PR News Blogger Network

Away continues to experience a public failure that undermines its stated values as a community-focused global travel brand. It’s painfully clear that the luggage company’s senior leadership, especially its co-chief executive Steph Korey, needs a lesson in reputation management.

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.

Last week,  we talked with Joshua Otten, CEO of Ronin, the largest branding agency for cannabis and hemp businesses. We spoke about his journey from PRØHBTD to Ronin, how quality content can make the difference between a commodity and a lifestyle, and why the future of cannabis branding will live on streaming services.

South Dakota’s PR campaign around the state’s methamphetamine epidemic accomplished what it set out to do—create awareness around a state-wide health crisis. But the play on words, “Meth. We’re on it,” superimposed over pictures of… Continued

November is Measurement Month. I swear it is. Johna Burke, the intelligent and ebullient global managing director of AMEC, just wished me Happy Measurement Month. So I know I’m not totally mistaken. Despite events on… Continued

Nothing can compare to the experience of “being there.” Whether it’s attending the opening night of the newest Star Wars movie, being the first in line to buy the latest Jordans, or standing atop the… Continued

JUUL Labs, the now ubiquitous e-cigarette manufacturer whose pocket-sized vaporizers work with its propriety pods of nicotine liquid, has found itself in a free fall over the past few months. In June, the company’s own city… Continued

No amount of money can ever bring a person back from death. And a settlement reached two years after a national tragedy might be too late to repair a consumer’s perception of a brand.  While… Continued

Emerging platform TikTok has seen a lot of buzz these days, and perhaps rightly so: It has added 1.2 billon users over just one year. A new shoppable hashtag campaign from Ralph Lauren is already… Continued

A look at why these branded podcasts are working provides many strong lessons for communicators about the merits of the medium.

[Editor’s Note: This post describes two crises, both of which resulted in fatalities. In only one case, were jobs lost as a result.] At Flowery Branch, GA, about one hour’s drive from Atlanta, DJ Durkin… Continued

Many marketers continue to operate with the idea that American family ideals of the past are relevant in targeting female demographics. But this tactic falls flat for many—if not most—modern women. Worse, it lacks the… Continued

Many marketers continue to operate  with the idea that American family ideals of the past are still relevant in targeting  female demographics. But this tactic falls flat for many—if not most—modern women. Worse, that approach… Continued

The United States Women’s Soccer Team victory tour might just be the envy of all campaign managers. The successful embrace of the team’s fight for equal pay organically resounded throughout the crowds at each appearance… Continued

For the past few years, future-focused communicators have seen cryptocurrency as a potential tool for promoting brand transparency and accountability. That’s because blockchain, the digital technology that logs cryptocurrency transactions, acts as an unalterable ledger.… Continued

“How many of you in the room have ever felt stuck at some point in your career?” At the opening session of the Public Relations Society of America’s Corporate Communications Conference in New York, dozens… Continued

The battle for gender equality marches on, played out in one of the most public spaces, headline news. And it’s not just about how much coverage women are receiving versus men—whether in politics or business… Continued

This past January, baby boomers and John Mayer-following millennial Deadheads alike rejoiced at the announcement that the 50th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock Music and Arts Festival would be celebrated with a concert in upstate… Continued

Pride Month is not just a celebration of how much better things have gotten in a country that once treated LGBTQ people as social pariahs and where Don’t Ask Don’t Tell forced those who wished to serve their country to hide their identities. It’s also a reminder that we still have a long way to go to true equality. And PR needs to be at the forefront of those efforts.

My off-hours are spent volunteering as an activist for New York City cyclist, pedestrian and public transit advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives (TransAlt). At the start, I figured it’d be the usual rabble-rousing stuff: showing up to… Continued

Now we know. Amazon’s Alexa really is listening to our conversations. A Bloomberg exposé details that Amazon has an army of some thousand humans listening to tapes of what Alexa ‘hears’ inside homes around the world.… Continued

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, it’s the right time to discuss what we love about PR and marketing. There’s plenty to say. We’re unsure if PR pros love their jobs, but we know they like them.… Continued

They make others look good and know never to apologize when they get the promotion or land the big new account. They are mentors and have unabashedly sought out sponsors. They know how to read… Continued

They make others look good and know never to apologize when they get the promotion or land the big new account. They are mentors and have unabashedly sought out sponsors. They know how to read… Continued

Americans sometimes look admiringly at the U.K. After all, Britain is the colonial power that gave birth to these United States. Brexit and football hooliganism aside, the Brits often are seen as more civilized than… Continued

It’s the quintessential image of Santorini, Greece, that of pristine colorful structures hugging the cliffs overlooking the azure blue Aegean Sea. For one small boutique hotel, keeping its exterior a perfect shade of white is… Continued

It wasn’t too long ago when PR pros counseled brands against making overt forays into politics. ‘Stick to your knittin’, ‘stay in your lane’ or some other cliché was the standard response. It’s no longer… Continued

It comes up in most conversations and lingers, unresolved: how can I find and then retain great talent? During a panel I moderated recently on the future of PR, this topic was discussed at length,… Continued

A sigh of relief emanated from College Park, Maryland, early on All Hallows’ Eve, when University of Maryland (UMD) president Wallace Loh announced his firing of head football coach DJ Durkin. It was one of… Continued

Money can’t buy you love and it can’t buy you passionate employees, but it surely can buy you more resources. When posed with the question of “What would you do with a 15% increase in… Continued

With so many examples of how not to navigate crises in the news, you’d think more brands and organizations would know the basics of managing them. While many do, the outlier that fails to be transparent,… Continued

That hissing sound you hear is the Edelman Trust Barometer dropping like a lead zeppelin. The main culprit this time is Google. Did you read its Oct. 8 blog post? In “Project Strobe: Protecting your data,… Continued

On October 2, Amazon pledged to pay all U.S. workers $15 per hour beginning next month. All 250,000 Amazon employees and 100,000 seasonal staff will receive the higher wage, as will workers at Whole Foods.… Continued

Coming up with a PR crisis management plan is not particularly difficult. The steps are well known: move promptly to accept responsibility (this might include someone losing her/his job) and be transparent about what occurred;… Continued

News broke this weekend when Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s heretofore-anonymous accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, came forward alleging Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her when the two were at a party in high… Continued

Every day we throw something out, tossing it into the garbage or recycling bin without much thought. At home, we cart the trash can up to the curb (or have our kids do it) and… Continued

If you listen to podcasts in which Hollywood actors and directors are interviewed you’ll often hear the statement, “I love telling stories.” It’s always about storytelling. It’s never about entertainment or making a beautiful dollar.… Continued

During the winter and summer holidays the PR department of a big pharma company sends employees a note about the company’s views on issues that might arise during conversations with friends and family at social gatherings. With… Continued

“First we eat, then we do everything else,” the preeminent American food writer M.F.K. Fisher once proclaimed. We can all agree that food is an important part of our lives. So when the CEO of… Continued

It’s difficult to know what will become of the Trump administration’s immigration policy that includes separating children from their families at U.S. borders. It’s a moving story at the moment. As of this writing, it… Continued