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A dynamic Social Shake-Up panel including Catherine Hernandez-Blades, SVP, chief ESG and communications officer at AFLAC, Nadia Khamis, director of corporate engagement for Planned Parenthood, Elianne Ramos, chief communications officer at LatinoJustice, and moderator Dwayna Haley, SVP and practice director, brand innovation and impact at Porter Novelli, discussed the necessity and nuances of tackling social justice issues, and creating messaging behind it.

You can’t stop what you don’t see coming. The internet is comprised of thousands of small, hyper-connected sub-cultures. Many will use brands to further their agenda. To protect her brand, the communicator needs to understand what motivates these online groups so she can spot a disruptive narrative in its earliest stages.

Social media is getting a bit long in the tooth, which has spawned many ‘rules’ about creating great content. Forget them, Lego Group’s social chief James Gregson told a Social Shake-Up session. Instead, focus on the basics. Social’s fundamentals have not changed, he said.

The first Presidential Debate of 2020 seemed neither presidential nor a debate. In a contentious and interruptive shouting match that resembled an argument between angry old uncles at Thanksgiving dinner, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden offered little to help undecided voters.

A seasoned expert in communications knows how to provide the right words for any situation. However, the explosion of social platforms led to an ocean of content, and the real issue now is how to stand out from the endless scroll. Leah Feygin, head of U.S. creator content solutions at Twitter’s creative arm—ArtHouse—advised Tuesday’s Social Shake-Up participants on the craft of unforgettable content.

Even before the pandemic, plenty of major media outlets were struggling to stay in business. With fewer targets to pitch, is it time to ditch your media relations strategy? Veteran communicator Michael Monahan argues there still are myriad ways to attract coverage, even if one of the solutions means PR pros are crafting content.

Ahead of this year’s Social Shake-Up virtual social media conference, we spoke to #SSU2020 speaker Alanna Bass of Okayplayer. Whether you are trying to communicate with a diverse audience or jump into a trending conversation, Bass says to keep these things in mind in tumultuous 2020 and beyond.

It’s an age-old question (well, not quite): ‘Beyond keywords, how can I get better search results on Google?’ That question bleeds into another one, which really is a classic: ‘How do I generate business leads?’ Veteran communicator David Landis has five easy tips that may lead to you having an inbox overflowing with leads.

Recently, our team at PRNEWS decided to revive a series for our readers: “Ask a Reporter.” With logistical changes in the workforce, as well as a news cycle that just won’t quit, PR and media need to work more harmoniously than ever to get the public the information it needs. During “Ask a Reporter” we will interview a fellow journalist, finding out what works best for them when it comes to media relations.

While you might not like the buzzword phrase “the new normal,” it signals that attitudes and behaviors have changed, at least in some areas. As PR pros need to gauge the zeitgeist as they craft tactics and strategies, it’s fortunate that a slew of surveys and polls are appearing during the pandemic. We offer a brief survey of surveys relevant to communicators and marketers.