Blagger’s Blog: Off socials, loving Peaky Blinders, hating Equinox

“I’m gonna take a break and come off socials for a minute.”

Hollywood A-lister Channing Tatum, who announced on social media that he would be putting the phone away and downing online tools to concentrate on the real world. His sentiments echo a growing trend of people wanting to be less-constantly connected and more present in the moment.

Weekly High

How about this for next-level user generated content marketing? The BBC has handed over responsibility for promoting the new series of cult British gangster epic ‘Peaky Blinders’ to fans of the show, who get to design individual billboards with imagery inspired by the series.

Weekly Low 

 Transparency, transparency, transparency. How many times have we said it now? High-end US gyms Equinox and SoulCycle have found themselves in hot water and facing boycotts this week after it emerged the owner was planning a fundraiser for President Donald Trump. Worse still, the crisis PR response was simply to deny any real connection, and label the company a ‘passive investor’. Whatever that means.

Need to know 

Facebook has launched its first legal action for ‘click injection fraud’, where companies offer fake Like and engagement services.

Guardian Media Group has reported its main subsidiary, Guardian News & Media, has recored an operational profit for the first time in years, with digital revenue now accounting for 56% of cash flow.

The Daily Express is hoping to win back favour with wary advertisers as Gary Jones, editor for the last 18-months, continues to move away from anti-Islamic and anti-immigration stories.

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Blagger’s Blog— Smoking Gun’s weekly roundup of media news, sans effort.