Reputation

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.

Much like people, brands and organizations can find themselves in a funk, putting out the same messaging year after year, which, while reliable, can lose the attention of a fickle populace. 

One thing economic historians likely will include in their accounts of Jan. 6, 2021, is the reaction of some of the country’s largest companies. It started with several blue-chip firms denouncing the violence and the 147 lawmakers who voted in favor of overturning election results.

On January 6 at 2:55 p.m.—about 20 minutes after insurrectionists breached the Capitol building—beauty influencer Amanda Ensing tweeted, “There’s not enough popcorn in the world for what’s about to happen.” Ensing has long been vocal about her political and religious views on social media. Sephora, partnered with the influencer on a skincare campaign, was forced to answer for its choice of brand ambassador.

You never know where you’ll find a PR takeaway. Even during the pandemic, you can spot media coverage on the walls of your local Five Guys. And it’s often coverage from national and local outlets. In addition to a dangerously delicious burger and fries, some PR lessons are on the menu.

“Trust” could easily win as an early word-of-the-year in 2021. After a deluge of misinformation campaigns through the 2020 presidential election, confusion from the top when it comes to battling COVID, and a recorded public skepticism for media, many organizations, brands and public figures see trust as a fundamental need to reconnect with communities. It’s a necessity in messaging, and it’s on communicators to figure out the best way to delive

Proving that there’s no time off for some PR pros, we asked those on Twitter Sunday, right after Dr. Deborah Birx’s interview on “Face the Nation,” about how they’d advise her. More than one dozen PR pros gave her a lot of good communication, crisis and reputation advice for free.