Mike Zaneis

When Americans look for information about politics and elections, one of the first places they turn to is Google. The Associated Press and Google Trends have partnered throughout this year to show what folks are most interested in: crime, healthcare, unemployment, economy and so on. The data updates weekly and you can drill down to see which topics are on the minds of residents in your county. Hope you take a look.

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Interesting to see how widespread the boycott of brands over the Gaza conflict has become. At Anavizio Data Solutions & Technologies we’ve been tracking the issue on social media since October and - while the effectiveness of the boycott may be debated - it shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. That is because public anger over what is happening in the Palestinian Territories is very real and, in the face of an otherwise helpless situation, boycotting is one of the only things people can do. If nothing else it goes to show just how important social media has become in shaping brand perceptions and impacting purchase decisions!

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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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Center for American Principles was pleased to join host Renee Giachino for the premier of the new IP Protection Matters podcast. Listen as CAP Policy Fellow Patrick Kilbride discusses the role of intellectual property rights in securing individual liberties and economic freedom in today's knowledge-based economy: IP Protections Enable Innovation (ipprotectionmatters.org). "[T]he critical thing [the American IP] system does, better than any other in the world, is we create the conditions where capital can come off the sidelines and be allocated to the long-term, high-risk, capital-intensive projects that produce transformational innovation to change lives for the better." https://lnkd.in/gBtQKwce

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I’m profoundly thankful to Srini, Editor of TheFederal.com (https://thefederal.com/), and the Executive Council of New Generation Media for placing their trust on me to lead the charge in product-driven digital transformation at The Federal. Let’s be honest—building a scalable and sustainable news business isn’t exactly a walk in Cubbon Park. But where’s the fun without a challenge? News might be a public good, but it still has to bring home the bacon (or idli, depending on your palate). For agile, small newsrooms like The Federal, embracing AI tools isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s the new power move. A special shoutout to Srini, who redefined the term "hands-on leadership" by enrolling in Python classes alongside his team. Yes, you read that right—an editor who codes! If that doesn’t scream “newsroom of the future,” I don’t know what does. It’s proof that understanding code is no longer optional; it’s essential for survival and growth in modern journalism. The cherry on top? Witnessing our custom AI model (built to convert video to news stories) in action, complete with a disclaimer proudly displayed at the end of an article. Sure, it’s one small step for AI, but it’s a moonwalk for The Federal. And trust me, this is just the trailer—there’s a blockbuster ahead. As we forge ahead, The Federal is set to adopt a freemium model (because, yes, we know what the cool kids are doing) and explore Generative AI-driven targeted programmatic ads. No clickbait nonsense—just smart, relevant ads that actually make sense. And we’re not stopping there: our expansion into vernacular content (Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu) will get a major boost from our AI allies. Of course, at the heart of it all remains The Federal's unwavering commitment to quality journalism. Let me leave you with this parting thought: AI isn’t replacing humans anytime soon, but humans who know how to harness AI? Now, that’s who’s rewriting the story. 🚀 PS: Oh, and if you’re part of a newsroom and have thoughts to share—whether you’d like to exchange notes, throw a few bricks, or even swear this is plain silly—I’d love to hear from you! Let’s learn and grow together, one AI-powered typo at a time. PPS: The Federal’s disclosure highlights its use of a proprietary AI model alongside a Human-In-The-Loop (HITLO) process, ensuring AI efficiency is paired with human oversight for reliable journalism. In an era where AI tools like GPT and Gemini are widely used in newsrooms, this transparency builds trust and sets a standard for ethical implementation.

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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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for your use

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OCTOBER 21, 2024 — In the lead-up to the 2025 legislative session, FPF is excited to convene the expanded Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group (MAP-WG)—a bipartisan coalition of over 200 state lawmakers from more than 45 states, and highlight the group’s resources in a new dedicated landing page. This lawmaker-led initiative, facilitated by FPF, enables legislators to collaborate on developing a shared understanding of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and to coordinate on related policy issues. In anticipation of significant state-level AI legislation in 2025, the group is expanding its efforts and launching a dedicated landing page (fpf.org/multistateAI) to centrally share its purpose, key resources, and insights with a broader audience. In the absence of a comprehensive federal law regulating data privacy or AI, state lawmakers are quickly moving forward with local legislation in response to the rapid advances in AI. This has led to questions about how to best craft appropriate, consistent protections for individuals. The MAP-WG seeks to navigate these challenges by fostering collaboration and promoting better understanding of AI technologies.  FPF serves as a neutral convenor and is proud to be a trusted source of nonpartisan, practical expertise and support. While the group primarily focuses on artificial intelligence, its scope extends to related areas such as data privacy, enforcement, regulation, AI workforce development, and combating non-consensual intimate images. Read more about it: https://lnkd.in/eKtRtYJz

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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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To be frank, this is a long time coming. Since Gen AI has rolled out, I've operated under the assumption that any materials/copy created should be used internally and never as outwardly facing pieces of content. Because Gen AI is pulling copy from existing articles and sources, it's definitely a plagiarism risk at best. Gen AI has been extremely helpful for me in terms of research, admin or ideation prompts, but I would give it a extremely long thought before I used it for external copy. #pr #publicrelations #mediarelations #genAI #communications

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On December 5, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report reflecting the agency’s investigation into third-party funding of patent litigation in the United States. While the GAO was unable to quantify the extent to which third parties are financing and taking an interest in infringement suits due to limited data on the subject, interviews with a range of industry stakeholders reflected mixed views on the impacts of disclosure requirements that could identify conflicts of interest and foreign involvement, with such rules also raising concerns about biasing litigation with issues having little relevance to infringement allegations.

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I am proud to share Team Flow Institute Fellows' latest paper, "How to Prepare for the Integration of AI to Achieve Business and Human Success." In its simplest terms, AI has been classified as a series efficiency tools, built on creating productivity and savings. Now, through the lens of the Team Flow model -- which prioritizes collaboration, communication, and innovation -- this paper focuses on several ways AI can drive the human element of business. Among them: 🤖 How AI technologies can augment and elevate human work rather than just automate tasks. 💪 Empowering employees rather than replacing them and placing more value on human work. 📊 Measuring “progressivity” -- as opposed to productivity -- as a key success metric. 🌟 Envisioning new opportunities and possibilities with the addition of AI technology, rather than just adopting a new technology and conducting business as usual. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eyBSCPvs #ai #teamflow

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Political donations play a critical role in shaping the landscape of electoral campaigns in the United States. These contributions not only provide essential funding for campaign activities but also reflect the engagement and priorities of different groups of Americans. Using data from AnthologyAI, we explored the nuances of political donations to uncover patterns and strategic insights that could enhance campaign fundraising efforts. https://lnkd.in/ey-J39DQ AnthologyAI

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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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I've really enjoyed getting to know Andrew S. and working with him on #FairnessMatters. This article kick's off the series in The Fulcrum and you can read more at www.fairnessmatters.vote.

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With the next 60+ days sure to be full of election turmoil, companies and organizations need to be prepared for potential limits on issue advertising. Check out DDC Public Affairs tips for being prepared. #elections #politics #publicaffairs #adveristing #communications

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Join me July 11 at 3:30 EST for this Notified webinar, where I'll share advice and tips on effectively pitching your press releases to journalists. Hope to see you there, along with the 800+ people already registered - the link to sign up is in the comments. We'll cover: ➡️ What a press release is - and isn't - for 👍 ➡️ What to include in a well-written release 📝 ➡️ The best methods to pitch your news to journalists 🗣 ➡️ Other ways you can repurpose your release ♻️ #publicrelations #mediarelations #PRtips

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Technology is changing legal services – with learning and innovation on the horizon for legal services and regulation in Washington! The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and Practice of Law Board (a volunteer board under the Washington Supreme Court) are proposing a pilot test of entity regulation. For the first time, entities with innovative business models (including those operated by individuals not licensed to practice law) could apply to offer legal services under timebound, limited exemptions from the otherwise applicable rules governing the practice of law. Emerging technology and innovative business models have potential for fundamental impact on delivery of legal services in ways that may be positive, negative, or both. Online companies and innovative business models are already delivering legal services to the public and will undoubtedly expand in prevalence and sophistication in the coming years. Recognizing the profound implications of these changes and to better understand the opportunities and threats presented by these emerging technologies, in terms of safety, quality, and access to legal help for Washingtonians, the proposed pilot is a step to learn more. Over time, the pilot will gather data to understand how new technologies and business models can play a role in the legal services ecosystem to make legal services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the public, and how they can coexist with traditional law firm models. This is the beginning of a process, not the end; the goal is to learn more and make transparent, data-driven decisions before any permanent regulatory reform is put in place. Throughout the upcoming process, the WSBA and POLB invite feedback and welcome opportunities to engage about the proposed pilot test. We want to hear from you! Provide feedback to the WSBA and Practice of Law Board via [email protected] – see the information at this link for more details. https://lnkd.in/gfe9zydR https://lnkd.in/gfe9zydR https://lnkd.in/gfe9zydR

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