Winglet From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1203 times:
I am a frequent visitor to www.boeing.com/randy the home of "Randys Journal" which fronts itself as being a blog by Randy Baseler (vice president of marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes).
On a regular basis "he" writes an article via the blog and it involves a put down or slandering of Boeings competitor Airbus. Basically how we are right and Airbus is wrong.
Boeing and Airbus as a company are massive. The blog strikes me as entertaining because of corporate stooping to such a low level to take cheap shots at a competitor seems surreal.
I can assure you that this is not Randys blog, but there is a whole team of marketing and corporate editorial teams behind each article and use Randy as the front man. I thought only the white house stoops this low?
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1193 times:
Quoting Winglet (Thread starter): I can assure you that this is not Randys blog, but there is a whole team of marketing and corporate editorial teams behind each article and use Randy as the front man.
You can assure? What is your source? You should lighten up and take this blog for what it is--a public relations effort. Have you ever hear any of John Leahy's comments? If anything, Boeing waited far too long in getting their own "spin machine" in gear.
"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".
GARPD From UK - Scotland, joined Aug 2005, 2308 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1196 times:
Much like the low ends Airbus PR go to eh?
It's PR mate..... either love it or hate it. But it certainly doesn't help posting a thread about it here on A.net. Some believe PR, others are skeptical.
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 5, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1143 times:
Quoting Winglet (Reply 4): assure you is as exaggeration but I can guarantee you
I would argue that any large multinational corporate which is active in such a highly publicised and politicised market as the remaining two manufacturers of large civilian airframes, has to be quite innovative when it comes to PR.
The number of different stakeholders (from governments to airlines to regulatory authorities to last, but not least a.net ) is so large and their requirements so different, that covering all bases with traditional marketing and communications tools is quite difficult.
While I personally don't like to often childish tone and content of both companies PR, I am afraid that it has become and integral part of the game and there is no way to stop it.
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9082 posts, RR: 37 Reply 7, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1078 times:
Quoting Winglet (Thread starter): On a regular basis "he" writes an article via the blog and it involves a put down or slandering of Boeings competitor Airbus.
I'd disagree with you there, Winglet - the majority of the entries are about his confidence in the strategy Boeing is pursuing and his pride in the products that they are developing.
I find it entertaining and informative - and so, apparently, do you, since you read it as well. To me, it's perfectly legitimate. Of course it's marketing-oriented - but it's the softest of soft sells.
I think EADS/Airbus could learn from it. I've never found their stodgy websites at all interesting or engaging - facts only, and too few of the ones that count at that.
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1063 times:
Quoting NAV20 (Reply 7):
I think EADS/Airbus could learn from it. I've never found their stodgy websites at all interesting or engaging - facts only, and too few of the ones that count at that.
Yep, Airbus need to revamp their website because of the number of aircraft people buy witht their Visa cards online nowadays.
Your lame cheerleading attempts don't get any better, do they?
Anyway if Baseler wants to run a Cheerleader Central blog site, good for him. That army of teenage airline executives need their digital Kool-Aid every day. Maybe if he spent some of his high-paid vice presidential fully expensed time working on how to sell aircraft or deal with the impending defeat at the WTO it could be more constructive for his employer.
But hey, those cheerleaders need their routines polishing so You Go Randy!
PHXinterrupted From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 474 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 958 times:
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 8): Anyway if Baseler wants to run a Cheerleader Central blog site, good for him. That army of teenage airline executives need their digital Kool-Aid every day. Maybe if he spent some of his high-paid vice presidential fully expensed time working on how to sell aircraft or deal with the impending defeat at the WTO it could be more constructive for his employer.
PlaneDane From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 949 times:
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 8): Maybe if he spent some of his high-paid vice presidential fully expensed time working on how to sell aircraft or deal with the impending defeat at the WTO it could be more constructive for his employer.
You'd be very surprised at how very low the salaries really are at Boeing, even for someone like Randy, compared to certain other aerospace companies. Talented people like Randy could easily go somewhere else and be far better compensated, but choose to stay for other reasons.
Keep in mind that Boeing is very driven to control costs and provide adequate return to investors. So, every dollar spent, including for salaries, receives the greatest scrutiny.
Dynkrisolo From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1834 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 865 times:
Our Airbus Internet Police Chief will stop at nothing to silence people when those people start criticizing Airbus. But when it comes to criticizing Boeing, he's ready to enjoy the fight.
JetMaster From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 814 times:
Quoting Winglet (Thread starter): I can assure you that this is not Randys blog, but there is a whole team of marketing and corporate editorial teams behind each article and use Randy as the front man. I thought only the white house stoops this low?
Most likely it's a team behind, PR is not reduced to one person in such a big company.
Quoting NAV20 (Reply 7): I think EADS/Airbus could learn from it. I've never found their stodgy websites at all interesting or engaging - facts only, and too few of the ones that count at that.
No surprise - no matter what Airbus writes or would ever write, you would always say the same...but well, it's a proud fanboy's duty!
Lemurs From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1439 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 784 times:
Quoting JetMaster (Reply 14): Most likely it's a team behind, PR is not reduced to one person in such a big company.
It's probably a little less sinister than that. Randy picks topics he wants to blog about, sends them on to the numbers folks to get numbers back, writes it up in his own voice (you can almost always tell the difference between something written in one person's voice, and something written by committee) then sends it along to LCA and PR to make sure they're okay with it...they may or may not tweak something here and there to make sure it's publicly consumable, and then it goes on to the IT folks so they can put it on the web, and maybe find some good graphics to go with it.
From the standpoint of his commitment, the hard parts (numbers, legal, formatting for web) is done by others, so he gets to write his opinions and spin, in his own voice, in very little time.
(I have a lot of experience with corporate blogging, and I can almost guarantee you it's not nearly as organized as some are making it sound.)
There are 10 kinds of people in the world; those who understand binary, and those that don't.
Klkla From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 803 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 781 times:
Quoting Winglet (Thread starter): The blog strikes me as entertaining because of corporate stooping to such a low level to take cheap shots at a competitor seems surreal.
Please give a specific example of Randy's 'cheap shots' rather than just a general flamatory statement.
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 18, posted (7 years 7 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 685 times:
Quoting Winglet (Thread starter): Boeing and Airbus as a company are massive. The blog strikes me as entertaining because of corporate stooping to such a low level to take cheap shots at a competitor seems surreal.
Quoting Lumberton (Reply 1): You can assure? What is your source? You should lighten up and take this blog for what it is--a public relations effort. Have you ever hear any of John Leahy's comments? If anything, Boeing waited far too long in getting their own "spin machine" in gear. Smile
Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 17): Randy Baseler is Boeing's version of John Leahy. He even has the same evil grin on his face.
actually, I believe it would probably be Alan Mulally
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