Renée S. Edelman

Worth reading from NiemanLab: Readers prefer to click on a clear, simple headline — like this one By David Markowitz, Hillary Shulman and Todd Rogers In an era when people trust news less than ever, how can journalists break through and attract the attention of average people to provide information about their communities, the nation and the world? By not complicating things. Our research, published in Science Advances, shows that simple headlines significantly increase article engagement and clicks compared with headlines that use complex language. In our research, typical news readers preferred simple headlines over complex ones. But importantly, we found that those who actually write headlines — journalists themselves — did not. We first used data from The Washington Post and Upworthy to see how language features, such as word length and how common a word is, changed how many people clicked on an article’s headline. These datasets included over 31,000 randomized experiments — also known as A/B tests — that compared two or more headline versions of the same underlying article to determine which one generated the most clicks. Headlines with more common words — simple words like “job” instead of “occupation” — shorter headlines, and those communicated in a narrative style, with more pronouns compared with prepositions, received more clicks. For example, The Washington Post headline, “Meghan and Harry are talking to Oprah. Here’s why they shouldn’t say too much” outperformed the alternative headline, “Are Meghan and Harry spilling royal tea to Oprah? Don’t bet on it.” This example illustrates how sometimes a more straightforward headline can generate more interest. In follow-up laboratory experiments, we found that typical news readers focused more on simple rather than complex headlines because the writing was easier to understand. When journalists participated in the same experiments, they didn’t show any preference for simple headlines over complex ones. Put differently: Those who write the news appear to be less responsive to simple writing than regular audiences. Generations of communication consultants have advised that communicators follow the rather crass acronym KISS: Keep it Simple, Stupid. We suggest a modified version applied for journalists. Since KISJ isn’t all that simple, we propose: Keep It Simple, Staffers. Simplicity increases the number of people who click on a news story headline and improves reader recall of the material in the article. Most importantly, simplicity boosts reader engagement, such as how much attention they pay to the information.

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Here's added support for the claim that comms pros are taking their rightful seat at the "strategy" table. Why? Because brand building and reputation management are strategic pillars for businesses. Memo's new "Evolving Role of Comms" report shows: 💡 A 34% increase in comms teams reporting directly to CEOs. 💡 A 26% decrease in reporting to marketing since 2023. 💡 An expanding role for comms, beyond earned media. 50% say they now own executive comms, internal comms, and marketing campaigns. CEOs experienced the value of comms during the pandemic and other challenging events of the early 2020s. These data suggest the C-suite is taking a serious look at a range of reputational risks, including: 🚨 Misinformation and disinformation due to AI. 🚨 Cybercrime, cybersecurity, and customer privacy. 🚨 Activist investors, including those pushing back against ESG policies. 🚨 Macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical, and climate events. The report also underscores the power that comes from: ⚡ Sharing executive perspectives to promote understanding of corporate values and ethics. ⚡ Having an aligned workforce. Empowered employees are your best advocates. The most interesting tension in this report is the question of priorities. Gaining competitive share-of-voice (SOV), raising awareness, and amplifying key messages top the to-do list more frequently than, say, managing disinformation or changing perceptions. It's a tightly-knit group of priorities, however. And that speaks to the complexities of modern communications. Comms folks drive clarity about purpose and values. They also understand the importance of closing the gaps between corporate stories and actions. Shout out to the comms folks out there who are claiming more space. Check out the full report in the link below. #Comms #PR #StrategicCommunications

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For crisis communications and media professionals: How do you navigate advising clients or upper management when they opt for crisis spin messaging over addressing the actual root cause of the crisis? 🤔 We've witnessed various scenarios where organizations either successfully managed this approach or faced challenges. From President Biden's health concerns to NYC Mayor Adam's scandals, and companies like Boeing, Meta, Nike, Tesla, Samsung, and the Secret Service-the importance of handling crises transparently cannot be overstated, especially if you want to maintain your credibility, brand, customers, clients and stakeholders.📰💼 #CrisisCommunications #MediaPros #PublicRelations #Transparency #CrisisManagement

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SWIFT IMPACT: POP SUPERSTAR'S ENDORSEMENT MAY BACKFIRE, SAYS LEADING U.S. MEDIA EXPERT Michael Levine Cites Poll Showing Taylor Swift's Support for Harris-Walz Ticket Turning More Voters Away Than It Attracts According to leading U.S. media expert and best-selling author Michael Levine, Taylor Swift's recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz might not be the vote-swaying move some expected. It could be driving more voters away than pulling them in. A new YouGov post-debate poll released on Saturday reveals that while 8% of voters said Swift's endorsement makes them "somewhat" or "much more likely" to vote for Harris and Walz, a staggering 20% said they are "somewhat" or "much less likely" to vote for the Democratic ticket now that Swift has thrown her weight behind it. A majority of 66% reported that Swift's endorsement will not influence their vote in November. Swift, a Grammy-winning artist with a massive social media following of 283 million, clarified her position shortly after the recent debate, stating, "I've done my research, and I've made my choice," in an Instagram post. Levine, renowned for his media and public influence expertise, suggests this polling data reflects a growing backlash against celebrity involvement in politics. "It's a fascinating example of how public figures may be miscalculating the influence they wield," Levine said. "While Swift's voice carries weight in popular culture, political endorsements may be an entirely different beast—one that could alienate more voters than it engages." As the 2024 election intensifies, this celebrity endorsement raises fresh questions about the power of star influence on American politics. https://lnkd.in/gM38yqZD #taylorswift #2024election #careeradvice #selfgrowth #motivationalcoach #businesscoach #personalcoach #michaellevineconsulting #michaellevine #whatisyourwhy #losangeles #wisdom

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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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It takes #morethan basketball, barbershops, and barbecues to connect with our community authentically. Reach diverse markets and grow your business. Here are three inclusive communications tips to help you challenge implicit bias and move from monolithic approaches to “more than” solutions, capturing the rich complexities of communities: 💡Host an inclusive content workshop. Bring diverse voices into the room to ensure the campaign resonates on a broader scale. 💡Leverage counterexamples. Challenge assumptions by thinking in opposites. Open up new perspectives. 💡 Apply the "Yes, And" Technique. Push beyond preconceived notions of a community and build on more inclusive ideas. #InclusiveCommunications #DiverseMarkets #InclusiveLeadership #HealthEquity Photo ID: Selected images represent the monolithic portrayal of the Black community and the need for market research for more effective campaigns. The images urge readers to "Go Beyond the Bias" in an attempt to caricature the limiting stereotypical symbolism, including scattered pennies (lower economic status), a traditional swirling barbershop pole with red, white, and blue colors, a basketball, and a barbecue grill. Lucy is in the lower right-hand corner of the image. Her facial expression portrays the bossy stereotype. She is a Black and Puerto Rican leader with brown hair extending slightly past her shoulders. She has a purple sleeveless blouse and heart-shaped earrings. The text reads, "Let's Connect. LinkedIn. Lucy Abreu. Inclusive Communications." (upper right-hand corner). About 1/3 down, the text reads, "Move from monolithic to more than. Reach Diverse Markets. Grow Your Business. Go Beyond The Bias. Lucy Abreu."

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Authenticity is key for senior executives to be influential on LinkedIn, but not every leader finds it easy to engage genuinely. 🔸In episode 342 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I explore how communicators can help executives craft authentic online personas and build influence and trust, focused on LinkedIn, with practical examples. I also dive into this topic in a new blog post published today, arguing that authenticity opens the door to success. Communicators must guide leaders who struggle with authenticity, identifying formats or mediums that play to their strengths. Take a read and listen to our discussion ⬇️ #Authenticity #Communication #LinkedIn #FIRPodcast https://lnkd.in/eMu9D48j

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Many brands want to share their DEI initiatives but fear the backlash that may ensue. Learn how to successfully message your DEI strategy in 2024 in our latest blog. #DEI #BrandStrategy

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Register now for our Oct. 17 webinar! 💥 Join our experts for a live discussion on the 2024 State of the Press Release Report and get insights on: 🔥Headline optimization for SEO 🤖Generative AI in PR  🖼️ Multimedia power  📣 Multichannel communication

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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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Introducing “The Multichannel Communications Playbook,” a step-by-step guide to using an integrated, multichannel approach to achieve greater ROI and maximum visibility for your content. Download now and unleash the full potential of your campaign!

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Why do we do PR? Well, I would answer it's because trust and confidence among all audiences is at historic lows—an avg of 28%. With low/no trust, there is no commerce, there are no deals and business GRINDS to a halt. So, THAT is why we do PR. https://lnkd.in/g9M-_JQ4 #publicrelations, #pr, #trust, #credibility

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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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Proud when the work aims to drive change. 📣 The past few weeks, an integrated Edelman team spanning Creative, Earned Media, Client Leaders, Community Managers, Multicultural experts, Influencer Relations, Paid Media, and more, have been working on something important. Our client partners at Ajinomoto Co., Inc. have united a powerful coalition of Asian-American and other activists, chefs, food journalists, and nutritionists. Last week, they published an open letter calling on the NEJM Group - The New England Journal of Medicine - to revisit the racist term "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" that they coined. ❗ ❗ Background: In 1968, the journal published a letter to the editor who wrote about effects from eating at some Chinese restaurants. The author of the letter didn't use the term, but the journal gave the letter the headline, "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome." From there, the media frenzy took off, creating a narrative that demonized MSG. 💡The Facts: MSG, a naturally occurring amino acid, is classified as safe by the FDA and is essential for bringing Umami to food. However, the 1968 headline by NEJM Group led to persistent racist misconceptions that the Asian community still confronts today. ⚡ Chef's and food writers such as Calvin Eng and Kat Lieu, DPT, CLT spoke about their experiences as Asian-American chefs who use MSG and the impact the racist rhetoric has on them as individuals, and the greater AAPI community at large. Kat said, "You have an America where Chinese food is seen as unhealthy or dirty or cheap, something like fast food, or worse." For Calvin, he envisions a future where MSG is valued for its role in enhancing flavor, free from outdated stigma, "It's about education and openness...We need to shift the conversation to celebrate the quality and authenticity of the food, moving beyond old misconceptions." Thanks to Shawna Chen, Axios, Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, IFLScience, Joy Sauce, NextShark and more for covering and highlighting this important movement. Read more: The letter: https://lnkd.in/dfCS-iH4 Forbes: https://lnkd.in/d3iytwCR Axios: https://lnkd.in/dmiY_diH IFL Science: https://lnkd.in/dx9ZV-4u NextShark: https://lnkd.in/d8Vt6mye Joy Sauce: https://lnkd.in/duYHFKje Gennifer Horowitz Amanda (Drain) Gillman Brittany Herrmann Jane Chung Caroline Tortorella Carolina Rincon Sato Shelby Montgomery Jill Lehman Conor Hogan Lexie Flood Cameron Baker Jesse Suchmann Kelsey Cohen Stephanie Walker, MPH, CHES Michael Byrnes Ariana Saunders #chineserestaurantsyndrome #aapi #knowmsg #msg #umami #history #foodhistory #nejm #asianamericanhistory #asianamerican #food #chinesefood #asianfood

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“Which reporters do you know in our business?” If you are a communicator, you are often posed this question by executives, colleagues or clients. Many think a communicator’s most important asset is the journalists they know. The truth is that knowing a contact might get your email read. But it is never a guaranteed and published story. What is more important than knowing someone? It’s about creating a relevant and enticing story that matches the editorial focus of an outlet and reporter. Communicators know how to craft a good story for the right audience. Success always hinges on how well they connect the story to the outlet’s audience. It’s always about the story. Connect with me to learn more about connecting your corporate story to your target audience. #Communications #MediaRelations #Storytelling #PR #Journalism

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Navigating the complexities of technology markets can feel like wandering through a maze. Without the right guide, it’s easy to get lost. Many PR agencies might lead you in circles, trying to learn your industry as they go. You need a partner who knows the way, with a deep understanding of your sector and established media relationships. This knowledge can turn a daunting maze into a clear path forward. Seek out the experts who can guide you straight to your goals. Looking for direction? See what that might look like: https://lnkd.in/ejvu8yQE #PRStrategy #B2B #IndustryExpertise #RankinPR #TechPR

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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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As evidenced by the dynamics of the presidential election, women continue to be held to a different, much stricter standard than men. In my book "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators, I delve into why and how women continue to struggle for equality and representation. "Women’s quest for equality is the longest-running struggle in the history of the world. Men have ruled over humanity for millennia, and nowhere has their dominance been more pronounced than over the lives and bodies of women. Although women have made great strides toward equality in the last few decades, they continue to be held to a different standard than men, and society holds many unconscious and deeply rooted biases against them. Nevertheless, women continue challenging traditional gender norms, advocating for equal rights, and reshaping female empowerment narratives." https://lnkd.in/gsTAMAbc

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