Molly Smith

The blush boom is real. Not only is the category a viral mainstay and a steady driver of makeup growth since 2023, per Circana, but it also raked in $58.9 million in revenue on Amazon during the last 12 months, growing at a rate of 39 percent year-over-year. This outpaces not just makeup’s growth of 25 percent during the same period, but also beauty and personal care’s overall sales growth of 30 percent on the platform. Here, a dive into Amazon's burgeoning blush business for WWD: https://lnkd.in/epuuW9y9

28

Congestion pricing was supposed to start today in New York City. It didn't after Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month announced an indefinite pause. My latest article in The Wall Street Journal traces the rise and pause of congestion pricing — a tale that involves 17 years and around $700 million. The abrupt reversal, which some attribute to Hochul’s reluctance to impose a new fee in an election year, leaves metro New York grappling with a historic missed opportunity and fiscal mess. There is no relief in sight for the city’s traffic congestion, which is the worst in the world, according to data published last week. The epic collapse in New York shows how a fear of dramatic change can give the status quo stubborn power over those trying to solve some of America’s most intractable challenges. That leaves policymakers nibbling at the edges of deeply rooted problems, even after investing huge sums of money and political capital. Blown up in a New York minute were plans for around $15 billion of planned improvements to the city’s ailing mass-transit system, the largest transportation network in North America. The reversal cast aside around $700 million in meticulous prep work, including a $555-million contract to install tolling cameras—which are already up and ready to go—and $33 million for a customer-service center with 100 employees who have already been brought on, officials said. Planners invested thousands of hours, including going to London and Stockholm to research their congestion-pricing programs, according to people familiar with the travel. What was supposed to be a transformative moment when New York led the way and boldly tackled traffic congestion, air pollution and transit funding, has instead turned into a surprising loss for a broad coalition that includes major employers, real-estate developers and subway riders. Surprised by the reversal were Hochul’s own lieutenants, including Janno Lieber, a fierce champion of congestion pricing and the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA—which carries around 5.5 million passengers each day in the New York metro area—now faces a $16.5 billion-financial hole from the loss of money from congestion pricing and federal matching funds. Just days after Hochul’s announcement, a beleaguered Lieber joined a conference call with advocates in which he said he was equally shocked and remained committed to the program, three people familiar with the exchange said. “This is devastating,” he said, according to a person on the call. Here's the latest from me and Joseph De Avila —>

29

2 Comments

My full-length post-mortem analysis of the Question 4 campaign is still in the works, but for the time being here's my 3-tweet takeaway after a few days of reflection: The Question 4 campaign here in Massachusetts, the power players behind it, and the total failure that was Tuesday night’s election are a fascinating microcosm of the foundational ineptitude of the Democratic establishment at large. Case in point: Dewey Square Group (born in 1993) is the faux-progressive brainchild of the Clintonite/neoliberal elite… DSG is a “grass tops” consulting firm: designed to co-opt and repackage populist ideologies into watered down, corporate-friendly Uniparty drivel. Out of touch, glaringly and embarrassingly inept — and yet somehow still clinging to power due to the influence of their largely nepotistic networks and a consistently sharp-elbowed approach to dealing with outsider input. Sound familiar? PS - This is intended as a critique of the political machinations at work, not an attack on or condemnation of the character of any individuals involved.

10

5 Comments

One or two things I’ve learned from following the U.S. election campaign period. The U.S. elections, from the campaign period and debates through to Election Day, are well-organized and widely publicized. Both the Democratic and Republican parties raise millions of dollars to conduct their campaigns transparently, without resorting to misusing public funds, which is a problem in African re-election campaigns. It’s an aspect I’ve always wished African nations would emulate. Many prominent African opposition figures including #Ousainou Darboe were invited to the #Democratic National Convention (DNC), and we hope they gained valuable insights that they can apply in future presidential campaigns. In The Gambia, we’ve seen the #Commission On Political Debates making efforts to enhance the quality of presidential debates. However, it’s concerning that some candidates have declined invitations to participate including #President Adama Barrow missing the opportunity to present their policies and manifestos directly to voters. We can and must do better.

3

For this podcast, the Confident Retirement, there's a twist: I was the one interviewed, not the one asking the questions. (I like it better the other way - but that was fun - thanks for inviting me on, Kristopher Flammang CRPC®AIF®BFA®) Oh - and I'm not retiring :) Some of the things we talked about: * My early journalism career change to being a juvenile probation office for three years; • Why and how the Business Observer has made a transtions to #digitalfirst — and why we keep the focus on that; and • The lessons I've learned from interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs ands business owners Take a listen!

30

1 Comment

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

10

After many years in the biz, I can attest everything here is true. Journalism is much more than a career. It's a noble profession and a contact sport that isn't for the faint of heart. And remember that news doesn't happen in newsrooms so get out of the office as much as possible! #journalism #reporters Southern California News Group https://lnkd.in/gzcY4tu5

8

Today's must-read is a banger of a post from Bloomberg's Matthew Boyle - it is chock full of insights and reminders about what editors look for in a PR pitch. A few worth mentioning: 📙 Your proposed story angle must have "conflict, characters and context." If you don't explain why the reader should care, don't bother. 📉 Show, don't tell, and back up your ideas with data points. (Exclusive data? Even better!) 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Be prepared to share real stores of real people in the trenches (not just "thought leaders" on a subject) who can add context and validity to your story. In this case he mentions CEOs but for other types of pitches this could mean customers or employees. 🚫 NO to excessive jargon, empty follow up notes and pitches featuring purely self-serving, company-funded surveys. Check out his 🔥 takes below. Read and learn. 👇

9

Here’s what’s in the Senate Financial Services and General Govt bill for major government IT accounts: https://lnkd.in/eCrxP3j6

5

I wrote about what outcome of the election means for journalism. If we take away one lesson from this whole election cycle, I hope it's this: The urgency to rebuild trust with communities and our audiences that have come to view mainstream media as out of touch with their lives has never been more acute. I also hope, pray at this point, that this moment will become a catalyst for renewal, innovation and growth for our industry. #StateofAbundance #election2024 #journalism #media #innovation https://lnkd.in/gen7s26T

4

1 Comment

My latest article on how last Thursday's debate may have already determined the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. The stakes were high, and the debate's impact could make the rest of the campaign a mere formality. "The debate's impact was so significant that it could very well have sealed the fate of this year's election." "Many analysts believe that the performance gaps between the candidates were too large to overlook." 🔗 Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/e9X4tDkt #USelection #Election2024 #DebateImpact #PresidentialDebate

6

LinkedIn Post: My Journey into AI and Journalism 🚀 Exploring the Intersection of AI and Journalism 📰🤖 After more than a decade in journalism, uncovering important stories and navigating local authorities, I’m stepping into a new frontier: the world of artificial intelligence. The challenges facing journalism today—data overload, time constraints, and shifting audience demands—require innovative solutions. I believe AI offers tools to overcome these hurdles while empowering journalists to focus on storytelling. From automating repetitive tasks to analysing complex datasets, AI can augment our abilities without replacing the human touch. Over the past few months, I’ve been exploring how AI can transform investigative processes, simplify storytelling, and maintain journalistic integrity. My goal? To help bridge the gap between journalism and technology while ensuring ethical and impactful reporting. 👥 Let’s connect! How do you see AI shaping the future of journalism? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #AI #Journalism #Innovation #Storytelling #ArtificialIntelligence

2

Every revolution ensues some anarchy, and that anarchy encompasses multiple fronts: social, political, and economic. After french revulsion in 1793, The dismantling of the traditional social order led to widespread upheaval. Nobility, who had been oppressing common French people for centuries, was targeted, and property was redistributed. The French Revolution disrupted economic stability, leading to shortages, inflation, and widespread poverty. These combined factors created a period of significant disorder and fear. In Somalia, after the fall of Siad Barre's regime, no central government controlled the country, leading to clan warfare and lawlessness. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia descended into chaos with multiple factions fighting for control, leading to widespread social upheaval. With the July Revolution in Bangladesh, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's brutal regime of 15 years, we too are witnessing some anarchy. My heart aches for the vandalism of some Hindu temples, lynching of some constables who shot bullets at unarmed protesters at point-blank range under duress of top bosses, and beating of many AL supporters. I was especially devastated by the burning of Bangabandhu’s house at 32 Dhanmondi. In some areas, BNP men, who virtually couldn’t sleep at their houses most of the time fearing police arrest, abduction, or brutal killing through crossfire in past one and half decades, have taken control of markets, footpaths, or slums. There has also been an advent of bandit groups who are carrying out dacoities, leading to sleepless nights for many city dwellers. If you think that everything will turn orderly overnight after the end of such a brutal regime, you live in a fool's paradise. The AL government, in 3+ consecutive terms, has destroyed the integrity of all institutions, let their supporting oligarchs capture all financial institutions, politicized all government forces, and made the police a force that committed the most despicable human rights violations in history. Now, the strong facades of these vulnerable institutions have collapsed after the revolution. There are no police in the streets, no force to control traffic in the densely populated country. But despite that, people from all spectrums of Bangladesh are showing remarkable restraint. The army has laid out a plan for democratic transition. Wide-spread anarchy has stopped in just 48 hours. An interim government will be formed today. The citizens must allow some time for the interim government to repair the deeply damaged country. Expecting an overnight solution is just immature thinking. But, I welcome all sorts of criticism from the people because, finally, we live in a country where we can express our thoughts freely. We must not let anybody gag our voice ever again.

5

I always say my “secret weapon” is the old fashioned phone call. Well, thanks to Matthew Boyle, my secret’s out! Of course, this only works when you have a really strong pitch. Also, he has a lot more to share in the original post, so be sure to check it out. But back to the phone call… The general “I hate to talk on the phone” crowd excluded, I think a lot of PR folks’ phone call hesitation stems from days when higher-ups demanded we pitch a story that wasn’t exactly newsworthy. Whatever the case, if you’re new to calling reporters, here are some tips to help you prepare: 1) Identify yourself and why you’re calling. Ask if they have a couple minutes for a quick pitch. This is common courtesy :) 2) Be extremely confident in what you’re pitching. Like, feel so good about it being the perfect fit for the reporter, their beat and the outlet/its audience that you genuinely believe they must have missed your original emailed pitch. 3) Have a written version of the pitch in front of you when you call, so you don’t forget details or lose the flow of conversation. (You’re calling a busy person and they need to know why, and fast!) And if you haven’t already sent it to the reporter, you’ll be prepared to do so immediately if they ask you to send more info. 4) Finally, know who they can interview. Have your experts identified ahead of the phone call. Know their availability, if possible. There are probably ten more tips, but these will get you out of the gate. And listen, not everybody wants to talk to you on the phone. Hearing “no thanks” is okay, and you’ll survive. But sometimes a busy reporter would rather hear it fast in two minutes than get one more cold pitch in their inbox! #prtips #mediarelations #pitching

8

1 Comment

Deep dive: Courts started shaping the US presidential race long before Nov. 5. An extraordinary onslaught of cases filed over the past two years have questioned fundamental principles of who can vote, how ballots are cast, which votes count, and how the winner is decided. And they preview issues that could fuel the expected wave of legal action after polls close. https://lnkd.in/gccMDYTm

4

In which Points of Return takes on the returns from Ozempic, and much more on R-Star:

4