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With CES 2020 beginning, we asked our data partner Shareablee to look at the technology influencers who were most active on social media during the past year. Several famous tech names made the list.

In this third in a series of Intrado Digital Media-sponsored articles about measurement, we look at the hurdles of measuring media ROI. The first two articles in the series appeared in the November 2019 and December 2019 editions

At nearly 200 years old, Western Union is anything but a stuffy, conservative company, reluctant to change. In an interview with the company’s new communications chief, we discuss how Western Union is raising awareness of its new businesses.

In this second of a two-part series, we explore how to protect your reputation on Google. And it’s free. Part I appeared in the December 2019 edition of PRNEWS.

Our crisis and measurement columnist Katie Paine looks at 2019’s worst crises. She also offers lessons learned from what she sees as the year’s top PR crises. The overarching theme is that a “boneheaded” CEO’s approach to crisis can ruin a company’s reputation, trust and financial standing.

Embedded in Gervais’ barbs was far more than a subversive comedian taking jabs at a captive audience— a reminder that, in an election year, problematic business decisions  from the top tiers of a brand will continue to leave a mark on the celebrities, and spokespeople, who are doing work on behalf of that brand.

In this third set of 2020 predictions, communicators anticipate strong demand for mergers and acquisitions of PR firms, a rise in personalized stories and PR pros increasing their use of sophisticated data as audiences become more difficult to reach. Other predictions include a fierce response from healthcare to political criticism and an increase in relationships with non-traditional media outlets.

Women serve as the backbone of the public relations industry. More than 75 percent of PR jobs in the United States are held by women, and the PRNEWS’ Top Women in PR awards will honor an elite group of these professionals who have worked to inspire not just those in the boardroom, but throughout the creative circuit. These women will be celebrated with a luncheon ceremony on Jan. 28 at Gotham Hall in New York City.

In the second of a multi-part series of predictions, several PR pros anticipate a rise in the need for crisis communications in 2020. They also see rises in diversity and inclusion as well as transparency. There also will be a need for storytelling that allows consumers to escape from the noise of the 2020 elections.

Where is PR heading over the next year? When new crises see brands falling into the same old mistakes, and tone-deaf messaging makes you look back at your calendar to double check the year, it sometimes seems that communications isn’t innovating fast enough. But take a closer look at the new tools, applications and multi-channel campaigns being dreamed up by the most impressive brands and agencies in our field. Innovation is clearly happening—and gazing ahead into the new year indeed brings much to look forward to.