Transparency Transcends Print, Social Media
Aug. 31, 2009
If you publish content for your firm, company, or even blog, Facebook, Tweet or have a LinkedIn profile – and don’t think people are listening and watching to what you do or say – you need to wake up!
Microsoft pulled a fast one when it took a photo of an African-American man and changed the person’s color to White. Plain and simple, this was a huge no-n0, and did not go unnoticed by the bloggers who pounced on Microsoft for inappropriate ethical behavior. Advertising Age was one of new news media to report the story; the altered photos are included in the story.
Although the fact that Photoshop can change skin color is a huge, separate discussion in itself, I think the larger story is whether Microsoft thought the stunt might go unnoticed. It’s not how stupid MS thinks we are; it’s how invisible the company think we might be.
I once knew a guy who regularly got together with his buddies to watch movies just to find the mistakes. Although I’m quite sure no one spends a great deal of his or her time trying to find mistakes, anyone publishing content – online or in print – can rest assured knowing someone will notice!