Walmart takes heat over pro-gun apparel; Twitter's new reply tool; How employees feel about retraining; and more

MORNING SCOOP

Walmart garners backlash for pro-gun shirts, Olive Garden offers lifetime pasta pass, and 70% of employees want job training

Also: Google facing antitrust concerns over its job-search feature, Twitter tests tool for users to more easily follow conversations, and Chick-fil-A introduces a cheesy side dish.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Survey: 8 terrible PR practices that will doom your pitch

Fractl polled 500+ journalists about their top peeves. Here’s what you need to know.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Infographic: How much time we spend on social media

Which platforms get the heaviest use? What topics drive the conversation? This infographic offers vital insights.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

How to stay apolitical in our polarized era

Brand managers and PR experts want to avoid choosing a side, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be dragged into the political scrum. Here’s how you can safeguard your organization.

CONFERENCE ALERT

3 ways to help your executives thrive in the digital world

Discover how to help them create an engaging digital presence during this can’t-miss conference in Washington, D.C.

MEDIA RELATIONS

21 words gaining notoriety under the #mispronounced hashtag

Perhaps you’ve done it yourself, saying ‘mizzled’ when reading ‘misled.’ To help you avoid a verbal fracas, we offer a cache of common linguistic foie gras. Oops—that should be ‘faux pas.’

MORNING SCOOP

Designers apologize to Chinese consumers, ‘influencer fraud’ cost nearing $1.3 billion, and Universal pulls ‘The Hunt’ after mass shootings

Also: Quirky risks of working at home, Twitch chief says ‘sorry’ to a former streamer, and Amazon scores with a guinea-pig-themed café.

SLIDER

Every generation uses social media daily

Are you looking to target older consumers? Perhaps you want to reach ascendant demographics like the millennial generation. Either way, social media is a potent tool.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

As data breaches rise, cybersecurity companies can seize the moment

Digital marketing and smart PR are essential for organizations in business to safeguard vulnerable, high-profile targets.

WRITING & EDITING

10 ways to get the writing juices flowing

The empty page or blank screen can seem daunting, but often that’s not the real impediment. Try these exercises to unblock your mind.

WRITING & EDITING

A slew of must-read books for writers

Content creators and other professional communicators, comb through these tomes to learn something, get inspired and hone your storytelling.

OP-ED

Why we should stop saying ‘nobody dies in PR’

PR might not be brain surgery, but it has the power to alter lives. That’s why some PR pros take their work so seriously—and why communicators should demand perfection.

MORNING SCOOP

Walmart KOs violent-video displays but keeps guns, Uber spins bad financials, and blackface at Belgium’s Africa Museum draws ire

Also: Farmer Boys’ social media sweepstakes win, apps’ value for consumers, PR pros’ stand on profanity in messages, and more.

INFOGRAPHICS

Infographics: How to prime your website for voice search

Making sure artificial intelligence can find your products and services will be essential for attracting new customers. Here’s how you should prepare for the future.