SmartNews, Inc.

The more companies sanitize corporate communications, the less credible they become to the public. Our latest blog points to three flaws: 🔹The wrong messenger – C-suite executives are trusted more than PR flacks 🔹The wrong medium – 81% of people find company statements presented in news articles at least somewhat credible vs. 66% trust corporate blogs 🔹The wrong tone – 90% of people say they question corporate messaging at least some of the time, and 36% find company statements overly scripted or PR-driven When it comes to corporate communications, the more human the messenger, the more believable the message. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/g_qWVdvW

Our latest survey shows that corporate communications double-speak is undermining faith in news. Have you seen any examples of over-the-top company gibberish? https://lnkd.in/edYrftmn O'Dwyer's Public Relations News

Journalism is at an AI crossroads. BBC News uses AI to personalize content, while The New York Times approves its reporters to use AI for certain tasks. This raises two key questions: • How soon will other newsrooms follow suit? • Should a universal standard – like the Associated Press Stylebook – exist for how journalists use AI? A well-defined “AI Use Guide” could set clear boundaries, help maintain trust and balance AI-assisted efficiency with human-driven reporting. This could ensure transparency while still leaving room for innovation. What do you think? Should the industry adopt a shared framework, or should newsrooms set their own rules?

Podcasts are going visual – are you keeping up? A new report by NPR, National Public Media and Sounds Profitable reveals news podcast listeners are leading the charge in video podcast consumption: 🎥 87% watch video podcasts – a staggering amount: 🎥 44% say YouTube is their top platform for podcasts (vs. 38% of non-news listeners) 🎥 65% of news podcast listeners said YouTube is how they find new podcasts Read more insights about the report from Digiday: https://lnkd.in/dURbUD88

Tech-savvy, but fact-challenged. A recent Teen Vogue interview with educators reveals that despite being "digitally native," teens struggle to distinguish fact from fiction online. A 2024 study by The News Literacy Project found alarming stats: • 94% of students want media literacy, but only 39% get it. • 80% face conspiracy theories often, and 81% believe at least one. • Nine states have news literacy standards, but only three require it. Kids and teens need more #medialiteracy tools and education, and more state curriculums need to require it. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e5iiV5Mi

Misinformation thrives when platforms dodge responsibility. A new survey from the Communication Research Center at Boston University shows Americans trust independent fact-checkers over the “community notes” used by some social media platforms to flag misinformation. ✅ 2 in 3 adults support verified fact-checking. ❌ Less than half trust crowd-sourced notes. The fight against #misinformation needs facts and fact-checkers. https://lnkd.in/gqR6j5hG

Consumers of news want it straight and they hate corporate double-speak. A new SmartNews survey reveals:📊 🔹90% of Americans question the sincerity of company messaging 🔹56% see “no comment” as a strategy for companies to protect themselves 🔹36% find company statements overly scripted or PR-driven If companies want to build trust, they need to start sounding human. More insights here: https://lnkd.in/gNT45Wuh

Trust in news isn’t built on hot takes – it’s built on the expertise of journalists. CNN reporter Liam R. writes that small-but-focused outlets like Government Executive and Federal News Network-news-network are breaking major stories because they know their beats better than anyone. Their traffic surge proves it: real reporting is what audiences turn to when it matters most. https://lnkd.in/e5h4AgE4 

The best way for companies to get their messages to Americans? Through the news media. Our just-released survey shows news is still the most powerful channel.  https://lnkd.in/gx7QYYHW Axios Eleanor Hawkins

Social media fuels misinformation, but, as this The Cincinnati Enquirer article 👇explains, #newsliteracy is the antidote. Social media algorithms feed confirmation bias, making it harder to spot truth from fiction. National News Literacy Week (Feb. 3-7), created by The News Literacy Project, is a reminder that fact-based journalism matters. Take a moment before sharing – check sources, question biases, and seek credible news. Fighting misinformation starts with all of us. https://lnkd.in/gSi5Sb_X