1 year down

One year ago this press release was sent out,

Abrams Research Launches

Board of Advisors includes top names in media.

Dan Abrams announces the launch of Abrams Research, a unique global strategy firm that connects business leaders with top media professionals around the world. Businesses can now communicate directly with experienced media insiders, bloggers, and authors in almost any region or area of expertise. This unprecedented access to a wide range of experts can help companies make smarter decisions about marketing and communication. In addition, Abrams Research offers valuable perspective on local media, specific journalists, government officials or even crucial details about local customs.

"With this global network we will offer businesses more targeted, relevant and cost-effective media advice than has ever before been available," said Dan Abrams, the firm's CEO and founder.

The Abrams Research Board of Advisors includes top leaders from almost every area of media: Former NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly, HBO's Bryant Gumbel, Court TV founder Steven Brill, Former American Media Editorial Director Bonnie Fuller, Men's and Women's Health editor David Zinczenko, Curbed Network Founder Lockhart Steele, Former New York Times Sunday Business editor Judith Dobrzynski, and NBC Travel editor Peter Greenberg.

Abrams is the former General Manager of MSNBC and a Columbia University-trained attorney, who has appeared on NBC News and MSNBC as a reporter and anchor since 1995. He now continues with NBC News and MSNBC as a contributor in the role of Chief Legal Analyst. While Abrams himself offers businesses a trusted media advisor and attorney uniquely positioned to unite legal and corporate communications strategies, that same level of specialized expertise is now available on a far broader scale through the Abrams Research Network. "By offering businesses insight into how the relevant media will best respond to any strategy, campaign, product, initiative or crisis, I believe the often contentious relationship between business and media will improve," said Abrams.

Abrams Research has also established strategic partnerships with major PR and media strategy firms including Dan Klores Communications and The Abernathy Macgregor Group.

While many people had their doubts as to whether this type of firm would last, Abrams Research is still here. When I interviewed Abrams Research CEO, Dan Abrams, last summer he talked about what Abrams Reseach is and his expectations for it. Here is that part of the interview:

ME: They don’t seem to care for you too much, do they?

DA: Who’s they?

ME: I mean the media.

DA: No, I don’t think that’s true. I think with Abrams Research, there is just a fundamental misunderstanding of what we’re doing, and every time I try and explain it, it gets ignored. And, you know, it’s really just not that complicated. I think everyone is viewing it, sort of describing it as this new business model where working journalists are advising businesses. And really, primarily the work we’re doing is social media, strategy, there are really no journalists involved. But, what has happened is people have taken a word from the website, the word “journalist” and they have interpreted what they define to be, how they define that word. And my definition of journalist includes authors who used to be full-time journalists, people who are freelance journalists, or people who write a blog about, on issues. I mean it’s also a very condescending position to take that somehow, I’m going to be able to convince journalists to do something unethical. You know, first of all it’s not happening and I’ve never asked anyone. It’s just not a good thing for us. So it’s just, there hasn’t been a single case where it’s, it’s even been close. But, more importantly, there is this level of condescension towards the sort of individual journalist that I think is kind of sad, that people seem to think that, that all of these journalists are gonna somehow be corrupted and I guess, I know what we’re doing and I also have, I guess I have more faith in these journalists. But again, the reality is that, that what we’re doing is working with people who are media professionals, be they journalists defined as authors, freelancers, former journalists, people who are, you know, I still think of them … Think about it. When you call someone Senator and they’re no longer a Senator. You still call them Senator. And I think that people who are no longer full-time in the business of journalism, would still probably characterize themselves as journalists. So it’s become this definitional question of something from my website that has created quite a frenzy. But look, I think in the end, I think people in the media don’t like the idea of businesses getting assistance with media strategy. And I think that they find that to be troubling. But, you know, the reality is that the vast majority of responses to all my television appearances, to what I’m doing outside of television has all been extremely positive. It doesn’t seem that the media is challenging these corp – These big media companies are all cutting back and forcing people to go freelance. And then rather than writing about, boy, we need to help these people who are freelance figure out what else to do, all these people do is complain about the fact that these freelancers shouldn’t do anything else. And, I don’t know, I think that, that freelance journalists have to figure, have to wear a number of hats. They have to be careful, very careful not to cross ethical lines. But I think the vast majority of them are really concerned about that and wouldn’t let it happen even if someone wanted them to cross the line.

They say most new businesses fold within two years, but Abrams Research will probably be one of those that makes it past the two year mark, if for nothing else the confidence that its CEO has in it:

ME: So, Abrams Research is everything you expected?

DA: I ’m thrilled, I’m thrilled with where Abrams Research is. I mean I love the fact that we’ve been able to really move very quickly into social media and, that’s really where the majority of our business is now, in advising businesses on social media strategy.

ME: So where do you see your media empire going in the next, say, five years?

DA: You know, I think you’ll certainly see that I’m gonna be creating some more web properties, I’m certainly hoping to keep my hand in, in the on-air TV business as well.

ME: Did you ever think of going Online with video?

DA: Sure. Well, we’re certainly gonna be doing Online video for both, for Mediaite than any other web properties that I create. But, I don’t know how much I’m gonna do of it immediately.

Throughout its first year Abrams Research published three interesting surveys dealing with topics such as the financial downturn in the country, social media and how the current financial downturn is affecting the luxury brand markets.

So with one year crossed off the calendar, where is Abrams Research headed? Only time will tell.

Happy first Anniversary Abrams Research.