Stories by Mike McDougall

Illness, job losses, a divisive presidential race and semi-isolation have battered consumers this year. As such, they are seeking bright spots in an otherwise dark climate. It will be an atypical Thanksgiving, potentially opening new doors for brands that embrace the change.

The US presidential election is all about competing personal brands, argue two executives at Ipsos, one of the world’s largest public opinion polling companies. Though the president has a formidable road ahead, his brand-loyal base could inject some surprises into the contest.

Yet another thing PR pros need to be aware of: Zombie accounts on social media. These accounts can influence campaigns and even engage with your followers. How should communicators handle such monsters? We offer some tips.

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who died Oct. 6, was not only a guitar virtuoso, he augmented his talent with a knack for adapting to trends and audiences, though remaining true to his brand. Moreover, he was not content to rest on his laurels and worked hard to acquire new skills. These are attributes common to good communicators.

Marketing and communication professionals gathered virtually Tuesday to celebrate honorees selected for the PRNEWS Platinum Awards, which recognize excellence across people, teams and campaigns.

A majority of communicators is unlikely to return to the office soon. Still, PR leaders are considering how to transition staff back to the office, either now or post-pandemic. James Wright, global CEO of Red Havas and global chairman, Havas PR Global Collective, shares ideas he’s considering for the transition back to the office.

A traditional view of PR sees success as dominating news cycles with as much buzz as a brand or celebrity can generate. Former VP Joe Biden is not doing this. Instead, he’s allowing his opponent, the president, to do most of the talking. Kglobal VP Jenny Wang explains why this tactic is working well for the Biden Harris campaign.

In the wake of the George Floyd killing and the rise of #BlackLivesMatter, numerous companies issued statements supporting Black and Brown communities. Unless these statements are matched with internal communication and action, they risk doing harm to employees, argues Tamon Geroge, co-founder & CEO of Creative Theory Agency. He offers tactics for such action.

Organizations, large and small, can work to better understand and improve their D&I practices and seek change. Communicators can lead in these efforts, the co-chairs of PRSA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee argue in this essay that honors Global Diversity Awareness Month.

Communicators gathered virtually Thursday to celebrate the honorees for the PRNEWS CSR & Nonprofit Awards program, sponsored by 3BL Media. “In the midst of a global pandemic and social unrest, corporate social responsibility has never… Continued