Jack Myers’ Post

As Americans prepare for a momentous election year, misinformation and mass layoffs at news publications continue to threaten the integrity of traditional media outlets. Porter Novelli’s U.S. media relations lead for health, Jenifer Slaw weighs in on how communications practitioners can be crucial partners to journalists during this precarious, yet important period. Read here ⬇️ to discover effective strategies when working with traditional media or developing an earned media approach:

Very interesting findings in here for political and public affairs marketers: 💡 Two-thirds of the political content people consume comes from non-news websites 🗳️ People, especially Americans and especially those with low political interest...encounter politics more frequently outside news outlets than within. 📈 Furthermore, exposure to political content outside news domains had the same – and in some cases stronger - associations with key democratic attitudes and behaviors as news exposure. This has important implications for how (and where) we reach voters, particularly voters we're trying to bring into the political system.

This smart quote, from the inimitable Lauren Williams: "I think one of the real things that big philanthropy needs to do is to start really thinking outside of the box of what news is, what reach really means when it comes to journalism. Think outside of just investigative journalism—funding the “big impact” sort of news that makes a lot of waves—and start thinking about the impact that local journalism has on everyday people’s lives, on elections. Local news helps communities be more civically engaged. That can have ripple effects for our elections, which can then have ripple effects for our federal government and our democracy." https://lnkd.in/g-3fte2t

Thousands of newspapers and tens of thousands of journalism jobs have been lost in the last two decades. That pace continues: The Los Angeles Times slashed its staff by 20 percent in January. Each week, two to three small newspapers fold. It's estimated that half of U.S. counties have no access or limited access to local news sources, creating news deserts with far-reaching consequences. Living in a new desert means the loss of coverage that has enriched communities with local features for generations. But when reporters no longer show up to municipal and county meetings or cover local elections, residents lose their common source of trusted information about their government. That threatens democracy. How do we begin to counter this threat? Chris Mills Rodrigo at the Institute for Policy Studies explores some ideas. Bess Winston Brad Hamilton Karyn Colombo Victoria White Elizabeth Moore Ken McGagh Tony Loftis https://lnkd.in/e3z8GUWJ #localnews #journalism #storycraft #informationgathering #democracy #news

“Media gave much less play to Trump’s ‘vermin’ comment than Clinton remark Main networks gave 18 times more coverage to 2016 ‘deplorables’ remark; while top papers give it 29 times more, Media Matters finds Major US news outlets devoted significantly less time and space to covering Donald Trump’s description of his enemies as “vermin” this month than they did in a similar period in 2016 to Hillary Clinton’s reference to Trump’s supporters as “deplorables”, a new study has found. Findings by the progressive watchdog Media Matters included 18 times more coverage of Clinton’s remark than Trump’s by the “Big Three” broadcast networks (NBC, ABC and CBS) in the first week after the remark was made; and print reports among the top five circulating newspapers (Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today) in which mention of Clinton’s remark outnumbered Trump’s 29-1 in the same period. “Coverage decisions like these … shape the political landscape during presidential election cycles,” wrote Matt Gertz, a Media Matters senior fellow…. Clinton’s “deplorables” remark was a famous feature of the 2016 presidential election, which she lost to Trump…. Biden joined pundits and historians in pointing out how authoritarian leaders have called opponents “vermin”, Adolf Hitler prominently among them. Acknowledging such comparisons and warnings, Gertz wrote: “The former president … added that those forces want ‘to destroy America and to destroy the American dream’ and that ‘the threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave than the threat from within’…. The new Media Matters research, Gertz said, illustrated how major news outlets responded to “weaponisation” of Clinton’s remark, “rewarding the right for its disingenuous act, showering Clinton’s ‘deplorables’ remark with coverage. “By contrast, the same outlets largely ignored Trump’s description of his political enemies as ‘vermin’, continuing a pattern of relatively muted coverage of Trump’s abhorrent and incoherent commentary.” According to the research, ABC, CBS and NBC spent 54 minutes on the “deplorables” remark in the first week after it was uttered (making 1,662 mentions of it) but only three minutes (through 191 mentions) on the “vermin” remark in the same period. The only print article in the five main papers to consider the “vermin” remark was published by the Washington Post. In 2016, it ran nine print articles on the “deplorables” comment in the first week after it was made, Media Matters said. Gertz said: “When experts are sounding the alarm about the similarities between a likely US presidential nominee’s rhetoric and that of genocidaires, it warrants much more significant attention from journalists at leading news outlets.”” https://lnkd.in/gXqjRAWw

We tend to disagree with the findings here — local political news remains popular with our readers, but we understand that well-rounded coverage will help local news outlets survive in the long term: “Keeping local news organizations alive is a valuable goal with important political consequences. But our work suggests efforts aimed at generating more local political coverage will be insufficient to increase the size of the local news audience.” #hulltimes #localnews

The strength of local news outlets is that they provide information that readers can’t get elsewhere, including political, cultural, and human-interest stories. The challenge, as this piece concludes, is getting that unique information in front of a consistent audience. #localnews #hulltimes

Had an incredible time speaking at the American Association of Political Consultants #Pollies24 conference on the topic of securing earned media coverage in today's world of journalism! 🎤✨ Here are some key takeaways from my session: 🔍 Be Precise: Start by defining your audience and tailor your pitch accordingly. Whether it's policy-focused or community-driven, understanding your audience — and which news outlets and reporters can get you there — is key to success. 🎯 Be Relevant: Connect your story to what reporters are already covering. Find that sweet spot where your narrative aligns with the current news cycle to maximize engagement. 💼 Be a Resource: Make the journalist's job easier by providing them with everything they need. Offer up spokespeople, data, visuals, etc. 📣 Amplify: It doesn't end when the story is published. In today's media landscape, it's crucial to amplify your coverage through social media, newsletters, and stakeholder emails. Earned media is just one tool in our arsenal, but when used effectively, it can make a significant impact. Huge thanks to AAPC and my fellow panelists for an inspiring discussion! 💡 Josh Scheinblum Aneesa McMillan, MPA Brittany Y. Beth Miller #AAPC #EarnedMedia #CommunicationStrategy #MediaCoverage

This week, I explore how social media algorithms could affect voting and highlight the importance of independent media in supporting democracy. Understanding this influence is crucial for a healthy democracy, as it encourages informed decisions and diverse perspectives.

Uncover the harsh realities facing local news in the U.S., as analyzed by political scientists for Nieman Journalism Lab. Despite increased coverage of local political events such as mayoral elections, local newspaper website traffic remains stagnant, suggesting deeper challenges beyond city hall coverage. The article explores declining audience engagement and economic pressures, challenging the notion that focusing solely on local political reporting can revive local journalism. Check out the full article for a deeper understanding of the obstacles and potential solutions in preserving local news amidst shifting media environments. https://lnkd.in/etKW48F6