Internal Communication

With health and economic pandemics gripping the country, many PR shops have suspended summer intern programs. On the other hand, some continue. A trio of research associates at kglobal write that a virtual internship is better than none at all. Our three authors relate lessons learned and offer tips for PR pros on communicating, virtually, with interns.

An article on recruitment and retention? Now, in the midst of record unemployment? As it happens, PR is moving ahead with recruitment, though on a reduced level, yet retention is alive and well. We find out how two firms, one large, the other mid-size, are doing.

Faced with a long-term crisis, a media landscape that transformed priorities seemingly overnight and budgets of many businesses frozen, PR pros need to adapt. Here are some strategies to use.

In honor of Pride Month, the Museum of PR held a forum where PR pros who are members of the LGBTQ+ community discussed how the industry has helped raise awareness around Pride. In addition, they spoke about their experiences being PR pros and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

As part of our series of interviews with senior PR pros in new positions, we spoke recently with Emily Graham, FleishmanHillard’s first chief diversity & inclusion officer. During her 15-year career, Graham says she’s seen no evidence that PR has made strides toward diversity. Actions not words are needed now, she says.

The adage that employees can be your best advocates is more apparent during the pandemic. How a company treats its employees has both internal and external implications, argues Meagan Meldrim of Finn Partners. She offers several ways to make employees your brand’s influencers.

It may seem like conversations on social media couldn’t possibly get more polarized. But in the face of a pandemic and plummeting economy, during an election year no less, brands continue to find themselves caught in the middle of hot-button issues, forced to choose sides on topics previously thought to be outside their wheelhouse. As they address the possibility of employees going rogue on social, communicators should find recourse in the law, internal policy and strategy.

A new survey from PRNEWS shows the industry upbeat about the future. In the survey of 200 PR pros last month, 88 percent told us PR and communication will come back as strong if not stronger after the pandemic. Still, there’s concern for the future and diversity & inclusion content is lacking in industry messaging.

As brand communicators and PR firms plan to reopen their offices, the burden on internal communicators to set expectations seems great. Here’s a quick look at some of the areas they’ll need to consider communicating as offices reopen.

Those helming brands in this environment face the most critical challenge of their careers – as they attempt to navigate from a business and a brand reputation perspective. Nowhere is that responsibility greater than in communication.