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Communicators assume social media and influencers are influential to some degree on peoples’ decisions. The more important questions: How influential are they? Which demographic groups are influenced most? And do people value the advice of influencers and what they see on social media equally across the board? In other words are there particular sectors where social media content and influencers’ advice carries the most weight? A new report attempts to answer some of those questions.

For the third article in this five-part series about measurement-related issues, PR News and partner PublicRelay, a media monitoring and analytics firm, held a Communications Leadership Roundtable in New York during this holiday season. One dozen senior communicators discussed the challenges of refining and cleaning data, among other measurement-related issues.

We’ve been told there are fewer journalists who are being asked to do more. In addition to reporting the news, journalists now are asked to provide content to social media platforms such as Facebook. They’re also being asked to take pictures and provide video. A new survey looks at how much more journalists are being to do. Its findings suggest savvy PR pros should think visually.

Kate Hardin has a passion for working with corporate healthcare clients and has turned that passion into a highly profitable group within the corporate communications practice at Ruder Finn. And, At Burson-Marsteller, Jane Madden holds a unique position offering clients strategic counsel and acting as an internal expert on CR and sustainability, allowing her to direct new business initiatives.

What’s the proper protocol for brands when an event like today’s attempted terrorist attack in New York City occurs? Should a brand go silent and stop sending out any social media promotions as the dust settles or is it best to send out thoughts and prayers in a show of solidarity?

Crisis management, our author argues, is itself in crisis. The causes of this crisis in crisis PR include challenges in philosophy, technology and ethics, not to mention that some crises (see Lauer, Matt and Rose, Charlie) begin and end so quickly that crisis PR barely has time to roll up its sleeves. What’s a company or a brand in crisis to do?

An all-star lineup of communicators who routinely go above and beyond the call of duty were honored at the 2017 PR People Awards Luncheon, held Dec. 5 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C. When accepting their awards, many of them expressed the need to be humble, to be receptive to new ideas and ultimately, to be an active listener, as the keys to their success.

Five communications veterans were inducted into the PR Hall of Fame at PR News’ 2017 PR People Awards luncheon on Dec. 5 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Entry into the PR Hall of Fame is PR News’ highest honor: Inductees are PR professionals who have played longtime leadership roles, serving as sources of inspiration within and beyond the workplace, and helping to redefine and expand the roles communicators play.

In a profession that demands new skills for an ever-expanding set of digital and analytics tools, the next generation of communicators will be need to be equal parts storyteller and data scientist. And both of those sides were on full display as a fresh class of young communicators were honored as Rising Stars at the PR News’ 2017 PR People Awards Luncheon on Dec. 5 at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

There is profound uncertainty about the uses of data and of the value of the communications data that communicators share with senior leaders, according to a recent survey of communicators at the director level and, separately, at the VP level and above. The survey from PR News and PublicRelay, a media monitoring and ana­lytics firm, looks at the day-to-day role of measurement and media analysis.