NYT v Amazon
By now, you’ve read it.
As of this writing, it’s received over 5,000 comments.
The Sunday New York Times Page One feature was a fascinating read and allegedly well researched. There was really nothing shocking disclosed as corporate culture demands and creates the type of environment described in the story with no compelling need to repeat it here.
The shocking part was Amazon's response in both the manufactured memo from Amazon Chief Exeutive Jeff Bezos, and the one from Jay Carney, Amazon SVP of Global Corporate Affairs, in believing he might control the burn via a remote feed from Seattle during a live interview on Monday’s (17 August 2015) CBS Early Show.
I’d ask what was Carney thinking by not being in-studio, however, we’re not sure if thinking was part of this excuse for a press strategy.
Based on what we have learned of Amazon, let's go out on a limb and say Amazon most likely has a jet on call 24/7 regardless of the day or time of the week. Unless there was a family emergency with Jay (and forgive me if there was), the former White House Press Secretary should have been on that plane Sunday and in studio at CBS on Monday.
CBS took the high road. Just prior to Carney’s interview (most likely pre-taped, pre-show), Jodi Kantor the NYT journalist who co-wrote the Sunday cover story with David Streitfield, was interviewed live at the Early Show desk. Amazon facts and figures, including their overall market value of $250 billion were discussed and displayed as graphics. If Kantor had remained seated there during Carney's interview, it could have gotten ugly.
It got ugly regardless.
Carney opened by saying to Charlie (Rose) that it was great to “see” him but stopped mid-sentence. On a remote feed, Jay most likely could not see Early Show co-hosts Charlie Rose, Gayle King or Holly Williams, nor their facial expressions or body language responses during his interview.
Then again, neither did we.
Perhaps this was the trade out Carney negotiated for giving an exclusive interview to CBS News and CBS agreed, knowing the amount of traffic they would attract to their digital platform. Or perhaps we’re giving too much credit to both or either side on this one.
Carney was presented with the gift of a national broadcast platform and international digital platform and uninterrupted time to state Amazon’s case. Instead he wasted it with an admittedly “fundamental reaction” to the Times feature, drawing countless comparisons of the corporate culture at Amazon to similar tech giants.
Finally, back at the desk and on camera, correspondent Holly Williams was as seemingly frustrated as all of us, and asked if Jay had "a concrete rebuttal" to the feature.
He did. Sort of.
By then, our coffee was cold and we were already shutting down, as he had blown the valuable opportunity afforded to him by disrespecting those of us that turned on and tuned in to hear something, anything of substance.
Then, as Jon Stewart used to enticingly proclaim with his wonderful "Go on..." This Happened.
In the closing moments of his interview, Charlie asked, and Carney admitted that Amazon does not pay for maternity leave.
Carney was then quick to throw one final Hail Mary comparison in that Amazon was one of “80% of U.S. companies" that don’t cover maternity leave.
With every example he was quick to bore us with during the interview, this one wasn't weak. It was reprehensible.
What he didn’t mention was how many of those U.S. companies had that overall market value of $250 billion, the figure CBS reminded us of at the beginning of the segment.
Then again, when you phone it in, you're going to miss a few great moments by believing you're the smartest guy in the room when in fact, you're not even there.
This post was the lead feature in the August 18, 2015 issue of PRNewswer.
By now, you’ve read it.
As of this writing, it’s received over 5,000 comments.
The Sunday New York Times Page One feature was a fascinating read and allegedly well researched. There was really nothing shocking disclosed as corporate culture demands and creates the type of environment described in the story with no compelling need to repeat it here.
The shocking part was Amazon's response in both the manufactured memo from Amazon Chief Exeutive Jeff Bezos, and the one from Jay Carney, Amazon SVP of Global Corporate Affairs, in believing he might control the burn via a remote feed from Seattle during a live interview on Monday’s (17 August 2015) CBS Early Show.
I’d ask what was Carney thinking by not being in-studio, however, we’re not sure if thinking was part of this excuse for a press strategy.
Based on what we have learned of Amazon, let's go out on a limb and say Amazon most likely has a jet on call 24/7 regardless of the day or time of the week. Unless there was a family emergency with Jay (and forgive me if there was), the former White House Press Secretary should have been on that plane Sunday and in studio at CBS on Monday.
CBS took the high road. Just prior to Carney’s interview (most likely pre-taped, pre-show), Jodi Kantor the NYT journalist who co-wrote the Sunday cover story with David Streitfield, was interviewed live at the Early Show desk. Amazon facts and figures, including their overall market value of $250 billion were discussed and displayed as graphics. If Kantor had remained seated there during Carney's interview, it could have gotten ugly.
It got ugly regardless.
Carney opened by saying to Charlie (Rose) that it was great to “see” him but stopped mid-sentence. On a remote feed, Jay most likely could not see Early Show co-hosts Charlie Rose, Gayle King or Holly Williams, nor their facial expressions or body language responses during his interview.
Then again, neither did we.
Perhaps this was the trade out Carney negotiated for giving an exclusive interview to CBS News and CBS agreed, knowing the amount of traffic they would attract to their digital platform. Or perhaps we’re giving too much credit to both or either side on this one.
Carney was presented with the gift of a national broadcast platform and international digital platform and uninterrupted time to state Amazon’s case. Instead he wasted it with an admittedly “fundamental reaction” to the Times feature, drawing countless comparisons of the corporate culture at Amazon to similar tech giants.
Finally, back at the desk and on camera, correspondent Holly Williams was as seemingly frustrated as all of us, and asked if Jay had "a concrete rebuttal" to the feature.
He did. Sort of.
By then, our coffee was cold and we were already shutting down, as he had blown the valuable opportunity afforded to him by disrespecting those of us that turned on and tuned in to hear something, anything of substance.
Then, as Jon Stewart used to enticingly proclaim with his wonderful "Go on..." This Happened.
In the closing moments of his interview, Charlie asked, and Carney admitted that Amazon does not pay for maternity leave.
Carney was then quick to throw one final Hail Mary comparison in that Amazon was one of “80% of U.S. companies" that don’t cover maternity leave.
With every example he was quick to bore us with during the interview, this one wasn't weak. It was reprehensible.
What he didn’t mention was how many of those U.S. companies had that overall market value of $250 billion, the figure CBS reminded us of at the beginning of the segment.
Then again, when you phone it in, you're going to miss a few great moments by believing you're the smartest guy in the room when in fact, you're not even there.
This post was the lead feature in the August 18, 2015 issue of PRNewswer.
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