Latest Posts

image_pdfimage_print

High School Shootings Find Their Ugly Real-Time Social Media Moment

February 15th, 2018 by

The horrific events in South Florida that left 17 people dead and roughly twice that number wounded was the 25th fatal, active school shooting since Columbine in April 1999. While the shootings share many characteristics, they differed in a number of the ways communications figured into the equation.

The KISS Approach to Creating a Podcast: Keep it Simple, Sister

February 15th, 2018 by

About nine months ago, sisters Alison Goldstein Lebovitz and Amanda Goldstein Marks were on the phone, cracking each other up, when they realized their conversations might make a good podcast. The ensuing Sis & Tell podcast has won a lot of fans—and grown the sisters’ personal brands—in a short time due to its intimacy, authenticity and humor. Here, the sisters provide a few tips they’ve learned along the way for brands and individuals looking to launch a podcast.

PR News Announces 2018 CSR Awards Finalists

February 14th, 2018 by

Each year, PR News honors the top corporate social responsibility campaigns—and the brands and communicators behind them—at its CSR & Nonprofit Awards Luncheon at Washington, D.C.’s historic National Press Club. From environmental protection to disaster relief to gender equality, these campaigns and communicators have enacted positive change that will be felt for years to come.

Shaun White’s Press Conference Bridging Technique Won’t Win Him Any Gold Medals

February 14th, 2018 by

“Honestly, I’m here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip,” gold medal winner Shaun White said in response to a reporter’s inconvenient question about a sexual harassment accusation that eventually was settled out of court. But reporters aren’t paid to stick to a star’s script, usually—the Olympic champion knows that now.

Why Velcro Companies Sticks to Working With Legal When Dealing With Influencers

February 13th, 2018 by

Influencer marketing is a young discipline and the rules of play are still in flux. While it can be a challenge just to identify the right brand ambassadors, the importance of the vetting process—and the involvement of your brand’s legal department—can’t be overstated. We recently sat down with Kara Hendrick, manager of global digital strategy for Velcro Companies, to let us in the “loop” about how she handles influencers—and why her company’s legal department is an essential partner.

The Week in PR

February 13th, 2018 by

Our weekly roundup of news, trends and personnel moves in communications and marketing. This week’s stories include PRSA’s chief challenging the LA Times, another wrinkle in the Nassar/gymnastics scandal and new tools coming March 1 for publishers on Facebook’s News Feed.

senior, ipad

Social’s Silver Fox: Facebook Is Shedding Younger Users

February 12th, 2018 by

Facebook woke up this morning to see another gray hair in the mirror. While Facebook’s popularity with younger users has been on the decline for some time, a new report from market-research firm eMarketer quantifies just how bad this year’s exodus will be. Facebook is set to shed about 2 million users under the age of 24 this year.

3 Ways Unilever Benefits From Its Threat to Pull Facebook, Google Ads

February 12th, 2018 by

Unilever is threatening to pull ads from the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Google—but the way the consumer goods giant conveyed that message has been as powerful as the message itself. The company’s CMO Keith Weed planned to use his keynote at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting today to call for improved transparency, accountability and consumer trust in digital platforms. But in a masterstroke of messaging, the company managed to humanize itself and score earned media, while also positioning Unilever as a thought leader, by releasing the speech strategically.

Videos: 2018 Top Women in PR Honorees Share Their Inspirations

February 9th, 2018 by

On Jan. 23 in New York, PR News celebrated its 2018 Top Women in PR. These inspiring women have risen above the crowd to make a difference in their workplaces and in their communities, both as communications professionals and as mentors to other women. We took some time out at the luncheon to speak with some of them on camera.

How Brands Are Gearing Up for the Winter Olympics

February 9th, 2018 by

This weekend, one of the most-viewed sporting events in the world kicks off in PyeongChang, South Korea. But it’s not just athletes that will be strutting their stuff on the world’s biggest stage. For the brands that serve as official sponsors, the Winter Olympics provide a perfect opportunity to combine storytelling skills with the natural drama of international competition. Here’s a look at how some of those brands are leveraging the games, using everything from influencer marketing strategies to virtual reality experiences.