Richard Nieva

Sherry offers two great recommendations here to make sure your content isn’t training LinkedIn bots.

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There's so much talk about using AI to generate content, especially now that tools like ChatGPT make it look so easy. But is that coming at a cost to the reader experience? I'm a huge fan of (properly using) AI. It's been great at summarizing meetings. I use it sometimes to generate headline ideas or to generate a first draft of social media copy. I'm legitimately amazed at how fast this technology is developing. But as someone who has been "generating content" for newspapers, websites, blogs and social media since MySpace was the dominant social platform, I see far too many companies rushing to adopt AI for content generation without question. It seems so easy — because it is. Upload some reputable, trustworthy data sources (at least, please tell me you're doing this), click a couple buttons and you've got a story ready to go! Unfortunately, going this route ignores a lot of success factors. - Is it going to rank on Google? (No — the algorithm wants human experience and expertise that AI can't magically generate.) - Is it something that will add value for your customers? (People don't really want to read awkward AI copy, and will just bounce.) - Is it going to read well? (Unless you're also a robot ... no.) Instead, use AI to *assist* human writers. It's great at summarizing interviews, gathering key data points and helping you brainstorm. It can generate a first draft that gives you a structure to work with, if you're stuck. AI is a wonderful tool as an assistant, but it's not a long-term content strategy. While the technology changes over time, one thing doesn't — people want to trust that the article they're reading will help them out. Seeing how often people add "Reddit" on the end of their Google searches just confirms this. If you really want to stand out among your competitors and get long-lasting results, don't use AI as a content generator. Use it to help your human writers and editors do their job better.

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CALIFORNIA

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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!

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I've seen quite a few debates on this platform about journalists vs. PR professionals. Recently, I had the chance to chat with some PR colleagues, and we discussed our pain points, common goals, and ways we can collaborate better. Here are a few key takeaways: 🤝💬 1. **Realistic Deadlines** ⏳: PR pros often go through multiple approval cycles before they can send quotes or align calls with the right spokesperson. Giving them at least a week can help.      **Journo pain point**: Not all stories can wait. Some are breaking news or trending, requiring immediate attention.      **Solution**: PRs should stay updated with the news cycle and prepare their clients for potential queries. Phone calls with spokespersons against email interactions could save everyone time! 2. **Irrelevant Queries** 📞📧: Both PRs and journalists face this issue. Journalists get overwhelmed with calls and emails, while PRs sometimes don't keep us updated on their client movements.   **Solution**: PRs should send updated client lists regularly. Journalists can maintain updated profiles on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to help PRs find them easily. This ensures better, more relevant communication. 3. **Challenging Clients** 🏢: Many spokespeople find talking to the media daunting due to the risk of misinterpretation.   **Journo pain point**: Building sources and getting timely inputs can be tough without direct corporate connections.   **Solution**: PRs should train their clients well and build trust with journalists. Remember, we are trained professionals who value your insights. Trust us to represent you accurately without needing to review drafts or telling other players who are participating in a story. By setting realistic expectations, maintaining clear communication, and building mutual trust, journalists and PR professionals can create a more effective and collaborative working environment. Let’s work together to achieve our common goals! 🌟✨ If you have more suggestions or are seeking solutions to certain queries, do let me know in comments :) #PR #Journalism #Collaboration #MediaRelations #CommunicationTips

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Defending Digital Campaigns Michael Kaiser sheds light on the tactics used by bad actors in election interference, emphasizing their goal could be to sow chaos and apathy rather than influence voting. “They’re trying to divide us at another level,” he said. “For some bad actors, the misinformation and disinformation is not about how you vote. It's just that we're divided.” Learn more in Paige Gross’s article in States Newsroom about combating misinformation and disinformation in the upcoming elections. #Misinformation #Disinformation #Election2024 #ArtificialIntelligence #AI https://lnkd.in/eBypvBP6

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If you're a local or trade news publisher and want to reignite your readership and reinvent the way you source and generate news, check out the Newspage News Desk. News Desk is a white label editorial solution for publishers, powered by Newspage, that enables publishers to turn their readers into an extension of their news teams. Our proven and proprietary tech helps publishers unlock their subscribers’ intel, derisk their content, streamline their editorial processes and drive ad revenues through increased relevance, engagement and shareability. Imagine that. We'll be offering progressive publishers, both vertical and local, exclusivity on our tech — and an opportunity to own their sector rather than churn out the same old crap that nobody cares about. Read all about it on the link below. If you want to discuss, message me. When I'm sober, I'll message you back. If you're a percentage player, message Jonny Stevens. He's a lager top so will get back to you in 30 seconds flat. #newsavoidance #newsmedia #media #publishing #newspublisher https://lnkd.in/eD3FC4H5

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How should the media respond to any falsehoods without amplifying them? What’s the best way to report on anti-democratic rhetoric while maintaining impartiality? And how can newsrooms build trust with an audience that’s increasingly fractured along ideological lines?

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The evolution of influence - how is public relations changing? The new Notified/PRWeek report examines this very question. We surveyed 155 leading PR pros to learn how to build stronger trust with stakeholders, the best ways to combat misinformation and how corporate storytellers feel about AI in 2024.   Get the findings now: https://lnkd.in/gayFpq9J #PublicRelations #PR #AI

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To many users, LinkedIn has become this insufferable place for hyperbolic, not-so-subtle humblebragging, and disingenuous nonsense about all things professional. So, I’ll try to be a bit more sufferable in making myself a cautionary tale—while probably inadvertently humblebragging. I completed a speechwriting course this summer, and I hope it helped me professionally. I’m sure it did, though. Maybe? I would never say that any professional development is harmful. I guess we’ll have to see what people who have to read my stuff think. I not only wanted it, but I know I needed it, as I was basically thrust into the world of writing remarks for people. To be fair to myself, in my previous life I’ve written literally thousands of news scripts for all kinds, but speechwriting feels different, just because it wasn’t my wheelhouse. Here’s the cautionary tale, though. It definitely reminds me of my junior year at university, when I was basically told by my father, “Change your major to anything but Creative Writing.” So, I changed it to Communications. I was cocky, probably slightly stupid, and optimistic that I was going to be the next host of MTV News, and I remember looking at the course catalog and seeing “Intro to Speechwriting” (or whatever the heck it was called all those years ago). I remember laughing out loud and saying to myself, “One thing I ain’t never doing for a living is working in politics and writing no speeches for no politicians.” Grammar aside, I had wistful and ambitious reasons why I didn’t want to. I took a Public Speaking class instead, because I thought it would help me when I was on camera. Ironically, a large portion of my “journalism” career was steeped in politics, and I ended up writing remarks for a living—even for a political figure. On a positive note, I’ve rarely been on camera (except for Zoom or Teams), but thankfully I have used it as I’ve done tons of public speaking. So, in theory, that class wasn’t a total waste—even though it was the worst class to take during a summer session. Nevertheless, I’ve had plenty of egg on my face, while eating tons of crow over the last 3 years or so because I scoffed at the speechwriting course. Moral(s) of the story: Be open-minded about where your career may take you—at every point of your career, and never stop learning.

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It's prediction time! I'll be putting up a series of LinkedIn posts asking for predictions on specific topics. Please do not email me responses -- posting on LinkedIn lets me keep everything in one place. Answers may be used in PR Daily articles. First up: What are your predictions for AI in communications in 2025?

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"Articulating the value of your journalism takes more than just sharing links. It’s about showing the impact of your work so far, describing your relationship with your community, and putting together a proposal that allows you to execute on this work." the latest on revenue building from Penny Riordan, Local Media Association If you’re looking to grow your work with philanthropic support, here is how to get started: https://lnkd.in/dVQVYQBy

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In today’s Substack, I address an elephant in the room: the growing disconnect between in-house marketing managers and PR agencies. Are we seeing more under-experienced marketing managers who don’t fully understand today’s comms landscape? Is the hiring process broken? I’d love to hear your thoughts. x

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Some takeaways from today's Wide Shot newsletter about the business of Hollywood: - Know your audience, market your movie accordingly (hello, 'Longlegs!') and don't make it a 'feathered fish.' - Box office is still down 16% from last year, but is on the mend from the writers' and actors' strikes. - Don't blame older moviegoers when your movie bombs! - Redbox was in even worse shape than we thought. #hollywood #entertainmentindustry #marketing

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The main expectation for comms and marketing leaders in 2025 is that they master the art of doing more with less as they work at connecting with consumers, a new SourceCode Communications study says https://odwpr.us/4eyO01K

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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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