Larry Krutchik

Are the tools of journalism applicable to #corporate communications? Without a doubt. I recently had the opportunity to discuss three of those tools, and how to apply them, at a gathering of comms professionals from @Method Communications, @Sling&Stone, @Harvard and other teams from our @VCCP family. I’d love to hear about other skills from #journalism you think are applicable to helping companies tell their best stories in authentic, media-genic ways. Comment below!

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The @PageSociety just released its newest report Beyond Communication: CCO Leadership in Navigating New Complexity. The findings underscore the CCO as an ever-more-essential partner with the CEO in defining and activating corporate character. Read more here: https://hubs.la/Q02x4nPQ0

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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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20+ years of writing and reviewing press releases has left me with a deep hatred of the words "iconic", "innovative", and especially "paradigm shifting"! This is a smart piece by Eleanor Hawkins. And I agree - as long as the time investment is kept to a minimum and all parties are aligned on the goals of a "press release", there's still a place for them in the comms toolkit as a way to memorialise a moment in time. One add though. With data hungry LLMs looking for more and more content to ingest, and given the shift among many publishers to block the use of their IP, will we see a resurgence in the impact of press releases as influencers of AI answer engines? I predict yes.

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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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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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ACCOUNTABILITY - it's quite a big concept for the day after a certain monumental election result! We're going to park the politics at our event on Tuesday though. Instead we're going to explore where corporate reputation meets regulation, the impact corporate behaviour has on public or societal trust and ultimately how damaging it can be for profit. Age of Accountability, details below - if you're in #energy, #financialservices or any other heavily regulated sector this discussion is one not to miss. #corporatereputation #reputation #reputationmanagement

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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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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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Disclosing a strategic review can be the most important decision of a public company director’s tenure. Directors facing activist pressure to announce should weigh the benefits and costs, including the probability and consequences of failing to find a buyer. What should boards consider when deciding whether to disclose a strategic review? Read this recent article from Lex (Aleksi) Suvanto Joshua Hochberg Patrick Ryan in the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance for insights. https://lnkd.in/gQ522Y_y

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I came across a thought-provoking article by POLITICO, exploring a key question in political science: Does campaign advertising actually persuade voters to switch party allegiance? The independent vote is vital to winning elections, and this article raises important questions about how campaigns should allocate resources and whether they’re focusing on the right strategies. As we look toward future elections, it's critical to rethink the role of ads in shaping voter behavior and how we can more effectively engage with diverse audiences. 🗣️💡 https://lnkd.in/gqMVnaVe #DCIMCapstone

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My response below to a really good comment about PR by Carla Zuill-Ikonwa, ABJ, MA, MICR, Chart.PR It’s not only companies, it’s any organization (non-profit or corporate), that uses communications. All of these organizations need it, but many don’t do it particularly well and the implications of bad or mediocre communications is significant. Lost opportunities to shine a light on the stories and people that would really make a difference for these organizations. Just because you can push a button or use the latest new comms or social media tool doesn’t mean it’s an effective strategy or is really moving the dial. https://lnkd.in/eJ5Z-8q6

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The essence of genuine engagement in today's public sphere is not merely about being heard, but about remaining authentic amidst a sea of loud and conflicting voices. At Moxie Strategies, we uphold a quant-first approach because we believe that authenticity isn't just about the message, but how you substantiate it. Check out my ROI-NJ piece where I delve into how quantitative analysis empowers organizations to stay true to their core values while effectively engaging with their audiences. This method helps us navigate through the noise and focus on what really matters—authentic connections and tangible outcomes. Read on to see how a data-driven strategy can make a real difference.

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Can I tell you something “off the record?” That important and nuanced phrase is often used at the wrong time or entirely misunderstood when people speak with reporters. In my communications career, I’ve had to beg and negotiate with reporters many times after finding out leaders spoke with them without knowing the meaning of “off the record” and “on background.” One of these incidents included someone in a position of power telling a reporter the organization was about to implement mass layoffs – before employees or the rest of the leadership team was aware. It would have been a disaster if that article had published. Fortunately, the reporter was a pro and I was able to offer a solution that worked well for both of us: an exclusive interview in exchange for embargoing the information for a few days. Crisis averted! If you aren’t experienced in working with the media, the terms "off the record" and "on background" refer to different levels of confidentiality and attribution for the information provided by a source. You must say those exact words and have an agreement with the reporter before providing information. If reporters had a dime for the number of times someone gave them a juicy quote or news tip, only to say, “but don’t quote me on that,” they’d probably be well on their way to buying their own media outlet. Information provided "off the record" is given with the agreement it won’t be published or attributed to the source in any way. It is purely for the journalist's understanding and cannot be used in the story. This is a good option when you want to give a journalist context or insight into a situation without having that information appear in the story. Information provided "on background" can be used in the story but cannot be attached directly to the source by name. The information can be attributed to a general description of the source (such as "a government official" or "a person familiar with the matter"). This method is used when you want to provide information that can be published, but don’t want to be directly identified. In this case, it’s also worth discussing with the reporter how that description of the source will read. If it’s well-known that a leader only has two close business partners, for example, info attributed to “a close business partner” of the leader will clearly have come from one of two sources. Even if you use one of these key phrases, keep in mind that there is nothing stopping the reporter from finding another source who can tell them the same thing "on the record." Understanding the nuances of working with the media and the ever-evolving nature of public information is crucial. Those are areas in which we specialize at Worthy Communication. Reach out if we can help you and your company with your communication strategies! https://lnkd.in/gEiM43Vx

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Build Resilience from the Inside Out. What separates the good from the great in high-pressured careers like PR? According to research, 75% of performance is determined by character - not competence. In this episode of #imPRessions, Peter Rea shares how developing virtues like courage, compassion and hope can help you thrive under uncertainty. If you want to boost your ability to perform under pressure, stream this episode. The Pollack Group

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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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