Stories by Nicole Schuman

While everyone anticipates the release of Iowa Caucus results, PR and crisis management pros are more inclined to discuss the crisis response of the Iowa Democratic Party. Technological glitches may be common, but to fail on such a grand stage, when timely results are expected, shows cracks in an already shaky system, debilitating public trust in a year when it’s most important.

The Super Bowl can be a benchmark in a communicator’s career. An experience at the big game can make or break a brand, as well as bring out the best (or worst) in any professional. The hours are long, but the payoffs can be great. So what can we learn from Super Bowl PR veterans on how to handle what seems to be a larger-than-life media event?

The overarching theme at this year’s Top Women in PR Awards rooted itself in the way professionals see themselves and how they treat others. Many winners noted that having it all is nothing if colleagues don’t have each other’s backs along the way. The honorees gathered for a luncheon on Jan. 28 at the grand Gotham Hall in New York City,.

The Super Bowl initiates a two-week festival of interviews, practices and storytelling through multiple platforms. Those certainly include mobile and social media, and brands have noticed. It’s now expected that brands will tease Super Bowl campaigns—not just through TV ads, but extensively on social media.

The media discussion surrounding the royal family break seems shrouded with mystery and hearsay—with statements being given on both sides, but no one really coming forth and explaining the real reason for the schism. This creates an open dialogue for the public, leaving the families apt to rumors and falsities. Many takeaways can be found regarding the public relations tactics taken by the famous Brits in yet another family crisis.

Measurement is not just about numbers. It’s about problem solving. It’s no longer enough to retrieve and present data. For communicators, data needs to be folded into everyday strategy, becoming a sixth sense, combining it with a human element to promote focused discourse. To provide communicators with a look into the benefits of measurement and what’s coming next, we enlisted expert Jenna Clark, head of measurement and insights, Google Communications.

Women serve as the backbone of the public relations industry. More than 75 percent of PR jobs in the United States are held by women, and the PRNEWS’ Top Women in PR awards will honor an elite group of these professionals who have worked to inspire not just those in the boardroom, but throughout the creative circuit. These women will be celebrated with a luncheon ceremony on Jan. 28 at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Ten years ago, PR pros never dreamed of creating warping facial filters for Instagram Stories or geotargeting users with video on Facebook. But as technology evolves, so does the ability to enrich storytelling, and stop scrollers in their tracks. Content will remain one of the most important strategies for brands to engage users and stand out from a continual deluge of media. Here are some content trends for the year ahead.

Food brands, whether fast food restaurants, traditional mainstays or innovative products, continue to have some of the best PR and advertising reach. In 2019, many brands dominated conversations in social media, and laid the groundwork for creative, memorable campaigns. We look at a few of the most noteworthy campaigns of 2019.

How can a pitch really stand out in a crowded inbox? A panel of experts from both sides of the comm fence including Laura Brusca, vice president for corporate communications at Forbes, Tom Butts, content director at TV Technology, Monica Melton, assistant editor at Forbes Innovation, Howard Mortman, director of communications at CSPAN and Seth Gilpin, product marketing manager at Cision, dispensed wisdom at the How to Pitch Reporters on Email panel at the PRNEWS Media Relations Conference on Dec. 13 in Washington, D.C..