A roundup of the week’s new items in PR, including allegations against the Kardashians for endorsing products on social without mentioning that they are paid to do so; the departure of Robyn Massey as Ogilvy’s CCO; more bad news for Chipotle, this time from the NLRB regarding its social media policy.
Topics
Labor Day Idea: Enhance Company & Employee Performance via Vacations
August 29th, 2016 by Mike McDougallIs paid time off (PTO) a relic of the past? Should PR leaders abandon the concept? That doesn’t seem to be the ideal solution, especially when the benefits of vacation are well established. A Diamond Resorts International survey conducted by Nielsen found 71% of people who take a yearly vacation are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Just 46% who fail to take a yearly vacation are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs.
Brands’ Tactics Burnish and Tarnish Their Reps at Summer Olympics
August 29th, 2016 by Katie PaineThe Olympics is not for the faint of heart. Never mind the athletes. Being a spectator or a sponsor requires as much grit and fortitude. I know. I just got back from watching my cousin, Caleb Paine, compete on the U.S. Sailing Team. For years, I observed the Olympics from the comfort of my living room, watching the celebration of human spirit and athleticism play out against what I assumed was a perfectly orchestrated spectacle, replete with major brands and a lot of media coverage. It’s not like that at all.
Is Apple Making Moves Toward the Next Big Social Platform?
August 26th, 2016 by Sophie MaerowitzRumors have been circulating in tech blog circles this week that Apple has been developing a camera app-based social sharing tool to rival Snapchat and Instagram. Given the likelihood of the next generation of smartphone buyers to prioritize visual language—sharing photos and video over text—over text-based communications, this is a smart move for the tech giant, especially as Facebook and Google continue to grow in influence.
How to Work With Law Firms, One of PR’s More Complex Clients
August 26th, 2016 by Andrew Blum, AJB CommunicationsA large law firm can be a source of great PR potential, with exciting news and high-profile clients. Sometimes, getting the news out or commenting to reporters can be sticky. The problem can boil down to internal rules and policies and client conflicts that prohibit talking to the media on certain topics, or need multiple layers of approval to do so.
Kardashian/Jenner Family Accused of Not Disclosing Paid Posts
August 25th, 2016 by Ian James WrightAccording to FTC guidelines, paid social media posts must carry a “clear and conspicuous” disclosure that they are in effect paid advertisements; starting a post with #ad, for example, would suffice. But a letter sent Aug. 17 to the Kardashian/Jenner family and their sponsors alleges that the celebrities in question routinely “engaged in deceptive marketing campaigns” by failing to disclose their relationships with companies paying them for endorsements.
Mylan CEO Shows How to Prep for Dynamic Media Interviews
August 25th, 2016 by Mark RenfreeAfter facing intense backlash for the price increase of EpiPens—a life-saving medication for individuals with severe allergies—Mylan CEO Heather Bresch outlined the company’s plan to make the drug more affordable during an Aug. 24 interview on CNBC. By shifting the conversation to the broader—and incredibly divisive—issue of health care in the U.S., Bresch offers her critics something else to direct their ire at. But what she really did in this interview was display a mastery of media training skills.
PR and IT Collaboration: 6 Do’s and Don’ts From the Communicator’s POV
August 24th, 2016 by Steve GoldsteinHarnessing the potential of the communications/IT nexus is all about authentic relationship building and professional respect. Being a great teammate makes all the difference, regardless of your position. At the very least, PR pros should work on their (yes) communications skills with their IT counterparts so they can establish a true partnership with common goals.
What Pinterest’s Instapaper Acquisition Means for Communicators
August 24th, 2016 by Sophie MaerowitzPinterest has acquired Instapaper, an app for saving articles and pages for later reading. The matchup makes sense, given Pinterest’s parallel model of pinning images and video for later review. While there have been article and link-saving apps on the market for years, Instapaper has a few unique features that make it attractive to bigger platforms and potential buyers (this sale is its second acquisition in recent years), and several applications that make it worthwhile for communicators to keep an eye on in the long term.
A Former Newsperson’s Tips To Help You Tell Stories Better on Video
August 23rd, 2016 by Seth ArensteinHow does a brand, perhaps lacking a big budget for video production, enter the world of video on social platforms? Many experts say brands can produce videos relatively inexpensively. And while outstanding special effects and editing are no doubt attractive, many believe a creative concept and excellent storytelling can overtake expensive production values.