On the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden took to his podium to deliver a message to the American people: empathy and action will set the country on a path to recovery. … Continued
Stories by Nicole Schuman


Crisis Response: Did Buckingham Palace Wait Too Long?
March 9th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanWith the entire world waiting, pressure was on Buckingham Palace communicators to issue a response to Oprah’s interview with Harry and Meghan. Though brief, the statement, issued some 48 hours after the interview was shown in the former colonies, expressed compassion for the couple and concern for some of the issues raised, one communicator said.

No Masking the Difficulty of Decisions Facing Texas Businesses
March 4th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanTexas businesses large and small are facing a decision: Should they honor the Governor’s decision to life the mask mandate or continue requiring masks for employees and customers? It’s a decision with risks and rewards no matter what decision is reached.

[VIDEO] PR Vets Assess DEI Initiatives—One Year Later
February 24th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanPRNEWS Live welcomed Neil Foote, board president, National Black PR Society, and Porter Novelli, SVP Dwayna Haley on Feb. 24, 2021. Our topics included: DEI during the pandemic, Black History Month and the one-year anniversary… Continued

Texas Storm Communications Show Stark Messaging Contrasts
February 22nd, 2021 by Nicole SchumanIn an area not exactly used to dealing with snow, ice and frigid temperatures, the utility infrastructure crumbled, leaving millions without power, heat and fresh water for days. Getting important information out to those who need it can be extremely difficult for audiences who primarily depend on electricity, internet and wifi to power their communications needs.

American Cleaning Institute Recalls Year of Crisis Communication
February 19th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanWhile cleanliness was on most peoples’ radar, the threat of COVID-19 elevated concerns about germs to a more common topic of conversation. Enter the American Cleaning Institute, whose communication team suddenly found itself at the center of a hot topic. Here’s how it handled a bevy of queries from media and the public and spread its message.

The Hockey News Misses on Diversity Opportunity
February 16th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanIt seems like every day there’s another brand—this time a publication—getting called out for short-sighting diversity. Today “The Hockey News” (THN), featured on SI.com thanks to an editorial partnership, tweeted about what could have been… Continued

[VIDEO] OkCupid Discusses Inclusive Valentine’s Day Campaign
February 10th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanPRNEWS Live welcomed Michael Kaye, global communications and public relations manager at OkCupid. We discussed the dating site’s inclusive messaging and bold Valentine’s campaign. You can view PRNEWS’ library of free LinkedIn Live streams here.

PRNEWS GRADES: 2021 Valentine’s Edition
February 9th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanThe PRNEWS staff encounters many examples of brand communication. We compile assessments of some of the best and not-so-great examples. Our intent is to provide a learning experience about what works or doesn’t. You can find previous examples here. In this Valentine’s edition, we examine some of the sweetest brand campaigns.

Goodell Super Bowl Pre-Game Interview Showcases PR Fundamentals
February 8th, 2021 by Nicole SchumanFrom a PR standpoint, highlights of CBS’s Super Bowl pregame show didn’t come from Miley Cyrus’s performance for essential workers or the moving piece celebrating the 30th anniversary of Whitney Houston’s performance of the national anthem. It came from a simple interview that many viewers may have missed while preparing their game-day spread.