March 13, 2024
U.S. House Passes Bill to Ban TikTok
Policymakers are pressuring TikTok like never before. The U.S. House has passed legislation that would effectively ban the popular social media app unless parent company ByteDance sells its stake. The 352-65 vote is the culmination of a strategic misfire—TikTok had mobilized its vast user base to oppose the bill, leading to a barrage of calls to congressional offices. Republicans overwhelmingly favored the legislation, despite former President Trump’s recent reversal on a TikTok ban.
TikTok’s potential ban would have a big impact on communications. Although TikTok’s growth rate has recently declined, it remains the most-popular app among young people. For PR pros, navigating this quickly-changing social media landscape can be challenging—only a quarter of communications leaders are confident in their team’s efforts to adapt to tech industry changes.
Media Trust Sees Modest Increase
Following an historic period of diminished media confidence, some signs are pointing to a trust turnaround. A new Morning Consult poll shows a modest increase of trust in major media outlets among U.S. adults, rising from a 2020 low of 51% to 55%. After last year’s management mess, CNN is starting to shine—in January, the cable news network was the fastest-growing website, with nearly 540 million visitors.
While more people may be tuning in to the news, fewer workers want politics in the workplace. A survey by Weber Shandwick found that 71% of U.S. employees favor a politically neutral workplace for the 2024 elections, with significant numbers also supporting respect for diverse political affiliations (68%) and providing paid time off to vote (63%).
Generative AI Used by Pulitzer Prize Finalists
The way reporters work, and where, is changing. Cision’s State of Journalism 2024 report reveals a split in journalists’ adoption of generative AI. Under one-third of reporters reported using it, while 60% of PR pros have leveraged the emerging technology. The study also showed reporters prefer hybrid work, though just under half have that option.
While AI has yet to be universally adopted by journalists, its impact is starting to be seen. Five of the 45 finalists in this year’s Pulitzer Prizes disclosed the use of generative AI in their journalistic processes, marking the first time entrants were required to reveal AI usage.
Sequence Summaries: TikTok Trouble, Trust Turnaround, and Generative Journalism
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