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Cannes Lions has long been considered a marketing and advertising festival, but as the media industry fragments and the ways brands reach audiences multiply, communicators can no longer afford to watch from the sidelines.

Like-minded independent PR agencies are proving that impact does not have to come with unnecessary overhead, endless layers or a model that mistakes size for strength.

The most successful attendees don’t treat Cannes as a series of meetings, panels and parties. They approach it with a clear strategy and a disciplined plan.

PRNEWS celebrated the 2026 Top Women Gala at Current in New York City last week. And for the first time the event brought together two groups of incredible women professionals: the 2026 PRNEWS Top Women in PR and Communications and Chief Marketer’s 2026 Top Women in Marketing.

Jason Spells, an ESPN on-air personality who’s been in the game for years, offers first-hand insights into what has changed in media and what still moves the needle.

Ciciyasvili spent three years cultivating a relationship with a contact at Variety before it resulted in a feature story and podcast appearance for Betches’ CEO.

PR has shifted from a siloed discipline into a multi-channel ecosystem, with clients increasingly seeking integrated programs that combine earned, social, and influencer strategies to tell cohesive brand stories.

On LinkedIn, job postings that mention “storyteller” have doubled over the last year.

Marketing, advertising and PR teams are navigating a minefield of political polarization, AI acceleration, shrinking budgets and a disconnected hybrid workforce, as well as a decreasing prioritization of inclusion and belonging.

PR Roundup examines the reputational risks of rolling back employee benefits at Zoom and Deloitte, Tim Cook’s departure from Apple after 15 years and what Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer reveals about the state of health information.