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

Thu Apr 30 00:18:19 CDT 2009

Ok. I have reinserted the line stating that the PSA submitter must be
a non-profit organization.

I have not heard back from SP. When I do, I will inform that I was
mistaken, and we do not accept PSAs from for-profits.

On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 5:05 PM, Andrew Ó Baoill <andrew at funferal.org> wrote:
> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> rfu-automation mailing list
>>>>> rfu-automation at lists.chambana.net
>>>>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/rfu-automation
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Noel L. Vivar
>> 505 E. Clark St., Apt. 24
>> Champaign, IL 61820-4420
>> 630.740.5775
>
>

-- 
Noel L. Vivar
505 E. Clark St., Apt. 24
Champaign, IL 61820-4420
630.740.5775