Stories by Seth Arenstein

Sometimes data confirms what you thought was occurring, other times it can offer surprises. Propel, a software firm, looked at data about pitching and found media relations pros are pitching more during the pandemic than they did in previous months. Fortunately, content creators are opening more pitches too. Propel also found pitching days have shifted.

As part of our coronavirus interview series, we spoke with Miri Rodriguez, the award-winning storyteller. Known for her work with Microsoft and as an advisor to Adobe and Walmart, among others, we discussed what stories are breaking through during coronavirus. We also wondered how leaders who’ve not shown an empathetic side previously, can adopt a more human approach during the pandemic.

Does the American public appreciate brand messaging during the pandemic? Is it reading your messages? How much is too much? These are some of the questions Clyde Group of Washington, DC, asked Ipsos to answer in the form of a poll of 1,000 consumers early in April. In general, the public likes corporate America’s coronavirus response, though there is room for improvement. The data was shared exclusively with PRNEWS.

A PR and marketing maxim holds that you can never know too much about members of your audience. With so much possibly changing during the pandemic, what PR pros and marketers know about their audiences… Continued

When PR pros use the words internal communications, usually they’re talking about messaging from corporate leaders to staff. Traditionally, internal communications is considered an afterthought, a low priority. At this uncertain moment, though, it’s taken… Continued

The PPP loan program was supposed to help small businesses that the coronavirus ravaged. How, then, did ‘small businesses’ like the Los Angeles Lakers, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and AutoNation apply for and receive money?

Pitching and media relations during the pandemic requires more nuance than it did before this moment. Still, media relations pros should not hibernate. Even if you decide it’s not the right time to be pitching, you should be planning for the time when more states begin to ease lockdown restrictions. These and other topics will be covered during an April 29 PRNEWS webinar.

As a reporter in Washington, you learn that when the president speaks, it’s news. It doesn’t necessarily matter what the president says, it’s still news, according to this rule. A rule all PR pros know is that words have consequences, especially when you’re in a crisis.

In late February, coronavirus was starting to pierce the US zeitgeist. Garland Stansell, the PRSA chair and a veteran health care communicator, told us then that producing a consistent message is critical to communications during… Continued

PRNEWS has argued often that collecting data is critical to help communicators understand their audiences. At this moment, when most things are closed or slowed significantly, it seems a new poll or survey is created every minute. This plethora of data is helping communicators get an accurate picture of the new normal.