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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Atlanta Journal-Constitution To Stop Printing As It Transitions To All-Digital News – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will cease print editions by year-end, becoming fully digital. This makes Atlanta the largest U.S. metro without a daily print paper. Publisher Andrew Morse cited subscriber shift to digital platforms, aiming for 500,000 online subscribers. This move follows trends of smaller papers cutting print, but is rare for major metros. The Independent has the story.
Aldi Wants To Conquer The American Grocery Store Landscape – And they just may do it. The German grocer is riding a wave of growth adding more than 200 new U.S. stores in 2025 making it one the fastest growing retailers, and next year the company will open its largest New York City location near Times Square. But what is driving this growth, and how big can the grocer get? The Wall Street Journal investigates.
Artificial intelligence Loses Out To Humans In Credibility During Corporate Crisis Responses – A new study in Corporate Communications: An International Journal reveals human-written crisis messages are perceived as more credible and beneficial for reputation than AI-authored ones. Researchers found participants rated human-generated press releases higher in source credibility, message credibility, and organizational reputation, even when content was identical. So there’s hope for us all! For now. PsyPost digs in.
OK Boomer, What’s Next? Rethinking Generational Marketing Myths – Traditionally, marketers have divided the world into neat generational boxes: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, etc. But culture rarely plays by such clean rules. With technology, media and identities shifting faster than ever, are these buckets still helpful or just lazy clichés that flatten real people? Little Black Book takes a look at why old thinking might be due for a refresh.
So Um, Why Do We Say ‘Um’ So Much? – “Um” is a ubiquitous filler word with multiple functions: it buys thinking time, softens tone, and signals turn-holding in conversation. Despite its utility, “um” is often perceived negatively, associated with indecisiveness. Reducing its use requires conscious effort, such as speaking slower or employing alternative phrases. NPR explains.
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Feed Your Head:
You’re Probably Doing Small Talk Wrong
Good Obits:
Giorgio Armani, Fashion’s Master Of The Power Suit, Dies At 91
Mark Knoller, 73, White House Reporter And Font Of Presidential Facts, Dies
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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.