Peter Hahn, MBA

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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Being a member of Public Relations Global Network is one of my favorite parts of REED Public Relations. Birthdays are always special but getting nice remarks from our friends all around the world yesterday was extra special. Plus, with the time differences, I essentially had a two-day birthday! From Malaysia to Brussels and everywhere in between, read more about the Faces and Markets of #PRGN. #PublicRelations #PR #Marketing

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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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Valuable insights from Nicole Schuman for any #communications professional seeking to "measure the value of their work and tell that story to their stakeholders." #CommsForGood

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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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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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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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📣 Did you miss PR Newswire's recent webinar? Don't worry! Watch the on-demand webinar now and learn how to unlock the secrets of expanding your story's impact. Our esteemed panel of industry experts dove deep into: * Unlocking maximum media coverage * Amplifying visibility and engagement * Mastering the essential distribution tools for success Seize this opportunity to level up your #PR game! Watch now and let us propel your story to new heights. #Webinar #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking

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If your association, brand, or firm is grappling with a legislative or regulatory hurdle, Drumfire Public Affairs can assist you in crafting creative campaigns and strategic solutions. Discover how we can tailor our decades of experience and expertise - from Capitol Hill to the State House - to address your needs at http://www.drumfirepa.com. #publicaffairs #publicrelations #drumfirepublicaffairs

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Let's keep learning! So many lessons came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of clear communication about what we know and what we DON'T know about emerging infections. I'm happy to be part of the Council for Quality Health Communication: a group working to improve the quality of health information and increase trust among the public. New article by founding members Ken Rabin and Scott C. Ratzan on H5N1 in MedPage Today.

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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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Journalists are spilling the tea about what they like and don't like. Frank Strong of The Sword and the Script shared the results of a recent Cision survey. He pulled the stats that PR pros need to know about to improve their odds of success. 42% of reporters say credibility is the top challenge facing journalism. Tip: Avoid adjectives and hyperbole when you pitch. 67% of journalists use social media to source information. Tip: Keep your social feeds active and relevant. 55% of journalists want exclusives. Tip: Consider using them judiciously. #PR #publicrelationsagency #journalism

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I wanted to share my colleagues' timely insights on politics in the workplace. Communications and corporate affairs teams can help ensure actions align with company values and diverse employee perspectives. This underscores my interest in working in the executive search industry, where understanding these dynamics is crucial. #communications #corporateaffairs #workplaceculture

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This week, I'm thrilled to share a monumental guide that dives deep into the art of creating compelling brand messaging for advocacy campaigns. As public affairs practitioners, crafting a persuasive message is crucial, but it's a task we don't undertake daily. To streamline this complex process, I've turned to ChatGPT to help break down the task into manageable steps. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? I detail a 27-prompt strategy that uses ChatGPT to: - 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Set precise objectives to drive your campaign. - 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲: Ensure your messaging resonates with your values and desired public perception. - 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴: Generate innovative ideas and refine them into impactful messages. - 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀: Align your messaging across different media for consistent advocacy. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻? If you've ever found yourself recycling old messages or struggling to infuse creativity into your campaigns, this newsletter will transform your approach: - 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: Use AI to explore new angles and fresh perspectives. - 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Save time with AI-driven prompts that guide the creation and refinement of your brand messaging. - 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Ensure your messages are not only creative but also strategically aligned with your campaign goals. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀: Paid subscribers will gain exclusive access to the full archive of my interactive session with ChatGPT, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how each step was implemented for a hypothetical campaign against the carbon tax. ☝️You can subscribe by clicking 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 link in my bio☝️

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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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In the world of media and communications, the relationship between journalists and PR professionals is often misunderstood. However, the reality is far more nuanced and symbiotic. Journalists rely on PR folks to provide them with access to newsworthy stories, expert sources, and valuable insights. In turn, PR depends on journalists to amplify their messages and bring attention to their clients or organizations. A recent report by #MuckRack on the "State of Journalism," found that journalists acknowledge PR professionals 70% "as at least moderately important to their success." This mutual dependence highlights the essential role each plays in the dissemination of information to the public. Trust forms the foundation of our collaboration and ensures that the stories that reach the public are credible and impactful. Journalists rely on us to provide accurate and reliable information, while those of us in PR trust journalists to report the news fairly and accurately. Journalists are skilled storytellers who strive to craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience. PR pros, on the other hand, are adept at identifying and shaping stories that align with our clients' goals and objectives. Together, we work to create stories that inform, engage, and inspire. I encourage you to read the attached report which provides many insights of today's newsrooms. #Journalism #PR #MediaRelations #PublicRelations #NewsMedia #MediaIndustry #JournalismEthics #Storytelling #MediaCollaboration #InformationSharing #MuckRack #StateOfJournalism #PressRelations #MediaPartnership Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Natan Edelsburg

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Broadsheet Communications client Paul Bannister, Chief Strategy Officer at Raptive, shares insights on Google's delayed cookie phase-out. The move, now postponed to 2025 pending regulatory approval, promises to reshape the $600B online advertising landscape. Bannister emphasizes the balance between consumer privacy and revenue for content creators. "The delay will benefit the ad industry by giving it more time to get ready for Google’s changes, said Paul Bannister. “People’s privacy is important and so is revenue for publishers who create great content for those people."" Read more about this significant shift in The Wall Street Journal's latest piece: Google Delays Cookie Phase-Out Following Regulatory Pushback

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