Apple Should Fire Its PR People
The story continues to boil. The tale of a company that got a litle out of hand as it tried to control access to information. The irony is that the real rumor sites like ThinkSecret, MacOSRumors, and SpyMac have no delusions of getting credentialed. What this boils down to is badly managed censorship. What stinks is the fact that Apple tried to cover it up and shift the blame to IDG. What also stinks is that they pulled credentials from people who had already been granted them.
We are talking about sites that do amount to mainstream news sites for the Mac users. Remember that MacCentral started out as a 'Fan Site', and stands as the dream of many web site owners. I am sure MacCentral will have credentials, regardless of the fact that they have published rumors over the years. These sites create a web of support amongst users and deserve the respect due, for the hours and the passion they represent.
There is a fine balance between 'Freedom Of The Press', and the rights of a corporation to protect its assets. Apple all to often has stepped over the line. They create the expectation and then get upset when the fans get frenzied over those expectations. All you have to do is look at what happened with last years MacWorld NY. Apple is a company that needs the support of its fan base. It is that fan base over the years that has allowed it to survive in spite of some of the dumbest corporate moves in history. We live for the brilliant moves that happen often enough to keep us entranced with the sometimes worm ridden core.
This whole mess could have been avoided with proper planning and proper advanced announcements. The PR people who were involved should be sacked, and sacked quick. They get paid to avoid exactly this kind of mess. The failure to manage the situation is the real mess. Apple could have dealt with this better in a number of ways. Too bad they blew it...mj
for more information read the linked stories in 'Apple Steps In It'
10:11:09 AM 
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