Jennifer Stephens Acree

The October monthly episode of our For Immediate Release podcast explores critical communication trends. Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I discuss six compelling topics, including Reddit's potential for crisis comms, the state of blogging in 2024, ethical concerns in celebrity news coverage, workplace connection challenges, and AI's impact across industries. In a blog post, I've set out some key takeaways that present opportunities for communicators, including leveraging Reddit for stakeholder engagement and preparing to guide organisations through AI adoption. Read more and listen now for valuable perspectives and insights on navigating today's complex communication landscape. https://lnkd.in/e5_CcMR2

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Looking for a weekend binge?! Check out this new podcast for disruptive conversations from the disruptor himself, Phil Fersht! First 3 episodes are live and ready for YOU! From limitless leadership to the big, the bold, and the beautiful (😉) of #AI. It can all be found here. ⬇️ #BeTheDisruptor #HFSReinvent #MakingMoments

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Good article on the value of original quality content and risks of GenAI’s generics & distortions today when AI volume is everywhere online. The image simulation is cool example!

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Reflections on the U.S. Election Results As the results came in, with Donald Trump emerging as the winner, the 2024 U.S. election has underscored both the intensity of the democratic process and the power of communication in modern campaigns. For communication and PR professionals, this election offers significant insights into messaging, perception management, and the role of media in shaping public opinion. From targeted messaging and relentless social media engagement to mastering digital platforms and addressing diverse demographics, Trump’s campaign demonstrated a keen understanding of data-driven outreach and direct communication with his base. His ability to resonate with core supporters while sparking conversations across media channels highlights the importance of clear, consistent messaging, even in polarizing times. This election also reflects the power of authenticity in public perception. Regardless of political stance, Trump’s direct, unfiltered communication style continued to attract supporters, showcasing a trend where authenticity—perceived or real—can outweigh traditional political decorum. For brands and professionals, the key takeaway here is the power of knowing your audience and speaking directly to them, staying consistent, and harnessing the potential of data and digital platforms. The election results remind us of the need to remain agile, responsive, and mindful of public sentiment. As we digest these results, let’s consider how we can apply these lessons in our own fields to engage meaningfully and authentically with our audiences. #USElectionResults #CommunicationInsights #DataDrivenMarketing #AudienceEngagement

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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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As our world gets more fraught and complex, audiences are increasingly choosing news sources which are more visual, reports are more watched, less read, with YouTube continuing its rise. The implications of this trend for deep understanding of difficult issues is worth pondering. More people are concerned about how to grapple with the rising torrent of fake news, and many having doubts about how AI might be deployed by newsrooms. Edelman has partnered with the Reuters Institute for this annual report as we are all in the business of communicating and good, credible and trusted information is critical to everyone in that process

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“I just need a few key messages that I should hit.” It’s a common request that every communications pro has encountered many times ahead of a media interview. And if you’re anything like me, you roll your eyes. Why? Because key messages are fine and good, but only if they are used to form a broader narrative. More often than not, they’re seen as a license to be repetitive, robotic and focused only on your own outcome. Brute-forcing key messages down a reporter’s throat doesn’t help them do their job. Media opportunities are a two way street - you give value, share expertise and contextualize whatever you’re talking about in exchange for the profile the media outlet can give you and your business. The best and only way to respect this duality is to shape a simple and memorable story which contains the messages you want to hit, and which shows instead of telling why what you’re discussing is important and meaningful. I used to keep a folder of video clips that could’ve been titled “when key messages go wrong” - often depicting some hapless executive or politician stumbling through a repeated response straight from the message sheet he or she was handed. They universally looked silly and unprepared, and the interview did nothing but undermine trust and damage the speaker’s reputation. Next time, before the camera starts rolling, think about a story instead of a key message. Your brand will thank you.

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Navigating Activism in 2024: A closer look at rising stakeholder expectations. As societal movements gain momentum, businesses must decide whether to lead change or stand on the sidelines. But how far is too far? And what are the risks of inaction? Here is my commentary on the role of corporate activism.

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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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In today's data-rich environment, PR practitioners who embrace data-driven decision-making are gaining a significant edge in developing more effective, targeted and measurable campaigns -- H Patel, FINN Partners https://odwpr.us/3zBzyYe

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State of play: A recent Memo report found that 56% of CCOs are reporting to the CEO — an increase of 34 percentage points since last year. I loved seeing insights like that in Eleanor Hawkins's Axios Communicators Newsletter this week. It's a topic that is becoming increasingly important as the look of C-Suites continues to change each year. A separate report by the Observatory of Corporate Reputation found that CCO+ roles have increased by roughly 88% within the Fortune 1000 since 2019, outnumbering traditional CCO roles for the first time. I have been a long-time advocate of the CCO reporting to the CEO, indicating the importance of the role as well as its differentiating the position from the CMO which is complimentary but has a different lens to the brand. This hasn't historically been the case but I love to see this shift and its continued trend upwards! https://lnkd.in/gwEeuKxu

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ML’s Monday Morning Musings – 3.5 Reflections from 3.5 Days with IABC Comms Pros “Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” -- Henry Ford Thanks, Henry. Even with 30 years of experience in internal and change communications at global companies, I’m not too old to learn. Last week, I spent 3.5 days with top professionals in the communications field at the IABC World Conference in Chicago. Nearly every speaker told a story of a situation they overcame that I could relate to and learn from. While there were many takeaways, a few reflections stood out for me. If you want more, follow IABC, and attend next year! 💓 1.    Let Your Heart Lead Oscar Munoz, former CEO of United Airlines, told the story of his first 37 days there, which he spent talking with employees in every part of United’s operations. His first priority was to regain their trust. Under pressure, and after suffering a near-death heart attack, drawing inspiration from his grandmother (who raised him as a boy and served as his role model), he led United with heart through one of the most successful turnarounds in modern business. Check out his book, “Turnaround Time.” 😩 2.    Avoid Burnout Carolon Donnally PCC,MSOD, spoke of living with habitual burnout, an experience which took her two and half years to overcome. She reminded me of times in my career when I experienced burnout and shared strategies to avoid it, like having self-compassion and remembering to BARK: B-oundaries (set them) A-dditional identities (you are not only your job) R-est and relationships (see item #3) K-nowing and addressing burnout stressors 🤝 3.    Build & Nurture Relationships I met and reconnected with professionals who, like me, want to keep getting better at what they do, like Steve Crescenzo and Cindy Crescenzo. I first met Steve at an IABC conference where he gave a keynote on making corporate communications simpler. I later hired them. More than once. A former Bayer colleague, Alexandra Borchard (She/Her), and I joined the Crescenzos for dinner because that’s one way to nurture relationships. We had a blast, and I’m working with them on another project. You get out of relationships what you put into them. 🧐 3.5   Have Sponge-Like Curiosity. Be open-minded to new ways of thinking, approaches, perspectives, and technologies. AI and how to leverage this fascinating technology to augment your communications work had its own track. For many, it represents a big change. DM me to learn how to better manage change in your career or life. More at www.helppeopleprosper.com. Listening (another great session) to the challenges and opportunities facing communicators today renewed my faith in knowing that these are the people who create lasting positive change happen, and they are the ones who know how to inspire that change in others.  Thanks Kim Clark, for that reminder. To your prosperity! #IABCWorldConference #change #communications #relationships #burnout #values

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Time once again for the CommsCollectiv Newsletter. If you are not fortunate enough to be on our distribution list, you can find a link in the comments. And please do subscribe -- articles this month include The Strategic Imperative of Source Transparency in AI-Generated Content and Unlocking the Power of AI-Driven Personalization. We also want to know if our avatars look like us...thoughts? Monica Talan, Eric Kraus, Charlene Wheeless, MA, MBA, ICF-ACC, Lisa Ryan #fractionalcommunications #corporatecommunications #generativeAI

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Communications best practices apply to IR, just as they do for all strategic communications. Learn more about IR website essentials in the in-depth guide from PR Newswire ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e9wW2QaH #IR #InvestorRelations #Comms

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Press releases have stood the test of time and remain a vital tool for #PR professionals. In this blog post, we explore 10 key benefits of press releases and how they can boost demand, engage audiences, improve client relations and much more. Click below to discover the potential of press releases in today's digital age. #pressrelease #PRstrategy #mediarelations

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This column is for my strategic and crisis communication peers. "Inreach" is a real word. And a solid Inreach strategy can enhance a meaningful Outreach Strategy. #internalcommunications #strategiccommunications #outreach #engagement

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Since our last State of the Press Release Report, we've seen a shift in how pros are leveraging tech like AI. 🤖  Curious to see how your peers are using AI in press release creation? Our new report dives into the latest press release trends across the industry: https://lnkd.in/eUPwYG2V 💬 Let's chat: What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in PR in recent years? #PR #comms #pressrelease #AI #contentmarketing

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Thrilled to have hosted a webinar on the Ethnicity Pay Gap with three exceptional experts on the subject. Our discussion delved into systemic biases, actionable solutions, and the imperative for change. Let's turn insights into action for a more equitable future. #EthnicityPayGap #DiversityandInclusion

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