For Immediate Release

Today’s panel features Pure Performance Communications CEO Deirdre Breakenridge; Ron Ploof, Chief Storytelling Officer and Content Strategist for OC New Media; and Cisco Systems Senior Communication and Marketing Manager Brad Whitworth. Our topics this week:

* Accuracy and honesty from organizations — from companies to civic organizations to presidential candidates — is suffering. Are all institutions being painted with the same brush, and how can communicators ensure their messages are seen as credible and accurate?

* Pew Research’s 2016 State of the News Media paints a picture that could present some challenges for media relations professionals.

* Twitter will live-stream CBS’s broadcast feed from the Democratic and National Conventions.

* Second Life is building a Virtual Reality product called Project Sansar that wants to be the YouTube or WordPress of VR. (Does this heard the return of the FIR Second Life drinking game?)

* Teens are miffed that their parents are getting on Snapchat, but it could be a boon for communicators and marketers.

* More people than ever before work from home. This presents challenges to engagement and internal communications.

* Dan York’s tech report covers the role of live streaming in last week’s string of shootings, Facebook’s decision to add encryption to Messenger messages, and Snapchat’s new Memories feature that lets you save snaps and use archived images and video.

* Is longer video better than shorter video at aiding in recall and building a brand’s reputation?

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @dbreakenridge, @ronploof, and @bradwhitworth.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Deirdre Breakenridge has been in PR and marketing for more than 25 years helping senior executives in mid-to-large organizations communicate to their stakeholders. She’s currently CEO of Pure Performance Communications, which she started in 2011. Pure Performance specializes in integrated marketing strategy, training, and workshops. Before that, she was president of Mangol Marketing, and was an adjunct professor at NYU. She co-authored Putting the Public Back in Public Relations with Brian Solis – and appeared with Brian in an FIR interview about the book back in 2009. She also wrote Social Media and Public Relations: Eight New Practices for the PR Professional.

Ron Ploof is a 25-year veteran of the high-tech electronics industry. His interest in social media began in 2005 when he launched one of the world’s first indie storytelling podcasts called, Griddlecakes Radio: Exploring the Lost Art of Audio Storytelling. He co-founded a social media consulting firm in 2008 and was the manager of social media for Epson America from 2012 to 2015. But his first love has always been to use storytelling as a communications vehicle. He’s produced an audio book about the American Revolution and written a job-skills book as a novel. His most recent project, The StoryHow™ PitchDeck, is a deck of playing cards that helps business people convert their ideas, messages, and presentations into memorable narratives.

Brad Whitworth , ABC, CMP, IABC Fellow, is senior communication manager at Cisco. Brad joined Cisco in 2007 and today leads integrated communication for the part of the company that builds partner ecosystems for new markets. Before Cisco, Brad led communication programs at HP, PeopleSoft and AAA. He earned undergraduate degrees in both journalism and speech at the University of Missouri and an MBA ...

Today’s panel features Augie Ray, who leads the customer experience research team for Gartner; digital communication and social media marketing strategist Eden Spoden; and Inside PR co-host Joseph Thornley, CEO of Thornley Fallis. Our topics this week:

* Facebook’s latest algorithm adjustment elevates posts from friends and family, costing publishers traffic

* The FAA’s approval of commercial drone operation opens some opportunities for marketers

* YouTube has added live-streaming to its mobile app

* Ad-blocking’s growing momentum and the adoption of “calm design” as a better means of reaching audiences (or is it?)

* The payoffs and perils of cause-embracing CEOs

* Richard Edelman calls on brands to invest more effort in building relationships with customers

* Samsung’s default “beauty” setting for selfies damages relationships with customers

* Tech correspondent Dan York reports on a major Facebook Messenger update

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @edenspodek, @thornley, and @augieray.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

 

 

Augie Ray is a Research Director covering customer experience for marketing leaders at Gartner. He has had a diverse career, including leading a digital experiential agency, directing social business at USAA and managing a global customer experience team at American Express. In his present role, Augie researches and advises clients on topics such as Voice of Customer, customer journey mapping, customer experience strategy and virtual reality.

Eden Spodek, founder & CEO, Eden Spodek Inc. is an award-winning digital communications and social media marketin

g strategist with more than 25 years of experience on the client and agency side in several verticals. In 2010, she launched her own digital consultancy practice and is a blogger, podcaster and community leader. In 2015, she worked tirelessly on a successful Kickstarter campaign and has been invited to advise on others. Eden co-developed the Digital Strategy and Communications Management certificate program at University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. This week, Eden is hosting a free webinar, the A to Z Blueprint for Planning, Building and Launching a Crowdfunding Campaign. She’s an active participant in the digital community and was lead co-organizer of PodCamp Toronto for five years. A sought-after speaker, Eden is frequently invited to join panel discussions and speak at a variety of workshops and conferences.

Joseph Thornley Joseph Thornley is CEO of Thornley Fallis Communications, which comprises several well-known brands:

* Thornley Fallis Communications, a digital engagement and communications consultancy,

* 76design, a digital design and software development studio

* 76engage, an online public participation platform,

* 76insights, an analytics tool focusing on the resonance of social objects and gestures, and

* 76BrandFilms, a video studio.

Joe recognized early the power of social media to change extend and transform our relationships to one another and the institutions in our society. He actively uses social media to explore the evolution of those relationships. Since 2005, he has blogged a ProPr.ca, and is co-host with Gini Dietrich and Martin Waxman of the Inside PR podcast, which, since its launch in March 2006, is now the second longest continuously running public relations...

Today’s panel features FIR on Higher Education host and communications consultant Kevin Anselmo, branding and digital integration consultant Olivier Blanchard, and communications consultant Shonali Burke. This week’s topics included:

* The Brexit vote: PR opportunities arising from the exit and media lessons PR practitioners can take to heart

* New Pew research finds social media use has become a standard part of the work day

* Live streaming video replaced the official Congressional video feed during a Democrat-led sit-in, while Facebook announces enhancements to Facebook Live and Tumblr introduces live video.

* Are Tumblr and Reddit worth communicators’ time and energy?

* Social media icon uses social video to defuse a crisis during Cannes Lion

* Should brands play podcasts instead of music while customers are on hold?

* Tech correspondent Dan York reports from ICANN 56 in Helsinki, Finland, reporting on Facebook Live and 360 photos and SoundCloud’s release of algorithmic suggestions.

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @KevinAnselmo, @BrandBuilder, and @shonaliburke.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Kevin Anselmo is the Founder and Principal of Experiential Communications. He helps individuals and groups gain clarity about what to communicate. Once determined, he then works with his clients to disseminate those messages to ensure it is aligned to big-picture goals. His services focus on communications strategy development, media training, PR execution, coaching, workshops and events. Previously, Kevin was Director of Public Relations for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and prior to that managed the media relations for IMD in Switzerland. In addition, he was an adjunct communications professor at Nyack College in New York. Currently based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Kevin lived and worked in Switzerland for eight years and in Germany for two years. He has led public relations initiatives in various countries around the world. Kevin hosts the For Immediate Release on Higher Education podcast. The show is focused on best practice marketing / communications for individuals within higher education (professors, PR professionals, marketers and administrators) and is part of the For Immediate Release podcast network. He also blogs about higher education communications.

Olivier Blanchard is a French-born, American-based Brand Management and Digital Marketing consultant, the author of two best-selling books, and an acclaimed keynote speaker. As Director of Operations and Strategy at Frontspace, he draws from his years of experience in strategic Marketing and Business Management roles across a range of B2B, B2C and B2G industries, to help companies and their partners develop successful digital strategies, properly deploy social business capabilities across their organizations, and align their programs to business goals and objectives. Though based in the US, his geographic range extends beyond North America to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Olivier is the author of the best-selling #1 social business desk reference for digital managers and business executives: Social Media ROI: Managing and Measuring Social Media Efforts In Your Organization (Que/Pearson). Olivier is also a sought-after subject-matter expert and corporate trainer.

A veteran of small and large PR agencies, Shonali Burke is the award-winning president & CEO of her eponymous social PR consulting firm, Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc.,

Today’s panel features crisis communication consultant Melissa Agnes, founder and CEO of Agnes+Day; RedPhlag LLC CEO Gerard Corbett; and Cyrus Mavalwala, founder of Advantis Communication. This week’s topics included:

* How The Walt Disney Company has handled the death  of a child resulting from an alligator attack at their Walt Disney World property

* One of the most egregious examples of newsjacking in PR history

* Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn and the bizarre letter LinkedIn’s CEO sent to employees

* What to do when user-generated content goes bad

* A Facebook executive has predicted the end of the written word as Facebook posts will be all video in five years (and the imminent death of the period everywhere)

* Buffer’s CEO was excruciatingly transparent when explaining why the company laid off 11% of its workforce

* Dan York reports on the OCED Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy (and why it matters to communicators) and the internet Society’s survey on the future of the Internet

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @Melissa_Agnes, @GerardCorbett, and @CyrusMavalwala.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Melissa Agnes is a founding partner of Agnes+Day, a crisis intelligence firm. In her role, Melissa is a crisis management consultant and keynote speaker, has developed an international reputation for crisis management, planning and training by helping large global brands prevent and manage a wide range of corporate issues and crises. Her client list includes government agencies, cities and municipalities, healthcare organizations, energy companies, global non-profits, financial organizations, the public and private sectors and many others. Melissa is an international and sought-after keynote speaker and guest-lecturer.

Gerard Corbett is Chair and CEO of strategic communications consulting firm Redphlag LLC., Founder and Partner of Wise Counsel, and CMO of real estate tech startup Producers Forum, Inc. in Palo Alto. He also is an award-winning career coach, blogger and Past Chair & CEO of the 32,000 member Public Relations Society of America, having served as Chair and CEO in 2012. Gerry is a versatile branding, marketing, public relations and communications executive and coach having served four decades in senior marketing and communications roles at Global Fortune 100 firms and earlier in his career in aerospace engineering and information technology with Silicon Valley firms and NASA.

Living at the intersection of business and communication, Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC is an award-winning communication strategist, trainer and speaker who has been helping organizations achieve their business objectives for 20 years. After leading teams at global agencies, Cyrus founded Advantis Communications, a B2B PR and content marketing agency that delivers measureable value by integrating traditional, video and social strategies. He also co-founded Act Like An Agency to train communicators on how to evolve from tacticians to strategists within their organization. At the University of Toronto School for Continuing Studies, Cyrus develops curriculum and teaches social media strategy and communications management.

Today’s panel features IBM Social Consulting Senior Business Consultant Neville Hobson (a familiar voice to listeners of the Hobson & Holtz Report), @Steveology CMO Steve Farnsworth, and SeeDepth and PerkettPR founder and CEO Christine Perkett. Topics discussed include…

* Breaking news: Microsoft is buying LinkedIn

* The New York Times’ possible response to ad-blocking, which could be to block anybody who uses it (along with some other approaches and a discussion about the core issues)

* Why PR agencies shouldn’t grade their own homework and leave measurement of their efforts to their clients

* Instagram has passed Twitter as a social media advertising channel; after Snapchat passed Twitter for daily active users, is Twitter’s future in doubt?

* PR is one of the 10 most stressful jobs. Might that be a good thing?

* Spain’s Podemos leftist party printed its program to look like an IKEA catalog. It got attention.

* Edelman says CEOs need to get engaged. The panel explores the communicator’s role.

* There’s a new definition of “dark social.” Should we be crafting content for these channels as well as “light social?”

* Dan York reports on a cool new update to Anchor.FM.

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @steveology, @jangles, and @MissusP.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Steve Farnsworth has over 15 years as a senior digital marketing executive, and is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for the @Steveology Group, a content marketing for demand generation agency serving high tech B2B organizations. He works with mid-sized and large companies, and funded start-ups to develop and implement multimedia content marketing programs that increase inbound leads and grows brand reputation. Steve is a Forbes top 50 social media influencer. He is a digital marketing educator and has moderated panels, spoken at, or managed industry events at Google, Intel, PayPal, Yahoo!, Cisco, Adobe, Electronic Arts, HP, SAP, Wells Fargo, TEDx, Applied Materials, Symantec, NetApp, and Stanford on brand, social, digital, and content marketing.

 Neville Hobson co-hosted this show for 10 years and 8 months, up just a few months ago. Neville is based in Bracknell, outside of London in England where he works as a senior business consultant for IBM Social Consulting. Neville has spent much of his career analyzing trends, behaviors and practices in digital communication. As an independent consultant before joining IBM, he focused on social business, the collaborative economy, wearable technologies, and the professionalism of PR. He also held a position with WCG as head of social media for Europe, and was VP of Corporate Communication for Scala Business Solutions in Amsterdam.

Christine Perkett founded PerkettPR in 1998 and SeeDepth, a PR analytics platform, in 2013. She has been named one of the ‘Top 25 Authorities Moving PR Forward’ in a recent industry study, and is routinely recognized as one of the most social media-savvy CEOs – currently ranked as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter (by Hubspot), a “Top Influential Woman in Tech on Twitter” (by Google’s Don Dodge, alongside such greats as Marissa Mayer, WSJ’s Kara Swisher, Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington, and others), and featured two consecutive years in BusinessWeek’s Social Media Special Report (keeping company of notable CEOs from Zappos, Virgin, Digg, HDNet, Mint and more). Christine was also awarded “Best Communications,

Today’s panel features C.C. Chapman, co-founder of SocialGood.club; Kami Huyse, CEO of Zoetica Media, and Hollis Kara, communications manager at ARIN. FIR tech correspondent and Internet Society communicator Dan York guest hosted while Shel Holtz was away. Topics discussed include…

* Mark Meeker’s recently released 2016 Internet Trends

* Snapchat passes Twitter in usage

* Tribune Publishing rebrands as Tronc (with what is possibly the worst news release ever)

* Periscope introduces comment moderation

* It’s the anniversary of the IPv6 launch

* Mobile operator Three UK is turning on ad blocking for its entire network

* Another week of data breaches

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @cc_chapman, @kamichat, and @HhKara.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

C.C. Chapman is a bestselling author and agile, performance-based marketer with over 15 years of experience in marketing and emerging technologies. C.C. is the author Content Rules (co-authored with Ann Handley) and Amazing Things Will Happen. C.C. has specialized skills in conference speaking, creative development, social media marketing, online direct response, working with large brands in helping them understand how to apply emerging technologies and social learnings to their marketing plans.

Kami Huyse founded 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 Reputation Management award and IABC’s 2009 Gold Quill of Excellence Award. Kami was a 2010 fellow of the Society for New Communications Research where she pursued a study on how cause marketing in social communities can benefit companies. She is also the co-founder and organizer of the Social Media Breakfast Houston.

Hollis Kara her interest in brand management,integrated marketing communications, user experience, and disruptive technology to create practical strategies to improve and implement communications for her employer, ARIN — the American Registry for Internet Numbers — where she develops and implements plans for Communications for internal and external audiences. She also coordinates the creation, design, and development of communications for web and print production to support various projects and initiatives, and creates communication strategies and project plans to support new services and educational outreach. Hollis is responsible for the development of content strategy and management of editorial calendars.

Today’s panel features Serena Ehrlich, director of social and evolving media at BusinessWire; Dave Fleet, executive vice president and national practice lead for digital at Edelman in Toronto; and Martin Waxman, president of Martin Waxman Communications in Toronto (and co-host of the Inside PR podcast here on the FIR Podcast Network). With three PR pros on the panel, we covered a mix of PR-related topics, including…

* New data from Pew Research shows most Americans get their news from social networks

* Who’s in the best position to manage social media: brand agencies, search agencies, marketing agencies, or PR agencies?

* Was the incident with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus a crisis or an issue for Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres?

* Can Egypt Air really force the media to stick only to the facts presented in its press releases?

* The role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in public relations

* The podcast audience continues to grow, and it’s a highly desirable one, according to Edison Research

* Brands are becoming documentary filmmakers

* Can you apply a formula to content to make it go viral?

* Dan York reports on changes to Twitter and Periscope, Verizon’s efforts to become a content company, and Iran’s data demands

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @Serena, @davefleet, and @martinwaxman

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Over the last 20 years, Serena Ehrlich has worked to provide guidance on investor relations, public relations and overall consumer behavior relations trends. Ehrlich started her career in advertising where she developed an understanding of branding from a large-scale perspective, but she credits her 17 years in the newswire industry for placing her at the forefront of the technical, sociological and influential revolution changing the face of today’s customer communications. Before rejoining Business Wire in 2013, Ehrlich designed and implemented successful local, national and international social, mobile and traditional marketing campaigns for brands including Kraft, Kohls, Avon, Mattel and more. A ’91 graduate of Brandeis University with a B.A. in History, Ehrlich was named one of the 2013 Top 25 Women in Mobile to Watch by Mobile Marketer.

Dave Fleet is Senior Vice President of Edelman Digital for the Canada East region, where he leads the practice with a team of more than 35 communicators who develop and implement innovative digital engagement strategies for brands like kraft, Mondelez, payPal, eBay, TELUS, Intuit, and a host of others. Before joining Edelman, Dave was Vice President and Account Director responsible for social media at Thornley Fallis Communications. He also co-organized Podcamp Toronto as a volunteer gig. Dave spent several years working in communication jobs for the Government of Ontario.

Martin Waxman has over 25 years of experience in creative and business writing, video and audio producing, public relations and journalism and can work with you and your team to help his clients discover, shape and develop their content marketing programs, set up online newsrooms, and identify and build relationships with influencers to amplify their stories via social PR. Based in Toronto, Martin is aa blogger and podcaster. He also speaks on social media trends at events around North America.

Today’s panel features Paul Gillin, who is opening a content marketing arm of his company Profitecture (and who also is host of FIR B2B here on the FIR Podcast Network); Carol Kinsey Goman, a keynote speaker, author, and adviser on collaboration, non-verbal communication, and other communication-related issues; and David Murray, executive director of the Professional Speechwriters Association, publisher of Vital Speeches of the Day, and prolific blogger. All three of today’s panel are published authors who talked about…

* CEOs and CFOs who offer explanations (and excuses) for underperforming financials, often blaming non-material causes while ignoring more substantive issues.

* The greatest level of awareness of the Facebook Live video-streaming platform is among 30-44 year-olds. We also talked about visual communication in general.

* Collaboration can be too much of a good thing if not done right.

* Can communicators finally reach a consensus on one issue, that they all despise Donald Trump?

* The sales of print books are rebounding while e-book sales are dipping. Should communicators revisit print as a tactic?

* A PRSA survey found most communicators think internal communications is falling behind the digital workplace. Is it necessary for internal communicators to be on top of current technologies? Are advocates for the latest tech digital oracles or cyberterrorists?

* Cracker Jack is replacing the prize in the container with a QR code. This is one use of technology nobody likes — even those who like QR codes.

* Tech correspondent Dan York reacts to last week’s episode and reports on a Facebook acquisition, Facebook’s release of free “spatial audio” software, and an online dialogue about encryption.

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @PGillin, @CGoman, and @TheMurr.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Paul Gillin writes, speaks, and trains marketers and corporate executives to think like publishers as part of Profitecture. He specializes in social media for B2B companies – in fact, he co-wroteSocial Marketing to the Business Customer with Eric Schwartzman (who was an FIR panelist last week) and currently co-hostsFIR B2Bwith Eric. Paul has written four other books, including Attack of the Customers, his most recent book. He co-authored The Joy of Geocaching with his wife, Dana. Before striking out on his own, Paul worked for TechTarget and, before that, was editor-in-chief and executive editor of Computerworld Magazine.

Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international speaker for corporations, associations, universities and government agencies. She is a leadership blogger for Forbes, and has served as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the International MBA program, at the University of California in the Executive Education Department, and for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States at their Institutes for Organization Management. Carol’s clients include over 200 organizations in 25 countries. She’s a media source about the impact of body language on leadership effectiveness and the author of 12 books, including The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help or Hurt How You Lead.  Carol is a current faculty member for the Institute for Manag...

Today’s panel features DomainSkate COO Howard Greenstein, Scott Monty Strategies founder Scott Monty, and Trafalgar Communications principal Donna Papacosta, along with host Shel Holtz, exploring these topics:

* Facebook’s Trending Topics kerfuffle, what it means for communicators, and the broader implications of trying to get a message across to people who live in the “filter bubble”

* Instagram’s new logo, which (if you just read tweets in the first 24 hours) everybody hated

* The state of domain fraud, how it’s like sexually transmitted diseases, and why it means IT and marketing need a closer relationship

* The growing trend of publishing the same content across multiple sites (the “hub-and-spoke” model of content distribution)

* Research shows influencers on Twitter, Vine, YouTube, and Instagram are trusted by consumers nearly as much as friends

* A study demonstrates yet again that consumers want customer support via social media, but brands aren’t providing it

* The media continues reporting on CEO scandals for years after the CEO has left. What does that mean for crisis planning?

* Dan York reports on the growing mistrust of Internet privacy and security and the implications for e-commerce and other online activities.

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @howardgr, @scottmonty, and @donnapapacosta.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Howard Greenstein is a marketing technology strategist, working with companies to form strategies for online communities, social networking, blogs, and other media. He helped found the Social Media Club, which he served as CEO and executive director. Currently, Howard is chief operating officer at DomainSkate, which helps companies protect themselves from brand fraud and cybercrimes. And he is an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University.

Scott Monty is an internationally recognized leader in digital communications, digital transformation, social media and marketing. As principal of Scott Monty Strategies, he counsels brands and agencies on strategy, executive communications, influencer management, the customer experience, and digital initiatives. Scott spent six years at Ford Motor Company, as a strategic advisor on crisis communications, influencer relations, digital customer service, innovative product launches and more. He is a board member of the American Marketing Association and an advisor for RPM Ventures,My Dealer Service, and Crowd Companies. He writes about the changing landscape of business, technology, communications, marketing and leadership at ScottMonty.com and is the executive editor and co-host of the Sherlock Holmes website and podcast I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.

Donna Papacosta is a writer, speaker, podcaster and consultant, operating Trafalgar Communications in Toronto. In addition to leading workshops on social media and communications topics, Donna teaches Digital Communications Strategy and Social Media at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. In 2005 Donna launched Trafcom News, one of the first business podcasts in Canada. Since then she has expanded her expertise in both social media and multimedia, and helps people integrate these tools into their communications. She is the co-author, with Steve Lubetkin,

Despite unusual recording issues, we managed to get this one in the can! Panelists include Cruiseable.com CEO JD Lasica, Elasticity Senior Vice President Jason Falls, and ClaimWizard Marketing Director Lynette Young — social media thought leaders all — had a lively conversation about the following topics:

* New research that finds that influencers produce the greatest ROI and a significantly lower cost than other marketing approaches

* With messaging apps ascending and social networking sites on the decline, public media is giving way to private media. How can brands cope?

* We’re entering a new era of authenticity, and JD says it applies to a variety of different issues, including live video, messaging apps, sponsored content, and even stock photos.

* “Live-tweeting” historical events on their anniversaries has become a thing. Can brands play?

* Access to Facebook topic data — at a price — is disrupting the social listening space.

* A study finds that bad news hurts brands that have low engagement scores more than brands that have been engaging with customers. Is this a face-palm moment, or a usable lesson for crisis teams?

* Dan York reports on what we can learn from the languages that are taught in other countries, a White House official who says he “pushed a narrative” to sell the media on the Iran nuclear deal, the ongoing ad-blocking wars, Apple’s role in podcasts, and an invitation to an Internet Society discussion.

Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @jasonfalls, @jdlasica and @lynetteradio.

Links to the source material for this episode are on Delicious.

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

About today’s panel:

Jason Falls is the no-nonsense, loud, brash, straight-shooter who is more apt to tell you the truth about digital marketing, public relations and social media than try to sell you something. Sure, he drives strategy and content for clients through his work with Elasticity, but when Falls talks, people listen. Unabashed, unafraid and unfiltered, Falls leaves audiences thinking, laughing and wanting more. Aside from his engaging talks, he is a well-respected social industry analyst, oft-interviewed and quoted by the likes of the BBC, Reuters, Forbes and more. Falls writes at JasonFalls.com, GoElastic.com and for Entrepreneur.com, among others. He has authored two books, neither of which are about his favorite topic (bourbon) and is an unabashed fan, resident and advocate for the city of Louisville and the State of Kentucky. He is Senior VP of Digital Strategy at Elasticity.

JD Lasica is an entrepreneur, journalist, public speaker and social media pioneer. He co-founded Ourmedia, the first free video hosting site, six weeks before YouTube was born. He also founded Socialmedia.biz, a global social media consultancy for brands, and Socialbrite.org, a social media agency for nonprofits. In 2012 he spoke at the United Nations on how to use social media to combat global poverty. He is now CEO and co-founder of Cruiseable, a website and mobile app that makes it easy for people to discover and plan the perfect cruise vacation. He’s recently back from cruises to Istanbul and the Mexican Riviera, courtesy of Viking and Princess Cruises. JD is also a professional photographer, with more than 10,000 photos on Flickr.

Lynette Young is co-founder and Director of Marketing ClaimWizard, a software-as-a-service workflow management system for the public adjuster industry.