Public Affairs

Most consumers now view geopolitics as a top priority for business – Edelman research

Businesses need to take a stronger position on geopolitical issues, according to new research presented to the World Economic Forum at Davos today (Monday).

Major ad holding companies to fund staff travel for abortion access

Three of the ad industry’s largest agency holding companies have revamped their benefits packages to fund travel for women seeking abortions in the US, in wake of the Supreme Court’s leaked memo.

BerlinRosen establishes fund to support staff after Roe v. Wade decision

The fund would assist staff who are located in states where abortion is or may become limited.

How 7 pro-choice organizations responded to the leaked Supreme Court decision that would strike down Roe v. Wade

The draft majority decision was confirmed on Tuesday by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Geoff Morrell exits Disney after 3 months amid company standoff with DeSantis

The former Pentagon spokesperson and White House correspondent is leaving Disney as it is engaged in a legal and political battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.

Powell Tate hires former Kamala Harris comms director Ashley Etienne

Etienne will be a senior counselor at the DC-based public affairs unit of The Weber Shandwick Collective.

BCW appoints Nick Driver as research lead, North America

Driver was most recently a senior insights strategist at Purple Strategies.

Amid messaging war with DeSantis over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, Disney adds former Biden aide Kristina Schake to team

Schake led President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine-education efforts as counselor to the secretary for strategic communications in the Department of Health and Human Services.

PR firms in the spotlight over Putin today

Bill Browder, the activist investor and prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, has hinted that he plans to name PR firms that have helped the Russian President, describing it as a ‘huge problem that no one talks about’.

Comms pros, business leaders react to Madeleine Albright’s death

Weber Shandwick elevates Pam Jenkins to chief public affairs officer

Jenkins, who was president of global affairs, steps into the newly created role to better integrate public affairs across Weber's clients and services.

GE promotes Tara DiJulio to global comms lead

DiJulio was a longtime Capitol Hill aide to five senators.

Bully Pulpit Interactive hires Carahna Magwood as creative director

She was previously creative director for The White House.

SKDK snaps up former Biden White House director of broadcast media

Mariel Sáez was a part of President Joe Biden’s communications team.

State of Union spreads to Ukraine

Business stepped into the fray as this week's address to the country by President Biden was dominated by messages to the world about the illegal invasion of President Zelensky's Ukraine by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

No urgency, wrong tone: Baby formula makers are falling flat in communicating with the public

Yet influencers are filling the gap on social media with information about where moms can find baby formula and other tips.

The silence is deafening from corporate America on Roe v. Wade. Why so many companies are staying quiet

Brands such as Levi Strauss and Yelp are in the minority in issuing strongly worded condemnations of the Supreme Court’s likely decision to overturn the landmark case.

Amid a flurry of anti-LGBTQ legislation, is social media streamlining abuse?

State legislation has set social media ablaze with anti-LGBTQ sentiment. Equality organizations are pushing back.

When ‘grassroots’ public affairs work crosses a line

Two highly publicized incidents have come to light of firms flirting too closely with the ‘dark arts’ side of the business.

TikTok diplomacy: Why politicos are hailing the White House’s outreach to creators

People who are mocking strategy don’t understand the breadth and reach of the platform, say West Wing and campaign veterans.

National Association of Manufacturers goes digital this election season

Jamie Hennigan VP of strategic communications at the National Association of Manufacturers on the NAM's digital campaign, #TruthOnTheTrail.

DC Influencer: Reinout Oussoren, Northern Power Systems

We're a small manufacturer and work primarily with lobbying firms or industry groups doing the lobbying. We provide a strong voice to industry associations such as the American Wind Energy Association and Distributed Wind Energy Association.

E-cigarette maker VMR's Seth Coblentz on why regulation is a drag

Alison Kanski talks to VMR's general counsel on regulation, international trade, and more.

What is a lobbyist? The McCormick Group's John Hesse says it's about communication

John Hesse II, a consultant on law and government affairs at The McCormick Group, discusses lobbying and PR.

The communications goals and strategies of Black Lives Matter

Shanelle Matthews, lead communications strategist for Black Lives Matter, tells Dipka Bhambhani about driving conversations from the 'hood to the White House.