The|Intangibles

Digital Communications in a Tough Economy

Josh Reynolds, global head of H&K's technology practice, is one of my smartest colleagues, otherwise I would avoid the blatant corporate self-promotion of suggesting you spend 15 minutes watching this interview by Robert Scoble in which Josh talks about why our current economy is making digital the preferred marketing and corporate communication tool. (I have included the link since the embedded video below is only working intermittently.)

And just so you don't think that Josh is acting with such expressiveness only for the camera, I can confirm that he is like this in person . . . especially in client presentations.

Force for Good

The people at Tomorrow's Company will launch a new beta web site next week called Force for Good. (Its holding page can be found here until the official launch scheduled for July 15th.) The group will be using the site to build a community of interest, news and debate focused on what I think is a unique and strong point of view on the evolving relationship between business, society and government.

The vision of Tomorrow's Company (TC) is "to create a future for business which makes equal sense to staff, shareholders and society" and it describes itself as a 'think-and-do-tank'  (nice that!)

There are many organizations and consultants (including me under the auspices of Hill & Knowlton) who look to help businesses understand and apply corporate responsibility and sustainability principles and ideas to corporate policies, programs, governance and reporting. 

But TC has a different starting point than many non-government organizations, if indeed that's the right descriptor. In a meeting yesterday with TC's CEO Tony Manwaring and Force for Good web manager Ivor Gibbons they outlined an inclusive point of view on corporate responsibility that underscores the interdependence of business, civil society and government. It is a more realistic, ideology-resistant and sane framework within which to think about the future of business in a troubled world. 

When up and running, TC's Force For Good will be an online platform for case studies, essays, toolkits, and sustainbility and CR news with functionality allowing videos, podcasts, blogs and it is hoped user-focused forums. Given TC's inclusive standpoint, the web site will bring a refreshingly sensible tone to the CR and sustainability conversation.

And, yes, they are going to let me blog on the site.

Political Blogging Goes Mainstream

I am at an executive training session in the south of France, and have little time to write. However, I came across this comment in an article about the political 'Class of 2008' in the June issue of the British edition of GQ (which in general is edgier than the U.S. version.) The article profiles leading political influencers including two bloggers . . . with this explanation:

"We have made a point to include the bloggers, whose importance in Westminster has rocketed over the past few years. That we limited ourselves to just two, and both of them Tories -- Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome and Iain Dale of Iain Dale's Diary -- is an indicator not just that these are the most influential, but also that right-wing bloggers vastly outshine their left-wing counterparts. (Is bloggin a medium better suited to those in opposition? Or are left-wing blogs in existence just not very good. Taht remains to be seen.)"

Not only was it interesting to note that blogging's importance has "rocketed" but also that Tim Montgomerie's blog is financed by Stephan Shakespeare, founder and CEO of research firm YouGov.

Nice gig if you can land it.