Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 1 September 2017
A round-up of all the trending media, marketing and PR stories you shouldn’t have missed this week.
1. Hurricane Harvey
The devastating Hurricane Harvey and flooding that ensued across Texas has held the international media’s attention. While the tragedy continues to wreak havoc on American citizen’s lives, the President failed to meet any victims and the first Lady didn’t know how to dress for the weather.
At least one brand has been drawn into the story for all the wrong reasons. A poorly timed email campaign from Airbnb offered accommodation in a ‘Floating world’, it went on to say, ‘How to spend a day – or an entire trip – without touching dry land. Your next aquatic adventure starts here.’ This negative story has overshadowed Airbnb’s positive decision to waive its service fee in the Houston area so homeowners can list their properties for free and accommodate the displaced.
2. Mark Zuckerberg’s daughter August
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan wrote an open letter to their new-born daughter August this week. They encourage August to spend time outside and play with her sister Max; effectively opposing social media’s main function. The post came after research into Facebook’s dwindling teenage population suggests the platform may have already peaked. It led us to ask if Mark Zuckerberg’s daughter would grow up to be a Facebook-never.
3. Brand new meme
Antonio Guillem’s stock photo of ‘Disloyal man walking with his girlfriend and looking amazed at another seductive girl’, has become the latest meme that is even cropping up in brands’ feeds. PR Week has put together a list of its favourites, include this grammar gem from Penguin Random House:
— Penguin Random House (@penguinrandom) August 29, 2017
4. Transfer Deadline day
Football’s summer transfer window closed yesterday, with a record £210m spent by top flight clubs. As always with the event that comes at the end of silly season, the rumour mill was churning on social media with eager fans thinking they’ve spotted a new signing in their city or were just making it up because the transfer action was so quiet. The Daily Post has gathered the best rumours, including this, frankly lazy, effort from Shawn Lorenzo:
Several sources confirming these shoes belong to Perisic Agent who was spotted in East Manchester Today #DeadlineDay #MUFC pic.twitter.com/YTSPXPlmiV
— Shawn-Lorenzo (@ShawnLorenzoo) August 31, 2017
5. Bake Off is back
Not only is the programme not as terrible as people feared it would be (in fact it’s pretty much the same), it scored 6.5m viewers – a 30% audience share – which is the most Channel 4 has managed in five years. Not a stranger to the most unjustifiable form of controversy possible, the show’s star baker (and now bookies favourite Steven) has pictures of his impressive bakes online, leading some to suggest the competition isn’t fair. What a time to be alive.
Seen something we’ve missed? Get in touch and let us know!
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