Frito-Lay settles union contract; Confusing word pairs; Manager comms tips; Media pitching ethics; and more

DAILY SCOOP

Frito-Lay settles new union contract, SEO tips for communicators, and big tobacco supports phased cigarette ban

Also: Olympic skateboard sponsors educate audiences, Pinterest explains DE&I strategy and Tesla Energy’s social listening approach relies on customer complaints.

WRITING & EDITING

11 tricky word pairs that can confuse writers

They might sound similar or have a closely-related spelling, but don’t make the mistake of thinking these words are interchangeable.

THE WORKPLACE

7 tips to help strengthen management and employee relations

Structure and maintain a healthy company morale that draws in new hires by listening to, rewarding and investing in employees.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Is your pitching unethical?

PR pros weighed in online on whether poor media relations practices such as emailing irrelevant ideas and adding reporters to mailing lists flout the laws of morality.

RESEARCH

Here’s how DE&I priorities are implemented across the enterprise

We asked communicators in the 2021 Communications Benchmark Report about their DE&I goals and priorities. One strong focus: Town Halls and CEO chats.

DAILY SCOOP

Mercedes-Benz shares plans to go fully electric, PR pros emphasize need for strategic planning, and Olympic athletes criticize breastfeeding policies

Also: Olympic sponsors emphasize technology, Clubhouse opens to the general public and Facebook responds to content moderators about NDAs.

OP-ED

How PR pros should respond to ‘cancel culture’

One PR pro argues that the debate over “canceling” people requires a nuanced understanding of the practices consequences and potential upside.

WRITING & EDITING

3 surefire ways communicators can cut through the clutter

If employees are ignoring your messaging, take these steps to grab their attention.

THE WORKPLACE

3 tips to create a culture employees love

Worried about the ‘Great Resignation’? Workplace author Josh Levine reveals how to counter COVID angst with a ‘Great Culture.’

DAILY SCOOP

Lyft and Ford partner to offer driverless rides, most Americans support regulation of big tech, and J&J addresses opioid lawsuit deal

Also: Brands offer beefy promotions for National Hot Dog Day, Twitter takes heat for copying Reddit and TSA requires crisis plans from pipeline companies.

MEDIA RELATIONS

10 ways journalists wish PR pros understood their work

Former reporters who are jumping into PR roles share takeaways for their new colleagues about how to engage with news media gatekeepers.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

5 principles to guide crisis communication

A crisis comms researcher shares a data-backed framework to shape your messaging when the pressure’s on.

MEASUREMENT

How we should re-imagine what we honor—and measure

When the PR industry measures the wrong things, it fails to demonstrate its real value and claim its rightful place at the decision-makers table.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Tune in for our Twitter chat on using social media in your crisis response

Special guest Kena Lewis, corporate director, public affairs and media relations for Orlando Health will join us to share insights ahead of Ragan’s Social Media Conference at Disney World Sept. 9-10.