Sarah Thompson

Becoming the media's go-to expert in your field can be a fabulous opportunity both for an individual and for their organisation. It raises your profile, increases your credibility and boosts your influence. Here are seven ways to become the media's go-to expert in your field. #spokespeople #mediatraining

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The value in ValueMax makes it a potential privatisation play https://lnkd.in/grkXPbgg

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A really important conversation about media - not just for those of us working in #PR and #communications but anyone who cares about the structures in society in which we place our trust and rely on truth. I look forward to the upcoming articles in this series by The Conversation Australia + NZ as they also cover commercial business models for radio and TV, rural and regional media, the future of printed newspapers, and regulation of social media. Hardman Communications Communication and Public Relations Australia

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“We’ve traded the clarity of rejection for the ambiguity of deferral, leading to a constant state of low-grade anxiety.” This is an acute observation from Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths in their book “Algorithms to Live By”. See below for a greater exploration of the theme in relation to communications. The point I want to make here is that although I’d obviously highlighted this passage in the book on my Kindle and stored in Readwise when I first read it many years ago, it was using Google’s Notebook LM tool that pulled together associated concepts - as well as connecting with other passages from other books such as Cal Newport’s Deep Work. And citing where in the original work the references were obtained Google Notebook LM really comes into its own in allowing you to curate and ground the information you want to apply AI to. It also helps draw out themes and connections that might otherwise have remained hidden. The passage below couldn’t have been written without the help of Google Notebook LM (and ChatGPT Canvas mode). And with the introduction of a new customisation feature for audio summaries, I can now create Deep Dive podcasts of all of this but tailored for different audiences, etc. Some huge possibilities for enhancing productivity, improving knowledge synthesis, and tailoring content for different audiences here. Let me know what you think in the comments below. ⬇️ Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths use computer science principles to illustrate the inherent limitations and unintended consequences of our digital communication practices. They argue that our pursuit of constant connectivity has led to a state of perpetual buffering, hindering real connections and efficient work. Christian points out that while traditional systems like phone calls and postal mail have clear signs of overload (busy tones or slow delivery), the internet lacks such signals. This lack of feedback about network congestion leads to overwhelming digital traffic. This, in turn, leads to “bufferbloat,” where systems designed to smooth out bursts of data become overloaded, causing delays and hindering responsiveness. This applies not just to internet infrastructure, but to our personal and professional lives, as we constantly juggle incoming messages and requests, feeling pressured to respond to everything immediately. The transition from “circuit switching” (dedicated communication channels) to “packet switching” (sending data in small packets) has exacerbated this issue. While packet switching is more efficient in theory, it creates a constant expectation of immediate acknowledgement, leading to anxious anticipation of “ACKs” (acknowledgements) and a sense of being perpetually “on call.” 🔔 Visit my profile and “ring” the bell icon for notifications on my latest posts (assuming you find them useful or interesting) #publicrelations #pr 

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Chatty Duck Creative is developing a handy guide to dissuade marketing and comms professionals from writing press releases that make journalists want to scream into the nearest pillow. We’ve approached the topic from the recipient’s perspective, encouraging those drafting the releases to focus on newsworthiness and structure rather than fluff and buzzwords. However, we’re only a small team and we don’t know everything. So, are there any current or former journalists out there who hold strong views on what makes a decent press release? Alternatively, do you have any pet hates that cause you to hit delete before you reach the boilerplate? #PR #pressrelease #journalists

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The numbers of journalists and PR practitioners have become inversely proportional – fewer hacks, and more spinners. This means that even in a totally digitised industry, personal relationships are at a premium – and the traditional megaphone approach of carpet-bombing Fleet Street with releases couldn’t run more contrary to this. However, a recent survey (link in comments) found that only 14.2% of comms professionals thought mass media pitching should be abandoned.   I’d have thought this figure would be much higher – the blunderbuss approach may be as old as our industry, but the broader market is evolving in line with more sophisticated approaches, and nothing can ever top the traditional PR lunch… #PR #communications #media #journalism #press 

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It's going to be an interesting week in comms. The 2024 US election presents unique challenges and opportunities for brands considering leveraging it for their PR. Here are some pointers: 1. Exercise extreme caution, as the election is likely to be highly divisive. Avoid explicit political stances, as research shows only 21% of US consumers want brands to take political positions. Instead, focus on nonpartisan messages encouraging civic engagement. 2. Leverage contextual advertising carefully, ensuring ads appear alongside appropriate content. Consider alternative channels to reach audiences, as news programming will likely be saturated with political content. Emphasise authenticity and brand values rather than opportunistically jumping on election trends. 3. Only explore cause-related marketing aligned with nonpartisan issues. Utilise social listening to understand audience reactions to election-related content. Focus on long-term strategy rather than sacrificing brand positioning for short-term gains. Remember, while the election presents engagement opportunities, the risks of backlash and negative associations are significant. Carefully weigh potential benefits against risks before incorporating election-related themes into marketing strategies.

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I first wrote on the subject of a coming “convergence” of internal and external communication more than 10 years ago.  It keeps coming up, like it did in Sophie Drummond’s piece titled "Rest In Peace, Internal Communication" in the newly resurrected EACD publication, Communication Directors Magazine (link in comments). Sophie makes a lot of solid points.  I don’t disagree, but I bristle at the idea that it’s internal communication that needs to be subsumed into external communication, a conclusion some might jump to if skimming her piece.  In fact, I’d argue the opposite, that internal communication should be seen as a fundamental driver of external communication - and as a discipline with its own distinct dynamics and leverage. Nevertheless, it’s also long overdue for today’s #internalcomms practitioners to get their heads around why the distinction between internal and external comms is becoming more permeable - and a lot more dynamic. My latest post on the Changing The Terms Blog: Internal Comms and External Comms are not the same. And never will be. https://lnkd.in/ercBY_Kq

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How the A-Leagues burnt through $140m - investment banks, loans, club debts, the media and digital strategy, covid and more. The full story on where the money went (also in today’s paper) https://lnkd.in/gQaSj6ex

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Has the gap between journalism theory and practice gotten too wide?   That’s the provocative question this project from Nieman Journalism Lab asks. At a time when the economic pressures on the industry have never been so intense, its goal is to explore how academics studying the industry can support working journos through radical change. Lots of interesting links in here – I thought this report was particularly interesting.   #journalism #education #MediaResearch #media #press

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Visa's CMO, Frank Cooper III spoke exclusively to The Australian's #GrowthAgenda last week during a brief visit to Australia from the US. We have published some of the most incisive comments from the interview, where the former BlackRock, PepsiCo and Buzzfeed marketer revealed his thinking on the "tragedy" of marketing, how some of the most successful firms view and value the practice. https://lnkd.in/gy-dAVcR A new report has found that most consumers want corporate Australia to stay away from backing social and political causes. Instead, brands should focus on getting the basics of business right, such as paying employees and suppliers fairly, according to the study. https://lnkd.in/ggbDaJfy From cottage industry to global force, the influencer industry is forecast to surge in growth. However, for all it promises in potential and power, it lacks regulation and guardrails. Is it up to governments, brands or creators to professionalise the sector? https://lnkd.in/gkb8B9Wg OPINION: Have Australian businesses lost their creative mojo? Almost overnight, Covid forced businesses to pivot and adapt. Brands would do well to apply this dynamism to the challenges of today, argues Dentsu Creative's chief strategy officer, David Halter. https://lnkd.in/gGsRxtWi Advertising Council Australia

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Is shrinking of the informal sector an indicator of rising formalisation of the unincorporated enterprises or its growing hardship? Our latest Take Two.

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I’ve spent months speaking to both fund selectors and fund salespeople: what have I learned? I began as editor of Citywire Selector this year but have continued to write for a distribution audience via my Inside Asset Management newsletter (weekly on Thursdays, don’t miss it). A question from a young fund salesman last week prompted me to start piecing together just what worked best with selectors. He wanted to know what salespeople were doing the best job. Well, I have started to see where what selectors want and what salespeople say they are doing are matching up. Take a look, exclusively on Selector 👇 #assetmanagement #fundselection #sales #citywireselector

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Journalism needs a shift. It’s not a comfortable proposition for journalists, but we need to talk more about the work we do, how we do it, and why we do it. It’s no longer a self-evident truism that the value of good journalism is so intrinsic in our day-to-day work that it comes through consistently to the public and our community. It can be done in many ways. From being open about how we can always do better, to opening up the bonnet of the car, exposing our engine, and explaining how stories are put together. Here at The Straits Times we’re proud of many things, and one of them is the team led by Rod Pazos that puts together our many groundbreaking digital interactives and explainers. And this is a team that’s also opening itself up, putting our technical know-how out there to be shared. For those in the field, this is their website and how they do what they do: https://lnkd.in/gjbybHCa Feel free to look around our ST News Lab, get in touch and tell us what you think. One of the projects that the team has delved into, in explaining how it was put together is our recent interactive explaining the technique of our Olympian kitefoiler Max Maeder. It had some awesome 3D elements, and it’s well worth diving into. https://lnkd.in/gJT7afGT Over time, our newsroom will increasingly talk more about our stories in various ways, big and small. Look out for it, and maybe, even look out for an invitation!

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The 2024 Global Women in Public Relations annual index is here and we need your responses - especially in Australia. Don't know much about GWPR or the index? That's ok, here are some cheat notes 😊 ⭐ GWPR is an international networking group that exists to connect, champion and support women in PR around the world. The aim is to drive change so the industry evolves to better support the growth and seniority of women. ⭐ The annual index is a survey that gives GWPR the opportunity to capture the thoughts and views of all women in the industry, plus shine a light on all the issues that serve as ongoing barriers to women's careers. What we learnt in 2023: 👉 Half of female PR professionals have experienced harassment or inappropriate behaviour at work. 👉 Under half reported the harassment to their employer. 👉 Flexible working is increasingly being seen in a positive light in the world of PR. 👉 Three-fifths of women in PR continue to work in companies where the boardroom is male dominated. If you want to spend 5 mins today on your own professional development, take the survey. Help us understand your experiences so the PR and communications industry can continue to evolve in the right areas to better support female leaders. https://lnkd.in/gt7bdRv3 #GWPRAnnualIndex Thanks to the full support of the GWPR Australia Founding Committee: Helen Graney Amber Scotto Di Perta Angela Scrymgour Carden Calder Dena Vassallo E-J (Emma-Jane) Granleese Elizabeth Greene Elly Hewitt Jasmine Mobarek Joanne Painter Leilani A. Amanda Galmes Mel Deacon GAICD Nicole Phillips Pamela Klioufis Sarah Littlefair Myers Sarah Macartney MAICD Simone Gupta Skye Lambley Unjela Kaleem

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SA online news is no longer funded by advertising. Actually, we don't have revenue numbers so there's rather a lot of handwaving involved. But I wanted to measure the political power of advertisers – you know, the big evil business community – and can now comfortably argue it is below a third and dropping. Take the top 10 publishers and treat their pageview numbers as market share. You can categorise them into four groups, and get :   * 60% almost entirely paid (Media24) * 28% almost entirely advertising (6 of the 10)  * 11% weirdly-funded other-motives (Maroela and DSTV Sport) * 2% membership-lite (Daily Maverick) There's a whole world of rats-n-mice below the top 10, and it is mostly advertising all the way down, but they aren't setting any kind of agenda.

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Solving your GenAI problems - For professional services, the modus operandi has always been to stay ahead of trends for clients. That means GenAI has become a near constant presence in briefings, podcasts, forecasts and pitches. But, as Sam Stamp of LINAR Consulting cautions, some remain stuck gathering digital dust. Many thanks Sam for a great contribution to the new issue of the PSMG LLP magazine 'Centrum'. https://lnkd.in/egBFTRCP #GenAI #AI #professionalservices #businessdevelopment #marketing #sales

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