Cowboys’ Partnership With Pro-Gun Black Rifle Coffee Draws Criticisim Amidst Gun Violence; LIV Golf Shines a Spotlight on “Sportswashing” – the Nascent Term for an Age-Old Strategy; Hard Seltzer Has Gone Flat; The Uber Whistleblower: I’m Exposing a System That Sold People a Lie; Can a Corporation Own Color?
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
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Companies Are More Vocal Than Ever on Social Issues. Not on Abortion – Companies, schools and other organizations seem to be taking positions and speaking out about more social and political issues every week. But last week’s reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court seems to be a little different. While some companies have made statements about their disappointment/outrage at the decision and the support they will provide employees (reimbursement for travel costs, etc.), many others have been noticeably silent. The New York Times takes a look at what makes abortion different.
Meta Bans Staff from Open Discussion of Roe v. Wade – In the wake of the landmark Supreme Court decision, organizations have had to make decisions about how to communicate about the issue with employees. And Meta, parent company of Facebook, has decided to forbid employees from discussing the issue. Insider digs into this curious decision.
How China is Policing the Future – Twenty years ago Tom Cruise starred in “Minority Report,” a futuristic film about how crime has been virtually eliminated by arresting people before they commit a crime. Today in China, that kind of science fiction is becoming a reality. The 1.4 billion people who live in China are tracked, their purchases monitored and their online chats censored. But now even their future is being watched. The New York Times looks at the future of policing in China.
Woodward and Bernstein Didn’t Bring Down a President – But the Myth That They Did Lives on – Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered crimes that forced Richard Nixon to resign the presidency in 1974. Or at least that’s how the story goes. However, that version of history is at least overly simplistic and probably inaccurate. Woodward and Bernstein did legendary reporting that contributed to the fall of Nixon, and they won a Pulitzer Prize for their work. But Washington Post editor Katherine Graham and Bob Woodward himself would be among the first to tell you, they did not bring down a U.S. President. The Conversation reviews what really unfolded.
How ‘Disney Adults’ Became the Most Hated Group on the Internet – Is it harmless fun for adults to be obsessed with all things Disney, or does it signal the fall of Western Civilization? People have strangely strong opinions about this topic, but one thing is certain: Disney adults exist. Their obsession with Disney parks, characters, films and merchandise can be impressive or disturbing depending on your perspective. Rolling Stone digs into the not so small world of Disney adults.
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Feed Your Head:
A Presentation Isn’t Always the Right Way to Communicate
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
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Saudi Arabia’s Golf Gambit – As you’ve certainly heard by now, LIV Golf is a professional golf tour backed by the government of Saudi Arabia. The tour is offering PGA Tour players massive contracts to defect to the LIV Tour, and it seems to be working. Phil Mickelson was reportedly paid $200 million to join, and other marquee names, including Dustin Johnson, have followed suit. This past week the PGA Tour suspended 17 of these players. Bottom line: this is a mess, and it’s about to get messier. Foreign Policy does a nice job sorting it out.
Substack’s Founders Dive Headfirst Into The Culture Wars – Substack launched in July 2017 with a seemingly smart, benign premise: a place for writers to post their content, and readers can pay them directly for access. But there’s one catch: Substack is fairly relaxed about the content they allow. Five years and one million paying subscribers later, Substack is changing journalism and igniting questions about free speech. Vanity Fair takes a deep look at Substack and its influence.
A Vanishing Word in Abortion Debate: ‘Women’ – As the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, another debate is surfacing about the language used to discuss reproductive rights. Medical, government and progressive organizations have adopted gender-neutral language that draws few distinctions between women and transgender men, as well as those who reject those identities altogether. In 2020, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) issued a guide to activists on abortion that stressed they should talk about a “woman’s choice.” Two years later, the same guide emphasized the need for “gender-neutral language.” The New York Times digs into the debate about the language surrounding reproductive rights.
Antarctica’s Riskiest Glacier is Under Assault From Below and is Losing its Grip – Yeah, yeah, yeah…we’ve all heard it. Climate change is real. Icebergs and ice sheets are melting fast, and the potential for sea levels to rise is more than significant. But before you brush past this issue as something you’re sick of hearing about, take 10 minutes and read this article from The Conversation. It may change your perspective and/or scare the hell out of you.
The Savannah Bananas and The Business of Making Baseball Fun – There’s no debate: Baseball is boring. In 2020 the average MLB game lasted more than three hours; the average MLB fan is 57; and attendance/viewership has been plummeting for years. So it may not be surprising that one minor league team is looking to do the opposite of what MLB does, and they’ve sold out every game since 2016. The Hustle brings you the Savannah Bananas.
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
Some Companies Walked Away From The NRA After Sandy Hook. Will The Same Happen Following The Uvalde Massacre? – Last week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead is still very fresh. But in this day and age of companies taking positions on political and social issues, it remains to be seen if the NRA’s remaining corporate sponsors will walk away. Fortune takes a look.
Alex Cooper is Coming for Joe Rogan’s Spot – As you probably know, Joe Rogan is the king of podcasting. The standup comedian has hosted his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, since 2009, but Spotify has taken it to another level. Since signing a licensing agreement for $100 million with the streaming service, Rogan has seen his audience numbers explode. Today, nearly 9 million people stream each episode. But Rogan shouldn’t rest on his laurels. Alex Cooper has him in her sights. She also recently signed a deal with Spotify, and her audience is growing … quickly. The New York Times examines the podcaster who might be the next household name.
New York City Bids Farewell to Its Last Pay Phone – Last week New York City pay phones became a thing of the past, as the last one was removed from midtown Manhattan. The phone is now on its way to the Museum of the City of New York and will be part of the exhibit, Analog City: NYC B.C. (Before Computers). NPR looks at the end of an era. And yes, you are old.
Would These Undelivered Speeches Really Have Changed History? – The Gettysburg Address, “I Have a Dream,” FDR’s speech following Pearl Harbor…it’s easy to list famous speeches that changed the course of history. But did you ever stop and think about the great speeches that were written, but, for many reasons, never delivered? Neither did we. But thankfully, Joe Nussbaum, speechwriter for many powerful politicians did, and he’s captured many of them in his new book, “UNDELIVERED – The Never-Heard Speeches that Would Have Rewritten History.” The New Republic has a review.
What Do Americans Know About International Affairs? – Well, it depends on the topic. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, Americans, on average, know quite a bit about certain global leaders and institutions and far less about others. For example, nearly 80% of those surveyed could identify Kim Jong Un as the leader of North Korea, but only 41% could identify the flag of the world’s second most populous country. Read the report and take the survey to see how much you know.
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Go Forth and Do Great Things:
The Most Notable Commencement Speeches of 2022
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
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Why Many Brands Have Kept Their Voices Down on Roe v. Wade (So Far) – Over the past few years, many companies have taken public positions on social justice, political and environmental issues, among others. But, Roe v. Wade might be different. While companies including Levi Strauss & Co., OKCupid, Bumble, Ben & Jerry’s and others have issued statements in support of reproductive rights, many others have been noticeably silent to this point. So, what makes this issue different? The Wall Street Journal takes a look.
Farewell to The iPod – When news broke last week that Apple was ending production of the iPod, many responded with: “They still make iPods?” Given our dependence on smart phones for everything, including music, that seems like a reasonable response. It’s hard to believe, but Apple has been making pocket-sized music devices for more than 20 years. To this day, the iPod has legions of passionate fans. When you hear why, you may be going onto eBay or digging through your desk drawers. The New York Times takes a look at the device that changed music forever.
Logos, Ethos, Pathos – True Leaders Practice The Art of Persuasion. Others Tweet Out Trash Talk – Greek Philosopher Aristotle wrote “The Art of Rhetoric,” which defined rhetoric as the “ability to discover the available means of persuasion.” He outlined the three modes of persuasion as logos, ethos and pathos. Lynn Schmidt of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at our political leaders today and shows how most are not living up to Aristotle’s standards. However, Schmidt points out one leader who is doing it in spades. Check it out.
Wait, Trader Joe Was a Real Guy? – We know. You love grabbing the little cart and stocking up on fresh produce, inexpensive wine and that unbelievable focaccia bread. Hell, sometimes you even spot the hidden monkey. A trip to Trader Joe’s has been a weekly ritual for many ever since the grocery chain was founded in Pasadena, California, in 1976 – or at least since TJ’s came to your city. But, Trader Joe’s isn’t just a name. There was a real Trader Joe, and he led a pretty spectacular life. CNN takes a look at Joe Coulombe and the grocery empire he built by being different.
What’s Working for Local TV Stations on Facebook? Posting Early, Killing Hashtags, Skipping Sports – Who watches local TV news these days? Local TV news may not have the audience it once had, but stations across the country have figured out how to reach huge audiences via another medium: Facebook. NiemanLab takes a look at how stations have learned from the past and adjusted their social media strategies to reach larger audiences. How they’ve done it might surprise you.
There’s a New Wordle-Style Game for Food Words – Wordle didn’t exist seven months ago. Now it impacts millions of people every day – perhaps more than they’d care to admit. The latest phenomenon is the emergence of Wordle’s offspring. Food & Wine explores Phoodle (not kidding) – the new Wordle-style game that uses only food-related words. The game was created by cookbook author Julie Loria, and it’s as straightforward and as addictive as it sounds. Hint: start with SAUCE.
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Feed Your Head:
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
Days Before Testimony Begins Against Johnny Depp, Amber Heard Fires PR Team – As much as you’ve tried to ignore it, you just can’t. Actor Johnny Depp is seeking $50 million in damages after his ex-wife Amber Heard wrote an essay for The Washington Post in 2018 in which she said she had become a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” This past week Depp provided details we wish we could unhear. Now Ms. Heard has hired a new PR firm to help her with messaging. Grab some popcorn and check out this piece from NBC News.
Duckin’ Autocorrect: Why Your iPhone’s Keyboard Doesn’t Always Get You – Ever sent a text on your iPhone only to then see what you typed (or intended to type) was not what you sent? It’s so ducking frustrating it can make you want to throw your ducking phone! The Wall Street Journal sits down with Ken Kocienda, the inventor of autocorrect for the iPhone and maybe one of the most hated unknown men in America. This seven-minute video explains a lot.
American Politicians Have Become Less Civil on Twitter Over Time, New Study Confirms – Everyone talks about increasing partisanship in Congress, but this study confirms it. Or at least confirms the growing lack of civility on Twitter displayed by members of Congress. The study revealed a 23% increase in online incivility among Congresspeople from 2009-2019, with more inflammatory tweets getting more likes and retweets. The Society for Personality and Social Psychology digs in.
For Weary Workers, Video Backdrops Are Becoming Too Close and Personal – Remember a few years ago when Zoom meetings were kind of novel and fun? Neither do we. After two-plus years of remote work, more and more people are becoming fed up with coworkers, clients and others looking over their shoulders at their messy kitchen, stacks of laundry or other personal areas of their homes. The New York Times takes a look at the impact video meetings have had on our psychology and society.
Why Chick-fil-A Workers Always Say, “My Pleasure” – On the surface you might not think Ritz-Carlton and Chick-fil-A have very much in common. Take a deeper look and you might be surprised. While no one would confuse fast food for a luxury hotel, both companies have extensive training in customer service, and employees for both companies will never say, “You’re welcome.” This CNN piece tells you why.
Give the Perfect Toast With These 7 Tips – Wedding season has arrived, and someone is going to hand you a mic before you know it. For many, giving a toast at a wedding or any event can be incredibly stressful. NPR highlights seven tips that will show you how to nail it every time.
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Tone Deaf:
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
Trevor Bauer’s Impasse With MLB Creates a Continuous Nightmare for Dodgers – Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers have a PR problem – his name is Trevor Bauer. In 2021, the Dodgers signed Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract. In July 2021, MLB placed Bauer on paid administrative leave due to a sexual-assault allegation against the pitcher. Earlier this year the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue charges, but MLB is not restricted under its policy of punishing only criminal behavior. And Bauer is adamant he has done nothing wrong. In an age of political correctness, The Los Angeles Times digs into the Dodgers’ worst nightmare.
Design Your Organization to Withstand Future Disasters – Most large organizations spend time planning for potential crises. They often create crisis operations and communications plans, exercises, pre-written scenarios and statements, but most fail to take a step back and ask a simple question: How are we designed? In the Harvard Business Review, Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, looks at three areas organizations should address.
Death of NYT’s Sports Agate Page Latest Sign The Times Are A-Changing – Earlier this month The New York Times published its Sports Section agate page for the last time. If you’re not familiar, the agate page is easily the most dense, information-packed part of the entire newspaper. It’s where sports junkies, gamblers and some kids would go for box scores, NHL schedules, boxing weigh-in information, horse-racing results and other sports minutiae. There is so much information, it’s printed in a tiny typeface called agate. Tim Rowland of Herald-Mail Media takes a look at the end of an era.
Why The Culture Was Healthier When Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers Were Around – For many years The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson didn’t rule late-night comedy – it was late-night comedy, and almost no one missed his opening monologues. Carson would chide politicians on both sides of the aisle – from Ronald Reagan to California Governor Jerry Brown – but never to the point of partisanship. Part of Carson’s genius was that he never let the audience know where he stood politically, and that gave him leeway to take on all, and it allowed everyone to enjoy the show. That’s no longer the case in late-night comedy. Bishop Robert Baron takes a look at how comedy has devolved into tribalism.
The Last of The Afternoon Newspapers – In 1982 afternoon papers outnumbered morning publications nearly 4 to 1 in the United States. By 2000 there were more morning papers than afternoon papers, but there were still more than 600 of the latter. Today, there are two: The Livingston Enterprise and its sister paper, the Miles City Star. Both are located in Livingston, Montana, setting for the TV Western, “Yellowstone.” The Wall Street Journal talks to the owner of the last two afternoon newspapers who explains why their publications aren’t going away.
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Feed Your Head:
The Best Starting Wordle Word Has Been Revealed
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
‘Shame on You’: How President Zelensky Uses Speeches to Get What He Needs – Watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over the past month has been gut wrenching. Despite the tragedy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s communication has been nothing less than a master class. His passion, clear messaging, tone, body language and even his attire have helped the world understand the gravity of the situation and helped Ukraine get the support it so desperately needs. Each of his addresses have been specifically tailored to the audience, and Zelensky gets to the point quickly and effectively. The BBC breaks down how Zelensky has done it.
Shaming Apple and Texting Musk, a Ukraine Minister Uses Novel War Tactics – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has tapped Mykhailo Fedorov, 31, the youngest member of his cabinet, for a unique role. Mr. Fedorov, a former tech entrepreneur, has used a mix of social media, cryptocurrencies and other digital tools to pressure Apple, Google, Netflix, Intel, PayPal and others to stop doing business in Russia. The New York Times takes a look at how Mr. Fedorov is rewriting the playbook for military conflicts.
White House Briefed TikTok Influencers on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – It’s not just journalists getting White House briefings on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Press Secretary Jen Psaki and National Security Council adviser Matt Miller helped brief 30 TikTok influencers on the US approach to the war. With more people getting at least some of their news from outlets like TikTok, briefings like this may become more common. Engadget takes a look.
The Future of Local News Innovation is Noncommercial – Local news coverage is dying. Between 2008 and 2020, more than one thousand newspapers ceased printing, and the number of newsroom employees shrank by more than half. Many people assume the decline of local media outlets has been caused entirely by the rise of Silicon Valley companies like Facebook and Google, but there is more to the story. Free Press found more than 40% of the jobs lost in the newspaper industry since 1990 occurred prior to 2008 and the boom years for online advertising. Local dailies were shedding jobs long before a few tech platforms reported ad revenues in the tens of billions of dollars. Columbia Journalism Review digs into the painful data and looks at the future of local journalism.
Where Does Mainstream Media Go Wrong? – On a recent episode of The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+, Stewart looked at right-wing, left-wing and mainstream media and examined why the stories they cover often aren’t really news at all. The segment runs 20 minutes and is well worth your time.
The Real Reason We Hate Our Inboxes – We all get too much email, and most of us complain about it. The average professional spends roughly four hours a day dealing with email. Should you take a day off, the backlog can be overwhelming, stressful and yes, unhealthy. One study found email can cause heart rates, blood pressure and cortisol levels to increase. But there is hope. The Wall Street Journal offers four tips to help you take control of your inbox.
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Feed Your Head:
7 Expressions That Kill Employees’ Trust in Managers
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
Ukraine War Tests Whether Marketers Can Address Crisis Meaningfully – It’s been two long weeks since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and the tragedy continues to unfold. Thousands (including civilians) are dead, millions are displaced and communities and cities have been destroyed. And now, brands need to make smart decisions about their business in Russia and how they communicate their decisions to the public. Marketing Dive takes a look at how companies are addressing the situation.
Disney Employees Furious Company Won’t Denounce Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill – Disney is facing an internal crisis as employees voice their rage at the company for not denouncing Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which would limit discussion of sexualtiy and gender in Florida schools. This week CEO Bob Chapek wrote a memo to employees, saying he believes the best way for Disney to bring about lasting change is through the content they produce and the diverse organizations they support. But employees aren’t having it. NPR digs in.
Americans’ Attention to National News Lowest in Four Years – Fewer Americans are paying attention to national news. In December, 33% of Americans said they pay “a great deal” of attention to national news. The percentage is a substantial drop from the 54% who said they paid a great deal of attention to national news in 2020. The recent drop holds across most demographic groups but has been disproportionately pronounced among Democrats younger than 55. Knight Foundation has the details.
Axios Wants Us to Read Everything in Bullet Points – Your attention span is short, and Axios may make it shorter. The news organization, which prides itself on short-format writing (they call it, “smart brevity”), was founded in Arlington, Virginia, in 2016 and is growing by leaps and bounds. The company believes it will build back trust in the media and teach corporate America to quit its long-winded jargon. The New York Times takes a peek at the company’s strategy.
Five Phrases That Make You Sound Passive Aggressive – Corporate jargon is the bane of our existence, and it seems to get worse every day. According to Slack, 63% of workers find it “off-putting” when colleagues use jargon in their communications, and 78% said they have made efforts to avoid using jargon. MSN lists five of the most common annoying workplace phrases and offers suggestions for what to say instead.
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What We’re Reading:
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
************************
Inside Facebook’s $10 Billion Breakup With Advertisers – Facebook’s reign as the most powerful platform for digital advertising may have just ended. Apple recently introduced a privacy feature for mobile devices that restricts user tracking. This change is causing the cost of acquiring new customers via Facebook advertising to increase exponentially. And it’s causing many companies to reallocate digital marketing dollars from Facebook to Google, Snap and other platforms. The Wall Street Journal digs into this landmark change.
Is Wordle Really Getting Harder? – Admit it. It’s the first thing you do every morning. If you are like millions of people around the world, Wordle, the simple word game created by software engineer Josh Wardle, has become a part of your daily life. Wardle created the game in October. By Nov. 1, 90 people had played. By December, it was millions of players, and in January The New York Times bought the game for an undisclosed sum. Six weeks after the purchase, some Wordle fans are suspicious. Is the NYT making the game tougher? Looks like many players have theories.
Even The Podcast About The Joe Rogan Podcast Is a Smash Hit Now – Most people are sick of hearing about Joe Rogan and all related controversies. However, despite everything that’s transpired, Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, continues to be wildly popular. According to Edison Research, Joe Rogan has the largest audience of any podcast by far. And now there are podcasts about Joe Rogan’s podcast. And they’re getting popular, too.
What P. J. O’Rourke Knew – Last week we lost P.J. O’Rourke. He cut his teeth as a freelance writer before joining National Lampoon in 1973 where he served as writer, editor and, eventually, editor-in-chief. O’Rourke then spent more than 20 years as foreign-affairs-desk chief at Rolling Stone and wrote 16 best-selling books along the way. National Review takes a look at the wit and wisdom of his writing.KPMG Severed Ties With Phil Mickelson. Wll Others Follow? – If you’re a golf fan, you would have had a hard time not hearing about the Super Golf League, a proposed new professional-golf league that is hoping to compete with the PGA Tour. The proposed league is backed by the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, which is where the controversy begins. Last week an interview with Phil Michelson was published in which Mickelson said he supported the new league despite the owner’s penchant for murdering journalists. And now, Lefty has a PR problem, and his sponsors are taking notice. Golfweek digs in.
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Feed Your Head:
************************
flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.
