Len Costa

This article from Columbia Journalism Review is fascinating, and an argument for the importance of a reputation management communication plan. There are volumes authored by PR pros advising against ignoring reporters inquiries, yet this article documents how frequently it happens. Throughout my career, I can count on one hand the number of times I have made a calculated decision not to respond to a media request, and 99.9% of the time it was after multiple engagements with a reporter who repeatedly misrepresented or distorted information (even if not intentionally). I suspect, more often than not, reporters get ghosted because the brand is caught off guard. They haven't planned how they will respond in a reputation crisis. Or haven't socialized the planned response with stakeholders. If the PR team is haggling with executives and lawyers on what to say or how to say it when the reporters' questions start rolling in, the opportunity to frame the narrative is quickly lost. Thanks for sharing the article Jennifer Johnson Avril! https://lnkd.in/gYmTA9CW

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It's going to be an interesting week in comms. The 2024 US election presents unique challenges and opportunities for brands considering leveraging it for their PR. Here are some pointers: 1. Exercise extreme caution, as the election is likely to be highly divisive. Avoid explicit political stances, as research shows only 21% of US consumers want brands to take political positions. Instead, focus on nonpartisan messages encouraging civic engagement. 2. Leverage contextual advertising carefully, ensuring ads appear alongside appropriate content. Consider alternative channels to reach audiences, as news programming will likely be saturated with political content. Emphasise authenticity and brand values rather than opportunistically jumping on election trends. 3. Only explore cause-related marketing aligned with nonpartisan issues. Utilise social listening to understand audience reactions to election-related content. Focus on long-term strategy rather than sacrificing brand positioning for short-term gains. Remember, while the election presents engagement opportunities, the risks of backlash and negative associations are significant. Carefully weigh potential benefits against risks before incorporating election-related themes into marketing strategies.

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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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🚀 Join an exciting #webinar on September 26 with Sift, hosted by The Paypers! https://lnkd.in/eqRBVM-i Industry experts Brittany Allen from Sift and Carmen Caballero from Nestlé will dive into how #AI-driven solutions can revolutionise your approach to #TRAexemptions. #Digital #merchants face the dual challenge of ensuring #security while minimising #friction for #customers. The introduction of Strong Customer Authentication (#SCA) has made this balance even more critical, especially with the use of Transaction Risk Analysis (TRA) exemptions. ⁉ 🎯 But are you fully leveraging #AI to optimise these exemptions and maximise transaction approvals? 🌟 This webinar is a must-attend for merchants in Europe looking to optimise their transaction processing, reduce #fraud, and increase revenue through advanced AI-driven solutions. Click here to register now: https://lnkd.in/eqRBVM-i #webinar #AI #StrongCustomerAuthentication #TransactionRiskAnalysis #ThePaypers #fraudprevention

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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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Grateful to Agility PR Solutions for featuring my brand new book, 𝐁2𝐁 𝐏𝐑 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬! "New Book from Influential PR Vet Michelle Garrett, B2B PR That Gets Results, Just Released" "I felt there was a need for this type of book that explains—in a straightforward fashion—the work of PR professionals and the challenges they face so that companies can get the most out of engaging with a PR consultant or agency and achieve their public relations goals." #B2BPRbook #newauthor #publicrelations

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Asia Pacific is often seen as a single entity, yet it’s incredibly diverse—especially in terms of communication measurement maturity. While Indonesia and Australia may have different levels of adoption in measuring communication outcome and impact, we face common challenges in scaling up and advancing our measurement to the next level, both internally within organizations and externally with our stakeholders. I am delighted to share our experiences and insights from Maverick Indonesia on building best practices over the years with the Medianet team in Sydney last week. AMEC Measurement and Evaluation #measurementbestpractice #communicationimpact #PRmeasurement #communicationmeasurement #knowledgeshare

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Avōq just released insightful research into the changing media preferences of D.C. policy insiders. LinkedIn is up, Twitter is down... but there is a lot more to it than that! To get a deeper look, download the topline and schedule a full briefing to learn what these changes mean for your policy communications strategy: https://lnkd.in/eMpRhMZh

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Check out how creating clarity with complex subjects is building trust, developing understanding, and driving adoption for the financial and technology sector. RF|Binder Armel Leslie https://lnkd.in/eUV3QBj7 #contentmarketing #video #fintech #digitalmarketing #financialservices

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"To comment or not to comment, that is the question." Thoughtful piece by former Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi in the Columbia Journalism Review: "When they won’t even say ‘no comment.’" (https://lnkd.in/ey-yAMHy) He finds that there has been a significant increase in recent years of reporters writing that a subject “did not respond to a request for comment.” So back to the question at the top - should you always feel compelled to provide a comment in response to a media inquiry? "Always?" - no. Every inquiry is different. The main reason to comment is because you can share your perspective, try to shape the article, and advocate for yourself and your organization. Nobody can tell your story better than you. That said, there are times when it doesn't make sense to comment or where doing so would be counterproductive. At a minimum, as a communications professional you should take the lead in analyzing each request and presenting leadership with the pros and cons of responding - and a recommendation for what to say. I'm curious for others, um, comments on this topic. #MediaRelations #PR #Communications #PublicRelations

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This is worth reading. So many people have little understanding that how news and other information is presented enormously influences perception (though the pushback against misleading and biased political coverage by media outlets that should be more balanced has raised awareness of the issue). This particular post focuses on data presentation; because data looks very much like fact (and may be), it is easy to believe, but readers/viewers should use the same critical thinking lens they use (some people use, anyway) to assess the value of prose. Think about the old joke: Bill Gates walks into a room in which there are 134 other people. The average net work of occupants of the room is $1 billion. Think about the right-wing campaign to persuade American voters that crime is "out of control" in the United States. Crime rates are at historic lows, for the most part. New York City (where I'm from) mayor Eric Adams, spectacularly (in my view) unqualified for his job, won election by persuading voters that crime was the city's number one problem and he was the one to fix it. One, crime is far from the number one problem in NYC, and two, the Adams mayoralty has done little to change the status quo. Read. Think. Decide.

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The latest AI Marketing Ethics Digest issue is out. In it, we discuss the "four horsemen" of the "AIpocalypse." I promise that no horses were harmed during the writing of the issue. However, your customers could be if you don't use AI responsibly in your marketing. #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #AI #marketing

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🧬 Should We Trust Scientists? 🧬 One of the key outcomes of an effective and sustained PR and thought leadership program is trust. Trust with investors or commercial partners Trust with customers and healthcare providers Trust with the public and patients Many companies rely on raising the visibility and profile of their CEO to build trust—this is an important piece of the jigsaw, but are they missing a trick? Often, the voices that matter most —those of the scientists—are silent. Yet, when scientists step up, sharing their passion and expertise in ways that everyone can understand, the impact can be tremendous. The Edelman Trust Barometer 2024 sheds light on why this is: 🔬Trust in scientists stands at a high 74%, surpassing CEOs (51%) and other leaders like journalists and government officials. 🧠 77% of respondents believe scientists should lead on innovation—higher than any other group. However, while scientists are widely trusted for their expertise, there’s still a gap when it comes to how they communicate that knowledge effectively. The report also found that: 💬 64% of respondents think scientists struggle to communicate clearly. And this backs up my experience working with scientist founders. The passion for their discovery or innovation is often there but finding the words, phrases and a clear narrative to translate complex science and communicating it isn’t. This presents a golden opportunity for companies. Support your scientists to become better storytellers, make them an integral piece of your external communications and benefit from their inherent trust-building powers. When scientists tell your story, public confidence grows. And according to Edelman’s report, scientific transparency leads to higher acceptance of technologies like green energy, AI, and gene-based medicine. Don’t rely on a single voice to build trust. Empower your scientists and teams to share their stories, expertise and insights and see how this can transform trust and engagement with your audience. ------------------- What builds your trust in healthcare companies and brands? Let me know in the comments 😁 #lifesciences #biotech #MakeBusinessSocial #ThoughtLeadership #EdelmanTrustBarometer 😁 I'm Chris 🗣️ Partnering with life sciences companies to raise their profile, visibility and authority Liked this post? Want to see more? 🔔 Ring the bell on my profile 🚀 Follow me ➡️ Connect with me

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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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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This year's U.S. Book Show was buzzing with energy and insight, making it clear that the pulse of the publishing world is stronger than ever. As we are always in the mindset of “sharing is caring,” here is some knowledge the Smith team and I gained from the event: 🎙️ Panel Insights:  From our industry friends at Amplify Publishing Group and Forefront Books to new connections like Mia Orlandella from Penguin Random House, the discussions were rich and varied. A standout moment was the Young Publishing Forum, where the focus was on "emerging publishers" rather than "young" ones, emphasizing the rapid professional growth in this field and the value of mentorship and community. 🤖 AI and Publishing:  During the CEO roundtable, AI’s role in publishing was a major topic. It was fascinating to hear perspectives on AI as an "intelligent assistant"—a tool that augments rather than replaces the human creativity, empathy, and intuition essential to forward-looking innovation. 📈 Trend Shifts in Book Selling:  The dynamics of book distribution are flipping. It’s no longer just about what bookstores will accept from publishers, but strategically thinking about which books are pushed to major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Inc. or newer platforms like Bookshop.org. This strategic distribution reflects a deeper niche targeting approach. 📘 Digital and Libraries Evolving Together:  Discussions around digital book buying, especially in educational sectors, highlighted the evolving role of libraries. They're not just physical spaces but are adapting to digital demands with tools like social media and virtual book clubs, enhancing access and engagement. We left feeling a profound sense of community and dedication across the board, from protecting authors' interests to celebrating the human touch in our tech-driven world. The Publishers Weekly U.S. Book Show wasn't just about books; it was a testament to the passionate individuals behind them, restoring our faith in humanity one page at a time. If you want to take a deep dive into more knowledge and actionable takeaways from the event, Olivia Whitlock McCoy and I recorded a special episode of the Smith Publicity, Inc. All Things Book Marketing Podcast. Check out our insightful episode here: https://bit.ly/3KlxSUD. #Marketing #Publishing #Author #Books #Leadership

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Communications executives need to understand reporter lingo and be capable of translating it for their C-suite and other spokespeople.   “A Reporter’s Glossary: Journalistic Terms of Art” helps fulfill that mission by revealing definitions for a cornucopia of insider journalistic expressions (link to full paper in Comments). The publication sheds light on such jargon as: · The distinctions among clarifications, corrections, and retractions · What to do with an IFB when participating in an SMT · How to accommodate TV reporters who say they need B-roll · Why media training needs to be a comprehensive series of events, not a one-off, check the box situation · The peculiarities of off the record, on background, and not for attribution   My hope is that this resource will make the job of communications and government relations executives just a bit easier. It’s yours for the taking. No subscriptions. No nags. All I ask: If you find it useful, share it with colleagues and support it with a 👉 Comment 👈 here on LinkedIn.   💭 Once you’ve taken a look, don’t be shy about suggesting additional terms of art that might make it into future revisions. #mediarelations #reporters #journalism

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This week's AI Marketing Ethics Digest (AIMED) issue marks one year of publishing the newsletter. I started it based on an idea combined with a little research and two goals in mind: 1. It followed a failed project, Freelancing After 50, which I started as a post-COVID project to reach people 50+ who were starting over career-wise, many of whom were stepping out on their own. I figured I had learned a few things about freelancing and could pass along my knowledge. It never caught on. 2. I wanted to see if AIMED could generate income, so I went with Substack as the publishing medium. To be frank, I wasn't in love with the idea of covering AI marketing ethics, but no one else was talking about the topic, so I figured I should. Now, I'm obsessed! Here are some lessons I learned that could encourage you: 1. Consistency is critical to success. Publishing a weekly newsletter is hard work and requires more time and effort than I anticipated. But having reached 400+ subscribers and twice the number of followers, I'm encouraged that it's a topic worth covering -- and I've grown to love it. 2. It's not going to make me rich. To date, I've garnered just under $400 in paid subscriptions. Perhaps if I were writing about a "sexier" topic, I could do better. Some people on Substack appear to do really well. 3. I have gained a deep knowledge of AI ethics and their impact on marketing. Or, rather, ethics and how marketers can use AI responsibly. But there is still much to learn. Someone said that if you write about a topic for six months, you'll become an expert at it. That may not apply to brain surgery or rocket science, but in this case, the logic holds. 4. Substack is a great place to be. It is the perfect combination of newsletter, blog, and online community. Unlike other social networks, it's a positive place where people encourage each other. I've made quite a few friends in my time there, especially these two guys: Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston, fellow travelers in the AI marketing universe. 5. I can't do it alone. I knew pretty early on that Paul Chaney wouldn't be writing a weekly newsletter without some help. I found that in Kristina Martin, our first co-editor, and now with Brianna Blacet, our current co-editor. Star Kashman has also joined as our legal editor. Add to that, interviews with AI and marketing SMEs and guest posts from others. There are more lessons I could share, but I'll leave it there. I'm convinced AI marketing ethics (i.e., the responsible use of AI in marketing) is a topic that will gain greater importance as we move into 2025. I hope you'll join me, Brianna, Star, and others as we keep pressing in and adding value. Cheers! PS: Mack Collier, Alexandra C., Veronica Llorca-Smith 🍋, and Amrita Roy, I'd love your feedback and ask you to share your experiences in a comment.

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