Stories by Steve Manuel

A veteran and PR pro looks at the similarities between working in military affairs and civilian operations. The common bond, he writes, is that people are the most important asset. On this Veterans Day, he urges Americans to practice positive PR and honor the nation’s greatest asset.

There are often-repeated facets of crisis management, including readiness tactics such as having a crisis plan and practicing it routinely. In this interview with Professor Terry Hemeyer, we examine other less-publicized crisis elements, including the crisis pro’s demeanor, failing fast and Truth Squads.

Communicators who are new to your shop may bring bad habits with them from previous jobs. It’s important for PR leaders to take time to notice their work, offer constructive feedback and make them feel like part of the team. Investing the time to train new employees in your corporate culture can pay dividends. Here are a few ways to do it.

Society’s reliance on digital technology during the pandemic is prompting the transition of PR into Intelligent Relations, a research associate from Cyprus argues. As a result, PR will invest more in social-listening techniques and other digital tools. In addition, PR will expand the limits of behavioral analysis and employ the advantages of automated production and personalized content.

Fighting against disinformation is an emerging discipline for communicators.  If you think of it as the next generation of issues management, it becomes a skill communicators need to learn and study to avoid getting caught up in the quagmire of misleading information. Here are ways communicators can help.

Illness, job losses, a divisive presidential race and semi-isolation have battered consumers this year. As such, they are seeking bright spots in an otherwise dark climate. It will be an atypical Thanksgiving, potentially opening new doors for brands that embrace the change.

The US presidential election is all about competing personal brands, argue two executives at Ipsos, one of the world’s largest public opinion polling companies. Though the president has a formidable road ahead, his brand-loyal base could inject some surprises into the contest.

Yet another thing PR pros need to be aware of: Zombie accounts on social media. These accounts can influence campaigns and even engage with your followers. How should communicators handle such monsters? We offer some tips.

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who died Oct. 6, was not only a guitar virtuoso, he augmented his talent with a knack for adapting to trends and audiences, though remaining true to his brand. Moreover, he was not content to rest on his laurels and worked hard to acquire new skills. These are attributes common to good communicators.

Marketing and communication professionals gathered virtually Tuesday to celebrate honorees selected for the PRNEWS Platinum Awards, which recognize excellence across people, teams and campaigns.