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Mankind’s digital exhaust is social science’s Big Data. We create digital data with every post, purchase or picture. This offers social scientists access to previously unimaginable reams of data. Coupling that with new computing power and the possibilities are endless, argues Peter Zandan, global vice chairman of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Brands can decode what makes ideas spread, how purchasing decisions are reached and who and what influences influencers. It’s time to prepare, he writes.

Last week,  we talked with Joshua Otten, CEO of Ronin, the largest branding agency for cannabis and hemp businesses. We spoke about his journey from PRØHBTD to Ronin, how quality content can make the difference between a commodity and a lifestyle, and why the future of cannabis branding will live on streaming services.

When it comes to newsjacking, there’s a thin line between victory and defeat. Some brands can come off as desperate without well-crafted messaging. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel with a new marketing campaign, sometimes a great strategy can come just from social listening.

In our regular Lessons Earned feature, former Cargill and State Farm CCO Mike Fernandez recalls three examples when it was advantageous to be fearless. This attitude led a 23-year-old Fernandez to confront a senior member of the Senate. It also prompted him as a new CCO at two well-known companies to whack at sacred cows.

Not every PR project or new client is glamorous. On the other hand, PR pros exist to generate coverage, among their many other duties. Here is a series of 8 questions that will help communicators unearth news and interesting story material in any sector. You should ask them of your executives twice monthly. At least.

What does the popularity of year-end lists mean for brands? A smorgasbord for media mentions, content shares and article placements. Giving the public what they want, in a usable package, is one of the finest public relations strategies used by companies like GIPHY and Uber. Lists inspire the media to spur further stories, as well as grab the attention of consumers.

Brevity, timeliness, prepared spokespersons and trusted media contacts were a few of the tactics panelists touted at a panel session on media pitching during last year’s PR News Media Relations Summit in Washington, D.C. This year’s summit features an interactive pitching workshop on 12/12 and a pitching panel on 12/13. 

The experts we talk to routinely stress the importance of having a crisis plan. Of course, it’s not enough simply to do the initial work—we must revise mindfully and make important adjustments. Join PRNEWS on Dec. 10 for Crisis Webinar: Why a Strong Defense is the Best Offense featuring representatives from Hyatt, Virginia Commonwealth University and Devine + Partners.

The expectation is that video will be about 80 percent of internet traffic in 2020. That means brands need to craft videos that are compelling enough to break through a great deal of noise. This mini-case study explains how a law firm’s marketing chief cleverly destroyed the recruitment video model. He also put a human face on what’s often perceived as a cold, impersonal profession.

Depending on where you live you might have the winter blues. Believe it or not, this is a real condition. As you will read in this case study, Arizona used the winter blues as part of a social campaign to encourage tourism. Turns out Arizona is the country’s sunniest state.