Stories by Nicole Schuman

As a leader in public relations and a dad, Jonathan Rosen of BerlinRosen knows the importance of public opinion—even if it’s under his own roof during remote work and homeschooling—and encourages open dialogue within his family.

The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has caused many businesses to pause and take stock of their company values and what they represent. This week, Quaker Oats announced it will rebrand the popular maple syrup, Aunt Jemima, and Mars, Inc., which owns Uncle Ben’s rice products, announced a similar move. Other products such as Cream of Wheat and Mrs. Butterworth’s are following suit.

PR and social media management make for a dynamic couple. These employees hold up the front lines of companies and organizations, no matter what. In a world with access to endless information and instant publication of disputes and occurrences, a social media manager becomes essential to navigating the choppy seas of a restless public.

When a brand gets caught in the middle of a crisis, what IS the proper response? Is it better to be a punching bag for the public and stay silent, or is it the responsibility of the middleman to explain or absolve themselves from the situation? So what is Wendy’s role?

In non-COVID times Pride supporters filled their calendars with parades and events across the globe, celebrating the beauty and importance of LGBTQ+ rights and representation. It seems only fitting during this time of another equality movement, Black Lives Matter, that messaging reflect a nod to the history of Pride—an uprising against police brutality by the queer community.

The CrossFit debacle is not a crisis to be envied by communicators, however, the transparency it provided the public with its poor choices and timing prove that it is trying to regain the community’s trust and respect.

As companies look at addressing their D&I issues, one place to start may be who should fill the shoes of those replaced. Particularly in media, no one can leave a prestigious editorial leadership position gaping for long, as news never stops. However, who and how you choose to replace can have a long-term impact on any organization.

Many employees have received or will receive statements from senior management detailing the company’s stance on supporting diversity and the Black Lives Matter protests. The PR community knows the power of communication and what words and messages represent. We look at how some companies and trade groups are shaping internal communication at this moment.

Occasionally a public figure or employee will take a stance that drifts from the overarching owner or employer. That’s when the brand goes into overtime assuring consumers and followers that the opposing message does not represent the entire organization. The NFL played it safe while Brees sat on the hot seat.

While many agencies and brands have voiced their support via social media posts and statements, real action needs to be taken in order to prove the support the industry claims for a more diverse workforce.