Greg Linch

Just got a very basic email pitch noting "off the record" at the top. Folks, this is not how journalism works. In case anyone needs a reminder: reporters get to choose if we want to agree to OTR or not. It is reserved for sensitive sources; PR pitches about some company's shiny new thing are not that.

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Want to know where some national (NYT, WSJ) reporters find story ideas or sources? Small, niche trade publications. I've heard people say there's no point in targeting industry trades because if they're featured in top tier publications, the trades will eventually pick up the story (kind of like a trickle down effect). Not true. It's the other way around.

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For a few years, I've seen the term "digital twin" pop up in pitches and headlines. This week, I had the chance to write about it. In today's Endpoints News Health Tech newsletter, I spoke with Rock Health's Julia A. Croxen about what this approach contributes in an area like metabolic care. (up until now, I'd mostly heard of digital twins used in research, rather than clinical care) Ngai Yeung's latest piece on Twin Health's $53M raise spurred my interest in digital twins, be sure to check out her piece on the fundraise. Also inside: - Ngai had the scoop on ALIGNMT AI's seed round - Walgreens has a new CEO and split up its business as the take-private deal closes Check it out (link in the comments) + be sure to subscribe!

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What did leading public service campaigns teach me? Two years ago, I entered the world of political and public sector communications, driven purely by a love for writing. Since then, I’ve learned that in this space, words don’t just inform. They build trust, shift narratives, and connect people to policy. Here are some of my biggest lessons from the field working for G20 Culture Working Group under the Ministry of Culture: 1. Trust is a key KPI - When you're communicating on behalf of a national initiative, the audience isn’t just looking for updates, they’re looking for truth. Every line of copy must reassure them: “This is official. This is accurate. This affects me.” 2. Minimal words, maximum meaning - Some of the most powerful posts I’ve written were under 20 words. In high-stakes updates or tribute posts, brevity makes an impact. 3. I often turned numbers into mini-narratives. For example, instead of “98% success rate,” I’d write “9 out of 10 children now have access to clean drinking water". It makes the impact visible and real. The right words, delivered the right way, are the most powerful tool to earn trust in political comms. If you work in public-facing comms too, I’d love to hear what it’s taught you. Let’s swap notes on storytelling, strategy, and trust. PS: This is a long-overdue picture from the G20 Culture Working Group Meeting at Varanasi (2023, really).

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You can’t overcommunicate with a communicator.* One reason former reporters make exceptional communications professionals is we know how to ask questions in order to pull the answers we need from leaders and we know what questions to ask because we instinctively know what the public expects. Will there be times when not every question can be answered immediately? Of course. But giving comms pros access to information that can’t yet be shared still helps them strategize. Having the big picture helps the planning process. If your communicator is too intimidated to ask questions, that’s a problem that needs addressing. If your communicator isn’t trusted, same. Are they not trusted for valid reasons? Or not liked because they press hard for information? Two different scenarios. Leaders, encourage those who surround you to share information. Yes, info is power, and that’s the point. Your communicators hold the power, in part, to your reputation. Arm them with information. *One example where this does not hold true is during a crisis. Please don’t inundate us with minituea, rather follow the BLUF method. (Bottom Line Up Front) Communicators will always ask for more details if they need it. Trust me on this.

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Forbes Google And Pollster Scott Rasmussen Will Use AI To Survey Americans’ Political Views: A collaboration between the tech giant and a polling nonprofit will gather five to 10 people each from every congressional district to answer questions about the nation’s most pressing issues. If it works, it could upend the fraught world of political polling. https://lnkd.in/eRy_JPp9 #google #ai #polling — Reporter: Richard Nieva Editor: Katharine Schwab and John Paczkowski Design and illustration: Samantha Lee Art direction: Fernando Capeto

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At OpenAI, we believe AI should help solve humanity’s hardest problems—together with the organizations already leading that work on the frontlines. That’s why we created the People-First AI Fund, a $50 million commitment guided by the independent OpenAI Nonprofit Commission and informed by more than 500 nonprofit and community leaders representing over 7 million Americans. We’re excited to share that applications open September 8, 2025. U.S.-based nonprofits and community organizations will be able to apply for unrestricted funding to strengthen the systems that help keep people and communities healthy and thrive, and explore how AI can expand access, improve services, and build resilience in areas like education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. This is the next step in a continuing journey—and we’re just getting started. https://lnkd.in/gFvw92BB

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