July 10, 2024
Federal Judge Partially Blocks FTC’s Noncompete Ban
After recent gains in worker rights and labor organizing, employees are facing setbacks. A federal judge has partially blocked the FTC’s ruling to ban noncompete clauses. Nearly one-fifth of American workers are bound by noncompetes, which impede vocational mobility and competition. Large business organizations have lobbied aggressively to combat the rule.
While the U.S. has avoided a recession, media and tech industries continue to slash jobs. Microsoft announced an undisclosed number of layoffs this month following the elimination of 1,000 jobs in June. Overall in 2024, more than 60,000 tech jobs have been cut across 254 companies. In media, outlets like The Guardian are exploring alternative streams of revenue to stay viable in a financially fraught business climate.
Reporters Prioritize Relevance and Patient Persistence
As digital media expands, more PR pros and their clients are forced to ‘pay to play’ for exposure. One tried-and-true method of securing coverage remains earned media, which provides credibility and attention at little cost—if a reporter or editor can be persuaded. To keep up, PR pros should study the latest trends and preferences within journalism. In a recent survey, nearly three-quarters of journalists reported a lack of relevance as the top reason they reject pitches.
In addition to ensuring a pitch is relevant, PR pros should feel free to follow-up. Cision’s State of the Media report suggests journalists want follow-ups (72%), but only one. To build quality pitches, PR practitioners must keep tabs on media with constant monitoring and assessment of the news landscape. AI can assist with tools that track sentiment and automate report generation.
Local News Looks to Innovate While National Outlets Struggle
Across the U.S., news outlets are searching for ways to revive local media and expand coverage. In California, legislation that would tax tech companies to fund local news has passed the state senate. California is following Washington state’s lead in leveraging public resources to subsidize local news. In Oregon, some newspapers have seen success by doubling down on coverage of local government.
While local news looks to invigorate the industry, national legacy outlets continue to struggle. Amid the ongoing upheaval at the Washington Post, the newspaper is experimenting with AI. A new chatbot will answer questions about climate using only the paper’s article content. USA Today’s chief editor is stepping down after one year on the job. At the Wall Street Journal, a top reporter is filing a disability discrimination lawsuit.
Sequence Summaries: Worker Woes, Pitch Performance, and News Notables
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