Reputation

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.

Today, Feb. 2, 2021, many may describe their life as a “Groundhog Day.” Since the pandemic hit and the days cycle through, we’ve lived, worked and remained at home for almost a year now—adhering to stay-at-home guidelines. 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.