Topic: Media Branding

NBC News has launched a new marketing campaign centered on the slogans "Facts, Clarity, Calm." The campaign features people expressing a lack of trust in extreme or scary news reporting. The hosts criticize the strategy, arguing that modern audiences actually crave the excitement and conflict that the "calm" branding explicitly avoids.

The "narcissistic era" is attributed to the rise of the smartphone and the front-facing selfie camera, which encourage constant self-referencing and brand-building. Users are described as propagandizing themselves within digital bubbles, using platforms like TikTok as a modern "confessional" for attention rather than forgiveness. The use of a $62 flip phone is presented as a way to break free from this digital domination.

A personal anecdote describes a visit to the MIT Media Lab with Will Hearst, where Nicholas Negroponte discussed a book deal with Stewart Brand. MIT had reportedly pre-purchased 50,000 copies of the book to secure its publication, a common industry practice. The story concludes with the narrator being removed from the meeting by Marvin Minsky after being identified as an un-vetted observer.

The ARC Forum's website and branding are criticized for using corny stock art and vague biblical imagery. The conference is viewed as part of an "alternative media vortex" where the same group of pundits—including Megyn Kelly and Tim Pool—cycle through each other's programs without effecting real change. The "Spark the ARC" logo and "Noah's Ark" puns are dismissed as lame.

The nation of Turkey is officially rebranding its name to "Türkiye" to eliminate the English association with the bird and increase brand value. Additionally, reports indicate a growing "pipeline" of former NATO employees moving into influential roles at TikTok. The hosts note TikTok's massive influence on the music industry and the pressure it exerts on established celebrities to join the platform.

The hosts discuss a linguistic trend where the media uses the word "trumpeted" to associate various actions with former President Trump. They also introduce the "Media Boomerang Theory," which posits that those who abuse the media for personal gain eventually face a reversal of fortune.

The hosts jokingly announce the formation of the "OMB Network" (Orange Man Bad), a satirical media network dedicated to Trump-critical narratives. They play various listener-submitted imaging clips for the fictional network, suggesting it could attract significant investment in the current political climate.

The New York Times reported on the rise of "branded podcasts," where companies like McDonald's and New Balance hire networks like Gimlet Media to produce full-length shows about their products. Critics view this as a "death knell" for independent podcasting, as networks resort to making native advertisements to meet payroll. The hosts mocked the concept by improvising a "Shellcast" interview with a generic taco shell manufacturer.

A report from an advertising industry insider suggests that "authenticity" is the primary trend for 2018, as millennials are increasingly suspicious of scripted brand messages. Brands are being encouraged to act with integrity and engage personally with consumers on social media to build reliability and trust.

The prevalence of pharmaceutical advertisements on network television is criticized for creating "vapid" and "brand-safe" programming. Shows like The Voice and America's Got Talent are cited as examples of low-risk content designed to satisfy powerful drug company sponsors.

The hosts settle on "Make Australia Great Again" as the favorite title for the upcoming tour. They discuss potential merchandise, such as green and gold hats, and how the slogan could be used to provocatively engage with Australian media regarding local issues like gun control.

The rise of native advertising—ads designed to look like editorial content—is discussed as a threat to traditional journalism. Politico recently hired a "native officer" to lead its branded content department, following the lead of The Washington Post and The Atlantic. The hosts argue that outlets like Vice are essentially advertising agencies disguised as news organizations, where high production budgets are used to obfuscate the promotional nature of the content.

Comedian Russell Brand's recent attempt to enter the Fox News building to confront Sean Hannity is dismissed as a calculated distraction. The hosts argue that such stunts serve to divert public attention from substantive issues while maintaining Brand's profile as a "brave" media critic.

The success of the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black" is attributed to its specific appeal to diverse audiences and its use of provocative content to maintain engagement. The show's branding is seen as a reflection of consumer demand rather than just producer intent. Effective media production requires listening to the "other side of the equation"—the actual viewers—to understand what drives loyalty.

The hosts analyze the media's "branding" of Mokhtar Belmokhtar, noting his cinematic qualities such as his glass eye and his battalion's name, "Those Who Sign in Blood." They joke about writing a screenplay or treatment for a movie titled "Smoke Him If You Got Him." The discussion highlights how news organizations build up "bad guy" personas to fit a narrative.

Twitter's management of the #RNC2012 hashtag is scrutinized for appearing vetted and monitored to suppress negative sentiment. The platform is accused of selling hashtags to political parties, resulting in a curated experience that lacks authentic public discourse. The prevalence of political bots and paid influencers is noted as a factor in the degradation of social media communication.

Over 1,600 people were stung by jellyfish in Florida in a single week, an event scientists attribute to "changing weather patterns." In political news, the term "building her brand" has become a new meme used to describe Sarah Palin's media strategy. Rumors of an impending divorce between Sarah and Todd Palin are dismissed as a coordinated media attack designed to damage her growing influence and "ink" in the press.

Burson-Marsteller has trademarked the term "E-fluentials" to describe a segment of online users who drive public opinion through email, blogs, and social networks. Despite the industry hype surrounding "mom-fluentials" and "youth-fluentials," a UK study suggests that traditional brand familiarity and search engine results remain far more influential on consumer behavior than social media interactions or blogs.

Adam Curry discusses his "Media Assassin" branding and the use of No Agenda business cards. A listener update clarifies that the allergy medication Allegra is now available over-the-counter, significantly reducing its price. Additionally, a report mentions FedEx drivers are prohibited from taking the smoking cessation drug Chantix due to its potential psychiatric side effects.

A major scandal involving BBC presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross erupted after they left inappropriate messages on actor Andrew Sachs's voicemail. The incident led to Brand's resignation and a 12-week suspension for Ross, the BBC's highest-paid entertainer. The public outcry has sparked a broader debate regarding editorial controls and the funding of public broadcasting.