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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An ‘Epic Fail’ By McDonald’s Turned Into A Marketing Win – Last week we reported about how McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s unenthusiastic video promoting the Big Arch burger went viral for the wrong reasons, sparking mockery and spoofs. However, this “epic fail” became a marketing win in the attention economy. The CEO’s awkward performance, despite being unintentional, generated widespread awareness and discussion, effectively promoting the new burger at a fraction of traditional ad costs. An interesting take from The Washington Post.
Why The Global Elite Gave Up On Spelling And Grammar – Global elite’s disregard for spelling and grammar signals power, not just laziness. Examples: Jack Dorsey’s lowercase memo, David Ellison’s “Daivd” text, Sony hack messages, Epstein files. This trend, amplified by digital communication and voice-to-text, suggests an inverse correlation between power and formal writing. While once a mark of seriousness, poor grammar now can convey importance or extreme familiarity. This shift contrasts with past expectations of formality from leaders. The Wall Street Journal explains.
New York Times Reporters Talk About Seeking Comment – It’s a story as old as the hills. Journalists want information and access to executives. PR people want to control the story. Striking a balance can be more of an art than a science. Mike Abrams, The New York Times deputy editor of trust (a position created in December) interviews three NYT journalists to get a better understanding of how reporters think and how PR people can work with them on a story.
I’m A Longevity Doctor. This Is Why I’ll Never Give Up Alcohol – You hear it all the time. “No amount of alcohol is safe.” But this longevity doctor has a different take. He believes our relationship with alcohol is more nuanced and several other factors need to be considered. Pour your favorite cocktail and give this one a read.
Modern Language And The Cult Of The Casual – Linguist John McWhorter argues the “cult of the casual” in American English uses words including “like,” “sort of,” and “hop on” to soften directness. This verbal “bubble wrap” avoids asserting views, making language less precise. It’s a societal trait since the 1960s, prioritizing politeness over clarity. Check out his two-minute video on the topic from The New York Times.
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Feed Your Head:
The Guinness Inspector Teaching American Bars How To Pour The Perfect Pint
Seat 11A: The Windowless Inside Joke At 30,000 Feet
What To Know About Banksy And The Effort To Unmask Him
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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.