Why Does This Matter?
Newsletter #128
This Week
Be Ready to Answer the Biggest Question in Communications
ICYMI: Wisdom From Higher Ed Communications
Spotted…
Before We Go…
1. I Like It. What Is It?
I love a good nutritional hack.
A few weeks ago, while wandering through my favorite news aggregator, the Drudge Report, I spotted an advertisement for iodine supplement. I haven’t seen that type of ad before.
It was an ad for J. Crow's Lugol's Solution.
The ad did exactly what it was supposed to do. It caught my attention. I clicked. And immediately, I was intrigued. It lured me in.
The black crow logo is interesting. The product name is memorable. The website did a nice job explaining where the iodine comes from and how it is made – “derived from mined crystals from 320 million year old natural brine deposits two miles beneath the earth's surface in Western USA (one of the few places in the world where such deposits exist).” They claim the product has been trusted since 1829, so there is clearly a story here.
But after spending several minutes exploring the website, I found myself asking a simple question:
What is it?
2. ICYMI: Meet the Messenger: Dr. Gail F. Baker
Dr. Gail F. Baker, Ph.D. is the former senior vice president and provost at the University of San Diego (USD). A respected communications leader, educator, and scholar, Dr. Baker has built a career that spans higher education leadership, journalism, public relations, and academia. During her time at USD, she served as the university’s chief academic officer, working closely with academic leadership to guide strategy and institutional priorities. Before joining USD in 2017, she was the founding dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and held additional leadership roles at universities across the country.
Dr. Baker’s career reflects a deep commitment to communication, leadership, and storytelling. Before transitioning into higher education administration, she worked in journalism and corporate communications, including positions with IBM and International Harvester, and as a reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily Defender Newspaper. An accomplished author and educator, she has written books, articles, and book chapters and has earned recognition for both her teaching and documentary writing, including multiple Emmy Awards for Excellence in Documentary Writing and Producing. She shared with us her experiences that shaped her leadership style, the evolving role of communication in higher education, and the lessons she’s carried across journalism, academia, and executive leadership.
3. Spotted
What a time to be a sports fan! Between the NBA finals, Stanley Cup, and World Cup, there’s plenty to celebrate. And brands are joining in on the hype.
When Levi’s was told they needed to cover their logo on San Francisco’s 49ers stadium because of sponsorship regulations for the World Cup, they did so in a way that still made it very clear who was behind that sheet. Then, they extended that marketing moment across their channels.
During the victory parade for the Knicks, a fan trying to get a better view accidentally pulled the “n” off of hospitality brand Convene’s building. They turned the “oopsie” into a continuation of the celebration of the city.
4. Before We Go…
From the George W. Bush Presidential Center: A beautiful transition
Upon the opening of the new Obama Presidential Center, we received a beautiful example of unity and bipartisanship from the George W. Bush Presidential Center:
“For the last 13 years, the Bush Center has proudly carried the flag as the “new kid on the presidential center block.” Today, the Barack Obama Presidential Center takes on that role. On behalf of all of us at the Bush Center, congratulations to the Obama Foundation team. Take it from us: once the pomp and circumstance of opening passes, the real fun begins: serving the American people and guests from around the world. We’ll be cheering you on from Dallas!”
From PR Daily: What experienced communicators wish new PR pros understood
“Communications leaders share what new PR pros need to know about strategy, initiative, writing, media relations, and building judgment early in their careers.”
From The Guardian: Over-reliance on chatbots can diminish critical-thinking skills, study finds
“A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the latest research to find that relying too much on chatbots can diminish critical-thinking skills, and potentially decrease our ability to discern misinformation for ourselves.”