From What’s Now To What’s Next

LPP is keeping a finger on the pulse of top industry headlines and conversations buzzing around social media, so you don't have to. Below is this week's weekly round-up to serve as information and inspiration for discussions around real-time trends. Did we miss anything? What are your thoughts on what’s happening this week?

Top Stories

• Obama’s Inaugural Address: The president promised progress for gay rights, gun control, voting reform, equal pay, and immigration reform. Most recently, the need for high-tech workers has now become part of the immigration debate.

Top Conversations

• Super Bowl: Buzz around 49ers, Ravens, Ray Lewis, ads, #HARBOWL
• Awards Season: From the Grammy’s to the Oscars. Everyone is buzzing about the latest in entertainment. Who are your top choices and how have they positioned themselves?
• Manti Te’O’s Katie Couric Interview: Was that really necessary?
• Beyonce lip-sync gate: Did she or didn’t she? Does it matter?

Technology

• New York Times timeSpace: National media organization announced a 4-month incubator program for early stage media startups
• ATT to buy spectrum from Verizon for $1.4 billion: “If you can’t beat them, buy their airwaves”
• Cisco sells Linksys to Belkin: Networking solutions provider leaves the consumer market to go all-in with enterprise
• Phone unlocking now illegal: Copyright laws come into question as carriers fight to protect their revenue streams
• Office for rent: Microsoft announced consumers can rent Microsoft Office instead of buying it
• Lenovo may buy RIM?: Lenovo wants smartphones and PCs, which means their competition with Huawei would heat up
• VM takes a dive: Company dropped more than 20 percent in trading after it announced a restructuring and disappointing 2013 forecast

Public Relations

• LAX $3.8 million in PR: LA City Council members raise concerns about airport’s investment in three different PR firms
• Boeing’s crisis communications: Airliner deploys proactive and reactive PR efforts after Dreamliner grounding
• PR #51 of top 100 careers: U.S. News and World Report has listed PR specialist No. 51 on the list of the top 100 careers

Social Media

• Twitter: Announced partnership with “Vines” to allow users to shares GIF-like videos via tweets
• Foursquare: Launched Foursquare For Business, an app designed to let business owners manage specials and view analytics
• Facebook: Updated its iOS app to bring the ability to record and share voice messages and videos with friends from right within the app
• Google+: Officially makes second most popular social network, after Facebook.
• YouTube: Announced paid channel subscriptions coming this Spring