Dec
9
A few weeks ago I received an email that I got very excited about. Here’s a screenshot:
I posted about my enthusiasm for Riley on Instagram and Twitter, and people began to get excited for him. Then I heard that our Great Big Interview had actually been … a Great Big Ad. Here’s what I shared on Twitter about how it went down:
So remember how excited I was for Riley to talk to Alex Blumberg from This American Life? Well, he did. It was awesome.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
Except the resulting clip was used for a Squarespace ad. Not a show about Minecraft, or a show about kids using Squarespace. An ad.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
Which I just listened to as a sponsorship for the podcast Reply All. Well. That’s … yeah. Not at all how it was presented to me.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
This is how it was presented to me. No one said anything about it being used for an ad. I’m very, very bummed. @NPR pic.twitter.com/ulpjl71pVx
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
Blumberg’s calling me now, will report back. :(
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
Alex from @ThisAmerLife called an apologized. He’s a super nice guy. But just a giant unethical move and I’m so sad it came from them.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
I didn’t ask for the ad to be pulled, bc fundamentally we DO love Squarespace. But native advertising HAS to be transparent to all parties.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
Otherwise … when we blur the lines between marketing and journalism the point where people are misinformed, that’s just lying.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
And I’m really, really sad my @NPR loving kid got so stoked for what ended up being a commercial. I don’t even know what to tell him.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
We’re still fans, but I had to tell the rest of this story, especially since I got people so invested.
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
No one gave me a release to sign or anything like that, or talked about compensation. And no, I would never sue. @ThisAmerLife
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
But it was beyond shady and I hope all ad policies are re-considered (seewhatIdidthere) going forward. @ThisAmerLife
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
As for my “beyond shady” comment … well, I regret that now. But here’s why I wrote it:
One last bit, and then I’m done: @abexlumberg’s team had ample team to correct my belief my son’s call was editorial. pic.twitter.com/9v9rCkyVFi
— Linda (@Sundry) November 25, 2014
After a few days had passed …
Turns out part of the endless confusion about Riley’s phone call with Alex Blumberg is that Alex isn't with This American Life any more.
— Linda (@Sundry) December 3, 2014
It was represented to me as though he was, which is why I turned around and told you guys that. Alex left to start Gimlet Media.
— Linda (@Sundry) December 3, 2014
I have an interview with Alex today to talk about the mess, and how he was using the ad for his biz, http://t.co/Ov2FPsAsyx.
— Linda (@Sundry) December 3, 2014
It will be aired, hopefully, on his podcast Startup. I’ll let you know when/where/how etc. Alex has been super apologetic …
— Linda (@Sundry) December 3, 2014
…and really seems to want to make amends. Lord knows I’ve made colossal fuckups before, glad to help him share his side of the story.
— Linda (@Sundry) December 3, 2014
Here’s his story. It’s good. It’s all good.
Nov
4
More and more and better and better
Filed Under Uncategorized | 32 Comments
The kid-related milestones and changes have been coming fast and furious lately, and unlike teething and potty training these are all of the soft-focus, eye-wellingly-awesome variety. The first big-kid, no-pictures, reading-for-pleasure book for Riley (The Lightning Thief). The first cafeteria hot lunches, which means less sandwich-making for me (yessss) and more variety for them. The first school classmate social challenge that we were able to talk about with Riley in such a positive manner I’m still fist-pumping our blue-ribbon parenting teamwork two weeks later. The first year I’ve been able to volunteer in their classrooms, and all the incredible benefits I’ve seen from doing so. The first visit from the Tooth Fairy for Dylan. The first year where they just absolutely rocked Halloween and we all enjoyed it so much I wanted them to stay awake so the night could go on and on. The first school year of seriously thinking-intensive homework for Riley and how much he enjoys us working with him to get it done (I take the spelling/reading stuff, John’s the math guy). The first year I’ve thought on more than one occasion, all this parenting stuff just got real.
It’s so so much greatness, so much sweetness, so much amazing-glorious-wonderful-fantasticness. I wish I had more time to write about it all, but god, it’s also so busy. It’s just so much, and I love it.
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