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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NPR Suspends Editor Who Claimed Left-Wing Bias at Outlet Had ‘Lost America’s Trust’ – Earlier this week, National Public Radio (NPR) suspended senior business editor, Uri Berliner, for a scathing 3,500-word essay he wrote for The Free Press. In the piece, Berliner said NPR had “lost America’s Trust” by embracing a “progressive worldview.” Based on the response from NPR and conservative pundits, this battle has just begun. CNN has the story.
Dana White, Donald Trump and the Rise of Cage-Match Politics – What do Dana White and the UFC have to do with the rise of Donald Trump and his surging poll numbers? The answer is: more than you might think. The New York Times dives into the fascinating history of Trump and the UFC and how he currently uses this relationship to campaign with the organization’s massive audience.
Google Blocking Links to California News Outlets From Search Results – How and when news can be shared online might get a little more complicated if a California bill becomes law. The California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) would require platforms such as Google to pay a “journalism usage fee” for linking to news sites based in the Golden State. The bill cleared the California assembly last year. To become law, it would need to pass in the senate before being signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Guardian explains the bill and the potential ramifications.
Hot Market for Pencils Help Kids Turn Lead Into Gold – It started with vinyl records, then it was bell bottoms, Game Boys, Polaroid cameras and suddenly almost all technology and fashion which was once so out, was back in again. And pencils, yes, pencils, are now all the rage in schools across the country. The Wall Street Journal digs into what’s behind the trend.
There Are Plenty of Power Publicists. But Only One Works for Taylor Swift. – You may not know the name Tree Paine, but you have seen her work. Paine works night and day to keep Tay-Tay’s image pristine and Swifties engaged. The Wall Street Journal profiles Paine and explains how she makes it look easy.
Shake Shack Shades Rival Chick-fil-A With Sunday-Only Free Chicken Sandwich Offer – If you thought the chicken wars were over, think again. Earlier this month, Shake Shack launched a campaign offering their “antibiotic-free” Chicken Shack sandwiches for free on Sundays in April. The campaign has been supported with full-page ads in The New York Times and other publications. The ads mock Chick-fil-A’s tagline, and offering the free sandwiches on Sundays is a not-so-subtle jab. The New York Post has the details.
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Feed Your Head:
How to Manage Your Anxiety About Public Speaking
Obits Worth Reading:
Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band Singer-Guitarist, Dead at 80
Robert MacNeil, Urbane Anchor Who Founded ‘PBS NewsHour,’ Dies at 93
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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.