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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How to Judge a Public Apology in The Age of Cancel Culture — Last week it was Lin-Manuel Miranda apologizing for featuring light-skinned Latin actors in The Heights. The week before, actor Ellie Kemper apologized for being crowned queen at a debutante ball 22 years prior. Are they really sorry, or are they just kowtowing to the social media mob in hopes of getting out of the spotlight as soon as possible? This article from The Week suggests that to determine the sincerity of these apologies, we can start by asking three questions.
Stung by Media Coverage, Silicon Valley Starts Its Own Publications — Silicon Valley loves media coverage, unless the coverage is negative. Over the past few years, tech media have gone from being awed by the latest apps and innovations to addressing ethical questions and the impact technology can have on society, bullying and free speech. Now, tech companies and investors are attempting to take control of the narrative by launching their own news outlets. But is it news or marketing? NPR takes a look.
How Companies Cleverly Deploy Metaphors — Southwest Airlines likes to speak about love while Palantir Technologies is more focused on war. These companies and many others have used metaphors for decades to define their mission, establish their corporate culture and distinguish themselves from competition. Marker takes a look at the use of metaphors as simple, powerful and effective linguistic tools.
How Chicago is Reimagining The Future of Local Journalism as Newspapers Decline — Local daily newspaper, TV and radio news audiences decline every month. And studies have shown when communities lose access to reliable information about local and state government, the resulting void can fuel intense partisan politics, corruption and inefficiency. But Chicago is not taking it lying down. The nation’s third-largest media market has a thriving experimental news scene that is filling the gaps left by declining traditional media. The Guardian takes a deep look at how Chicago media is being reinvented.
The Science of Strong Business Writing — Mark Twain once said, “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one.” And there’s a lot of truth in that quote. Strong writing takes time, discipline and practice. This Harvard Business Review article explains how to improve your writing and the science behind why these techniques work.
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Feed Your Head: All About Transition Words
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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.