Spotify and LinkedIn to launch social audio apps, YouTube refuses employee request to remove rap song with anti-Asian lyrics, and Netflix touts plan for net-zero carbon footprint
Also: Volkswagen’ launches pun-laden electric car campaign with playful pun, Nike responds to bootleg Satan sneakers with lawsuit, businesses drastically reduce political donations, and more.
Hello, Communicators:
Just days after the conclusion of its multi-year internal investigation into its ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal, Volkswagen announced a campaign that will rebrand the embattled automaker as “Voltswagen” to emphasize its renewed focus on electric vehicles.
The company now faces the ire of media outlets for what it now says was an April Fools’ joke, despite confirming the truth of the press release to multiple outlets.
Volkswagen admitted Tuesday that it had put out a false news release saying that it had changed the name of its U.S. subsidiary to “Voltswagen of America” in an attempt to be funny and promote a new electric utility vehicle.
Several news organizations, including The Associated Press, USA Today, CNBC and The Washington Post, had reported the original press release as real news, some after being assured specifically that it was no joke.
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