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PRNEWS GRADES: Brand Responses to Coronavirus for the Week of May 3

May 8th, 2020 by

The PRNEWS staff comes across many examples of brand advertising and communications every day. We have compiled a weekly assessment, published Fridays, with staff members providing their choices of the most notable, good or bad. We hope these brief examples will provide a learning experience about what works and things to avoid during this difficult moment.

How to Create a Communications Plan for Reopening

May 8th, 2020 by

With reopening touching so many industries, there is no one-size-fits-all communications strategy. But communicators will be left holding the mic, responsible for over-communicating policies and practices to employees, customers and other stakeholders. Here are tips to help.

man on top of angry pile of social media comments

A Social Media Crisis Checklist for 2020

May 7th, 2020 by

It never hurts to revisit crisis operating procedures, particularly as they relate to social media. (In fact, with so many projects on pause, now may be the ideal time to rethink your crisis response.) These tips should prove useful as you audit your internal social media processes to stay resilient amid a communications crisis.

Airbnb CEO Delivers Empathetic, Transparent Message Regarding Layoffs

May 7th, 2020 by

As of today, 33.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment. And it appears no one, even global tech and service companies, are immune to the economic downturn. On May 5, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky sent… Continued

Coronavirus Amplifies The Focus on Fake News…and Laughter

May 7th, 2020 by

Fake news is not a new phenomenon. Its proliferation during the pandemic, though, when life and death are at stake, has elevated the issue to a new level. As a result, Hill + Knowlton’s (US) new analytics chief John Gillooly believes verifying data will be hot after the pandemic subsides. He also thinks it’s important for people to laugh now. Even for data analysts.

‘Where’s the Beef?’ Is Going Viral (Again). How Are Meat Industry Communicators Responding?

May 6th, 2020 by

As meat processing plants around the U.S. close temporarily due to COVID-19 outbreaks, the supply chain disruption has started to reach consumers. Bulk retailer Costco has limited beef and ground pork sales per customer, as… Continued

Value or Noise and Other Tips for Digital PR During The Pandemic

May 6th, 2020 by

With a homebound audience during the pandemic, it’s tempting for brands and organizations to flood the digital zone with endless rounds of messages. That’s a mistake, Evoke KYNE global digital chief Julie O’Donnell says. Instead, consider first whether your message is adding value or noise.

Messaging About-Face: On Coronavirus Task Force, Trump Pivots, and Then Pivots Again

May 6th, 2020 by

On Tuesday, the Trump administration told reporters that they had begun to phase out the coronavirus task force formed in January to coordinate the public health response to the virus. Wednesday morning, however, following a wave of negative press, the President contradicted the announcement on his lectern of choice–Twitter. The task force would, he wrote, would “continue on indefinitely.”

Communicator Looks to Chapter 11 for New Business

May 6th, 2020 by

The coronavirus has prompted PR firms to create practices aimed at helping brands, companies and organizations work during the pandemic and make plans to emerge from it. Given the virus’s decimation of the economy, another… Continued

How Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo Masked Her Dad’s Poor Communication Skills

May 5th, 2020 by

What to do when you have trouble communicating and there’s an important message to send? Qualification: You’re an ineffective communicator in the eyes of your 25-year-old daughter. And to make things more complex, you happen to be governor of the country’s coronavirus epicenter?