Ronnie Simpson's Blog

Today’s Irish Times has a fascinating perspective on how Irish corporates are responding in very different ways to the challenge and realities of today’s Social Media society. On the business page Siobhan O’Connell of BusinessPlus has an interesting story on how Bord Gais invited 15 bloggers in to brief them on their entry to the electricity market ahead of the official press launch. O’Connell says that the move was “against the advice of their PR advisers”. (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0226/1224241834861.html)
 

In the same paper Ciara O’Brien quotes Ryanair spokesperson Stephen McNamara on blogger Jason Roe who wrote about a bug he found on the airline’s website. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0226/1224241835466.html?via=mr
 

McNamara is quoted as saying, “It is Ryanair policy not to waste time and energy corresponding with idiot bloggers and Ryanair can confirm it won’t be happening again. Lunatic bloggers can have the blogosphere all to themselves as our people are far too busy driving down the cost of air travel.”
 

It would be hard to find more radically opposed attitudes to the blogging phenomenon. My own view is partly influenced by the sad news also, reported  in The Irish Times, which says that the 145 year old San Francisco Chronicle may have to close.
 

Like it or not, the Internet and Social Media is changing the way companies interact with their audiences and their audiences with them and we better get used to it.
 

Ronnie Simpson is founder of Simpson Financial & Technology PR.
The company is the Irish partner of Eurocom Worldwide - the Global PR Network which has offices in 60 cities.