What topics attracted the most attention from PR professionals this year? Take a look at the PRNEWS top 5 most-read stories in 2025. Crisis and how-to digital PR pieces seemed to engage our audience most—particularly anything having to do with Substack or LinkedIn.
Who knows what 2026 will bring for brands and public figures in regards to reputation and communications. Here are some lessons everyone can learn from for 2026.
Former “Vanderpump Rules” Star, James Kennedy, Faces Public Downfall: A Reputation Management Case Study
James Kennedy’s public fallout from Vanderpump Rules gave a front-row look at how quickly a personal brand can unravel—and what PR pros learned from the missteps. And it showed up month after month in 2025 on our traffic report.
PR Roundup: Kimmel Free Speech Fallout, Comscore Launches Scoreboard, Gen Alpha Drives Family Purchases
This roundup dove into the fallout from ABC removing late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely, following remarks regarding the background of the shooter in the murder of political podcaster Charlie Kirk.
Are We in the Opposite of Cancel Culture?
Did cancel culture lose its grip? This piece looked at how some brands leaned into backlash instead of retreating, using moments like the Sydney Sweeney–American Eagle controversy to show how polarization activated supporters and reshaped modern crisis comms.
Top PR Substacks: A Starter Kit
It’s 2025 and everyone you know is on Substack—even the PR industry! This story served up a 101 of must-follow Substacks, spotlighting a mix of newsletters that delivered media insights, tactical comms advice and trend-driven analysis. From crisis playbooks to AI and leadership takes, it’s a curated playlist of voices helping communicators stay sharp.
3 Reasons Your Executive Isn’t Breaking Through on LinkedIn—and What to Do About It
If your exec’s LinkedIn posts aren’t landing, this piece explained why. From ditching stiff, overly curated content to leaning into video and a more human voice, it offered clear, practical ways to help leaders actually connect on the platform.
Nicole Schuman is Managing Editor at PRNEWS.