Stories by Sara Ervin and Solyee Kim

Early data shows how communication executives and PR pros assess complex and challenging industry-wide issues (e.g., workplace health, ethics in conflict management, and diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI]) .So far, the preliminary data show significant differences related to the perceptions of a diverse workforce.

COVID-19 and a rapid succession of political, economic and racial crises presented an unprecedented challenge to an unrivaled American cultural institution, the Met.  One of its most valuable assets was particularly under threat: its people.

When pitching, we must reframe our approach to effective emailing—which ultimately is defined not by how we communicate, but by how we connect with our words. Only after adopting this approach can we begin to master the art of communication and build genuine rapport in digital exchanges across cultures.

With the arrival on April 22 of Earth Day, our History column looks at the largely unknown role several PR pros played in developing awareness for environmental CSR.

Women hold the majority of jobs in PR, yet their lack of representation at the industry’s highest levels remains a critical issue. Azurée Montoute-Lewis, Hill + Knowlton Strategies’ global head of DEI, offers steps to rectify the situation. She begins with suggestions for removing bias from talent pipeline management.

All publicity is good publicity. Not so fast. When a company or person faces legal charges, inviting the press for an interview can backfire. Take the example of Jacob Angeli, the QAnon Shaman, whose jailhouse interview backfired badly.

Burger King UK’s recent misstep on International Women’s Day is well known. One of the takeaways, writes Yonder CMO Lisa Roberts, comes from a basic principle: Know your audience. Roberts, though, goes beyond the usual interpretation of that communication maxim. In addition, she emphasizes the importance of planning for something to go wrong and reacting quickly.

A quartet of professors consider why women are nearly twice as likely to disable video during Zoom calls, and what to do about it. Part of the problem, they argue, is that in spite of progress on the business and social fronts, women continue to face different standards than men. When more male and female leaders show up on Zoom in casual clothes and settings, some of the boundaries will begin to fall.

No doubt about it, communicators (and everyone else) will talk about ‘the interview’ for a long time. Whatever else it was, the Royals’ session with Oprah was a goldmine opportunity for Meghan and Harry to set the record straight with their narrative that offered a peak inside the monarchy.

Some PR pros are put off when they hear words like ‘data’ and ‘SEO.’ Not to worry. In this post, SEO pro Joe Friedlein offers easily digestible tips that will help you employ SEO data to help with all phases of communication. He also makes suggestions for free tools that can help infuse PR strategies with simple data points.