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Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
TNB Tech Minute: Astronomer Taps A-List Celebs to Help Move On From Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal - Tech News Briefing
Full Transcript This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Zoe Kuhlkin: Here's your afternoon TNB Tech Minute for Monday, July 28th. I'm Zoe Kuhlkin for the Wall Street Journal. Actor Ryan Reynolds marketing firm, Maximum Effort, is attempting to help tech company, Astronomer, recover from its Coldplay concert kiss cam scandal with a light-hearted advertisement to shift the public's focus to its actual business. The video stars actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Coldplay front man, Chris Martin's ex-wife, as Astronomer's very temporary spokesperson. Maximum Effort confirmed it worked with Astronomer while the tech company did not respond to requests for comment. Elsewhere, Charter Communications' second-quarter results came in lower than forecasted amid unrelenting competitive intensity across the industry according to Bank of America analysts. While the sector is expected to remain challenged, the analysts expect trends are likely to improve through the rest of the year and into 2026. They add that Charter remains best positioned among cable operators to defend market share, citing the company's rural footprint expansion, support from video offerings, and converged offers across its portfolio that provide savings and continued network upgrades. And finally, Firefly Aerospace revealed terms of a planned initial public offering that could push the market capitalization to 5.5 Billion dollars. The space and defense technology company said it plans to sell 16.2 million shares between $35 and $39 a piece in the IPO. Firefly said it has applied to list its shares on the NASDAQ Global market under the symbol FLY. That's a wrap on your TNB Tech minutes. For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out Tuesday's Tech News Briefing podcast.
SBS Australia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
'Genius move': Everyone is raving about new Astronomer ad after Coldplay kiss cam scandal
Gwyneth Paltrow is starring in a new ad for Astronomer. Almost a fortnight after the tech company's married CEO, Andy Byron, was caught on a Coldplay concert kiss cam with his arms around his HR executive Kristin Cabot, Paltrow has been hired as a "temporary" spokesperson for Astronomer. The 52-year-old, who was married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin from 2003 until 2016, appeared in a short video on Astronomer's social media speaking about the company's strengths. "I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer. Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common one," she says in the ad. The first question, "OMG! What the actual f***?", then appeared on the screen in writing. However, she dodged the question and plugged the company's products: "We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." The next question to Astronomer was, "How is your social media team holding ..." However, Paltrow moved on before the whole question could be asked. "We will now be returning to what we do best, which is delivering game-changing results for our customers. Thank you for your interest in Astronomer," she said. The video was captioned: "Thank you for your interest in Astronomer." Social media users chimed in after the video was released, with tech journalist Neville Lahiru saying: "Getting Chris Martin's ex-wife was a genius move lol." PR and communications consultant Ronke Lawal lauded the move as an "engaging way to handle a PR crisis" and "socially relevant without being too corny and cringe." Another user, Matt Brian, commented: "Marketing genius. Owning the Coldplay kiss cam video *and* hiring Chris Martin's ex-wife? Splendid." At Coldplay's 15 July concert near Boston, a cameraman panned across the crowd and showed Byron and Cabot in an embrace. In a video shared to TikTok, as the couple frantically tried to dodge the camera, frontman Martin could be heard saying: "Oh, look at these two. All right, c'mon, you're okay. "Oh, what? Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Both Byron and Cabot have since resigned from the company.
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
I Have A Problem With The Term 'Thought Leadership Ads'
With LinkedIn's thought leadership ads, the line between genuine insight and paid promotion is ... More blurring—raising questions about what thought leadership really means. Recently, I saw a webinar titled 'LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads.' The name alone made my stomach churn. For a moment, I thought I had misread it. Surely, this wasn't real—surely, no one had decided to mash together the words 'thought leadership' and 'advertisement' into a serious marketing product. But yes, it was true. LinkedIn now has a format called thought leadership ads, which lets companies sponsor posts from individuals—typically their own executives or employees—to promote thought leadership. As someone who has spent the past decades studying, practicing, and teaching the art of writing, particularly for B2B companies, I can't help but feel that this development is not just a misstep. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of what thought leadership is and what it's meant to do. Let me be clear: Thought leadership is not a campaign. It's not a post. It's not a shiny new format for marketers to test. It's a philosophy and a practice rooted in generosity. At its best, thought leadership is the long game of building trust by offering something meaningful and valuable—ideas, perspectives, frameworks—for free, in service of your audience. When I teach writing for thought leadership, I emphasize that thought leadership emerges when an expert becomes an idea guide. This person doesn't just share information—they serve their audience by helping them solve important problems. That's the price of admission: usefulness. Not visibility. Not virality. Admission requires relevance and usefulness. What makes the thought leadership ad format so jarring is the contradiction at its core. Sponsoring someone's post and calling it 'thought leadership' undermines the entire premise of what we're trying to build in this space. Thought leadership isn't supposed to be transactional. You don't get to buy your way in. You earn it through creativity and critical thinking. Thought Leadership Ads: From Individual Voice to Brand Megaphone Let's look closer at what these ads actually do. Companies can now promote posts from their executives' personal profiles—meaning, you're scrolling through LinkedIn and see a thoughtful update from someone who seems like an expert in their field. But look again. In small letters, you may notice: 'Promoted by [Company Name].' The brand is paying for that message to reach you. The post hasn't organically pleased the LinkedIn algorithm. It's strategically distributed paid media—and the label is subtle enough that many users may not realize what they're seeing is an ad. This kind of stealth branding muddies the waters between genuine expertise and corporate messaging. Companies are right to be engaging their experts for their content, but I believe we need clearer labeling which gives us the ability to tell the difference between a hard-won idea and a boosted post. I'd like to see labeling as clear as the difference between a newspaper's opinion page and it's sponsored sections. The Real Problem: Dilution of the Term Thought Leadership In small ways, I've been working for higher standards in thought leadership for years. LinkedIn's ad format worries me because it pulls us in the opposite direction. Just as groups like the Global Thought Leadership Institute are working to define and professionalize this practice, LinkedIn's feature invites a flood of performative, pay-to-play content. In an environment where the term thought leadership is stretched to include individuals' posts promoted with budget, thought leadership as a practice is diluted. And when a term loses its meaning, it loses its power. That's not just a branding issue. It's a credibility issue. How can professionals be expected to invest in their own deep thinking, original research, or courageous opinion writing when branded soundbites dressed up as fresh thinking are the norm? Let's Call Thought Leadership Ads What They Are—Advertising Let's face it. Thought leadership ads are not a clever evolution of thought leadership—they're just another kind of advertising. Such posts may actually contain expertise, but make no mistake: These are ads. They are bought. They are targeted. They are tracked. And I'd venture to say that they're engineered for engagement more than insight. Let's stop confusing the medium with the message. Just because an idea is sponsored doesn't make it unworthy—but we must label it front and center for what it is. Thought leadership is a standard we should preserve, not a term we should co-opt for clicks. Here are some ideas about how LinkedIn could rename the labels for the actual posts. And here are some ideas about what the product could be called: Any of these would be better than calling them thought leadership ads. More importantly, a new product name wouldn't hijack a phrase that many professionals have worked hard to live up to. If we allow this blurring to continue, we risk undermining everything that real thought leadership is meant to stand for: courage, clarity, curiosity, and the willingness to give without asking for anything in return. Why The Name Of Promoted Posts Matters This isn't about semantics. It's about values. Thought leadership, when practiced well, is about helping others. It's about taking risks with your thinking. It's about earning trust over time—not buying it in the moment. That distinction matters, especially when we're drowning in content and starving for substance. It matters even more for the people doing this work—professionals who are putting in the effort to frame their ideas, test their hypotheses, research deeply and write with the reader in mind. If we tell them that the only way to be seen is to pay, we're telling them that the hard work doesn't matter. That the system rewards visibility over value. That's a message I don't want to support. Going Deep Instead of Going Wide The best thought leadership doesn't come from amplification. It comes from intention. It comes from doing the deep work of identifying the real problems your audience faces and offering insights that help them move forward. No ad can manufacture that. As the autor of Write Like a Thought Leader, I want to say, clearly and unequivocally: advertising is not thought leadership. Yes, thought leadership is in service of a product or service you're selling, but advertising language should not be part of it. In my view, you can't buy trust with thought leadership ads. You can't promote your way to authority. And you can't call something 'leadership' if it doesn't begin with service.
News24
20-07-2025
- Sport
- News24
Government under pressure to curb rise in online gambling as punters lose R1 trillion in bets
One of many advertisements for online sports betting. Elizabeth Sejake Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once. Start your FREE trial now
National Post
18-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Who is Pierre Moreau, Carney's new government representative in the Senate?
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pierre Moreau, Quebec Liberal Party candidate in the riding of Châteauguay in the 2018 Quebec general election.. Photo by Quebec Liberal Party OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney has picked a veteran Quebec politician who joined the Senate less than a year ago to become his representative in the upper chamber. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Pierre Moreau, who held a variety of cabinet roles in Quebec's Liberal governments for 15 years, was appointed to the Senate in September 2024. He will be replacing former senator Marc Gold as the government's representative. Gold bid farewell to the Senate in June at the mandatory retirement age of 75. 'Senator Moreau's expertise and experience will advance the government's legislative agenda to bring down costs, keep communities safe, and build one strong Canadian economy,' said a press release issued Friday morning by Carney's office. Your guide to the world of Canadian politics. (Subscriber exclusive on Saturdays) By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Carney thanked Gold for his 'many years of service' standing for the government in the Senate, which Gold has been doing since 2020, and wished him well on his retirement. The government representative in the Senate is usually the main point of contact between the government and the upper chamber. His main role is to bring forward the government's legislation in the Senate and shepherd its passage through the chamber. The representative can also attend cabinet meetings and is responsible for answering questions on behalf of the government in the Senate, according to the Senate's website. Even though Moreau is new to the Senate, his experience in legal and political circles spans over four decades. He worked as a lawyer in Montreal before he was first elected in 2003 as a member of the Quebec legislature under then premier Jean Charest. Moreau was defeated in the 2007 provincial election, but was re-elected in 2008, 2012 and 2014. During those years, he served as minister of intergovernmental affairs, transport, education, energy and natural resources and as president of the province's Treasury Board. After Charest resigned in 2012, Moreau was a candidate in the Liberal Party of Quebec's leadership race to succeed him in 2013. Moreau ended up in second place, after Philippe Couillard. Couillard would go on to serve only one term as Liberal premier, from 2014 to 2018. His government was defeated over spending cuts that ultimately balanced the province's books, but paved the way for CAQ Leader François Legault's first majority mandate in 2018. Moreau lost his seat that year and returned to practice law, while occasionally appearing as a political commentator on Radio-Canada's television and radio programs. Moreau was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2024 and represents the Laurentian region, north of Montreal. He will turn 68 in December, which means he is more than seven years away from the Senate's mandatory retirement age. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In his maiden speech in the Senate, on June 10, Moreau thanked Gold, his predecessor, for his help and advice in the early stages of his time in the Senate. 'Parliamentarism implies that we can sometimes oppose the ideas of others, even vehemently. However, such opposition must never come at the cost of respect for those who express them,' Moreau said. 'I will therefore draw on your teachings and, like you, I will always keep my door open to talk and discuss with my colleagues,' he added. Last year, Moreau tabled Bill S-219 in hopes of establishing a 'judicial independence day' in Canada each year on January 11. He said current events around the world make it necessary, more than ever, to reinforce the independence of the judiciary in Canada. 'In Canada, it is easy to take for granted that these cardinal rules are part of the founding principles of any democratic society. However, as we know, all democracies are fragile, and Canada is no exception,' he said. Moreau also claimed in his speech that there are Canadian politicians 'who have suddenly and inexplicably thought it wise to criticize the courts and judges and publicly challenge their decisions.' 'The direct consequence of these criticisms and attacks is to erode public confidence in the administration of justice and undermine the authority of the courts,' he said. Moreau was a member of the Progressive Senate Group caucus until his nomination as the government representative. National Post calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.
