A few weeks ago, I was asked by Lisa Lacy on behalf of ClickZ why MTV’s Jersey Shore has become so popular through social media and conditions for the “perfect storm”.

‘Jersey Shore’ Builds Momentum with Social Apps

By Lisa Lacy, ClickZ, Jan 20, 2010

When actor Michael Cera got his hair blown out by Jersey Shore’s DJ Pauly D in a cross-promotional effort for Cera’s new film, Youth in Revolt, it was a new high for MTV’s hit reality show.

The show’s basic premise is similar to over 20 preceding seasons in MTV’s Real World franchise, yet Snooki, Vinny and the rest of the gang have reached an unprecedented level of cultural saturation. According to Nielsen, 1.4 million viewers tuned in to the premiere on December 4. And numbers have steadily risen since then, culminating in 3.6 million viewers tuning in on January 14.

That’s thanks in part to MTV’s efforts to harness organic buzz and create branded content. The company has launched a Twitter integration, exclusive online videos, and is preparing new features such as a character generator and an iPhone app.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week Roger Avary, Oscar winner and co-scribe of Pulp Fiction, was removed from a work furlough program and transferred to a California jail just days after using his Twitter account to share private information about his cellmate.

The Ventura County’s sheriff’s department said he was transferred due to security reasons and not for his Twitter updates.

An interesting insight into the inner sanctums of America’s prison system or yet another incident demonstrating the freedoms celebrities are allowed that others are not?

Losing the ability to communicate with others is one of the fundamental liberties one is denied once they’ve been put behind bars. We’ve all heard it – “one phone call.”

When will it become – one email, last text message, or final tweet? What will inmates be allowed in this changing digital landscape? With blackberries and mobile Internet, what’s stopping someone from emailing the “rat” in a crime scandal just before he or she gets thrown behind bars?

I’ll be curious to see what rules the law will enforce or whom they’ll make an example out of. I have a sneaky suspicion that person is not going to be an Academy Award winner.

In August, Avary pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated following a fatal crash last year.

In the era of internet marketing, in order for a social media campaign to be successful, it’s a given that it must move beyond traditional media (print, broadcast, radio) channels to include a consumer driven online PR and social strategy.

The question now isn’t whether the social media component is necessary for a campaign, but rather:

How can online and offline entities work together to effectively promote a campaign and build word of mouth marketing?

From my experience, having worked on both sides, one of the most important factors in ensuring the success of an integrated campaign is the need for traditional and interactive campaigns to be launched simultaneously.

It’s important for managers on both sides to coordinate a launch date for the campaign and make sure both traditional and digital media fronts are mobilized by this date in order to maximize exposure and build on momentum.

Case and point, the integrated publicity campaign for the premiere of the third installment of the New Moon trailer on the MTV Video Music Awards this week:

Read the rest of this entry »

KML had the chance to spend some time talking with Jonathan Waud, who recently appeared on Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel Season 2. He not only won us over (we may be slightly biased)– he won over the fans by winning the vote for Favorite Model.

Since we love all things social media, we thought we’d take this opportunity to ask our favorite supermodel some questions about how he uses social media and the web to connect with his ever-growing fan base.

How active would you say you are online?

I love to be online but I’m always on the go so I don’t get as much surf time as I’d like. Thank goodness for mobile!  When I am home, I do everything online–  Facebook, banking, news, staying in touch with family.  Everything.

What are your five favorite web sites you can’t live without?

Google is my home page, Style.com, Topgear.co.uk, iTunes, Facebook, oh and of course KARMA Media Labs! (laughs) Read the rest of this entry »

September 2007: I’m three months out of college with a degree in theater and philosophy (somehow the job offers weren’t exactly lining up with that piece of paper backing me).  Some may remember this specific day in early September of that year, as there was a blackout in Los Angeles.

With nothing to do myself and my roommates, all of us related to film/performing with our majors and degrees; do exactly what any sensible twenty something would do without Xbox 360 or internet.  We sat on our lawn and drank beer, and told ghost stories.

For nine hours.

Now, don’t be fooled–I am at heart a complete and utter nerd (and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one at KARMA Media Labs). Read the rest of this entry »