Lovato Uses Personal Struggles to Inspire Fans
It only took moments after the news broke saying Demi Lovato was being hospitalized for a drug overdose for critics to jump on social media and condemn the singer. At the same time, well-wishers flooded the ‘net trying to drown out the trolls with their support of a young woman in crisis. A few days after the hospitalization was revealed, it was announced that Lovato would be entering a rehab program to help get her off the drugs that nearly took her life. This will be the second time, this decade, Lovato went through a professional substance abuse program.
Read MoreZuckerberg Missteps in Vow to Clean up Social Media
Social media giant Facebook is continuing in its very public bid to restore consumer and user confidence after having to admit statistically staggering numbers of “fake” accounts and posts, as well as companies that thrived on collecting supposedly private information. In its most recent announcement, Facebook says it will be cracking down on “misleading and inflammatory” posts or content that “may trigger attacks…” However, when pressed for specifics, CEO Mark Zuckerberg landed on an example he immediately wished to take back: Holocaust denial.
Read MoreNFL Freezes New Anthem Policy Weeks Before Preseason Begins
In what some are calling yet another misstep in its handling of the ongoing anthem kneeling debate, the NFL has worked with the Player’s Union to temporarily put a freeze on the previously agreed-upon policy to fine teams whose players kneel. After a season in which protesting players angered fans, who then “boycotted” the NFL, leading to disappointing TV ratings, lower game attendance, and the potential for lost income for the league, the NFL worked in the off-season to come up with what it saw as an equitable solution. When it was announced, most people involved were underwhelmed.
Read MoreOptus Falls Apart Under World Cup Pressure
Television and telecommunications company “Optus” recently faced a serious blow to their reputation after it’s FIFA World Cup streaming services failed to deliver high-quality viewing over the weekend on the 16th and 17th of June. The company has issued a quick response apologizing for several problems all the way from low-quality streams to playback issues and buffering problems. The Twitter page features an apology directly from CEO Allen Lew. Following a quick planning session, Lew revealed that the six games ready to appear on the Optus Sports application would need to be on a free-to-air system with the TV network SBS. Lew referred to the change in viewing patterns to a failsafe option and said that he and the company…
Read MoreIs Disney’s Pixar Pier Up to Snuff?
Disney California’s Adventure Park opened its doors to the eagerly-awaited Pixar Pier on the 23rd of June this year. Within the park, visitors can find a selection of wonderful Pixar stories and characters brought to life by exciting attractions like the amazing “Incredicoaster,” beautiful neighborhoods and Pixar-themed restaurants. Alongside a host of new entertainment, there are countless opportunities for tourists to learn more about the Pixar world on a waterfront Disneyland Resort. Pixar Pier is just one of the celebratory events that Disney are introducing as part of Pixar Fest – a celebration of all things Pixar running until the 3rd of September. One of the many highlights of Pixar Fest is the Nighttime spectacular “Together Forever” fireworks show at…
Read MoreWill Harley Regret Manufacturing Move?
If we’re making a list of quintessential American brands, there’s no doubt Harley Davidson motorcycles would be on it. The bike manufacturer has always promoted its products as uniquely American made and connected to a very American ethos. Even when some reviewers extolled other brands, customers bought Harleys to be part of that story. A recent shift announced by the company could create some consumer PR issues with that perception. In the wake of the announcement of a new round of European tariffs, some American companies are opting to move manufacturing overseas in order to avoid paying the new taxes on their goods.
Read MoreWashington State Coach Defiant After Fan Call Him Out for Spreading “Fake News”
The position of head football coach at a major conference university is almost always a hot seat. Typically, coaches find themselves in the news either for winning or losing, or reacting to winning or losing. Occasionally, though, a coach at a big-name school will say or do something that has nothing to do with the sport he was hired to coach, but still manages to put that coach and the university that employs him in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Such is the case for Washington State football coach Mike Leach. With the upcoming NCAA football season set to kick off in a little more than a month, Washington State’s head football coach is in the news… and not…
Read MoreComedian John Oliver Gets Blocked in China
Not everyone can take a joke. Any comedian can tell you that. But some people – and some regimes – are more tolerant of jokes at their expense than others. It’s a lesson political commentator and comedy show host John Oliver knows all too well. He has frequently been roasted by politicians and pundits who don’t appreciate his satire. Recently, though, Oliver was banned by Weibo, a major Chinese microblogging service, a social media platform similar to Twitter. Why, exactly, did Weibo put the block on Oliver? It happened after the comedian and TV host did a segment on his popular program, Last Week Tonight, slamming China for human rights violations, then doubled down by mocking Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Read MoreCan ABC Sell Roseanne Without Roseanne?
What do you do when you have a hit show but choose to fire the star? A star, who also happens to be the program’s namesake? If you’re ABC, you reboot the same show without that cast member, and try to sell it to the same fans who loves the old version of the show. Here’s the rub… Many of the fans who loved Roseanne, loved it because of the frank conversations about politics and current events through the filter of multiple different perspectives. In firing Roseanne for a tweet about Valerie Jarrett, ABC angered many of the same fans that say they loved the show’s take on free — and not “politically correct” — speech. Many of those loyal…
Read MoreEarning Media in the Digital Age
With the advent of digital marketing, social media marketing, SEO, and content marketing, some people have given up on one of the staples of media relations: earned media. That’s a huge mistake. No matter what’s happening in other areas of the industry, earned media is still a hugely valuable commodity. And, for PR professionals, earned media is definitely something your client will expect. That’s not to say it’s easy. After all, even though news is 24-7 these days, and there are more outlets than ever before, there are certain topics that always seem to grab headlines. With these popular topics crowding the news cycles, getting noticed takes the right message, a winning strategy, and precise timing. Here are a few…
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