[rfu-automation] Fwd: [RFU] Fwd: PRESS RELEASE - SPlog provides platform for readers to publish multimedia content

Wed Apr 29 17:05:28 CDT 2009

I missed the 'but it's not a non-profit' element of your question in  
my earlier response.

My feeling, as with most (all?) of the others who have responded so  
far is that PSAs should generally be for non-profit purposes (rather  
than to drive members of the public to for-profit entities) but that  
we can examine requests on a case-by-case basis - as in this situation  
where it's a freely-accessible (if profit-oriented) media resource.

It might be noted that this 'open publishing' website might  
cannibalize the userbase of UCIMC.org, but I don't think that's a  
concern as:
- UCIMC is particularly used for issues that are of political and  
social justice concern, while SP has a more general (less radical)  
mission
- Greater access to media is an IMC goal, so unless we get into a  
rather detailed argument, it seems sufficient to assume that 'more is  
more' and be supportive of this new space.

Andrew

On Apr 28, 2009, at 3:53 PM, Noel L. Vivar wrote:

> I was just checking on the initial question of for-profit entities
> submitting PSAs. Currently on our website, and from what I have
> understood, our policy has been only non-profits were accepted.
>
> I was going to reject their submission outright due to their for- 
> profit stance.
>
> As far as their script, if I was going to accept their request, I was
> going to have to work with them to conform to our standards, which
> Andrew has more or less outlined in his email.
>
> So I'm going to take the following actions:
> 1) remove/clarify the non-profit requirement for PSA submissions
> 2) accept their request and work with Smile Politely to edit their PSA
>
> As far as local news programming is concerned, does anyone know anyone
> from Smile Politely? Does anyone want to meet with Joel Gillespie, the
> SP member who requested the PSA? I think that this would be an
> opportunity to perhaps have a news relationship with SP or to get them
> to underwrite.
>
> -Noel
>
> On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Andrew Ó Baoill  
> <andrew at funferal.org> wrote:
>> I'm not sure if they're looking for a PSA so much as coverage in our
>> programming. It would be great if someone were to have one or more  
>> SP people
>> in as guests, and talk to them about the project.
>>
>> If they are looking for a PSA:
>> - it should be as short as possible.
>> - it should describe the object, without using superlatives
>> - it should let the public know *why* they should be interested,  
>> and *what*
>> they should do.
>>
>> So something like:
>> The local online magazine, Smile Politely, has recently launched a  
>> new
>> platform that lets community members easily publish material on  
>> their site.
>> The tumblelog, known as SPlog, allows audience members to post  
>> text, audio,
>> and video. It can be accessed from the Smile Politely site at
>> www.smilepolitely.com
>>
>> This case provides an example for the need for local news  
>> programming on
>> WRFU. I've thought in the past that we could create a platform that  
>> would
>> allow community members to create their own items - perhaps through  
>> a phone
>> or computer interface - and then have a WRFU member check through  
>> content
>> (for compliance with FCC regulations, or suitability for a certain  
>> time
>> slot) before approving it for broadcast. I'd be interested in  
>> talking with
>> any WRFU members interested in working on regular news programming,  
>> or in
>> developing a platform to facilitate such programming.
>>
>> Andrew
>>
>> On Apr 26, 2009, at 10:48 PM, Mike Lehman wrote:
>>
>>> It's pretty long for an on-air PSA, so letting them know it needs  
>>> edited
>>> to either a 30 or 60 second version would be a good first step.  
>>> They could
>>> do that or RFU could.
>>>
>>> Since there is nothing directly commercially related in the PSA  
>>> and there
>>> is the basic community service aspect, I think that it should be a
>>> permissible PSA. If we got a PSA or underwriting support from, say  
>>> a tire
>>> store, like they were offering a free tire inflation and safety  
>>> check or
>>> providing support to the station, if someone went by their shop  
>>> and saw a
>>> Michelin sign, for instance, it should still be permissible to do  
>>> a PSA or
>>> underwriting announcement. The only commercial thing about SP's  
>>> site is that
>>> they do have ads on it. However, there is no mention of that  
>>> inherent in the
>>> PSA.
>>>
>>> Andrew, what do you think?
>>> Mike Lehman
>>>
>>> Noel L. Vivar wrote:
>>>>
>>>> So Smile Politely is asking for us to put up a PSA for their new
>>>> "community-oriented publishing platform".
>>>>
>>>> I am unsure whether to put their PSA up since they are a for-profit
>>>> organization... but then again, they're posting about a
>>>> "community-oriented" service.
>>>>
>>>> We currently have one criterion for non-profit orgs only.
>>>> http://www.wrfu.net/psa
>>>>
>>>> This would be the first PSA I have rejected on these grounds, so I
>>>> just want to make sure that this is what the station wants.
>>>>
>>>> -NOel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>> From: joel gillespie <joel.gillespie at gmail.com>
>>>> Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 9:14 AM
>>>> Subject: [RFU] Fwd: PRESS RELEASE - SPlog provides platform for
>>>> readers to publish multimedia content
>>>> To: rfu at wrfu.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi WRFU,
>>>>
>>>> Please see the attached press release and text below. Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Joel Gillespie
>>>> Smile Politely
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>>
>>>> Contact: 217.480.4113, <joelgillespie at smilepolitely.com>
>>>> Joel Gillespie, Managing Editor
>>>> Seth Fein, Managing Editor & Founder
>>>>
>>>> SPlog provides platform for readers to publish multimedia content
>>>>
>>>> (Champaign-Urbana, Illinois — April 20, 2009) — Smile Politely,
>>>> Champaign-Urbana's online magazine,
>>>> announces a unique addition to local media: the SPlog (pronounced
>>>> “splog”). This new community-
>>>> oriented publishing platform turns local media blogging on its  
>>>> head by
>>>> providing all Smile Politely
>>>> readers the opportunity to author featured content that appears  
>>>> on the
>>>> site. Smile Politely's audience
>>>> can contribute to the SPlog via a simple online form, and, in the
>>>> process, add their own perspective
>>>> to the magazine in a fashion far more prominent than standard  
>>>> commenting
>>>> allows.
>>>>
>>>> A tumblelog, Smile Politely's SPlog is capable of featuring audio  
>>>> and
>>>> video files, photography, and
>>>> text. The section's compact posts provide readers with an array of
>>>> snippets about life in Champaign-
>>>> Urbana. Readers-turned-contributors can highlight upcoming local
>>>> events of note, share their own
>>>> reviews of community events and establishments, discuss local  
>>>> issues
>>>> of significance, post photos
>>>> that capture the interesting aspects of life in C-U, or even  
>>>> promote
>>>> their own band through the posting
>>>> of mp3 files that are conveniently hosted on Smile Politely's  
>>>> server
>>>> and available for preview on
>>>> an mp3 player.
>>>>
>>>> "We developed the SPlog specifically for our readers, to engage  
>>>> them
>>>> in a new community-based
>>>> platform that welcomes all perspectives on life in Champaign- 
>>>> Urbana,"
>>>> said Smile Politely editor Joel
>>>> Gillespie. "Certainly, there's a trend in technology where online
>>>> readers expect more accessibility.
>>>> They want to read interesting coverage that pertains to them, but  
>>>> they
>>>> also want to be able to express
>>>> themselves in a meaningful, public fashion. We've attempted to  
>>>> provide
>>>> such an open-minded
>>>> environment where ideas, news, and entertainment can be exchanged."
>>>>
>>>> Gillespie added, "Smile Politely wants to hold a mirror up to the
>>>> community and celebrate the reflection.
>>>> To be able to do that, we need to provide the opportunity for  
>>>> anyone
>>>> to step in front of the mirror."
>>>> The SPlog launched in mid February, and the response from readers  
>>>> has
>>>> been positive. Smile Politely,
>>>> a volunteer-operated magazine that was founded in 2007, publishes
>>>> daily feature articles on
>>>> local entertainment, culture, food, sports, news, and opinion.  
>>>> Each of
>>>> the magazine's departments
>>>> are also represented in the SPlog's daily content.
>>>>
>>>> Find Smile Politely on the Web at <http:// 
>>>> www.smilepolitely.com>.The
>>>> SPlog is located at
>>>> <http://www.smilepolitely.com/splog>.
>>>>
>>>> Smile Politely managing editors Joel Gillespie and Seth Fein are
>>>> available for media interviews. For
>>>> more information, please contact Joel Gillespie at
>>>> <joelgillespie at smilepolitely.com>.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> RFU mailing list
>>>> RFU at lists.chambana.net
>>>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/rfu
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   
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>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Noel L. Vivar
> 505 E. Clark St., Apt. 24
> Champaign, IL 61820-4420
> 630.740.5775