Paid Civic Media Deal: Richmond is paying the Richmond Times-Dispatch for a sponsored “Richmond Report” podcast and print/newsletter content, aiming to “reduce reactive press” by controlling the narrative. AI at Work: Verizon CEO Dan Schulman says AI will replace a large share of customer-service roles, while employers increasingly test young graduates’ AI fluency and loyalty. Marketing Ethics & Spam: Bombay Shaving Company faces backlash after a Bengaluru entrepreneur alleges WhatsApp “bombardment,” and separate reporting highlights how scams and spam are exploiting messaging platforms. Media Business Models: Vietnam’s newsrooms are wrestling with the economics of journalism as ad money shifts to global platforms and digital transformation outpaces sustainable revenue. Brand Values Debate: Pride campaigns spark “rainbow capitalism” criticism, with consumers demanding year-round LGBTQIA+ commitment, not just seasonal logos. Sports & Sales: A World Cup-driven “summer of sport” is boosting retail categories, while India’s concert boom is hitting a venue bottleneck. Community & Creator Growth: Nigeria’s creator economy tops 250,000 active creators as brands move toward performance-driven partnerships. Local MarCom in Action: Lock Stock Self Storage launches a kit giveaway tied to the UEFA U19 tournament in North Wales.