Latest Posts

Following a lengthy lashing in the press and the loss of $95 billion in market value over the last week, Facebook has taken steps to make it easier for users to control the privacy of their personal data. The platform rolled out redesigned security settings that allow users to control what personal information the social network and its third-party apps can store. Yet some data—such as records of the ads that users clicked on—will still be visible.

It is a given that the newsroom is changing. It is smaller and more diverse, for example. A new study from the Tow Center of Digital Journalism at Columbia University also points out that people who are skilled in data, analytics and platform-oriented operations have infiltrated newsrooms. We asked media relations professionals for tips about pitching to this more data-infused newsroom.

Heineken is facing a backlash on social media for a Heineken Light advertisement that many are calling racist. The offending ad portrayed a bottle of Heineken Light sliding across a bar past black patrons and into a white customer’s hands, along with the tagline, “Sometimes, lighter is better.” Two crisis management experts weigh in on this latest messaging fumble.

The world’s largest unboxing broadcast live on Facebook, a luxury hotel chain sharing its service values on Twitter, pancreatic cancer awareness spread through Instagram: these are just a few of the worthy social media campaigns spotlighted by the 2018 PR News’ Social Media Awards finalists. The winners of PR News’ Social Media Awards—which showcase the top social media campaigns and honor the individuals behind their success—are announced at an annual luncheon in New York City. This year, PR News’ Social Media Awards Luncheon will be held May 23, 2018 at The Yale Club.

Our weekly roundup of trends, news and personnel moves in PR and communications. This week’s stories include the fallout at Facebook from Cambridge Analytica, LinkedIn adds video tools, Levine and Smiley fight back at #MeToo and Starbucks’ search for a new cup may produce a pot of gold for a lucky engineer.

Savvy communicators know that having a crisis plan in place before a situation emerges is crucial for any brand. But not every negative comment requires a full-scale mobilization of the proverbial troops. Some social media crises can be mitigated before they gain widespread attention. Taking a tiered approach to crisis management strategy is important for avoiding blunders. By examining your company’s audience and vulnerabilities ahead of time, you can create protocols for each tier.

The March for Our Lives on March 24 attracted huge crowds across the country in support of gun reform. But upsetting the march’s No. 1 trending position on Twitter that afternoon, the National Rifle Association released an interview with rapper and activist Killer Mike. The interview was widely criticized by gun-reform advocates but it quickly became something else: a textbook example of the power influencers have to further a national conversation, sometimes at the expense of the very organization with which they are affiliated.

Instagram recently announced a change to its algorithm so that posts will now appear in a more chronological manner, finally heeding years of user complaints. But does that mean your brand should now post more frequently? How will brands be impacted by this change? Carmen Collins, social media lead for the talent brand at Cisco Systems, weighs in.

Established in 2011, PR News’ Measurement Hall of Fame recognizes long-standing and continued efforts in advancing and championing PR measurement and analysis, and the promotion and awareness of key metrics within the PR community. On April 17 at its annual Measurement Conference in Philadelphia, PR News will induct three communications leaders into this exclusive club.

Start with the premise that all business issues can be traced to a communications breakdown. If true, this means internal communications pros should be critical to fixing organizations’ business problems. Institute for PR Measurement Commission member Mary Miller describes how internal communicators can rise from producing outputs (company-wide emails, intranet content, e-newsletters, executive videos, etc.) to influencing measurable performance outcomes.