The Daily Scoop: Trending AI apps to try, New York newspaper doesn’t back down during crisis  

Artificial intelligence is still all the rage. Generative AI, able to spit out images and text, is growing in popularity as more AI-supported tools are coming on board.

“Generative-AI tools aren’t a fad. They will only become more present in our daily lives,” the Wall Street Journal reported. It’s time to see how they can fit into your workflow and dabble in some of these tools — if you haven’t already.

The Wall Street Journal article highlights multiple tools, some of which you’ve already heard of: ChatGPT, Bing, Bard. But you may not have heard of some of these:

• Adobe Firefly, an image generator, lets users input a text description to create images, textures displayed on top of text, styles and more, per WSJ. Adobe Firefly also can remove objects, extend the ratio of an image and more.
• AI-powered audio generators are also gaining popularity. Tools like Prime Voice by ElevenLabscan clone people’s voices. Prime Voice AI brings text-to-speech and cloning voice software to the next level and can narrate news articles, tell stories and narrate other types of long-form content.
• AI is also making notetaking and tracking action items a bit easier with OtterPilot. The tool lets individuals and organizations record meetings, transcribe notes, summarize activities and more. We swear by this tool here at PR Daily.

Why it matters: PR pros, using artificial intelligence to boost your brand or make your work faster and easier is quickly becoming a standard part of the profession.

Stay curious and experimental when it comes to discovering, learning and putting into practice new AI trends and components. Developing this AI muscle will ensure you are always ahead of the game. Creatively wielding these AI tools will prove to be beneficial for your work in the short and long run.

Obviously, you need to also be cognizant of a variety of issues that can impact your ability to use these tools: data privacy concerns, copyright issues and being transparent with stakeholders about how, when and why these tools were used. But by proceeding with honesty and creativity, you can find a way to stay ahead of the curve.

While artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping the role of the communicator’s work, knowing how and when to use AI tools will continue to be an invaluable part of the job.

New York newspaper keeps position after local government dissatisfied with coverage

The Reporter, a Delaware Country, New York newspaper, faced some opposition from the local government over coverage – but they’re not backing down, the New York Times reported.

Tina Molé, a Delaware County official, did not like how the newspaper covered the county government and wanted The Reporter’s Publisher Kim Shepard to “do something” about the lack of positive coverage.

That wasn’t going to happen under Shepard’s watch, per the article. Shortly after the fall 2019 coverage discussion, The Reporter lost its hefty print public notices county contract to the tune of $13,000 a year.

This hit the newspaper, which has about 4,000 subscribers, hard. This is not an isolated incident but a growing trend where local newspapers are being financially hit by government officials dissatisfied with editorial coverage. According to the article, newspapers in Colorado, New Jersey and California, North Carolina, and elsewhere, are feeling the pinch of having their contracts for public notices taken away after articles shine a sometimes (but necessary) unfavorable light on local governments, per NYT. If newspapers can’t tell the truth about government happenings who will?

“It’s gotten worse over the years in terms of trying to use contracts and laws to lash out at newspapers,” said Richard Karpel, executive director of the nonprofit organization, Public Notice Resource Center, which keeps tabs on the government’s forthrightness.

Why it matters: The Reporter and other impacted newspapers continue to stand their ground against local officials unhappy with the coverage of government happenings.

It’s a sobering reminder for the PR industry that times are certainly changing for the news industry but standing firm in what you believe in should always be at the top of your mind. It’s easy to view the press as adversaries, as it appears these local governments are doing. But no matter what type of organization you represent, the media can be a valuable ally. Our symbiotic relationship can be contentious, but we need each other to thrive.

Editor’s Top Picks:

• The sports betting industry wants to get Gen Z and women more involved, according to Morning Consult. Millennials, men and high earners are already big bettors. According to a Morning Consult survey, 74% of women survey participants said they would not partake in betting – regardless “of the legality.”
• Dove Men+Care has a new campaign, #CongratsItsADad, to highlight how the birth of new babies is a new chapter for fathers,  per PR Newswire. The campaign aims to recognize men who “received the ultimate gift this year – the birth of their child.” On Sunday, Father’s Day, Dove Men+Care showcased some of the newest fathers around the country in a compilation of photos on digital billboards. The campaign is also part of Dove’s longstanding commitment to paternity leave.
• ”Elemental” has failed like “no Pixar movie ever has before,” according to Slate. “Elemental,” the studio’s latest film flopped, earning just $29.6 million at the box office with a “record-worst” during opening weekend. It cost Pixar $200 million to make the film, not counting marketing.

Sherri Kolade is a writer at Ragan Communications. When she is not with her family, she enjoys watching Alfred Hitchcock-style films, reading and building an authentically curated life that includes more than occasionally finding something deliciously fried. Follow her on LinkedIn. Have a great PR story idea? Email her at sherrik@ragan.com.