Elizabeth Corcoran on MS Stealth PR

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

I would be interested in reactions the story by Elizabeth Corcoran in
today's Washington Post.  My initial reaction was that he story only
briefly mentions a few of the details of the phony "astroturf" PR
effort, doesn't use the word Stealth at all, and portrays it mostly as a
business as usual thing that big companies and PR agencies do. 
Elizabeth does mention that State attorneys general "were grumbling
yesterday" about the plan, but quotes no one expressing any outrage or
deeper concerns about campaigns of this nature (other than to indicate
they are difficult to do).

She does mention that "The document proposes that Microsoft pay
freelance writers for writing 'major' opinion pieces," but she quickly
indicates "It does not say that Microsoft should make any secret that
the company was behind the campaign."  Then she quotes a Microsoft
spokesman (in damage control mode), saying "We're proud of
Microsoft . . . "Saying that 'we're from Microsoft' is the first thing
out of our mouths when we talk to people." 

When Elizabeth "covered" the Appraising Microsoft conference, she
included extensive coverage of the MS organized astroturf that was
staged at our conference, and the only real "coverage" of our event was
a dispute over the cost of attendance, and Microsoft's criticism of the
anti-microsoft views of the speakers (without reporting what those views
actually were).

I think that Elizabeth was accurate in pointing out that (some) big
companies do this type of thing.  I think she was remiss in not
questioning the broader implications for the public, who is mislead by
such manipulative campaigns, or mentioning past MS efforts, such as the
Barkto incident, the NT-PRO event at our conference, or similar efforts,
which MS has done in the past. I also think she should ask the press a
question -- does it have an obligation to tell readers when its op-ed
pieces have been "planted" by a PR agency,  or should it do more to
report various front group activities.  

  Jamie


Microsoft Considers Antitrust PR Offensive
             By Elizabeth Corcoran
             Washington Post Staff Writer
             Saturday, April 11, 1998; Page D01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/microsoft/micro.htm

-- 
James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
love@cptech.org | http://www.cptech.org
202.387.8030, fax 202.234.5176