Jargon and the End of AOL

And with that, AOL is gone.

Goodbye to one of the pioneers of the web. Who knows whether it’s the right move for all parties concerned, but one thing is certain: there has to be a better way for Verizon to describe the move to its employees and shareholders. From the NY Times’ piece:

“Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform,” Lowell C. McAdam, Verizon’s chief executive, said in a statement. “This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.”

A global multiscreen network platform?

Seriously?

This is exactly the type of vacuous corporate jargon that confuses others. I’d offer a few suggestions for Verizon to improve its communications but I don’t understand what it’s trying to do. Something about video, I suppose.

Simon Says

Never mistake a bunch of ostensibly important words for logic, intelligence, or clarity. A bouillabaisse of buzzwords is just that.

For those who erroneously believe that words don’t impact the bottom line, check out Nick Morgan’s post on the new CEO at McDonald’s recent rubbish.

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