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The Flack

The Flack™ for Friday, March 10, 2023

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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Prepare for the Textpocalypse – When we think of the world ending, we usually think of nuclear war, climate change or giant asteroids hitting Earth. But could it be something more familiar – something we use every day? Could texting be our death knell? Some think it could. The Atlantic takes a look at a scary scenario.

In Eastern Ohio, Crisis Communications Are Off the Rails – It’s been a month since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling chemicals and combustible materials including vinyl chloride, a flammable gas and carcinogen. The aftermath has been horrific for the people, communities and wildlife in the surrounding area. Could things get worse for Norfolk Southern? It’s looking that way. With seemingly no crisis communications plan in place, the company is finding things have indeed gotten much worse. The San Diego Union Tribune tries to get its arms around this smoldering trainwreck.

Why the Floppy Disk Just Won’t Die – Reports of the floppy disk’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Many thought, or assumed, the once ubiquitous floppy disk disappeared sometime in the late ‘90s. But it turns out the floppy is still alive and used regularly in industries from embroidery to aviation; however, the supply is running out. Wired takes a look at a curious story.

When You Bare Your Soul in a Text and the Response Is a Thumbs-Up – Texting is quick, convenient and can be done from anywhere. However, messaging response icons such as thumbs up, smiley face or exclamation points can mean different things to different people. Often the person responding means to be positive only to learn later the recipient was confused or even offended by the response. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how emojis are perceived by different demographics.

U.S. News Escalates Battle Over Rankings, Saying ‘Elite’ Colleges Don’t Speak for Higher Ed – There’s a major battle brewing over the rankings of universities, law schools and medical schools by U.S. News & World Report. Last week a story in The Wall Street Journal escalated a feud among many prestigious universities that feel the magazine’s rankings value prestige over academic quality. This recent dust-up has resulted in several schools pulling out of the rankings, but it appears the fight may just be getting started. Higher Ed Dive takes a look at the controversy.

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Feed Your Head:

2023 Edelman Trust Barometer ( full report attached)

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flack

noun

: one who provides publicity

flack

verb

: 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.