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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A Secretive Hedge Fund Is Gutting Newsrooms — Everyone knows newspapers are dying. According to Pew Research Center, total circulation of U.S. daily newspapers has declined more than 50% over the past 25 years. And when you ask why circulation is declining, the immediate answer is, “technology.” There is so much free content available, many people don’t feel compelled to subscribe to a newspaper. And while technology certainly plays a role, there may be something more sinister going on. The Atlantic takes a deep dive into Alden Global Capital, a secretive hedge fund that has quickly and quietly become one of the largest newspaper operators in the country. And let’s just say: keeping the public informed does not appear to be their highest priority.
Katie Couric Grilled on Today About Editing RBG Interview: ‘How Did You Justify That?’ — Katie Couric returned to the Today show this week and faced some tough questions from Savannah Guthrie about a section of her memoir in which Couric discussed her decision to withhold a quote from a 2016 interview with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. During the 2016 interview, the Supreme Court Justice criticized those who knelt during the National Anthem. The Week takes a look at what happened when Couric found herself in the hot seat.
Why The Salesforce CEO Wants To Redefine Capitalism By Pushing For Social Change — Should corporate CEOs stay neutral and focus on their company’s performance, or should they take positions on controversial political issues such as climate change, homelessness, gun policy or even abortion? Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff is among a growing number of corporate leaders who believe they should take positions on such issues. Benioff recently offered to help Salesforce employees move out of Texas after the state enacted a law in September banning most abortions. NPR takes a look at the pros and cons of CEOs taking positions on political issues.
Reed Hastings Refuses To Address Dave Chappelle Controversy — This week Netflix founder and co-CEO Reed Hastings found himself in a tough spot. After dealing with the backlash from Dave Chappelle’s special, “The Closer,” in which the comedian uses language some perceived as hate speech, Hastings was scheduled to appear on a panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference. And it didn’t take long for panel moderator and CNBC correspondent Julia Boorstin to ask Hastings about the controversy. Hastings refused to address the issue, simply saying, “no comment.” However, Hastings’ attempts to avoid the issue seemed to make it even a bigger news story. Deadline takes a look.
Netflix CEO’s “Non-Apology Apology” Over Dave Chappelle Show Misses The Mark — By airing Dave Chappelle’s latest special, “The Closer” the streaming service has put itself right in the middle of the culture war between free speech and progressive values. Earlier this week Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos sat down with Variety to address the issue and apologize … sort of. Here Forbes takes a look at Sarandos’ apology and offers six lessons that can be learned from it.
Americans’ Trust In Media Dips To Second Lowest On Record — This headline may not be surprising. A recent Gallup poll showed Americans’ trust in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly has declined four percentage points since last year to 36%, making this year’s reading the second lowest since Gallup began tracking trust in media in 1972. And trust varies greatly by political party. Currently, 68% of Democrats, 11% of Republicans and 31% of independents say they trust the media a great deal or fair amount. Take a look at a disturbing, albeit not surprising, trend.
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Podcast Worth Your Time: Freakonomics: Why Is U.S. Media So Negative?
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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.