Shockingly low attention spans

According to the AP, the average attention span in 2012 was 8 seconds. Goldfish have 9-second attention spans.

Let’s define a few things

There are a lot of new terms being thrown around in public relations and advertising these days. Here are some tweetable definitions.

Last week, the AP Twitter account was hacked due to a sophisticated phishing scheme. Within seconds, the Dow Jones crashed for a brief moment. The account was suspended quickly.

From the tragedy in Boston, the fertilizer plant explosion, tornados in the Midwest and South, to today’s manhunt, this has been a hard week for most Americans. Today we want to try to bring some happy to light by sharing some of the most positive and interesting public relations and social media news from the week. This week we went a little over our usual five items.

Our work with Heart Rhythm Society on the Arrest The Risk consumer awareness campaign is a good example of how creating a succinct and impactful message, and getting it in front of the right audience, can create positive change in communities.

Chances are good that if you’re reading this post right now, you’re sitting at your desk. Does anything hurt right now? Maybe your lower back or shoulders are sore. Maybe your wrists hurt. If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone.

Last week The Heart Rhythm Society and the Association of Black Cardiologists held an educational event at a local community center in Chicago to inform African Americans about their increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Though 95% of the people who experience SCSA die as a result, preventative measures can help Arrest the Risk.

This week I attended ImpactNext, an all-day seminar about mastering the digital channel and creating awesome content online, offered by Chris Brogan. My usual response to this kind of event is to Tweet the heck out of it, and connect with like-minded attendees online and offline. If I miss a nugget being shared, I usually see it on Twitter.

Happy Friday everyone! How was your week? Today we’re sharing a roundup of some of the more important, interesting and heartwarming public relations and social media stories from this week. It’s been a busy one! Ready? Here we go!