Evan Harris

Here were the top 5 stories we published on 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 this week: 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 The California State Senate Local Government Committee has approved SB 915, allowing local governments to regulate autonomous vehicles. This bill, introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese, aims to address safety concerns amid recent AV incidents. Proponents hope it will set a precedent for responsible AV deployment. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸: 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 A routine repair turned into a head-scratcher for Eustis Body Shop when reconnecting a Nissan's battery prompted repeated police visits due to a SiriusXM crash alert. Despite shop efforts, the mystery persisted until Nissan intervened, providing a solution. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 Six Republican governors jointly oppose the United Auto Workers' (UAW) push to unionize auto plants in their states, citing concerns over potential economic disruption and political affiliations. The statement comes amidst ongoing unionization efforts, particularly at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 Manufacturer incentives doubled in March, resulting in a 1% drop in new vehicle prices compared to last year. Despite a slight decrease in sales from February, 2024 is poised to be a strong year for new vehicle sales. However, high prices continue to limit options for budget-conscious buyers. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝗜-𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 I-CAR's recent National Volunteer and Instructor Meeting in Chicago covered key industry topics, including CEO John Van Alstyne's retirement announcement. Discussions also centered on addressing the technician shortage and showcased initiatives like the Collision Careers campaign.

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On this week's #MetricMonday we're looking at sentiment, a tricky data point to come by, but an inherently critical one to understand #crisiscommunications challenges in real-time. First, let me say that NO algorithm or tool allows you to push a button and get a perfect sentiment analysis – it just doesn’t work that way (i.e. "cool" means something different to a fashion brand than it does to an HVAC company). However, in most cases, you can train tools to give you relevant directional data on sentiment based on publicly visible conversations. Once you have a well-trained monitoring tool in place, the granular approach to assessing individual posts matters a lot less than how you plan to use the data. Typically, I'm using sentiment data to: 👉 Determine the scale of an issue: While sentiment tells you the balance of negative, neutral and positive conversation, it can also showcase how much of each can impact your reputation. For example, if there are 10 product reviews on an item with 2M SKUs sold, does it matter that 6 of those reviews are negative? Perhaps, but it's worth noting how big or small an issue is relative to the conversation volume. 👉 Understand trends over time: Net sentiment is typically driven by events in a company's history. A positive net sentiment can change overnight on the whims of a bad newscycle. Analyzing sentiment before, during and after a critical issue will typically indicate whether the issue will persist or dissipate, helping you determine what the proper next steps might be. 👉 Understand topical relevance: Within all the comments and reposts are natural indicators of what topics are driving sentiment. The public will usually TELL you why they feel the way they do, and thus give you data on what the proper response might be, what channel to share it on, and how that statement might be received. Example: If your brand experiences a wave of negative comments on Instagram, does it make sense to issue a press release to tamp down the noise? Perhaps, but there's a case that it might not work based on where the conversation volume originated. If you’re planning to issue a response during a crisis that doesn’t include the trending keywords among negative responses, how might that message be received? Hard to say for sure but your odds of shifting the narrative are narrow without letting the data guide your hand. In all, sentiment is a great signifier of brand health, but as with all metrics, it's only a good tool if we use it to full capacity. And one more thing...can we not use neutral sentiment as a leading insight? It's perfectly fine to note that your audience isn't impassioned at a given moment, but neutral sentiment is easily the least impactful metric when facing a public issue. If it's all you have, shrink the data set and retrain your monitor based on influencer, channel type, publication or post type. There are insights there somewhere, sometimes you have to hunt for them.

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California’s adoption of zero-emission vehicle policies will change the transportation landscape over the next two decades, prompting questions about how to adapt revenue structures to preserve transportation infrastructure funding. Gasoline tax revenue is already beginning to decline as the state transitions to electric vehicles. How will the transition impact current transportation infrastructure? How can California best fund the infrastructure of today — and the future? Tune in on Tuesday morning as POLITICO convenes leading lawmakers and industry officials, including UCON's EVP Emily Cohen, to examine the future of transportation infrastructure. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gubTXKpt

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PRESS RELEASE Biden-Harris Administration Recommends for Award More Than $276 Million to Expand Internet Use on Tribal Lands WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $276 million to 44 Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption. The funding from the nearly $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Internet for All Initiative. These grants are from the second round of funding, which made nearly $1 billion available for the deployment of Internet infrastructure on Tribal Lands, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives. Awards will be issued following budget review and processing. "Access to affordable, reliable Internet is not a luxury – it's a necessity," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "That's why this historic investment to connect Tribal communities is so important. These awards will ensure that residents of Tribal lands have the Internet connections they need to take advantage of digital opportunities for work, education, health care, and other essential services. To read the full press release, please click here: https://lnkd.in/gQmtGbct

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My early takeaway from PRSA Oregon #CommCon2024 is that the public is facing a real trust issue when it comes to innovations like AI and other emerging tech (and in general). Which raises the question: how do we address the trust crisis in a way that is both authentic and effective? #communications #publicrelations

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🎤🎸🤘🏻🚨 Latest from The Repute: "Crisis Comms Under the Microscope: Dave Grohl’s Approach" 🎤🎸🚨 In this edition, we take a real-time look at how rock legend Dave Grohl is handling the media fallout from his recent infidelity scandal. Using data-driven insights, we break down the New York Times' coverage of Grohl’s crisis communications strategy and analyze what worked—and what didn’t. https://bit.ly/3MIZy76 The analysis explores: - The effectiveness of proactively addressing scandals before they spiral - Why timing didn’t minimize media coverage as others have suggested - The nuanced balance between controlling the narrative and avoiding sensationalism Whether you’re dealing with a major PR issue or simply curious about how the media operates during high-profile scandals, this edition offers valuable lessons for managing your brand’s reputation. Read the full analysis and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have a great weekend everyone! Will Valentine Publisher, The Repute Founder and Principal, Valentine Advisors

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Responding to a kidnapping or an extortion demand may be one of the most difficult managerial tasks an executive may face, and very few are fully prepared to address all the aspects of a case. Join our informative 101-level webinar 10/10 from 2-3PM ET, where we will delve into Kidnap/Ransom & Extortion Risk Management. This webinar will explain the vital elements of a corporate Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion risk management program, and review resources, services, and coverage options available to help ensure the safety of employees.

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Measure R, or the Merced County Public Safety Stabilization Act, was placed on the November ballot by the Merced County Board of Supervisors as an effort to boost funding for the county’s sheriff and fire departments, as well as for the district attorney’s office. It’s interesting because it’s being pushed by conservative-leaning county and law enforcement officials who typically bristle at more taxes. Read more and see how it will affect sales tax rates in this explainer. https://lnkd.in/g_fQkhAs

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I know how we can fix the financial challenges media outlets are facing. And it doesn’t involve paywalls. One of the most difficult things about media relations is trying to get any—and I do mean *any*—response from journalists about your pitches. What if there was a legitimate and ethical industry-wide system for PR pros to pay to get feedback from journalists? I’m not talking about paying for coverage.  I’m not talking about paying to influence journalists. I’m talking about paying for a response. There could be three levels to this: 1. A simple Yes or No response within 24 hours 2. A templated response from a list of reasons about why the journalist is or isn’t going to use the pitch 3. A custom response about why the journalist is or isn’t going to use the pitch PR pros wouldn’t do this for every pitch, but for certain outlets or campaigns, having the option to get guaranteed feedback would be priceless. Many journalists receive hundreds of new pitches each day. There’s no way they can read and respond to all of them. But imagine if media outlets could monetize some of that interest in a way that helps PR pros send better pitches and gives journalists more of what they’re looking for? And it’s done in a way that’s scalable and doesn’t require a lot of extra work from journalists? I realize this is a tricky thing to pull off for a variety of reasons, but it deserves an honest conversation and some brainstorming. PR pros, how much money would you be willing to add in to the cost of certain campaigns to pay for each of those three levels of guaranteed feedback?

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YouWho worked with Grants Pass Tribune to create a local newspaper’s digital presence in Grants Pass, Oregon. Grants Pass Tribune is a free and independent news source, covering a wide range of topics, including local news, events, politics, business, education, and human-interest stories. 🗞️ We love watching the strong SEO take off for this website as readership continues to grow for this local paper. 🚀 #GPTribune #GrantsPassTribune #Webdesign #WebDevelopment #YouWhoDigital #DigitalMarketing #LocalNews

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When getting more funding for projects or the implementation of innovation, it is important that elected officials hear from state departments of transportation on their needs. State DOT CEOs do not set policy or appropriate money. That is the job of elected officials. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation, Roger Millar, discusses the important role innovation plays in making our nation's infrastructure safer, resilient, and more efficient. He also touches on the need for elected officials to hear from the DOTs and their partners in the industry when it comes to decisions being made about funding and policy. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eiX7VkZ2 #Transportation #Infrastructure #Innovation #StateDOTs #Funding #Policy #InfraTalkontheRoad #InfraTalkAmerica #Podcast

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As I start thinking about long-term communications planning, this article from Sean Gibbons and Tristan Mohabir is energizing and motivating. It's time (frankly, it has been for a while) to move away from broadcast models and towards targeted community building. I'm looking forward to more from this series of articles from The Communications Network! https://lnkd.in/eVgS6raH

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Are you ready to elevate your media relations game and ensure your agency’s news gets the coverage it deserves? "Acing Media Relations and Getting Your Agency’s News Covered" with CAPIO's Rising Star Award-Winner Joshua Dean, Communications and Media Production Specialist with The County of Fresno, is packed with practical insights and strategies. Join us next Thursday, December 12 at 11 a.m. Learn how to build strong relationships with media professionals, craft compelling stories, and navigate the ever-evolving media landscape to ensure your news stands out. Key Takeaways: 🎦 Building Relationships: Learn effective strategies for establishing and maintaining positive relationships with journalists and media outlets. 🗞️ Crafting Compelling Stories: Discover the elements of a newsworthy story and how to present your agency’s news to capture media interest. 🎦 Pitching Techniques: Master the art of pitching, including creating attention-grabbing pitches and following up effectively. 🗞️ Media Kits and News Releases: Gain insights into creating comprehensive media kits and writing news releases that stand out. 📱 Leveraging Digital Tools: Explore the latest digital tools and platforms that can enhance your media outreach efforts. 🎤 Handling Media Inquiries: Develop skills to respond promptly and appropriately to media inquiries, ensuring your agency’s message is communicated clearly. Register today at https://lnkd.in/gJ3T23JP

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"To understand and act upon the potential of the next frontier, we need to move beyond the handful of state-controlled space agencies and billionaire-funded ventures that currently run the industry. We need to create pathways to participation that are not contingent on nationality, socioeconomic background, or academic discipline." Great op-ed in SpaceNews by Sam Hutchison, co-founder of Space Exploration and Research Agency, on democratizing space access for all. https://lnkd.in/eZPuKQ83

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📣 This Just In: Our long-awaited 2024 Arizona Media Study has been released, offering insights into our state’s media landscape and trust in news. The study revealed local TV as the top statewide media source due to heavy consumption of live sports, events and news. 📺 Paid streaming video platforms, local radio, free streaming video platforms and paid streaming audio subscriptions round out the top five sources. 📈 According to Chris Kline, President and CEO of the Arizona Media Association, “This 2024 data shows a stabilizing picture of both social media and streaming media platforms. After many of these platforms saw declining use in Arizona last year, we may be hitting a plateau in total consumption even if individual platforms continue to rise and fall.” It also delves into the evolving cable TV landscape, digital consumption of local radio, diversified streaming audio solutions and digital-first distribution models led by local print brands. Read the full press release and research study by clicking the link below ⬇

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Check out my latest column, where I discuss how anti-transit groups undermine support for public transit under the guise of fiscal responsibility and efficiency—and how we can combat it. Mallon: The deceptive influence of anti-transit groups

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