✅ Monday briefing: Tickets for WaddsCon on pitching journalists, UN report, climate disinformation, conversation therapy, snap judgements, LinkedIn editorial, social discord, algospeak, and more...
Climate change, diversity, media, best practice, research and insight, and social media and platforms
This newsletter is crowdsourced each week from my blog and community of practice for people studying and working in marketing, media and public relations. It’s a hive mind, newsroom and source of information, help and support. You’d be welcome to join us.
📺 Do you want to hear what it takes to land a media relations pitch? Four speakers at WaddsCon at 1-2pm on 27 April will share best practice approaches to building relationships with journalists, pitching, and landing a story in earned media. You’d be welcome to join us.
Climate Change
🌳 UN REPORT: The final IPCC report found that without immediate action the world was on track for a 3.2C rise in temperatures by the end of the century. “Some government and business leaders are saying one thing, but doing another. Simply put, they are lying,” said António Guterres, secretary-general, UN. Spotted Stephen Waddington.
🤥 CLIMATE MISINFORMATION: Pinterest has updated its community guidelines to remove climate misinformation. The site has committed to take down content that distorts or denies the facts of the climate crisis, whether posted as ads or organic content. Spotted Sarah Waddington.
Diversity
🏳🌈 CONVERSION THERAPY: The government’s LGBT+ business adviser has quit in protest at the contentious decision to exclude transgender people from a conversion therapy ban. Iain Anderson, who was appointed to the role in 2021, accused the government of attempting to wage a “woke war” on the community. Spotted Stephen Waddington.
Media
🤳 SNAP JUDGEMENTS: We use the following cues to determine the authenticity of news stories on digital platforms: headlines; visuals; advertising, brand, platform and social cues. A Reuters Institute paper examined how people who lack trust navigate the digital information environment. Spotted Paul MacKenzie-Cummins.
👨💻️ LINKEDIN EDITORIAL: LinkedIn is hiring six more editors in the UK in the aim to add more in-depth coverage of industries and topics such as Brexit and the UK labour market. The network currently employs three editors in the UK and is said to be adding 80 new roles around the world, meaning it will soon have a total of 200 editors. Spotted Alan Morrison.
🚛 PUN SEARCH FAIL: Derbyshire Police issued a pun-laden statement in response to a lorry spillage of biscuits. “It took officers a moment to digest the scene in front of them.” Unfortunately Google doesn't have a sense of humour, leading sub editors to report an otherwise fun story with a dull headline. Source Stephen Waddington.
Best practice
😷 VAX INFLUENCER: Mr T, also know as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, trended on Twitter after he posted about receiving a vaccine booster. Influencers have proved to be an effective way to reach diverse groups and counter anti-vax sentiment. Spotted Julian Christopher and Sarah Waddington.
Research and insight
👥 COMMUNITIES IN A CRISIS: Brand communities are a highly effective crisis management tool according to the co-founder of crisis simulation company, Polpeo, and author of How to Communicate in a Crisis. Communities provide intelligent insight on issues and a platform for advocacy and engagement. Source Kate Hartley.
💪 SOCIAL DISCORD: A new report suggests that public relations practitioners are supporting organisations in addressing activist concerns and social discord. The Annenberg report presents an idealised view of the current levels of public engagement by organisations around social discord and polarisation in society. Source Stephen Waddington.
🛒 SUPERMARKETS VS UNICORNS: A new Talkwalker report find that Getir, Gousto and Orcado are disrupting the grocery sector impacting M&S, Sainsbury's, and Tesco. A Talkwalker social listening report suggests price is no longer king for consumers on social media and that communicators must use data to adapt. Spotted Jack Richards.
Social media and platforms
🙊 ALGOSPEAK: The Washington Post reports that algorithm savvy internet users are finding ways to circumvent algorithmic censorship by inventing new words and phrases. Using so-called algospeak unalive is used instead of dead; SA instead of sexual assault; or spicy eggplant instead of vibrator. Spotted Catherine Arrow.
🐤 TWITTER SHARES: Elon Musk has acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter. He was set to join the board but the move was overturned. The activist investor has been critical of the platform’s moderation which he claims is overzealous. Spotted Louise Gibson.
⌨️ EDIT BUTTON: Twitter is working on an edit button according to a tweet posted by the social media platform. This may or may not be related to Musk acquiring a stake in the company. It’s a contentious topic for the Twitter community who like its real time spontaneity but would also like to be able to correct typos. Spotted Stuart Bruce.
📸 PHOTO SHARING: BeReal messages its users to capture and share a photo within a two minute window each day. The social network aims to reflect real life and is an antidote to heavily manipulated images on Instagram or influencer chasing creators on TikTok. Critics say it builds data on behaviours, and routines that could be abused. Spotted Catherine Arrow and Leanne Hughes.
Thanks to everyone who subscribes to this newsletter. Last week it was received by 2,403 people and read by 1,616. Please share it with anyone that might find it useful. We’re taking a break for Easter next week and will be back on 25 April.