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.
Are Your Texts Passive-Aggressive? The Answer May Lie in Your Punctuation — So you send a text to your teenage son, and you end the text with a period (signifying the end of a sentence). But your teenage recipient may take the tone of your note to be angry or aggressive. Why? Because the use of common punctuation has taken on new meaning in a world of text communication. This three-minute read (or listen) from NPR will give you some insight into how the perception of something as innocuous as a period can give the recipient an impression you did not intend.
The Medium Is Still the Message — In 1964 philosopher Marshall McLuhan argued television, print and radio do not convey the same message, even if the script being used is identical. A recent study by the Journal of Applied Psychology found, among other things, email is the least authentic way to interact. This article from The Wall Street Journal looks at how a person is perceived when communicating via email, telephone, video chat or in a face-to-face conversation. It may help you choose the right medium when conveying important messages at work or in your personal life.
Communication Guide for Leaders Who Aren’t Sure What’s Coming Next — Here’s a secret: Great leaders often don’t know what’s coming next. Good or bad, change can bring uncertainty or fear that can affect employees, clients and other key stakeholders. In uncertain times, some leaders choose to remain silent, but that can often exasperate the uncertainty and cause more confusion. This quick guide from Duarte will help you get organized and build confidence when leading during uncertain times.
Dude — A Most Excellent Salutation Dates to the 19th Century — After a 29-year hiatus, Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves are back with the release of “Bill & Ted Face the Music.” The term, “dude” or “dudes” is back as well, appearing more than 100 times in the film’s dialogue. And, while everyone is familiar with the term, not everyone knows its origin. Check out this quick, fun read from language columnist Ben Zimmer of The Wall Street Journal.
A Ribbon Cutting with Drones? — 2020 has been a different year in more ways than we can count, and the way businesses work and large events are managed may never be the same. So, what do you do with the ribbon-cutting ceremony you had planned for your new $550 million hospital in an era of social distancing? If you are SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, you forge ahead and conduct your “ribbon-cutting” with dozens of drones. Click here to view the amazing video.
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What we’re reading:
No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings
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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.