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The Flack

The Flack™ for Friday, September 9, 2022

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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College Football’s Twilight – College football is about tradition, tailgating and getting together with friends. But at the heart of college football culture, one thing has always remained central: rivalries. But storied matchups, including the Pitt/West Virginia “Backyard Brawl,” the Missouri/Kansas “Border War,” the Oregon/Oregon State “Civil War” and so many others have disappeared or will soon, and it’s all due to realignment. City Journal takes a look at what has caused the shakeup, how college football is changing and what may be coming down the line.

Wendy’s Debuts Gray-haired Logo for Ageism, or Is It Woke Washing? – In August CTV, Canada’s most watched news organization, announced it was parting ways with chief news anchor Lisa Laflamme after decades. Laflamme reportedly had been pressured to dye her hair blonde, rather than let it go gray. Laflamme repeatedly refused, and the 58-year-old journalist was dismissed. Wendy’s Canada, seemingly in support of Laflamme, debuted a gray-haired Wendy’s logo with the tagline, “Because a star is a star, regardless of hair color.” But was this an authentic stand against ageism or an opportunistic play by Wendy’s, sometimes known as “woke washing?” The American Genius investigates.

There Are 4 Kinds of Digital Hoarder.  Which One Are You?If your inbox is always overflowing, or if you never delete photos or files you have no use for, you may be a digital hoarder. Similar to physical hoarding, digital hoarding has been associated with anxiety and mental-health issues. The Big Think takes a look at four kinds of digital hoarders. Which one are you?

How to Get Better at Reading People from Different CulturesBody language – posture, facial expressions, hand gestures, etc. – helps communicate ideas and emotions. However, body language varies by culture. A gesture used for emphasis in one culture could be interpreted as offensive in another. Harvard Business Review takes a look at how to interpret ideas and utilize body language appropriately in any culture.

Starbucks’ Free Refill Policy Is Genius – Even if Very Few Know of It – Starbucks has a free-refill policy. You read that correctly. If you are in a Starbucks and you finish your drink, you can get a free refill. While you take a minute to come to terms with how much money you have spent at Starbucks unnecessarily, give this a read. Inc. looks at the little known policy and the genius behind it.

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Obituary: Queen Elizabeth II

Feed Your Head:

5 Ways to Tell if Someone Is a Real Expert (or Just Really Good at BS)

Avoid These Resume Words at All Cost – Here Are Power Verbs to Use Instead

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flack

noun

: one who provides publicity

flack

verb

: 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.