Digital & Technology

As 2026 approaches, it pays to take stock of everything that occurred in 2025 and how it could impact the next year of the PR industry. Some friends in the communications world approached PRNEWS with predictions for the coming year for many PR tenets including digital, crisis, media relations and more.

This week’s PR Roundup examines an AI-generated McDonald’s holiday ad gone wrong, a new study by Ruder Finn that reveals employee optimism around AI, and Beaches going all-in on experiential for an Elf on the Shelf vacation no family will soon forget.

What topics attracted the most attention from PR professionals this year? Take a look at the PRNEWS top 5 most-read stories in 2025. Crisis and digital PR seemed to engage our audience most—particularly anything having to do with Substack or LinkedIn.

Discover how AI visibility tools are revolutionizing PR client reporting. Our presenters reveal strategies for tracking competitors, identifying top sources and optimizing content for better visibility.

As we move into 2026, the PR industry shouldn’t rush to follow new tools and trends. Instead, they need to apply proven strategies and ethically use resources to build better, authentic relationships with their audiences.

In this clip, Reinoso discusses the secret formula for crafting engaging headlines, subheadings and quotes in press releases which can capture AI and human attention effectively.

Muck Rack’s Generative Pulse Summit opened on the heels of its Dec. 2025 “What is AI Reading?” Report release, which showed just how much AI search engines and GEO rely on journalism and other forms of earned media to shape their answers. 

You must own your career story before AI or others define it for you.

If it feels like every brand has been running a sale for months, you’re not imagining it. According to a recent CNBC report, consumers are showing clear signs of discount fatigue ahead of Black Friday.

PRNEWS sat down with Morning Consult for an inside look at its latest Fastest Growing Brands report. The discussion provides PR pros with information regarding Gen Z and traditional media consumption, tips for earned media in the era of AI, and the big impact of TikTok.