Joe Capozzi

Being a member of Public Relations Global Network is one of my favorite parts of REED Public Relations. Birthdays are always special but getting nice remarks from our friends all around the world yesterday was extra special. Plus, with the time differences, I essentially had a two-day birthday! From Malaysia to Brussels and everywhere in between, read more about the Faces and Markets of #PRGN. #PublicRelations #PR #Marketing

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Worth reading from NiemanLab: Readers prefer to click on a clear, simple headline — like this one By David Markowitz, Hillary Shulman and Todd Rogers In an era when people trust news less than ever, how can journalists break through and attract the attention of average people to provide information about their communities, the nation and the world? By not complicating things. Our research, published in Science Advances, shows that simple headlines significantly increase article engagement and clicks compared with headlines that use complex language. In our research, typical news readers preferred simple headlines over complex ones. But importantly, we found that those who actually write headlines — journalists themselves — did not. We first used data from The Washington Post and Upworthy to see how language features, such as word length and how common a word is, changed how many people clicked on an article’s headline. These datasets included over 31,000 randomized experiments — also known as A/B tests — that compared two or more headline versions of the same underlying article to determine which one generated the most clicks. Headlines with more common words — simple words like “job” instead of “occupation” — shorter headlines, and those communicated in a narrative style, with more pronouns compared with prepositions, received more clicks. For example, The Washington Post headline, “Meghan and Harry are talking to Oprah. Here’s why they shouldn’t say too much” outperformed the alternative headline, “Are Meghan and Harry spilling royal tea to Oprah? Don’t bet on it.” This example illustrates how sometimes a more straightforward headline can generate more interest. In follow-up laboratory experiments, we found that typical news readers focused more on simple rather than complex headlines because the writing was easier to understand. When journalists participated in the same experiments, they didn’t show any preference for simple headlines over complex ones. Put differently: Those who write the news appear to be less responsive to simple writing than regular audiences. Generations of communication consultants have advised that communicators follow the rather crass acronym KISS: Keep it Simple, Stupid. We suggest a modified version applied for journalists. Since KISJ isn’t all that simple, we propose: Keep It Simple, Staffers. Simplicity increases the number of people who click on a news story headline and improves reader recall of the material in the article. Most importantly, simplicity boosts reader engagement, such as how much attention they pay to the information.

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✨ Reclaiming Authenticity in the Era of Misinformation: 5 PR Lessons from Wicked ✨ Kim Markus beautifully illustrates how lessons from Wicked can help PR professionals navigate a world often clouded by misinformation. Her insights on authenticity, nuanced storytelling, and the power of perception are timely and timeless. This piece is a must-read for anyone navigating the complex media landscape. It reminds us that even when the truth gets twisted, staying authentic can help us cut through the noise. https://lnkd.in/g9nYUW7f

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Local journalism is in a state of constant evolution, facing both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. As an editor at a local newspaper, I’ve witnessed firsthand how shifts in technology and audience behavior are reshaping our industry—and how vital our role remains in serving our communities. Trends: With digital platforms taking precedence, we’ve adapted to engage readers in new ways, from interactive online stories to social media-driven news. However, one trend that stands out is the renewed focus on hyperlocal content. Readers want to know what’s happening in their neighborhoods, from school board decisions to small business growth. Challenges: Yet, this shift brings its own challenges. Many local news outlets face declining revenues and shrinking staffs. The challenge lies in balancing quality journalism with limited resources, all while competing with the rapid pace of digital content consumption. But even with these hurdles, the value of trustworthy, local reporting has never been clearer. Successes: Despite the obstacles, local journalism continues to make a difference. Just recently, our paper’s coverage of the local humane society's role in animal welfare sparked community discussions and led to meaningful change. It’s moments like these that remind me of the powerful role we play in keeping our communities informed, connected, and accountable. At its heart, local journalism is about more than just reporting news—it's about telling the stories that define who we are. As we navigate these changes, I remain committed to providing a platform for those voices and ensuring that, no matter how the industry evolves, our community is always at the center of the conversation. What trends or challenges do you see impacting local news where you live? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #LocalJournalism #CommunityImpact #MediaTrends #NewsIndustry #JournalismMatters

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Check out this story that I had the pleasure to photograph and report on! https://lnkd.in/eD-VQtdj

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This is a complicated issue. I am a pragmatic and cynical person when it comes to law enforcement. I can share hard stats and anecdotes about LEO misconduct that would have your jaw on the floor. Yet I believe their job is important in our society and understand that they see a darker side of humanity that the average person does not. The coverage of juvenile offenders who are not certified to be prosecuted as an adult is a hard ‘no’ for my newsroom. I am also pleased to see that most news outlets take the same stance. I don’t think a juvenile mugshot and perp walk is effective. But yet I could not help but notice that the Poynter piece left out the critical “why” of the matter. His precient has been overwhelmed by tips regarding weapons at school. And each tip sent in MUST be investigated. His officers are running ragged looking into each tip. The total fees incurred by these investigations is astounding—$21,000 within days, and surely triple that sum since the press conference. That’s taxpayer money squandered on the actions of unsupervised children (general statement). Sheriff Chitwood is known for holding his officers to a high standard, and holding them accountable when they do not uphold that standard. They do not get special treatment if they abuse the trust they are given—Sheriff Chitwood sees to that….by giving them a mugshot and perp walk. It is effective and it is accountability in action. It is what works for him as LEO. He is a man who is trying to rein in an impossible situation in the best way he knows how. I do not agree with it, but I understand why he is doing it. He’s the only one who has done something, from what I see. To cast him under the same umbrella as police departments who are blatant in their disregard of the community and exploitative is to draw attention away from where it needs to be. Why is there such an overwhelming crisis of weapons in schools? How can children get ahold of weapons so easily? Why do they feel comfortable inciting terror on their classmates via social media? Where are their parents? Why are there so many of these instances that police departments are perp walking juveniles out of desperation? Why are so many children doing this and why has nothing worked to staunch the flow? I’m afraid I am not typically one to make an argument for one side or another, but I’m certainly compelled to point out aspects I think are greviously overlooked or omitted. I could go on, but that’s some food for thought.

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My former small team’s very important work exposing system failures seen during Hurricane Ian’s evacuation won best medium market Investigation at the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists awards. Weeks after also being honored as part of one of journalism’s most prestigious awards, as an IRE finalist, I’m going to once again use our entry’s description to individualy recognize the important team work: After 72 people died in Lee Co., FL following Hurricane Ian, the WFTX investigative unit went searching for answers. Based on reconstructing a series of records requests, what would end up being a 7 mo. investigation showed how Lee Co. leaders didn’t follow their own emergency management plan & procedures. This resulted in delays in evacuation orders being issued, leaving people an inadequate amount of time to make an informed decision. Less than 2 weeks after the investigation aired the Lee Co. manager announced his retirement. Assistant News Director Matthew Simon functioned as the project’s executive producer overseeing and partnering with Specialty Producer Molly A. to report out the story’s initial research and records requests. Matthew Simon and Molly A. also worked with the legal team compelling the county to produce records after months of delays, showing how county leaders were communicating during the critical time between FL’s State of Emergency being issued Fri. & Lee Co.'s evacuation orders being issued Tues. Matthew Simon & Molly A. then worked with Meteorologists Katie Walls & Andrew Shipotofsky who analyzed weather data, including Katie Walls confirming storm surge data showing, under the county’s plan, the evacuation should've been issued as early at 11 p.m. Sun. Once Molly A. & Matthew Simon assembled all the data, Anchor Nadeen Yanes was brought into be the project’s investigative reporter, securing interviews with survivors; a county manager accountability interview & a county commissioner solutions-based interview. Nadeen Yanes’ reporting exposed how survivors felt the county's less urgent messaging, tone & timeline, compared to previous storms, made it more difficult to make an evacuation decision. Nadeen Yanes also showed how the county manager had difficulty explaining his answer, the timing was 'really very good,' when storm surge was reported about 15 hours after all evacuations. Nadeen Yanes also worked with Katie Walls & Andrew Shipotofsky to secure weather expert interviews who said evacuations should've been called sooner. Nadeen Yanes, Molly A. & Matthew Simon worked in tandem to draft the story’s copy & work with the legal team on approval. While also working with Senior Editors Mason Hawk, Austin Schargorodski & Chief Photojournalist Andy Cunningham, who also shot much of the piece’s video, on editing the pieces as parts and eventually bringing them together to form the full story. Photojournalist Karan Deardorff also shot the survivor portion of the story on Ft. Myers Beach.

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Headlines for June 24, 2024. #CBS #CBSNews #Headlines #NewsHeadlines #BreakingNews #OvernightNews #HeadlineNews CBS News Roundup on CBS & CBS News and Stations and streaming on CBS News

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After many years in the biz, I can attest everything here is true. Journalism is much more than a career. It's a noble profession and a contact sport that isn't for the faint of heart. And remember that news doesn't happen in newsrooms so get out of the office as much as possible! #journalism #reporters Southern California News Group https://lnkd.in/gzcY4tu5

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A robust guide to the language of journalism, from A1 to -30-

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Do journalists really want to hear from you? As has been the trend for years now, the number of working journalists continues to dwindle, primarily due to layoffs, outlet closures and consolidation, leaving those still in the field with longer hours and much tighter work schedules. In fact, most journalists today work between 41-50 hours, including at least one or two days after hours or on weekends, according to the recent 2024 State of Journalism survey*. While their work schedules may not be of prime importance to you, it should be…if you’re trying to get their attention with a story idea.  And do you know if these journalists even want to hear from you? As long as you’re a PR pro, maybe. Some 70 percent of journalists surveyed ranked PR pros as either important or very important to the success of their jobs, while 29 percent said they are either slightly or not at all important. And frankly, don’t get too puffed up about that 70 percent…because nearly half said they seldom or never respond to PR pitches, while just 18 percent usually respond and 8 percent always do. One possible reason for the relatively low response rate could be that the majority of those surveyed said they get up to 25 pitches per week, while another 23 percent said they get up to 50 per week. There’s simply not enough time in even an extended workweek to reply. Or, perhaps they don’t feel the need. After all, the journalists tell us that nearly 75 percent of the pitches they receive are not pertinent to their coverage area.  So, do you know the reporter(s) who cover your industry or subject matter? And what exactly should your pitch consist of? And is your “news” even pitch-worthy? If so, when and through what means are the best to reach these journalists? A lot more questions than answers here. If you’re unsure of the answers to any of these questions, or more, it’s likely time to call in a PR pro. After all, 70 percent of journalists said they do want to hear from us. Before you venture into the unknown, or worse, turn off one of the few journalists covering your industry, get an expert involved. Rountree Group has an experienced PR team who can develop and implement a successful plan of action that will drive results. Connect with us here for info. *Of the 1,106 journalists surveyed for this year’s State of Journalism, the majority work primarily in the United States, with the remainder worldwide. The majority work full time in the journalism industry, half serving as freelancers. Some 33 percent work locally or regionally, with 30 percent nationally and 29 percent internationally. And 40 percent work with digital publications, 31 percent with newspapers and the remainder work with magazines, broadcast television, trade publications, radio, non-profits, podcasts, etc. An experienced group, nearly 30 percent surveyed said they’ve been a journalist for more than 21 years and another 24 percent for 10 to 20 years. Some 58 percent are reporters or editors.

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The latest "State of Journalism" results are available from Muck Rack. They  surveyed 1,106 journalists from January 3 to February 9, 2024. Key findings that I have always stress w clients: -83% of journalists prefer to be pitched via email- (1:1--personalized!) -44% want to receive pitches before noon (even in a digital 24/7 news world, journalists have work hours and most stories are decided in the AM.) -65% prefer pitches that are under 200 words. (Keep your pitch tight and focused. Journalists are short on time and overworked). - Most PR pitches are ignored and the top reason is because the pitch is not relevant to the journalist. 49% say they respond to PR pitches. (Personaize your pitch!).  Interesting findings -70% of journalists say PR pros are either important or very important to the success of their jobs.  -44% predict they will spend more time on LinkedIn going forward. -More than half of journalists say social media is either important or very important to produce their stories. -69% of journalism work is made for digital publication. #Journalism #media #PR #data

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🗣️Calling all PR pros and ethics enthusiasts! The Florida Public Relations Association SWFL Chapter is hosting a webinar in April focused on one of the most critical topics in our industry: ethics in public relations. We’re looking for a dynamic speaker to share their expertise, spark meaningful conversations, and help us navigate the complex ethical landscape of modern PR. If you—or someone in your network—has the knowledge, experience, and passion to tackle this important topic, I’d love to connect. Let’s shine a spotlight on the ethical principles that uphold the integrity of our profession. 📩 Drop me a message or tag someone below who would be perfect for this opportunity! Let’s make this a conversation to remember. #PublicRelations #PRethics #FPRA #WebinarSpeaker

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Recently, while sharing my thoughts regarding how the majority of news headlines seem to be negative, with my friend Gavin Price, I shared an idea on using sports and physical activity (PA) as a way to bring people together though a "sister cities in fitness" initiative. Gavin, one of the world's leading #sportsdiplomacy experts, listened to my idea, provided a number of great ideas & introduced me to something similar to "sister cities in fitness" called, "Sports City Twinning" (SCT). SCT involves two cities with a shared passion for PA and sports coming together to: * Share best practices related to PA, sports development, event organization, athlete training, etc. * Collaborate on PA programs & athlete exchange initiatives * Attract sports tourism, invest in sports infrastructure & create job opportunities * Promote understanding & friendship between the two cities through sports events & cultural programs According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity causes 3.2 million deaths annually. SCT initiatives can help create healthier, happier cities. A fantastic example of SCT is between my friends in San Antonio, Texas, and Clark, New Jersey. Despite the difference in population size—San Antonio with 1.5+ million residents (7th largest US city!) & Clark with just under 16,000—have found common ground in their commitment to providing #opportunities & #resources for their communities to be healthier. With the establishment of this relationship & the support of many, my goal is to start a coalition of SCTs or "sister cities in fitness" to share best practices, #collaborate on youth #sports programs & learn from each other's successes & challenges. Going forward, I'm excited to partner with Gavin, the National Fitness Foundation & other interested cities to advance this idea. Special thanks to friends James (Jim) Ulrich (Clark, NJ), Andrea Bottiglieri (San Antonio, TX) & their #colleagues for taking the time to come together, share ideas & #commit to working together to improve the overall #wellness of those they serve. Finally, the SCT/sister cities in fitness initiative will be unique & tailored to each city, but the main goals include: * Improving the physical, mental & social health of citizens  * Breaking down barriers of division * Increase social connection As we fine-tune the initiative, no need to wait...keep moving, #playing & having #fun! Mayor's Fitness Council of San Antonio: https://lnkd.in/eswf24UV Mayor's Wellness Campaign, Clark, NJ: https://lnkd.in/erNjhj5e Bryan Bayles, PhD, Gabrielle Herrera #communication #ideas #partnership #teamwork #mentalhealth #networking #inspiration #impact #health #exercise #media #leadership #news #friendship #branding #marketing #socialmedia #business #motivation Maribel Campos Rivera Veronica Johnson #innovation #military #worklifebalance Beth Frates, MD FACLM DipABLM Scott Galloway Andrew Bustamante, MBA JD Mata David Warren Brian Dalton Thomas Byrne

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Journalists are spilling the tea about what they like and don't like. Frank Strong of The Sword and the Script shared the results of a recent Cision survey. He pulled the stats that PR pros need to know about to improve their odds of success. 42% of reporters say credibility is the top challenge facing journalism. Tip: Avoid adjectives and hyperbole when you pitch. 67% of journalists use social media to source information. Tip: Keep your social feeds active and relevant. 55% of journalists want exclusives. Tip: Consider using them judiciously. #PR #publicrelationsagency #journalism

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As a PR pro and former journalist, I know that a good press release is one that tells a story and also generates earned media (gets journalists to write/do the story!). It must tell news! So what is news? What makes a good press release? Mickie Kennedy of eReleases joins me on Let's Talk PR & More today to discuss best practices of news release writing. Listen live at 5pm on 88.7FM WRHU or livestream; download the podcast from Goldman Communications Group's website or your favorite podcast site. #LetsTalkPRandMore #publicrelations #mediarelations #publicity

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