>> Sam Whitmore
Adweek Lays Off 14
Graphic designer Gabby Ulloa, breaking news reporters Natalie Venegas and Rafael Canton, senior editor David Cohen and senior story editor Nicole Ortiz were among those laid off from
Vox Media Lays Off 7% of Staff
Axios has the story. Seven percent translates to roughly 130 people, Sara Fischer writes. Eater took some hits, as did the Vox Media visuals team.
Codeword Uses “AI Interns”
Imagine two imaginary comms interns, powered by AI, that can analyze writing tone and compile industry news and research. Marcom shop Codeword is doing that
Sean Garrett Interviews Eleanor Hawkins of Axios
Important interview for comms folks everywhere. Says Eleanor: “The breakdown between PR professionals and reporters is a real issue, and it’s something that I’m watching.
AI Is Deployed to Rip Off Alex Kantrowitz
Substack newsletter author Alex Katrowitz writes that another Substack author last week used AI to plagiarize him. Three different AI tools were used to alter
CNET Using ChatGPT to Create Articles
Futurism seems shocked by this, but CNET owner Red Ventures began using AI last summer. It will not be the last publisher to use AI
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols Launches Open Source Newsletter
It’s called Open Source Watch. Find it here.
Axios Launches News Hub Serving Its Local Editions
Here’s the lowdown. We’ll be posting a brief analysis later this week.
YOUR ACCOUNT
FRIDGE NOTES
‘Bloomberg Tech’ Now Open for Registration
Registration is now open for the ‘Bloomberg Tech’ F2F event, being held Jun. 4-5 in San Francisco. With the current early-bird discount, a ticket runs $1,500. There is no better way to build relationships with Bloomberg’s notoriously elusive tech reporters.
Congress to Investigate the Omnicom-IPG Deal
Well, for now it’s Jim Jordan… but such news illustrates the kind of world we seem to be headed for. Adweek has the details, subscription required.
SWMS Predictions for 2025
No “predictions” post will appear on this site. That said, quite a number of subscribers have asked for a Zoom/MS Teams presentation on what 2025 will bring. A conversation is precisely the right tool for the job. After the election — and with AI transforming publishing and life — “2025” is best discussed among peers, not predicted. So if you’d like to have a confidential group exchange on what stands to unfold, and why, and how comms pros can come out on top in spite of it all, drop a line and we shall schedule something.
Talk About Confidentiality…
According to Adweek, Omnicom CEO John Wren and IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky were in merger talks for eleven and a half months before the transaction was announced this week. Amazing that it didn’t leak.
Introducing ‘SWMS Sound Thinking’
Should PR pros stop visiting X, with all its lies and hate? It’s only going to get worse. Or are tidbits from targets too important to walk away from? Click here to watch tech edit vet David Strom and I disagree (at high speed) about this, as one compelling visual after another pops up on your screen. In 2025, SWMS will officially launch “SWMS Sound Thinking,” designed to be “argumentative insight in six minutes or less.” Each segment will explore a timely and controversial topic of interest to tech comms pros. This prototype runs 5:25. Hope you enjoy it — feedback vital and welcome! –Sam
Business Insider Reporters Starting to Go on Camera
New EIC Jamie Heller has asked her reporters to start going on camera — for the BI TikTok channel — to explain the big, deep-divey story they just published. Other publications do this — especially archival Fortune. BI is now on that too. Game on.