Stories by Nicole Schuman

 While we lack data on it, we’ll guess that with so many employees working from home since the start of the pandemic, the already-sparse scheduling of desktop crisis drills has contracted even more. One of the characteristics of crisis is an uncanny ability to arrive according to its schedule, not yours. As a result, a PR crisis strikes when the CEO is in a remote part of China negotiating a deal or the COO is on a ski vacation in Aspen and has gone off the grid. As such, the most realistic crisis-readiness exercises, pre-pandemic and now, were and are conducted with staff situated in various locations.

PRNEWS Live welcomed Jenan Matari, director of accounts at Victory Public Relations. Jenan discussed inclusive messaging, recent campaigns to promote Ramadan and the importance of marketing to the Muslim population.

PR pros and the media face a critical situation. They must get the J&J vaccine narrative right, informing the public about risks while not inducing undue concern and spurring more vaccine anxiety. It’s also an opportunity for government, the medical community and media to regain public trust.

For many stuck at home in 2020, social media provided one of the only ways to continue exploring the outside world. According to a report by Hootsuite and We Are Social, social media usage increased by 13 percent this past year. It should come as no surprise that new research by Sprout Social shows that 91 percent of executives anticipate their social budget will continue to increase over the next three years. Nearly half expect to bump spending by 100 percent. 

Along with what you say, how you say it, or tone of voice, helps establish a public perception. Tone can be critical during a PR crisis.

Diversity and inclusion continue to be at the forefront of necessary change in the PR industry (and beyond). As such, communicators should be crafting inclusive messaging. Among their considerations should be race, gender and identification, sexual orientation, religion and disability, along with other factors. To create inclusive messaging, PR pros need to look beyond their unintentional biases.

Vaccination cards fill social media timelines. Grandparents are planning reunions with grandchildren. Schools have reopened. Major League Baseball just began its season with fans. And friends are making plans to enjoy their first meals inside… Continued

PRNEWS Live celebrated the final day of Women’s History Month with Hallmark Channel CCO Annie Howell and former ESPN CCO Rosa Gatti. You can view PRNEWS’ library of free LinkedIn Live streams here.

A new survey shows the communication sector is bullish for 2021. Hiring will rise during the year, it says, with better-than-expected revenue results from 2020 bolstering expectations. Job security, though, is on the minds of employees, the Capstone Hill Search survey shows.

Some view Dr. Deborah Birx as the previous administration’s medical enabler. Indeed, during a March 28 CNN interview she admitted the substantial numbers of deaths could have been reduced had the White House adopted better policies and communicated them correctly. Her admission provides little solace to mourning families. And it might not help salvage her image.