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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Pope Francis Apologizes For Using A Homophobic Slur During A Meeting With Bishops – As if the Catholic Church needed more PR problems. This week Pope Francis apologized for using an anti-gay slur during a recent closed-door meeting with bishops. The 87-year-old Pontiff made the remark while telling bishops gay men shouldn’t be allowed to train for the priesthood. Oy vey! CNN has the story.
Who’d Want To GIve A Commencement Speech Anymore? – Not so long ago it was an honor to be asked to give a commencement speech at a university. Business leaders, celebrities and politicians welcomed the opportunity. But now things have changed. Today, almost anything a speaker might say could be divisive, so many are taking a pass. The New York Times takes a look at this depressing trend.
Who Has Time To Watch A 4-Hour YouTube Video? Millions Of Us, It Turns Out – We always hear how our attention spans are getting shorter, yet some of the most popular podcasts feature interviews that can last more than three hours. And some of the most popular videos on YouTube last even longer. NPR takes a look at the growth of long-form content.
3 Strategies For Building A Business Ready For Any Crisis – We like it when Inc. keeps things simple. This is clear, straightforward advice to help any organization be prepared for any crisis.
Costco Bucks Trend: Surge In Foot Traffic Despite Tough Economy – There’s no stopping Costco. Foot traffic at the big box behemoth rose 8.9% despite the tough economy. Fox Business looks at how they keep posting amazing numbers.
How Ace Hardware, America’s Neighborhood Hardware Store For 100 Years, Is Beating Its Big-Box Rivals – Speaking of big box retailers, we always hear how they’re growing and taking share from local business and smaller stores. That said, Ace Hardware has quietly been doing very well despite competition such as Home Depot and Lowe’s offering a much wider selection and often lower prices. Turns out, a lot of people simply LOVE going to Ace Hardware. CNN has the story.
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Feed Your Head:
6 Passive-Aggressive Phrases You’re Probably Using (But Shouldn’t Be)
Beach Reading:
The Old-Fashioned Library At The Heart of The AI Boom
How The Guinness Brewery Invented The Most Important Statistical Method In Science
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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.