Stories by Seth Arenstein

PR pros often begin in the summer working on getting products in a holiday gift guide. On the other hand, there’s more than timing involved.

As the holidays arrive, MMGY Global CEO Clayton Reid says travel and hospitality brands’ messages should emphasize experiences, not price. In addition, he urges transparent messaging as the sector struggles with a labor shortage.

The concept of transparency is a PR maxim. China’s attempt to silence its bad economic news shows you can run but can’t hide.

As we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, PR pro Marco Gonzalez discussed regaining trust in the wake of the LA City Council debacle.

Communicators know about inclusivity and DEI. Today saw a news story that pushed against inclusivity. Perhaps it made Indigenous Peoples Day the saddest one in the holiday’s short history. It was filled with irony and a few PR lessons.

Mounting a get-out-the-vote campaign seems a non-partisan way of involving a company in the coming elections. Yet voting could become politicized during the coming election. And while data shows most consumers want companies to take stands, taking a position still is loaded with questions.

A pair of tools from PR firms use digital technology and AI as they remove emotion and guesswork, respectively, from issues PR pros face almost daily: responding to social and political questions and measuring DEI efforts.

Creating a focus group sounds straightforward. Gather people, ask questions, listen. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Ryder offer deeper tips.

Michael O’Mara, Clyde Group’s first president/COO, tells us about his unusual path to PR. A product manager for years, O’Mara believes his experience as a client will be beneficial as he leads the D.C.-based communication agency.

We jumped at the chance of questioning Prosek’s new SVP Johnny Chavkin. One of his best tips is about process: Build relationships with gatekeepers around those you’re writing speeches for, he says. They’ll give you very useful material and insight.