Not all opinions should be treated equally
By Maddy Ard Richard Spencer has some rather unpopular opinions. The outspoken white supremacist delivered a speech advocating for an ethno-white state on Oct. 17, 2017, at the University of Florida. Though vastly outnumbered by protesters demonstrating against Spencer, it seems Spencer’s supporters made the biggest waves. About an hour after Spencer’s speech, a non-fatal […]
When you write ‘reform,’ the propagandists win
As the Trump administration this week proposes changes to the nation’s tax system, here’s a reminder to journalists and talking heads: When you use the word “reform” without putting it in quotation marks and attributing the phrase to the person or document using the word, then the propagandists win. The etymology of the word “reform” […]
AppSumo and Michael J. Fox: An online marketer makes a solid apology
If you’re in mass media or sales or nearly any other activity involving humans, write this down: Don’t make fun of sick people. AppSumo, an online selling company that relies on emails and clever writing, learned that lesson this week. Its April 25 email peddling a product included a joke involving Michael J. Fox, who […]
Charleston Post and Courier vs. Battery: Reporter does the right thing and a soccer team owner overreacts
UPDATE: That didn’t take long. The United Soccer League stepped in a few hours after this happened (on April 8, 2016), and the Post & Courier has its credentials again. League president Jake Edwards’ statement spanked the club owner: “We will be taking the appropriate steps to prevent instances like this from happening again.” ************************************************************ […]
What Cam Newton could learn about public relations from Satchel Paige
There are some things you cannot control, as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton learned during Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The only thing you can control is how you respond. And Newton showed little control in one of the few things he could control – how he dealt with journalists after the 24-10 […]
Cross-dressing PR: Why trust in government continues to decline
Trust in local government tends to be higher than state and federal government, but is there a relationship between decline in trust and the rise of PR in government? That’s too big of an issue to address on a Friday afternoon. Instead, here’s a story from Cranston, R.I., where a male van driver for a […]
NFL’s Greg Hardy photos require journalistic responsibility when advocating
By Kevin Connell For many, the images were the final straw. Eighteen months after Greg Hardy was arrested – and later convicted – on domestic violence charges, the photos showing the injuries he allegedly inflicted on former girlfriend Nicole Holder came to light. In the 47 photos released by Deadspin in November 2015, 45 show […]
Steve Earle and ‘Mississippi, It’s Time:’ Why take the Lord’s name in vain when you don’t have to?
Steve Earle made a powerful statement with “Mississippi, It’s Time,” a raw and real song arguing that the Magnolia State should join Alabama and South Carolina in removing the Confederate flag. Its use of Dixie is masterful, co-opting a song now associated with racism and flipping it for an anti-racism anthem. The Southern Poverty Law […]
Loyalties and transparency: Clients wonder what ad agencies are hiding with rebates from media companies
There’s an old saying in advertising, attributed to department store magnate John Wanamaker or to carmaker Henry Ford: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.” Companies that pay advertising agencies to buy media time have another worry inside one of those halves. Business Insider says a […]