Reputation

There’s one thing you can say about social media–sometimes it helps remove doubt. It goes to a principle that communicators know well: Nothing disappears once it’s posted on social media.

Can brands continue to stay out of the political spotlight, or have we reached a point of no return? Recent developments in the Southeast seem to point to the latter. Over the last week, two household names in the U.S., Amazon and Publix, have been forced to respond directly to comments made by elected officials.

Some view Dr. Deborah Birx as the previous administration’s medical enabler. Indeed, during a March 28 CNN interview she admitted the substantial numbers of deaths could have been reduced had the White House adopted better policies and communicated them correctly. Her admission provides little solace to mourning families. And it might not help salvage her image.

It’s fitting that today, March 24, 2021, is both Equal Pay Day and the birthday of PRNEWS’s founder, the inestimable Denora “Denny” Griswold (1908-2001). Griswold’s birthday is special this year, though. Just one week ago, a large package arrived at the Museum of Public Relations. It’s sort of a birthday gift for PR historians worldwide.

We’re communicators, so it’s natural for us to dissect Oprah’s big interview in a slightly different way than most. For us, some of the questions center on the couple’s goals in agreeing to sit for the interview and did they make their case well?

Texas 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.

Was there a recent time when communicators had a more confusing ecosystem in which to tell stories? US-based PR pros are working in a climate that includes political fragmentation, a year-old pandemic mired in those political divisions, an erosion of trust in public and private institutions and a meteoric rise in disinformation.

The business opportunity for cannabis (as well as CBD and hemp), appears significant, with many opportunities in the PR space–as long as communicators do the legwork and learn the sector’s intricacies. As part of our new Industry Spotlight series, PRNEWS talked to Agency A-List Top 100 honorees in the CBD and cannabis sector about working in this emerging space.

With trust in business and government at historic lows and consumers questioning everything, ethical behavior is critical. As the Notre Dame Center for Ethical Leadership reports, doing the right thing takes time. The ABCs of ethical failures can help

The PRNEWS editorial team spent some time reflecting on the last year and discussed what they love (and don’t love) about what’s happening in the PR industry.