Stories by Jerry Ascierto

Each January, PR News celebrates women who not only are best-in-class communicators, they are leaders who continue to inspire the next generations of women to rise to the C-suite level at brands, nonprofit organizations and agencies. On Jan. 23, 2018, PR News once again honored the Top Women in PR at New York’s Grand Hyatt.

YouTube is trying to manage the tide of the troubling Tide Pod Challenge, deleting posts of users eating the colorful detergent packets, in the latest black eye for the platform. While the trend has prompted Tide’s parent company, Procter & Gamble, to mount a public service campaign, it also underscores YouTube’s challenges in governing its content and addressing advertiser concerns.

Is anyone listening? When it comes to social listening, the answer is yes. The trouble is that nearly 40% of brands lack a formal plan for social listening, according to new survey from PRNews and LexisNexis. Even more concerning is that these brands have failed to implement procedures for what happens when social listening picks up a potential issue.

The Time’s Up movement took the spotlight at the 75th Annual Golden Globes. From the first words spoken by host Seth Meyers, “Good evening, ladies and remaining gentlemen,” the issue that has consumed Hollywood for months was felt in both subtle and overt ways. Here are three of the top Time’s Up messaging moments—from Debra Messing’s red carpet interview to Natalie Portman’s cutting one-liner—from Sunday’s star-studded event.

For both NBC and Time’s Up, using the beginning of the year to announce a fresh start was a deft move. For Time’s Up, the announcement served to capitalize on, and breathe new life into, the momentum built by #MeToo in the closing months of 2017. And for NBC, which saw a ratings surge in December, the announcement was a silver lining emanating from the darkness of Matt Lauer’s ouster, one way to turn a new leaf in the new year.

Starting today, Facebook will demote what it calls “engagement bait,” posts that lure users into interaction by explicitly asking for likes and shares without offering editorial value. The posts are one way that brands can take advantage of Facebook’s (ever more discriminating) News Feed algorithm by boosting engagement to gain more organic reach. But the platform is taking action in response to widespread complaints, likely forcing some brands to rethink their approach.

What’s the proper protocol for brands when an event like today’s attempted terrorist attack in New York City occurs? Should a brand go silent and stop sending out any social media promotions as the dust settles or is it best to send out thoughts and prayers in a show of solidarity?

You don’t need a seven-figure budget—or six, or even five for that matter—to produce images, infographics and videos that pack a punch, said panelists at the PR News Media Relations Conference held Dec. 7 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

An all-star lineup of communicators who routinely go above and beyond the call of duty were honored at the 2017 PR People Awards Luncheon, held Dec. 5 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C. When accepting their awards, many of them expressed the need to be humble, to be receptive to new ideas and ultimately, to be an active listener, as the keys to their success.

In a profession that demands new skills for an ever-expanding set of digital and analytics tools, the next generation of communicators will be need to be equal parts storyteller and data scientist. And both of those sides were on full display as a fresh class of young communicators were honored as Rising Stars at the PR News’ 2017 PR People Awards Luncheon on Dec. 5 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C.