Monday, September 24, 2007

Apple Case

truth - Was the hype created by Apple and Steve Jobs truthful? Or was it just normal for the launch of a new technological product? Was the hype based on the truth that the iPhone was really one of a kind or because another company was soon to release a similar product?

humaneness - Has Steve Jobs' response to the critics of the incident sincere or filled with indifference? Was it humane for Apple as a company to let Steve Jobs and his personality be the voice of the company in this incident?

stewardship - Apple's lowering of the iPhone price was uncharacteristic of the brand.

freedom - Apple has the freedom to pursue profit and set prices. Apple also has the freedom to not issue price rebates for products. Customers have the freedom to not buy Apple products and to also not be early adapters.

justice - Was the rebate offered by Apple really justice to the early adapters?

Monday, September 17, 2007

Future Relations Between the Dallas Cowboys and the Media

In the article, "A Scuffle, a Stonewall, and a Season: Football Superstar Fights off the Field, but His Team Isn't Talking," it mentions that between the 1960s and 1980s, the Dallas Cowboys had a "long standing tradition of integrity and stewardship." More recently, however, along with many other professional sports leagues, Dallas Cowboys players have made headlines for violence, arrests and drugs. After the "Scissorsgate" incident, I wonder if the stonewalling and lack of information has created a grudge amongst media against the Dallas Cowboys.

Although some say the incident made the media feel stupid for the media frenzy, I think that the treatment of the media by the Dallas Cowboys would create a grudge. By stonewalling the media on this one incident, the Dallas cowboys did not only control and cease a relationship with the media one time, but changed their relationship with the media forever. It seems to me, if I were a member of the media and was treated that way by the Dallas Cowboys, that I would want to find out any future "dirt" on them and publish it in my medium. I think that the incident hurt any sort of trust or reliance that North Texas media may have had with or on the Dallas Cowboys for news. Wince the media did not get this story, the media does not "owe" the Dallas Cowboys any favors.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Cosmopolitanism and PR

Cosmopolitanism has been my first brush with philosophy. I am not sure that I like it. It seems as if Appiah makes the same point over again and goes in circles to do so. However, I can see how important the idea of cosmopolitanism is in the field of Public Relations.

Considering the backgrounds of every public that you deal with can have positive effects on the practice of Public Relations. It may take more time, when working on a campaign, to figure out the belief system of each public, yet the outcome could be the difference between ethical PR and offensive PR that could hurt the reputation of your organization. Not following cosmopolitan thought could cost your organization important relationships and images that your publics have of your organization that could take years to rebuild, if they can be mended.

In the mix of races and cultures that make up the United States, it is important to keep in mind the idea of cosmopolitanism in our daily and personal relationships. You never know who you may be working with. Just because someone has lived in the U.S. for their entire life does not mean that they do not have the same belief systems as their grandparents or parents who come from a different country or culture. Just because our world is becoming a "global culture" does not mean that we need to lose sight of the individual cultures and beliefs that make everyone different.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Does Everyone Matter?

According to Apiah, yes, everyone does matter in cosmopolitanism. In order for people to view differences through one perfect un-shattered mirror, we must look at everyone so as to understand everything. This does not mean, however, assimilation with every culture, people or religion, but understanding and tolerance of cultures, people and religions that are different than yours.