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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What Does Facebook’s New Tool for Fighting Fake News Mean for Real Publishers?

Facebook announced yet another tweak to the algorithm that governs its users’ News Feeds yesterday. The social network has introduced a new tool that allows users to flag a post as “a false news story.” The move follows ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook cracks down on hoaxes and spam in its latest news feed tweak

Social network will ensure fewer people see posts reported as false by users, but it’s sticking to its policy of being a platform, not a publisherNo, Bill Gates isn’t giving away $5,000 if you share his Facebook photo. No, the Talking Angela app isn’t a front for online paedophiles. And no, an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scotland school libraries campaign from CILIP

CILIP Scotland will later this month launch an advocacy strategy for school libraries, pledging to campaign for libraries at national level.   In the document, CILIP Scotland pledges to commission research on the impact of school libraries and librarians, provide advice and support to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #school libraries #school librarians #month launch #provide advice


Facebook Guts The Design Firm Behind Medium

Two words: talent grab.You may not recognize the Toronto-based design firm Teehan+Lax, but you probably know some of the hit products it's behind, like the social publishing platform Medium and the reading app Readability. Now, the firm is closing, as Facebook—in a play for total publishing... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Je Suis Charlie Campaign Raises $40,000

PW’s Je Suis Charlie campaign to support free expression has raised $40,000 in contributions that will be donated to five organizations that support free speech. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Second Facebook Book Club choice looks at violence

Mark Zuckerberg’s second book for his Facebook book club is The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (Penguin). The book is currently showing as not in stock on Amazon.co.uk until January 21st, and on Amazon.com until January 24th. The book is showing as available on the Waterstones’... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mark zuckerberg


In Colombia, Facebook Partners with 24symbols for Free Books

For the first time, Facebook's Internet.org app has bundled free ebooks with its services, starting in Colombia with 24symbols. The post In Colombia, Facebook Partners with 24symbols for Free Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Madrid's 24symbols partners with Facebook for Internet.org

NEW YORK, NY -- 14th January 2015: Justo Hidalgo, founder and chief development officer of Madrid-based 24symbols digital subscription reading service, has announced today during Digital Book World Conference + Expo that the company is in a partnership with Facebook for its Internet.org programme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Zuckerberg defends Facebook censorship despite Charlie Hebdo support

Says his condemnation of Paris attack was to support freedom of expression but sees ‘tricky calculus’ in countries where that’s restrictedFacebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has defended his decision to condemn the recent terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine on free speech... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How HuffPo woos Facebook hoppers with personalization

The Huffington Post is the latest publisher to give readers more personalized content on article pages. The post How HuffPo woos Facebook hoppers with personalization appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook trumpets video growth as it prepares to take on YouTube

With 1bn views a day, the social network says that its users are now seeing nearly four times more videos in their news feeds than a year agoYouTube may be the king of online video with more than one billion monthly viewers, but Facebook is aiming to knock Google’s service off its perch in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook founder’s book club choice sends sales rocketing

Mark Zuckerberg’s selection of The End of Power by Moisés Naím sparks ‘seismic change’ in the book’s fortunes, with 18 months’ sales outstripped in daysHow to be a winner: the books that inspire Mark Zuckerberg and other high flyersWhy would Mark Zuckerberg recommend The End of Power? Facebook... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zuckerberg sets up Facebook book club

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has set up a book club on the social networking site, attracting more than 120,000 likes in three days. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook founder launches book club

A book club started by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has already had almost 140,000 "likes". Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins and Connect Books handle City Link collapse

HarperCollins and Connect Books have said customers should not be affected by the collapse over Christmas of delivery company City Link. Administrators were appointed at the company on Christmas Eve, with substantial jobs cuts anticipated among its 2,727 staff. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Amazon-free’ Christmas campaign diverts reported £5m worth of sales from online retailer

Amazon Anonymous campaigners hand-deliver giant Christmas card to online retailer’s UK headquarters and call for company to pay workers a living wageDisenchanted shoppers have taken over £5m worth of business away from Amazon this Christmas in protest at the internet retailer’s business... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH Expands Donation Campaign

Penguin Random House pledging to donate up to 10,000 more books for posts and tweets using the #GiveaBook hashtag through December 24. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DailyMail.com Editor: ‘Figuring What Will Do Well on Facebook is Such a Crapshoot.’

Martin Clarke is a busy man. He serves as both editor-in-chief and publisher of DailyMail.com, while splitting his time between London and New York, with regular trips to Sydney thrown in.   Last week marked a significant milestone in the celebr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bustle CEO: Depending on Facebook is a mistake

Bustle CEO Bryan Goldberg just raised another $15.5 million in venture capital for his women's interest site, and says, no, there is no publishing bubble. The post Bustle CEO: Depending on Facebook is a mistake appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook favoured over TV and radio, claims Ofcom report

Media regulator highlights ‘generation gap’ as people aged 16-24 move away from traditional platforms for online activitiesRead the full Ofcom report: Public Service Content in a Connected SocietyYounger people are switching off TV and radio in their droves in favour of online pursuits such as... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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