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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The 13-Second Video That Supercharged The McDonald’s-Burger King Rivalry – Burger King’s 13-second video, featuring CEO Tom Curtis humorously critiquing McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s viral burger-eating clip, has supercharged their rivalry. Kempczinski’s video, intended to promote McDonald’s new Big Arch burger, was widely ridiculed online for his awkward bite and phrasing. Burger King capitalized on this, with their video garnering millions of views and positive comments, contrasting with McDonald’s criticism. Wendy’s also joined the social media spat. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at what may be the next round of the “burger wars.”
It’s Bots Vs. Reporters At The AP – Leaders at the Associated Press view AI adoption as “futile” to resist, with some preferring AI-written articles over human ones for efficiency. This has sparked internal debate, with journalists fearing job threats and devalued work. While AP claims to lead in AI standards safeguarding journalists, many media companies are licensing content to AI firms and adopting tools employees distrust. Semafor takes a deep look at a heated debate that’s just beginning.
‘Leverage.’ ‘Reach Out.’ ‘Circle Back.’ The Corporate Jargon We Hate The Most. – Like a lot of us, The Wall Street Journal staff has had it with corporate jargon. So they asked some “thought leaders” (speaking of jargon) about the latest jargon they hate the most. And it quickly got pretty granular. Here are the terms they hate, and why they find them so offensive.
The Agents And Managers Helping Influencers Make Millions – Influencer marketing is now a $250 billion creator economy. Agents like Ali Berman and Raina Penchansky at United Talent Agency (UTA) represent top talent, brokering deals from five to nine figures. They manage creators’ careers, advising on everything from product launches to TV shows, treating them as modern media companies. Their success stems from identifying authentic personalities and navigating rapidly evolving platforms. With Gen Alpha entering the market, opportunities for creators and their representatives are seen as limitless, mirroring high-profile brand collaborations. The Wall Street Journal takes a deep look.
Tough Decisions Ahead As Wineries Adapt To New Market – The U.S. wine industry faces a significant correction, with declining volume despite rising market value ($114 billion, +3%). Wineries are aggressively cutting costs and production, removing thousands of vineyard acres (40,000+ in California expected this year) and idling facilities. This industry-wide adjustment, driven by overproduction and shifting consumer habits, forces difficult decisions like selling assets, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales, or writing down unsold inventory. So where does the industry go from here? Wine Business digs into a tough situation. Please read with a glass of your favorite wine.
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Good Obit:
John P. Hammond, Pioneer In 1960s Blues Renaissance, Dies At 83
Feed Your Head:
Here’s The Leadership Skill AI Can’t Replace
These Are The Most Narcissistic Countries In The World
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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.