Kristin Matzen

Start-up and scale-up founders, CEOs and CMOs can save themselves a lot of heartache if they assess their company's readiness for corporate communications before they bring on an expensive corp comm leader. By identifying where the requisite building blocks for success already exist, executives can develop the function in a way that impacts business results by making better hiring decisions, understanding where to expect results near and long term, and strategically planning their investments in the function. Looking for a guide to help you do this? Drop me a line. As a 25-year veteran leader who has helped a number of start-ups and scale-ups build their corporate communications departments, I can help you figure out if you are ready to add this strategic function. #CorporateCommunications #ScaleUp #StartUp #PublicRelations

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A fun one to co-author with David Weinstock whose team is creating highly impactful results for our #finserv clients. The concluding paragraph crystalizes our thesis cemented by a marked uptick in demand: creating clarity with complex subjects is critical for building trust, developing understanding, and driving adoption of financial and technology concepts. There is simply too much noise in all communications channels not to utilize video as a medium to differentiate your offering.  DM us for case studies and more info #contentmarketing #video #fintech #digitalmarketing #financialservices 👇 👇 👇

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Key Lessons Learned from Edelman’s 14-Year Citizenship Journey               When PRWeek named Edelman recently as the agency dynasty of the last 25 years, it praised our “commitment to creating movements, not moments” and cited our global citizenship movement launched in 2010. That acknowledgment is noteworthy. Not just because I have led our CSR Program since its inception. Or because my dad, Daniel Edelman, was a visionary about citizenship when establishing our agency 72 years ago. Rather, the recognition reveals today’s reality. Every company must develop and embrace an integrated CSR strategy, not just ad hoc programs to help protect our planet and make societal progress. For one thing, high expectations from stakeholder groups underscore the value of sustainability efforts. Our respected Edelman Trust Barometer finds that 70% of more than 32,000 global respondents want to work for a company that addresses societal issues. For another, a CSR strategy already is all but mandatory for big and small businesses. The European Union’s CSRD begins phasing in ESG reporting requirements this year for U.S. and global entities. A citizenship strategy becomes transformational on several fronts. It becomes an integral part of a company. Our journey provides a roadmap for developing a comprehensive CSR strategy. Four key lessons learned:    It’s an evolutionary, not a revolutionary, path. When we began, I thought we just needed to launch a few programs to generate early successes. But the programs morphed into much more. For instance, we initially reported four sources of GHG emissions – paper, business travel, electricity, and water. Now, we have added purchased goods and services, employee commuting, and waste, among others as part of our Science-Based Targets initiative. Embed CSR and sustainability into the corporate culture. Achieve this by moving away from siloed citizenship-related programs, consolidating them over time, and integrating them strategically into your culture. We've experienced 10 transformations that we highlighted in our fiscal 2023 citizenship report. Employ data and measurements. They’re critical to drive action and inform strategy. We established a proprietary Citizenship Score to manage and report our activities across global offices. Set goals and report your progress against them. Incorporate a mix of short-term objectives and long-term goals. For example, we set a goal of eliminating single-use non-PET plastics by the end of this fiscal year on June 30. At year-end 2023, 94% of our offices had stopped buying plastic bottles. A long-term goal seeks to achieve at least 15% of our addressable spending with diverse suppliers in the U.S. by the end of fiscal 2025. Developing and embedding CSR and sustainability into Edelman’s culture has been transformational for us as it will be for any other company. I have given you a glimpse of our ongoing CSR journey. I look forward to hearing your stories. 

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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Friday Idea Day. Today, on #WorldPressFreedomDay, The Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal came together again to "shine a light on the missing and detained journalists across the globe." "The need for factual and reliable information has never been greater but threats to journalists around the world are more prevalent then ever." I grew up in the Public Relations and Communications Industry, where I learned the power of a good story and the power of good trusting relationships with journalists and reporters. While the industry has evolved greatly, the need for "earned" stories hasn't diminished (debate me here if you disagree). The Idea: The Power of a Free Press To... While not the most lyrical title, what if the world's best public relations/communications agencies teamed up to promote the need for greater objective, fair and honest reporting and elevate the journalist profession? In a world where every agency and company is chasing AI (rightly so), we can't forget about the human intelligence (and smarts, fortitude, persistence) of reporters, editors, photographers who can present the truth in our world. For those who grew up in this century, in which a term like "fake news" became a norm, I believe the industry has a responsibility to take on a campaign like this to demonstrate the need for a free press, and the power it brings. Any takers? I'd love to join.

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🥐 A little food for thought from Eleanor Hawkins. 🥐 This story illustrates both the necessity for and tension between comms and marketing. Brand reputation is critical. It takes just one misstep to cause irreparable harm (or at least significant damage) to a brand. The good news is that a healthy partnership between marketing and comms leaders, along with connection to the whole org, can impart strength and creativity within an organization.

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Flashback Friday ⚡ If you missed "5 Ways to Grab a Journalist's Attention (and 5 Mistakes to Avoid)" you'll want to read it. Our team at Si14 Global Communications dives into best practices when pitching media...and warns of the ways startups tend to annoy reporters (you don't want to be THAT startup!) And after you read this blog post, check out the other videos and articles on our PR Academy for lots of valuable tips from our team and successful CMOs, VPs of Marketing, and CEOs. https://lnkd.in/d7YVQrbV

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MEDIA MAVERICK MICHAEL LEVINE SHEDS LIGHT ON BIDEN-TRUMP DEBATE: EXPECT PASSION, ENERGY, AND STRATEGIC INTENSITY LOS ANGELES, CA — June 25, 2024 — As the highly anticipated Biden-Trump debate approaches, leading U.S. media expert Michael Levine offers a compelling preview of what viewers can expect. With a landscape where political debates have become a hybrid of television spectacle and a battleground for America's future, Levine asserts that the stakes have never been higher. "Given that viewers are conditioned to see the 2024 debates as a mix of television entertainment and a war for America's future, they will want to see passion, energy, and even anger in service to the country's interests," says Levine. He emphasizes that a self-controlled Mr. Trump or an overly composed Mr. Biden risks being forgettable, much like Mr. Kerry and Mr. McCain in past elections. Levine stresses that candidates must let loose to make a lasting impression. However, this must be done strategically to avoid alienating crucial voter groups, particularly suburban women and swing voters. "So much is at stake that both candidates need to let loose to make a lasting impression but not in a way that may alienate key groups," he adds. In Levine's expert opinion, the true battleground of the debate lies not in the exchange of facts, policies, or one-upmanship. Still, in the emotional resonance each candidate creates with the viewers. "In the end, it's not the facts, the policies, or even the one-upmanship that Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump offered in the debate that matters. It's how they make voters feel," Levine concludes. As the nation gears up for what promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2024 election cycle, Michael Levine's insights offer a unique perspective on the elements that could define the debate's impact and ultimately influence the election outcome. About Michael Levine: Michael Levine is a renowned media expert and author with over three decades of experience in the field. He has worked with some of the biggest names in politics, entertainment, and business, offering invaluable insights into media strategy and public perception. ---- https://lnkd.in/gGSBC92U #presidentialdebates #debates #inspiration #motivation #careeradvice #selfgrowth #motivationalcoach #businesscoach #personalcoach #michaellevineconsulting #michaellevine #thelastwaltz #whatisyourwhy #losangeles #wisdom

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Avōq just released insightful research into the changing media preferences of D.C. policy insiders. LinkedIn is up, Twitter is down... but there is a lot more to it than that! To get a deeper look, download the topline and schedule a full briefing to learn what these changes mean for your policy communications strategy: https://lnkd.in/eMpRhMZh

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When the American Journalism Project launched five years ago, our mandate was to create the conditions for community-led nonprofit news organizations to sustainably provide the journalism our democracy requires. Today, I’m pleased to share our 2024 Impact Report, a look at the progress we’ve made since our inception. In the five years since our launch, we’ve raised $175 million from national and local philanthropy, and built a portfolio of 44 nonprofit local news organizations —  diverse in size, scope, reach and leadership. Some highlights from the report: -In the last year alone, our portfolio of 44 grantee organizations generated $86 million in revenue — a 36% increase over their 2022 revenue. -Year over year, the organizations in our portfolio are seeing a 58% median growth. -And this growth is leading to more journalism – last year, our portfolio of grantees employed 568 editorial and newsroom staff – an 18% increase over 2022. Organizations are growing, diversifying their revenue, adding journalists, and strengthening their communities. I’m proud of the progress the portfolio has made, and remain clear-eyed about the future. This report sheds light on how far we’ve come and sets the stage for what’s ahead. I hope you'll take a moment to read it. https://lnkd.in/eipwwhxN

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Misinformation and disinformation, the threat of deepfakes, the rise of AI, dwindling workforces and resources - are converging trends undermining the quality of and trust in the media? Have a read of this excellent piece by Tom Harper, APCO European head of media and former Sunday Times journalist, in POLITICO today.

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SPOILER ALERT 🚨🚨🚨 I don't think TikTok is going anywhere. But, the debate happening among policymakers makes for pretty good conversation. In my latest thought piece for H/Advisors Abernathy, I examined the newscycle to see how a potential #TikToK ban could play a big role in the 2024 election cycle, rankle #BigTech data collection and lay the groundwork for more #dataprivacy advocacy. https://bit.ly/T1kT0kban

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Enjoyed this morning’s Meltwater Summit panel on how to reach Gen Z featuring Jess Xu (Edelman), Amanda Coffee (Under Armour), Kristin Matzen (TIME) and Lotte Jones (The News Movement). Panelists shared some helpful insights on Gen Z: 🗞️ With misinformation rampant, they DO read traditional, legacy news for credibility and fact check, fact check, fact check everything they read. 💵 They’re values-driven in selecting brands, but of course often buy based on convienence or price. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as they further settle into careers and grow their purchasing power. 📢 Gen Z colleagues are great resources for marketers to pressure test for authenticity to avoid blind spots - and it’s the responsibility of managers of Gen Z employees to help elevate and showcase their ideas. (Shameless plug for Edelman’s Gen Z Lab!)

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Here I am referring to the old days of counting clippings and measuring space in articles as rudimentary forms of data collection and measurement. And contrasting that with now, where data science powers up so much of what we are doing in relation to solving reputation challenges. Whether it's making sense of a new policymaker environment, digging into sentiment around regulation or looking around corners to predict what's coming next, data is influencing decision-making at every step.

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Thank you to PRNEWS for publishing my piece on lessons brands and communications leaders can learn from the recent fallout at NBC News and the pitfalls of binary thinking. "This debacle is one of many scenarios that remind us of why deliberate, well-coordinated and consistent internal communications are even more important in today’s climate where sensitive information leaks are becoming commonplace." If you're so inclined, you can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eSjSG26d

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Anyone who has founded and run a company knows the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. It was so fun to talk to Nate and Eric about their journey and also provide some insight on what PR is (and isn't). Thanks for having me! #thoughtleadership #entrepreurship

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Seeing great posts from friends, colleagues and media safety & freedom orgs today marking #WorldPressFreedomDay. Important time to appreciate the critical work and severe challenges - often risking life and freedom - that journalists face today. There is no more important part of my team's mission than enabling the exceptional work of all the Dow Jones-publications across conflict areas, covering crucial economic and business stories securely, telling the stories of climate and disaster, and working within increasingly hostile autocracies. Risky work that gives us all purpose - at the The New York Times, The Washington Post and beyond. "In a world increasingly characterized by geopolitical tensions and sweeping government restrictions, the role of journalists has never been more crucial—or more challenging. As they navigate the complexities of reporting from countries with significant security concerns, they face a myriad of risks that threaten both their safety and the integrity of the press. From the criminalization of independent journalism in Russia, to the surveillance-heavy landscape of China, and even the operational difficulties in Africa, our journalists encounter daily challenges just to bring us honest, reliable news." - Dow Jones

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🗞 As someone who consumes news in many formats / channels - online, social, audio and even print (will always love my magazines and weekend newspapers), it’s magical to have most of what you love in one place (ahem, Yahoo News).  💫 It’s even more magical to say that the Yahoo News app is going through a major glow up with next-level personalization from Artifact. 🙌 In a world where it sometimes feels overwhelming to cut through so much information, sometimes you want the tl;dr.  Other times, you want to dig in, read the full article (and then another and another), and share highlights seamlessly on social or in group text threads with your BFFs. The new Yahoo News app launches today and it’s awesome - here are some of the reasons why: 📱 AI-Powered Personalized Feed 📝 Key Takeaways to summarize articles  🚩 Ability to Block Keywords and Flag Clickbait 💫 Easy one-touch Sharing Tools 🔥 Badges and Streaks to share with friends Learn more in this WIRED exclusive by Boone Ashworth https://lnkd.in/gs-V-4vp 📰 Katelyn Brehony 🗞 Estela Weinmann 📰 Caragh Fisher O'Connor 🗞 Kat Downs Mulder 🗞 Andrew Machado 📰

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