Jessica Rampen

🎤🎸🤘🏻🚨 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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“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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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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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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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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Question for the communications pros out there: Do you think the job market is finally improving? The past 24 months have been 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘭 for comms professionals, and now I’m hearing mixed signals about where things stand. Here’s the general vibe I’m getting: 🙂 More roles are popping up for specific comms roles, especially internal comms and analyst relations. 🫠 PR, social media, and content are still facing cuts across the board (and the open roles are few and far between). 🫠  Senior-level comms positions are seriously scarce or non-existent. Is this matching what you’re seeing out there?

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AI Killed Writing Tests So How Can You Evaluate Editorial Talent?

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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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As eloquently put by Eleanor Hawkins in Axios Communicators, there's a recalibration happening as executives navigate how and when to address socio-political issues in the era of Trump 2.0. For corporate communicators, decisions about if, and how, to respond are going to be taking up a lot more of our time over the next four years, if past experience is any indication. Check out the full article at https://lnkd.in/eZCnfVNQ

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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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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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To better understand the challenges - and solutions - in the fight against #misinformation, we at Notified connected with a roster of veteran journalists to hear how #PR pros can help reporters do their jobs (and build stronger trust in news). Only a 4-minute read, learn more: https://lnkd.in/gn2XBPSY #PublicRelations #Trust

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Some executives think interviews are a time to sell their products, but what journalists are really looking for is: 1) Thought leadership, not sales tactics 2) A forward-looking vision of how technology impacts an industry 3) Insight into trends, not a rundown of service features But here is the thing: when executed correctly, both objectives can be accomplished. There is nuance in storytelling.

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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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You know you're a communications professional if: . . . 🤜 You consider "stakeholder alignment" a form of extreme sport. 🤜 You have strong feelings about em dashes—and Oxford commas. 🤜 You've contemplated making "Track Changes" your middle name. 🤜 You've ever had to explain that "make it pop" isn't actionable feedback. 🤜 You know AP guidelines front to back, but can’t remember your own birthday. 🤜 You’re somehow still the last person asked for input for the “high priority" project you’re leading. 🤜 You’ve spent 20 minutes deciding between “Hi” and “Hello” because tone matters. 🤜 You have a carefully curated folder of “proof that I already told you this” screenshots. 🤜 You know that "final_final_FINAL_v3_APPROVED_really_final.doc" is never actually final. 🤜 You’ve rewritten the same announcement so many times that you’re no longer sure what words mean. . . . What would you add to this (ever-growing) list?

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New enhancements to our PR-driven AI tools allow comms pros to ditch the guesswork. Discover features like: ✨ AI-powered suggestions when you upload your press release draft to boost effectiveness ✨ A Press Release Score to help you refine releases for maximum engagement ✨ Data-backed insights based on years of press release performance data Click to learn more: https://prn.to/ai-for-pr #PR #AI #PressRelease

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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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HOT TAKE on positioning, for independent communications consultants. I'm currently reviewing heaps and heaps of global communications consultant resumes, websites and LinkedIn profiles for a special project, and it's been super interesting to see the patterns on a macro level. I'm noticing a LOT of generalized descriptions of expertise and services. Don't get me wrong - there's 100% a benefit to describing yourself as a "Strategic Communications Expert" or a "Senior Corporate Communications Strategist" or whatnot. Keywords matter. Searchability matters. I'm guilty of doing this myself. But when you have the opportunity to talk freely about your signature services, and what makes you different - skip the generic terminology. It certainly doesn't do much to "sell" you. Instead, specialize, specialize, specialize. Example: Don't say that you offer "internal communication strategy." Everyone does that. Get specific. Think about which part of IC you do really, really well. Think about the outcomes you provide. Maybe you "Help hard-to-reach employees understand and carry out their role in the company's global strategy." Or perhaps you "Build bespoke qualitative / quantitative employee communications research programs that deliver actionable insights." Just my two cents. Specificity will set you apart.

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