Edward Felsenthal

For this podcast, the Confident Retirement, there's a twist: I was the one interviewed, not the one asking the questions. (I like it better the other way - but that was fun - thanks for inviting me on, Kristopher Flammang CRPC®AIF®BFA®) Oh - and I'm not retiring :) Some of the things we talked about: * My early journalism career change to being a juvenile probation office for three years; • Why and how the Business Observer has made a transtions to #digitalfirst — and why we keep the focus on that; and • The lessons I've learned from interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs ands business owners Take a listen!

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Dan Levine, a veteran investigative reporter for Reuters, earns the trust of sensitive sources by making sure they really understand how the editorial process works and know what they should expect to happen if they agree to participate. "Current and former government workers, corporate employees and victims of violence often take significant legal or physical risks to reveal harm or wrongdoing," Dan writes. "To earn sources’ trust, minimize their exposure and protect their safety, I always try to be as transparent as possible. This goes beyond conversations about on-the-record versus background. It involves a discussion about how the entire editorial process works. The back and forth not only benefits the source; it helps us maintain our own independence and credibility, and serves readers." You can learn more about how Dan approaches his relationships with sensitive sources in his guest column for the Ethics & Journalism Initiative (https://lnkd.in/dCMQ2NVB).

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Life often moves at a frenetic pace. The last thing our readers want or need from us is a story that tells only a piece of a jumbled picture. I’ve long been a proponent of enterprise reporting: deeper stories about why things happen the way they do. During a Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus newsroom vision meeting last week, I identified different approaches to reporting that may help us better serve readers: 1. A higher percentage of enterprise stories 2. Swarming high-interest stories with follow ups 3.  Providing clarity stories 4. Creating takeaways from dense reporting. Of these four, clarity stories are the least comfortable for many of us in the newsroom. We report each new development in an ongoing issue, so we don’t see the need to retell the larger story from those already-reported parts. There’s a misguided assumption that readers should be up to speed on our previous reporting.  That’s where the “clarity” comes in. Sometimes we need to step back with fresh eyes and tell the whole story in a concise or narrative format, with the result being readers who understand what happened and why.

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This essay is several years old, but I think it applies to a lot of industries. How do you make sure your writing is free of jargon and Insider Baseball phrases and draws even the busiest reader? I have some ideas. https://lnkd.in/ebHYZ_E8

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SPOILER ALERT 🚨🚨🚨 I don't think TikTok is going anywhere. But, the debate happening among policymakers makes for pretty good conversation. In my latest thought piece for H/Advisors Abernathy, I examined the newscycle to see how a potential #TikToK ban could play a big role in the 2024 election cycle, rankle #BigTech data collection and lay the groundwork for more #dataprivacy advocacy. https://bit.ly/T1kT0kban

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"To comment or not to comment, that is the question." Thoughtful piece by former Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi in the Columbia Journalism Review: "When they won’t even say ‘no comment.’" (https://lnkd.in/ey-yAMHy) He finds that there has been a significant increase in recent years of reporters writing that a subject “did not respond to a request for comment.” So back to the question at the top - should you always feel compelled to provide a comment in response to a media inquiry? "Always?" - no. Every inquiry is different. The main reason to comment is because you can share your perspective, try to shape the article, and advocate for yourself and your organization. Nobody can tell your story better than you. That said, there are times when it doesn't make sense to comment or where doing so would be counterproductive. At a minimum, as a communications professional you should take the lead in analyzing each request and presenting leadership with the pros and cons of responding - and a recommendation for what to say. I'm curious for others, um, comments on this topic. #MediaRelations #PR #Communications #PublicRelations

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How people consume information (and where they find it) continues to be a fragmented and splintered landscape. Understanding and tracking these changes and audiences is important for every industry, not just elections. https://lnkd.in/gsHHENXm

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When recent grads doing the requisite networking rounds ask me my best advice for breaking into journalism, I always have two words: TRADE PUBS. Many of them have never heard the term, and they’re seriously limiting their job search as a result. Trade publications -- or niche industry news sources for a group of dedicated, well-informed, sector-specific readers -- are a fantastic place to cut your teeth. You’re never just getting coffee or making copies there as a new hire. In my experience, from day one, you’ll be reporting and writing and learning everything you can about whatever the paper covers, be it nonferrous metals (hello, me in 2008!) or telecom or annuities or what have you. Every industry has a trade pub of record, and there’s no better way to learn the ropes fast. And the travel! While I was covering the global metal markets in my early 20s, I traveled to Bahrain, Chile, Germany, Mexico, the UK and throughout the continental US to attend conferences, tour smelters and meet sources. Sure, sometimes, I’d wonder if understanding the world’s alumina trade or China’s flat-rolled steel demand was too niche a skillset. But now, from my perch of senior editor for energy and commodities at Bloomberg News, I realize it was truly the best foundation. On that note, my friend Cliff White, executive editor at SeafoodSource, tells me he’s hiring an associate editor. Employees can be based anywhere in the US (though why WOULDN’T you want to be located in Portland, Maine??) This would be a fantastic way for an early-stage journalist to refine those editing chops and master the skills you’ll need throughout the rest of your career. #jobs #journalism #journalismjobs #editor #maine #seafood #hiring #jobopening #tradepubs https://lnkd.in/dmVwjqJ3

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You're probably already taking in a lot of information on how to cover this year's elections. These guides are aimed at helping you talk through that information with your news organization, and strategize or decide on how you'll navigate different scenarios long before they arise and leave you thinking, "I wish we'd talked about how we'd actually handle this." Our first two guides help you consider your coverage of misinformation and polling, and we've got more in the works! Let us know if there are other topics you'd like to see addressed.

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Social media again gets global ire. Is it fair to blame only tech giant owning the channels. From a parents view - Current educational system exposes children to digital channels early on. As parents we see a whiz kid in our children then- unaware of the grave consequences. When we live & flaunt social media lives - how can blame someone else. As a society we are introducing social media to young adults. Like every medium it has pros & cons- Pros - availability of information, flexibility, ease of use Cons - early & uncontrolled access to uncontrolled information, mental pressure & stress Solution - Lead by example - Be Responsible & teach responsible usage at both home & school. It is a behaviour change for you first & them later. Transparent consumer impact sharing by social media platforms will indeed a welcome step. #parenthood #people #socialmedia #bestadvice #mentalwellbeing #behaviourchange #media #sharing #behaviourchange #instagram #facebook #threads #content #wellbeing #pr #publicrelations #brands

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A new newsletter that we Media and Journalism Research Center have written for Journalism Funders Forum as part of our great cooperation with Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association. With may thanks to our expert Robert Nemeth. Interviews with media leasers, research on relevant topics, and several articles about funding independent journalism. #journalism #newsmedia #media #funding #research #newsletter

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This year's U.S. Book Show was buzzing with energy and insight, making it clear that the pulse of the publishing world is stronger than ever. As we are always in the mindset of “sharing is caring,” here is some knowledge the Smith team and I gained from the event: 🎙️ Panel Insights:  From our industry friends at Amplify Publishing Group and Forefront Books to new connections like Mia Orlandella from Penguin Random House, the discussions were rich and varied. A standout moment was the Young Publishing Forum, where the focus was on "emerging publishers" rather than "young" ones, emphasizing the rapid professional growth in this field and the value of mentorship and community. 🤖 AI and Publishing:  During the CEO roundtable, AI’s role in publishing was a major topic. It was fascinating to hear perspectives on AI as an "intelligent assistant"—a tool that augments rather than replaces the human creativity, empathy, and intuition essential to forward-looking innovation. 📈 Trend Shifts in Book Selling:  The dynamics of book distribution are flipping. It’s no longer just about what bookstores will accept from publishers, but strategically thinking about which books are pushed to major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Inc. or newer platforms like Bookshop.org. This strategic distribution reflects a deeper niche targeting approach. 📘 Digital and Libraries Evolving Together:  Discussions around digital book buying, especially in educational sectors, highlighted the evolving role of libraries. They're not just physical spaces but are adapting to digital demands with tools like social media and virtual book clubs, enhancing access and engagement. We left feeling a profound sense of community and dedication across the board, from protecting authors' interests to celebrating the human touch in our tech-driven world. The Publishers Weekly U.S. Book Show wasn't just about books; it was a testament to the passionate individuals behind them, restoring our faith in humanity one page at a time. If you want to take a deep dive into more knowledge and actionable takeaways from the event, Olivia Whitlock McCoy and I recorded a special episode of the Smith Publicity, Inc. All Things Book Marketing Podcast. Check out our insightful episode here: https://bit.ly/3KlxSUD. #Marketing #Publishing #Author #Books #Leadership

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Thrilled to have hosted a webinar on the Ethnicity Pay Gap with three exceptional experts on the subject. Our discussion delved into systemic biases, actionable solutions, and the imperative for change. Let's turn insights into action for a more equitable future. #EthnicityPayGap #DiversityandInclusion

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Thank you to PRNEWS for publishing my piece on lessons brands and communications leaders can learn from the recent fallout at NBC News and the pitfalls of binary thinking. "This debacle is one of many scenarios that remind us of why deliberate, well-coordinated and consistent internal communications are even more important in today’s climate where sensitive information leaks are becoming commonplace." If you're so inclined, you can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eSjSG26d

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"Best Practices For Pitching In 2024, a cold outreach email probably isn’t going to suffice. With journalists receiving hundreds of email pitches daily, we must get creative to ensure our messages stand out." Read more at the Forbes article here: https://lnkd.in/e7PQGP53 #pr #mediarelations #pitches

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