This week's PR Roundup looks at the chilling effect of employer retribution for triggering Charlie Kirk remarks on social media, how a new Comscore tool can inspire brand creativity and a new study that shows how Gen Alpha controls many purchasing decisions in the household.
Jimmy Kimmel, Cancellation and Free Speech: What it Means for Employers and Employees
What happened: The First Amendment could use an Advil after this week.
As many have heard, ABC took late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely this week, following remarks regarding the background of the shooter in the murder of Charlie Kirk. The move came after strong pressure from the Federal Communications Commission’s chairman, Brendan Carr, berated Kimmel on a podcast.
“Frankly, when you see stuff like this — I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr told the podcast’s host, Benny Johnson. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
In addition to backlash against Kimmel, many employees are finding themselves out of work after making statements about Kirk on social media platforms. Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah says she was fired over Charlie Kirk posts. Teachers have been fired at all academic levels. The Defense Department suspended an army colonel. An NFL employee. A firefighter. The list goes on.
Communication takeaways: The actions may be causing an anxious culture for employees, who may not be sure what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to posting on their personal social media feeds. They may not even realize that their personal time and beliefs can reflect on an organization. Internal communicators and consultants are certain to be busy with discussing what is exactly acceptable at this time, while maintaining a trusting environment for employees.
John McCartney, Principal at JMAC PR, says clear, two-way communication is essential at this point.
“Internal comms should intentionally remind employees of social media policies and that any/all personal posts can and will impact reputation,” McCartney says. “This message must be transparent, grounded in company values, and not fear-based.”
He noted the importance of creating space for an open dialogue between the company and employees in regards to policy.
Dylan Jones, Managing Partner at Boldsquare, agrees on internal comms sharing a reminder that freedom of expression doesn’t always equal freedom from consequence, especially when it comes to social media.
“Free speech is inherent to the American way of life, but we are all guardians not just of our own image but also of the organizations we work for,” Jones says.
He also noted the importance of leadership to emphasize the company’s commitment to creating a respectful environment, where people feel safe to hold differing views without fear of hostility.
“Leadership needs to understand that their employees are not a monolith that share a single view,” Jones says. “To maintain loyalty and engagement, you have to be able to thread the needle between differing views, and help find ways to show that there is more that unites people than divides us.”
Jones notes that the role of communications in highly passionate moments is to lower the temperature, not raise it.
“That means finding ways to strike a balance: upholding standards of respectful conduct, while also recognizing the real emotions people are experiencing.”
Turning Data Into Stories: Comscore’s New Scoreboard Spotlights Consumer Trends
What happened: This week Comscore launched The Scoreboard, a new interactive hub designed to turn its massive data sets into something actionable, visual and easy to explore.
Published monthly, The Scoreboard uses storytelling and interactive modules to show how consumers watch, shop and engage—from TV and digital to social and theatrical. Think of it as a living dashboard: one month, you’ll see how local news dominates viewership across markets; another, you’ll see how buzz around a streaming hit like “Squid Game” aligns with app usage to show the pull of different social platforms.
For communicators, this rollout is about more than just data—it’s about accessibility. The platform blends staples like box office insights and social chatter with evolving charts and graphs that spotlight new behaviors, making it a resource for spotting cultural shifts in real time. And by providing clear visuals, Comscore is showing that it’s not just a yardstick for consumer culture, but a guide to what’s shaping consumer behavior today—and what’s coming next.
Communication takeaways: Communicators face a neverending competition for attention. Tools that can help provide context for brands or inspiration for storytellers can help get the creative juices flowing.
Jackelyn Keller, Chief Marketing Officer at Comscore, says because the human brain is wired for visuals, communicators will have an easier time teasing out content ideas.
“Pictures and concrete examples help all of us translate complex concepts into meaning,” Keller says. “The Scoreboard visualizations … simplify research and make trends instantly usable for storytelling.”
Keller also noted the benefit of the data having a local and regional lens for storytellers.
“We hope it sparks inspiration for topics that directly connect to the markets PR and comms teams live in and cover.”
Gen Alpha Drives Family Spending Habits
What happened: A new study from Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) and University of Southern California, Annenberg, shows Gen Alpha isn’t just tagging along on family shopping trips—they’re driving them.
“Alpha Rising: The World’s Gateway Generation Is Already in Charge” found that 96% of kids ages 11 to 14 have influenced their families to try something they spotted online, and 76% say their families take their opinions on trends and products seriously.
Highlights of the study include:
- 70% say they help their family keep up with new trends and cool things to try
- 62% help select TV shows or movies to watch
- 59% help choose meals
- 36% weigh in on tech purchases
- 11% even contribute to expensive purchase decisions like a car
Monica Chun, President of ACC, says each generation shapes culture, but Gen Alpha is reshaping the very “mechanics of influence.”
“They see, share and shape trends all at the same time—at home, online and in the marketplace,” Chun says. “They are the first generation to wield this power from such a young age, and they’re only just getting started.”
Communication takeaways: For communicators, the mandate is clear: Gen Alpha’s influence is bigger, earlier and more sophisticated than any generation before, and they can’t be overlooked.
“We often talk about ‘meeting audiences where they are,’ but most PR professionals are still ignoring the loudest voices in the room,” Chun says. “We can’t afford to treat Gen Alpha as an ‘emerging audience.’ They’re already here, shaping the family cart, gaming algorithms and influencing influencers before they can drive.”
Chun also notes it’s a mistake to wait until they’re older to take them seriously.
“Traditionally, culture has flowed from adults to kids, but Gen Alpha has flipped that,” she says. “They’re the ones introducing parents to new products, brands and platforms. If you’re not paying attention to how they remix culture, you’re missing where the real influence starts.”
Nicole Schuman is Managing Editor at PRNEWS.