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U.S. comms head Matt Ward to exit HSBC

Ward will be temporarily replaced by Katherine Amatrudo, HSBC’s VP of communications.

Clip art of arm reaching out of coffee cup holding a sign reading "help"

How agencies are addressing mental health in the workplace — and what they can do better

Agencies are taking increased steps to support the mental health and well-being of their employees. But simply offering unlimited paid time off or adding an ERG won’t cut it, according to creative talent.

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Calcium+Company buys scientific comms agency CSG Health Group

Calcium+Company CEO Judy Capano said the CSG purchase marks the latest milestone in the firm’s ongoing expansion and transformation efforts.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Friday morning

Pride in PR: Kate Wolff; Meta to require employees back in the office three days a week; Twitter's head of trust and safety resigns.

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Michael Kaye named marketing, comms lead for newly launched Archer dating app

Astrsk PR is working with the dating app for queer men.

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Publicis to award Arthur Sadoun $12 million ‘retention’ bonus to stay as CEO until 2027

Share award is worth 10 times his annual salary.

Pam Scheideler joined Edelman in 2020.

Edelman names Pam Scheideler US brand chair

She will retain her position as US head of digital.

Photo credit: Macall Polay/HBO

Which Waystar Royco PR exec have you experienced more in your career: Hugo or Karolina?

Succession’s two PR executives couldn’t be more different than one another.

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NetBase Quid adds ChatGPT-enabled search capabilities

Users will be able to save time without sacrificing control, according to the company.

NFT image of the Mona Lisa

NFTs aren’t dead; they're just shifting gears

Sure, the crypto market has cooled off considerably and the craze isn't the same, but Asian brands that have a long-term adoption strategy deliver success.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Thursday morning

PRWeek kicks off Pride in PR 2023 by honoring Jim Joseph; Recap of PRWeek’s Women of Distinction 2023 event.

Pride in PR logo 2023

PRWeek launches Pride in PR 2023

To mark this year’s Pride Month, PRWeek is honoring 30 leading PR professionals who identify as LGBTQ+ on its third Pride in PR list.

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BCW Group names Corey duBrowa CEO

Donna Imperato announced her retirement in January.

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Freud Communications names Brandon Thomas EVP, New York

The UK-based agency adds three roles to the NYC office, expanding its U.S. presence.

(Image of Kelli Richardson Lawson speaking at PRWeek's Women of Distinction event.

Kelli Richardson Lawson on the long journey to finding real purpose

The executive and agency founder talked about how life’s challenges resulted in her starting a business and launching purpose-based entrepreneurial activities.

Image from the first panel at PRWeek's Women of Distinction event

Women of Distinction 2023: How to be a great leader and mentor

Before they were honorees: Panelists talk about how they got to the top of the communications industry.

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PRophet teams with media intelligence platform PeakMetrics

The deal will give PRophet users more capabilities to combat misinformation and disinformation.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Wednesday morning

Today: PRWeek’s Women of Distinction event; PetSmart coronation case study; How the White House is preparing for deep fakes.

Screen shot from Succession

Remembering ‘Succession’: A fascinating peek into communications

The king is dead, long live the king! PRWeek recaps the final installment of the Emmy-winning Max drama. Warning: Significant spoilers ahead.

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Aaron Radelet to depart Walgreens Boots Alliance after four years

Radelet will be replaced as CCO by Beth Leonard, chief corporate affairs officer at EmblemHealth.

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Joele Frank sues Twitter over unpaid bills: Reuters

The PR firm is one of several parties that have taken legal action against Twitter since Elon Musk took over the social media platform last year.

Headshot of Steven Immergut

Healthcare comms expert Steven Immergut dies at age 56

Immergut worked at Bayer and Pfizer, as well as the FDA during the Obama administration.

Trevor Project and Puma Reform the Locker Room ad

Puma and Trevor Project launch LGBTQ+ sports inclusion courses

The #ReformTheLockerRoom campaign offers online training for coaches, athletic directors and other sports leaders on best practices for creating welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ youth in sports.

Image of a bag with marbles spilling out

Global agency groups Q1 2023 report card: Organic growth for most but pace slows

Organic revenues were up on the previous year at four of the 'big six' agency groups in early 2023.

Headshot of Conny Braams

Unilever marketing chief Conny Braams departs

Her replacement will be announced in due course.

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WPP and Nvidia to build AI-powered content engine for advertisers

The engine was unveiled this week at Computex 2023.

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Brandwatch builds out Reddit partnership

The company, part of Cision, is adding Reddit data to Social Panels.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Tuesday morning

WPP teams with Nvidia on AI project; Tentative debt ceiling deal; NBA, NHL finals set.

Image of Taylor Swift performing at Gillette Stadium

Taylor Swift mania pays off for Gillette Stadium’s social media team

How the venue communicated with Swifties during the superstar’s three-show set.

Graphic depicting TikTok's "Easy as Pie (Chart)" campaign, including talking pie chart cartoons

TikTok shows advertisers how to use platform with ‘how-to’ videos

Campaign was produced by Gravity Road.

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Syneos Health names Batisha Anson as global patient DEI head

Batisha Anson, a DEI advocate and health PR vet, will work to improve diversity in clinical trials and commercialization across Syneos Health.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Friday morning

JPMorgan Chase is developing a ChatGPT-like software service; Ford Motor partners with Tesla.

Announcing the layoffs publicly is part of CEO Andy Pray's efforts to be transparent with employees and the public.

Praytell announces layoffs due to ‘bogey’

CEO Andy Pray said fewer than 10 employees are being impacted.

Smart phone displaying DoorDash logo

DoorDash denies ‘baseless’ allegations that iPhone users pay higher fees

The food delivery platform slammed a recent lawsuit for ‘throwing spaghetti against a wall and seeing if anything sticks.’

Photo credit: Getty Images

Twitter global comms head Rebecca Hahn joins Tools for Humanity

Hahn, one of Twitter’s few remaining comms professionals, was only at the social media platform for six months.

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EZ Newswire exits stealth mode

The platform uses AI to cut down on the amount of work required.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Thursday morning

Highlights from PRWeek’s Healthcare Conference + Awards; DeSantis trolled over presidential launch.

L-R: PRWeek's Steve Barrett and connectRN's Andrea Zellen and Ted Jeanloz.

Why flexibility is key to solving the nursing shortage crisis

Nurses shared why they’ve been leaving the profession in droves at the PRWeek Healthcare Conference + Awards.

Image from PRWeek's Healthcare conference

Highlights from the PRWeek US Healthcare Conference

Everything you need to know from the event.

L-R: PRWeek's Jess Ruderman and Planned Parenthood's Adrienne Verrilli at PRWeek's Healthcare Conference. (Photo credit: Brandon Doerrer).

How Planned Parenthood leaned into data and analytics to reach stakeholders

The fireside chat with Planned Parenthood’s VP of communications at PRWeek’s second-annual Healthcare Conference focused on the impact of the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Image from PRWeek's Healthcare Conference

Hot influencers and Grindr: Communicating safety info during the mpox public health emergency

Communications leaders from the dating app and Springboard HealthLab shared their experiences at PRWeek’s Healthcare Conference.

Take Pride, merchandise display, Target Store

Target removes trans-inclusive products from Pride lineup

The retailer said in a statement that it is pulling some products from stores to protect the safety of its workers.

Disneys LGBTQ employees Tiffany Cooper, left, and Nicole Quadros rally against their CEO Bob Chapek's handling of the staff controversy over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill

Disney vs. DeSantis reveals 'wholesome' truths about brand purpose

Marketers can learn from Disney's actions about what it really means to have a purpose and the difference between actions and words.

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QualTek enlists C Street Advisory after Chapter 11 filing

The infrastructure provider is looking to slash $307 million in debt.

Blue Couch on the streets of London

A blue couch goes viral. Which brand had the cleverest response?

One brand wants to know if anyone has seen its ‘plague-infested medieval couch.’

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Cirque du Soleil swings onto Roblox

The high-flying circus company aims to capture younger audiences with a world-building game.

Headshot of Sven Reigle

Sven Reigle joins Crosby in data science, performance marketing role

Reigle joined the agency in the newly created role from Google.

Screenshot from a Voltaren campaign

Voltaren shows how loved ones improve caregivers’ wellbeing

The brand measured wellbeing with an Emotiv EEG headset, which it featured in the campaign.

Headshot of Sharon Howard-Butler

Havas VX encourages high schoolers to Make Your Mark

Havas VX is working with the career and technical public art school in New York City to attract a diverse swath of junior talent to the healthcare marketing.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Wednesday morning

PRWeek Healthcare Conference + Awards today; Meet Generation Zeitgeist; Target pulls LGBTQ merchandise.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Here are America’s most trusted brands, according to Morning Consult

Six brands made repeat appearances on the business intelligence company’s top 10 list.

PRWeek Gen Zeitgeist workmark

It’s giving: PRWeek US launches Gen Z contributing column

Entering the Gen Zeitgeist era.

Simon Creer

PR must prove its value or ‘AI is coming for our jobs’

PR needs to educate budget holders about the sector’s value or ‘machine learning is coming for our jobs’, a senior comms figure told PRWeek’s PR360 conference last week.

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WE report: Employee engagement key to long-term sustainability change

Clear internal and external communications are necessary to bridge the gap between executives and other employees, according to the agency research.

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Meltwater rolls out AI tools

They include an AI writing assistant, insight help and video analysis.

Image of participating bike riders.

French/West/Vaughan builds momentum for Ride for Mental Health

The firm is helping the event rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic by emphasizing that it’s a fun weekend for participants.

Smart phone displaying TikTok logo

Bioré apologizes for TikTok influencer mentioning school shooting in ad

Bioré Skincare issued a statement on Saturday night apologizing for a TikTok influencer who promoted its products in an ad and repeatedly referenced a school shooting she survived.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Tuesday morning

JPMorgan analyst note on Bud Light backlash; ‘Profound risk:’ Surgeon general warns about social media effects on mental health; Ketchum celebrates 100th anniversary.

L-R: Fight or Flight's Sarah Nowak, Dan Bird, Tim Fry and Carolina Erazo.

Cybersecurity company Lookout names Fight or Flight as US AOR

Lookout bills itself as an endpoint-to-cloud security company with services for business use.

Ed Williams

Edelman creates international president role and names new EMEA CEO

Effective from July, Edelman’s new president, international, will be assigned to ‘further diversify the firm’s geographic business mix’.

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Syneos’ Chandler Chicco Agency promotes Andrea Dagger to head of strategy, US PR

Anna Khersonsky and Alison Aromando were named MD and head of client service, respectively.

Promotional art of the Virgin logos

Rewards club Virgin Red brings on Havas Formula as US PR AOR

The rewards club is targeting millennials and Gen Z as it tries to grow its US presence.

Screenshot from an episode of Succession.

Power dynamics seesaw in penultimate Succession chapter

The cycle of abuse rears its ugly head at the HBO drama’s big funeral. Significant spoilers ahead.

screenshot of Andy Cohen's Instagram photo

Andy Cohen recreates a famous nude photo to raise skin cancer awareness

EltaMD hired Cohen to again put on his birthday suit — this time with sunscreen — for the campaign.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Monday morning

Leadership appointments at KWT Global; Why Uber suspended its DE&I head.

Image of (L-R) Dan Brady, Dara Cothran and Jeremy Page

KWT Global adds three to global leadership team

All three new appointments are leading areas of the firm.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Blue Hour Studios formalizes native short-form video offering

Mavin aims to cut back on repurposed commercials dominating short-form video feeds.

Liquid death campaign image with Travis Barker

Liquid Death CEO offers AriZona 'free marketing tip' after social media exchange

AriZona poked fun at Liquid Death’s ‘enema kit’ with musician Travis Barker.

Promotional image for Crocs/Minecraft campaign

Crocs launches interactive AR game experience with Minecraft

The unique gaming campaign, produced by Gravity Road, launched this week.

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Healthline, Healio team to combat health misinformation

Social Checkup, which will feature targeted content from Healthline and Healio, is an exclusive offering to Publicis Health Media clients.

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Breakfast Briefing: 5 things for PR pros to know on Friday morning

GroupM: Twitter no longer ‘high risk;’ TikTok creators sue Montana over ban; Meta plans more layoffs.

Mitch Germann headshot

FleishmanHillard promotes Mitch Germann to global MD of retail, sports and lifestyle

Germann previously served as senior partner in the San Francisco office leading the consumer brand team.

Photo credit: Getty Images

United Minds launches C-suite advisory practice Myriant

It will help clients navigate business risks and opportunities through a stakeholder lens.

David Bentley headshot

David Bentley steps down as Porter Novelli CEO

The former McKinsey executive has been in post at the Omnicom agency for three years.

Image of Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco

Cision renews Twitter strategic partnership

The deal will boost Cision's consumer intelligence chops.

Pride apparel display at Target

‘Legitimate anxiety’: Brands get tentative about Pride as anti-LGBTQ activists flex their muscles

Bud Light. Target. Kohl’s. Even Chick-fil-A. Brands know they could be the next to be targeted for celebrating Pride.

Screenshot of Ron DeSantis' twitter launch

Twitter has a place in presidential campaigns — just not launching them

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign kickoff on Twitter was a bust for several reasons. But the platform is useful to campaigns in other ways.

Out-of-focus photo of figures walking

Three years later: How agencies are keeping the focus on diversity

How agencies are approaching diversity three years after the murder of George Floyd and the peak of Black Lives Matter.

Times Square street view with COVID-19 billboards

The 10 biggest communications lessons from the COVID-19 public health emergency

From understanding an audience to beating back disinformation, health comms experts share their biggest lessons learned for the next pandemic.

Image of Evan Gershkovich at a hearing

How The Wall Street Journal is rallying the media to keep Evan Gershkovich in the conversation

Media titans that are often at each other’s throats are pulling together to call for the detained reporter’s release.

young woman showing a thumbs up while using a phone to film at home

From creator to creative: Why agencies are recruiting social media stars

Creators are bringing their nimble creative savvy and short-form expertise to full-time agency roles, but face challenges adapting to client demands and agency culture.

Image of a woman using a smartphone in the subway.

‘No longer reliable’: Twitter chaos means public safety messaging gets a rethink

Transportation and public-health agencies used to go to Twitter first during an emergency. Now it’s not so simple.

A view of rainbow bottles of Bud Light during the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York

How Bud Light’s abandonment of the trans community could influence Pride

In light of the ongoing controversy between Bud Light and trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, brands must decide whether to move forward with Pride plans — or succumb to a vocal minority.

Shot of Dylan Mulvaney at a broadway opening

‘A big step back’: CCOs fear brands will retreat from LGBT support after Bud Light backlash

Experts worry about a broader chilling effect on brands speaking up on divisive social issues after the backlash to Bud Light’s partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Dylan Mulvaney at her Day 365 Live! in New York in March

Self-inflicted wounds haunt Anheuser-Busch’s Dylan Mulvaney crisis response

Bud Light failed at trying to appease two conflicting audiences, say PR executives.

Team working in office and remotely via video conferencing

Why companies continue to struggle with flex schedules

Hybrid work is here to stay. Or is it?

Stock art of the TikTok app

Meta’s Reels is building a home for TikTok refugees

Leading TikTok-focused agencies are encouraging clients to diversify their social media presences, with the Meta product getting the first look.

A photo of a Pepsi can with the new PepsiCo logo

Pepsi unveils a new logo: a look back at the logos through the years

A bold leap forward, the design reflects changing consumer tastes and the brand's digital ambitions. Also, it comes just in time for Pepsi’s 125th anniversary.

Smart phone displaying Midjourney logo

‘On a scale of one to 10, a 12’: The off-the-charts threat of AI-enhanced deepfakes to brands and individuals

Malicious actors are taking notes from convincing (fake) images of the pope’s new winter jacket.

TikTok logo on building

The end of TikTok? Influencer marketing pros prep for possible ban

The super-popular app is in the crosshairs of both Democrats and Republicans, worrying content creators and the brands that work with them.

Silicon Valley Bank building

After SVB collapse, regional banks hustle to protect their reputation

Meanwhile, major financial institutions have opted to stay silent, trying to demonstrate SVB’s crash was an anomaly.

Young Black woman filming a beauty and makeup vlog

Deinfluencer trend is a ‘cry out’ for more credible partnerships and content experiences

Experts explain why the #deinfluencing movement is a good thing for content creators and brands.

Members of ANC-COP21 staged a protest in front of the townhall of Toulouse

How brands and agencies should talk about sustainability

Amid fears of greenwashing and a new era of greenhushing, brands are tiptoeing around communicating their sustainability journeys.

Businesspeople talking seated around a boardroom table

Diversity roles are disappearing in corporate America — but not at PR agencies

Why industry experts are bullish that firms will keep a focus on DEI even if that’s not the case in-house.

Woman sitting in office working with remote employees

Agencies are at the center of the WFH vs. RTO tug of war: How are they handling it?

While large agency leaders want to draw a line in the sand, others are taking a more nuanced approach to in-person collaboration.

People walking by COVID-19 testing signage

How PR agencies are preparing for post-public health emergency messaging

Healthcare experts outline the importance of an overabundance of communication in the 60 days before the end of the public health and national emergency for COVID-19.

Paul Scharre, senior fellow, Center for a New American Security, views a deepfake video of former president Barack Obama

The creator marketing complex is unprepared for deepfakes

And it could result in victimized creators losing out on brand partnerships.

Kansas City Chiefs fans looking at phone

Twitter remains core to Super Bowl ad plans, but other platforms emerge

Brands still find value on Twitter for the Big Game – but they’re using other platforms too, as they remain wary of potential brand safety issues and ongoing turmoil.

Image of State Farm Stadium

Why TikTok is not the place to be for brands during the Super Bowl

Before and after the game are a different story as brands “scratch the surface” of what they can do on the platform for big events.

Game image between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills

The Super Bowl rapid response war room is back, with a virtual twist

Clients and agency partners are once again making plans to get together for the Super Bowl, and with playbooks to rival that of an offensive coordinator.

Businesspeople talking in modern lobby

What a ban on non-competes would mean for the PR industry

Following the FTC’s proposal to ban non-competes nationwide, the PR industry is reevaluating restrictive covenants and what the ban would mean for employees.

(Kevin Mazur/Contributor/Getty Images)

Will Beyoncé’s reputation suffer as a result of her Dubai appearance?

Music superstar Beyoncé has riled up many of her fans by agreeing to a private performance at a Dubai hotel launch, for the reported fee of $24m. Was this payout big enough to make the potential career risk worth it, or is the singer confident that the whole thing will blow over quickly?

Image of someone useing ChatGPT on a laptop

‘A starting point for creativity:’ How PR pros are testing ChatGPT

They’re also heeding warnings that the tool could create ‘a cavalcade of bullshit.’

Image of a robot performing Hamlet

What does ChatGPT think about PR pros’ concerns?

We know what chatbots are, but know not what they may be.

Woman at protest with fist raised in air

Is PR too liberal for its own good?

A study conducted by NYU in partnership with PRWeek suggests PR pros’ political and social beliefs are out of sync with the general public, leading to poor client counsel.

AI mockuo stock art

AI can do PR, but should it?

ChatGPT can make a press release or corporate statement, but experts say good comms is a human responsibility.

Influencer Brian "Liver King" Johnson attends the UFC 276 event at T-Mobile Arena

Post-Liver King scandal, brands don’t know which fitness creators to trust

After claiming a natural physique to millions of social media followers, Brian Johnson, AKA Liver King, admitted to using steroids — illustrating the numerous brand safety landmines in the fitness creator category.

Woman wearing VR headset

As companies hire metaverse specialists, do these roles have longevity?

As the metaverse and Web3 evolve, experts believe they can stay relevant with their strategic minds and ability to understand and explain emerging tech to clients.

Diverse professionals sit around an office boardroom table

'Unfair' payment terms are handcuffing small and minority-owned agencies, and it could get worse

Keurig Dr Pepper’s payment terms came to light after trade organizations reviewed its RFP and raised objections.

Time lapse photography of traffic around the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C.

Few legislative wins, many investigations: How companies should prepare for the new Congress

Organizations are understandably nervous they could be called to testify as Republicans wield their new investigative power.

Sam Bankman-Fried displayed on a projector screen

Did FTX kill crypto? Not for the PR agencies working to rebuild the sector

Firms are finding silver linings — and plenty of media placement opportunities — for crypto clients amid FTX’s collapse.

Three smart phones display Instagram, YouTube and TikTok apps

Reels, Shorts and TikTok: How do advertisers divide spend?

As monetization lags at Reels and Shorts, Campaign US delves into the factors informing how ad spend flows between short video offerings from performance to audience, maturity and trust.

TikTok influencers using ring light and phone to record a video

Struggling to monetize on Reels, creators look to Shorts and TikTok

Even creators with the largest following on Reels are finding it difficult to make a living, making TikTok and YouTube Shorts appealing alternatives.

Picture of Elon Musk surrounded by Twitter logos

A break, not a break up: Why agencies are telling clients not to abandon Twitter… yet

Things at Twitter under Elon Musk are weird. Very weird. But not enough for brands to say goodbye to the platform.

A gamer plays a video game at the Gamescom video game fair in Cologne

To reach diverse audiences, game developers must transform from within

PR and marketing pros discuss how gaming companies and agencies are stepping up initiatives to reach diverse audiences, but internal efforts still lag.

US Capitol Building

Why a midterm ‘red wave’ will put companies’ ESG efforts on the chopping block

Experts predict the Republicans will win at least one house of Congress and wield their power against ‘woke’ corporations.

Kanye West at Paris Fashion Week

‘Brands should run, not walk away:’ Lessons from PR pros on Kanye West crisis

Crisis, legal and sports communications experts weigh in on West’s recent actions, and detail strategies brands can use when celebrity-related issues arise.

Laura Lane and PRWeek's Steve Barrett at the PRDecoded conference in Chicago

Pushing with purpose through challenging times

Challenges are everywhere for businesses. That makes investing in purpose even more important.

Electronic displays showing stock market losses

Financial comms experts see silver linings in uncertain market

Little to no demand for IPO comms isn’t the end of the world for financial specialists, who are seeing opportunity elsewhere.

Kim Kardashian (Getty Images/Victor VIRGILE)

Kim Kardashian, crypto, PR and a $1.3m fine

Whatever your thoughts on the Kardashians (if you have any at all), even their biggest detractors would grudgingly accept that the family has a solid grasp of PR. Less so when it comes to financial regulation.