Reputation

This week in PR: Buc-ee’s trademark enforcement sparks national backlash, DuckDuckGo sells out with a privacy stunt, and Cision reveals why more data isn’t always better for brands.

PRNEWS announced its 2026 People of the Year honorees—an accomplished group of leaders, innovators and rising talent redefining the future of PR and communications.

Communications teams already have the skills to manage how AI machines answer the questions. Use them now, or spend years explaining an answer you had no hand in shaping.

PR roundup covers the latest Reputation Risk Index focusing on the Iran war, what Tony Romo’s OWI arrest crisis and CBS’s silence can teach brands about crisis response, and what a little raccoon named Jimothy is teaching brands about the value of showing up fast.

PR roundup covers an Olive Garden pasta promotion becomes a political flashpoint, new research on how Gen Z is rewriting the path to sports fandom and why the Kraft Heinz and Disney alliance is one of the best brand partnerships.

Geopolitical conflict often places energy companies into the spotlight and the Iran crisis is no exception. New analysis shows nearly a third of all media mentions related to the crisis referenced the energy sector.

Siri became the place where Apple’s mythology cracked, following the launch of the Apple Intelligence initiative.

Consumer brands can’t afford to ignore what’s going on in their comments sections. AI can hurt, but also help.

Anyone can search a CEO’s name and instantly see a full AI-generated profile. So what should a communication team do? Executive visibility is no longer optional.

This week’s PR Roundup examines what it takes to build—and keep—consumer trust in uncertain times.