Joe Mansour

Curious about the opportunities and pitfalls in using AI for advocacy campaigns? I'll be participating in a panel discussion next Thursday (May 16) at 2:00 ET with some AI superstars. This webinar will be a great chance to introduce yourself to the world of AI and the dos and don'ts for using AI in your advocacy campaigns. Thank you to VoterVoice (Part of FiscalNote) for inviting me to be part of this event. I hope to "see" you there. #grassroots #advocacy #digitalstrategy #ai Rubenstein Impact Group, LLC FiscalNote

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Interesting to see how widespread the boycott of brands over the Gaza conflict has become. At Anavizio Data Solutions & Technologies we’ve been tracking the issue on social media since October and - while the effectiveness of the boycott may be debated - it shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. That is because public anger over what is happening in the Palestinian Territories is very real and, in the face of an otherwise helpless situation, boycotting is one of the only things people can do. If nothing else it goes to show just how important social media has become in shaping brand perceptions and impacting purchase decisions!

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The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism annual report out today is - as usual - chocful of really useful data and analysis. In this epic year of more-elections-than-ever, one stat stands out in particular: News avoidance is now hitting an average of 39%. That's a serious challenge. AI, podcasts, social, subscription news vs. free online - yes, these are all interesting dimensions too, but when people are actively tuning out of the news to such an extent, it raises questions: - how much the attention economy (doomscrolling from one insipid frivolous video to another) is actually draining people's energy and focus from the really important things happening in their town, region, country and the wider world? - what is the future of news consumption? even emerging trends such as short clips (on Tik-Tok and LinkedIn) and dedicated deep-dives (on SubStack and the like) don't necessarily point the way to a broad future. - how best to sustain media plurality that also nourishes a varied media diet? Given how geopolitics is likely to get more divisive in the immediate years ahead, media companies really need to work on bringing people (or all generations) back to the news. And we would all do well to discuss the news a bit more with family, friends and colleagues. https://lnkd.in/eqtPUX-6

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How do policymakers in D.C. and those who engage them get their information? It depends on their partisan leanings. Check out the results of Avōq's research below.

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Language in the Press Forward "Closing Local Coverage Gaps" program FAQ warms my heart: Using LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers' definition of sustainability as a framework, we will prioritize outlets that are intentional about their editorial impact, operational resilience, and/or financial health. We will support organizations that have a clear plan for how they will use this investment as a foundational step toward developing and maintaining a long-term business model. https://lnkd.in/eGKFYhGz #impact #localnews #sustainability

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"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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If you're not someone who works in government communications, keep scrolling. If you DO work in government comms...amazing news: Vyond for Government--an all-in-one video creation platform built specifically for the needs of (and many regulations required by) government agencies is officially a thing. We're on track to be "In Process" for FedRAMP approval soon, and with the VA as our partner, we're gearing up to change how federal agencies communicate. See how this news could affect you: https://vynd.ly/3xoHOtz #VyondForGov #Innovation #PublicSector

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Thanks for having me on your podcast, Dana Snyder. This case study proves the power of listening. Have a listen and let me know what you think: https://lnkd.in/eFHBbH6H

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As I approach my third month at The Baltimore Banner, I have been thinking a lot about defining success. A mentor offered the following thoughts: For reporters, it is much easier to define success. Editors often need help seeing that their goals should be quite different than their reporters'. They need to see each of their reporters as individuals with different strengths and weaknesses. So editors need to meet each reporter at a different place and help them improve, and hopefully, thrive. Sometimes that means focusing on reporting or writing skills, sometimes it is helping a reporter figure out how to cover a beat, or how to distinguish their work from the competition. Editors of course are key to guiding coverage, whether it's breaking news or a more conceptual beat, when the goal has to be finding the front edge of the topic (for an education reporter, that might be new trends in teaching and for the city hall reporter it might be who are the emerging power brokers.) When it comes to editing copy, editors have to avoid rewriting stories, which can completely demoralize reporters, but they also can't send along stories that are confusing or take too long to get to the point. It takes awhile for editors to figure out that sweet spot between improving copy but not just rewriting it the way they would have written it. The hardest part of editing is probably dealing with difficult reporters and there is no easy answer for that. The only part of running a newsroom that I could advise on is running the coverage and for me, that was always driven by focusing on the big news of the day. You have to make sure that editors have put enough staffers on the big stories and are looking across the news cycle, e.g. what will we have to publish first thing tomorrow, and make sure some people are trained on the bigger, deeper questions that take a few days to report. If you are clear on your top priorities each day and the newsroom aligns behind those, then the smaller stories will take care of themselves. You will be judged by how the Banner did on the big things, not the small things.

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Get ready for November NOW! Check out our update on the critical importance of the character driven story. We all want to feel connected, happy or anxious about the main characters. Even in political campaigns, we are drawn to the narrative of a life, the backstory, the vulnerability and of course, the stakes of the character driven story.  https://lnkd.in/g3qqnAiN

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It was great to join a Quorum webinar today with my colleagues Khadija Butt Hina Razzaq & Bryce Ballard from Rational 360 talking about how we work to quantify impact in the integrated campaigns that we run across clients -- and discussing some of the trends that we're seeing in public affairs, social listening & digital campaigns. Thanks for the opportunity to join in this discussion and to the many great questions that came in!

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📣 Navigating Public Statements with Diverse Member Opinions 📣 In this week's Association Insights, I tackle a complex challenge: making public statements when not all members agree. Here’s how to approach this delicate task effectively: 👉 Establish a Clear Decision-Making Framework: Set transparent rules about the levels of consensus needed for different types of public statements. 👉 Align with Predominant Member Interests: Understand and represent the majority while maintaining open dialogue to manage expectations and relationships. 👉 Find Common Ground: Emphasize shared values and goals to craft a balanced statement that respects diverse viewpoints but upholds industry priorities. 👉 Communicate Transparently: Always explain the decision-making process and reasoning behind public statements to all members to foster trust and understanding. Handling disagreement requires a strategic and inclusive approach to effectively represent your association's interests and maintain unity. 💬 How do you manage differing opinions in your organization? Share your strategies below! #PublicRelations #AssociationManagement #Leadership #CommunicationStrategy #AssociationInsights #OnWrdUpWrd

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Headline: "U.S. political CTV ad spend is projected to climb a staggering 600% from 2020 to 2024." The rapid growth of streaming TV (CTV/OTT/digital) has outpaced broadcast and cable viewing, with a stunning 38.8% now watching TV via streaming services, compared to 28.2% on cable and 22.3% on broadcast according to Nielsen data from May. It's crucial for campaigns to allocate media budgets to streaming, and while we see that shift happening in national and statewide races, I fear it's not happening quickly enough among Congressional and state legislative targets. If there's one thing Democrats should know right now, it's that we have to win in November -- so let's make sure we're not missing our audience. #CTV #OTT #Digital #Advertising #Marketing #Streaming

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You might see some promotional publicity in the media for a new book purportedly about public relations from what its publisher claims is a 'top operative.' Consistent with the historic tension between hacks vs. flacks, some journos will jump at the chance to platform someone especially if it provides an opportunity to position lying and manipulation as the essence of PR. Bad boys and 'high stakes' take-the-money firms might steal a few sensational headlines, but they are actually at the fringes and on the bottom of an industry where most practitioners around the world counsel candor and transparency in the public domain for clients with worthy points of view. #publicrelations #PR #ethics #propaganda https://a.co/d/0dP8eAG8 https://lnkd.in/eucAfEDU https://lnkd.in/ek2wk3Pg

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In the world of media and communications, the relationship between journalists and PR professionals is often misunderstood. However, the reality is far more nuanced and symbiotic. Journalists rely on PR folks to provide them with access to newsworthy stories, expert sources, and valuable insights. In turn, PR depends on journalists to amplify their messages and bring attention to their clients or organizations. A recent report by #MuckRack on the "State of Journalism," found that journalists acknowledge PR professionals 70% "as at least moderately important to their success." This mutual dependence highlights the essential role each plays in the dissemination of information to the public. Trust forms the foundation of our collaboration and ensures that the stories that reach the public are credible and impactful. Journalists rely on us to provide accurate and reliable information, while those of us in PR trust journalists to report the news fairly and accurately. Journalists are skilled storytellers who strive to craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience. PR pros, on the other hand, are adept at identifying and shaping stories that align with our clients' goals and objectives. Together, we work to create stories that inform, engage, and inspire. I encourage you to read the attached report which provides many insights of today's newsrooms. #Journalism #PR #MediaRelations #PublicRelations #NewsMedia #MediaIndustry #JournalismEthics #Storytelling #MediaCollaboration #InformationSharing #MuckRack #StateOfJournalism #PressRelations #MediaPartnership Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Natan Edelsburg

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As the digital landscape shifts, so must our strategies in #advocacy and #publicaffairs. Looking forward to attending today's Summit and participating in discussion on the intersection of public opinion, message and tech. https://lnkd.in/ed__dgHA #digitaladvocacy #digitalstrategy #DMAS24

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Misinformation and disinformation, the threat of deepfakes, the rise of AI, dwindling workforces and resources - are converging trends undermining the quality of and trust in the media? Have a read of this excellent piece by Tom Harper, APCO European head of media and former Sunday Times journalist, in POLITICO today.

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