Help Wanted: See "The Joker"

Gas Prices Soar . . . "Stocks Plummet . . ." "The Unemployment Rate Increases . . ." Unsurprisingly, these are the headlines that grace the majority of news publications and media outlets nearly every day.

I, myself, have recently fallen victim to the corporate downsizing trend so visibly evident in the corporate sector. Thus, I begin the much-dreaded "job-hunt."

After hours of scouring online career databases, I am happy to report my efforts were not a total loss, as I have secured an intriguing job offer . . . from The Joker?! And yes, you, too, may be eligible for employment. To apply, please visit www.whysoserious.com/personalityprofile/.

Although the opening date of Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated sequel, Batman: The Dark Knight, is more than a month away, the "buzz" surrounding the film continues to grow. And this time, the focus extends beyond the tragic passing of its star, Heath Ledger.

As reported by the New York Times, the film's viral marketing campaign now includes interactive Web sites such as The Gotham Times, Gotham National Bank, Gotham Police Department, Gotham City Rail, the Harvey Dent Campaign, and "Why So Serious?"

In the March 2008 issue of Advertising Age, David Baronoff, executive-producer at J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, suggests successful viral Web campaigns, for a motion picture, achieve two objectives: They tell the story of this movie right away in a way that actively engages the audience; and they initiate a relationship with the audience much earlier than the film itself.

If these are the hallmarks that deem a viral marketing campaign "a success," then the efforts of the advertising and marketing executives of Batman: The Dark Knight should be applauded; I start my new "job" on Monday.