Core Facts

• In an exclusive video broadcast on Friction.tv and published by The Independent newspaper earlier today, outspoken activist and Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith has slammed Sainsbury's supermarket CEO Justin King, accusing him of misleading the public, and attempting to stifle national media. 

 

• Together with local action group, WHAG (White Hart Lane action Group), Zac commissioned an independent referendum. The eventual turnout was greater than in the previous General Election. 85% of people voted against the new store. Astonished by the result, the CEO of Sainsbury's agreed to meet the campaigners. 

 

• This is not the first time Goldsmith has used Friction.tv, having already uploaded videos to the site to publicise local campaigns against Sainsbury's and Transport for London, so the launch of his own channel on the site felt like a logical progression.

Quotes

"When residents learned about Sainsbury's plans last year, they were enraged," says Zac. "The last thing they wanted was a large new store undermining the local independents, and bringing more traffic into the area. The Council was bombarded with letters of protest, and in response it rejected the application. Amazingly the decision was then overruled by the National Planning Inspectorate in Bristol - over 100 miles away from Barnes."

 

"The rise of the internet has shifted the landscape of activism and the democratic process. In launching this channel on Friction.tv I will promote causes I feel strongly about. Unlike other online TV sites, Friction.tv has been specifically tailored to encourage interaction, free speech and debate, and I'm looking forward to the possibilities that this new media provides".

Boilerplate Statements

Friction.tv is an online platform for free speech.  A place to speak your mind on issues that matter to you.

 

Get involved in the debate by posting your video on www.friction.tv

webitpr's social media news release is based on the original Social Media News Release Template from Todd Defren of SHIFT Communications.

Core Facts

• The Conservative Party has become the first mainstream political party in the UK to set up a branded channel on www.friction.tv, the fast growing video debating website. Party officials are using the site to broadcast Conservative opinions in a bid to encourage video debate from the public around key.

 

• Friction.tv allows individuals and organisations to post their views via webcam, camcorder or mobile phone on an open-access internet site

 

• Other users can then present their own counter arguments or agree with points raised either in video or text formats

 

• The Conservatives are keen to use Friction.tv to interact with the public and to take their message to a wider audience

 

• Initially two videos a week will be posted on a branded Conservative channel located within the main Friction.tv site. Many will feature party leader David Cameron

 

• The first videos can be viewed at: http://www.friction.tv/debate.php?debateno=1318 and http://www.friction.tv/debate.php?debateno=1319

 

 

Quotes

• A Conservative Party spokesman said he was excited about the opportunities presented by the partnership. “In public life it is important that we never lose touch with those who elected us to represent and serve them. Friction.tv can help politicians and policy makers fully engage with people from around the country and beyond on a regular basis. 
  
  “Friction has already proved itself as a robust debating environment and we are delighted to be part of a rapidly growing online community that is already discussing the issues shaping our society.”

 

• Chief Executive and Founder, Omer Shaikh welcomed the Conservatives to Friction.tv and said he was looking forward to watching exciting debates sparked by their videos.  “It is fantastic that the Conservative Party will be contributing to and kicking off debates on Friction. We are all very excited about the possibilities their involvement brings and expect that many of our users in the UK and around the world will have plenty to say about Conservative policies.” 

 

Boilerplate Statements

webitpr's social media news release is based on the original Social Media News Release Template from Todd Defren of SHIFT Communications.

Core Facts

• Online video debating site Friction TV has today announced a partnership deal with London’s talk radio station LBC 97.3 FM to be its first official social media partner.

 

• This will add a whole new dimension to LBC 97.3 FM by allowing listeners to truly engage in debate with presenters and enhance LBC 97.3 FM as ‘London’s Biggest Conversation’.

 

• The partnership will centre around LBC 97.3 FM’s morning show presenter and journalist James O’Brien. Each Monday, James will post a thread onto www.friction.tv and invite listeners to respond and join the discussion.

 

• The post will then run as a feature on James’s Friday show under the working title ‘Friday Friction’. During the segment James will debate and discuss opinions posted on the subject, giving listeners the opportunity to become a true part of the debate with views, comment and opinion being heard by LBC 97.3 FM listeners and Friction.tv viewers alike.

 

• Friction.tv is the leading independent online platform for user generated social media content where viewers spark debate by uploading videos of themselves commenting on issues, no matter how controversial. 

 

• The relationship demonstrates how Friction.tv bridges the gap between traditional and new media by providing a platform for listeners to express their views on issues raised on James’ show.  It’s about providing a uniquely integrated experience that merges web with radio in an innovative and engaging way.

 

• Friction.tv viewers can then respond with their own supporting or opposing views, again on video or through written comment.  Only five months after its launch, Friction.tv is pulling in more than 100,000 unique visitors to its web site each month.

 

Quotes

• Andy West, Co-founder and Director of Friction.tv said: “Friction.tv will deliver the raw, unedited, unbiased and more importantly uncensored views of LBC 97.3 FM listeners. This is their chance to engage in debate and to have their say. Friction.tv is working with LBC 97.3 FM to truly open up the dialogue between presenters and listeners.  Given the open nature of social media and how it is changing the way we work, communicate and interact with one another on both global and cultural levels, this feels a natural step in the media integration.”

 

• James O’Brien said: “I’m delighted to be hooking up with Friction.tv which clearly shares both my passion for a good debate and the belief that professional pundits and pontificators rarely have the most interesting things to say. I’m also excited that listeners to my radio show will now be able to see my face which, let’s face it, constitutes a considerable treat for them.”

 

Boilerplate Statements

Friction.tv
Friction.tv is an independent platform for user generated social media content providing the raw views behind the news and tomorrow's issues today.

webitpr's social media news release is based on the original Social Media News Release Template from Todd Defren of SHIFT Communications.

Core Facts

Ann Widdecombe has posted a video up on Friction.tv tackling the issue of the legalisation of prostitution.  She argues that legalisation is definitely not the answer then goes on to make a recommendation to the police on what would ease the problem.
 

The Scottish Independent MSP Margo MacDonald has posted a reply to Ann Widdecombe saying that she respects her as a woman and politician but believes she has got it wrong when it comes to prostitution.

The debate was brought about after Ann Widdecombe’s programme ‘Ann Widdecombe versus Prostitution’ was screened on ITV.  Margo MacDonald saw the programme then saw the footage on Friction.tv and wanted to respond.

Quotes

“Ninety five percent of street prostitutes are seriously addicted to Class A drugs and usually its heroin.  There is one part of this solution that is absolutely missing as far as I can see and that is, if a girl says ‘I want to stop, I want to get off the game’ there is no refuge available, there’s no residential drugs programme available, by the time those things can be put in place which can be months away, she has given up the resolution to leave it.”
- Ann Widdecombe on the Catch 22 situation street prostitutes find themselves in.

 

“I do believe that we should have zero tolerance policing, particularly for kerb crawlers because if you can get rid of the kerb crawlers you take the custom away from the girls and then the girls don’t do it.”
- Ann Widdecombe on recommended action for tackling prostitution.

 

“I like Ann Widdecombe, she’s a good woman, she’s a decent woman…. I think she doesn’t know much about prostitutes or prostitution or the complexity and many layer topicality of the whole subject.”
- Margo MacDonald on Ann Widdecombe’s post on Friction.tv.

 

“Some well meaning people think they can eliminate prostitution entirely.  I ask you, at a time when more and more people are looking toward paid escorting and it’s entirely up to the escort as to whether or not sexual favours or there is a sexual content to the companionship offered by them at the end of an evening.”
- Margo MacDonald on people thinking prostitution can be eliminated.

Boilerplate Statements

Friction.tv is an independent platform for user generated social media content providing the raw views behind the news and tomorrow's issues today.

webitpr's social media news release is based on the original Social Media News Release Template from Todd Defren of SHIFT Communications.