Ever noticed how autumn is PR's busiest season? 🍂 

We definitely did! It's when everyone's back from vacation, and there's a little time to get things done before the "let's do it next year" mentality sets in.

So, this is MA Family and welcome to Comms Rundown, our newsletter on PR and communications.

Let's dive right into October's roundup and make it quick!

Blitz 🎯

1. Decrypt launched Emerge to expand its coverage — now they also cover all sorts of topics from AI to health tech, space tech, quantum computing, & more! 

2. Elon Musk unveiled a new policy to combat misinformation on X, including a crowdsourced fact-checking program and a 'pay-to-play' model.

3. Meta is launching a paid subscription that will remove ads from Facebook and Instagram to address concerns from European Union regulators.

4. Web Summit has appointed former Wikimedia Foundation CEO Katherine Maher as chief executive following the resignation of Paddy Cosgrave — here is her first letter as the CEO.

WebSummit Case 🆕

Paddy Cosgrave, the founder of Web Summit, one of Europe’s biggest technology conferences, is the latest example of how business leaders can find themselves in hot water by expressing their personal opinions without thinking of the company.

Cosgrave resigned last week after major sponsors and speakers dropped out of the conference amid the backlash over his public criticism of Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks.

Read more about how it started:

Following the cancellations Paddy published a written apology post on the Web Summit website earlier on October 17, but for some founders, Cosgrave's apology wasn't enough to bring them back to Lisbon next month.

As a result, Cosgrave stepped down as CEO of Web Summit, and today the conference named ex-Wikimedia CEO, Katherine Maher, to take over in the wake of the Cosgrave controversy.

This recent episode offers valuable lessons for business leaders and people working in communications:

1. Words Matter: The choice of words, especially in a public forum, carries significant weight. It's essential to be mindful of the impact of what we say, as it can have far-reaching consequences for both personal and professional relationships.

2. Responsible Communication: Responsible communication is paramount, whether you're an individual or a business leader. It's crucial to express your opinions and views in a manner that is considerate and respectful, especially when they touch upon sensitive topics.

3. Navigating PR Crises: Cosgrave's situation underscores the need for a well-prepared crisis management strategy. Business leaders should be ready to respond effectively when faced with public relations crises, ensuring transparency and swift resolution.

In our fast-paced communication world, remember: think before you speak or post 💬

Who's where? 👀

1. Olivia-Anne Cleary joined Time as the new Weekend Editor (FTC). She’s working across sectors, so do get in touch about all things Culture, Politics, Business, and more!

2. Bloomberg has named Saritha Rai an Asia AI reporter to cover startups, innovation, big enterprises, regulation & entire gamut of AI in India, China, Japan, S Korea.

3. Nate Lanxon became the Global Editorial Lead for Technology & Gaming at Bloomberg Originals.

4. Tim Copeland announced his new role as Editor-In-Chief of The Block.

5. Jennifer L Wang joined Yahoo Finance as a senior editor — her team will be covering consumer, tech, and more.

6. Nhari Djan started a new role at Observer covering media news.

7. Jyoti Mann started a new position as a Tech Reporter at Insider — she’s looking to expand my network and would love to meet for coffee.

8. Diana Li moved to a new position as a Consumer reporter at Bloomberg News — she will be helping covering consumer-facing companies with a particular focus on big-box retailers like Walmart and Target.

9. Kadhim Shubber started as the FT's UK news editor, leading the UK news desk.

Heads-up 🔜

We found the scoop on some awesome side events for Web Summit that are not canceled amid the crisis — and there are lots of them 🚀

Will you join the event this year? If yes — check these lists out!

Quote of the month 🧐

Workbook 📝

Check out this interview with the former Chief Editor at TechCrunch — it provides a great overview of what's been going on with tech coverage.

It’s behind a paywall — contact us to receive a copy!

Tips and insights📚

Thank you for joining us for the sixth 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 November 🙌

Aleksandra from MA Family