Using Blogs as Free Press?

If there’s any phrase I’ve heard too often, it’s this one. There’s no such thing as bad press.

Sarah Jessica Parker is cashing in on free press. First, she invites fashion editors to view her new clothing line, Bitten. Word gets out.

+1 for Bitten, simply because it’s SJP*

Then, bloggers announce the line will be carried by Steve and Berry, a very random store in the Manhattan Mall. Yes, there’s a mall in Manhattan. No, I wasn’t aware either.

-5 for store choice on SJP’s part, +10 for the blog reaction

On Wednesday, Fashionista.com put up the first images of her new line, asking for reader opinion. But not a day later, the images were down at the request of Steve and Berry.

They missed this site though.

+4 for the hype created by the limited access

Now, apparently S&B is looking into a redesign of the clothes based on the negative opinions of readers.

+15 for free advice from customers

Fashion may not be a luxury, but Parker must be enjoying the free press thanks to the bloggers. The clothes may not be what we all expected from the woman who made Manolo famous, but she’s certainly keeping her name in the blogosphere. And I think that's exactly how she wanted this to go.

*purely based on my own calculations

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A group blog exploring our media world. Produced by the Digital Journalism: Blogging course at New York University, Spring 2007.

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