May 29, 2025
In this week's edition: 2025 reputation rankings, Google Veo upends AI video, tackling mis/disinformation, CEO transitions and corporate reputation, the risks of corporate rebrands, and much more...
The 2025 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings - In 2025, Tesla and SpaceX saw their reputations crash, while culture wars and scandals pulled down reputations. (Axios)
This is the first commercial 100% created with Veo 3, Google 's video AI - And it is mind-blowing. As the author says, “It is a turning point for audiovisual production. Perfect acting and lip sync. Cinematic quality. Impeccable narrative. All generated in less than a day by filmmaker PJ Ace, with only $500 in Veo 3 credits.” (Marina Saroka - click translate). More examples here.
Corporate Communication Review - “The first issue focuses on redefining communication strategies in the digital age. As the landscape rapidly evolves, we explore the latest research on how organizations can effectively navigate and leverage digital communication to engage stakeholders, build trust, and drive impact.” An essential read. (CCR)
Journalism Zero: How Platforms and Publishers are Navigating AI - An essential read that examines “the relationship between publishing companies and the technology and platform companies that by their actions and products shape the field of journalism.” (CJR)
New Global Digital Handbook Equips Communicators to Tackle Mis/Disinformation - “This Digital Handbook (provides) actionable guidance in areas such as: Understanding society to mitigate mis/disinformation; Relevance of Media Literacy and the Role of communication professionals; AI and mis/disinformation: Risks and Opportunities; Importance of Traditional and Generative Search in fact-checking; The international cooperation within the information society ecosystem.” (ICCO)
How CEO transitions impact corporate reputation - “A record number of CEOs exited in 2024, with most executive transitions taking place when corporate reputation is in free fall, according to trend data from the Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings.” (Axios)
Social media crisis communication and public engagement during COVID-19 analyzing public health and news media organizations’ tweeting strategies - New research has revealed that “more hashtags and longer texts were associated with lower engagement, except for tweets on “medical research and treatment information” and “health instructions and suggestions”. Our study indicated that fewer hashtags and concise language might improve public engagement, while detailed content with more hashtags was effective for specific health instructions.” (Nature)
HBO Maxes Out: The Risks of Corporate Rebrands - “Warner Bros. Discovery admits its Max rebrand was a mistake. But what’s the cost of flip-flopping?” (Inc)
ChatGPT referral traffic to publishers’ sites has nearly doubled this year - “Of the traffic OpenAI’s generative AI platforms send to external websites, 83% went to news and media sites in April, up from 64% in January, according to Similarweb data.” (Digiday)
Google AI Overviews leads to dramatic reduction in clickthroughs for Mail Online - “Mail director of SEO and editorial e-commerce Carly Steven reveals impact of Google AI Overviews.” (Press Gazette)
Google's new AI video tool floods internet with real-looking clips - “Unlike OpenAI's video generator Sora, released more widely last December, Google DeepMind's Veo 3 can include dialogue, soundtracks and sound effects.” (Axios)
How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis - “The gold crown logo is ubiquitous in the professional tennis world, where Rolex sponsors all four Grand Slams.” (Front Office Sports)
And finally, the most popular article from last week was What GenAI Tools Can and Can’t Do for Presentations by MITSloan.