After a Black employee quit over its dress code, supermarket chain Publix stated it will not allow workers to wear clothing featuring Black Lives Matter messaging. In response to what could be an emerging communications crisis for the brand, Publix spokesperson Maria Brous pointed to company policy. TheoryComms’ CEO Andrea Hamiton argues PR cannot stay on the sidelines in a moment of national turmoil and transformation.
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Earth Day PSA from Greta Thunberg Fires Up Media for Non-COVID Cause
April 22nd, 2020 by Sophie MaerowitzIn tandem with Earth Day and online Climate Strike events (a large global, in-person strike had been planned, but went digital due to COVID-19), Fridays for Future is calling attention to climate change as an urgent threat that has been overshadowed by the pandemic. On April 21, the group released a simple, but effective 1-minute video ad, titled “Our House is On Fire.” In the video, a family goes through a morning routine, ignoring the fact that their house is going up in flames as they pack school lunches and sit down for breakfast.
TikTok: Where #HashtagChallenges Turn Users into Brand Content Creators
December 4th, 2018 by Rich ThomaselliYou’ve probably heard of TikTok by now, the new short-form video app that allows users to create up to 15-second videos using their cameras, in-app editing tools and animation. Currently the No. 1 free app… Continued
Top 10 Public Relations Trends for Those Paying Attention (Plus, One Call to Action)
December 3rd, 2018 by Diane SchwartzIt 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 Matter of Trust: PR News’ Healthcare Social Media Summit
October 26th, 2018 by Colleen LutolfMore than 150 social media marketers, communicators and PR pros attended the summit at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront on Oct. 23 to hear from some of the industry’s top social media, marketing and communications pros… Continued
The Meat of the Story for Communicators in WeWork’s Bold Vegetarian Policy
July 23rd, 2018 by Diane Schwartz“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
3 Ways Oscars Influencers Echoed Activism Beyond Hollywood
March 5th, 2018 by Justin JoffeAt the Oscars, celebrity influences spoke out as conscious, mindful advocates instead of talking heads. Some of the most significant moments include the snubbing of Ryan Seacrest, a passionate advocation for dreamers and the suggestion of a rider that would make inclusion in productions a requirement. These tactics have implications that reverberate for beyond the Hollywood Hills.
Things Are Looking Up for Communicators (A Note to PR News Readers)
January 8th, 2018 by Diane SchwartzThere’s a line in the movie “Molly’s Game” I think you’ll appreciate. As the young and future Olympic-level skier Molly Bloom was learning the sport from her father, he gave her this advice on the… Continued
9 Communications Leaders Give Their Take on How the C-Suite Values PR in the Data Age
January 5th, 2018 by Samantha WoodCommunications professionals are well aware of the business value they bring to their organizations and to their clients. Communicating that value to the C-suite, though, has historically been a struggle, which is no small irony. The availability of digital data has proven to be a mixed blessing for PR professionals. The data is there to show a multitude of communications successes but, for CEOs and CFOs, data that doesn’t connect directly to business goals can seem devoid of value and meaning.
PR News’ Top 7 PR Stories of the Year
December 14th, 2017 by Samantha WoodIn a nutshell, 2017 has been a year of scandals, viral posts and revelations. Several big brands grappled with major crises, fake news continued to dog the major social media platforms and brands braced themselves for the possibility of being tweeted at by President Trump. But it certainly wasn’t all doom and gloom. Here, we’ve rounded up seven of the most memorable PR stories that defined 2017.