This week’s quick PR reads were difficult to compile, with a plethora of interesting stories hitting the airwaves as 2020 gets off to a news frenzy start. Here is just a sampling of some of the trending stories that we’re reading and talking about this week.
The Big Game’s Stars Gear Up for Release
With the Big Game just weeks away, the annual anticipation builds for the true star of the show – the commercials. Some of the biggest brands are already releasing teasers for the big night. It looks like the trend for these brands is to rely on big names for big buzz, as well as, invest in media coverage and social media upfront.
Doritos has recruited “Old Town Road” star Lil Nas X and his collaborator Billy Ray Cyrus for its Super Bowl commercial. One of the teasers starrs actor Sam Elliott delivering the lyrics to “Old Town Road” in dramatic fashion while dressed as a cowboy in a saloon. The final game spot will promote Cool Ranch Doritos.
Cheetos also released an ad teaser with ‘90s rap star, MC Hammer, promoting its new popcorn.
Olay has recruited Taraji P. Henson, “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” host Lilly Singh, Katie Couric and Busy Philipps to star in spots for Olay Regenerist as part of the brand’s #MakeSpaceforWomen promotion in which they will donate $1 for every tweet that uses the hashtag to Girls Who Code, an organization that works to build a pipeline for female engineers in the US.
Pop-Tarts snatches up another popular influencer, “Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness, and Hyundai works with “Saturday Night Live” alumna Rachel Dratch alongside baseball’s David “Big Papi” Ortiz, former Boston Red Sox player, for their spot.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Crack Down on the Paps
Harry and Meghan have been front and center for the past couple of weeks now with the announcement of stepping back from The Royal Family.
Now, the couple has issued a letter to the British news outlets warning them that “action will be taken” if they purchase and/or publish any photographs taken by photographers trailing them under circumstances the letter describes as “harassment.”
The letter said that paparazzi have permanently camped outside the couple’s home and attempted to photograph them using long-range lenses.
“There are serious safety concerns about how the paparazzi are driving and the risk to life they pose,” the letter read.
Starbucks Sets Fresh Sustainability Targets
Starbucks Corp. has set fresh targets for limiting its environmental impact with pledge to cut its water use and the amount of trash it sends to landfills over the next decade. To reach them, the popular coffee giant plans to serve in reusable cups, curb food and packaging waste, and launch a more environmentally friendly menu including plant-based options.
The company plans to formalize these goals by March 2021 and joins companies like BlackRock and Microsoft to announce sweeping goals to combat climate change.
Will TikTok Dethrone Instagram?
Snapchat CEO & founder, Evan Spiegel, thinks the new competitor TikTok has the potential to dethrone Instagram as the world’s third-largest social application.
“I love TikTok; I’m a big fan,” Spiegel said. “Social media in its original construct is really about status, representing who you are, showing people that you’re cool, getting likes and comments, those sorts of things.”
Users, Spiegel said, are creating content on TikTok to show off talent rather than social status. “People who have spent a couple hours learning a new dance or think about a funny new creative way to tell a story, and they’re really making media to entertain other people,” he said.
Spiegel thinks this could be the key to passing Instagram. “I think it’s certainly possible because this talent-based content is often more interesting than status-based content.”
