Carmakers expand news cycle for Super Bowl ads

February 03, 2012

Brands are making their internal PR teams and agency partners a bigger part of their Super Bowl plans, lengthening the news cycle for their ads and taking advantage of consumer enthusiasm on social media.
 

Economic, trust issues dominate Davos discussion

January 27, 2012

The European debt crisis, high unemployment in the US, and a lack of trust between consumers, governments, and businesses are topics dominating the agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
 

Legal experts highlight rarity of Weber's suit

January 20, 2012

Weber Shandwick's move to take legal action against Hill+Knowlton Strategies for allegedly stealing confidential information, clients, and employees is one rarely seen in the industry, PR recruitment and legal experts tell PRWeek.
 

Definition of 'client conflict' remains elusive

January 20, 2012

Agencies are still struggling to specify what constitutes a client conflict, despite it being a hot-button industry topic for years.
 

Despite major abdications, marketers still embrace CES

January 13, 2012

LAS VEGAS: The International Consumer Electronics Show is still a marquee event for a growing range of brands to promote their products, despite some Silicon Valley giants saying it no longer fits their strategies.
 

Online piracy bill sparks PR scuffle

December 16, 2011

Google, Facebook, and non-governmental organizations are facing off against the entertainment industry in a communications battle to influence legislator and public opinion on The Stop Online Piracy Act.
 

Marketers make holiday season easier for shoppers

December 09, 2011

Brands are bolstering their in-person and online interaction with customers to make this holiday shopping season less of a hassle.
 

Specialty firms at top of holding companies' wish lists

December 02, 2011

The recent flurry of agency acquisitions will likely continue in the next year, especially in terms of specialist or international firms, said agency executives and M&A experts.
 

Brand USA to fight negative perceptions about US travel

November 11, 2011

Brand USA, the public-private partnership charged with promoting travel to the US, will challenge a range of perceptions about visiting the country when it launches a $200 million integrated campaign next year.
 

ITT passes spinoff test as it splits into three companies

November 04, 2011

The former ITT Corporation avoided many of the missteps of other major public firms when it spun off two companies, ITT Exelis and Xylem.
 

Unilever gives marketers permission to fail

October 28, 2011

Unilever is shaking up its marcomms strategy to reward employees who take greater risks with campaigns, rather than allowing decisions to be dictated solely by quantitative data.
 

Political leaders soften stance on Occupy Wall Street protests

October 21, 2011

Political and business leaders are moderating their responses to the growing "Occupy Wall Street" protests, which have spread far beyond Manhattan's Financial District.
 

Both sides in NBA impasse court support through social media

October 14, 2011

The NBA players' union is educating its membership on how to avoid committing social media fouls during the ongoing NBA lockout, which has forced the cancellation of the first two weeks of the 2011-2012 season.
 

Bank of America sharpens messaging about new fees

October 07, 2011

CHARLOTTE, NC: Bank of America has amplified its messaging about new debit card fees after it received backlash from both consumers and politicians in the past week.
 

Timeline debut forces brands to modify Facebook strategy

September 30, 2011

The introduction of Facebook's "Timeline" feature is forcing PR professionals and social media marketers to rethink their approach to communicating with consumers through the social network.
 

Brands use Clinton Initiative as CSR launch pad

September 23, 2011

NEW YORK: The Clinton Global Initiative, started by former President Clinton to spur actionable solutions to some of the world's biggest problems, has evolved into a launching pad for corporate social responsibility programs and a key opportunity for PR leaders to learn about social issues.
 

Wireless carriers square up for court battles

September 16, 2011

WASHINGTON: The fight over the legality of AT&T's $39-billion bid to acquire T-Mobile USA has just begun. But the battle lines from a communications perspective have already been drawn.
 

Obama jobs pledge shifts onus to GOP

September 09, 2011

WASHINGTON: In his nationally televised speech last night, President Barack Obama unveiled details of his $447-billion job stimulus package.
 

America chooses service to remember 9/11 victims

September 01, 2011

Best Buy, American Express and Barneys New York are among the brands that have communications planned around the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
 

Social media numbers don't tell the whole story

August 19, 2011

What do Walgreens, Intel, Walmart, and American Express have in common? Each has a Facebook page, Twitter handle, and Foursquare account, aggregating millions of followers and "likes."
 

The role of PR in a downgraded economy

August 12, 2011

As political leaders deal with growing investor fears that the country may relapse into another recession, PR agencies have seen a short-term uptick in corporate client activity related to navigating economic volatility.
 

Influencing the influencers at BlogHer 2011

August 05, 2011

More brands are recognizing the importance of the BlogHer conference, a pivotal yearly meeting that attracts key women influencers from across the online space.
 

Tourism PR heats up this summer

July 29, 2011

International tourism boards are hiring PR agencies at a rapid pace this summer to better appeal to US travelers, particularly in countries facing perception problems.
 

Brands jump into consumer interaction at Comic-Con

July 22, 2011

With 130,000 enthusiastic, tech-savvy fans in one place, Comic-Con can serve as an important venue for vendors and exhibitors, and many companies have taken advantage of that.
 

Comms pros gear up for Google+

July 15, 2011

With more than 10 million users sharing nearly one billion pieces of content each day, the Google+ social networking service has potential to be a true game changer.
 

Myths vs. facts in the diet soda health debate

July 08, 2011

A new study that links the consumption of diet soda to obesity represents the latest PR challenge for the beverage industry's low-calorie offerings.
 

Energy industry struggles to fix 'fracking' PR

June 30, 2011

Energy companies are in the midst of aggressive PR campaigns to combat the perception that natural gas extracted from shale formations is bad for the environment and for investment.
 

Is Wal-Mart's gender discrimination win really a win?

Michelle Lodge June 24, 2011

The Supreme Court passed down a major victory for Wal-Mart this week, but as anyone who has come out on top knows, it's how you handle the win that can build up or tear down a reputation.
 

Stricter measuring tools aim for better client results

Michelle Lodge June 17, 2011

Developing a system to measure PR's effectiveness may sound impossible, but a new set of principles is swiftly making measurement a reality.
 

Feasting on MyPlate opportunities

Michelle Lodge June 10, 2011

When the USDA introduced MyPlate last week, retiring the food pyramid as a guide to healthy eating, PR professionals and food manufacturers not only applauded the simpler design, but also recognized a fresh opportunity for companies to promote their products.
 

Comms challenges dog Republican candidates for 2012

May 20, 2011

Republican candidates jockeying to run against Democratic President Barack Obama, including frontrunners Mitt Romney and dark horse Tim Pawlenty, face significant communication hurdles.
 

CEO compensation rise challenges corporate communicators

May 13, 2011

CEO compensation is a tricky issue for Fortune 500 corporate communicators. That is especially true now.
 

Social media plays role after bin Laden's death

May 06, 2011

In a nationally televised news conference at about 11:40 pm EST on May 1, President Barack Obama announced Osama bin Laden had been killed at the hands of the US military.
 

PR pros explain business uptick despite bad economy

April 22, 2011

In the last several weeks, economic indicators have seemed to paint a picture of the US economy that is anything but rosy.
 

Recent lawsuit sheds light on agency liability

April 15, 2011

PR firms need to be aware of their legal liability in claims they put forth on behalf of clients, as underscored when PR firm TransMedia Group revealed it had received cease and desist letters in its promotion of client, medical device company RyMed Technologies.
 

Corporate reputation plays increasing role in strategy

April 08, 2011

Amazon.com's recent rise to the top of the Most Reputable Companies list seems to indicate that corporate communicators are placing an increased value on the role of reputation on consumer behavior.
 

FDA's delayed guidance throws PR curveball

Matthew Schwartz April 01, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration's decision earlier this week to once again postpone the release of social media guidelines comes as little shock to PR pros.
 

AT&T, T-Mobile merger sparks comms efforts

March 25, 2011

DALLAS: AT&T has secured support from several key stakeholders in its pursuit to win approval from federal antitrust regulators of its $39 billion acquisition of Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA.
 

Nuclear industry faces public policy challenge

March 18, 2011

The near meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors in Japan created a challenge for the nuclear industry, given it has positioned nuclear energy as a safer alternative to fossil fuels.
 

Agencies look for new ways to recruit top talent

March 11, 2011

With an improving economy fuelling an increased demand for staffing, PR agencies are deploying new strategies to find potential hires.
 

Diversity of agency leadership remains up for debate

March 04, 2011

Women still make up less than half of the executive committee roles at most large PR firms and only four women lead agencies with more than $100 million in global revenue.
 

Uprisings create comms challenge for corporations

February 25, 2011

CAIRO: Protests in Egypt that have now spread to Libya have forced many companies to reduce or cease operations, creating challenges in terms of how to communicate to internal and external audiences.
 

Marcomms industry eyes new media investments

February 18, 2011

The marketing communications industry will likely increase investments in start-up companies, as liquidity returns and social media and mobile technologies are taken more seriously.
 

Corporations need new outlets to build trust

January 28, 2011

Companies need to find new ways to build trust, say PR pros in reaction to the 2011 Edelman Trust Barometer, which found consumer trust is still dropping in the US.
 

PR hiring and recruitment on the upswing

December 17, 2010

Talent recruiters say the rebound in the job market for PR pros has already started, with much of the strength coming from the senior management level.
 

PR image still improving after ethics issues

December 03, 2010

Several instances of questionable PR and public affairs practices became public this week, reflecting the industry's somewhat shaky definition of ethical PR.
 

Rolls-Royce's silence has both pros and cons

November 19, 2010

Rolls-Royce has taken a very cautious approach to its external relations, after one of its Trent 900 engines disintegrated mid-flight on the world's biggest commercial jetliner.
 

Cruise director uses blog in comms crisis strategy

November 12, 2010

Social media emerged as a key channel for Carnival Cruise Lines in its crisis communications response to the fire-damaged Splendor, which was towed into San Diego port early Thursday.
 

Airlines get out ahead of new security requirements

November 05, 2010

The major airlines launched communications plans around new requirements on air passenger data in advance of the November 1 deadline, in a strategy to avoid passenger confusion and frustration.
 

Fashion Week replaces sponsor clutter with strategy

September 10, 2010

At the height of the recession, designers were all about the creative, and oftentimes more affordable, alternative presentations and show-less digital promotions.
 

PR firms fail to meet sustainability comms needs

September 02, 2010

Most PR firms fail to meet the needs of clients when it comes to sustainable communications.
 

Bullish Petraeus contradicts Obama to sell war

August 27, 2010

General David Petraeus put his superstar, celebrity-like reputation on the line when he made the media rounds last week touting the message that the US is making significant progress in Afghanistan.
 

Apparel brands adopt dual audience strategy

August 20, 2010

Over the past few years, established apparel brands have been plagued by the economy and a challenge to engage a coming-of-age consumer group without isolating an aging target market.
 

HP firestorm spotlights PR's role in a crisis

August 13, 2010

Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd resigned from his post on August 6 amid allegations of possible sexual harassment and falsified expenses.
 

Apple comms under microscope

July 16, 2010

Consumer Reports' review of the iPhone 4 is the latest in a series of setbacks around the debut of Apple's latest smartphone.
 

Arizona uses comms to counter immigration fallout

July 09, 2010

In the wake of Arizona's controversial immigration legislation, the state plans to launch an integrated communications campaign to counter the negative effect the law has had on its tourism.
 

Court documents reawaken Dell image issues

July 01, 2010

New allegations stemming from a three-year-old lawsuit that Dell tried to cover up trouble-prone computers could further damage the company's already tarnished reputation.
 

Food companies respond to new dietary guidelines

June 18, 2010

Food and beverage companies are working to understand the implications of the proposed new dietary guidelines by the US government.
 

Gulf seafood industry pushes food safety

June 11, 2010

The industry is using PR and marketing to spread messages in response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
 

Oil industry concentrates on safety amid continued Gulf crisis

June 04, 2010

The oil industry at large is communicating about its safety record and the role the industry plays in the US economy as BP still struggles to stop the unprecedented oil spill and policymakers question the function of current regulations.
 

Companies focus on interaction in World Cup-themed campaigns

May 28, 2010

Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the FIFA World Cup since 1978 and this year took the official trophy on a global tour, letting fans interact with the tournament in a new way.
 

Gulf Coast tourism industry ramps up social media efforts amid oil spill worries

May 20, 2010

As last month's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens to scare off vacationers from beaches in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, tourism departments in those states are using social media to provide user-generated updates via photos and text.
 

Pampers still pushing confidence in Dry Max crisis

May 14, 2010

As critics, mostly moms, find new means to voice their concern surrounding claims of Pampers-induced skin irritation, Procter & Gamble is evolving its crisis communications approach.
 

BP focuses on response rather than reputation in current crisis communications

May 07, 2010

Despite a slow start to its crisis communications effort, BP is using a variety of media tools to guide the company through its response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
 

KFC product launch requires diverse messaging strategy

April 16, 2010

At a time when companies like PepsiCo and General Mills are pledging to develop healthier products, KFC is causing a stir with the promotion of the limited time-only Double Down, a sans-bread bacon and cheese sandwich held together with fried chicken pieces.
 

Newswires continue to adapt to changing landscape

April 09, 2010

Despite the growing use of social networks and interactive Web sites to spread information, news distribution companies are continuing to invest in products and services that diversify their businesses and address the changing needs of clients.
 

Call for Ronald's retirement unlikely to affect McDonald's brand

April 02, 2010

An activist group this week called for McDonald's to retire its smiling Ronald McDonald brand ambassador, saying the 50-year-old Chief Happiness Officer is hooking kids on a harmful product.
 

Google's China move affirms reputation

March 26, 2010

This week, Google made good on a pledge made earlier this year to stop censoring search results in China.
 

Companies shape long-term communications around FCC broadband plan

March 19, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its national broadband report this week, kicking off a wave of news coverage about issues like expanded access and Internet speed.
 

Nonprofits up outreach in a tough year

March 12, 2010

With the economy affecting all areas of the PR industry, the nonprofit sector has had to accordingly reshape the way it's reaching out to sponsors. Incorporating digital and traditional media, nonprofits increased outreach to corporate sponsors and initiated campaigns targeting existing donors in a tough year.
 

Bad publicity new 'risk' factor on Wall St.

March 05, 2010

In recent months, the financial services industry - banks in particular - has stepped up its PR and marketing activities, looking to rebuild trust with a recession-worn public skeptical of its motives.
 

Olympics' end just the beginning of athlete marketing

February 26, 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will come to a close on February 28, but the marketing blitz featuring new and old celebrated athletes will continue long after that.
 

MySpace positions for a comeback

February 19, 2010

With new leadership at MySpace, the social network that lost relevancy in the face of Facebook's popularity has a renewed opportunity to call attention to the progress it made to its service since last year's reorganization.
 

Employees' personal brand can positively impact overall company

February 12, 2010

A decision by Forrester Research to ask its analysts to aggregate their industry-related blog content to the company Web site was criticized by some in the social media community.
 

Boutique firms faced unique challenges in recession

February 05, 2010

In 2009, the struggling economy set an industry standard of decreased revenues and budget cutting.
 

Muslim market still holds untapped potential for marketers

January 29, 2010

Despite the considerable buying power of US Muslims, few national brands appear to be reaching out to this demographic.
 

Enfatico's failure has benefits for PR

January 22, 2010

When Enfatico announced last week that it would break apart the firm, the decision seemed to validate industry skeptics who speculated the all-in-one agency experiment was doomed from the start.
 

Education campaigns mitigate fallout from product changes

January 15, 2010

An article in 'The Wall Street Journal' this week noted that food companies have quietly reduced sodium in their products for years, seeking to balance the consumer preference for taste and a corporate responsibility to improve nutrition.
 

CES remains bastion of product launches despite recession

January 08, 2010

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) predicts an attendance of 110,000 at the four-day event in Las Vegas, a 21% decline from last year's figure of 140,000.
 

Newly merged PMK-BNC to make Jan. 1 debut

, Aarti Shah December 18, 2009

When IPG entertainment firms BNC and PMK/HBH merge on January 1 to form PMK-BNC, it will create the largest firm specializing in PR, entertainment, and pop culture marketing, according to Michael Nyman, one of three new chairman and CEOs of the combined agency.
 

COP15 offers green positioning on global stage

December 04, 2009

Hundreds of private and public companies, media outlets, governments, nonprofits, research organizations, and unions will meet in Copenhagen early next week for the United Nation's climate change conference.
 

Goldman CSR campaign a step toward mending reputation

November 20, 2009

Goldman Sachs' announcement this week that it will spend $500 million to support small businesses is a massive CSR campaign, one that comes as the financial firm wades through a negative media storm.
 

Blending crisis and social media requires a steady hand

November 13, 2009

During the recent tragic shootings at the military base in Fort Hood, TX, many turned to social media and other online sources to follow the event and the aftermath.
 

Confidence fuels industry's acquisition appetite

November 06, 2009

More than two dozen M&A deals have taken place between US PR firms since the beginning of the year, with more than half of those occurring from June on.
 

Hiring in communications field remains weak

October 30, 2009

One economic report this week pointed to signs of recovery, as another noted that the continuing jobless claims dropped to 5.8 million.
 

Marketers eager to learn from savvy tweens

October 16, 2009

When President Barack Obama walked out on stage after winning the election last November, accompanied by his wife and daughters Sasha and Malia - now 8 and 11 years old - Denise Restauri, founder and CEO of AllyKatzz, knew that tween girls were about to make a big impact.
 

Broadcast PR firms' survival hinges on innovation

October 08, 2009

The once-dominant broadcast PR industry has faced serious challenges over the past few years.
 

Soda tax critics fight early

October 02, 2009

While much of the news attention regarding health issues has focused on healthcare reform, the idea of a soda tax, applied to sugar-sweetened drinks, is slowly moving from a fringe issue to a noticeable concern for the country's largest beverage companies.
 

Yahoo places its bets on corporate branding

September 24, 2009

This week Yahoo unveiled a $100-million-plus branding campaign that puts the emphasis on the consumer experience with its site in a bid to increase its audience and reconnect its brand with users.
 

Facebook fan page clutter dilutes brand

September 17, 2009

Since Facebook launched its fan pages feature earlier this year, it has become a popular component of many recent campaigns and other brand marketing efforts.
 

PR making slow shift into mobile

September 11, 2009

Mobile is increasingly becoming a more important part of consumers' lives. New data from Forrester Research out this month shows that more than five in six households have at least one mobile phone.
 

Agency termination places spotlight on military contracts

September 04, 2009

News that US military in Afghanistan terminated a $1.5 million contract with Washington-based strategic communications firm The Rendon Group (TRG) threw agencies that work the Beltway circuit back into a negative limelight following last month's coal association-Bonner & Associates letter-writing fiasco.
 

Companies opting for a network of agencies for PR

August 27, 2009

Earlier this year a series of big companies, like eBay and Whirlpool, consolidated most of their PR under a single agency, but some believe this trend is coming to an end.
 

Brand nicknames require careful planning

August 13, 2009

When RadioShack introduced "The Shack" as a nickname last week and part of a new marketing and rebranding campaign, the response from the industry and the public was mixed.
 

M&A activity poised to rise according to industry experts

August 06, 2009

While the recession has driven down the number of agency acquisitions over the past year, the rate of firms buyouts, or holding companies adding agencies to their rosters, is set to increase in the next six months to one year, say industry experts.
 

Recession prompts stronger efforts from nonprofits

July 31, 2009

Nonprofits are increasingly altering their communications strategies and tactics to counter the effects of the recession.
 

Harry and Louise's return adds strength to PhRMA's position on healthcare reform

July 23, 2009

Harry and Louise, the iconic TV couple that starred in the advertising campaign that helped derail healthcare reform in the 1990s, came back this week in a campaign funded by PhRMA and Families USA.
 

Twitter response to hack not equal to its standing

July 16, 2009

As TechCrunch posted documents it obtained from a hacker who broke into Twitter employees' personal accounts, Twitter cofounder Biz Stone responded to the crisis in a way that has become typical for Silicon Valley startups. Stone posted a blog.
 

'NYT' piece rattles industry

July 09, 2009

Over the July 4th weekend, The New York Times took a look inside the PR industry with the piece "Spinning the Web: PR in Silicon Valley."
 

Personal digital brands drive companies to diversify talent

July 01, 2009

The communications field has always had its share of bold-faced names, but the industry was more often found toiling behind the scenes.
 
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