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When Delta joined a growing list of companies rescinding discounts for NRA members, it did so by proclaiming its neutrality. And when FedEx decided to keep its NRA discount in place, the brand also attempted to stay neutral. But both quickly found that when it comes to an issue as controversial as gun control, brands can’t have it both ways.

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” There’s good news and bad news for Facebook in terms of U.S. adult usage. The bad news is usage levels likely will fall in 2018, something that’s not happened in nearly one decade. The good news is it can absorb small reductions in usage for many years without its dominant position being threatened.

Data, data, data. Every communicator’s on top of data, right? Maybe not, according to a new report from The Conference Board’s Society for New Communications Research. The study of 102 public companies finds few are staffing their communications departments with people who bring competency in data analytics.

Similar to other segments we’ve been reviewing during the past few weeks, the Health & Fitness category owes much of its 2017 growth in consumer engagement with its social posts to video. In addition, it’s following the pattern of other industries, which have posted fewer pieces of content and increased engagement. CrossFit was the leader in this category in 2017, Shareablee says.

Does your organization measure results before, or after, a campaign has run its course? For Whitney Drake, who leads General Motors’ Story Bureau and Analytics function, measuring campaigns from the start is the key to more meaningful metrics—not to mention a more insights-driven workplace culture.

As a communicator, you can have a powerful impact on just about every corner of your organization by using the platforms, relationships and knowledge that you and your PR team are uniquely positioned to leverage.… Continued

As a communicator, you can have a powerful impact on just about every corner of your organization by using the platforms, relationships and knowledge that you and your PR team are uniquely positioned to leverage. It’s on you to get your head around these trends and make something of them.

With more than 48,000 tweets and counting, the #BoycottNRA hashtag is trending and brands are listening. In response to the outcry following the Feb. 14 Parkland, Fla. school shooting, several national brands have rescinded their NRA membership discounts in support of gun control, including Best Western, Wyndham Hotels, Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and First National Bank of Omaha, among others.

With the 24-7 news cycle, the speed of social media and the demands of the C-suite, it sometimes feels as if PR pros move from crisis to crisis. Nisha Morris, executive director, communication at Providence St. Joseph Health, offers five tactics that can help communicators escape this roller coaster and promote their brands through proactive media activities.

There’s an old courtroom expression: “Never ask a question if you don’t know the answer.” But after last night’s CNN town hall debate about gun control—when survivors of last week’s Parkland, Fla. school shooting met with Sen. Marco Rubio, Parkland Rep. Ted Deutsch, Broward County sheriff Scott Israel and National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch—perhaps a new version of that quote is in order: “Never answer a question without first reading the room.”