October 11, 2023
Misinformation Spreads Rapidly After Tragedy
It’s becoming more difficult to distinguish objectivity from opinion in news coverage, and misinformation has made matters far worse. Following recent tragedies in Israel, media members raced to frame events as facts were still coming in. Social media was a source of false video footage, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
X, in particular, has been a primary platform for misinformation to thrive. With paid accounts promoted in news feeds, users were fed unverified information about the emerging conflict in real-time. X’s rollback of trust and safety teams also meant less fact-checking of false information. Elon Musk himself urged followers to monitor accounts that were later shown to feature hateful commentary. European officials have issued a warning to Musk, citing the new Digital Services Act.
AI Tools and Regulatory Efforts Continue Expanding
Despite data suggesting growing public skepticism, AI keeps expanding. Morgan Stanley has projected more than 40% of the labor force will be impacted by AI over the next three years. Major studios, including Disney, are leveraging AI to supplant human visual editors. LinkedIn has announced new AI features, including a job recruiting tool and ad campaign builder.
Efforts to regulate AI are expanding along with the emerging technology. As part of the recent Writer’s Guild of America agreement, AI-generated writing cannot be considered as source material. News media organizations are accelerating lobbying efforts to mitigate AI’s impact on the industry. The News/Media Alliance, which represents more than 2,000 publishers, organized more than 80 meetings with lawmakers to discuss AI regulation.
Corporate Communications Still Critical Despite Public Fatigue
Attitudes about outspoken businesses are changing as executives assess ongoing communications. Overall, fewer Americans believe businesses should take a public stance on issues, down significantly from a year ago (Gallup). Data suggest executives may need to shift focus from external to internal communications as more employees expect clarity and conviction from leaders.
Recent research confirms that communicators are gaining ground in the executive C-suite. A new Edelman report reveals more than 90% of communications heads are engaged by leadership to craft business strategy. The report also indicates communications is becoming more centralized, breaking apart from other departments like marketing and legal.
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Sequence Summaries: Misinformation Mess, AI Expansion, and Corporate Comms
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