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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Influencing Without The Influencers – Sarah Tang is not famous in the traditional sense. She doesn’t act, sing or dance. She’s not a model or a chef. But when she rides the J train in New York City, she’s getting recognized due to the TikTok videos she posts about hot brands targeting Gen Z and Millennials. Welcome to the next phase of influencer marketing. The New York Times has the story.
What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing? – At the time, we may not have realized it, but two and half years ago the world changed forever. On November 30, 2022 Open AI released ChatGPT. Six days later the app surpassed one million users. Today there are over 100 million weekly users, and this has meant, among other things, the apparent death of college writing. Or, put another way, is it the evolution of education? Either way, there is no going back. The New Yorker takes a deep dive into the effects and possibilities moving forward. Grab a cup of coffee or ask ChatGPT for a summary of the article.
What Makes Someone Cool? A New Study Offers Clues. – It’s long debated. What makes someone cool? This question is as old as time, but a new study may have finally revealed the answer, and it might surprise you.
The Summerween Trend Is Back. Here’s How Brands From Lego To Walmart Are Responding – Remember getting annoyed by seeing Halloween retail displays and pumpkin beer on shelf in early September? Well, you may not have realized how good you had it. Summerween is here and it’s very real. Inc. takes a look at where this disturbing trend originated. God help us.
Michelob Ultra Is The One Bright Spot In A Gloomy Beer Market – Beer is having another bad year. With many consumers cutting back on alcohol and younger consumers more focused on canned cocktails, nearly every major beer brand has been steadily losing volume. But Michelob Ultra, with its sports/fitness/social messaging, has been bucking the trend. The brand grew by 3.1% in the 12 weeks ending June 14, and it appears the brand is just getting started. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how the brand has positioned itself almost perfectly.
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Beach Reads:
Lots Of People Love Tennis. But Do You Know Where It Comes From?
15 Forgotten Summertime Activities We Need To Bring Back
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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.