Today's heavy topic at the Media Relations Summit was surfaced by Dan Abrams, CEO of Abrams Research, a media-focused expert network. (He is also the Chief Legal Analyst for NBC News, formerly served as General Manager of MSNBC and as an anchor for that network) Mr. Abrams, Columbia trained attorney that he is, rigorously defended his foray into providing underemployed (but still affiliated) journalists to the corporate world as consultants to assist in advancing the promotion of their products and interests. In Washington DC there are laws against this kind of thing - it's required that lobbyists identify themselves as such to the world at large.
There were a few at the conference that expressed appreciation that his new consulting company is providing lucrative employment for under (and un-) employed journalists (and bountiful fees for himself) through leveraging entree to top floor news desks developed during his tenure as General Manager of MSNBC. Most, myself included, perceive this new slippery slope as troubling and a dangerous breach to the church/state separation that has served our democracy well.
The balance of the day included forums with a formidable collection of New York Times editors as well as sessions with leading corporate communications practitioners who shared their pioneering work in the areas of multi-media, research-based campaign design, and the brave new world of Web 3.0. It was both provocative and challenging to learn that today's website format is already dead.
By 5pm my mind was calling for The Cure: a 3-olive Tanq 10 martini, fine American cuisine, and a few hours of woman to woman conversation. Lucky me - my buddy Lynn T. was available and Bobby Flay's Bar Americain had a table for two. If you're the martini type, this is the place to have one. We shared a perfectly friend green tomato topped with Carolina smoked trout, beets and mustard dressing that I promised myself I will order every time I come to NY - it was unforgettable.
A fine ending to a very full day.
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