Stories by James Nickerson

There’s lots of buzz flying around the invitation-only iPhone app Clubhouse. Celebs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are enjoying its mix of rooms and topics. What should brand communicators do to ensure their companies are not left outside the Clubhouse door? Monitor the conversation and try to score an invitation to get inside.

The PRNEWS editorial team spent some time reflecting on the last year and discussed what they love (and don’t love) about what’s happening in the PR industry.

One door closes, another opens. One of the last institutions to resist TV coverage, the U.S. Supreme Court has opened up a bit during the pandemic. Now any journalist with WiFi can listen to the court’s proceedings. This means media relations must adapt. Our author finds virtual SCOTUS hearings offer new opportunities for communicators.

PRNEWS introduces the 2021 Education A-List, the 35 educational institutions advancing careers in PR and communications.

How has the pandemic changed the way consumers behave and, as a result, how brands communicate and market? Four professors attempt to answer those questions as they look ahead at 2021 trends in PR, communication and marketing. They anticipate much online shopping and a realignment of CSR.

The GameStop explosion means monitoring the social conversation involves a lot more than previously thought. Not only do communicators have to keep track of a slew of channels and private conversations, they need to comprehend how subreddit groups operate and the damage they can do to brands.

As the world continues to rock and reel through concurrent stressors, companies need to reset and reevaluate their employee experience. In the wake of change and uncertainty, employee engagement programs are failing to meet employee needs.

Black history has been celebrated in the U.S. for the last 95 years. The idea was conceived more than 100 years ago. Still, the stories of Black PR pioneers remain largely unknown.

Many agencies and practitioners already have attempted to predict what corporate responsibility and purpose look like for brands in 2021, but the time for pontification is over.

Now, we must be unapologetic in our expectation for companies to step in when governments fall short. This tenant of corporate responsibility was brought to the forefront with Twitter and Facebook announcing they’d banned former president Trump–permanently and indefinitely, respectively–from their platforms.

You never know where you’ll find a PR takeaway. Even during the pandemic, you can spot media coverage on the walls of your local Five Guys. And it’s often coverage from national and local outlets. In addition to a dangerously delicious burger and fries, some PR lessons are on the menu.