first time, the social network's impact on the world of conversation only became more obvious. But what exactly are people using the platform to talk about? To inform our readers, we've started working with Facebook to... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest topics #single day #subject matter


Icelandic Author Prompts Global Campaigns to Take in Syrian Refugees

Icelandic author Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir's Facebook initiative urging Iceland to accept Syrian refugees has prompted similar campaigns across the globe. The post Icelandic Author Prompts Global Campaigns to Take in Syrian Refugees appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #syrian refugees


Resurgence of Indie Bookstores Fueled by Connection, Community

Indie bookstores in the US have thrived and there's no secret to their success: it is about creating experiences, building community, and connecting. The post Resurgence of Indie Bookstores Fueled by Connection, Community appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie bookstores


Facebook ramps up video piracy fighting technology

Think of video piracy, and talk of BitTorrent probably isn’t far away. While torrented movies and TV shows account for a large proportion of pirated material, it is far from being the end of the story. Even sites as seemingly innocuous as Facebook can be part of the problem. The social network... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2015-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #large proportion #video publishers


Facebook is trying to make it easier to stop video piracy

From user-made clips to content from big media properties, video is all over Facebook (and more people than ever are using the social network). Along with that trend comes the problem of piracy: plenty of video publishers are seeing their work dist... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video publishers


Facebook to crack down on pirated videos

Facebook is improving its technology to better identify videos uploaded to its site without the permission of copyright holders. The move comes amid an explosion in the amount of video viewed on Facebook, posted by regular users, publishers and advertisers alike.  Alongside the uptick in video... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #videos posted #copyright holders #regular users #video content #recent report #popular videos


Interactive campaign for launch of Ice Twins paperback

HarperCollins is to launch an interactive outdoor campaign at Westfield White City shopping centre in west London for the paperback release of psychological thriller The Ice Twins by S K Tremayne. From 31st August to 14th September customers will be able to download a free sample of the book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #west london #paperback release #psychological thriller #31st august


Facebook Launches M, Its Bold Answer to Siri and Cortana

Facebook’s new virtual assistant, M, can make restaurant reservations, buy a birthday present for your spouse, or book a weekend getaway. The post Facebook Launches M, Its Bold Answer to Siri and Cortana appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #virtual assistant


The Story Behind (and Tips From) the Most Successful Crowdfunding Campaign in the History of Journalism

A simple WordPress blog named #NoHaceFaltaPapel didn’t exist a year ago. Well now it’s a publishing company whose El Español is responsible for the largest crowdfunding campaign for journalism to date. ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook is now working on its own digital assistant called M

Sounding like a character from a James Bond movie, M is Facebook's personal digital assistant. Ready to compete with the likes of Cortana, M will live inside Facebook Messenger and take artificial intelligence a step further. Rather than just helping you to find information or create calendar... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2015-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #artificial intelligence


AMC debuts first 3 minutes of 'Fear the Walking Dead' on Facebook

In anticipation of Sunday's debut of "Fear the Walking Dead," AMC released the first three minutes of the pilot on the show's Facebook page. Serving as a companion series to the most-watched show in cable television history, "The Walking Dead," the new series opens with an unsettling look at one... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walking dead #companion series


Extensive marketing campaign planned for new Ness novel

Walker is printing exclusive editions of Patrick Ness’ new novel, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, as part of its sales and marketing campaign.   The special editions (priced £12.99) are case-bound and hardback, and come with a special print. The first 1,000 copies can be pre-ordered through... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #patrick ness #waterstones website #marketing campaign


Campaigners welcome literacy drive but condemn government hypocrisy

Library groups have welcomed education secretary Nicky Morgan’s drive for all children to have a library card, although campaigners say the news rings hollow at a time when many public libraries are closing. Desmond Clarke, a veteran library campaigner who has spoken out against library cuts in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library card #public libraries #desmond clarke #library cuts #good news