Insights for Leaders Navigating
Visibility, Credibility, and Growth.
From media strategy to reputation management, we explore the trends shaping public perception and share the approaches that drive measurable results for growing brands.
Oftentimes, public relations professionals assist with the creation of content. This may be in the form of writing or editing op-eds, articles, blog post or speeches. This content may have varying purposes, but it is important that claims we make are trustworthy and credible. It is equally important to realize that everyday we are vigorously assailed by sources, claims or information of varying reliability.
So how does one go about finding reliable sources?
I thought it might be helpful to look at some of Wikipedia’s guidelines. While Wikipedia itself states it’s not a reliable source, because it can be edited by anyone at any time – meaning entries can be wrong, a work in progress or a subject of vandalism – the free encyclopedia offers insight into how to identify reliable sources that may be valuable.
A couple of the points that jumped out at me:
- A source refers to the work itself: a book, an article, a video, etc.; the creator (the author, journalist, scholar, business leader, etc.); and the publisher of the work (Random House, the New York Times, or someone else). When evaluating a source, it is important to consider all three of these because they all impact reliability.
- There is a spectrum of reliability. Sources may be highly reliable, highly unreliable or somewhere in between. When creating content, it is vital that people think critically as they draw conclusions about whether a source is reliable or not.
- In addition, proper sourcing depends on context. There is a lot to unpack here. For instance, is the source you want to cite appropriate for content that is being created? What is the age of the source? In scientific writing, an older source may be a liability as there may be newer research or theories that would be better suited. But conversely, when you’re writing about historical events, older sources may provide better context, background or information.
Finally, I’d like to touch on some types of sources that content creators can consider.
- Scholarly material. This might include academic and peer-reviewed publications, journals, textbooks or dissertations. Keep in mind, however, these can become outdated or reflect the biases and values of their authors. (For more on objectivity, I recommend reading, “Thinking like a psychological scientist” by Erin I. Smith.)
- News organizations. Consider the reputability of the organization and as you evaluate articles or coverage examine them closely. Is the reporting an opinion, human interest or news? Does the news contain factually verifiable information?
- Commercial content, sponsored content or user-generated content. Wikipedia considers these to be questionable sources because they often have a poor reputation for fact checking or lack editorial oversight. If you use information from these sites, do so carefully and cite appropriately.
I hope you’ll keep these tips in mind the next time you’re creating your next article, speech or blog.
On June 28, 2019, our clients, Spaceflight and BlackSky, participated in the successful launch of a Rocket Lab Electron that launched from Launch Complex 1 at the southern tip of the Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
As a nod to the rainy weather at both the location of Spaceflight’s headquarters (Seattle) and the launch site (Mahia Peninsula) the mission was named ‘Make it Rain.’ Spaceflight purchased the capacity of the Electron and managed the integration and launch of seven spacecraft from five organizations. One of the payloads from the launch was BlackSky’s earth-imaging satellite, Global-3. This is BlackSky’s third commercial satellite to reach orbit.
Additionally, this launch was Spaceflight’s inaugural launch with Rocket Lab. The company has five additional launches scheduled with Rocket Lab for the remainder of 2019.
Given the notable payloads, including Global-3, the excitement around Spaceflight’s first launch with a new launch vehicle, and Rocket Lab’s consistent and continued success, this launch caught the attention of the media. To highlight its importance, Communiqué PR worked with the Spaceflight team to announce the launch a couple of weeks in advance. Formally announcing launches through a press release helps raise awareness about the upcoming launch and provides details about the payloads, launch location, etc., giving journalists an opportunity to understand the nuances of the launch and each of the missions aboard.
Below is some of the coverage the successful launch generated. We are excited for Spaceflight and BlackSky and look forward to future launches.
Congratulations, Spaceflight and BlackSky!
‘Make it Rain’ Coverage Highlights
- Rocket Lab launches seven small satellites from New Zealand for Seattle’s Spaceflight— GeekWire, June 28, 2019
- Rocket Lab conducts Spaceflight Inc. Rideshare Mission with Electron Launch— NASA Spaceflight, June 28, 2019
- Rocket Lab Successfully Launches Its 7th Rocket – And Its Next Launch Could Be Just Weeks Away— Forbes, June 29, 2019
- Rocket Lab Launches 7 Small Satellites to Orbit— Space, June 29, 2019
- Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron rocket for ‘Make It Rain’ mission— TechCrunch, June 29, 2019
- Rocket Lab flies again from New Zealand as work progresses at Virginia launch pad— Spaceflight Now, June 29, 2019
- Rocket Lab launches satellites for Spaceflight— SpaceNews, June 29, 2019
- Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron mission, deploys seven satellites to orbit— Space Daily, June 29, 2019
- Lucky 7… Rocket Lab’s Seventh Electron Launch Successfully Lifts-Off and Delivers Seven Satellites— SatNews, June 30, 2019
As the marketing minds behind any business know, the lifeblood of engaging with your target audience often comes via the avenues of social media.
Social media can be a godsend in the world of PR, offering a world of insightful analytics to track, as well as likes, comments, retweets, shares and other forms of audience engagement to monitor. Reaching a large following has never been so swift and convenient, with so much data available to learn more about your audience and its behavior.
Of course, social media is a double-edged sword and can be a scourge of user negativity, community backlash and, in some cases, damaging effects to one’s brand or reputation. Just as perilous to one’s business is ineffective social media strategizing that is pedestrian and uninspired, and thus unable to reach the audience it targets or falls on blind eyes and deaf ears. It’s critical to know your messaging, the ways it is communicated and the audience at which it is directed.
PR professionals are hard-pressed to find a handier tool to generate buzz around a trending topic and amplify key messaging. But which social media platforms are most effective in conveying messages to your targeted audience? It all depends on the cohort in which they fall, as different age groups rely on social media for different reasons and purposes.
Most recently, social media researchers have noticed this with regard to the budding Generation Z, the demographic of individuals born between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s. As the rising Generation Z enters the workplace, it offers significant spending power and is set to account for one-third of the global population, according to Bloomberg. Generation Z is also revealing its own unique social media habits.
Generation Z primarily turns to social media for entertainment purposes, according to market research company Global Web Index. Gen-Zers are typically drawn to highly visual formats, such as Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram. They’re shifting away from Facebook and gravitating toward newer platforms such as TikTok, a social media app that boasts over 100 million followers and allows users to create and post short 15-second video clips. They crave face-to-face interaction.
And Generation Z spends a significant amount of time on social media. Gen-Zers are perpetually connected through mobile devices, spending more time on them than any previous generation. Internet advertising company Criteo reports that 95 percent of teenagers have access to a smartphone, with the average teen spending 11 hours per week on it. Gen-Zers spend an average of 23 hours per week streaming videos, or an average of three hours and 15 minutes per day. This can largely be attributed to the fact that Generation Z, unlike any generation before it, hasn’t known a world without social media technology, and is therefore referred to as tech-native or tech-innate.
But Generation Z’s social media fixation isn’t limited to merely seeking entertainment. Not unlike their Millennial counterparts, Gen-Zers want to make a difference in the world and see social media as their avenue to do so. A study from Cone Communications found that 81 percent of Gen-Zers believe they can “have an impact on social and environmental issues by using social media.” Eighty-two percent of respondents said they use social media “to talk about issues they care about,” while 58 percent said they believed “supporting social or environmental issues online is more effective at making a difference than doing something out in their communities.”
Knowing these types of audience tendencies and behaviors is critical to the health of any business, especially when dealing with a future demographic that accounts for such a significant share of the global market. Familiarizing with your audience is essential to effectively communicating with them, and in turn, successfully operating and growing your business. Employing the appropriate communication strategies to reach your audience ensures your organization will achieve its business goals faster, keep customers in the pipeline and, as a result, boost its bottom line.
We recently worked with Acumatica, the world’s fastest-growing cloud ERP company, to announce its acquisition by EQT Partners and the joining of forces with IFS, the global enterprise applications company.
What makes this acquisition announcement unique is the flexible structure of this partnership. In the midst of a merger-happy market, the two companies will retain much of their autonomy while synergies related to go-to-market strategies, research and development efforts, etc., will be maximized between the two companies.
Businesses are becoming increasingly global, regardless of size or industry. With an increasingly global marketplace, flexible business models are going to be vital for companies to meet a growing range of customer requirements. To scale and compete, customers need a network of resources that will support business operations wherever they, their business partners and customers may be.
Additionally, both companies are designed to serve complementary markets rather than compete against one another. Acumatica’s sweet spot is small and midsize business customers with $20M – $250M USD in revenue; IFS is optimized to serve companies with $250M USD and above. Thus, this partnership forms a global cloud ERP powerhouse that will challenge entrenched industry players.
Communiqué PR had the opportunity to collaborate with another PR firm, Padilla, to support the media outreach for this announcement. Below, we’ve included highlights of the coverage that resulted from the acquisition, with additional coverage from trade publications pending.
- The Cross-Pollinating Cloud: IFS Conjoins With Acumatica – Forbes, June 19
- Acumatica acquired by UK private equity firm in bid to take on Oracle, Microsoft and other business software giants – GeekWire, June 19
- The coming together of ERP firms Acumatica and IFS – an early analysis – Diginomica, June 19
- EQT marries Acumatica to IFS – Enterprise Times, June 19
- IFS and Acumatica to Form Global Cloud ERP Powerhouse Under EQT Ownership – ERPNews, June 19
- IFS And Acumatica To Form Global Cloud ERP Powerhouse Under EQT Ownership – Software Business Growth, June 19
- EQT acquires Acumatica to complement portfolio company – Realdeals, June 19
- EQT buys US ERP provider – Dagens Industri, June 19
- IFS and Acumatica team up to compete in the ERP management software market in the cloud – Europa Press, June 20
- Acumatica announces acquisition by EQT Partners, joins forces with IFS – Supply Chain Management Review, June 20
- ERP vendor IFS makes a near-merger with Acumatica – TechTarget, June 20
- Channel consolidation continues with trio of deals – TechTarget, June 20
- ERP cloud companies to collaborate under new ownership – Plant Engineering, June 21
- IFS and Acumatica: ERP coalition under EQT – TechMarketView, June 21
It’s that time of year again! The latest 2019 issue of The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook is now available. Every year the AP team releases an updated issue with a variety of updates – sometimes surprising, other times exciting and almost always a little confusing.
Some of last year’s AP Stylebook updates included guidance around spelling tech terms such as “homepage” and “smartwatch” (written as one word), clarity around “emoji” as the correct singular and plural reference of more than one emoji, as well as advice for referencing sexual harassment and misconduct clarifying when to use “survivor” and “victim.”
Below is an overview of some of the AP Stylebook’s update for the 2019 edition.
Percentage sign. According to the latest version of the Stylebook, it is now OK to use the percentage sign (%) when paired with a numeral, with no space. For example, “her salary increased 4% from a year ago.” When referring to amounts less than 1%, writers can precede the decimal with a zero (e.g., the cost of fruit rose 0.4%). The rule did note that in casual uses, it is OK to use words rather than figures and numbers (i.e., there is a zero percent chance she will be going to the party).
Accent marks. It is now acceptable to use accent marks – e.g., the acute (é), grave (è), circumflex (â, î or ô), tilde (ñ), etc. – with individuals’ name when they request it, are known to include them, or if quoting a language that uses accent markets.
Hyphens. The new stylebook included explanations around a variety of hyphenation uses including the “em dash” and the “en dash.” The lead editor of the AP Stylebook hosted an “Ask me anything” session on Reddit where she explained how AP typically uses em dashes (–), and instead of using en dashes, AP uses hyphens (-). Here is the excerpt from her explanation of hyphens and dashes on Reddit:
References in the Stylebook to dashes denote what some styles call em dashes, long dashes or thick dashes. Because of news industry specifications for text transmission, AP has never used en dashes, also known as short dashes.
Em dashes (or what the Stylebook refers to simply as dashes) are used to signal abrupt change; as one option to set off a series within a phrase; before attribution to an author or composer in some formats; after datelines; and to start lists. AP style calls for a space on both sides of a dash in all uses except the start of sports agate summaries.
Some other styles call for en dashes to indicate ranges, such as ranges of dates or times, or with some compound modifiers. AP uses hyphens in such cases.
Race-related terms. Announced in March, the updated AP Stylebook includes guidance for reporters around using the terms “racist” and “racism.” This chapter also discourages individuals from using “racially charged” as a synonym for racist or racism when those words could be used instead. In addition, the AP editors discourage the use of “black/blacks” or “white/whites” as nouns in the singular and plural.
Health and science. This year’s update also included a new chapter with guidelines around selecting stories and proper usage of scientific journals. The health and science chapter also includes a primer on a variety of studies and reference guidance.
Other AP Stylebook updates include clarification and new entries around sports-betting terms, vaping, budtender and cryptocurrency, as well as guidance for reporting on suicide and covering crime – with direction to avoid the term “casualties.”
To stay updated on all of the latest AP Stylebook updates, visit https://www.apstylebook.com/ or follow the company’s Twitter account @APStylebook.
It’s that time of year again! The latest 2019 issue of The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook is now available. Every year the AP team releases an updated issue with a variety of updates – sometimes surprising, other times exciting and almost always a little confusing.
Some of last year’s AP Stylebook updates included guidance around spelling tech terms such as “homepage” and “smartwatch” (written as one word), clarity around “emoji” as the correct singular and plural reference of more than one emoji, as well as advice for referencing sexual harassment and misconduct clarifying when to use “survivor” and “victim.”
Below is an overview of some of the AP Stylebook’s update for the 2019 edition.
Percentage sign. According to the latest version of the Stylebook, it is now OK to use the percentage sign (%) when paired with a numeral, with no space. For example, “her salary increased 4% from a year ago.” When referring to amounts less than 1%, writers can precede the decimal with a zero (e.g., the cost of fruit rose 0.4%). The rule did note that in casual uses, it is OK to use words rather than figures and numbers (i.e., there is a zero percent chance she will be going to the party).
Accent marks. It is now acceptable to use accent marks – e.g., the acute (é), grave (è), circumflex (â, î or ô), tilde (ñ), etc. – with individuals’ name when they request it, are known to include them, or if quoting a language that uses accent markets.
Hyphens. The new stylebook included explanations around a variety of hyphenation uses including the “em dash” and the “en dash.” The lead editor of the AP Stylebook hosted an “Ask me anything” session on Reddit where she explained how AP typically uses em dashes (–), and instead of using en dashes, AP uses hyphens (-). Here is the excerpt from her explanation of hyphens and dashes on Reddit:
References in the Stylebook to dashes denote what some styles call em dashes, long dashes or thick dashes. Because of news industry specifications for text transmission, AP has never used en dashes, also known as short dashes.
Em dashes (or what the Stylebook refers to simply as dashes) are used to signal abrupt change; as one option to set off a series within a phrase; before attribution to an author or composer in some formats; after datelines; and to start lists. AP style calls for a space on both sides of a dash in all uses except the start of sports agate summaries.
Some other styles call for en dashes to indicate ranges, such as ranges of dates or times, or with some compound modifiers. AP uses hyphens in such cases.
Race-related terms. Announced in March, the updated AP Stylebook includes guidance for reporters around using the terms “racist” and “racism.” This chapter also discourages individuals from using “racially charged” as a synonym for racist or racism when those words could be used instead. In addition, the AP editors discourage the use of “black/blacks” or “white/whites” as nouns in the singular and plural.
Health and science. This year’s update also included a new chapter with guidelines around selecting stories and proper usage of scientific journals. The health and science chapter also includes a primer on a variety of studies and reference guidance.
Other AP Stylebook updates include clarification and new entries around sports-betting terms, vaping, budtender and cryptocurrency, as well as guidance for reporting on suicide and covering crime – with direction to avoid the term “casualties.”
To stay updated on all of the latest AP Stylebook updates, visit https://www.apstylebook.com/ or follow the company’s Twitter account @APStylebook.