flackery

Facebook Begins 'Privacy' Con

Ryan Tate · 12/09/09 05:49PM

It would seem our conspiracy theory is coming true: Facebook's big push to give you "more control of your information" is actually an initiative to get you to give up control of your information. Step one: Frame greed as concern.

Washington Times to 'Become a 21st Century Multimedia Company,' Fire Almost Half Its Staff

Gabriel Snyder · 12/02/09 07:37PM

The Moonie-owned Washington Times today issued all 370 employees a WARN Act notice, which is required 60 days in advance of layoffs that involve 100 or more people. Michael Calderone reports that the paper will be shedding around 40% of its staff. In the press release, though, this devastating cut is just a part of a bold "transformation into a 21st century media company." In that the future of media in the 21st century does not involve drawing a paycheck, yes, this is accurate. In every other way, the release is a lie.

So You're Into Haggis?

Hamilton Nolan · 12/02/09 05:30PM

Yesterday we received a press release. It declared, "Hello! I recently found your blog post about Haggis and want to introduce you to our website." Oh? Which blog post was that?

Russian Government Seeks PR Firm to Make Stalin Seem Nice

Ravi Somaiya · 11/06/09 05:55AM

He may have murdered 20 million people, but good PR can change anything! A state news agency is approaching big firms to "rewrite history." No word yet on whether the team behind Eliot Spitzer are considering it.