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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Teaser campaign from Blackwell's

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[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Friends of St. Mark’s Launch Indiegogo Campaign

The East Village bookstore is stepping up its fundraising efforts for the store's impending move and transition to a nonprofit event space. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook rewards brands for tagging

Facebook is allowing to Pages to tag one another, but brands and publishers need to judicious in how they use the new feature.The post Facebook rewards brands for tagging appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Neknominate needs health warnings on Twitter and Facebook, say councils

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[ The Guardian | 2014-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WhatsApp is the first of several big acquisitions for Facebook

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[ Betanews | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook must comply with German data protection law, court rules

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[ PC World | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Withdrawal: Viral Publishers See Traffic Plunge

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[ Digiday | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After a Long Wait, FDA's Latest Anti-Smoking Campaign Arrives Next Week

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[ Advertising Age | 2014-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook: 10 years of social networking, in numbers

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[ The Guardian | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook, Google and Yahoo now say when the US government requests user content (update: Microsoft too)

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[ Engadget | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook’s Looming Role as Media Kingpin

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[ Digiday | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Facebook's Mobile Ad Network Could (Finally) Upend A Backwards Industry

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[ Fast Company | 2014-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If Facebook is like a disease, I don't mind getting infected

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[ Betanews | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Digiday | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Testing Mobile Ad Network

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[ AdWeek | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook to Brands: Post More Images

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[ Digiday | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What San Francisco Looked Like Before The Dot-Coms Invaded

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[ Fast Company | 2014-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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