Platform Prater: This story has two parts and both are germane to communicators. Facebook said it’s working against ad-blocking software, making it more difficult for users to block ads. Basically Facebook says it will be making it more difficult for ad-blocking software to decide what is an ad and what is not. The social media giant also has updated its ad preferences features, allowing people to tell Facebook not to send them ads from particular companies. Users will be able to see the names of brands that have them on their advertising lists. They then have the option to ask Facebook to no longer send them ads from specific brands. In addition, users can check boxes that exclude them from receiving ads in a specific category, for example gourmet foods and automobiles. – Add NBCU to the list of media companies that are creating or will create content for Snapchat. The interesting wrinkle in the deal with the Comcast-owned network is that it won’t simply re-purpose television clips for Snapchat, but instead produce original content for the platform. NBCU re-uses some of its television content on YouTube and Facebook. The television channel E! will supply a weekly rundown show of celeb news and gossip for Snapchat, while the series The Voice will create an original production for the platform, NBCU told The Wall Street Journal.
News Bits: Kevin Akeroyd was named CEO at Cision. Peter Granat will transition to chairman of the board. Akeroyd was GM/SVP at Oracle Marketing Cloud. – PRSA said NCAA president Mark Emmert will be a speaker at its late-October conference in Indianapolis. On Oct. 24, Emmert will discuss the role that “clear, concise and targeted communications play in sharing…recent advances in college sports,” PRSA said. – As we know, chiefs of large brands rarely engage in public disputes with other brands. Similarly, brands are loath to publicly call out a rival brand. So why did Panera Bread boss Ron Shaich blast McDonald’s for its ads that tout preservative-free Chicken McNuggets? Our guess is that it wasn’t just the ad he’d seen during the Olympics. It goes deeper, probably back to McDonald’s’ Aug. 1 press conference (more on that below). On Aug. 11 Shaich ripped the burger behemoth saying that the sauces it supplies for dipping the poultry bits in are “filled with” preservatives, Business Insider reports. Shaich’s beef was that the ad implies everything McDonald’s serves is preservative free. Shaich then smacked fast food generally for its marketing to kids and the meals it serves them. Panera’s menu for kids is devoid of artificial flavors, sweeteners and colors. He challenged the industry to remove anything artificial from kids’ meals; halt marketing of kids’ meals by using toys and cartoon characters; provide kids with healthy choices such as organic yogurt and fruit; and ban sugary drinks. McDonald’s responded by reiterating what it told a room full of journalists, bloggers and influencers Aug. 1. The brand will be removing preservatives from McNuggets as well as dropping high-fructose corn syrup from hamburger rolls and moving to antibiotic-free chicken earlier than planned. The brand will become “consumer-obsessed,” McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres said.
People: Defense contractor AAR named Marcus Jadotte VP, public affairs. Most recently Jadotte was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Commerce Department. Previously, Jadotte served as VP of public affairs and multicultural development for NASCAR, its first African-American officer. – Wayne Hickey joined Weber Shandwick as EVP and senior technology practice strategist. He joins from Edelman, where he led its Bay Area operations across San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Sacramento. – Green Room Communications named Beth Kitzinger COO. Most recently, she was COO/managing director at Fenton Communications. – The Dealey Group named Jesse Tron to lead its new corporate communications and PR business. Most recently Tron was VP, communications, for the International Council of Shopping Centers. – Travis Bullard joined APCO Worldwide’s Raleigh office as a director. Prior to joining APCO, Bullard helped lead corporate communications at Cisco in its Americas region. – The CW promoted Paul Hewitt to EVP, communications. Prior to The CW, Hewitt was VP, communications at UPN. – Online credit provider Elevate named Al Comeaux CCO. Comeaux led strategic communications at Sabre, American Airlines and Travelocity, where he helped to launch the Roaming Gnome. – Long John Silver’s named Karen Wantland, director, media and local store marketing. Previously, Wantland was a media director at ad agency Scoppechio and a media supervisor at Doe Anderson. – We note with sadness the passing of Inez Kaiser, 98, the first black woman to join PRSA and the first black woman to own a PR firm, Inez Kaiser and Associates, founded in 1957, according to the Kansas City Star.