The Greater Voice

Americans: A Nation of Slackers?

 

So, what are Americans like you and me up to these days? The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released their annual American Time Use Survey and they have some answers. According to Cheryl Russell of New Strategist Publications, who published the survey, “People think Americans spend most of their time working. Actually, we devote five hours a day to leisure activities – that’s more than anything besides personal care, such as sleep.” 

Surprisingly, we spend half that coveted time, 2.5 hours a day, watching TV - more if you consider the time we spend watching while doing other things, according to Neilson Media Research. Prime time for most Americans is 9:00 pm, although with a choice of 116 channels, we’re certainly watching different shows.

 Here’s another surprise: while more married mothers are working, they’re devoting more focused time on the kids – about 13 hours a week. One reason: fathers are contributing more to housework (although women still get saddled with six times the laundry). These fathers are better Dads than in the past, too, devoting seven hours a week to their children.

 
If you think we’re a nation of slackers: don’t worry. Work ranks as number three on the list. Just try calling an employee around 11:00 am. That’s when most of us are at our desks.

 

 

Buzz Marketing: Consumer's Alert!

Here's one from my column Buzz on Buzz:

Buzz on Buzz: Now, Buy This!

The next time you go to a movie, don’t be surprised if you see a ticker tape – known as a crawl - creeping across the bottom of the screen.  Don’t be surprised, that is, if Writers Guild of America has its way. They recently contacted the FCC proposing a crawl that alerts viewers when a product placement ad is in progress. They think the ads, discreetly embedded in the movie’s plot, take advantage of unsuspecting viewers and rob script writers of their creative freedom.

 One example: the Burger King cheeseburger that Robert Downey famously downed in Ironman. That baby won enormous criticism from parent groups as well, including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. They accused the ad of promoting obesity in kids and recommended it, and others of its kind, be banished forever.

Other groups have called for advisories posted at the beginning and end of the film while watchdog group Consumer Alert petitioned the FCC to require advertisers to disclose all product placement ads on TV. In one YouTube interview, legendary filmmaker David Lynch was asked for his opinion on product placement. His response was a series of expletives I won’t repeat here.

 

Naturally, advertisers disagree. An editorial this spring in Advertising Age claimed that people don’t notice or don’t mind the labels, logos, packages and mention of brands scattered throughout the screen.  Besides, they argue, how else can advertisers effectively reach a captive consumer? While Americans spend more time watching television than anything besides sleep and work, increasingly few stick around during commercials.

 Whether and how the winds shift in the advertising universe is anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure, product placement isn’t going away. The blockbuster movie Sex in the City had almost 100 product placement ads and the movie industry has experienced profits well into the billions of dollars. To see what happens next, head for your local movie theater. In between the ads, of course.

 

 

She's baaaackkkkk! The Confession

I'm back! Just in case you were wondering!

No blog for over seven months . No blog and no radio show for about six. So, where has the Greater Voice gone? Was it that I gave up on blogging? Gave up on radio? Gave up on MEDIA?? Hardly.But, I must confess I was unhappy with my show. The guests were great: interesting, edgy , powerful. But the production quality wasn't strong and although I COMPLAINED, sending e-mails, calling, insisting on a new producer, the mishaps kept happening.  One day, my new producers broke the news: We just can't give you the high NPR quality you want.

Hummm....Big problem, especially since a.) some of my guests were from NPR b.) All of my guests deserve a high quality interview and c.) my audience deserves a high quality experience and...if they don't get it, they won't listen. NOT rocket science. So, I left. And since then, I've been putting together some really cool shows with relly great guests for my new online show which will be broadcasting on SBTV! That's SBTV.com - www.sbtv.com which gives me a broader audience and better quality productions.

A REALLY COOL NEWSLETTER...MINE.

WANT to hear about my latest interviews? With people like David Hilliard, co-founder of the Black Panthers or (conversely) the John Taylor, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs under W.  speaking about terrorists and our money, sign up for my e-mail at www.thegreatervoice.com.

MORE NEWS -

For many years, I've been writing articles and opinion pieces distributed through Knight Ridder then the McClatchy Group. One day I get an e-mail from my editor saying he was reassigned and he department was closing down...leaving writers like me stranded.

What ensued was about a dozen calls to editors at the publications which once published my work. And the story was bleak - getting bleaker. No one wants to advertise in the newspaper. No one reads the newspaper. No one has budget for anything. No one is hiring. This was tantamount to clinical depression, with self-pity (lots of it) thrown in. What to do...what to do.

I was busy looking online and found a really great place to send my pieces - one who posts and distributes them, much as McClatchy did. It's www.opednews.com. Take a look - lots up there. In the meantime, I still haven't given up on print publications - just bidding my time until they make a recovery after, we can hope, some economic rehab.

Focus on books!

Well, it's official! I now have a new format for my show - BOOKS. All kinds - on exciting topics and topics with edge.  And speaking of books and edge - I want BLOGGERS to join in. Sorry traditional print folks (and I know who you are), I do think that bloggers have as valid and important a voice as book authors. So, yes, I want bloggers to appear on my show and want to have links to their blogs.

Anyway, this press release says it all!

Radio Host Seizes Challenge - Takes on Experts Susan F. Benjamin, Author and Communications Consultant Defies Odds with New Format for Show

                                                           

                                            Radio personality Susan F. Benjamin is seizing the challenge: she's reformatting her show "The Greater Voice" to focus on books, books, books - and the authors and ideas behind them. And she's inviting book clubs, book bloggers, and bookstore owners to join her.                                        

                                                                               

                                            Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 28, 2008 -- Radio personality Susan F. Benjamin is seizing the challenge: she's reformatting her show "The Greater Voice" to focus on books, books, books - and the authors and ideas behind them. And she's inviting book clubs, book bloggers, and bookstore owners to join her.

"Radio experts claim listeners aren't interested in books and my listenership will be zilch," says Benjamin, an author and marketing consultant. "I disagree. Authors bring the most exciting ideas, amazing experiences, and important discoveries to the international front. And on 'The Greater Voice' they get to showcase them."

So, far the public has agreed. Her listenership almost doubled within two months and now includes over 5,000 listeners - without any marketing efforts to speak of. The show has also attracted impressive guests ranging from award-winning novelists, poets, actors, and academics: all who brought their greater voice to the page.

"My voice is only one of many," says author Benjamin. "So, we invite booklovers, book bloggers, and book club members to get their opinions about great reads online and on-air. In fact, we're even giving away publications fresh off the press, for listeners to enjoy, discuss in their book forums, or talk about on The Greater Voice."

Twice a month, Benjamin sends a newsletter announcing new books and upcoming topics to listeners eager to participate. And, she announces opportunities on her show, as well.

Listener and contributor to The Greater Voice, Erika Ostergaard explains: "When reading you can be in a vacuum. The show gives you a sounding board and a place to hear other people's insights - including the authors'."

"The Greater Voice" airs weekly on the VoiceAmerica network at 8 AM Pacific / 10 AM Central / 11 Eastern on The VoiceAmerica Channel. To access the show, log on at http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica. All shows will be available in Susan Benjamin's Content Library on The VoiceAmericaTM Channel for on-demand and pod cast download and also on Susan's website at http://www.thegreratervoice.com.

ABOUT Susan Benjamin:
Susan F. Benjamin is a marketing and communications author, speaker, and strategist for academic institutions, Federal agencies, international communication firms, and other large organizations. Newspapers from The Wall Street Journal to The Chicago Tribune have featured Susan's novel approaches while her column, The Greater Voice, has appeared in hundreds of newspapers nationwide. Her books, covering everything from business communications to buzz marketing strategies, are available on Amazon.com and bookstores throughout the world. A former professor, Susan mentored academics at Harvard University and MIT. She participated in a White House initiative on Plain Language under the Clinton/Gore administration. Her research includes studies on how language affects responsiveness and has appeared in publications such as Scribes Legal Journal and Employment Management Today. Susan's short stories and poems have appeared in literary magazines and online publications.

ABOUT VoiceAmerica / Modavox:
(OTC.BB MDVX), Modavox is the leading producer and distributor of online talk radio content, streaming approximately 250 hours of live programs and scheduled replays weekly on its Modavox VoiceAmerica™ Network (http://www.voiceamerica.com).  Modavox, Inc. (http://www.modavox.com) is a pioneer in internet broadcasting, producing and syndicating online audio and video, and offering innovative, effective and comprehensive online tools for reaching targeted niche communities worldwide. Through its patented Modavox Central™ technology, Modavox "takes the search out of search," delivering content straight to desktops and internet-enabled devices. Through its proprietary StreamSafe™, WebcastWizard™ and Stream Syndicate™ tools, Modavox provides managed access for live and on-demand internet broadcasting and syndication, content management, online meetings, event management, enterprise communications and distance learning.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause Modavox's actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, including the risk factors identified in Modavox's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact:
Sonja Darte'
VoiceAmerica Network / Modavox, Inc.
Sonja.darte(at)modavox.com
480-294-6404

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From Vietnam Rice Paddies to Parisian Heroin Addicts

The Greater Voice Radio Show...

Here are the stats...

The National Endowment for the Arts says that more than 40% of kids under 44 did not read a book last year. And, on this show last fall, Lisa Adams of Why We Read told us most American males only read one book a year and most females read only nine. So what are they doing?  The New Strategist Publications survey says Americans watch more TV than any other activity outside of sleeping and work.

What are they watching? I don't GET it. Do they have different programming than I do??

Book Recommendation

I interviewed Maxim Jakubowski  for the show - he's the part about Parisian heroin addicts. I really liked the book he edited - a collection of  stories from the underbelly of Paris - most  involving drugs and alcohol. I really liked him, too - he was an easy interview - really forthright.  He also contributed to the book - his favorite character is a stripper/hit man.   I asked why and he said that stripper lives inside. Amazing. I wonder what his inner (female) stripper looks like. But he so unflinchingly pushed the envelope - I love that kind of energy.

As for the stories - you can imagine they push the envelope, too. Perfect for people who commute to work. Open the book, read a story, reach your destination and you've had a complete experience in another universe. Taps into feelings and experiences most people forget, ignore or never had.

About the show...

The Feb. 22 show focused on international literature. So why bother with something as specific as that? Here's the answer, via anecdote.I live in a small town in West Virginia. I’m not far from Washington DC but still, our lives, especially my son’s life experience, is pretty limited. To make matters even narrower, I’m a lenient mother as are most of the other mothers – and, actually, the fathers – in my town.

 Three times a week, though, my son takes a martial arts class with a man everyone calls Master Lee. He’s a black belt from South Korea, former military guy and rumor has it, former body guard to the South Korean president. And, he carries with him, not only his weapons, uniforms, and martial arts stances, but his personal and cultural heritage.

 When the kids enter the studio, they must take off their shoes, bow to the mat and stand. Quietly. In even rows according to height. No talking. Have a wrinkle, smudge of dirt on your uniform? 100 push-ups. Forget your weapon? 100 push-ups. Start to cry because your feelings are hurt? Or a task is too difficult? Suck it in or --- 100 push- ups.

 Granted – for mothers like me the whole routine is rather painful to watch, especially the crying part. We are of a generation that teaches our kids – especially the boys - it’s ok to cry! Be in touch with your emotions. But not so for Master Lee. Even more, for him, self-esteem is not something that you just have but something you must earn. No belts unless you pass the tests. Miss a move? The onus in on you. Late for class? Your problem – don’t blame your mother. As for Master Lee’s approach to discipline? Oh please, don’t even ask!!

 So, you’d think parents drag the kids kicking and screaming. But there they sit, long-haired, in hippie-style jeans, watching Master Less prepare for class. I’m talking about the parents. As for their kids – those who never had a bottom slapped or a punishment more than a two-minute time-out? They’re warming up, straightening their uniforms, and getting in the severe rows he requires for the class. Master Lee brings challenge, a sense of belonging and something else – a different perspective on life, on who they are, and what’s possible in their lives and in the world.

You probably see where I’m going here. International literature has the same influence on readers as Master Lee does on kids. It takes us to new places. Gives us a new sense of who we are and the possibilities in the world and our own lives. Especially poignant since a National Geographic-Roper survey tell us that nearly half of all kids between 18 and 24 don’t know where news-breaking countries are on the map.

 This leads to another point. What if we were to insist that every English class from grade six up – had an international literature component? And every college had a mandatory International Literature 101? Granted we’d have to make the classes fun. The students would have to enjoy them – and we’d resist giving them those angst provoking tests. Of course, if they didn’t pass, that would be ok. We wouldn’t want them to struggle. Well, maybe. I wonder what Master Lee would say about that?

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