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.
************************
Microsoft and Google Enlist Artificial Intelligence to Heat up Search Rivalry – We’ve all been hearing about the potential of artificial intelligence for years, but now things are getting real. The A.I. tool ChatGPT has been getting lots of attention for writing term papers, creating endless Seinfeld episodes, etc., but now Microsoft and Google are about to start using the technology for search. And it’s likely to change your life. The story is a 4-minute listen from NPR.
The Blurred Lines Between Goldman C.E.O.’s Day Job and His DJ Gig – CEOs of large investment banks might be expected to spend their leisure time golfing or sailing, but David Solomon, chief executive of Goldman Sachs would rather be spinning records. Solomon has been mixing electronic dance music for years – everywhere from tiki bars in the Bahamas to large music festivals in Chicago and New York. But his hobby is beginning to draw scrutiny from some Goldman employees and legal experts who see it as a conflict of interest. The New York Times tries to sort out an interesting situation.
The CEO Who Quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in Her Layoff Email Apologizes to Staff – Jennifer Tejada, chief executive at PagerDuty, a startup in San Francisco, decided to quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an email announcing layoffs of 7% of the company’s workforce. Bad idea. The backlash was swift and sharp, and now she’s apologizing. The Wall Street Journal looks at what could be a case study in poor communication.
A Newspaper Taught Hemingway to Write – To many, Ernest Hemingway ranks as one of the greatest American writers. The Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Old Man and the Sea,” was famous for his succinct, vigorous writing style. Hemingway learned his craft during a brief stint as a reporter at the The Kansas City Star, where the paper’s style guide was his bible. This is the story of how one of the greatest writers of the 20th century came to be.
Mangled Voice-to-Text Messages Are Embarrassing Users – For better or worse, voice texting is on the rise – up 12% since 2020 – and it’s creating a lot of confusion and awkward moments among colleagues, friends and family. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at this trend and its implications.
************************
Feed Your Head:
How Superbowl Ad Teasers Manipulate You — in the Best Possible Way
Do You Use These Words When You Apologize? It’s Time to Stop
From Nike To Nutella: Company Names You Have Probably Been Mispronouncing Your Entire Life
************************
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.