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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Companies Are More Vocal Than Ever on Social Issues. Not on Abortion – Companies, schools and other organizations seem to be taking positions and speaking out about more social and political issues every week. But last week’s reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court seems to be a little different. While some companies have made statements about their disappointment/outrage at the decision and the support they will provide employees (reimbursement for travel costs, etc.), many others have been noticeably silent. The New York Times takes a look at what makes abortion different.
Meta Bans Staff from Open Discussion of Roe v. Wade – In the wake of the landmark Supreme Court decision, organizations have had to make decisions about how to communicate about the issue with employees. And Meta, parent company of Facebook, has decided to forbid employees from discussing the issue. Insider digs into this curious decision.
How China is Policing the Future – Twenty years ago Tom Cruise starred in “Minority Report,” a futuristic film about how crime has been virtually eliminated by arresting people before they commit a crime. Today in China, that kind of science fiction is becoming a reality. The 1.4 billion people who live in China are tracked, their purchases monitored and their online chats censored. But now even their future is being watched. The New York Times looks at the future of policing in China.
Woodward and Bernstein Didn’t Bring Down a President – But the Myth That They Did Lives on – Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered crimes that forced Richard Nixon to resign the presidency in 1974. Or at least that’s how the story goes. However, that version of history is at least overly simplistic and probably inaccurate. Woodward and Bernstein did legendary reporting that contributed to the fall of Nixon, and they won a Pulitzer Prize for their work. But Washington Post editor Katherine Graham and Bob Woodward himself would be among the first to tell you, they did not bring down a U.S. President. The Conversation reviews what really unfolded.
How ‘Disney Adults’ Became the Most Hated Group on the Internet – Is it harmless fun for adults to be obsessed with all things Disney, or does it signal the fall of Western Civilization? People have strangely strong opinions about this topic, but one thing is certain: Disney adults exist. Their obsession with Disney parks, characters, films and merchandise can be impressive or disturbing depending on your perspective. Rolling Stone digs into the not so small world of Disney adults.
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Feed Your Head:
A Presentation Isn’t Always the Right Way to Communicate
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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.