We often get asked in meetings and at parties about the genesis of the name EchoDitto. Friday night, at a firm dinner, the subject came up again: “Nicco, where did you get the name EchoDitto?” Sitting at the head of the table, Nicco hesitated—where to begin? Then, from another corner of the table, a wise sage began to speak:
“It’s a good question, and one with which we struggled for some time. So let me start at the beginning: According to Greek mythology, the nymph Echo was fond of talking but she was cursed to only repeat the words of those who had spoken before her. This retelling and rehearing of people’s own words stunned and bothered them—they were hearing their words for the first time—and she was shunned by the other nymphs. She made them uncomfortable with their own words."
“Well, when we began to think about our company’s mission and our guiding principles, we realized that what we were trying to do was return an authenticity of voice and language to democratic politics."
The sage paused for a breath, and then the passion poured forth:
"For too long, television and focus grouped politicians have drained real language and real meaning from our political process. Rhetoric was corrupted and replaced by doublespeak. Images became more important than the words and the promises. Superficiality trumped depth and understanding. Those developments have slowly eaten away the underpinnings of our political society; our Founders always intended this to be a vibrant democracy—a republic full of debate and philosophy—and yet now meaningful discussions in politics are few and far between. Even more rare is a politician who engages with supporters and asks their assistance in meaningful ways. All of those developments have, in turn, drained interest and participation in our government, in our politics, and in our policies.
“It doesn’t have to be that way," the sage said; his voice rising towards a crescendo. "Television’s images don’t have to rule. The rise of the Internet allows a different model. The Internet is a medium based on rawness and authenticity, and it also allows simple words and simple discussions to be amplified and expanded at rates never before possible. It empowers. It engages. It creates community. It creates two-way streets and avenues of communication where none had existed. It is democratic in the truest sense of the word.
“And what do we do? Our firm’s mission is to let people loose with their authentic voices, speaking directly to citizens and encouraging them to participate again. This is critical to our country, and critical to the future of democracy. When we were thinking how we could summarize our mission, we realized that our work helped people find their ‘echo’—their authentic voice—and then amplify it to a broader audience. Echo and then ditto. A fresh voice, louder.”
