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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We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
Bill Gates’ Carefully Curated Geek Image Unravels in Two Weeks — Before the revelations about his divorce, dubious workplace behavior and ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates was just America’s huggable billionaire techno-philanthropist. Things changed May 3, when Bill and Melinda Gates announced they were splitting up after 27 years of marriage. Details quickly emerged, including reports Bill had an extramarital affair and pursued other office romances. In a divorce filing, Melinda said their relationship was “irretrievably broken.” Time will tell whether Bill’s reputation is, too.
19 Commonly Misused Words and Phrases to Avoid — Using the right words matters. Using the wrong words can matter even more. When you’re trying to impart the seriousness of your message or make a great impression, it is important to keep the focus on the meaning of what you write or say, versus losing that focus because of how you say it. After all, even just one incorrectly used word can ruin everything. Here are some ways to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
The Anxiety of Influencers — According to a poll released in 2019, 54% of Americans between the ages of 13 and 38 would become a social-media influencer if given the opportunity. Nearly 23% believed that this term already fit them. Once reserved for the likes of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, influencing has become fully democratized. And it’s hard to deny the appeal. While the average college grad makes $50,000 a year, an influencer with more than a million followers could net that much in a month. And while virtually every other industry is shrinking if not flatlining, the influencer marketing industry is projected to be worth $15 billion by 2022 and currently accounts for roughly 15% of the total global ad spend. Harper’s takes a deep dive into the world of the influencer economy.
Every Company Needs a Narrative — Companies are missing a big opportunity – to craft an inspiring corporate narrative. Unlike stories, which have a beginning, a middle and an end, narratives are open-ended. Narratives contain a threat or opportunity looming in an unclear future. The resolution of the narrative hinges on the choices and actions of those involved, making it a potentially powerful call to action. A prime example is Apple’s “think different” slogan – a result of a well-crafted Steve Jobs narrative about needing to change people’s attitudes toward technology. Harvard Business Review takes a look at the power of good, strategic corporate narratives.
At a Small Maine School, Cursive Endures and Wins National Awards — As pens and notebooks continue to give way to keyboards and computer screens, the “art” of cursive handwriting seems to be on the brink of extinction. But at a small school in Maine, cursive handwriting thrives, with two students recognized in a recent national contest for their handwriting skills. The participants won awards in the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, which is open to students from public and private schools in kindergarten through the eighth grade. The students honed their skills at Woodland Consolidated School, which has a history of winning awards in the contest.
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Feed Your Head: The Art of The TV Interview: Christiane Amanpour’s Top Tips
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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.