Where’s the public in public relations?
themediaslut wonders togather with POP! PR Jots, "What ever happen to the Public in public relations?"
themediaslut thought of these when she saw the recent AMD ad on Digital Life (see below).
AMD, not only challenged Intel to a Dual Core Duel, also published an ad inviting the public to witness the challenge.
The journalists were there.
So was AMD’s Chairmand of the Board, CEO and President Dr Hector Ruiz.
It was also expected that Intel wouldn’t turn up for the challenge. 
But was the public?
themediaslut admits that she did not take notice of the public standing behind the conference room. However, the PR consultants were so engaged ensuring that the event went smoothly and proper media relations were being carried out, could they have afforded the time to carry on the "public" relations.
Also interesting to note is that while the challange was an open invite to the public, why were there no blog coverage of the event except this?
Surely, they would be some Singapore based bloggers out there who would be interested to ask Dr Ruiz a question or two? Wouldn’t the tech blogger want to scoop the mainstream media too?
(If you do find a blog that have covered this open invite, please correct themediaslut, will you?)
The mainstream tech media was quick to cover the event though. They include:
Hardwarezone.com: "AMD Dual-Core Challenge - Intel No Show!"
ZDNETAsia.com: "Multi-core processors will pave the way, says AMD"
themediaslut might have to sallow her words on the earlier post and agree that bloggers here may not be ready to take on mainstream yet, especially in the tech space, hmm…
What the mediaslut didn’t notice was one guy in an army uniform loitering at the back.. he was an Actual Member of the Public who turned up from his reservist training.
I had a friend who also wanted to turn up, but since Intel weren’t, I advised him not to bother, as wheelchair access was slighlty problematic (still didn’t stop someone from mugging him of his handphone the other day though)….
Interesting stint by AMD. Thanks for bringing us to date by covering the event themediaslut.
This reminds me of the Cola Wars and when Pepsi launched the famed “Pepsi Challenge” :where Pepsi came out tops in taste tests when compared to Coke. Even coke knew that consumers preferred Pepsi’s taste and hence retailiated with Sergio Zyman championing New Coke. It failed and well the rest is history. Intel most probably cannot match up to AMD’s technology right now, but being the marketing juggernaut that Intel is, might not be a sign for worry.
Ironically, the best product is never usually the most used product.
Alvin’s comment reminds themediaslut of “Blink: The power of thinking without thinking” where Malcom Gladwell noticed a flaw in the Pepsi challenge.
According to Gladwell, the reason Pepsi won is that both colas were served in small cups. Pepsi, being the sweeter version, went down well in small cups, instead of Coke. Hence, their taste buds immediately chose Pepsi.
The Coke researchers thought that it was the sweetness that swayed the challenge and created the New Coke.
This was partly true.
However, Gladwell added that if one had to drink the whole can, Coke would have been the preferred choice as most drinkers would then say that Pepsi is too sweet.
Can i borrow your BLINK!?
And I agree that PR consultants should start considering bloggers as sort of a voice between public and “media”
have a great holiday
[…] erson on the right is AMD’s Chairman of the Board, CEO and President Dr Hector Ruiz and the guy on the left looks very much like Michael Dell of Dell.. But who are the rest of th […]