Media Manipulation and Unconventional Marketing: Author Ryan Holiday on "Trust Me I'm Lying"
"I've manufactured controversies, done stunts, planted fake stories," says Ryan Holiday, media strategist and author of new book, Trust Me I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator.
Holiday sat down with ReasonTV's Tracy Oppenheimer to talk about his own experiences manipulating the media for clients like Tucker Max, and the insight he's since gained into the new world of journalism.
"There's no question that I think it's great that people have access to publishing in a way they have never had before, but there is the law of unintended consequences and what that's done in this case is make misinformation a lot easier," says Holiday, "we've embraced this new technology, but we haven't erected any defenses, made any changes or changed how we consume the news, or believe what we read based on these changes."
About 7:50 minutes
Produced by Tracy Oppenheimer. Shot by Mark Wagner and Sharif Matar.
Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive notification when new material goes live.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
Assholes post first
i second that motion
This is good. We need to see more of Tracy.
Ok, on topic. Sounds like Hit&Run; also qualifies in terms of online news cycles and what to popularize
4:52 mark: Tracy is bored with the movie talk and abruptly changes the story. "Enough about your little fratboy film!"
About that there are no longer three news gatekeepers: "...but, you know, there's the law of unintended consequences and what that's done in this case is just make misinformation a lot easier..."
Because being the person everyone had to listen to meant Walter Cronkite was forced to alway tell the absolute, undeniable truth.
"Because being the person everyone had to listen to meant Walter Cronkite was forced to alway tell the absolute, undeniable truth."
^ this.
Uncle Walter was not horrible, but he was just one more reporter converted into a statist by the 'wonder' of the US efforts in WWII.
His book is worth a read. I borrowed it from a friend, the local library did not have it.
"The fact is, the movie did poorly at the box office because we failed at one of the most, if not he most, important aspect of making a successful movie: Marketing that movie." Tucker Max, on the work of Ryan Holiday. Ryan is a smart kid, but in many ways I think he is failing to comprehend some basic things about his craft. Getting over is not convincing. People sell themselves. Don't sell shit. Mysteriously, he simultaneously gives people too much and not enough credit. People are so stupid they believe anything from the internet ... forgetting all of us who build the goddamn thing, and keep it free of the poisonous, protectionist rules he dreams of. The argument, for all its techno-nerdism, is strikingly socialist and what I would expect of an American Apparel employee. I'm more interested to see what Mr Holiday comes up with when he can grow facial hair in another 10 years or so.
This is so funny, trust me, but lying as the same time.
While I'll agree he's a master of getting attention, I question that it's purely for the brands he represents. He seems to seek and thrive on the personal attention. And given that his tactics are intended to manipulate, I refuse to support such ethics.
""&B125;&""
really like and appreciate your blog saved to bookmarks very nice post
lovely just what i was searching for i truly appreciate this article i certainly love this site
would you be all for exchanging hyperlinks? really enjoyed studying thank you for share
nice articles so many people will be thankful with your talking where can i find additional information about this ?
assisted me a lot sweet website you are a very clever person
excited with your article wonderful post really looking forward to read more