GM shifts to content creation strategy on Facebook

May 24, 2012

GM's decision to stop buying advertising on Facebook and pass on running spots during next year's Super Bowl signals that the automaker will emphasize content creation and customer service on social media.
 

JPMorgan puts execs front and center as it deals with crisis

May 18, 2012

NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase & Co. is emphasizing transparency and culpability as it weathers a crisis that could adversely affect it and other financial services institutions.
 

Livestreaming, social media stretch the impact of live events

May 11, 2012

Marketing and communications professionals are taking advantage of cost-effective digital and social media tactics to help brands get the most out of events they produce or sponsor.
 

Agencies prize diversity in competitive race for interns

May 04, 2012

With summer fast approaching, agencies, such as Edelman [pictured], and brands are ironing out the last details of their PR internship programs for this year.
 

Bribery, cover-up allegations present comms challenges for Wal-Mart

April 27, 2012

Crisis communications experts are giving Wal-Mart mixed grades for its response to accusations that company employees bribed Mexican officials to quickly build stores in the country.
 

The first rule of tweeting about clients: don't be careless

April 20, 2012

Industry experts agree that communications practitioners must exercise caution with their personal social media accounts, but there's no consensus on whether agency staffers should tweet about client work.
 

Brands debate English vs. Spanish for Hispanic social media outreach

April 13, 2012

MIAMI: Marketers are taking advantage of opportunities to target Hispanic consumers with social media, relying on bloggers and brand advocates to tell their stories with authenticity.
 

Car brands tell comeback, innovation stories at New York Auto Show

April 06, 2012

Automakers are taking advantage of the New York Auto Show as a platform for high-profile vehicle launches and redesigns, as well as to build on the positive narrative of the recovering automotive industry.
 

Insurance firms prep for Supreme Court healthcare-reform decision

March 30, 2012

Healthcare and insurance industry communicators, and their agency partners, will have their work cut out for them regardless of the Supreme Court's ultimate decision on the Affordable Care Act.
 

Comms execs receive Page Society framework as positive step

March 23, 2012

The framework released this week by the Arthur W. Page Society is not a corporate reputation panacea, but a positive step for dealing with the challenges posed by social media and transparency demands.
 

Strengthened Edelman holding company won't copy ad-focused rivals

March 19, 2012

NEW YORK: The decision to build out Daniel J. Edelman Inc. into a PR-centric holding company does not mean it or principal agency Edelman are on the verge of a major acquisition or that its firms will regularly compete for business.
 

Focus on employees, industry experts tell Goldman Sachs

March 16, 2012

Industry experts said this week that Goldman Sachs should enhance its communications with employees following the public resignation of executive director Greg Smith.
 

Romney must embrace core message, enhance social to fix campaign malaise

March 09, 2012

Mitt Romney's wins on Super Tuesday may have improved his chances of winning the nomination, but if he doesn't find a way to connect with the average American, his prospects of prevailing in November are dim.
 

Marketers debate strategy as paywalls become 'new normal'

March 02, 2012

The number of US newspapers using some form of online paywall is on the rise after several of the country's large dailies said they will adopt a pay-for-content model.
 

Social beats ads for building corporate rep numbers

February 24, 2012

Advertisements have less of an impact on corporate reputation than social media or news stories, according to previously unreleased statistics from the 2012 edition of the Harris Interactive Reputational Quotient study.
 

PepsiCo presses agencies for improved performance

February 17, 2012

PepsiCo's move to trim the number of agencies on its roster is likely intended to drive more value from agency partners instead of being a cost-cutting move, according to agency executives.
 

New generation of influencers steps up at Fashion Week

February 10, 2012

Bloggers are infiltrating the front rows at New York Fashion Week runway shows, changing the ways brands market their collections.
 

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.
 

Times Co. could turn to tech sector for new leadership

December 22, 2011

The New York Times Co. will become a more innovative, online-solution driven institution after the resignation of chief executive Janet Robinson, media observers and PR industry experts say.
 

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.
 

'Early Show' changes present public affairs opportunities

November 18, 2011

CBS' move to recreate 'The Early Show' as a hard-news alternative to rival morning programs is a positive development for communications professionals representing clients in corporate and public affairs.
 

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.
 

Same sex marriage opens up PR opportunities

August 26, 2011

This year's LGBT Media Summit comes at an interesting juncture in the gay rights movement, with new opportunities for PR firms in the kind of media coverage they can generate for their clients.
 

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.
 

'New reality' of hacking calls for crisis comms evaluation

Michelle Lodge June 03, 2011

Consider yourself hacked,' or eventually hacked, is the mantra experts say companies and organizations would be wise to keep top of mind, in light of recent high-profile cyber-attacks.
 

Vacuum left by Oprah, soaps, opens doors for new impressions

Michelle Lodge May 26, 2011

Analysts contend the end of Oprah's talk show and decline of soap operas provides the chance for networks, brands, and PR professionals to redefine daytime TV programming.
 

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.
 

Is PR the second-most stressful occupation?

April 29, 2011

Recently a CareerCast survey named "public relations officer" the second-most stressful job of 2011.
 

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.
 

PR pros eye impact of Huffington Post-AOL merger

David Ward February 11, 2011

The decision by AOL to buy The Huffington Post triggered a flurry of commentary this week, with some calling the purchase a desperate "Hail Mary" move by the once dominant online portal.
 

Protestors prove value of social media crisis tools

February 04, 2011

Social media has played a key role in the uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt, proving to be an adaptable and customizable crisis communications tool.
 

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 awaits tablet-only media opportunities

January 21, 2011

If and when News Corporation pulls up the curtain on its iPad-only digital newspaper The Daily, the medium could become both a new model for journalism and a platform for PR.
 

H&K hires second executive with ties to Jack Martin

January 14, 2011

NEW YORK: Hill & Knowlton named Andrew Bleeker the head of the worldwide digital practice, marking the second executive with ties to new global CEO Jack Martin to take a role at the agency.
 

MWW looks for long-term growth with independence

January 07, 2011

MWW Group is the most recent of a handful of PR agencies that bought back independence from holding companies. CEO and founder Michael Kempner is pictured above.
 

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.
 

CEO successor planning vital in stressful times

December 10, 2010

The unexpected departure of a CEO can rattle a company's employees, customers, and stock price.
 

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.
 

Midterm messages focus on economy

October 29, 2010

WASHINGTON: The Democrats and Republicans have ramped up communications leading up to the midterm elections on November 2, with the state of the economy taking center stage.
 

Apple wins in hushed battle over iPhone carrier

October 15, 2010

Articles that Verizon may soon be getting Apple's iPhone, ending AT&T's exclusivity it's enjoyed since the popular phone launched, have created somewhat of PR limbo for both carriers.
 

LGBT groups fight suicide rates with comms efforts

October 08, 2010

LGBT organizations launched communications efforts to help LGBT youth who are being bullied at school, in the wake of national news headlines on gay teen suicides.
 

Media top talent wins help to build brands

October 01, 2010

Media outlets have been rocked by a flurry of high-profile hires and departures, which have created positive PR opportunities for some and challenges for others.
 

Staying grassroots is key to Tea Party success

September 24, 2010

The Tea Party is unlikely to organize itself around a central leader or platform, even as it gains momentum following a series of electoral upsets in the Republican senate primaries
 

Publicis aims for social media domination

September 17, 2010

Publicis Groupe created a working group, within its media division VivaKi, to bring together the best services for clients in the social media space by collaborating.
 

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.
 

WSJ shakes up New York newspaper market

April 30, 2010

The time has come to "shock the bourgeoisie," proclaimed The Wall Street Journal managing editor Robert Thomson as he introduced the Journal's Greater New York section on Monday.
 
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