The entire ARWDC team would like to welcome MTV’s PR machine to the battle over Real World: DC.
At 8:01 this morning, the ProRealWorldDCblog went live to an audience of…well 5 our ARWDC’s editors. While many of our contributors’ better professional instincts tell us not to bring attention to them because they are so far behind the curve on this, from an entertainment perspective, it was too good NOT to share. The blog REEKS of astroturfing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, this, via Wikipedia:
Astroturfing is a word in English describing formal political, advertising, or public relations campaigns seeking to create the impression of being spontaneous "grassroots" behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass, AstroTurf.
The goal of such a campaign is to disguise the efforts of a political or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to some political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. Astroturfers attempt to orchestrate the actions of apparently diverse and geographically distributed individuals, by both overt ("outreach", "awareness", etc.) and covert (disinformation) means.
Astroturfing may be undertaken by an individual pushing a personal agenda or highly organized professional groups with financial backing from large corporations, non-profits, or activist organizations. Very often the efforts are conducted by political consultants who also specialize in opposition research.
As Berg pointed out to me, the comments show no knowledge of the area that wouldn’t be known using Googlemaps. Further, they are kinda, “checked” out, and the blog shows no real community behind the content.
DC Badger had this to add: Further, the blog is actively soliciting contributors, I mean why would you have to solicit contributors if there is SO many people who are pro-Real World DC? This site has been active and well-covered for DAYS. If some pro-Real World Washingtonian had organically stumbled upon us on Monday via Wonkette and had a problem with us, they would have had their blogspot up immediately. NOT first thing in the morning after MTV saw a very organized presence from us at last night’s ANC meeting. (Something they would have enjoyed further if they had bothered to show up).
I am left to believe this is MTV’s half hearted attempt to counter our mojo, and hell, I welcome them to the table. I do ask them for one favor: instead of trying to hide behind fake community blogs and ANC meetings, why don’t you come out from behind the curtain and engage us directly.
Showing posts with label PR Flack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PR Flack. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2009
BREAKING: ANC Meeting to Discuss Real World DC, Real World Doesn't Bother to Show Up
Ok,
So lets say you are bringing a very disruptive and expensive reality TV show into a residential neighborhood, and you want to get community buy in, maybe you want to just calm people's fears. The rational, logical course of action would be to bring together community activists, city officials and producers of the show so that everyone could talk through the pluses and minuses and hopefully a reasonable framework is developed that all sides can live with, because the show must go on (and all the real negotiations had already been done behind closed doors anyway).
Well that's exactly what the city decided to do tonight, with one minor detail: No reps from the Real World were present. Let me be crystal clear. I love our city. I like our Mayor, I respect our council for being able to manage a world-class metropolis with an influx of millions of commuters and tourists DAILY on the tax base of 600,000 residents. I TRUST these people to make good decisions. When they tell us everything is going to be ok, I tend to listen. Unfortunately, I don't trust MTV. They lost me years ago when they stopped playing music and became nothing more than a 24 hour commercial for bad products and destructive personal behavior.
The fact that the Real World didn't send a single rep down to attend the meeting and answer community questions isn't just a great big "Fuck you" to the community, it's a gigantic "Fuck you" to city officials. Essentially, MTV has told DC's government that they are on their own, there is no partnership here. God forbid anything bad were to happen, it would be our public officials who can expect all the blame because MTV doesn't give two shits.
And what exactly are we getting for that sort of treatment? Extra exposure so that a few of our bars and hang outs can get on national tv with the coveted 14-21 demographic? I mean I GUESS those kids are the drinkers of the future.
I want to remind my city officials that this is Washington, D.C. This is the most powerful city in the Western World and we don't need MTV's exposure. Our city is better than that...we deserve to be treated better than that. I mean come on Fenty, it's MTV not the fucking International Olympic Committee. For them I'd bend over and take it.
So lets say you are bringing a very disruptive and expensive reality TV show into a residential neighborhood, and you want to get community buy in, maybe you want to just calm people's fears. The rational, logical course of action would be to bring together community activists, city officials and producers of the show so that everyone could talk through the pluses and minuses and hopefully a reasonable framework is developed that all sides can live with, because the show must go on (and all the real negotiations had already been done behind closed doors anyway).
Well that's exactly what the city decided to do tonight, with one minor detail: No reps from the Real World were present. Let me be crystal clear. I love our city. I like our Mayor, I respect our council for being able to manage a world-class metropolis with an influx of millions of commuters and tourists DAILY on the tax base of 600,000 residents. I TRUST these people to make good decisions. When they tell us everything is going to be ok, I tend to listen. Unfortunately, I don't trust MTV. They lost me years ago when they stopped playing music and became nothing more than a 24 hour commercial for bad products and destructive personal behavior.
The fact that the Real World didn't send a single rep down to attend the meeting and answer community questions isn't just a great big "Fuck you" to the community, it's a gigantic "Fuck you" to city officials. Essentially, MTV has told DC's government that they are on their own, there is no partnership here. God forbid anything bad were to happen, it would be our public officials who can expect all the blame because MTV doesn't give two shits.
And what exactly are we getting for that sort of treatment? Extra exposure so that a few of our bars and hang outs can get on national tv with the coveted 14-21 demographic? I mean I GUESS those kids are the drinkers of the future.
I want to remind my city officials that this is Washington, D.C. This is the most powerful city in the Western World and we don't need MTV's exposure. Our city is better than that...we deserve to be treated better than that. I mean come on Fenty, it's MTV not the fucking International Olympic Committee. For them I'd bend over and take it.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Oh NOZ! The MTVz Found Us!
Recently, we here at antirealworlddc.blogspot.com, saw a posting from "anonymous" that literally reeked so much of MTV PR flack, the smell of Axe Body Spray was coming through our screens.
Here is the MTV flack's comment in angry red and where we think it failed in white
The cast may surprise you.--No. No it won't. So it's going to be a diverse cast of people with varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, political preferences, experiences in life. We already have that....we call it Congress. You just probably won't have anyone as crazy as Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.
They are all activists or have some compelling story.--Oooh exciting! Activists! Whenever "activists" is used in non-political stories, it usually means someone had a great idea once but never acted on it because they had to listen to Dave Matthews Band, or whatever it is the kids like these days.
As for for compelling story, we all have compelling stories in this town and we tell them. For many people, that is their job....we know compelling...and 23 year olds for the most part aren't compelling.
At least three will be like so many living in the area.--Well first, is that code for LGBT? Because if so, you could've just said so. We love the gays here. If you have a homophobe in your crew, don't be surprised if JR's decides to move Sunday $2 Skyy Vodka Highball Day to your front lawn. Just a heads up. Us LGBT and our allies in DC are organized (sort-of).
If it isn't some gay code, well no..no they won't be like so many living here. Living in the area usually means you have a job where part of your job IS your job to stay out of the media. Exceptions are communications folk who are only in the media to promote their boss or cause. Being on 'The Real World" is now just for self-promotion and drama.
Two probably will stay behind or move to Adams Morgan.--As stated in the replies to this comment, here's a shocker. Adams Morgan! Whee! Jumbo Slice, Tom-Tom's, and neighbors angry at the weekend drunk masses. PR Flack, you obviously don't know Adams Morgan.
At least the production company hired some local people.--I agree and commend you for this. Nice job at sucking up to us, PR Flack! We like supporting the local economy!
Don't be surprised if there is a Sunday afternoon motorcade arriving in early July from somewhere along Penn. Ave.--Seriously. Are you trying to impress us with the White House? Or is it the Capitol? Or is it a reference to Remington's in Barracks Row?
If it's any of those (doubtfully the final item), color us unimpressed by your weak sauce attempt to wow us. We see motorcades coming from 1600 Pennsylvania all the time....those are impressive. We also see Marine One....that's impressive. A bunch of limos with media whores blocking traffic on Dupont Circle and Mass. Ave. ... NOT impressive.
Here is the MTV flack's comment in angry red and where we think it failed in white
The cast may surprise you.--No. No it won't. So it's going to be a diverse cast of people with varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, political preferences, experiences in life. We already have that....we call it Congress. You just probably won't have anyone as crazy as Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.
They are all activists or have some compelling story.--Oooh exciting! Activists! Whenever "activists" is used in non-political stories, it usually means someone had a great idea once but never acted on it because they had to listen to Dave Matthews Band, or whatever it is the kids like these days.
As for for compelling story, we all have compelling stories in this town and we tell them. For many people, that is their job....we know compelling...and 23 year olds for the most part aren't compelling.
At least three will be like so many living in the area.--Well first, is that code for LGBT? Because if so, you could've just said so. We love the gays here. If you have a homophobe in your crew, don't be surprised if JR's decides to move Sunday $2 Skyy Vodka Highball Day to your front lawn. Just a heads up. Us LGBT and our allies in DC are organized (sort-of).
If it isn't some gay code, well no..no they won't be like so many living here. Living in the area usually means you have a job where part of your job IS your job to stay out of the media. Exceptions are communications folk who are only in the media to promote their boss or cause. Being on 'The Real World" is now just for self-promotion and drama.
Two probably will stay behind or move to Adams Morgan.--As stated in the replies to this comment, here's a shocker. Adams Morgan! Whee! Jumbo Slice, Tom-Tom's, and neighbors angry at the weekend drunk masses. PR Flack, you obviously don't know Adams Morgan.
At least the production company hired some local people.--I agree and commend you for this. Nice job at sucking up to us, PR Flack! We like supporting the local economy!
Don't be surprised if there is a Sunday afternoon motorcade arriving in early July from somewhere along Penn. Ave.--Seriously. Are you trying to impress us with the White House? Or is it the Capitol? Or is it a reference to Remington's in Barracks Row?
If it's any of those (doubtfully the final item), color us unimpressed by your weak sauce attempt to wow us. We see motorcades coming from 1600 Pennsylvania all the time....those are impressive. We also see Marine One....that's impressive. A bunch of limos with media whores blocking traffic on Dupont Circle and Mass. Ave. ... NOT impressive.
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