Having bad luck today? It is, after all, Friday the 13th …

If you’ve unfortunately been missing out on news, here’s the Friday 5 for this very unlucky day:

1. Facebook PR Smear

Facebook may be in the hot seat for a while. The world’s most prominent social network was caught hiring a public relations firm to pitch false information about Google’s privacy practices. Even though Facebook and Google have butted heads before, this is a major transparency issue for Facebook. Both Facebook and the PR agency will have their hands full with reputation management for some time to come. What are some best practices for recovery?

2. Red Bull’s New Magazine

Red Bull is branching out from its energy drinks, as the company’s “Red Bulletin” magazine hit shelves this week. Red Bull says that consumers who read the publication already will be aware they are being sold Red Bull energy drinks, so blatant advertising shouldn’t cause them to discount good content from the magazine. How do you feel about branded entertainment?

3. NFL Lockout Brand

Whenever professional sports leagues go into a “lockout,” fans are disappointed that players, coaches and teams might sacrifice the game itself to fatten their wallets. The NFL is no different, but according to a recent survey, their reputation may be at stake. Approximately 30 percent of interviewees said they are “less or much less likely” to watch the pending NFL season. Just as with any business, the NFL cannot afford to alienate their client base. What would be the best strategic message to send to fans?

4. Tagging Pages

Social media is a great tool for marketing and advertising, in part because it is very inexpensive. Things just got a bit cheaper, as Facebook now lets users tag Pages in photos. This presents companies with a new opportunity to capitalize on user-generated promotion. Even though Pepsi may appreciate being tagged in a photo of you enjoying their tasty beverage, this also widens the door for negative content to spread very quickly. That’s why it’s always smart to have a social media policy in place to deal with both the good and the bad messages. Click here to see the social media work TVG has done and how we can help your company.

5. Taking on Big Beer

Rules and regulations do not allow for false advertising, but a Colorado-based brewery wants to set things straight with their “truth in beervertising” campaign. Breckenridge Brewery has created some ads poking fun at over-the-top commercials from companies such as AB-InBev and MillerCoors. Although no product simply sells itself, this is a good reminder for advertisers and marketers: things don’t have to be complicated to be good. What creative yet simple ads have you seen lately?