As part of our series of interviews with senior communicators, we asked Aflac SVP, chief ESG and CCO Catherine Hernandez-Blades to tell us what she and her team have learned during the early stages of the virus.
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The 7 Must-Haves for Your Executive Crisis Communication Procedures
April 7th, 2020 by Liz LibermanWhen a crisis such as coronavirus hits, the volume of news can be overwhelming. Here are seven tips and tactics to manage and monitor the information flow during this difficult moment and future crises.

COVID-Related Ratings Decline Should Not Dim Enthusiasm for Podcasting
April 7th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanThere are far fewer commuters now. As a result, podcast listening is down. Still, podcasting is an explosive category, with 600,000+ shows offered and more coming online daily. Plenty of brands and organizations are making a foray into this communications tool.

‘The Daily Show’ with Dr. Fauci Garners Top Consumer Engagement on Facebook in March
April 7th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinWe asked our data partner Shareablee to provide information about the coronavirus-related posts that garnered the most consumer engagement on Facebook during March. The resulting list was full of interesting insights, including a post from “The Daily Show,” with guest Dr. Anthony Fauci, leading the pack.

Old Ways Inform New Normal: Transparency is Key to Internal, External Comms and Media Relations
April 7th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinPRNEWS and partner Yonder recently gathered a panel of senior communicators for a webinar about coronavirus and PR. With more than 1,500 attendees, the session produced more audience questions than we could handle. Here are some of the best questions, with answers from another panel of PR pros.

New H+K Analytics Head Sees Coronavirus Increasing the Need for Data Verification
April 7th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinWhat happens to measurement and analytics when coronavirus subsides? H+K’s new analytics chief thinks data verification will have increased importance since so much false information is floating around at the moment. He’s also urging his team to laugh and connect with each other on a personal level as they work from home.

The Heart of PR: 80% Say Staff Safety Trumps New Revenue, 48% Strategizing for Post-Virus Era
April 7th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinWe surveyed more than 200 senior PR professionals to find out how they are coping with coronavirus, what changes they are making (or not) in their communications internally and externally. Some of their answers surprised us.

Pandemic Forces PR to Confront Edit Calendars: ‘Is My Message a Priority or Appropriate Now?’
April 7th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinNext in our series of interviews with senior communicators we speak with Julie O’Donnell, who last month was named EVP/global head of digital at health communications and PR firm Evoke. We asked her what she sees communicators doing well or badly in this moment with their digital communications.

Integrated Campaigns Push Measurement Firms to Offer Multiple Data Points on Single Platform
March 1st, 2020 by Seth ArensteinAs measurement of communications becomes more mature, vendors are scrambling to add capabilities to their platforms. We talk to two vendors about this and all things measurement, including the future of measurement and AI’s role in it.

Flat Organizations Should Return to Hierarchical Structure During Crisis
March 1st, 2020 by Kevin ElliottFlat organizations can be great. They are cost efficient, and enable fast communication and quick decision-making. On the other hand, a flat organization can become an issue during a crisis, argues Kevin Elliott, SVP, Hill + Knowlton Strategies. His advice is to become hierarchical when a crisis occurs.