✅ Monday briefing #11: Web accessibility, image rights, purpose washing, Social Dilemma, TripAdvisor replies, HDTV zoom, agencies in recovery, and more

Best practice, social media and platforms, tools, industry, and events

Good morning. My name is Stephen Waddington. This a weekly summary of news from my blog and topics discussed in a community of practice that I run on Facebook. You’d be welcome to join us. My thanks to all the contributors.

Best practice

✔️ WEB ACCESSIBILITY: A new UK web accessibility law sets out standards for public sector apps and sites based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Gavin Harris has published an excellent primer including key deadlines. Source: Gavin Harris.

🖼️ IMAGE RIGHTS: Photographers are turning to the copyright infringement agencies to pursue copyright breaches. Alternative approaches include invoicing offenders direct and chasing infringements via the small claims courts. Source: Paul Clarke.

🚿 PURPOSE WASHING: If purpose isn’t underpinned by action it’s meaningless. Boeing’s claim of safety, quality, and integrity are at odds with two recent 737 crashes, and Rio Tinto’s claim of integrity rings hollow following the destruction of two Aboriginal sites. Spotted by: Ben Lowndes and Sarah Waddington.

Social media and platforms

📺 SOCIAL DILEMMA: A new must watch Netflix film called The Social Dilemma claims to expose how tech platforms are manipulating users and influencing behaviour. It includes kiss-and-tell style interviews with former Facebook and Google engineers. Spotted by: Stephen Waddington.

👨‍🍳️ TRIPADVISOR REPLIES: Chef Gary Usher hit back at a lousy review of the Sticky Walnut in Chester, UK. It's an excellent use of the right of reply. More chefs should use TripAdvisor as a two-way street. Always respond to comments in a positive manner and be polite. Spotted by: Stephen Waddington.

⚠️ BUYER BEWARE: Last week Amazon promised to investigate dodgy reviews after The Financial Times highlighted bots, pods and paid contributors. This week, the BBC reported on brushing, another type of scam whereby sellers create fake customer accounts and orders, enabling them to write positive reviews for their own products. Source Stephen Waddington.

Tools

📡 CABLE NEWS TRANSPARENCY TOOL: An interactive tool from Stanford University searches transcripts and calculates the screen time of public figures appearing on cable TV news. It aims to increase transparency around editorial decisions during the US election campaign. Source: Stephen Waddington.

🤳 HDTV ZOOM: FiLMic Pro enables Android and iOS users to use their phone as a broadcast quality camera for livestreams or as a webcam. It costs £15 and you’ll need to spend the same on an HDMI cable. It is also highly rated for video editing. Spotted by: Stephen Waddington

👨‍💻️ OPEN AI PLATFORM: You’re going to be hearing a lot more about Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3). It’s an open AI platform that uses deep learning to produce human-like text. This week it has been trained to write an op ed for The Guardian and invent concepts for start-up businesses. Spotted by: Catherine Arrow.

Industry

📈 AGENCIES IN RECOVERY: I’ve written about five ways that marketing and PR agency bosses are leaning into the recovery. Managers are focused on reorganisation, positioning, scaling, Brexit and ESG. There’s no magic. Gather data, make a plan, review it regularly and work really hard. Source: Stephen Waddington.

📁 INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: The PRCA, supported by the CIPR, is acting as a representative body for the UK PR industry for the Government’s new Kickstart Scheme. It will enable smaller organisations to take advantage of the scheme by removing the minimum of 30 job placements. Spotted by: Stuart Bruce.

Events

📅 #SOCIALMEDIAMANAGERSDAY: Social Media Managers Day on Thursday, 17 September will celebrate the unsung work of social media and community managers. It’s the brainchild of Hel Reynolds at the Comms Collective. Follow the hashtag on your social media of choice. Source: Hel Reynolds.

📆 A LEADER LIKE ME: Diversity in PR is an event on Tuesday, 20 October created by a Leader Like Me to provide under-represented communities with platform to share stories with an inclusive audience. It is intended to inspire, motivate, and encourage change. Source: Advita Patel.

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