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Friday 11 February 2011

Stairs or escalators, what would you choose?

I wanted to share this video on my blog as it is a great example of 'Choice Architecture'. The basic concept focuses around helping people make better choices without taking away their right to choose. I love the idea that simple behavioural changes can be made when the element of choice is subconsciously made for us.


This concept can be stretched across a multitude of platforms and social environments.
For example: What if supermarket trolleys had built in compartments for different groceries, the largest being for fruit and veg - would consumers consequently buy more fruit and veg because there is more space in that compartment? 

For more information on Choice Architecture read the book Nudge by R.H.Thaler & C.R.Sunstein


This blog has moved to www.laurarobinsonblog.com

Monday 7 February 2011

I'm Impressed

Press - A medium which has received a lot of well Press in the last few years as the media industry coos over the birth of digital and possibly the retirement of Press.
In the short time I have spent in the Press department at MEC my opinion has changed. My initial view was that Press was on its last legs but in all honesty I believe it still has a lot of credibility. More importantly I believe the way we think about press needs to change and be promoted in a way which glorifies it rather than dismisses it.
In thinking of how to change people’s perceptions of Press I questioned the status and authenticity of news which circulates around the web. Content and stories posted online can spread virally within minutes but unless these make headlines in the national press, how important and newsworthy are they?

Take this example of a Tweet which was re-tweeted by Stephen Fry: "Pls join me in supporting Rebecca (a long-time pal of Stella's dad, John) and school friends walking 50 miles to give this little girl a fighting chance."
As a result, Stella received over £2000 through Twitter, but more significantly her story made national headlines and featured in The Sun!

Ask yourself this: If the story didn’t appear in the pages of the press, how important would you have considered it and what is the likelihood of you even knowing about it?

During my morning commute I religiously read the Metro newspaper and as a result came across a number of crucial articles relating to our competitor brands. Interestingly both articles commented on the brands' online ad campaigns; demonstrating press' role in enhancing the story's significance. More importantly, without reading these in the Metro first it is unlikely that I would have come across them or even deemed them as important or relevant.

I think people should see Press as giving the ultimate stamp of approval and authority rather than as a dying medium. Press isn't dead, because without it how can we distinguish what is newsworthy?