Stories by Nicole Schuman

During these tense times, employee communication remains a top priority for communicators. Whether it’s discussing changes to ever-evolving COVID protocols or delivering clear, consistent communication regarding procedures for employee safety, public relations professionals need to be prepared with a lot more words than “thoughts and prayers.” 

Based on these data, press release distribution services should consider closing shop. Purely as a pitching tool, the mass-distributed press release may have lost its relevance for communication professionals. That said, press release wires still offer benefits to media relations pros. And several new wrinkles may surprise you.

PRNEWS Live welcomed Lindsay Swanson, Communications Director at Visit Anaheim. Swanson will discuss PR efforts surrounding tourism and reopening and how the industry has endured in light of the pandemic.

While some may be surprised the publication still exists in the shadow of the #MeToo movement, SI is utilizing the platform to leverage a message of inclusivity. Its 2021 edition features the first cover with a transgender model, Leyna Bloom. 

A tweet, statement or leaked email from the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former CEOs John Schnatter (Papa John’s) John Schnatter and Travis Kalanick (Uber) could make or break a company’s reputation. Regardless of your organization’s size, preparing for leadership gaffes is an essential part of any PR pro’s job.

The remarks not only allow the public to drag Smith through the mud, but take ESPN right along with it by showing that it will continue to allow these short-sighted, inflammatory takes and attitudes. 

As the COVID-19 Delta variant starts to spread throughout the United States, particularly among the unvaccinated, it seems time is of the essence to promote the benefits of vaccination to those remaining skeptical. 

A typical summertime activity, visiting an amusement park, turned tragic at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa. On July 3, an 11-year-old boy, Michael Jaramillo, died after a group tube on the Raging River ride flipped over, trapping him and his family members underneath. The park’s response could have been more sympathetic.

Freedom can mean many things. And with July 4 approaching, after a year of societal turmoil, many Americans may find their views on patriotism shifting.

As the world changed in March 2020, so too did the future for many college seniors who graduated months later. With Gen Z entering the workforce, millennials taking more leadership positions, and technology platforms proving to be important tools for communication, some firms are changing the way they recruit for PR jobs.