Transparency

On a related note to my last post on open-source marketing, check out BuzzMachine on transparency in politics and business.

We've heard the jokes about candidates for President in years to come whose old opinions will be dragged up from their blogs. And I'll just bet that will keep would-be pols from blogging. But that's a bad thing, for transparency is just what is needed in politics. I spoke with a journalist recently who said he couldn't blog because he'd probably reveal some opinion that might keep him from, say, covering the White House someday. Organizationally, he's right; that's what his bosses would say. But that, too, is a bad thing, for transparency and honesty and candor are just journalism needs.

Fred's right: About the only business he can imagine where transparency is a bad thing is national security.
As for the rest of us: It could be the beginning of an era of honesty (or at least candor): the age of transparency. That (you'll be sorry to know) is why I think Howard Stern is so appealing to so many; it's his blunt honesty. That is also why reality TV is so big; we love seeing people stripped of their pretense.
Sadly, most of society is not transparent at all. You don't know what goes on it the boardrooms of the companies whose stock you own. You don't know what happens in most of government. You want to know more about how the news sausage is made.

If citizens' media leads to any big social change -- emphasis on "if" -- it could be a drive toward transparency by example. If Fred Wilson and Mark Cuban and Margaret Cho and you and i are willing to stand out here naked, why isn't the next guy? What does he have to hide? And if he isn't willing to show us his after we show him ours, then do we want to trust him with our vote or our money or our news?

Comments

[Effern]

I'd prefer to post as "myself", but unfortunately my current company gets pretty weird about people posting things online and being in some way associated with that company. Someday when I move on, I can remove the pseudo and be more transparent, indeed. In the meantime, my desire to be part of the ongoing dialogue in This World of Business must be checked by Company Secrecy. Boo.

My blog seems to be doing ok despite the restrictions, so that's a plus. The down side is, people don't "know" me so I think that is having an adverse affect in the feedback & dialogue department.

[Chris O'Donnell]

A lot of people have asked me if I worry about ODonnellWeb costing me a job, or some other opportunity. The answer is always no! Really, I'd be happy if my web site screened out somebody that would have an issue with me because of personal opinions, or tase in humor, or whatever. Heck, there is over 1000 pages on my web site, I'm sure just about everybody can be offended if they look hard enough :)

My current boss saw it as a plus. He said he knew he was geting somebody that was capable of having an original thought and writing in complete sentences.