Every weekday, PR Daily associate editor Alan Pearcy highlights the day’s most compelling stories and amusing marginalia on the Web in this, #TheDailySpin.

We hear of journalists risking their lives overseas every day, getting caught in crossfire and detained by dangerous regimes, all in the name of duty. Reporters stateside face risks as well, particularly when reporting from Bourbon Street.

Jessica Sanchez, a correspondent from Orlando’s CBS affiliate, learned this when a presumably drunken videobomber interrupted her live report from the notorious New Orleans party strip ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl. Quick on her feet, Sanchez flips the script on her story-crasher, even inquiring if the woman has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). While online viewers went nuts over the segment, editors at SB Nation have questioned the reporter’s professionalism.



Also facing questions are several commercials—from the “banned” to the perceivably racist—set to air during the big game. Coca-Cola is the latest advertiser facing criticism over allegations that the brand’s “Coke Chase” commercial is insensitive to Arabs. Viewers are asked to vote for a race winner among characters in the ad battling it out for a thirst-quenching Coke in the middle of a desert. The spot features a man wearing desert garb and pulling a camel; however, the Arab-dressed actor isn’t among the voters’ options. USA Today has Coca-Cola’s response.

RELATED: What is you favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time?

In a separate and much more blatant act of racism that quickly ignited controversy on Reddit, The Huffington Post reports on the photo of an “ignorant” truck owner’s tailgate where a decal suggests it’s time to start playing “cowboys and muslems.” Wow—both a bigot and a poor speller.

Of course, misspellings aren’t the only culprits behind poor writing. In an interesting behind-the-scenes story on BuzzFeed, Kate Aurthur explores how a power struggle in the writers’ room of NBC’s “Smash” set the stage for the difficult task of trying to save a show—now in its second season—which had the kind of influence and financial backing that should have made it an easy hit. Instead, the show has become a mockery.

Before drafting any more episodes of the second season, the show’s scribes should refresh themselves by reading 99U’s list of 25 insights on becoming a better writer.

RELATED: 10 quotes on writing from the seismic Norman Mailer

A valuable asset in writing is the ability to coax an emotion from audiences. As long as the writer (or writers’) aim for this pillow commercial was to completely creep out viewers, allow me to be the first to say, kudos.


As long as I’m handing out accolades, let me applaud Doritos. The snack brand announced that it will launch a new chip inspired by Taco Bell’s popular Doritos Locos Taco. Just so we’re clear here, that’s a chip made to taste like a taco made to taste like a chip.

RELATED: Taco Bell pulls commercial after offending … vegetables

I know—what took Doritos so long? Don’t be so quick to judge. As Digiday reports, a number of brands are guilty of rushing into digital campaigns.

Russian promoters, on the other hand, took their time, waiting until Boyz II Men were practically off the music radar before booking the quartet turned trio to perform in Moscow. Some news outlets have speculated its all part of Vladimir Putin’s campaign to urge his fellow countrymen to have more offspring, although Foreign Policy says that claims is simply not true.

Is there something you think we should include in our next edition of #TheDailySpin? Tweet me @iquotesometimes with your suggestions. Thanks in advance.