✅ Monday briefing: Pity city pep talk, engaging activists, Murdoch settles, data ownership, AI and jobs, search overhaul, Truth AI, Fire service standards, fake reviews, and more…
Best and bad practice, artificial intelligence, industry, content, and social media and platforms
The relationship between academia and practice in public relations in the UK has seldom been easy. Leeds Business School researcher and lecturer Teela Clayton aims to bring the two communities closer together for a half-day conference in London on the afternoon of 9 May.
Where Practice Meets Academia aims to integrate academic and practitioner networks to facilitate knowledge sharing. It is supported by the CIPR, PRCA and Four Communications. I hope to see you.
Best and bad practice
😥 PITY CITY PEP TALK: The CEO who urged employees concerned about their remuneration not to live in pity city has apologised for her remarks. A clip of MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen leaked to social media highlighted executive pay issues. Spotted Micheal Greer.
🌍 ENGAGING ACTIVISTS: Extinction Rebellion helped protect the London Marathon from protests this weekend. The marathon on Sunday followed protests in the city on Friday to highlight the climate crisis. Extinction Rebellion agreed with the race organisers that the marathon aligned with its values and promoted environmental concerns. Spotted Catherine Frankpitt.
📺 MURDOCH SETTLES: Dominion has settled its case with Murdoch-owned Fox News for $787.5m. It argued that the conservative TV news outlet broadcast false and malicious rumours about voter fraud that harmed its voting machine business. It means that Fox journalists will avoid being cross-examined in court. Spotted Stephen Waddington.
Artificial intelligence
ℹ️ DATA OWNERSHIP: Reddit and Twitter are seeking payment for helping train artificial intelligence systems such as ChatGPT. Reddit is set to charge for access to its API, while Twitter boss Elon Musk has threatened to sue Microsoft for data usage. Spotted Andrew Bruce Smith and Alan Morrison.
💼 AI AND JOBS: AI could drive a 7% increase in global GDP and lift productivity by 1.5%. It could impact as many as 300 million jobs in industries that rely on programming and writing skills. These are likely to be offset by the creation of new jobs. Spotted Andrew Bruce Smith.
🔍 SEARCH OVERHAUL: More details about Google's Project Magi have emerged. The AI-powered search engine is being developed by more than 160 staff to protect Google’s core business. The new search engine will combine generative AI with personalised choice. Spotted Andrew Bruce Smith.
❎ TRUTH AI: Elon Musk, who three weeks ago signed an open letter calling for a slowdown in AI, is set to launch a platform called TruthGPT. He criticised Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s GPTchat platform for making stuff up. That’s clearly not something that Musk would ever do. Spotted Micheal Greer.
Industry
🔰 BOOK REVIEW: A Century of Spin is a polemic text that criticises the role of the public relations practice in facilitating corporate propaganda and undermining democracy. The book was written in 2008, but it's worth revisiting with ethics, societal concerns, and ESG at the fore of corporate reputation. Source Clare Munro.
🚒 FIRE SERVICE STANDARDS: The Communication and Engagement Fire Standard sets out management communication standards for the fire and rescue service. FirePRO, the membership body for communications professionals working in fire and rescue, developed the standards by working with the Fire Standards Board, CIPR and the Local Government Association. Source Paul Compton.
🖐 CBI SUSPENDED: The CBI has suspended activity until an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in June. The move follows a series of high-profile member resignations following a second rape allegation. The CBI said that it will put forward proposals for the future role and purpose of the organisation. Spotted Sarah Waddington CBE.
Content
🎙 PEAK PODCAST: A YouGov survey suggests that podcasts are one of the biggest growth opportunities for UK media. But despite continued growth, the production of new podcasts has stalled. The report suggests it is a sign that the sector is maturing and professionalising. Spotted Alan Morrison.
🔗 BLOGROLL NOSTALGIA: Blogrolls and blog links were a social web feature of genuine community and authentic connection. They are a throwback to a time before algorithms and paid social media when social media genuinely was social. Source Neville Hobson.
Social media and platforms
⭐️ FAKE REVIEWS: A Which? investigation finds that fake reviews are still being traded on Facebook, despite promises of a crackdown. It discovered 14 groups trading in reviews for Amazon, Google My Business and Trustpilot, which shared more than 62,000 members. These have since been shut down. Spotted Stephen Waddington
🌦 CLIMATE CHANGE BAN: TikTok will remove content that undermines the climate crisis. It said that it will work with independent fact-checking partners to help review misinformation. Spotted Alan Morrison.