If anybody tells you 1 hour and 22 minutes is too long for an episode of a podcast, it can only mean they didn’t listen to this episode of “For Immediate Release”! Host Shel Holtz chats with Kami Huyse about whether decentralized social networks can ever compete with the big walled gardens, Michael Ambjorn on why transparency is so important to building trust, and Steve Crescenzo on AI products that digest employee emails to assess levels of engagement. Also in this episode…

* The Mayo Clinic  and CNN exchange jabs over a reputation-damaging report* Elon Musk’s tweet — which nobody reviewed before he sent it — has provoked an SEC investigation* The public wants the big internet companies like Facebook and Twitter to do something about fake news, bots, and other forms of misinformation* Nine communications organizations issued a joint statement supporting a free and independent press the same day more than 350 newspapers ran editorials in response to President Trump’s continued assaults on the media* Google and employees who were divided over the development of a search app that censor came together when they discovered an employee was sending updates from a closed meeting to a journalist* California firefighters are using an Augmented Reality tool to stay up to date on on-the-ground information* St. Louis University is putting Amazon Dot smart speakers into all of its dorm rooms* Smart speaker sales will increase 50% next year* People who buy products using a smart speaker almost always buy the first item they hear* In-N-Out’s lawyers have issued a pun-riddled cease-and-desist letter* Pop-ups are appearing in big cities specifically so people can share photos from inside them on Instagram and SnapchatOnly about 20% of the content produced by marketers gets used by SalesPlastic surgeons are being inundated with requests to make people look better in their selfies

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.

You can find the stories from which FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog.

About our conversation partners

Michael Ambjorn is Past Chair of the International Association of Business Communicators. He is also founder of Align Your Org where – with a participation-centric approach – he and his colleagues enable effective strategic planning, communication – and clarity of execution. He has held leadership roles at IBM, Motorola and the 260–year–old Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. A consummate connector, speaker, facilitator – and mentor – he is also active in a number of further networks.

Steve Crescenzo started Crescenzo Communications 16 years ago after leaving his post as Editorial Director and VP of New Product Development at Ragan Communications.(Steve does a lot of great communication work, but his wife Cindy runs Crescenzo Communications.) Both Steve and Cindy do presentations, internal communication audits, and internal communication consulting. Steve and Cindy both present frequently, together and solo, at a number of communication conferences at events, and Steve has been recognized as the top speaker at IABC’s world conference a number of times.

Kami Huyse is the founder of Zoetica Media. She writes an award-winning blog, Zoetica Talks, on the topic of public relations and social media strategy. Kami is a national leader in the use of social media for public relations. She speaks at social media events and conferences all over the country and her work in social media has earned her the SNCR’s 2008 Repu...