Matt Friedman
@mattfrieds.bsky.social
PR/Strategic Communications/Crisis & Litigation Communications, Former TV/radio news, Michigan native and resident, Detroit lover, Syracuse grad
There’s a ton of news affecting communications and media, but who’s even paying attention?
tannerfriedman.com/blog/theres-...
tannerfriedman.com/blog/theres-...
There's A Ton of News Affecting Communications and Media, But Who's Even Paying Attention? - Tanner Friedman
There’s so much that could be written about here now that’s affecting communications and media. For starters: -The President of the United States is suing the Wall Street Journal in a case filed for “...
tannerfriedman.com
July 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
There’s a ton of news affecting communications and media, but who’s even paying attention?
tannerfriedman.com/blog/theres-...
tannerfriedman.com/blog/theres-...
It’s a day for communicators to stop and pay attention: tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-day-f...
A Day For Communicators To Stop and Pay Attention - Tanner Friedman
If you rely on the protection of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution in order to make a living, today is a bad day. Yes, you, even you wearing the red hat, metaphorically or otherwis...
tannerfriedman.com
July 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It’s a day for communicators to stop and pay attention: tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-day-f...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
So great to have you on! Really enjoyed the chat on local journalism, newspapers, and what could be next.
Thoughts and attempted insight on the coming news war in Detroit on the @dailydetroit.bsky.social podcast:
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
Can Both Of Detroit's Newspapers Survive? (ft. Matt Friedman)
After 36 years, the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News is dissolving at the end of the year.
While they have had competitive newsrooms, the JOA meant thei...
www.dailydetroit.com
June 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
So great to have you on! Really enjoyed the chat on local journalism, newspapers, and what could be next.
Thoughts and attempted insight on the coming news war in Detroit on the @dailydetroit.bsky.social podcast:
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
Can Both Of Detroit's Newspapers Survive? (ft. Matt Friedman)
After 36 years, the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News is dissolving at the end of the year.
While they have had competitive newsrooms, the JOA meant thei...
www.dailydetroit.com
June 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Thoughts and attempted insight on the coming news war in Detroit on the @dailydetroit.bsky.social podcast:
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
www.dailydetroit.com/can-both-of-...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
On the final night of Pearl Jam tour in Pittsburgh, Eddie Vedder took time to respond to Trump’s attacks on Bruce Springsteen for speaking the truth 🔥
May 20, 2025 at 3:09 AM
On the final night of Pearl Jam tour in Pittsburgh, Eddie Vedder took time to respond to Trump’s attacks on Bruce Springsteen for speaking the truth 🔥
Here’s what it’s like “out there” from this vantage point.
It looks like blue skies but there a cloud - of anxiety - covering so much.
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
It looks like blue skies but there a cloud - of anxiety - covering so much.
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
A Look Out The Window at Business (So Far) In 2025 - Tanner Friedman
In the PR business, we’re used to dealing with fear. Clients have always been afraid of saying the wrong thing. Or of being misquoted. Or being taken out of context. Or even criticized by competitors ...
tannerfriedman.com
May 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Here’s what it’s like “out there” from this vantage point.
It looks like blue skies but there a cloud - of anxiety - covering so much.
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
It looks like blue skies but there a cloud - of anxiety - covering so much.
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
While so many of us fall asleep in a chair, worn down by the havoc inflicted upon those we serve, these guys do an ice cream toast at the Florida country club after taxpayer-funded travel.
Trump and Howard Lutnick have "ice cream sundaes most Friday nights to gossip and replay the week."
Why the Cabinet secretary Trump world loves to hate isn’t going anywhere
Most Trump allies are trying to get Howard Lutnick ousted from his job. But his friendship with the president protects him.
www.politico.com
April 17, 2025 at 10:28 AM
While so many of us fall asleep in a chair, worn down by the havoc inflicted upon those we serve, these guys do an ice cream toast at the Florida country club after taxpayer-funded travel.
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Quote in the New York Times today from my college Econ professor:
“I always think that with gambling, at least you have a chance of winning. This is worse than that,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist… “This is betting with the mafia. You’re going to lose.”
“I always think that with gambling, at least you have a chance of winning. This is worse than that,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist… “This is betting with the mafia. You’re going to lose.”
April 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Quote in the New York Times today from my college Econ professor:
“I always think that with gambling, at least you have a chance of winning. This is worse than that,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist… “This is betting with the mafia. You’re going to lose.”
“I always think that with gambling, at least you have a chance of winning. This is worse than that,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist… “This is betting with the mafia. You’re going to lose.”
What happens if the shakedown comes for your firm? tannerfriedman.com/blog/what-ha...
What Happens If The Shakedown Comes For Your Firm? - Tanner Friedman
One of the biggest challenges in the crisis PR business the past few months has been trying to help clients in situations where, not many weeks ago, if we had brought up preparing for the worst, the c...
tannerfriedman.com
March 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
What happens if the shakedown comes for your firm? tannerfriedman.com/blog/what-ha...
Talking Tesla on TV. Are the protests good PR?
14:30 into this link:
www.fox2detroit.com/video/161512...
14:30 into this link:
www.fox2detroit.com/video/161512...
Trump’s tariffs on auto imports
President Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs on auto imports. WWJ-AM auto reporter Jeff Gilbert discusses the impact this could have. Plus, discussing the fallout from the accidental text of air strik...
www.fox2detroit.com
March 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Talking Tesla on TV. Are the protests good PR?
14:30 into this link:
www.fox2detroit.com/video/161512...
14:30 into this link:
www.fox2detroit.com/video/161512...
For generations, this is how people living under authoritarian regimes could get factual information. Now that we are headed that way, who will provide it to us?
News: "Bloody Saturday" for Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international networks
Mass indefinite suspensions at Voice of America, Radio/TV Marti
Federal contracts severed for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia & more
My NPR story
www.npr.org/2025/03/15/n...
Mass indefinite suspensions at Voice of America, Radio/TV Marti
Federal contracts severed for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia & more
My NPR story
www.npr.org/2025/03/15/n...
'Bloody Saturday' at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks
Federal officials placed 1,000 employees at Voice of America on indefinite paid leave, while severing contracts with Radio Free Asia and other U.S.-funded networks.
www.npr.org
March 15, 2025 at 8:54 PM
For generations, this is how people living under authoritarian regimes could get factual information. Now that we are headed that way, who will provide it to us?
Reposted by Matt Friedman
From interview of Lee Bollinger, 1st Amendment scholar who served as dean of @UMichLaw, president of @UMich, and president of Columbia University.
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
March 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
From interview of Lee Bollinger, 1st Amendment scholar who served as dean of @UMichLaw, president of @UMich, and president of Columbia University.
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Fascism places emotion over reason. Words become just tools to achieve the vision of the Leader. In our post-truth world, this takes the special form of the inversion of meaning: fascists call other people "fascists" and antisemites call other people "antisemites"
snyder.substack.com/p/antisemiti...
snyder.substack.com/p/antisemiti...
"Antisemitism" and Antisemitism
The abuse of the word and the spread of the phenomenon
snyder.substack.com
March 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Fascism places emotion over reason. Words become just tools to achieve the vision of the Leader. In our post-truth world, this takes the special form of the inversion of meaning: fascists call other people "fascists" and antisemites call other people "antisemites"
snyder.substack.com/p/antisemiti...
snyder.substack.com/p/antisemiti...
This a threat to everyone who has until now worked under the protection of The First Amendment.
Trump: "These newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative. And it has to stop. It has to be illegal ... it just cannot be legal."
March 14, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This a threat to everyone who has until now worked under the protection of The First Amendment.
A look through the window of what it has been like to do crisis and change PR since January 20th:
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
A Look Through The Window at PR Since January 20th - Tanner Friedman
For the past 18 years, we have tried to use this space to give you a look at what really happens inside our business and give you a glimpse at a profession that, ironically, has done an awful job of c...
tannerfriedman.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A look through the window of what it has been like to do crisis and change PR since January 20th:
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
tannerfriedman.com/blog/a-look-...
An example of how to communicate if threatened by Project 2025 being put into action.
Meeting the Moment with Collective Action
"The future of public education is at a critical point in our nation’s history..."
Read the MiPAAC member communication here: mailchi.mp/aaomi/mipaac...
#MiPAAC
#StrongerTogetherforSpecialEd
#DisabilityEducationJustice
#CivilRights
"The future of public education is at a critical point in our nation’s history..."
Read the MiPAAC member communication here: mailchi.mp/aaomi/mipaac...
#MiPAAC
#StrongerTogetherforSpecialEd
#DisabilityEducationJustice
#CivilRights
March 7, 2025 at 10:09 PM
An example of how to communicate if threatened by Project 2025 being put into action.
Sober and sobering analysis for anyone who cares about press freedom. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Marty Baron: Why Bezos Is Debasing the Post & Bending Both Knees to Trump
Podcast Episode · Impolitic with John Heilemann · 03/03/2025 · 1h 15m
podcasts.apple.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Sober and sobering analysis for anyone who cares about press freedom. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
My book was published one year ago today. I am sad to see that its message is more relevant than ever. If you want to understand the disinformation tactics authoritarians use to seize power, I hope you’ll check it out.
BARBARA MCQUADE
Attack from Within by Barbara McQuade is an urgent, comprehensive explanation of the ways disinformation is impacting democracy, and practical solutions that can be pursued to strengthen the public,…
buff.ly
February 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
My book was published one year ago today. I am sad to see that its message is more relevant than ever. If you want to understand the disinformation tactics authoritarians use to seize power, I hope you’ll check it out.
Hungary. That is the model here. It’s being followed to a tee.
The message is clear. Given that the White House has already kicked one news organization out of the pool because of coverage it does not like, it is making certain everyone else knows that the rest of us can be barred too if the president does not like our questions or stories.
Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin's reign, this reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.
February 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Hungary. That is the model here. It’s being followed to a tee.
Talking PR on TV. How the federal government is now making everything harder. 18:30 in: www.fox2detroit.com/video/1596315
Trump/Musk social security reality check & addressing homelessness
A reality check on President Donald Trump & Elon Musk’s claims that millions of dead people get social security benefits. Plus, a Detroit businessman lives on the streets for 48 hours. His message on ...
www.fox2detroit.com
February 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Talking PR on TV. How the federal government is now making everything harder. 18:30 in: www.fox2detroit.com/video/1596315
A message to leaders and communicators: What to do if what you do is in Project 2025 tannerfriedman.com/blog/if-what...
If What You Do Is In Project 2025, Prepare Now To Communicate - Tanner Friedman
This isn’t about pointing to a boogeyman. We’re not in that business. This is about sound communications counsel that you can just as easily ignore as you can heed. Here it is simply: If you’re in a l...
tannerfriedman.com
February 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A message to leaders and communicators: What to do if what you do is in Project 2025 tannerfriedman.com/blog/if-what...
Every day I hear a “1930s Germany” comparison and that’s understandable… to a point. The sooner you undersrand Hungary, the sooner you’ll make a better analogy. apnews.com/article/trum...
Hungary's transformation into an 'electoral autocracy' has parallels to Trump's second term
U.S. conservatives have looked to Hungary's Viktor Orbán as an inspiration for a right-wing America, and the prime minister has become a close ally of President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
February 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Every day I hear a “1930s Germany” comparison and that’s understandable… to a point. The sooner you undersrand Hungary, the sooner you’ll make a better analogy. apnews.com/article/trum...
“We have concepts of a Congress.” @oknox.bsky.social on SXM POTUS. Spot on.
February 14, 2025 at 10:34 PM
“We have concepts of a Congress.” @oknox.bsky.social on SXM POTUS. Spot on.