Eric Herman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SWIFT IMPACT: POP SUPERSTAR'S ENDORSEMENT MAY BACKFIRE, SAYS LEADING U.S. MEDIA EXPERT Michael Levine Cites Poll Showing Taylor Swift's Support for Harris-Walz Ticket Turning More Voters Away Than It Attracts According to leading U.S. media expert and best-selling author Michael Levine, Taylor Swift's recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz might not be the vote-swaying move some expected. It could be driving more voters away than pulling them in. A new YouGov post-debate poll released on Saturday reveals that while 8% of voters said Swift's endorsement makes them "somewhat" or "much more likely" to vote for Harris and Walz, a staggering 20% said they are "somewhat" or "much less likely" to vote for the Democratic ticket now that Swift has thrown her weight behind it. A majority of 66% reported that Swift's endorsement will not influence their vote in November. Swift, a Grammy-winning artist with a massive social media following of 283 million, clarified her position shortly after the recent debate, stating, "I've done my research, and I've made my choice," in an Instagram post. Levine, renowned for his media and public influence expertise, suggests this polling data reflects a growing backlash against celebrity involvement in politics. "It's a fascinating example of how public figures may be miscalculating the influence they wield," Levine said. "While Swift's voice carries weight in popular culture, political endorsements may be an entirely different beast—one that could alienate more voters than it engages." As the 2024 election intensifies, this celebrity endorsement raises fresh questions about the power of star influence on American politics. https://lnkd.in/gM38yqZD #taylorswift #2024election #careeradvice #selfgrowth #motivationalcoach #businesscoach #personalcoach #michaellevineconsulting #michaellevine #whatisyourwhy #losangeles #wisdom

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In many respects, it feels like we’ve been in a state of heightened readiness for the past four years, and yet the upcoming elections are making it even more challenging for companies to understand what to say and how to be there for their people. Much of this article by my colleagues Christine DiBartolo, Clare Marshall, Alexandra Priola, Citseko Staples Miller and Aaron Carter focuses on external comms, but the importance of understanding individual sensitives, heightening engagement and using these moments as an opportunity to double down on how we live our values resonated with me as a people leader, too. These are the moments that define us as leaders. #Reputation https://lnkd.in/gc8CRBbr?

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During the #PRWeekCrisisComms panel titled "Safeguarding against an unknowable outcome," speakers including Errol Cockfield of Weber Shandwick, Ethan Bauley of Myriant by United Minds, Jim VandeHei of Axios, and Alexi McCammond of the The Washington Post discussed how businesses face political challenges from both sides, navigating through an environment where every business decision can become fodder for campaigns. They shared insights and strategies on protecting brands amidst political uncertainties, highlighting the need for proactive measures to defend against campaign-related issues and crises. #PRWeekDC #crisispr #crisiscomms #crisiscommunications #PRWeekConference

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For crisis communications and media professionals: How do you navigate advising clients or upper management when they opt for crisis spin messaging over addressing the actual root cause of the crisis? 🤔 We've witnessed various scenarios where organizations either successfully managed this approach or faced challenges. From President Biden's health concerns to NYC Mayor Adam's scandals, and companies like Boeing, Meta, Nike, Tesla, Samsung, and the Secret Service-the importance of handling crises transparently cannot be overstated, especially if you want to maintain your credibility, brand, customers, clients and stakeholders.📰💼 #CrisisCommunications #MediaPros #PublicRelations #Transparency #CrisisManagement

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Media trust in the USA hit another historic low 📉 A new Gallup survey shows that trust in mass media has been decreasing and has fallen to a record low ➡️ The news media is the least trusted group among 10 US civic and political institutions involved in the democratic process. 👀 Another recent survey published by Business Insider says that Elon’s X (ex-Twitter) is the least trusted Big Tech company. It seems like trust is the main currency of these days. Also, it’s another reminder for PR & comms practitioners to use the whole variety of comms channels in the PESO model, not just traditional media. https://lnkd.in/dSVzhECa

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Last week, approximately 400 participants from around the world converged in DC to discuss the state of communications, to hear opposing and affirmative views, and to experience what it’s like to be on Capitol Hill two weeks before the election.    Here are three quick reflections on PRovoke Media’s Global Summit:  ❇️ Curate what matters to you the most: With a vibrant lineup of panelists like Mike Allen/Axios, Kathy Baird/Washington Post, Denise Dahlhoff/The Conference Board, Megan Doern/Deloitte, Nicki Haley, Kara Swisher, and others, there was a lot to take in. As usual, PRovoke has done a great job reporting on the Summit (check out their website.) These are the quotes that stuck with me (some paraphrased):  💬 "You don’t create a great product if you don’t have more points of view." 💬 "We have a lot of information but not a lot of facts. The purveyors of the main social networks have backed away from any moderation, and we are seeing the decline of media outlets that were much more stringent about facts.” 💬 "Regardless of what happens on election day, don't be quick to put anything out, don't be quick to respond because you won't know if it's real and you don't know exactly who's behind it. Make sure we're not contributing to any of that division.” 💬 "We need to be relentless. We need to wake up every single day and continue trying.” 💬 "I do think that the old quote, what gets measured gets managed, is still very true." 💬 “Process is such a critical thing to communicate quickly.” ❇️ Cherish the in-person moments: Many of us find industry conferences and events valuable because they give us the chance to reconnect with old colleagues and meet new people. Steve Kerns and I definitely accomplished this. It was also good to catch up with some of the good folks at PRovoke Media. ❇️ AI: don’t be lazy, and don’t get seduced. As expected, #AI was a significant topic of discussion at the Summit.  There is still much to be comprehended and navigated. Some of the AI-related sessions reminded me of what Jeremy Kahn, Fortune magazine’s AI editor said during one of his recent podcasts: “One of the things I’m concerned about is that this technology is so easy to use and so seductive that we’ll overuse it and, as a result, lose some of our important cognitive abilities.” We must be thoughtful and proceed with caution.    Thank you again to the PRovoke Media team for all their hard work. Paul Holmes Diana Marszalek Kim Cataldi Maja Pawinska Sims Patrick Drury #provokeglobal #marketingcommunications #publicrelations #PR

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At great way to get a consice and insightful look at weekly global political developments and their impact on business.

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💡 From the fediverse to the Kamala Harris election campaign, SEO, and more: Insights in FIR 425. In this episode of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I explore six key topics that are shaping the future of business, communication, and technology: 🔹 Fediverse and Digital Sovereignty: We discuss the growing disillusionment with platforms like X and the potential for governments to establish their own instances on the fediverse to maintain digital sovereignty and control over public discourse. 🔹 The Decline of Individuality: A recent study shows a significant decline in people’s desire to stand out over the past 20 years, which has implications for society and how businesses engage with their audiences. 🔹 Corporate DEI Backlash: With growing political and social backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, some companies are scaling back their efforts. But are they abandoning these goals or just changing how they communicate them? 🔹 Impact of Disabling Social Media Comments: Research reveals that disabling comments on social media can harm the perception of influencers and public figures, making them appear less sincere and likeable. 🔹 Kamala Harris’s Gen Z Campaign Strategy: We delve into how Kamala Harris’s campaign successfully engages Gen Z voters by mastering platforms like TikTok and leveraging influencers to drive massive engagement. 🔹 AI and the Future of SEO: The rise of generative AI and concepts like 'zero-click search' are changing the SEO landscape, with new strategies needed to maintain visibility in an increasingly AI-driven search environment. 🔊 For a deeper dive, listen to episode 425 of the podcast - check out the full blog post with audio player here: ⬇️ #Podcast #BusinessTrends #AI #DEI #DigitalMarketing #SEO https://lnkd.in/eCM9mj9d

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A few thoughts in O'Dwyer's Public Relations News on one of DLPR's media relations strategies and how to handle delicate situations.

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The Wall Street Journal editor Paul Beckett’s account in the Columbia Journalism Review of how the Journal mobilized to free Evan Gershkovich after 16th months as a prisoner in Russia is a tour de force and “a free press triumph” and well worth the read. Some excerpts: A phone call to a senior government official who knows this terrain provided the answer: “There are times to be quiet and there are times to be loud—and this is a time to be loud.” “Yet on days like August 1 (when he was freed), the values that underpin democracy and are the foundation of a free press triumph.” “Few countries that are not democracies could point to such care for their ordinary citizens abroad, let alone noncitizens imprisoned for their political beliefs.” “news organizations must continue to assess and calibrate the risks their reporters face when operating in dangerous terrain. Perhaps they need to make more hard-nosed choices on whether it is necessary to deploy in person to countries that target journalists or whether that terrain can effectively be covered from outside, given advances in technology and communications.” “And they could ensure that press freedom around the world—an issue so fundamental to their existence that it is often taken for granted—is a subject they cover as if their livelihoods and their liberty depended on it.” https://lnkd.in/etZTVCeB

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Misinformation and disinformation, the threat of deepfakes, the rise of AI, dwindling workforces and resources - are converging trends undermining the quality of and trust in the media? Have a read of this excellent piece by Tom Harper, APCO European head of media and former Sunday Times journalist, in POLITICO today.

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Worth reading from NiemanLab: Readers prefer to click on a clear, simple headline — like this one By David Markowitz, Hillary Shulman and Todd Rogers In an era when people trust news less than ever, how can journalists break through and attract the attention of average people to provide information about their communities, the nation and the world? By not complicating things. Our research, published in Science Advances, shows that simple headlines significantly increase article engagement and clicks compared with headlines that use complex language. In our research, typical news readers preferred simple headlines over complex ones. But importantly, we found that those who actually write headlines — journalists themselves — did not. We first used data from The Washington Post and Upworthy to see how language features, such as word length and how common a word is, changed how many people clicked on an article’s headline. These datasets included over 31,000 randomized experiments — also known as A/B tests — that compared two or more headline versions of the same underlying article to determine which one generated the most clicks. Headlines with more common words — simple words like “job” instead of “occupation” — shorter headlines, and those communicated in a narrative style, with more pronouns compared with prepositions, received more clicks. For example, The Washington Post headline, “Meghan and Harry are talking to Oprah. Here’s why they shouldn’t say too much” outperformed the alternative headline, “Are Meghan and Harry spilling royal tea to Oprah? Don’t bet on it.” This example illustrates how sometimes a more straightforward headline can generate more interest. In follow-up laboratory experiments, we found that typical news readers focused more on simple rather than complex headlines because the writing was easier to understand. When journalists participated in the same experiments, they didn’t show any preference for simple headlines over complex ones. Put differently: Those who write the news appear to be less responsive to simple writing than regular audiences. Generations of communication consultants have advised that communicators follow the rather crass acronym KISS: Keep it Simple, Stupid. We suggest a modified version applied for journalists. Since KISJ isn’t all that simple, we propose: Keep It Simple, Staffers. Simplicity increases the number of people who click on a news story headline and improves reader recall of the material in the article. Most importantly, simplicity boosts reader engagement, such as how much attention they pay to the information.

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As we approach tonight's Presidential debate, I want to share a foundational piece of advice that I emphasize in every media training: Embrace the role of a spokesperson, not merely a "question-answerer." Media engagements are opportunities to effectively communicate with your most important stakeholders. Just as moderator questions will not determine the outcome of tonight's debate, neither do a reporter's questions singularly decide the success of a media interview. Effective spokespeople bridge to their core messages as they respond to journalists' questions. Similar to the debate tonight, the impact of a media interview can benefit from communicators supporting it online and on social media. Smart digital promotion can extend the reach of positive interviews to be sure the key messages reach the right audiences in ways that engage them.

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🗽 Breaking news: Brace yourself for the 2024 election season as the political environment is as stable as a Jenga tower built by a toddler. Check out the latest edition of our "Compass for the Chaos" newsletter, in partnership with our public affairs and social impact colleagues Meghann Curtis, John Files, and John McCourt. Hope is not a strategy, so read up on how brand safety is the key to protecting your PR campaigns and corporate reputation. #2024election #politics #businessimpact

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A useful handbook for quick reference and a reminder to all journalists covering the #US elections to ensure information integrity. This is worth a look. As in absorb this before #election day #journalists #newsroom #misinformation #disinformation https://lnkd.in/g4heDxVP

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The good-old news release remains a valuable part of the suite of communication tools. Delivery has expanded over the years, but the news release has many benefits, as noted in this article from CommPro: #corporatecommunicatin #publicrelations #businessstrategy https://lnkd.in/grMD7jPX

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