Five Things The Media Can Learn From Erin Burnett
I am not a media baron. Nor am I a journalist. However, I’ve been featured in the Detroit News, Nashville Business Journal and on many popular web sites for my work in tech and new media. I’ve engaged billionaires such as Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, and I interview folks I’m sure you’ve heard of. Of course, none of this stuff is really important. Who cares, right? Well, the media should.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve observed many personalities in the media on a local and national scale: Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Bill Bonds (Detroit, WXYZ), Peter Jennings, Charles Gibson, etc. Jennings struck a chord at the center of emotion. Gibson made every morning uniquely American on television. Limbaugh cracked jokes and mocked personalities. Now, there’s a new breed of young and fresh faces delivering the news we care about. Unfortunately, I can only think of one which I’m quite fond of: Erin Burnett.
I’m not fond of her because she’s attractive. No, it’s more than that. It’s not her engaging eyes, either. Not even her hair. It’s her non-traditional approach as an anchor and personality. She isn’t bloated (of her own ego), but balanced. She avoids being too confrontational on air, while still delivering the bottom line.
Overall, her unconventional qualities are refreshing. So, here are five things the media can learn from Erin Burnett:
1. Humility goes a long way — Erin, in my opinion, is one of the most humble and grounded female anchors on television today. One thing that’s a turnoff for me are the “divas” and “darlings” of media. It’s easier to connect with Erin than her competition — hence her rising “star power”.
2. Television experience isn’t always necessary — Erin has proven her success as a reporter/anchor without a journalism background. Previously, Erin worked behind the scenes at CNN as a booker and writer.
3. It’s about engaging people — Erin makes it a point to engage her audience. It’s not about “Erin Burnett”. Is this why Squawk Box’s ratings are up 79% since last year? I think so. We need more personalities like her.
4. Confrontations are useless — “Divas” tend to be confrontational on air when interviewing subjects. It just doesn’t work, and at times, it appears “forced”. Erin pulls off the tough stuff with ease — and without being confrontational.
5. Keep it simple — No fluff, no tricks. Erin delivers the financial and breaking news throughout the day like a natural — only because she keeps it “real”. Treat her well, CNBC.
Top 10 Ways To Make America Better
It seems that everyday, I am always thinking about the state of our country, continent and planet. So, here is my “Top 10″ list of ways to make America a better country:
1. Eliminate the tax burden by abolishing the IRS and implementing a uniform and national “infrastructure tax”.
2. Abolish Affirmative Action — everything should be based on merit and capability. In cases of discrimination, asses tough fines and penalties for offenders.
3. Abolish poverty through the elimination of wasteful government spending and resources — If we can spend Billions on war, we can spend Billions at home. There is no counter argument and no excuses. We are one of the world’s most elite countries — there are no excuses for poverty.
4. Abolish welfare and implement programs which encourage citizens to be self sufficient — no more handouts or “government daycare”.
5. Rewrite the constitution to reflect today’s reality — not yesterday’s.
6. Create a smaller and more efficient government.
7. Establish educational programs to unify subpar social relations; Eradicate the concept of race from society.
8. Outlaw most contraceptions (with the exception of condoms for men and women) — It is imperative that we restore social responsibility to our overly promiscuous society.
9. Establish an ethics policy for all future Presidents to adhere to; Potential penalties include a 30 day removal from office
10. You — Great change doesn’t start with Presidents and Governors. We are responsible for the mess we’ve created, and it will take us pulling together to clean it up. Every American is responsible and we must be accountable. If we want to be “real” Americans, then we must own up to our share in all that’s wrong. Recognizing this is the first step.
Lawyer Wrongly Accuses Me in YouTube Spat
Update 8: Seth Godin chimes in: “It’s just about billable hours.”
Update 7: Webpronews is latest to cover YouTube story
Update 6: Digg community adds story — vote it up!
Update 5: Contentinople: Is Embedding a YouTube Video Infringement?
Update 4: TechCrunch has linked to my story as first reported by Techdirt.
Update 3: The blogosphere is starting to weigh in on my story. First, Techdirt, and now NewTeeVee. Techmeme has also cited the growing discussion.
May the momentum grow!
Update 2: Techdirt just picked up my story. They ask the question, “Is It Copyright Infringement To Embed An Infringing YouTube Video On Your Blog?” Being “wrongly accused” also reminds me of Dennis G, a Lifecasters.TV lifecaster I produce. I’m facing the possibility of legal action for content I never uploaded, while Dennis faces up to 64 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. When do we start to ask questions?
Update 1: It just occurred to me that the lawyer cited below e-mailed me directly — and not through my web site. How did he obtain my e-mail address? It only says that it was provided by someone within Michael McDonald’s organization — I am very disappointed
—-
My YouTube Profile: ronaldl79
A “cease and desist” e-mail from an unlikely source … read on …
Here’s yet another example of the music industry and its counsel wrongly accusing a citizen for posting unauthorized material to YouTube. It’s also another example of how “out of touch” the industry and its counsel are with regard to technology and its appropriate uses. It’s also a showcase of their ignorance and failure to “do their homework”.
You might be wondering, “Why do you care about this?” Good question, and here’s the answer: I’ve now been chosen as the next victim to be bullied by the industry and its technologically incompetent counsel.
To add insult to injury, the counsel represents Michael McDonald — a world-class human being and humanitarian, and someone I’ve known for almost 10 years. To say I am flabbergasted is an understatement.
Here’s the e-mail I received from Gary Gilbert of Baker and Hostetler (my initial e-mail response follows):
On 7/3/07, Gilbert, Gary wrote:
Dear Mr. Lewis,
I am counsel to Mr.,. Michael McDonald and his affiliated entities. In such capacity, I have been made aware of a posting by you on YouTube of Mr. McDonald’s musical performances.
This email shall constitute formal notice to you that your use of Mr. McDonald’s performances are unauthorized and in violation of his rights. Demand is hereby made that you immediately cease and desist use of Mr. McDonald’s performances in any manner whatsoever. In the event that you fail or refuse to comply with such demand, I shall recommend to my client that he pursue any and all applicable remedies against you, at law, in equity, or otherwise.
This email is without prejudice to the exercise by my client of any and all rights, defenses, and remedies, at law, in equity, or otherwise, all of which rights, defenses and remedies are expressly reserved.
Very Truly Yours,
Gary L. Gilbert
of Baker and Hostetler
Gary:
Prior to sending such messages, you should first investigate the source for videos posted to YouTube, rather than rely on third-party sources for confirmation of the offending material. Secondly, you should provide a list of the offending material in question. Thirdly, I have never posted any video material of Michael McDonald’s public performances.
I await your reply; However, given how sickened I am by yet another example of false identification by law firms representing record labels and artists, I intend to bring much light to this issue via my web site.
Regards,
Ronald Lewis
Denver, Colorado
So, which videos are in question? Well, there are dozens of video performances — both live and recorded — which features Michael McDonald and/or the Doobie Brothers on YouTube. Specifically, because I linked and embedded two recent videos on YouTube via my web site, I automatically qualify — in the counsel’s eyes — as the perpetrator for material they’ve deemed as inappropriate.
If Gary were competent enough — again, technologically, he would have taken the time to learn who actually posted the material in question and allowed the videos to be linked and viewed publicly. But, no, he didn’t bother — did he? So, here’s how simple it is to find out the source of a video on YouTube:
1. Enter “www.youtube.com” into your browser.
2. Search for “Michael McDonald”
3. View the results (as included below):
(Click image above for larger view of results)
The “offending” videos are clearly seen in the capture above. “backpackdave” doesn’t appear anything like “ronaldlewis”, “ronaldl79″ or “wysiwyg79″, does it?
And, so, because I’m so pissed off by the ignorance of McDonald’s counsel — and furthermore, bothered that no one in the McDonald camp would call me to confirm if I were the source of these videos, I will in turn be the bigger bully and do my best to embarrass the counsel as a favor in return for their incompetence in this matter.
So, the final straw has been broken. I am sick and tired — I won’t stand down and move on from this. If my actions ruin the friendship between Michael McDonald and I, then so be it. I, for one, find the actions by his counsel inexcusable. I’ve had nothing but genuine love and respect for McDonald, but it appears — at least legally, and maybe not on his accord, that there isn’t much for me.
Stay tuned.
Race and Religion: Man’s Worst Social Inventions
Recently, I considered what were some of man’s worst inventions. Of course, there were several candidates, but I’ll only mention two:
1. The cigarette
2. The combustible engine
The above candidates doesn’t hold a candle to the following:
1. Race
2. Religion
Now, let’s think about “race” and religion. When did they first make an impression upon your life? Or, was it immediately noticeable? As toddlers, I believe human beings are at the height of their innocence. There’s no question of “difference”. I believe this level of innocence is lost when toddlers mature and assimilate into society via the home and school. Thus begins the destruction of a once “pure mind”.
Once the “pure mind” is tainted with the concept of race and religion by a bombardment of fables and myths, one begins to formulate a very ugly and misguided impression of life and human beings. Through the eyes and mind of a toddler, none of this exists.
The human brain is undoubtedly a sponge and it’s most reactive during the early stages of a child’s development. It is this stage where everything heard, seen and experienced is recounted and stored for later retrieval and assessment. Through consistent social conditioning (”bombarding”, “bombing” the mind), the brain is changed and is long removed from its innocent state. Oh, how sad.
And so, the world welcomes yet another misguided and manipulated human being. Great job, parents. Great way to “lead by example”, world. We don’t ever stop and think about why we’re so passionate about things few understand, do we? We don’t question the origins of race or religion. Instead, we accept everything we’ve been told by our parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and society — as the truth. Don’t we?
Because one’s skin color is different than your own, does it truly make them different? Does reading a book of stories (”the bible”) about a character (”God”) somehow validate its existence? By default, a majority of human beings “follow by example”, while the minority “lead by example” (which comprises both good and bad). Only a small percentage ever appear to think independently of the majority. I believe this is why most human beings lack a “pure and innocent mind”, hence the continued existence and presence of “race” and religion throughout the world.
President Bush and Accountability
Is President Bush truly responsible for all our country has suffered in the past eight years? While I do not endorse Bush for his work as President, it’s something I’d like everyone to think about.