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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When Corporate Rebranding Goes Wrong – In 2021 British investment firm Aberdeen rebranded itself as abrdn. You read that correctly. In an effort to position the company as a “modern, agile, digitally-enabled brand” they removed vowels and capitalization. And last week they reversed the decision and are once again known as Aberdeen Group. Corporate rebranding can be critical to signifying an identity or strategy shift, but it also comes with risk. The New York Times looks at some of the worst and best rebrands.
Teachers Worry About Students Using A.I. But They Love It For Themselves. – The one thing we know about AI is that it isn’t going away. We’ve all heard schools and teachers complaining about students using it to write papers, etc., but it turns out teachers are using it, too. How and when AI should be used is an interesting debate. The New York Times digs into the issue.
The Podcaster Asking You To Side With History’s Villains – Love him or hate him, Darryl Cooper has one of Spotify’s most popular podcasts, and it’s about an unlikely topic: history. But it seems much of his popularity comes from Cooper taking alternative and, at times, controversial views of history. This sparks controversy, conversation and downloads. The New York Times piece is well worth a read.
My Gen Z Kids See Periods In My Texts As ‘Aggressive.’ – Yes, Gen Z kids find periods to be aggressive. They’re not. Full stop. The end. Upworthy looks at how generations communicate differently via text.
Twinkies’ New Owner Courts A Novel Group Of Snackers: Stoners – Dude … do you have any Twinkies? Prior to J.M. Smucker buying Hostess for $4.6 billion in 2023, Hostess snacks were largely marketed to kids and families. With cannabis legal in much of the country and April 20 (aka 4/20) around the corner, Smucker is taking an entirely different approach. The Wall Street Journal takes a look, and we think you’ll dig it.
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Feed Your Head:
How Costco’s CEO Went From Forklift Driver To Kirkland’s Final Signoff
How Long Could You Survive In A Bank Vault? Where Crime Writers Go For Answers.
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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.