Spencer Herrmann

There are levels to this... Brand-new media outlets: interesting/quirky/out of the box + longer-form trend stories, trying to garner higher-end interviewee interest Emerging media outlets: trying to exclusively cover/'scoop' deals/other key happenings which bolster subscription bases Top-level/established media outlets: both scoops and longer-form trend stories, trying to acquire an 'air' of prestige to their coverage, will often host exclusive convening events/conferences, may have their own broadcast arm

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SPOILER ALERT 🚨🚨🚨 I don't think TikTok is going anywhere. But, the debate happening among policymakers makes for pretty good conversation. In my latest thought piece for H/Advisors Abernathy, I examined the newscycle to see how a potential #TikToK ban could play a big role in the 2024 election cycle, rankle #BigTech data collection and lay the groundwork for more #dataprivacy advocacy. https://bit.ly/T1kT0kban

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Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the Media Summit NYC, hosted by Haymaker Group. Leaders from across comms, tech, venture capital, and media came together to have frank discussions about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, share tips, and connect face to face. It was wonderful to see many old colleagues and friends and make some new connections too. Here are some key takeaways I left with: ➡️ Companies that took a decidedly quieter (or even silent) approach to communicating in 2024 won’t have that luxury in 2025. With a new administration coming in whose policies will impact employees directly, companies will be forced to communicate and be more vocal, both internally and externally.  ➡️A lot of comms people have left their in house roles or agencies to strike out on their own as independent consultants or create challenger agencies. There’s also an increasing number of small collectives of consultants forming. It’s exciting to see this entrepreneurial spirit reach the world of comms and a new crop of firms emerging.   ➡️VC reporters need a good story to cover your news, not just a big funding number or famous backers. With the contraction of newsrooms, sheer number of funding rounds happening every day and crazy check sizes, it’s still difficult to land that big piece you might be dreaming about. Don't be afraid to lean into owned media to tell your story. The truth is that some things can just be a blog post or a press release. ➡️Personal brands are more important than ever. There’s a shift happening from corporate brands to personalities across media and companies that is undeniable, and a general sense that even if personal branding not your favorite thing to do (I’m guilty of this myself!), it’s worth investing some time in. In the world of social, there is even more splintering happening as people leave Twitter for Bluesky and brands and individuals increasingly use LinkedIn to reach their audiences. Thanks to J.J. Colao and team for such a great event. Until next time!

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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

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A few messy thoughts on what beehiiv's new media collective (aka financial and operational support for journalists joining the platform from legacy media outlets) means for communicators: 1. "New media" like newsletter and podcasts is increasingly just...media. 2. Substack has effectively branded itself as an online salon, a place for culture and conversations. beehiiv has felt like its swashbuckling younger brother, more saloon than salon. Does this represent a shift in the audiences beehiiv is trying to attract? Will it work? 3. Over-reliance on ads is what's killed the legacy media that's causing journalists to move to newsletters. So can ads underpin this new era, or is Substack's subscription-based model more sustainable?

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Thousands of press releases are distributed weekly through wire services, covering product launches, CXO appointments, M&As, and milestone celebrations Some interesting insights from an analysis of over 100,000 U.S. press releases distributed through PR Newswire: 1. Headlines perform best when kept under 70 characters 2. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are the most effective times for PR distribution 3. We live in a fragmented attention economy 4. Social media is the most preferred channel for amplifying press releases https://lnkd.in/d8GmST7y #PressRelease #PR #ContentMarketing

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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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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 can be a tricky conversation when you need to ask a journalist for a correction to an article, but here some of my thoughts on how to go about it for PRmoment 👇

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Putting a human being at the center of a story was always the most effective way to talk through a bigger narrative, and as a journalist, getting to the core of a narrative was a critical part of my work. Now, with Prosek Partners, my work centers on establishing similar relationships with our clients that I once did with my sources, competitively developing a messaging that stands out, and putting it to work with our colleagues in the press. https://lnkd.in/edCPU_8m

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Stripping jargon from your media interview or panel prep isn't dumbing down. It's wising up because you are removing ambiguity of understanding for the non-experts in the audience. Or, to put it another way, do you want to leave it up to someone else to decide for themselves what you mean? Or just ignore you altogether because they don't understand? If you are talking to the media to reach the five people who know as much about the topic to you, you picked the wrong conduit.

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It’s a fascinating time to be harnessing the many dimensions of influence. (Also, leave it to Natalie Lieblick to share timely pointers on influence and the actual cosmos all in one post :)

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This morning at #NYCTVWeek, industry leaders shared thought-provoking insights into the future of television, just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month. As we celebrate the contributions of our community, it’s clear that our influence is growing stronger in shaping trends—from food and music to sports. Here are some key takeaways that resonated with me: - Advertisers now have access to more precise measurement tools, giving them deeper insights. - The shift towards a cookie-less world is being accelerated by data privacy and compliance legislation. - We're seeing an influx of new advertisers entering the market at unprecedented rates. - Hispanics continue to shape culture across multiple categories—we over-index in every category. - In an era of widespread online misinformation, local TV has emerged as the most trusted source for news. - Bilingual and monolingual audiences, regardless of language, are looking for the same thing: to be entertained and informed. As we recognize the rich and diverse contributions of Hispanic communities, it’s a reminder that people are people—beyond the languages they speak. #HispanicHeritageMonth #DiversityInMedia #MarketingTrends #InclusiveMarketing #NYCTVWeek

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"Incorporating diverse voices in journalism is crucial for maintaining relevance and trust in today's varied media landscape, as well as for driving industry growth. Emerging trends show that newer generations tend to subscribe to content that reflects their own experiences and views. This underscores the importance of diversity in building trust and personal relevance in the media, ultimately fostering industry expansion. Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures, parent of Fast Company and Inc., recognized the issue. 'There is a diversity problem in journalism. However, I believe that broadcast and cable newsrooms have always been at the forefront of hiring a diverse workforce,' she said. Mansueto Ventures is actively working to bridge this gap within their organization. 'We employ a strategy known as the Double Rooney Rule,' Mehta said. This method involves considering at least two candidates from underrepresented groups for any posted job, increasing opportunities for diverse candidates and optimizing the talent pool." Read Lisa Gordon-Miller's Newsweek OpEd on Reviving the Fourth Estate—The Promising Future of Journalism in a Digital Age

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Mega-mergers like Omnicom and Interpublic should raise serious concerns for companies navigating sensitive public policy and PR challenges. When a single corporate conglomerate owns agencies representing BOTH SIDES of a conflict, how can you be sure your strategy stays protected? Conflicts of interest and blurred lines seem inevitable. In the high-stakes world of public affairs and PR, discretion and loyalty are non-negotiable. That’s why so many organizations turn to independent firms like Sachs Media for: ✔️ Conflict-free representation ✔️ Strict confidentiality with no shared parent company ✔️ Direct, senior-level attention without competing priorities In a world where influence is everything, your voice should never be just another account on a balance sheet. Choose partners working only for YOU.

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It's crucial as PR practitioners that we adapt to new technologies rapidly, yet cautiously. (We're nothing if not cautious, right?!) The use if AI has rapidly changed the way we conduct business, for the better/more efficient. We have enhanced our service offerings, improved response times, and are better managing our workloads. GenAI has benefited our clients as much as it's benefitted us. Read more in Axios about how MikeWorldWide has advanced using AI. #AI #GenAI #publicrelations #PRAgency

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Wow 🤯😱🔥! This is the largest single reduction in headcount the #PublicRelations industry has seen in years—coming during a quarter where many other agencies have been cutting upper-middle to senior-level staff. 💔 My thoughts are with all the talented professionals who have lost their jobs in recent months. Regarding the layoffs specific to Edelman, they are wonderful firm and produce wonderful talent. Godspeed to all! 💪🏻💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾💪🏿 The #PR industry is undergoing the most significant transformation I’ve witnessed in nearly 27 years in the business. My general top-line advice regarding layoffs to all VP-level and up PR agency folks: If you want to make yourself ‘bulletproof’ 💪 to layoffs, focus on bringing in new business 💼, servicing it exceptionally 🌟, growing existing accounts 📈, working smarter, and layer on top of that consistently delivering top-tier earned results (media, speaking, etc.) for your clients.

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