Stories by Nicole Schuman

Burger chain Shake Shack announced today it will return $10 million it received from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The $349 billion federal program allowed small businesses to apply for relief during the COVID-19 crisis.… Continued

Many Americans awoke April 15, on what is normally Tax Day, hoping to find an emergency stimulus payment of up to $1200 in their checking accounts.

There have been examples of good communications and communicators during the pandemic. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Anthony Fauci come to mind. Add Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the list.

One of the top questions on PR pros’ minds is how often they should be pitching to the media. In the middle of the pandemic, when the public is hungry for the latest COVID-19 information, communicators, particularly those whose field is unrelated to healthcare or finance, may feel unsure. PR pros we interviewed advised returning to media relations’ basics, mixed with empathy and patience.

Entertainers need to entertain, and thankfully for a country where the majority are cooped up at home, the diversion is welcome.

In a crisis, it’s important to have a unified distribution method for essential information.

The messages a brand distributes about self care are important, of course. How it distributes them can be just as, if not more, important.

When you get caught on the wrong side of the law, especially for financial gain, and particularly during the pandemic, you need to provide an apology for your actions. 

It’s easy to see why some, if not all comms pros are suffering from stress or anxiety induced by the coronavirus. Longer hours and larger workloads while homeschooling children or spending days in isolation have great effects on mental health and well-being. We spoke to several agencies and practitioners to see how they are supporting staff and themselves during this time.

Now the gratitude continues on a global scale, with the World Health Organization honoring the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, on World Health Day.