Digital & Technology

Can Handle the Truth: More than two-thirds of consumers in the U.S., UK and China place a high value on honesty and transparency, according to a recent Cohn & Wolfe study.

I’ve worked alongside some of the best investor-relations professionals in the business. They are smart, focused and often jaded about the value that public relations can bring to the party. And in many cases, quite frankly, they are right.

Despite the constant drumbeat throughout PR and marketing precincts to ramp up spending on social platforms, nearly 60% of senior-level PR executives said they are spending between just 1% and 5% of their overall revenue on social media, according to an exclusive study for PR News conducted by PR consultancy StevensGouldPincus.

Talk about reeling them in. At the Public Relations Society of America’s 2013 International Conference last week in Philadelphia it was standing room only for two separate work sessions focusing on how PR pros can deploy video to enhance their communications strategy.

When one of the top ballet companies in the world, the Paris Opera Ballet, decided to perform seven shows in Chicago last summer, the Windy City’s arts patrons were ready to fork over for tickets, while the Harris Theater for Music and Dance set its sights on reaching well beyond the 1,500 people it could fit into its house for a performance.

Hard to believe, but 2014 is just around the corner. Planning is underway, budgets are being set and it seems that marketers will be pivoting their focus next year to meet the demands of the digital consumer.

Virgin American has given passengers (and Internet users) a reason to actually pay attention to the FAA-mandated pre-flight safety instructions. The brand recently rolled out a five-minute safety video that puts a whole new spin on safety.

The story you want to tell should lead image design, not the other way around, says Pete Ternes, senior social media and corporate reputation strategist for General Motors.

The Council of PR Firms’ Critical Issues Forum featured a spirited debate about the growing influence of so-called native advertising, or branded content, which has quickly become a key component in marketing communications.

At this stage in the evolution of social media, PR pros and communicators are fairly adept at crafting their messages for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.