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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Pro-Hamas Protests Show How Higher Education Has Finally Crossed the Line – It’s been a rough few weeks for leaders and communications teams at universities (elite universities, in particular) across the country. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7, and the war that commenced immediately following, student groups at universities have been protesting, with many siding with … Hamas. This phenomenon has caused sharp responses from alumni, Jewish organizations and firms that have the potential to hire these students. The New York Post has the latest.
Consumers Are Less Interested in Brands Taking Stances on Sociopolitical Issues, Survey Finds – In a growing trend, 59% of consumers say they would prefer businesses not to take stances on social and political issues. That is the key takeaway from a survey by Gallup and Bentley University. Respondents said they would prefer companies focus on paying fair wages and providing quality healthcare and other benefits, rather than speaking out on issues. The Wall Street Journal has the details.
How to Pronounce the Trickiest English Words: Ask This Frenchman – Whether they care to admit it or not, many Americans struggle to pronounce words, including macabre, cache and gnocchi as examples. And when it comes to pronouncing types of wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or, God forbid, wine regions such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, things get really dicey. Luckily there’s a Frenchman who can help. The Wall Street Journal takes a closer look.
Selena Gomez Is Being Dragged for Her ‘Ignorant’ Statement on Israel – As the world has watched the horrific war taking place between Israel and Hamas, actress Selena Gomez thought the world needed to hear her point of view. Bad idea. The Daily Beast has the story.
States Sue Meta Claiming Its Social Media Platforms Are Addictive and Harm Children’s Mental Health – Dozens of states, including California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms (the parent company of FaceBook and Instagram) for contributing to the mental health crisis by designing and deploying features on Facebook and Instagram that cause children to become addicted to the platforms. AP has the latest.
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Feed Your Head:
LinkedIn Influencers Are a Thing Now – and Brands Like Intel and Hootsuite Are Courting Them
People With ‘Poor Speech Etiquette’ Always use These 7 ‘Rude’ Phrases, Says Public Speaking Expert
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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.