Constant Vigilance:Last week we mentioned why communicators need to be monitoring employees’ social media posts 24/7 ( PRNP, March 6). This week’s word of counsel concerns something more direct. Most business days LinkedIn sends a message with the subject line, “News About…” people in your professional network. What a great tactic to get us to open the email and then, inevitably, spend time on LinkedIn. Who doesn’t want to know what people in your network are doing? Has someone been promoted? Moved to a new company? Written an article? Been quoted in the media? Indeed, the first item in the email featured an article about cybersecurity by someone in that field. The next item touted an announcement in a trade pub of a positive press release about the expansion of a company. The last item, alongside a picture of a former colleague, his face beaming in a photo, was the news that his company had just lost a major lawsuit. Not a strike against him personally, but as a corporate communicator, he was quoted in a newspaper article that LinkedIn’s “Connections in the News” algorithm had spotted. “We are disappointed with the outcome and are considering our options,” was the quote. His smiling face and the very unpleasant news alongside it made for an uneasy combination. Certainly it was not a story that was hidden—both my friend’s employer and the other litigant are publicly traded and the news was covered widely. While LinkedIn says its algorithm will cross-check whether or not someone with a common name, like John Smith, mentioned in the news is the John Smith in your network, it won’t edit out a negative story apparently. Communicators on LinkedIn should add this task to their growing to-do list: When you’re quoted in a story you’d rather not see spread to your network, head to the top of your LinkedIn homepage, look for the Me icon and eventually you’ll be able to adjust your settings.
Global Influencers:When it comes to regulating influencers, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission(FTC) leads the way, but “the rest of the world, particularly the U.K., is catching up…which is not surprising given the explosion of influencer marketing over the last few years,” attorney Allison Fitzpatrick of Davis & Gilbert LLP, tells us. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) in the U.K. issued guidelines March 9, putting brands and influencers on notice regarding sponsored content. Fitzpatrick notes CAP prefers “advertising” or “ads” be present in influencer and affiliate marketing. “The FTC has provided influencers and affiliates with more flexibility regarding the language that they choose to make their disclosures, provided the language clearly discloses the nature of their relationship,” she says. Still, she notes, the FTC “has advised that the words “affiliate link” or “buy now” may not be sufficient in disclosing an affiliate marketing relationship.”
People: Best wishes to PRNews Pro friend Torod Neptune, VP, corporate communications at Verizon, who’s joining Lenovo as VP, global communications Mar. 27. Neptune will report to CMO David Roman. Prior to Verizon, Neptune was SVP & global public affairs practice leader at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. – The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America named Sherry Pudloski CCO. She will report to Deanna Mulligan, president/CEO. She joins from Pfizer, where she headed reputation, policy and enterprise communications, among other responsibilities. Prior to Pfizer, she was at Novartis and Ogilvy. – Airlines for America (A4A) named Todd Burke SVP, communications. The veteran airline communicator (TWA, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways) most recently was VP, communications, for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. He’ll report to A4A president/CEO Nicholas Calio. – Several promotions at Publicis Health: Alexandra von Plato was named group president, Publicis Health N America, overseeing communications and media businesses. Janet Winkler was named chief strategy officer, Publicis Health. Matt McNally was named president, Digitas Health and chief media officer, Publicis Health. He’ll continue to lead Publicis Health’s media businesses, with Jedd Davis becoming managing director, Publicis Health Media. – Congrats to PR News Pro friend and contributor Anastasia Khoo, who was named CMO at Conservation International. She joins after a successful 11 years as CMO at the Human Rights Campaign. – Shift Communications promoted Annie Perkins to SVP. At Shift she’s worked with McDonald’s, Rockport and Foxwoods Resort Casino, among others. – To celebrate its 20th anniversary, hotel specialist Turner will open an office in Miami. VP Naureen Kazi will lead the new office. Kazi joins Turner from Development Counsellors International. – Congrats to Lauren Reed, Reed PR, upon becoming president of PRSA Nashville. Amanda Murphy, director, corporate communications, Country Music Television, is immediate past president.