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Greetings, comms pros! Let\u2019s take a look at a few news stories from the last week and see what we can learn from them.<\/p>\n
1. Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO tells employees that layoffs are about structural changes<\/strong><\/p>\n Sony Pictures Entertainment chief Ravi Ahuja sent a memo to employees announcing layoffs across the company, stating that the hundreds of job cuts were part of \u201crefining our organization for the next phase of growth.\u201d In the note obtained by The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, Ahuja also stated that follow-ups on the details of the move will happen shortly, and that he\u2019d host a check-in later this month to answer employee questions.<\/p>\n Over the past year, we have sharpened our strategy and clarified where we believe the greatest opportunities exist. As we lean into those priorities, we need to operate with greater focus, speed, and alignment to strengthen our differentiated capabilities. To support our growth, we are aligning our organization with where the business is going \u2014 not where it has been. That requires changes to how we are structured and where we invest.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Ahuja\u2019s note uses a lot of staid, corporate language to discuss the layoff, talking extensively about future strategy and just a little about the impacts of the cuts on both affected workers and those who will remain in the aftermath. The memo feels as if it\u2019s meant for the company\u2019s shareholders over its employees.<\/p>\n Communicators need to keep in mind that for tone signals intent. Ahuja\u2019s note i, could leave employees to fill in gaps as to SPE\u2019s future with their own theories, and that can erode trust.<\/p>\n 2. ProPublica union goes on 24-hour strike as organization grapples with how to adjust to AI<\/strong><\/p>\n Earlier this week, ProPublica\u2019s union went on a one-day strike earlier this week, protesting the length of time it\u2019s taken to get a deal done with the company., The union has been negotiating with ProPublica since late 2023, seeking layoff protections, with as the use of AI as a major factor in the talks. According to Poynter<\/a>, environment reporter and union bargaining committee member Mark Olalade said that the union has made concessions on AI use at the publication but that the nonprofit has yet to clarify the details on AI implementation.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m asking for things like the ability for my members to say no to using a certain AI tool and not be disciplined for it if they in good faith believe that it would introduce factual inaccuracies into their work, slow down the workflow or break ethical guidelines that the company itself has written,\u201d Olalde said.<\/p>\n In response, a ProPublica spokesperson committed to providing the union a fair contract, but also emphasized the need to do more to determine how AI will help the publication\u2019s reporting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too soon to know exactly how AI will affect our work. Rather than make promises we can\u2019t responsibly keep, we are exploring how these technologies can create more space for investigative reporting and thinking deeply and creatively, not less.\u201d<\/p>\n ProPublica\u2019s response prioritizes flexibility and avoids commitments. That caution is a typical tactic during labor comms, but it also understandably can frustrate employees who have been looking for answers on AI for multiple years. ProPublica is asking its employees to trust its judgment, while employees want clarity and answers \u2014 and a contract. That gap is the main communication issue at play here.<\/p>\n 3. Report: Nearly three-quarters of employees think RTO is a \u2018stealth layoff\u2019 tactic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n