Winners were to be announced Tuesday. Then, without explanation, the Republic said it hoped to post results at week's end. By Thursday, with still no news, the situation turned ugly, as the mob-like moms threatened to storm the gates. Among their furious comments:
"Really,'' huffed jlanoue, "What could be taking so long? I voted forever and now I want the results. They said Monday and Tuesday it would be posted. Is anyone finding this a little fishy?????"
"Yea, come on already,'' harrumphed keepcool1231, who was, in fact, anything but cool. "Isn't it computer-generated? Or are you manually counting the votes?"
Soon, a call rose for an investigation. "This is very disappointing and unprofessional!" wrote alleycat815. "Does anyone know who we can contact and complain to in regards to the winner of the 'Hot Dad' contest?"
Appealing for reason, ForeverClassy urged calm: "Please be patient; they're pretty good when this site has contests."
But, no! Yesterday, Editor Yvette Armendariz once more dashed our hopes. "I wish I could announce our winner, but I don't know yet,'' she wrote. "I'm waiting for a report, just like you. Please be patient. I apologize that our contest rules posted the incorrect date for the prize announcement. We typically anticipate a week after the contest closes, but sometimes -- depending on reports we are waiting for -- it can take longer."
To the ramparts, moms!
Earlier: Simmering moms told to chill
[Photo: Hot Dads hopeful Aaron; all the candidates here]
This is branding, even though the company may not want to admit it. This is the shit that people remember.
ReplyDeleteThe contest rules (linked to from this page) are as long as War and Peace. But they give the newspaper ("sponsor”) an out, in the event of a problem. Here's the key passage:
ReplyDeleteSponsor will interpret these rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules or the Sweepstakes and “Sponsor” decisions concerning such disputes shall be final. If the conduct or outcome of the Sweepstakes is affected by human error, any mechanical malfunctions or failures of any kind, intentional or unintentional interference or any event beyond the control of the “Sponsor”, “Sponsor” reserves the right to terminate this Sweepstakes, or make such other decisions regarding the outcome as “Sponsor” deems appropriate. All decisions made by “Sponsor” are final. “Sponsor” may waive any of these rules in its sole discretion.
12:57 -- You're right. And this is so Gannett. Throw a contest together without thinking it through. Then find yourselves unable to deliver for whatever reason. Contests are meant to get people more involved in your site and more interested in your content.
ReplyDeleteNow, even if they announce the winner, that one person will be the only one who remembers the contest as a good experience. Everyone else will be pissed and less likely to return to the site.
Maybe Craig Dubow should get a bonus for this.
"our contest rules posted the incorrect date for the prize announcement..." ?
ReplyDeleteWell I'm no lawyer, but that sounds like covering for incompetence.
the Senior Management Team is all involved in this Hot Dad contest.
ReplyDelete1. Gannett PR head Robin Pence notified Gracia Marrore about this post (remember, they havehired two people to monitor GannettBlog and Gannettoid)
2. Then Gannett legal, Barbara Wall gets involved and realizeS these rules could be contested and that Gannett might have a huge liability based on the number of entrants from around the country.
3. Gracia wants the contest cancelled, but if they did that, the primadonna's who run AZ Central would all cry, so Bob Dickey is pleading that they keep it going.
4. The folks in Digital are horrified at how desperate the local markets have become and have asked them to stop with the photo galleries and silly contests. It is apparent this stuff has driven up page views. This contest was adapted from Metromix.
5. Gannett HR has received many complaints from employees about this contest and the people who have been asked to judge internally.
6. Craig Dubow is "disgusted at what has become of the local Digital sites" and wants it all cleaned up.
Craig Dubow is "disgusted at what has become of the local Digital sites" and wants it all cleaned up.
ReplyDeleteWas it the midget wrestling? The Hooters girls? This whole concept has pissed me off from the beginning. I'm all for generating hits ... but Metromix is ridiculous.
Par for the course for "an international media and marketing solutions company."
ReplyDeleteMy Boss: I had no idea this contest had raised so many alarms. Could that explain the delayed results?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't get any better than this! Seems like it's taking a blog run by a former employee and populated with comments from many other formers to get higher ups attention about how ridiculous things have become in this click happy company.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the company has been damaged beyond repair at this point. Dubow and Martore should have been paying attention all along. They obviously went for easy, quick fixes---like Metromix---and it backfired bigtime, just like many of us who lost jobs knew it would.
Reporting the news the right way ain't easy, and it ain't cheap. Content will never replace news in readers' minds.
I hope this silly contest wakes someone up.
(remember, they have hired two people to monitor GannettBlog and Gannettoid)
ReplyDeleteYou've got to be kidding???? What are we paying these guys/gals???????? LOL!
My guess is these weren't hires in the traditional sense, but probably staff given very part-time responsibility for watching posts. This makes sense from a fiduciary/regulatory standpoint, given the risk of inside information leaks.
ReplyDeleteAs a male I find a cheesecake contest involving naked men to be truly sexist. If this involved a female contest, there would be screams of outrage. I am happy to hear the corporate legal eagles are involved.
ReplyDeleteI asked Jim this more than a year ago. I think it's time for an updated answer.
ReplyDeleteJim,
Are you paid by Gannett, directly or indirectly, for keeeping this blog going?
Thanks
Always happy to answer that question, 5:29 pm.
ReplyDeleteGannett does not pay me directly to keep this blog; it never has. Also, the closest I've come to being paid indirectly is when, recently, USA Today published advertising here. Those ads were placed by Google's AdSense program; I had no say in their appearance.
My sole blogging income is from two sources: advertising, and reader contributions. (And lately, I've received very, very few contributions.)
I work for another chain and we do contests similar to this with some regularity. Getting the results -- at any time -- takes a matter of seconds. Clearly there's more at work here. That said, the theory advanced here -- that this has worked its way to Gannett's very top management -- is laughable. They don't give a flip about anything except dollar signs.
ReplyDeleteThey would care if there were big liability issues here.
ReplyDeleteIn one of the most famous such cases, fast-food chain McDonalds got into hot water in 2001 over its Monopoly sweepstakes game.
This contest has all of the senior management team up in arms. From legal to local, this is causing a lot of trouble.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the year, they were deciding whether to close down Metromix and they were told to "tone it down". And now, MomsLikeMe is picking up where Metromix left off.
I hear there is more fall out to come within Digital in the next few days.
Later Friday, Editor Yvette Armendariz wrote a more hopeful note headlined, "Please be patient. We will announce hot dads winners soon."
ReplyDeleteHer note says: "Like you, I'm waiting to find out our winners. As soon as I get the official report and our marketing department can contact the winners, I will be posting the results. I apologize for the wait. I just ask you to please be patient until then."
Big liability issues in a hot dads contest? Please ... y'all are grasping at straws.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand the issue, liability here would comprise dozens/hundreds, etc., of entrants proving they were legally entitled to the prizes, because of a loophole in the rules. Those rules now limit awards to just two winners.
ReplyDeleteIn another update, Editor Yvette Armendariz wrote late yesterday afternoon: "Our marketing department will be contacting our winners, so please check your e-mail. We want to give a big thank you to all our moms who participated and voted in the contest. We'll post names after we make contact."
ReplyDelete