June 7, 2023
Tech Turmoil Leads to Economic and Oversight Losses
A turbulent time for tech companies has meant more turmoil for people and policies. The tech-heavy western states of Washington, Oregon, and California have some of the country’s highest state unemployment rates following mass layoffs this year. Streaming company Spotify announced a 2% reduction of its global workforce following a shift in its podcast strategy.
Twitter’s advertising revenue has plummeted by nearly 60% in one year with more volatility ahead, according to internal documents. The social media company’s head of trust and safety has also resigned. YouTube is ending its policy of removing misleading presidential election content, and Meta announced its platforms will block news in California if a new state bill to pay publishers for content becomes law.
More Workers are Walking Out to Protest Office Policies
Workers are walking out as embattled media, news, and tech companies face mounting labor pressure. Hundreds of journalists from local newspapers owned by Gannett participated in a two-day strike to protest cuts in coverage and staffing—the walkout coincided with the company’s annual shareholder meeting. More than 250 union members of news publication Insider walked out after the company and labor failed to reach an agreement.
More than 1,000 Amazon employees walked out to protest a range of company policies, including recent return-to-office mandates. New research reveals nearly half of workers would consider leaving a job if their employer ended flexible work arrangements.
Authenticity and Empathy are Fundamental for Improving PR
The public relations practice is undergoing seismic shifts, from AI integration to major media shakeups. With growing economic headwinds, communicators must continue making the case for sound communications counsel. While some companies are foregoing PR altogether, the reputational risks organizations face mean more demand for good communications.
Public relations professionals can improve their craft by going back to the basics: remember that empathy can make the transactional become relational, and that good pitching begins with understanding audiences. Also, always embrace authenticity when communicating purpose—new data show more people recognize when words and deeds don’t match.
Sequence Summaries: Tech Turmoil, Worker Walkouts, and Improving PR
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