Be aware, not scared

Boo!

Far be it for me to ignore the requisite Halloween 🎃mention. This, however, is a PR, publicity-related newsletter. I want to help you prepare so you’re not scared when you put yourself out there. Our world can resemble a tangled web when, in reality, its mosaic of people and places is quite artistic.  

The scariest part of a public relations and publicity plan is not having one.

Not knowing and using what’s available makes you frighteningly anonymous. I promise I get it. But we can defeat the things that we perceive to be downright petrifying by just doing it.

Apathy and ignorance lead people to react like evil trolls.

Seeing and hearing no evil can lead you to fearsome places. Learn from others, including those with different experiences than you. With that, you become part of something inclusive and less scary.

Lack of media literacy is terrifying.

Too many adults don’t understand the purpose of media and how news is delivered. That leads to fear, confusion and conduct detrimental to our communities. I encourage anyone who doesn’t know the difference between a feature and an editorial or a reporter, editor or social media coordinator to ask a credentialed journalist. I’d love to see media literacy take a seat next to reading, writing and math in kids’ classrooms.

“Because that’s the way we’ve always done it” are the scariest words in business.

Evolve or die. Is there anything more frightening than seeing the world zip past while you’re stuck in a dangerous web?  “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is like wearing cement boots to a poolside costume party. 🧌

AI without oversight is alarming.

I recently told a business owner that a Halloween promotion he sent conveyed the opposite of what he intended. He shrugged it off, blaming it on AI. Having helped him with other projects, his reply was unnerving. Your audience deserves better than unchecked machine-generated words clogging their inboxes.

Clicks over credibility are chilling. 

Years ago, I spoke with traditional sports reporters who worried their editors were starting to prioritize clicks over stories. Today, we see petrifyingly salacious headlines across all news channels that often bury the real story. It stokes fear, anger and distrust. It’s up to all of us to call it out and do better when we’re the source.

Complacency is a killer

Hey, Americans 🇺🇸– look around the world, and you’ll realize we have it pretty good. It’s a generations-earned privilege to cast your vote, whether for President of the United States or your local school board. Don’t let anyone scare you from exercising your right to voice what’s just. VOTE. 🗳

Know tricks from treats

Media is fragmented and algorithms may overtake credible sources. Know where your news comes from and who may influence what you see and hear. Be consciously flexible to earn your audience’s trust. Don’t be spooked.

© 2024 Gail Sideman, gpublicity.com

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