Hey there! Welcome back to Comms Rundown, MA Family’s go-to newsletter on PR and communications.

This issue is packed with fresh tips and strategies to help you cut through the noise and catch the media’s eye. We’re keeping it sharp, actionable, and straight to the point — exactly what you need to stay ahead.

Let’s dive right in!

Founder Playbook: What Worked This Month 📝

Arc, a startup developing web browser that offers a modern browsing experience, recently addressed a security vulnerability found by an outside researcher, providing valuable insights for founders. Here’s a quick summary of their effective response:

What Worked:

• Transparent Communication: CTO Hursh shared a clear timeline, confirming the issue was reported on August 25, fixed on August 26, and that no users were affected. This level of transparency builds trust.

• Ownership of Mistakes: Arc admitted to misconfigured Access Control Lists (ACLs) that caused the vulnerability. Taking responsibility is crucial for maintaining credibility.

• Proactive Measures: The company outlined steps to enhance security, including disabling JavaScript on synced Boosts by default and conducting a thorough audit of their Firebase ACLs. This reassures users about their safety.

• Bounty Size: The $2,000 bounty for discovering the vulnerability faced backlash, but the company increased the award to $20,000 for the incident.

Areas for Improvement:

• Empathy in Communication: While the technical details were clear, adding a more empathetic tone could enhance user engagement.

On a side note, Boeing’s CEO recently shared a letter to employees that serves as a reminder for founders to emphasize empathy and avoid excessive formality in their communications.

Crash Course: Comms Tips in Under 5 Minutes 🚀

With Crunchbase pausing its contributor program until year-end and CNN shutting down its opinion section this summer, opportunities for guest publications are shrinking. While many outlets still accept submissions, it's becoming tougher to secure placements.

So, what outlets still accept guest posts? Fast Company, EU-Startups, Sifted, VentureBeat, Unite.AI, Tech Funding News, and major crypto outlets — CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, Blockworks and Crypto.news are still open for contributions.

As traditional opinion spaces close, thought leaders are turning to social media. Don’t underestimate LinkedIn as a powerful platform to share your insights and opinions — it’s where your voice can still make an impact.

ICYMI: Token2049 Singapore⚡️

If you missed Token2049 week in Singapore last week, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Check out this insightful thread with all the key takeaways!

The biggest themes?

1. People are tired of hype and narratives — they’re looking for real products.

2. Many skipped the main event, focusing on side events (a growing trend in recent years), but the sheer number of side events has become overwhelming.

3. The buzz? AI & crypto is the vertical everyone’s excited about.

Quick Wins: 1-Minute Media Opportunity 🎯

Great News from Token Relations! Jacquelyn Melinek, a former TechCrunch reporter, has hit a big milestone with her new project. In just a few months, her podcast and newsletter have gained over 170,000 subscribers!

Talking Tokens interviews key leaders, startups, and rising stars in the crypto world who are making a difference. If you think you might be a great fit for Talking Tokens, reach out to Jacquelyn at [email protected].

If you have any questions about pitching her, just ask us—we're happy to help!

Need Help? Let’s Talk!

We have only one spot left for our free 30-minute PR strategy session this month! We're offering this exclusive opportunity to three founders. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today and receive personalized advice to enhance your startup’s communication strategy!

Drop a short email to [email protected] to set it up.

Thank you for joining us for the twelfth edition of our newsletter on communication and PR!

If you don't feel like this is something relevant for you, you can always unsubscribe below — otherwise, see you in October 🙌

Aleksandra from MA Family