Newsjacking

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly"

Episode: Newsjacking

Date: January 10, 2026
Host: Terry O’Reilly
Podcast Network: Apostrophe Podcast Network

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Episode Overview

In this insightful and wry episode, Terry O’Reilly delves into "newsjacking"—the marketing tactic of hijacking breaking news stories to amplify brand attention, often with humor or a clever twist. O’Reilly navigates through a range of examples—both expertly executed and cringe-inducing failures—illustrating why newsjacking is equal parts opportunity and risk for advertisers. Listeners get a backstage pass on how timing, wit, and social awareness intertwine in the world of pop culture marketing.

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What is Newsjacking?

[07:45]

• Definition: Newsjacking is when a brand quickly and creatively attaches itself to a breaking news story, generating a “second story” and attention for itself with minimal effort and often no direct media spend.
• Potential: When well-executed, newsjacking can massively expand brand reach. If misjudged, it can result in embarrassment or backlash.
• Key Traits Needed: Creativity, relevance, rapid response, and a nimble team.

Quote:

"When done right, it can massively expand the reach of a brand, all without spending $1 on media. When it goes wrong, it’s just massively embarrassing."
– Terry O’Reilly [09:45]

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Key Case Studies & Notable Moments

1. The Mark Jackson Basketball Card & The Menendez Brothers

[05:23 – 10:44]

• Netflix’s "Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story" (2024) revived public interest in the Menendez brothers.
• The story brought attention to Mark Jackson’s 1990 NBA trading card, which controversially shows the Menendez brothers courtside, pre-arrest.
• The card's value skyrocketed from $0.25 to $50 and, in high grades, up to $1,500.
• Collectors had 7,000 copies graded—more than every card in the 1990s set except Michael Jordan’s.
• Marketing Insight: The accidental photo placement turned into marketing gold, illustrating the unpredictable power of timely news relevance.

Quote:

"The fact the Menendez brothers were captured in that Mark Jackson trading card photo is pure coincidence. And the fact the card has become more valuable because the brothers were back in the news is pure serendipity—proving once again that timing is everything in the world of marketing."
– Terry O’Reilly [10:30]

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2. Booker Furniture Ladders & The Louvre Heist

[10:55 – 13:43]

• An international news story broke about a daring theft of the Crown Jewels from the Louvre, using a motorized furniture ladder as the escape tool.
• Booker, the German ladder company, realized the tool left behind was theirs.
• The next day, Booker posted a cheeky ad featuring the ladder at the Louvre:
  "The next time you need things to move quickly"—highlighting its ladder’s specs and speed.
• Impact: The ad’s reach soared from Booker's usual 15,000 people to 1.7 million. Overwhelmingly positive responses (99%).

Quote:

"It was a crown jewel example of newsjacking."
– Terry O’Reilly [13:30]

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3. British Geographical Survey: Taylor Swift’s Seismic Swifties

[13:44 – 15:49]

• The BGS, typically under the radar, jumped on Taylor Swift’s sell-out Edinburgh concerts.
• Measured fans' dancing and cheering as actual seismic activity ("Swift-quakes"), using precise setlist timings to cross-reference seismic spikes.
• The moment of largest ground movement? Not a song, but the four-minute applause after "Champagne Problems."
• Result: Massive international media attention and shared widely, raising the BGS’s public profile.

Quote:

"Taylor Swift’s fans made the earth move."
– Terry O’Reilly [14:44]

"The largest movement of the earth wasn’t actually during a song. It occurred during the four minutes of applause after 'Champagne Problems'.”
– Terry O’Reilly [15:37]

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4. Norwegian Airlines: "Brad is single"

[15:50 – 18:55]

• When news hit of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s split, Norwegian Airlines ran newspaper ads:
  "Brad is single // Oslo to Los Angeles one way £169."
• The ad cleverly leveraged the international buzz, aligned with the airline’s cheeky, challenger brand tone.
• Generated both business results and global media coverage.

Quote:

"Brad is single. Oslo to Los Angeles one way £169."
– Norwegian Airlines ad, described by Terry O’Reilly [18:05]

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5. Uber: “Thanks for Not Riding” (COVID-19 Pandemic)

[21:27]

• During global lockdowns, Uber’s heartfelt viral video turned their business on its head:
  "Thanks for not riding with Uber.”
• Encouraged people to stay home, putting public health above company profits for messaging.

Quote:

"It was a jarring message coming from a company that moves people, asking people not to move."
– Terry O’Reilly [21:39]

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6. DiGiorno Pizza: The Pitfalls of Newsjacking

[22:14]

• During the sensitive #WhyIStayed domestic violence awareness movement, DiGiorno tried to jump on the hashtag with:
  "You had pizza.”
• Immediate backlash for the brand’s insensitivity; they quickly apologized and admitted to not researching the hashtag’s context.
• Lesson: Quick research is essential, and not every trending topic is fair game.

Quote:

“With newsjacking, it has to happen quickly, but it still requires quick homework first.”
– Terry O’Reilly [22:50]

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7. Burger King Sweden: The “Not Big Macs” Menu

[23:03 – 25:51]

• After McDonald's lost its Big Mac trademark in Europe, Burger King Sweden newsjacked the story.
• Limited-time menu items poked fun at McDonald’s:
  “Kind of like a Big Mac, but juicier and tastier”
  “The burger Big Mac wished it was”
• Video showed customers ordering these new burgers; led to best January sales week ever for Burger King Sweden.

Quote:

“Newsjacking not only resulted in millions of media impressions, it was the best January sales week ever for Burger King in Sweden.”
– Terry O’Reilly [25:51]

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8. McDonald’s India: "If you don't vote, you lose your right to choose"

[29:53 – 32:24]

• During elections, staff only served what they chose for customers who hadn’t voted.
• Message on trays:
  “When you give up your vote, you give up your right to choose.”
• Viral video and social media campaign, possibly contributed to highest-ever Indian voter turnout (67%).

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9. Specsavers: Oscars Envelope Mix-Up

[32:24 – 35:19]

• After the infamous Oscars best picture envelope error, Specsavers’ digital billboards appeared the next morning:
  "Not getting the best picture — should have gone to Specsavers"
• Hit the cultural moment perfectly, cementing their reputation for wit.

Quote:

“Not getting the best picture — should have gone to Specsavers.”
– Specsavers Billboard, described by Terry O’Reilly [34:26]

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Insights & Takeaways

• Newsjacking can be a marketing goldmine if the brand moves fast and hits the right tone.
• Relevance, quick thinking, and humor are essential—and sometimes just plain luck or serendipity.
• Risks are high. When brands misjudge context, it can result in PR disasters (e.g. DiGiorno).
• Newsjacking is almost always a double-edged sword:

  “Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle, sometimes it goes horribly sideways, and sometimes it gets weird. Just ask Mark Jackson.”
  – Terry O’Reilly [36:47]

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Notable Quotes

• "Timing is everything in the world of marketing, too. And leveraging news stories that go viral is becoming a valuable marketing tactic. The official term is newsjacking." – Terry O’Reilly [09:40]
• "It offers the potential to gain a lot of attention. It requires a nimble team…to first spot an opportunity, then quickly create an ad while the story is still hot, then toss it out into the world and cross their fingers." – Terry O’Reilly [35:37]
• "The upside…is that newsjacking doesn't cost any media dollars. The downside is that brands have to jump on a news story immediately with virtually no time for contemplation or second-guessing." – Terry O’Reilly [36:00]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:23] Mark Jackson Trading Card & The Menendez Brothers
• [10:55] Booker Ladders & The Louvre Heist
• [13:44] BGS & Taylor Swift Concert Swift-quake
• [15:50] Norwegian Airlines: "Brad is single"
• [21:27] Uber’s “Thanks for Not Riding”
• [22:14] DiGiorno Pizza’s #WhyIStayed Fail
• [23:03] Burger King’s “Not Big Macs”
• [29:53] McDonald's India Election Newsjacking
• [32:24] Specsavers’ Oscars Envelope Ad
• [35:37] Summary and reflection on the risks and rewards of newsjacking

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Conclusion

Terry O’Reilly leaves listeners with a sharp understanding of both the potential payoff and pitfalls of newsjacking. Brands that stay clever, relevant, and sensitive to context can ride the wave of public attention—but they must always be ready to take both the applause and the backlash.

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For more Terry O’Reilly:
Follow @TerryOinfluence

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(End of summary — structured for easy navigation, quote attribution, and key topic recall for those who haven't listened.)

Transcript

[A]

Hey, we've got some big news. For the first time ever, both Apple and Android users can subscribe to our shows. Introducing our new expanded podcast subscription called Apostrophe All Ears. For just the cost of a single cup of coffee every month, you get a lot of goodies ad free listening across our entire archive. Tsk tsk. I won't judge early access to new episodes before anybody else hears them. You get bonus stories, deeper dives and more color. You get Ask Me Anything sessions that we'll have a lot of fun with. You get first jump at our live podcast recording events, which always sell out immediately. And here's another huge bonus. You get access to all of our other Apostrophe shows, including We Regret to Inform you, and Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe and the Beatleology interviews. All ad free. All full of bonus fun. If you join in January. Enjoy 20% off your first three months. Just head to the link in the description of this episode and follow the prompts.

[B]

We spend a third of our lives in bed, so why settle for ordinary sheets? Miracle Made Sheets use NASA inspired silver infused fabric to keep you cool, clean and comfortable all night long. The silver naturally fights bacteria so your sheets stay fresher up to three times longer. That means fewer washes, clearer skin and better sleep. They're soft, breathable and built to last. An affordable luxury that actually delivers. It's not magic, it's science inspired by innovation, designed for everyday life. Because sometimes the simplest upgrades make the biggest difference. This Christmas, upgrade your sleep or give the gift of better rest. Go to trymiracle.com clean to try miracle made sheets today you'll save over 40% and when you use promo code Clean, you'll get an extra 20% off plus a free three piece towel set.

[C]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah and we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[D]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[C]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[D]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

[C]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes. Episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday, starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[C]

Love y'. All.

[E]

Everywhere you turn it's New Year, new me. But growth isn't a glow up trend, it's a practice. Growth Therapy helps you do the real work with licensed therapists who meet you where you are, not where anyone else says you should be. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th, grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. They connect you with thousands of independent licensed therapists across the US Offering both virtual and in person sessions, nights and weekends. You can search by what matters like insurance, specialty, identity or availability and get started in as little as two days. And if something comes up, you can Cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost. There are no subscriptions, no long term commitments, you just pay per session. Grow helps you find therapy on your time. Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Medicaid in some states. Visit growtherapy.com acast today to get started. That's growththerapy.com acast growtherapy.com acast availability and coverage by state and insurance plan.

[A]

This is an Apostrophe podcast production. We're going to show you our big new Studebaker car.

[F]

Mama Mia, that's a spicy meatball. What love doesn't conquer. Alka sells her will.

[A]

What a relief.

[B]

You're under the influence with Terry O'Reilly.

[A]

On September 19, 2024, the television series titled Monsters the Lyle and Eric Menendez Story streamed on Netflix. The nine episode series debuted as the number one show on Netflix worldwide and was the most viewed streaming content according to Nielsen. It earned 11 Emmy nominations, winning one and three Golden Globe nominations. Needless to say, the high profile show put the Menendez brothers back in the news. While the TV series let viewers reach their own conclusions about the verdict, it heightened the anticipation of the upcoming parole hearing scheduled for the brothers, who had been incarcerated for 35 years. And all that news heightened the demand for a certain basketball card. Mark Jackson was a point guard in the NBA. He played from 1987 until 2004. Jackson was with a number of teams in his career, including playing 54 games for the Toronto Raptors in the 20002001 season. Jackson had a pretty good career and is number six on the all time assist list. As with all NBA players, his image was on a trading card every year. But one of his cards in particular is a collector's item. Specifically his 1990 card when he played for the New York Knicks. The reason Jackson's 1990 card is so valuable has nothing to do with his career, nothing to do with points scored or games played. It all has to do with the photo on the trading card. The card shows Jackson passing the ball to his right with the crowd behind him. But if you look closely to Jackson's left, sitting courtside, are the two Menendez brothers. The photo was taken when the brothers were attending a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden after the murder of their parents in 1989, a year before their arrests in 1990. During that period, the Menendez brothers used the insurance money they inherited to finance a lavish lifestyle. Their $700,000 spending spree included new cars, Rolex watches, $50,000 for a tennis coach, a $300,000 down payment on a new restaurant, and courtside tickets to the Knicks. That was the night they were immortalized on Mark Jackson's 1990 basketball card. When the highly rated TV series put the Menendez brothers back in the news, Jackson's trading card suddenly took on incredible interest. Ebay eventually pulled the listing for the card on its site, saying the card violated its policy because it was affiliated with known murderers. Ebay eventually lifted that ban and the sales of the card continued to mount. To give you an idea of how popular the card became, psa, or the Professional Sports Authenticator, is the largest and most trusted card grading service in the world. It grades cards on a 1 to 10 basis, 10 being the rarest, best condition, most valuable. To date, collectors have had PSA grade over 7,000 copies of the 1990 Jackson card. The only other cards from the 1990s set that have been graded more frequently, the two Michael Jordan cards. For even more context, the Mark Jackson card originally sold for 25 cents. But when the Menendez brothers were back in the news again, the price of Jackson's card went up to $50. The price of Jackson cards rated 10 by PSA shot up 100%, selling for between 600 and 1500 dollars U.S. the fact the Menendez brothers were captured in that Mark Jackson trading card photo is pure coincidence. And the fact the card has become more valuable because the brothers were back in the news is pure serendipity proving once again that timing is. Timing is everything in the world of marketing, too, and leveraging news stories that go viral is becoming a valuable marketing tactic. The official term is newsjacking. When a brand hijacks a breaking news story and creates a second story that gains attention, newsjacking requires very little effort, just a little creativity to link the brand to the story and and a very quick turnaround. When done right, it can massively expand the reach of a brand, all without spending $1 on media. When it goes wrong, it's just massively embarrassing.

[B]

You're under the influence.

[A]

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, thieves mounted a daring daylight break in at the Louvre in Paris. At 9:30am local time, thieves disguised as construction workers extended a long motorized furniture ladder with a bucket up to a balcony. To passing pedestrians and motorists, nothing seemed amiss. It looked like yet another maintenance project at the Louvre. The thieves climbed into the motorized bucket and silently raised it up the ladder to the balcony, where they smashed a window. Once inside, they cut into the display cases, grabbing eight pieces of the crown jewels worth 88 million euros. Then they jumped back into the bucket, lowered it down the ladder to the street, and escaped on scooters. Total time inside the Louvre four minutes. It was a brazen and shocking robbery. News of the heist spread like wildfire around the world. While news of the robbery stunned the public, it was particularly fascinating to a certain German company called Booker. As they watched the news footage, they suddenly noticed something and zoomed in. That's when they realized the motorized furniture ladder the thieves had used and left behind was in fact made by their company. It was a Booker Agilo furniture ladder that made the news doubly shocking to them. But once they realized no one was hurt in the robbery, they decided to take advantage of the story by using a little humor. The very next day, the Booker company created an ad. It featured a photo of the actual Booker furniture ladder leaning up against the Louvre balcony. The headline said, the next time you need things to move quickly. The ad went on to say, the Booker Agilo transports your treasures weighing up to 400 kilograms at 42 meters a minute. Whisper quiet thanks to its electric motor. They placed that ad on social media. Booker says the response to the newsjacking was overwhelming. The company's Instagram and Facebook pages usually reach around 15,000 people. That ad reached 1.7 million, and 99% of the reactions were positive. It was a crown jewel example of newsjacking. The Louvre heist story went viral. The story was relevant to the Booker brand. The latter company had moved quickly while the story was hot, and the resulting ad gained a lot of attention. The British Geographical Survey, or bgs, is an organization that monitors earthquakes across the uk. As a rule, the organization doesn't get much press, and it might be fair to say the general public isn't overly familiar with the BGs. But not long ago, the organization jumped on a viral news story. The BGS maintains a network of seismic instruments around the United Kingdom. These instruments are very sophisticated and sensitive and can detect even small ground motions. Typically, the BGS detects about 300 small earthquakes a year in the UK, but only 30 are of a high enough magnitude to be felt by humans. As it Happened on Friday, June 7, 2024, Taylor Swift was performing at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. She performed there three nights in a row and during all three concerts the British Geographical Survey registered seismic movement. That seismic movement came from the audiences at the Taylor Swift concerts. The BGS put out a news release stating that Taylor Swift's fans made the earth move. While I've talked about Swift quakes before, the British Geographical Survey Organization went one step further. It actually calculated which songs caused the biggest commotion. Taylor Swift shows are precisely timed and exquisitely choreographed, so every show runs at exactly the same time intervals every night. Therefore, the seismic spikes occurred at the same points every night. One of the volcanologists from the BGS attended the Swift concerts and took photos and videos of each song, which then allowed the BGS to cross reference when seismic spikes happened in relation to the timestamps on the photos. So according to the British Geographical Survey Organization, the following three Taylor Swift songs created the most seismic Cruel Summer, Ready for It, and Champagne Problems. Those were the songs that caused the 73,000 nightly fans to dance, cheer, and and stomped the most. The Swifties generated 8 kilowatts or 80,000 watts of power, and the largest movement of the earth wasn't actually during a song. It occurred during the four minutes of applause after the song Champagne Problems. That particular movement was detected by two different monitoring stations, the furthest being 6km or 3.7 miles away. It was kind of a seismic moment for the BGS as its news story got shared around the world. Back in 2016, news of a certain Hollywood divorce took international media by storm, and it wasn't just any Hollywood couple. It was Hollywood royalty. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were splitting up. The split consumed gossip magazines, newspaper column inches, and TV screens. That was when Norwegian Airlines decided to newsjack the conversations that were taking place around water coolers, coffee shops and offices around the world. To promote Norwegian Airlines low fare from Oslo to Los Angeles, it ran a large ad in newspapers. The ad simply said Brad is single Oslo to Los angeles one way £169. It was a very funny quick response to the news of the breakup. It also demonstrated how nimble Norwegian Airlines is. I don't think big North American Airlines could move that fast or be that bold. Norwegian Airlines says it has a challenger brand mentality, meaning they're not afraid to disrupt the industry and shake up the status quo. They gain market share by being bold. And the Brad is single ad was perfectly in keeping with Norwegian Airlines established cheeky brand character. Not only did that news jacking get the airline a lot of business, it became a news item around the world. When we come back, a pizza company newsjacks the wrong hashtag.

[F]

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[B]

We spend a third of our lives in bed, so why settle for ordinary sheets? Miracle made sheets use NASA inspired silver infused fabric to keep you cool, clean and comfortable all night long. The silver naturally fights bacteria so your sheets stay fresher up to three times longer. That means fewer washes, clearer skin and better sleep. They're soft, breathable and built to last. An affordable luxury that actually delivers. It's not magic, it's science inspired by innovation, designed for everyday life. Because sometimes the simplest upgrades make the biggest difference. This Christmas, upgrade your sleep or give the gift of better rest. Go to trymiracle.com clean to try miracle made sheets today you'll save over 40%. And when you use promo code clean, you'll get an extra 20% off plus a free three piece towel set.

[C]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[D]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[C]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[D]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right. So the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life threatening throws at us.

[C]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do them better.

[E]

Love y'.

[D]

All.

[A]

If you remember back to the pandemic in 2020, there was a lot of news coming out daily and when the world went into lockdown, life as we knew it turned upside down. One of the most unusual ads that leveraged that lockdown news came from Uber. It ran an emotional video on social media showing various people around the world dealing with the lockdown. The message thanks for not riding with Uber. It was a jarring message coming from a company that moves people, asking people not to move. It urged drivers and riders to stay home and save lives. The video gained over half a million views almost instantly, and news of the message went viral. While newsjacking can attract a huge audience, it can be a double edged sword. When the hashtag WhyIStayed first appeared in September of 2014, it was to shine a spotlight on serious issues surrounding domestic violence. Thousands of women began opening up about why they stayed in violent relationships. While the key to newsjacking is to move quickly, sometimes brands can move too quickly. Digiorgio Pizza tweeted the hashtag whyistayed then added, you had pizza. It got a torrent of Backlash soon after, DiGiorgio tweeted a million apologies. Did not read what the hashtag was about before posting, and therein lies the tripwire. With newsjacking, it has to happen quickly, but it still requires quick homework first. Back in 2019, news emerged that McDonald's had lost its Big Mac trademark in Europe. McD's lost the trademark after a nine year legal battle with an Irish fast food chain called Supermax. Supermax was founded in 1978 by Pat McDonough, and Mac was his nickname when he was a college Gaelic football player. Supermax had faced opposition from McDonald's over the naming of some of its menu items, like a burger called the Mighty Mac, which shared many ingredients with the Big Mac. McDonald's suggested that the similarity in names might confuse customers. Supermax argued that McDonald's lawsuits were preventing the chain from expanding outside of Ireland, so the case was put before the European Union. Intellectual property office. When the final decision was made, it sided with Supermacs, saying McDonald's hadn't proven genuine use of the Big Mac trademark in the EU. Specifically, McDonald's had lost the Big Mac trademark when it came to chicken burgers because it had not used the trademark continuously for five years, which trademark law requires. That left the Big Mac trademark up for grabs. Supermax rejoiced, saying it was a victory for all small businesses. That news also delighted Burger King in Sweden. The Swedish Burger King couldn't resist newsjacking the story because anybody could use the name Big Mac now. It created a limited time menu called not Big Mac's. For example, it renamed a burger like a Big Mac, but actually big. A burger combo was named, kinda like a Big Mac, but juicier and tastier. Another big burger was rechristened. The burger Big Mac wished it was Burger King then put out a video on social media that showed customers actually ordering their newly named burgers.

[B]

Anything but a Big Mac.

[D]

Yes, kind of like a Big Mac.

[B]

But juicier and tastier.

[A]

The burger Big Mac wished it was anything but a Big Mac. I'd like a Big Mac, but actually big the not Big Mac's. Newsjacking not only resulted in millions of media impressions, it was the best January sales week ever for Burger King in Sweden. When we come back, McDonald's takes a swing at newsjacking.

[B]

We spend a third of our lives in bed, so why settle for ordinary sheets? Miracle made sheets use NASA inspired silver infused fabric to keep you cool, clean and comfortable all night long. The silver naturally fights bacteria so your sheets stay fresher up to three times longer. That means fewer washes, clearer skin and better sleep. They're soft, breathable, and built to last. An affordable luxury that actually delivers. It's not magic, it's science inspired by innovation, designed for everyday life. Because sometimes the simplest upgrades make the biggest difference. This Christmas, upgrade your sleep or give the gift of better rest. Go to trymiracle.com clean to try miracle made sheets. Today you'll save over 40%. And when you use promo code clean, you'll get an extra 20% off plus a free three piece towel set.

[C]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[D]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[C]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[D]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

[C]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do em better.

[F]

Love y'.

[E]

All. Everywhere you turn it's New Year, new Me. But growth isn't a glow up trend, it's a practice. Growth Thera helps you do the real work with licensed therapists who meet you where you are, not where anyone else says you should be. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th, grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. They connect you with thousands of independent licensed therapists across the US offering both virtual and in person sessions, nights and weekends. You can search by what matters like insurance, specialty, identity or availability and get started in as little as two days. And if something comes up, you can Cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost. There are no subscriptions, no long term commitments, you just pay per session. GROW helps you find therapy on your time. Whatever challenges you're facing. Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Medicaid in some states. Visit growtherapy.com acast today to get started. That's growththerapy.com acast growtherapy.com acast availability and coverage by State and Insurance Plan.

[A]

During the 2014 election in India, voter turnout was historically low. 280 million of the 900 million citizens on the electoral register opted not to vote in the general election. Most of those non voters were young. Five years later in 2019, over 130 million young people were now eligible to vote. But news stories again predicted another low turnout. So McDonald's in India decided to do a little newsjacking. On election day, at various McDonald's locations, the staff did something highly unusual. They took customer orders but didn't give them what they asked for. This is paneer. I asked for chicken burger. I've ordered some chicken.

[B]

I know ma' am.

[A]

But McPadir is what you get today. Every time a young voting age customer came up to order, the staff chose what they got instead. Yes, sir.

[B]

This is what we have chosen for you today, sir.

[A]

What do you mean by you, sir?

[B]

Exactly, sir. I chose for you, sir.

[A]

When customers insisted they get what they ordered, the McDonald's staff explained what was going on.

[C]

I have paid for it.

[A]

You better give me what I want. Yes, ma'.

[C]

Am.

[A]

But have you voted?

[C]

What?

[D]

Ma'?

[A]

Am? You didn't vote, right? Ma', am. If you don't vote, you lose the right to choose. When customers were finally given what they ordered, the liner on their food tray said, when you give up your vote, you give up your right to choose. Customers were then reminded that the voting booths were still open and they had time to cast their vote. A video was created from that day and was posted on social media where it attracted a big reaction. The hashtag was make your choice. Did it help? Possibly. Voter turnout in that election was 67%, the highest ever in a general Indian election. Specsavers is one of my favorite advertisers. It always does. Very funny, effective ads. In one television commercial, a woman marches into a restaurant and is shocked to find her bearded husband dining with another woman. How could you do this to me, Barry? She throws a glass of water in his face. That's when she hears this. I'm over here, Bev. Her actual husband, also bearded, is sitting at another table. Spec Savers sponsor Zale. So funny. Were you watching the oscars back in 2017? If you did, you would remember what happened on stage when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the biggest award of the night, the winner of the Best Picture category. Beatty opens the envelope, looks at the card inside, then hesitates. He looks confused.

[C]

And the Academy Award.

[A]

For Best Picture. You're impossible. Come on. Then he looks off stage. He hands the card to Faye Dunaway, who announces La La Land. Then the producer, director and cast of La La Land jump up onto the stage and begin their acceptance speeches. Two full minutes later, this happened. I'm sorry. No, there's a mistake. Moonlight. You guys won Best Picture. Moonlight won. This is not a joke. This is not a joke. I'm afraid they read the wrong thing.

[D]

Moonlight.

[A]

Best Picture. It was unbelievable. A colossal mix up. Only two people from Price Waterhouse know the winners beforehand. They alone bring the classic red envelopes in closely held briefcases to the Oscars that night. Their job is to guard the envelopes and hand them to the right presenter. When it came time for the Best Picture, the biggest award of the night. The Pricewaterhouse person handed the wrong envelope to Warren Beatty instead of the one that said moonlight was the winner. Beatty was given the envelope that said Emma Stone had won Best Actress for La La Land, which was a previous award that evening. That's why Beatty hesitated when he looked at the card. He knew it was wrong, but it was the card he was handed. When he gave the card to Faye Duniway to read out loud, her eyes went straight to La La Land. As you can imagine, that Oscar screw up was big news that shot around the world and good old Specsavers saw a perfect newsjacking opportunity. The very next morning after the Oscars, it put up digital billboards that said not getting the best picture. The billboard showed a card being pulled out of a red envelope in front of an audience. The writing on that card said should have gone to Specsavers. The concept of newsjacking has been around for a while, but it is clearly becoming an increasingly popular marketing tactic for brands. It offers the potential to gain a lot of attention. It requires a nimble team to first spot an opportunity, then quickly create an ad while the story is still hot, then toss it out into the world and cross their fingers. Newsjacking is almost always a double edged sword. Lots of people laughed at the Louvre ladder ad, but others thought it was in bad taste. The British Geographical Survey and Norwegian Airlines had fun jumping on news stories and the Specsaver's Oscars ad was a hoot. But it didn't go so well for DiGiorgio Pizza. The upside, of course, is that newsjacking doesn't cost any media dollars. The downside is that brands have to jump on a news story immediately with virtually no time for contemplation or second guessing. Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle, sometimes it goes horribly sideways, and sometimes it gets weird. Just ask Mark Jackson when you're under the influence. I'm Terry O'Reilly. This episode was recorded in the Tear Stream Mobile Recording studio producer Debbie O'Reilly chief sound engineer Jeff Devine Theme music by Casey Pick, Jeremiah Pick and James Ayton tunage provided by APM Music. Follow me at Terry Oinfluence this podcast is powered by Acast, Terry's top slogans of all time. Number 22 Maxwell House Coffee Good to the last drop. See you next week.

[F]

In a world where January is supposed to be boring, one staple of the holidays refuses to the great deals at Verizon. The joy just keeps on coming. Right now you can save on four new phones and four lines. Critics agree it's the deal that keeps on giving. Come into Verizon and save on four new phones and four lines on unlimited. Welcome. Additional terms apply at. See verizon.com for details.

[C]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah and we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explains explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[D]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[C]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[D]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

[C]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[E]

Love y'.

[D]

All.

[A]

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[C]

As he loves his Blue Buffalo Life.

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And I love it too, because it's made with high quality protein, antioxidant packed fruits and nutrient rich veggies. Blue Buffalo foods are made with the superior ingredients your dog needs to thrive. Can your dog food say that?

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