Hey bestie,
Today is 6/26/26. That makes me happy. Let’s celebrate. 👇
📄 The new way to plan: Go-direct mother Lulu Cheng Meservey shared a very ~first principles~ approach to comms planning. Instead of "let's get 5 tier-1 articles" you say: "Here is our goal. To accomplish it, these are the audiences we need to influence, and here are the facts they need to believe about us. Here are the ways we package that information, and here are the places we deliver it so they'll see it."
🎨 Stop the presses scroll: Speaking of packaging, comms people need to add visual design to your repertoire. As our favorite culture comms bestie Cristin Culver tells Forbes, "Words do a lot of heavy lifting, but they rarely stop the scroll." That's where design comes in.
🤫 HARO's secret AI tell: Hollywood Agency VP Steve Saleeba claims some HAROs have prompt injections with a "tell" for reporters if responses are written by AI. Please, for our profession's sake, never send an unedited AI pitch to a reporter.
📩 Good pitching: In this week's edition of we love when reporters tell us how they like to be pitched, may I present Jeromee Scot. Local to Tusla, applicable to all. Note to self: reporters don't want to be WUPHF’d (IYKYK).
🚗 One for the road: Last week, I asked if AI was giving you any time back. While the results primarily said "no," all the emails I got back said yes. They're logging off earlier or doing more strategic work because AI is handling the grunt. Interestingly, these were all from consultants/indies, which continues my hypothesis that people (and companies) without AI restrictions will be the ones to rule the future.
Psst speaking of time back Lovable made me this cute lil graphic.
Chat soon,
Gab Ferree
Founder & Your Comms BFF, Off the Record
PS: Last week’s most-clicked was Kevin Roose’s goodbye to the NYT.
PPS: The Comms Bestie Group Chat is putting on its OOO and will be back in your inboxes later in July. H.A.G.S.! 🏖️
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