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WrapUp: Social Media & The Presidential Election

Bill Sobel — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:32:29 +0000

Mike Germano of Carrot Creative and Rachel Sterne of GroundReport (a Howard Greenstein photo)

Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in our event on Thursday night “Social Media & Presidential Politics” the first one in a series of programs NY:MIEG will be producing in partnership with The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York.

First a special thanks to my colleagues Stephan Goldsand and Cecilia Pineda Feret from CBSACNY, Nikki Stelma and Sarah Horn from Samsung Experience, Charles Schmidt from Bouchon Bakery and a special thanks to our fantastic panel: Mike Germano (Carrot Creative), Rachel Sterne (GroundReport.com), Sarah Bernard (236.com), Howard Greenstein (The Harbrooke Group) and, of course our moderator, Ellis Henican (Newsday and Fox News Channel)

That said, Mike wrote a nice writeup about the event in his blog CarrotBlog that I thought you’d find of interest.

Last night I had the privilege of being a panel member for the Social Media and Presidential Elections Conference at the Samsung Experience on Columbus Circle. I wanted to thank the organizers: NY:MIEG, E.Factor and CBSAC/NY for putting on a smart and engaging affair. I liked seeing how all the different panel members were using social media to influence and inform everyday people about important political issues.

Ellis Henican did a great job moderating the event, everything flowed smoothly and the packed audience was interested from start to finish. It was interesting to see how the folks at 23/6 are using humor to offer an alternative view on the political scene.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY CLICK HERE

ScribeMedia: How the Web Has ‘Democratized’ the Comedy Business

Bill Sobel — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:48:39 +0000

Thanks to the folks at TrylonSMR, ScribeMedia.org, an online media production company with an editorial section that covers events across a broad range of subject areas, featured an audio podcast on the comedy breakfast featuring Sarah Bernard, President of 236.com from our “Comedy & Media Breakfast” last week at Samsung.

“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” Sir Donald Wolfit, British actor and director, was reputed to have said these words on his deathbed. Who knows if dying is easy? But in a digital age comedy is getting easier, what with the countless outlets online for existing comedians to build an audience and aspiring comedians to find one.

“In a weird way, there’s been a democratization of the comedy business” with the ascension of the Web, said Fred Graver, an Emmy-Award winning comedy writer who has written for David Letterman, “Cheers,” and also created “Best Week Ever,” which runs on VH1, and BestWeekEver.com. “There are several comedy clubs in each city and all of those comedy clubs have Web sites [so] there’s been a flattening of the comedy world, but there are a lot more opportunities for [comedians] to be seen.”

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY FROM SCRIBEMEDIA.COM CLICK HERE

From NYConvergence: “What’s Funny Online”

Bill Sobel — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:34:34 +0000

: Jane Borden, Sarah Bernard, Sam Reich, Fred Graver, Lou Wallach (photo courtesy of Bill Cammack)

Panelists Discuss What’s Funny Online

from NYConvergence

This morning at the Samsung Experience in the Time Warner Center, Fred Graver, best known for his role in the creation of VH1‘s Best Week Ever, Sarah Bernard, president of 23/6, Sam Reich, director of original content at College Humor, and Lou Wallach, senior vice president, original programming and development at Comedy Central, discussed comedy and media on a panel moderated by Time Out New York‘s Jane Borden for the New York: Media Information Exchange Group (NY:MIEG).

The panelists covered a number of topics such as Sarah Palin‘s selection as John McCain‘s vice-presidential running mate and how the selection has benefited comedy writers, how comedy works differently on the Internet, and the age demographic of visitors to online comedy Web sites.

All of the panelists agreed that Palin’s selection has been “comedy gold.” Reich noted that College Humor‘s first forway into political humor was a trailer about a fake Disney movie based on her life to date. Bernard called her the “story that keeps on giving.”

Graver emphasized how the Internet has changed the rules and Wallach said that there’s no barrier to entry into getting your comedy in front of audiences thanks to the Internet. Reich noted that Internet audiences and television audiences are very different though. Apparently, focus groups for College Humor’s upcoming show on MTV found the skits based on their office more appealing than anything else in the original pilot.

There was some controversy when Reich talked about how it’s hard to appeal to women with online comedy Web sites. Bernard quickly shot him down, pointing out that his Web site doesn’t make the effort with its regular feature highlighting scantily-clad, college-age women.

(Editor’s Note: NY:MIEG is a client of Trylon SMR.)

“Pencils Down: An Evening with America’s Funniest Writers” on Oct 20th

Bill Sobel — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:38:54 +0000

My new friend, Sarah Bernard of 236.com will be speaking on our panel on October 23rd “Comedy & Media” However, she wanted me to invite you to an event they are producing on Monday night, October 20th

23/6 and Indecision2008.com present…PENCILS DOWN: an evening with America’s funniest writers

23/6 and Indecision2008.com are teaming up to present a special night of comedy and conversation at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in New York. Please join us on Monday, October 20 for “PENCILS DOWN: America’s Funniest Writers Talk Seriously About Politics,” a panel discussion featuring writers from 23/6, Indecision 2008, the Onion and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and moderated by MSNBC’s Dan Abrams. For one night, these writers will step out from behind their laptops for a lively conversation about their work and their own political views.

Something you always wanted to know about political comedy? E-mail your questions to pencilsdown@236.com. We’ll review them and include some of the best reader-submitted questions in our discussion.

PENCILS DOWN: America’s Funniest Writers Talk Seriously About Politics
featuring Jason Reich (23/6), Dennis DiClaudio (Indecision2008.com), Kevin Bleyer (The Daily Show) and Anita Serwacki (The Onion)
with special guest moderator, MSNBC’s Dan Abrams
Monday, October 20 at 8 p.m.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
307 W. 26th Street
New York, NY 10001

Tickets are $5 – click here to make a reservation, or call (212) 366-9176