ESPN cuts 500 jobs, TikTok users create fan videos for election analysts, and Starbucks’ holiday cups are here

Also: The Washington Post responds to election anxiety with snarky TikToks, an e-commerce trends chart through COVID-19, Tesla sells out of its branded tequila, and more. Hello, communicators: Starbucks’ holiday cups have arrived, and the coffee chain is giving away limited-edition cups today with holiday purchases: https://twitter.com/Starbucks/status/1324336045161283584 Though the cups have caused backlash in the past, this year’s announcement has been met with positivity and lots of social media engagement. Here are today’s top stories: ESPN cuts 500 jobs The sports media company’s president, Jimmy Pitaro, announced in a memo that it was laying off 300 employees—6% of its workforce. An additional 200 open positions are being eliminated. NPR reported: "Prior to the pandemic, we had been deeply engaged in strategizing how best to position ESPN for future success amidst tremendous disruption in how fans consume sports," Pitaro said in the memo. "The pandemic's significant impact on our business clearly accelerated those forward-looking discussions." Pitaro also wrote in his memo that ESPN have already cut costs through furloughs, budget cuts and executive salary reductions. However, with COVID-19 delaying sports seasons and limiting fans at games, ESPN is continuing to struggle. Focusing on its streaming platform will probably become its laser focus. The Los Angeles Times reported: ESPN has successfully launched a streaming product—its service ESPN+ has 8.5 million subscribers—but still gets the bulk of its revenue from fees paid by cable and satellite operations that carry its channels. Cord-cutting and a shift by younger consumers away from TV subscriptions continue to erode that revenue source. Households with pay TV, most of which carry ESPN, have been on a steady decline from their peak in 2010. Why it’s important: As consumer behaviors continue to shift during COVID-19, organizations should strengthen their offerings and prepare for the future by focusing on digital-first content, messages and engagement. These changes are here to stay, and consumers across demographics will continue to look up information, ask questions, seek recommendations, purchase and even complain across digital media channels. TACTICALLY SPEAKING Tesla recently released branded tequila, which comes in a bottle shaped like a lightning bolt and engraved with its name. The offering, priced at $250, has already sold out. Image courtesy of Tesla. CNN Business reported: This is not the first time Tesla's raised eyebrows with its choice of merchandise. Earlier this year, the company took to selling mini red gym shorts on its website, in a playful hit back at investors who had "shorted" Tesla, or bet that its stock would drop. Each pair was priced at $69.420. What do you think of the wacky product offering? Share your thoughts with us under the #DailyScoop hashtag. SOCIAL BUZZ Twitter banned Steve Bannon’s account after the former advisor to President Donald Trump said Christopher Wray, FBI’s director, and Dr. Anthony Fauci should be beheaded. CBS News reported: A Twitter spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that, "The @WarRoomPandemic account has been permanently suspended for violating the Twitter Rules, specifically our policy on the glorification of violence." A Twitter source added, "We have policies in place that address clear threats of violence, abuse and harassment, and hateful conduct. If we identify any accounts or content that violate these rules, we'll take enforcement action." The social media platform is also continuing to crack down on tweets spreading misinformation, including some from President Donald Trump, labeling and even hiding some with warnings about misleading statements surrounding the presidential election. MEASURED THOUGHTS GroupM released a second report in its series: “E-Commerce Post COVID-19 Lockdown: Where Should Brands Go From Here?” In it, the agency revealed e-commerce trends throughout the Southeast Asia market, which can provide a jumping-off point for consideration of e-commerce trends worldwide: Image courtesy of GroupM. The report also showcased several organizations that are bridging the gap between e-commerce and in-person shopping, which can give PR and marketing pros additional inspiration during COVID-19: Image courtesy of GroupM. You can view the entire report here. CRISIS LEADERSHIP NETWORK Looking for more insight on how to address the current global crisis and lead your organization into a strong recovery? via GIPHY Join Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Network to network and brainstorm with peers, get the latest intelligence and research and start to strategize for the future of your organization. Learn more about this exclusive membership here. TikTok users lavish CNN and MSNBC analysts with admiration TikTok users are responding to the United States’ 2020 presidential election by creating “fancam” videos—compilations of admired celebrities and public figures set to music. This time, the videos aren’t reality-show stars or singers. Instead, TikTok users are focusing on political analysts—namely, CNN’s John King and MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki. https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1324588844046495744 CNN Business reported: A simple search on TikTok highlights just how popular these famcams have become. The hashtag #johnking has 2.5 million views; #stevekornacki has 81,600 views; and #election2020 — which of course encompasses more than just election analyst-related videos — has 1.1 billion views. (TikTok did not immediately respond to a CNN Business request for comment.) MSNBC tweeted a response, which featured a video of Kornacki thanking viewers for their efforts and kudos: https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1324036161854148608 Why it matters: This year’s presidential election was the first time that Gen Z voters were able to cast their ballots, with Pew Research Center reporting that 10% of eligible voters are Gen Z—compared with 4% in 2016. Whether they’re part of what analysts say are record-breaking vorting numbers this year, Gen Z consumers are actively listening and responding to current events as they unfold. If you’re not considering ways of reaching this demographic with your content and campaigns, you might want to reconsider. SOCIAL BUZZ Dave Jorgenson, producer and writer of creative video for The Washington Post, has created nearly 20 election-themed TikTok videos this week: https://twitter.com/davejorgenson/status/1323685510016077832 Several of them focus on the delayed results and nation’s collective anxiety, but approach the news with a snarky and humorous twist: https://twitter.com/davejorgenson/status/1324535784150630402 https://twitter.com/davejorgenson/status/1324521615535841283 https://twitter.com/davejorgenson/status/1324723609147985922 The videos, which especially appeal to younger voters, are racking up the views on TikTok and Twitter. Though the effort is a success, Jorgenson’s peek behind the scenes of content creation is something that resonates with many social media pros: https://twitter.com/davejorgenson/status/1324528059119226880 CATCH UP WITH OUR REPORT More than half (57%) of social media managers say they plan to leave their current position within two years, according to a new survey from the Institute for Public Relations, Ragan Communications and the University of Florida. Though these managers are ambitious, the career path to social media leadership roles remains unclear. via GIPHY The report sheds light on social media pros’ career trajectory as well as the challenging lack of resources and employee burnout that’s on the rise. Check out the findings here. To learn more about how to prepare for the future of social media and more, join us at Ragan’s Future of Communications Conference, Nov. 10-11. You’ll learn from PR, social media, marketing and internal communications experts about the top trends and what’s on the horizon for the industry. EDITOR’S PICKS Many retail and e-commerce companies have already launched Black Friday deals to boost holiday shopping revenue, including Walmart, Target, Amazon and Lowe’s. You can follow their proactive lead by securing gifts for those on your list early, whether you’re looking to show customers and clients gratitude or you’re selecting items for employees, friends or family. via GIPHY Consider these gifts: DiscountMugs offers a plethora of items—from portable chargers to wellness kits and everything in between—that you can personalize with your logo and branding. Give employees, partners and top customers a fruity bouquet or platter of chocolate-dipped treats from Edible Arrangements. Focus on self-care and wellbeing with a Birchbox subscription or one of its kits, such as “The Mascara Matchmaker Kit” and “The Winter Body Care Kit.” Working with Animal Crossing fans? Turn to BoxLunch for mugs, shirts, coasters and other merchandise from the game. Keep it classy and boost your brand at the same time by sending holiday gift baskets from Harry & David. Grab a colleague a gift that can help them raise their Zoom game, such as a microphone, light or phone mount from B&H Photo Video. WHAT YOU SAID We asked which networking activity you’re embracing the most during COVID-19, and more than half of you (51%) are turning to virtual events, while roughly 27% are leaning on Twitter and nearly 20% focus on LinkedIn and Facebook groups: https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1324370527289544707 ARPR said it even held a virtual wine and cheese tasting, so don’t be afraid to get creative when digitally connecting with industry peers. You can also check out these ideas for networking during COVID-19. https://twitter.com/AR__PR/status/1324391313601634305 Is there a question you’d like us to ask in an upcoming poll? Let us know! SOUNDING BOARD Do you have video-conferencing equipment (such as a microphone or light) as you WFH? https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1324736151564001281 Share your thoughts with us below and under the hashtag #DailyScoop, and we’ll share the results in Monday’s roundup. Editor’s note: Ragan Communications may earn a commission through our affiliate partnerships when purchasing items in our content.

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