Oh, hi! Welcome to Spin, Rinse, Repeat, where we cut through the noise and serve up the sharpest insights, biggest blunders, and latest news in the world of media and PR. Like the sound of that? Subscribe here. Without further ado, here’s what I’m into this week:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says reporters can’t “solicit” unapproved info – and outlets on both sides of the aisle aren’t pleased. Hegseth seems unbothered.
- Upstart formula brand Bobbie is crushing the brand game: everyone’s favorite courtroom witness Cardi B is their new “chief confidence officer,” part of a branding move to fight “feeding shame.” (ADWEEK) (Side note – their activation at the recent San Diego Wave game at which Alex Morgan – a brand ambassador and mom of two – saw her jersey retired was chef’s kiss perfection.)
- The founder of Lululemon really let it rip on the state of the brand with a full-page ad in the WSJ.
And in other news with a decidedly personal bent, the Indiana Daily Student, the 158-year-old student newspaper of which I served as campus news editor in 2002, is in trouble. It’s been a busy week for censorship on Indiana University campus (makes it tough to cheer for the ascendant football program):
- The University, led by President Pam Whitten, first ordered the IDS to publish “nothing but information about Homecoming – no other news at all” in an upcoming print edition.
- Then-Director of Student Media Jim Rodenbush refused, (appropriately!) citing censorship concerns. He was swiftly terminated by Media School Dean David Tolchinsky. (Indy Star; Indiana Public Media)
- The university then ordered the paper to cut the print edition entirely. The Student Press Law Center isn’t having any of it.
As a proud alum of the Media School, a former journalist myself, and a lawyer who cares deeply about the First Amendment implications this course of action portends, I am incredibly distressed. Mark Cuban is, too!
Ciao for now, media aficionados…
-Holly
