Wendy’s and McDonald’s go head-to-head and Pepsi’s accused of being completely tone-deaf. It’s been a big PR week for food and beverage companies. Catch up before you zone out for the weekend!

Could an Impartial Eye Have Stopped This?

Everyone is talking about it — so we might as well. Pepsi’s commercial starring Kendall Jenner was swiftly pulled from the Internet after receiving an enormous amount of backlash for appearing to downplay police brutality and social justice movements. It’s an absolute PR nightmare for the soda company and Jenner. PR News provides three takeaways from the ad:

• Taking a stand can’t be faked: The picket signs in the commercial showed messages like “Peace” and “Join the Conversation,” which left the issue concerns vague. In this era, if you want credit for taking a stand but don’t actually take one, be prepared for harsh feedback.
• Choose the right spokesperson: While Kendall Jenner is a huge celebrity, she’s not known for speaking out on social issues, and portraying her as a heroic activist came across disrespectful.
• Objectivity is key: The ad was created in-house. If you’re not working with an outside agency, it’s a good idea to bring in an objective evaluator to ensure an alternative perspective. 

Play It

Podcasts are an excellent way to pass the time during a long commute, plus you’ll learn a thing or two. PR Daily recommends five podcasts for PR pros, including Accidental Creative featuring author and motivational speaker Todd Henry. He offers guidance on leadership, creative work and enhancing productivity during his short episodes. Read the full article for more thought-provoking podcasts and start feeding your brain with knowledge while you sit in traffic!

Understanding the Modern Reporter

In the Weekly Rewind, we often reference articles that give advice on how to best interact with journalists. Why? Because it’s one of the most essential functions of our job, yet it can be difficult to master. Recent research from Babbler shows that 44 percent of journalists receive up to 100 pitches per day and churn out at least five stories a week. They’re busy! Babbler put together a useful infographic on how PR pros can cut through the noise to grab journalists attention.

We’re Beefin’

Wendy’s social media team has figured it out. In January, the fast food chain’s popularity spiked after they humorously roasted a troll on Twitter who questioned their use of fresh beef. Now, Wendy’s believes their latest tweet is going to smash records. After McDonald’s announced that the majority of their restaurants will soon use fresh meat for Quarter Pounder burgers, Wendy’s replied “So you’ll still use frozen beef in MOST of your burgers in ALL of your restaurants? Asking for a friend.” In just over a day, the tweet has logged well over 600 impressions. Wendy’s says social media has by far been the best place to build their brand voice and build relationships with consumers.