For Immediate Release

By Neville Hobson and Shel HoltzBusiness News Marketing Business News Tech News

For Immediate Release episodes

August 19, 2019 For Immediate Release #186: Cease, Desist, and Laugh
There is no Hobson in the August episode of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” (for good reason). Shel reports on these stories:

* TripAdvisor’s lawyers had some fun — and put the company’s values on display — in a cease-and-desist letter aimed at the organizers of the so-called Straight Pride March, which had used the company’s marks without permission
* Ogilvy’s CEO had a meeting with employees to talk about its relationship with the Customs and Border Protection agency
* The Society for American Archaeology shows how not to deal with an ethics issue over social media
* Communicators are at the heart of the world’s most ethical companies, according to new research
* A magazine publisher is going to personalize the ads its subscribers see based on what they’ve clicked online
* Proposed legislation wants to kill off infinite scrolling, autoplay, and other standards of website and app design
* There’s now a code of ethics for journalistic use of Augmented Reality
* A new book by a linguist suggests that the English language is better off thanks to the Internet
* Résumés are undergoing a big shift: They’re starting to look like Instagram
* Facebook’s numbers just keep getting better and better, despite all those scandals
* If you market to Gen-Z, you need to acquaint yourself with a website called Famous Birthdays
* A Gen-Z panel revealed that Gen-Zers use different social media platforms for different things
* Five-hundred journalists have shared what they hate most about getting pitches from PR people
* Dan York reports on Automattic’s acquisition of Tumblr, Spotify’s release of “Spotify for Podcasters,” the possibility that Siri will connect with Spotify, Google and Mozilla removing EV certificates from browser address bars, and the fact that than half of Google searches resulted in clicks to pages.

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.
You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog.
The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, September 23 (we think).
Links from This Week’s Episode

* TripAdvisor trolls organizers of Boston ‘straight pride’ parade in cease-and-desist letter
* This Transcript Shows How Trump’s Border Camps Have Thrown A Top Advertising Firm Into Internal Crisis
* Another Day, Another Blunder: Archaeology Society continues to anger members with how it responds to negative feedback
* Study: Communications Key To Running An Ethical Company
* Hearst magazines will target you in print based on what you read online
* The U.S. could ban social media apps from using psychological tricks like infinite scrolling and autoplay
* McClatchy’s Augmented Reality Ethics Code
*
50 min
August 19, 2019 For Immediate Release #186: Cease, Desist, and Laugh
The August episode of "For Immediate Release" features reports on these stories, and more: TripAdvisor's lawyers had some fun -- and put the company's values on display -- in a cease-and-desist letter aimed at the organizers of the so-called Straight Pride March, which had used the company's marks without permission; communicators are at the heart of the world's most ethical companies, according to new research; there's now a code of ethics for journalistic use of Augmented Reality; a new book by a linguist suggests that the English language is better off thanks to the Internet; Five-hundred journalists have shared what they hate most about getting pitches from PR people; plus news items, listener comments, and Dan York's Tech Report.
Continue Reading →
The post FIR #186: Cease, Desist, and Laugh appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
50 min
July 22, 2019 For Immediate Release #185: Hey, Google, Play Me Some Content Marketing
The July edition of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz discussing these stories:

* Have we hit “peak podcast”?
* Google’s trying social media again
* These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2019
* Communicators need to explore new channels for their messages
* You downloaded FaceApp. Here’s what you’ve just done to your privacy
* Consumers are less attentive to news on mobile devices
* Dan York reports on interoperability, the new Twitter interface, Twitter’s “Live Cut” app/service, the need to go HTTPS, China and smart speakers, and gaming

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.
You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog.
The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, August 19.
Links from This Week’s Episode

* Why are there so many podcasts?
* Podcast revenue set to pass $1 billion this year
* Google takes another run at social networking with Shoelace
* These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2019
* Google Assistant tapped for moon landing anniversary
* Playing the community game
* ‘Stranger Things’ fans are uncovering an IRL mystery right now (and so can you)
* Rethinking Channels–Chat Is More Than Conversations
* You downloaded FaceApp. Here’s what you’ve just done to your privacy
* Justin Reynolds’ tweet on FaceApp’s terms of service
* Screen size matters: Consumers less attentive to news content on small screens

Links from Dan York’s Report

* Cory Doctorow on interoperability
* The new Twitter is coming (whether you want it or not)
* Why sites that don’t have HTTPS need to get it
* China and smart speakers
* Are you paying attention to gaming?

1 hr 22 min
July 22, 2019 For Immediate Release #185: Hey, Google, Play Me Some Content Marketing
The July edition of "The Hobson and Holtz Report" features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz discussing these stories: Have we hit "peak podcast"? Google's trying social media again; these are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2019; communicators need to explore new channels for their messages; you downloaded FaceApp -- here's what you've just done to your privacy; consumers are less attentive to news on mobile devices; Dan York reports on interoperability, the new Twitter interface, Twitter's "Live Cut" app/service, the need to go HTTPS, China and smart speakers, and gaming.
Continue Reading →
The post FIR #185: Hey, Google, Play Me Some Content Marketing appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
1 hr 22 min
June 24, 2019 For Immediate Release #184: An Incomprehensible Disaster
The June edition of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talking about these stories:

* Boeing’s Max 737 crisis is a textbook case of ignoring standards of crisis communication
* Mary Meeker’s annual Internet Trends report has a lot of meat for communicators
* Privacy policies are an incomprehensible disaster
* North Face and its ad agency thought it was clever gaming Wikipedia. Now they’re sorry.
* A privacy issue with precise-location tagging led Twitter to remove the feature despite some noble uses for it.
* Is voice overhyped…even as an Alexa Skill takes home a big prize at Cannes Lions?

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.
The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, June 24.
Links from This Week’s Episode

* Boeing Max 737 jet crisis: we should’ve been more open, says CEO
* Boeing Says It Has No Plans to Change the Name of the 737 MAX
* International Airlines Group Announces Intent to Buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes
* Why Airbus isn’t pouncing on Boeing’s 737 MAX turmoil
* Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends Report: 11 Highlights and Lots of Industry Insight
* 10 Takeaways from Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends Report
* Mary Meeker’s Most Important Trends on the Internet
* We Read 150 Privacy Policies. They Were an Incomprehensible Disaster
* Hart Scientific Y2K Readiness
* North Face Apologizes For Wikipedia Search Marketing Blunder
* Twitter is removing precise-location tagging on tweets — a small win for privacy but a small loss for journalists and researchers
* Is voice over-hyped? A new survey suggests lower adoption than previously thought
* How 360i Built Marketing’s Most Ambitious Voice Skill to Date in Just 3 Months
* Pandora Debuts Digital Audio Consultancy Ahead of Cannes

Links from Dan York’s Report

1 hr 18 min
June 24, 2019 For Immediate Release #184: An Incomprehensible Disaster
The June edition of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talking about Boeing's Max 737 crisis is a textbook case of ignoring standards of crisis communication; Mary Meeker's annual Internet Trends report has a lot of meat for communicators; privacy policies are an incomprehensible disaster; North Face and its ad agency thought it was clever gaming Wikipedia...now they're sorry; a privacy issue with precise-location tagging led Twitter to remove the feature despite some noble uses for it; is voice overhyped...even as an Alexa Skill takes home a big prize at Cannes Lions?
Continue Reading →
The post FIR #184: An Incomprehensible Disaster appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
1 hr 18 min
May 27, 2019 FIR #183: Let’s Get Personal
The May edition of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talking about these stories:

* A trio of technologies — from Google, Amazon, and The New York Times — show how marketers will be able to get into your head, assess your emotional state, and manipulate your intent.
* GDPR is one year old. Has it succeeded in protecting Europeans’ privacy?
* PR professionals are relegating earned media to the dustbin.
* Arabic podcasts are on the rise, embracing a long tradition of oral storytelling.
* More CEOs were terminated in 2018 over ethical lapses than financial performance.
* The Wall Street Journal is limiting comments to paying subscribers, and it’s working.
* Dan York reports on a new podcast report from Andreesen-Horowitz and looks at two podcast announcements from Spotify.

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.
The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, June 24.
Links from This Week’s Episode

* Google Ushers In The Era Of Anticipatory Marketing
* Amazon is reportedly working on wearables that can read your emotions
* The New York Times Can Now Predict Your Emotions and Motivations After Reading a Story
* General Data Protection Regulation: one year on
* The truth behind the dumbest GDPR myths, one year later
* GDPR One Year On: Survey Findings Show Consumer Awareness with Data Use is Concerningly Low
* Widespread confusion over GDPR rules that protect your privacy
* Study: PR pros prioritizing owned and shared media
* The rise of Arabic podcasts: ‘a digital revival of a long-term tradition’
* PODU, a Podcast Platform For Arabic Speakers, Wins UChicago’s CNVC
* More CEOs were forced out for ethical lapses in 2018 than poor financial performance
* How not to handle a MeToo-related PR crisis
* Why The Wall Street Journal limited commenting to paying subscribers

Links from Dan York’s Tech Report

* Investing in the Podcast Ecosystem in 2019
*
1 hr 38 min
May 27, 2019 FIR #183: Let’s Get Personal
The May edition of "The Hobson and Holtz Report" features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talking about these stories: A trio of technologies -- from Google, Amazon, and The New York Times -- show how marketers will be able to get into your head, assess your emotional state, and manipulate your intent; GDPR is one year old. Has it succeeded in protecting Europeans' privacy? PR professionals are relegating earned media to the dustbin; Arabic podcasts are on the rise, embracing a long tradition of oral storytelling; more CEOs were terminated in 2018 over ethical lapses than financial performance; and The Wall Street Journal is limiting comments to paying subscribers, and it's working. Dan York reports on a new podcast report from Andreesen-Horowitz and looks at two podcast announcements from Spotify.
Continue Reading →
The post FIR #183: Let’s Get Personal appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
1 hr 38 min
April 29, 2019 For Immediate Release #182: Hot Bee Action
The first monthly episode of “For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report” features co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz discussing the following topics:

* How China is shaping the future of shopping — it’s online, social, and highly appealing to Gen Z
* Media coverage of local news is evaporating. Should business pick up the slack?
* Customer reviews are the new content marketing, says Jay Baer
* Movements mean more than brand purpose. Just look at Pornhub’s new movement to save the bees.
* The UK government has added 12,000 pieces of information to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa
* When you think of Augmented Reality, do you think of audio? You should.
* Dan York reports on MindNode 6, WordPress 5.2, Pocket, Minnesota’s “Right to Repair” legislation, and Mozilla’s move away from IRC.

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.
The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, April 29.
Links from This Week’s Episode

* The Future of Shopping Is Already Happening in China
* Warren Buffett Sees Most Newspapers as ‘Toast’ After Ad Decline
* For many rural residents in U.S., local news media mostly don’t cover the area where they live
* Why is LinkedIn producing original journalism? LinkedIn editor-at-large Jessi Hempel explains.
* The job of the future is editor in chief
* Alabama News Center
* FIR Interview with Ike Pigott on the Alabama News Center
* Customer Reviews are the New Content Marketing
* Purpose is Dead. Long Live Movements!
* Pornhub Wants to Save the Bees With (What Else?) Bee Porn
* Patagonia Takes A Stand Against Companies That Aren’t Working To Better The Environment
* UK government adds ‘12,000 pieces of information’ to Google Assistant and Alexa
* This Augmented Reality Audio Podcast Brings the Camino De Santiago to Life Everywhere
* Bose brings audio AR shades and festival content to Coachella

Links from Dan York’s Report

1 hr 31 min
April 29, 2019 For Immediate Release #182: Hot Bee Action
The first monthly episode of "For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report" features co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz discussing the following topics: How China is shaping the future of shopping -- it's online, social, and highly appealing to Gen Z; media coverage of local news is evaporating. Should business pick up the slack? customer reviews are the new content marketing, says Jay Baer; movements mean more than brand purpose. Just look at Pornhub's new movement to save the bees; the UK government has added 12,000 pieces of information to Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa; when you think of Augmented Reality, do you think of audio? You should. Dan York reports on MindNode 6, WordPress 5.2, Pocket, Minnesota's "Right to Repair" legislation, and Mozilla's move away from IRC.
Continue Reading →
The post FIR #182: Hot Bee Action appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
1 hr 31 min