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Was there a recent time when communicators had a more confusing ecosystem in which to tell stories? US-based PR pros are working in a climate that includes political fragmentation, a year-old pandemic mired in those political divisions, an erosion of trust in public and private institutions and a meteoric rise in disinformation.

Frequently, a nonprofit crisis provides the perfect opportunity to air the dirty laundry hidden under the veneer of a charitable organization doing good. The lesson for nonprofits: You are just as vulnerable, if not more so, than for-profit organizations and you need to prepare accordingly.

Late last year Yves Saint Laurent Beauty launched an ambitious, multi-pronged effort, Abuse is Not Love, around IPV. The program aims to educate audiences, including YSL employees, help advocacy groups get out their messages and fund academic research to bolster thought leadership around prevention and youth awareness.

The business opportunity for cannabis (as well as CBD and hemp), appears significant, with many opportunities in the PR space–as long as communicators do the legwork and learn the sector’s intricacies. As part of our new Industry Spotlight series, PRNEWS talked to Agency A-List Top 100 honorees in the CBD and cannabis sector about working in this emerging space.

While cleanliness was on most peoples’ radar, the threat of COVID-19 elevated concerns about germs to a more common topic of conversation. Enter the American Cleaning Institute, whose communication team suddenly found itself at the center of a hot topic. Here’s how it handled a bevy of queries from media and the public and spread its message.

Have we turned the corner on coronavirus? If not, what dangers are ahead? How can brand communicators help spread accurate information to employees and the public about vaccination, mask wearing and the importance of doing as much as possible before variants go widespread, probably in mid- to late-March?

On Feb. 7, the U.S. will see a first during the pandemic—22,000+ ticket holders attending the Super Bowl, in-person, at the actual venue, Raymond James Stadium, which holds 75,000 people. This of course, brings a whole new set of challenges—maintaining the health and safety of attendees. 

As the world continues to rock and reel through concurrent stressors, companies need to reset and reevaluate their employee experience. In the wake of change and uncertainty, employee engagement programs are failing to meet employee needs.

For some in financial services the late-January phenomena of GameStop represented an existential threat. For others, it was a chance to take a position. In response, courageous executives acted. This was not possible without prior planning and consideration.

In the wake of calls for social justice last summer, it seemed as though every brand issued a statement or a black square. Indeed, there were plenty of brand posts about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).