Posts Tagged ‘Media Productions’

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New Geography Named to Planetizen’s Best of 2010 List

By Dave Roby, March 19, 2010 | Comments

A public policy news and information website published by Praxis Strategy Group of Grand Forks, N.D., has been named as a top site for 2010.

It was inevitable that certain voices that reject the current belief system of urban planning – people like Wendell Cox, Joel Kotkin, and Michael Lind – would band together.

Grand Forks, ND (Vocus/PRWEB ) March 16, 2010 — A public policy news and information website published by Praxis Strategy Group of Grand Forks, N.D., has been named as a top site for 2010.

Praxis Graphics Primary - Word Press

Planetizen, recognized as one of the world’s most popular urban planning websites, included newgeography.com on its 2010 list of the best planning, design and development websites for 2010. The sites named to the annual list are said to represent some of the top online resources for those interested in planning, design and development.

Websites are nominated by Planetizen readers and staff and judged against a common set of criteria including content, design and usability.

In citing NewGeography.com, judges commended its fair and balanced content, even though it sometimes goes against the grain of popular thinking among planners: “It was inevitable that certain voices that reject the current belief system of urban planning – people like Wendell Cox, Joel Kotkin, and Michael Lind – would band together. What wasn’t inevitable is that their collaboration would be readable, fair, and dare we say, balanced. With a bent towards the libertarian, Kotkin and crew cover urban issues, housing, politics and the suburbs with a hefty dose of demographics and GIS maps.”

Launched in 2008, NewGeography.com includes analysis and commentary on economic development, demographics, economics, politics and other public policy issues. It features writing and research from authors across the U.S., Europe, China and New Zealand and publishes an annual “Best Cities for Job Growth” in partnership with Forbes.com.

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group

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Red River Valley Research Corridor ~ Life Sciences Action Summit ~ February 19, 2010 Fargo, ND

By Dave Roby, January 20, 2010 | Comments

RRVRClogo-1Co-hosted by U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan and the Red River Valley Research Corridor. Fargo, ND, February 19, 2009

This year’s summit will focus on developing and strengthening the Red River Valley’s burgeoning life sciences industry.  Presenters including entrepreneurs, financiers, researchers, and scientists from the region and around the nation will discuss and explore actions the region can and is taking to foster strong, sustainable growth in the life sciences sector.

More about the Life Sciences Action Summit

Register Now

River Valley Research Corridor Action Summits

The Red River Valley Research Corridor and U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan work in cooperation with leading economic, science and technology-based organizations in North Dakota and the Great Plains region to organize action summits.

Action summits are high-impact conferences that have a razor-like focus on specific research and technology development opportunities in the region. The summits are intended to:

  1. Facilitate learning, networking and collaboration in the region.
  2. Connect with key partners in business and government from outside the region in a highly focused and purposeful manner.
  3. Showcase science and technology-based capabilities and initiatives in the Corridor.
  4. Engage key players inside and outside the region to put a focus on what do we do now and in the future to make the Red River Valley Corridor an epicenter of research, development and/or production in this particular science and technology field.

Previous Research Corridor action summits have focused on hydrogen energy, venture capital, radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, polymers and coatings, life sciences, animal identification systems and unmanned aircraft systems.

The Red River Valley Research Corridor is an independent non-profit corporation committed to catalyzing and promoting science, technology and engineering initiatives that create new opportunities in the region

Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center

DeloreZimmermanShot - SmallDr. Delore Zimmerman, President & CEO of Praxis Strategy Group in Grand Forks, Fargo & Los Angeles, California was named to serve as the Coordinator. Delore has over twenty years experience working with companies in technology and information industries, universities and local development groups. Since its founding Praxis has been awarded 8 Small Business Innovation Research Awards.

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group.


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Show me the video

By Maureen Olsen, January 14, 2010 | Comments

Recently, I heard about a new restaurant in Fargo, so I asked a few friends about it. It seemed like the word hadn’t yet spread around:

“Haven’t tried it yet.”
“Haven’t heard of it.”
“Oh, is that the new one south of town?”

No real luck.

Next, I searched for the restaurant on Google, and I found a TV commercial on YouTube.

“Great,” I’m thinking. “A chance to get a feel for the place.”

photo by schmilblick on Flickr

photo by schmilblick on Flickr

I  learned a little bit from the 30-second commercial. The place had a ton of pool tables, and some pretty-good looking pizza.

But I still wanted more.

What if I don’t play pool? Can I sit down and have a meal with my family? Is the ambiance refined and quiet, or more social and fun? How about a word from the kitchen or the wait staff?

Is your commercial enough for online users? Is that what they are looking for?

A TV spot is supposed to generate awareness, and sometimes a specific action. But on the web – especially searching on YouTube – your audience is already engaged and interested. Online video gives you a platform to tell them more.

Coined the “lean forward” medium, online video gives you access to an interested user, and a chance to talk to them one-on-one. Don’t miss out on that opportunity.

Here are a few tips to make the most of your online video:

  1. Your communications strategy is key. Online video should support your business goals and communicate your key messages.
  2. Use relevant content. Give your users what they’re looking for. Do they want to be entertained and get a feel for your brand? Or do they need more information about your product before they buy?
  3. Be Sincere. Keep it real. For example, use testimonials from the real users of the product or service—not models or actors.
  4. Decide what production value you need. Don’t spend any more money than necessary on production. A Flip camera works great for simple blog interviews. For anything more than that, consider working with a professional to produce your original content.
  5. Keep it Short. Online videos should meet your user’s time constraints. Usually nothing longer than 1-2 minutes. Make every second interesting.

Here’s to your engaging online videos in 2010.

Posted in Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive | Comments

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Fargo aglow with Hollywood version of Madison Avenue

By Kim Kemmer, December 10, 2009 | Comments

On the day of our 61st annual Christmas client party, one may be consumed with the thought that tonight will be a step back to the future in this year’s theme of “AdMen and AdWomen.” Our themed Christmas party for clients, suppliers, partners and friends is a long-standing tradition in Flint Group culture.

This year’s theme of course, is in homage to the popular television show, now in its third season. A brief background for those who may not have noticed the fervor; “Mad Men” is an AMC period drama centered on Madison Avenue advertising executives in the early 60’s.

Our 2009 Client Holiday Party: "Admen Yourself" at http://www.flintcom.com/holiday/

Our 2009 Client Holiday Party: "Admen Yourself" at http://www.flintcom.com/holiday/

Historically, the early 60’s was a noteworthy time in advertising history. Some industry experts cite the period as a highpoint, “with skinny ties and fat budgets.” Others look to the era as a turning point of advertising decay and rebirth. Interestingly enough, one needs to read only an industry article or two to note emerging patterns that are reminiscent to the time period of the television series.

For those who experienced the era in real-time or who have heard the story from those who did, a recent article in Advertising Age puts the television series, “Mad Men” in perspective. “Those things did not happen that way” – Ken Wheaton as quoted in the November 2, 2009 article, “Real London Fog Adman Not Happy About “Mad Men.”

When asking Flint staff about past client parties, perhaps the same is true, that “those things did not happen that way.”

Happy Holidays.

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The 7 Deadly Sins of Presenting

By Lee Massey, December 1, 2009 | Comments

You’ve spent hours finding the perfect presenters for your event. You’ve flown them to your venue, briefed them about your employees, your corporate culture, your business model, your goals for your event.

You’ve written speeches for your senior management team and rehearsed them to perfection.

You’ve spent a lot of money preparing graphics, videos and handouts.

Your event begins and suddenly, you feel that horrible tightness in your stomach. The microphone is squealing. The projector is too dim and the screen is too small. You see the attendees squirm in their seats, your CEO gives you “that look” and at that moment, you’re the captain of the Titanic.

Been there? Well, here are the “7 Deadly Sins of Presenting.”

  1. Using an inadequate sound system
  2. Not properly illuminating your stage
  3. Using a screen that’s too small for the size of your audience
  4. Using type, pictures or graphics that are too small or busy
  5. Not providing image magnification for large audiences
  6. Not controlling your environment
  7. Not consulting a professional service provider

What do you think? Do you have any to add to this list?

Media Productions is a partner of the Flint Group.

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Media Productions and WestmorelandFlint Partner for Fashion & Fundraising.

By Lee Massey, October 28, 2009 | Comments

Several weeks ago, Media Productions and WestmorelandFlint helped maurices, a national fashion retailer with corporate headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota and 700+ stores in 43 states, launch Rescues & Runways. Rescues and Runways is a national campaign that paired fashion and fundraising to help animal shelters and the homeless pets they serve. It was the first in a series of similar events to be staged at maurices stores nationwide. The Duluth event not only helped needy animals find new homes, but it also treated eager onlookers to animals strutting their stuff down the runway, each escorted by a well-dressed model.

maurices-5

The event was staged in the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, in front of the maurices’ store. The venue offered a unique set of challenges for the Media Productions team. A 20’ x 20’ skylight was located directly above the best location in the mall to produce the event. The team climbed to the roof and covered the skylight with heavy gauge black plastic to block out the sunlight and allow for creative and colorful lighting on the style show stage. Sound also required creative attention to overcome the echo-prone environment of a shopping mall.

Media Productions designed and assembled all production elements needed for the show including staging, scenery, audio, lighting, and even pipe & drape to build dressing rooms for the models.

WestmorelandFlint helped coordinate promotional aspects of the event to garner an abundance of regional and national media coverage. Additionally, Flint Interactive built the website that promoted the event and is being used nationwide as the other 700+ maurices stores hold their events.

The results of the first event were outstanding. Nearly 50 cats and dogs who were being cared for by Animal Allies found new homes as a result of the event. Donations for local animal shelters poured in for a full month following the event—brought in by people in exchange for a 20 percent-off coupon to maurices. The event and campaign raised awareness and increased volunteerism for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the local shelter. And as a result, maurices became synonymous with a great cause.

To see videos, please click here. For more photos of the event, click here.

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