Communication Overtones Comments
Regarding "releasing bad news late on a Friday."
I totally agree with you. In this case, I would suggest that not only was it "tired and dishonest," but it actually backfired against the parties involved (WKPA & MOT). While their offices were shut down for the weekend, the firestorm was already blazing in the blogosphere. While their secretaries were out of the office, voice mailboxes were filling up with callers. While nobody was checking email, emails were still pouring in.
By Monday morning, I simply can't imagine what the offices of MOT and WKPA looked like...bloggers didn't take the weekend off, and the story had already grown to epic proportions before the weekend was through.
Regards,
Jon
Too many reporters have caught on to the Friday thing, and have adjusted their schedules accordingly.
Ike, Excellent reminder of your post about the Friday news "hole."
Jon, I think that deception often backfires. It is much better to face the issues squarely and clearly state your point of view.
In this case, the argument wasn't on sound legal ground, and the nuisance lawsuit they sought (in order to silence Dutson) became instead a nuisance to the advertising agency.
Others have said, and I tend to agree, that if the agency had used the criticism to instead adjust their approach, or as a way to start a conversation about how these things work, it would have served its interests better.
Commenting by HaloScan
