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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“I’ve Had a Bad Month.” Sam Bankman-Fried Is Challenged on the Collapse of FTX – Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency billionaire and cofounder/CEO of FTX whose empire collapsed spectacularly this month, sat for a wide-ranging interview on Wednesday at the New York Times DealBook Summit, saying he “screwed up.” Apparently, Sam is prone to understatement. He’s also not very good at running a company or preparing for interviews. You can watch the nearly 90-minute interview here. If you don’t have that much time, this article sums it up.
Taylor Swift And Ticketmaster Are Providing Crisis Response Lessons For Business Leaders – In November tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour became available via Ticketmaster. As you’ve surely heard, the site quickly melted down, leaving “Swifties” (fans) ticketless, confused and more than a little angry. The responses to the crisis from Ticketmaster and Tay Tay were less than ideal. Forbes breaks down the situation and responses from both parties. It’s a solid example of what not to do.
Can’t Hear What Actors Are Saying on TV? It’s Not You, Probably – Over the past few years, you may have noticed having trouble hearing what actors are saying when you’re watching TV. Many assume it’s due to age, some slight hearing loss, etc. But that’s not necessarily the cause. The Wall Street Journal looks at the technical reasons dialogue is much more difficult to hear and offers some tips to make it better.
The Shadow Over the World Cup – The 2022 World Cup is well underway in Qatar, and the United States has advanced to the knockout stage, with their next match set for Saturday against the Netherlands. But this World Cup has been controversial since 2010 when FIFA chose Qatar to host the tournament. The country’s abysmal history of human-rights abuses and the reportedly 6,500 migrant workers who died working in sweltering heat building stadiums, hotels and other infrastructure have been well documented. The Week takes a deep look at all that’s happened and how countries and fans have reacted.
‘It’s Been Awkward.’ Pickleball Is Pitting Neighbor Against Neighbor in Noise-Conscious Communities – You’ve heard about it, you may have played and if you’ve been anywhere near courts, you’ve literally heard pickleball being played. The “thwack, thwack, thwack” of balls hitting racquets is stirring up controversy and pitting neighbor against neighbor across the country. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at America’s fastest-growing sport and the controversy surrounding it.
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Feed Your Head:
Always Read the Obituaries:
George Lois, Icon of Ads and Magazine Covers, Dies at 91
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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.