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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Is American Journalism Headed Toward an ‘Extinction-Level Event’? – For years we’ve been hearing it. News is dying. Every year, the number of daily newspapers declines, and ratings for local TV and radio news continue to plummet. However, over the past few weeks, layoffs at the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, Time magazine and other outlets may signal we’ve reached a tipping point. The Atlantic looks at the current and future state of journalism.
Inside The New York Times Big Bet on Games – Until recently the only game associated with The New York Times was the paper’s infamous crossword puzzle. But then Wordle got your attention. It was quickly followed by Connections and Spelling Bee, among others. The Times figured out that to remain relevant and healthy, a newspaper has to deliver more than news, and games can be a key part of a business strategy. Vanity Fair peeks behind the curtain at the team who creates these addictive games.
NPR Founding Mother Linda Wertheimer Is Retiring. Read Her Bittersweet Goodbye Note. – Earlier this week Linda Wertheimer signed off after spending more than 50 years at NPR. Her goodbye note is worth a read.
Why You Keep Getting Useless Alerts on Your Phone – It’s not you. Your phone has become more annoying lately. New alerts are popping up, informing you of trending topics, posts by friends and people reacting to posts. This is happening for a reason. Social-media companies are embracing this new type of push because people are posting and interacting less publicly on social media. The good news is there are things you can do to stop it. The Wall Street Journal has the details.
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An Obit Worth Reading:
Marc Jaffe, Publisher of Paperback Hits, Is Dead at 102
Feed Your Head:
Meet Heisler, TV’s Favorite Beer That Doesn’t Even Exist
Apple Just Released a New Security Feature for the Latest iPhones. It’s Annoying Yet Necessary.
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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.