online communities

Yesterday was a busy day of back to back presentations from the first day of the FDA hearings and there are many recaps now sharing some topline points from the conversations and presentations. I shared my own take on some big themes that emerged from the early part of the day here on this blog. Aside from the content presented during each of the speaker’s time on stage, I think there were several pivotal moments of significance throughout the day.

As its packaged video games business lags, Electronic Arts Inc. has snapped up Playfish Inc., the creator of popular social networking games such as "Who Has the Biggest Brain" and "Pet Society," for $275 million in cash.

With the acquisition, EA is diving further into the lucrative world of social online games, which tens of millions of people play on Facebook, MySpace, the iPhone and other platforms.

During the  July 4th holiday weekend, two stories about Silicon Valley’s PR industry  - one in The New York Times and one on TechCrunch – were published, causing a bit of a stir among PR and social media practitioners, VCs, founders of start-ups and those who follow the PR space.  While both pieces take different, yet cynical perspectives, neither portray the PR industry in most positive light.

When British confectionary giant Cadbury wanted to promote its new Crème Egg Twisted bar recently, it turned to social media. Dubbed "Operation Goo," the initiative invites British consumers to become CIA agents. (That's Cadbury Intelligence Agents, of which there are now 9,082.) Their mission, if they choose to accept it, is to track down Twisted bars across Britain via clues sent on microblogging site Twitter.

A year ago this month, Intel (an Ogilvy PR client) launched the Intel Insiders, a social media advisory board of 10 highly engaged, influential thought leaders in technology and new media.

A year ago this month, Intel (an Ogilvy PR client) launched the Intel Insiders, a social media advisory board of 10 highly engaged, influential thought leaders in technology and new media.

News Corp. has hired two new executives at MySpace, expanding the online hangout's management team after having just replaced its CEO on Friday.

Michael Jones, who's founded several online businesses, will serve as MySpace's chief operating officer. Jones, 39, replaces Amit Kapur, who left last month.

Jason Hirschhorn, most recently the president of Sling Media Inc.'s entertainment group, will be chief product officer, a new position that focuses on the site's look and feel.

Yelp.com prides itself on being a site where people can write reviews about pretty much anything and connect with similarly critical peers. Yet as the site grows, some of the businesses scrutinized on Yelp are turning the tables and griping about the company itself.