Transparency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s also an ethical practice in my opinion. When I see companies not being transparent, especially companies whose products and services I use, it makes me very angry.
This morning I tweeted about an AT&T video blogger, Seth, who kindly informed us outraged iPhone users that picture and video messaging was finally on the way (link to story and video). I’ll spare you my thoughts on that delay. So I am getting all giddy about the prospect of finally being able to send picture messages to someone directly and not having to worry if they have access to email to view pictures.
At least I was giddy, until I was informed by my friend Matt Motley that Seth the AT&T blogger guy, as he calls himself, is actually Seth the SVP of Fleishman-Hillard acting as the AT&T blogger guy. And then I got fired up. While this is not Seth posing as the AT&T customer, I feel it’s only steps away.
Being in the industry myself, I understand that giving your employees the power to speak on behalf of the company is a tricky line to walk, but at least have your in-house corporate communications department video blog on behalf of the company, especially about something this huge.
I’ll say this Seth, you did a fantastic job of posing as an awkward tech nerd, and for that I give you props for fooling me initially.
As my friend Matt Galloway said, “‘Transparency’ is about not stuffing a sock in your underwear. It’s not about wearing see-through pants.”
