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We’re human and make mistakes. How we recover from them is important. In this series about lessons PR pros learned early in their careers, Cindy Villafranca of Southwest Airlines discusses how she grew after making an embarrassing mistake.

It seems inevitable that prices for raw materials, labor and other fees will rise as the pandemic recedes. Consumers usually bear the pain of such price increases. Companies can either hide the fact that consumer/customer prices will rise or discuss it openly. There are a few ways communicators can try to ease the pain in these unpleasant situations.

Traditional social listening no longer is enough, brands and companies are discovering. Operating on the fringes of the web, factions spread false narratives that can lead to mainstream activity, such as boycotts. Without early knowledge of such activities’ origins, communicators and companies may miss the chance to respond promptly.

A lack of transparency regarding the firing led 100 AP staffers to release an open letter regarding disapproval for the handling of the situation and an unclear social media policy.

You’d think environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues might suffer during the pandemic, when survival takes priority. Yet Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ new SVP and lead of its Better Impact consultancy Cathy Resler says ESG is thriving. The global crisis, she says, led people to look at their values. This collective gut-check allowed some companies to re-think how they act, including on ESG issues.

Media organizations in particular are seizing on the opportunity to make a statement as the May 25 anniversary of George Floyd’s death arrives. One well-known platform for Black creators was notably quiet, though the data bears out that audiences are asking for more.

The conventional hiring process is, well, conventional. Want ads, resumes, LinkedIn, recruiting and search firms. In PR, a field where creativity is highly valued, the traditional hiring route may not always find the best candidates. Companies that take an off-beat recruiting approach likely will find highly creative candidates.

B2B marketers are missing opportunities to connect with individual prospects when they ignore or downplay LinkedIn. Here are 4 easy tips that can help marketers ease the platform’s intimidation factor and increase your chances of success.

Americans are confused about the recent CDC announcement on masks. That they are confused about another coronavirus-related message is not surprising. Even Dr. Fauci says it’s not the public’s fault. Years from now historians will view the pandemic through the prism of communication.

How many crises might have been averted just by asking a few more questions and offering a couple of clarifying points? The author provides some key lessons.