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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The Rise and Rise of Partisan Local Newsrooms – Since 2004, more than 2,000 local newspapers have vanished in the United States, creating a news vacuum that is being filled to some degree by “pink slime” journalism and partisan newsrooms. Columbia Journalism Review takes a deep look at the issue and whether truly objective journalism is even possible any more.

How Do Japanese Show They Care? By Sending a Telegram. – “What hath God wrought?” That was the first telegram ever sent by Samual Morse in 1844. In the United States telegrams peaked in the 1920s and ‘30s primarily because they were less expensive than long-distance calls. Use of telegrams began plummeting in the 1960s, and Western Union sent its last telegram in 2016. But the medium is far from dead. In Japan and a few other countries telegrams are alive and used regularly to congratulate and pass along condolences. The New York Times digs into the forgotten medium.

The Late-Night Circuit: Why Do Politicians Do It? – Political candidates appearing on late-night talk shows is nothing new. John F. Kennedy was the first major political candidate to appear on a late-night show when he was a guest on Tonight Starring Jack Paar in 1960. Since then Bill Clinton famously played sax on Arsenio in 1992, and today candidates are regular guests on the late-night circuit. But this begs the question: why do they do it? JSTOR Daily reviews the very simple answer.

iPhone Now Makes Up the Majority of U.S. Smartphones – In its 15 years of existence, the iPhone has become a global phenomenon. Despite the rising cost and strange phenomenon of batteries suddenly not lasting as long when new versions are released, the iPhone continues to grow in popularity. Today it makes up more than 50% of the U.S. smartphone market. Visual Capitalist looks at why.

Casa Magazines Is the Last of Its Kind – There is still a magazine shop. It’s in New York’s West Village on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twelfth Street. And it’s magical.

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Feed Your Head:

iPhone Users Can Now Edit and Unsend Text Messages (but only to other iPhone users)

The 40-Year Evolution of the Emoji

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flack

noun

: one who provides publicity

flack

verb

: 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.

************************

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

noun

: one who provides publicity

flack

verb

: 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.