Nicholas Thompson

"But NPR’s troubles extend far beyond concerns about its journalism. Internal documents reviewed by The Times and interviews with more than two dozen current and former public radio executives show how profoundly the nonprofit is struggling to succeed in the fast-changing media industry. It is grappling with a declining audience and falling revenue — and internal conflict about how to fix it." This article sheds good light on the disruption facing the media industry. #Media #Communications #PR

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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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2024 Reflections: Cristin Flynn Goodwin Claroty Nexus https://hubs.li/Q030PrkC0

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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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With the potential for a widening conflict in the Middle East mounting, learn more about Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran from Matthew Levitt, the featured guest on the latest episode of the Anti-Defamation League’s extremely podcast.

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Here is a link to "Art and Authority," my latest post on Cultural Capital-Art, Politics, and Everything else. https://lnkd.in/ePAqUBja

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Baltimore-area readers: SAVE THE DATE! July 6, 2024, from 6:30-8 pm, at Snug Books in Baltimore, author John Maly will read from his debut novel, JURIS EX MACHINA. Audience discussion about the implications of AI will follow. Register today for free tickets at www.snugbooks.com Here's a teaser: With a click, the bread fell into the toaster. One circuit fired the heating coils. Others monitored bread temperature and color. Yet another circuit was quite unlike all the rest- as exotic as it was sinister; when it activated, 368 people would die. In the 22nd century, the justice system is airtight in the domed city of Arcadia. Human error has been removed. Yet somehow, a well-intentioned young kleptomaniac named Rainville falls through the cracks and is wrongfully convicted of mass murder. He is exiled to Wychwood Prison, a crumbling necropolis beyond the dome where the dead outnumber the living, where the inmates are also the guards. News of the crime follows him, and he becomes a marked man. Rainville's only hope for survival is becoming the first inmate in history to escape Wychwood. Can he do it? The fate of Arcadia depends on it. Can't make the event? You can grab your copy today at https://lnkd.in/ewRP8SP4, which also benefits Snug Books, an independent, woman-owned bookstore. #whattoread #ai #artificialintelligence #scifinovel #cyberpunk

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Reposting Justin Arenstein's wise post and my comment to it: Justin, You are as ever, so right. Researching my books (The Gutenberg Parenthesis, Magazine, and, upcoming, The Web We Weave) I came to see that whenever there is an explosion of greater speech (print, the mechanization and industrialization of print, broadcast, the net) the first reflex is to panic and control, foolishly attempting to kill and prevent bad speech. The far better idea is to find and support good speech, as you say. That was the foundation of publishing and editing and the basis of the invention of the genre of the magazine. Yes, there is more chaff today. But that means there is also more wheat. The challenge and opportunity is to find it. I also agree with you about focusing on actors and behaviors over content. Finally, I get in trouble for saying this, but I am no fan of media- or news-literacy campaigns, for they are media-centric and self-serving, not public-centric, and besides, if the news needs a users' manual, perhaps we're doing it wrong. -jeff

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Are you a chief of staff? Want to make sure your company or organization is getting your boss the speeches, presentations, and pitches they need? Thank you to the +220 chiefs of staff from around the world who joined yesterday’s zoom on executive communications hosted by The Chief of Staff Association. Some of what I shared: --Executive comms/speechwriting is a two-way street. It only works when there’s a true partnership--a "mind meld"--between the speaker and the writers. How do you get that “mind meld?” I believe it comes down to 3 people – and everyone has a responsibility to help make the partnership work: 1—The boss (the CEO, president, executive). Your comms teams and speechwriters are not mind readers. They can’t know what you want to say unless...you tell them. That means being accessible… --Regular (ideally, weekly) meetings with your writers to discuss upcoming events and to share what you want to say. (Busy? Don’t have time? President Obama always made time for his speechwriters. Because it was important. If the President of the United States can make time for his writers, you can too!) --Let your writers sit in on important meetings. The more they hear you talk about what you believe and want in your work, the less often they’ll have to ask you what you believe and want in your presentations. --Let your writers travel with you…the places you go and the people you meet on the road will often be the best material for your next presentation or speech. 2—The comms/speechwriting team. It’s our job to “capture the voice” of our boss. How? --Read EVERY SINGLE THING the boss has ever said or written: every presentation, speech, interview, article. Analyze them. Learn how how your boss structures and makes their arguments. --LISTEN to everything they’ve ever said. At the White House, I’d go to YouTube, play an Obama speech, close my eyes, and just listen to the rhythm and cadence of his speech. Learn your boss’ voice. --Welcome your boss’ edits. The changes they make to your draft are gold—a window into their mind. Don’t ignore them. Incorporate them into your next draft. Show your boss you’re listening. 3—The chief of staff. You have a critical role in making sure this partnership works. --Insist on those regular (ideally, weekly) meetings between the boss and their comms/speechwriting team. --Make sure the boss’ scheduler knows how important these meetings are. They're not "nice to have." They're necessary. Protect them. --Step back. Give your team clear deadlines. And then give them space. Let your comms/speechwriting team do their job—you’ll be amazed at what they can do! Thank you Richard Williams, Isolde Willats, and Nicholas Langford for a great session! Are you a chief of staff? What challenges do you face in making sure your boss and comms/speechwriting teams are in sync? If you found this post useful, I invite you to follow me here on LinkedIn. I offer tips on communication and public speaking every day!

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🌍 The Importance of Diversity in Editorial Teams 🖋️ Diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential for creating impactful content. Here’s why: Broader Perspectives: Diverse teams bring a variety of viewpoints, enriching the content. Inclusive Content: Reflecting diverse voices ensures content resonates with a wider audience. Innovation: A mix of backgrounds and experiences leads to more creative solutions. Cultural Sensitivity: Diverse teams are better equipped to navigate complex cultural nuances. Embrace diversity to create content that truly connects! 🌟 #DiversityAndInclusion #EditorialTeams #InclusiveContent #Publishing

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My time in journalism and then in corporate communications taught me: the truth will come out, get ahead of “the story,” listen first and well, help leaders be people, and anticipate and plan for every contingency…among other lessons.

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I spent some time this weekend experimenting with Anthropic's newly released Claude 3.5 sonnet, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. To be honest, I've been considering giving up my Claude subscription in recent weeks, and I'm glad I didn't. Here are a few things I liked: ☑ EXCELLENT writing skills, probably the best out there for an LLM, based on my experience ☑ Finally, Claude has 'vision' capabilities (it can see and transcribe text even from low-quality images) ☑ Exceptional reasoning, skills, and what seems to be a very solid knowledge base ☑ It is lightning-fast, and its responses seem to show an excellent grasp of language nuances, along with a bit of personality and a sense of humour! ☑VERY good at processing complex multi-step prompts 'Mid' but with potential: Anthropic also introduced Artifacts, which lets you see what's being generated in a window beside your prompt. Unfortunately, it's still limited for a few things I was trying out, but I love the concept of a collaborative work environment, and it will get better and more user-friendly soon. Highly encourage you to give this latest version a try - the best way to learn how to use AI tools and what they are good at is to spend some time! https://lnkd.in/gvuVZPPK #Anthropic #AI #Claude #Sonnet

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New pub: Myths of Origins: Literary and Cultural Patterns Myths of Origins explores the timeless power of origin myths in literature, spanning from ancient texts to contemporary works. This collection of essays delves into the six foundational models of beginnings in Western literature, examining how these frameworks shape narratives across eras. https://lnkd.in/eXDG9Cgu

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Fixing the Internet: Tackling Ad Tech and Hate Speech via https://keepgoingpod.com Join us in this eye-opening discussion on ad tech and information disorder! Claire Atkin passionately outlines the urgent need for changes in the internet business, tackling hate speech and financial implications while proposing ethical regulatory solutions. It's time to fix the internet—let's make it fairer together! #AdTech #InformationDisorder #InternetBusiness #HateSpeech #FinancialMarkets #PolicySolutions #FreeSpeech #DigitalEthics #RegulatoryReform #InternetFairness

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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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If you haven’t heard… Steve Carter just released a new book called Grieve Breathe Receive. This book is a safe place—a trusty guide—for those trying to make sense of life when it seems to be crumbling. What I love what this book: 1. Steve’s voice, insight, and humility are balm to the soul. Few people like him in this world. 2. This book combines thoughtful reflection with practical steps you can take toward healing. 3. This is a book that mercifully asks the right questions, especially for those too overwhelmed to know what question to ask. Order your copy here: t.ly/xGwFz

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