Rob’s blog
Blog remora
blog remora, n., blahg reh-MOH-rah: One who attempts to increase the popularity of her or his own blog, or avoid the labour of blogging, by quoting the comments of more established bloggers. e.g. - "Heyz, everyone. I'm kinda hung over after last night's MeetUp, so if...
The latest tool in consumer vengeance: the blog
Since we're on a revenge theme today, let's take a quick look at consumers who are using blogs to take a swipe at companies what done them wrong. The Hobson and Holtz Report has spent the past week discussing two bloggers who are taking on companies that have sold...
(Focus) tested in battle
BBC News: New name for 'war on terror' Confidential focus group report To: Karl Rove Re.: Rebranding exercise Note to Karl: This thing actually is confidential, okay? It's not like the identity of a CIA operative; this is serious business here. Focus group conducted...
The Telus firewall
While Telus cries foul over cable-cutting in its labour dispute, the company has been snipping a few virtual wires of its own. ...Specifically, the connections leading to at least two web sites critical of the company. If you want to check out their perspective, and...
Help wanted.
As Rick Mercer points out, one of the top speechwriting gigs in the country is up for grabs: The writing fraternity in Canada is abuzz with talk that the Prime Minister’s speechwriter, Scott Feschuck, has decided to vacate his post. This means that for the first...
Apparel by Alex
Just in time for the late summer season, the latest must-have blogging accoutrements at Caf?©press.com: the BlogHer Cafe, with all proceeds going to BlogHerCon. Each T-shirt, mug, cap, bib and onesie bears a slogan dreamed up by the ever-astonishing Alex, including:...
Vancouver Courier on Rob on speechwriting
The Vancouver Courier has a big front-page article by Brandon Yip on speechwriting, interviewing folks like Tim Porteous (who wrote for Pierre Trudeau during those heady early years at the end of the 1960s), Libby Davies, Bill Vander Zalm, Hedy Fry, and recovering...
The end of the conference as we know it?
How many conferences have you been to where a head table of presenters opened with dry, over-cautious remarks, and things only got interesting during the audience Q and A? Alex, blogging from AdvocacyDev II, is delighted at the tack the organizers -- a duo called...
The Hotel Tea Drinker’s Manifesto
Friends! Tannin-stained comrades! The time has come to rise up and overthrow the shackles of half-assed hotel tea! We have gone from conference to conference, month after month, year after year. We have choked down stale mini-croissants, poked at soggy and lifeless...
SpeechList Issue 2:
5 kinds of jokes that don’t work… and 5 kinds that do
Here's Issue #2 of SpeechList, the speechwriting newsletter. You can get a copy fresh and a few days early in your inbox by clicking here to subscribe. SPEECHLIST: WRITING TO BE HEARD Issue 2 - July 5, 2005 by Rob Cottingham https://www.robcottingham.ca/ mail: rob at...
Livingstone on the terrorist attacks
I don't often reproduce speeches in their entirety, but Ken Livingstone's statement today is extraordinary, stirring and well worth reading. This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured,...
Health Canada’s social marketing resource
Well, now, this is handy: a little social marketing mini-web-site courtesy of the folks at Health Canada. There's a not-too-quick and not-too-dirty guide to what social marketing is and how to do it -- including an extensive tutorial on writing a marketing plan....
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
