For this week's shill, I wanted to highlight a client's project (though not really much of a LintBucket project - we just did the landing page). Last summer, Suncor Energy started publishing a weekly email newsletter called Oil Sands Question and Response (OSQAR for short).
I have to say, from a content perspective, I do love their writing style and sense of humour. My favourite issue of the newsletter is "In Situ Oil Sands: Mining’s Hotter, Younger Sibling" - which, if you've spent as much time trying to understand the oil sands process as much as I have, is actually pretty funny (and drove some pretty good open-rates).
I think it's hard for a corporation like Suncor Energy to have a sense of humour - the line they must walk is so very fine. And I'm sure that some people feel they have crossed it. But I think that opening up a constructive dialogue around controversial topics, one that is framed in a human way - that includes both humour and pathos - is essential. Humour doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of seriousness. And our collective business and political rhetoric could use a good dose of humour these days.
Related: I read a post today by Joseph Thornley entitled Three Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Controversial Client.
Disclaimer: This post is my own opinion and in no way reflects the opinion of Suncor Energy.