Karen D. Groppe
9 lessons from HIMSS’ COVID-19 strategy
What happens when the world’s largest annual health care event collides with an emerging global pandemic? Here’s how the team managed to respond.
Social Media
Alisa Valudes Whyte
PR fundamentals help deliver on corporate charity initiatives during the pandemic
With many offices still working remotely, creating engaging opportunities to give back as an organization can be tricky. Classic PR strategies can help.
Beki Winchel
Ben & Jerry’s partners with Colin Kaepernick, Disney announces huge streaming push, and Google to combat vaccine misinformation
Also: Pringles answers challenge by ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,’ 40% of U.S. consumers will spend less during the holidays, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ nabs Twitter engagement, and more.
Beki Winchel
Facebook responds to antitrust lawsuits, Time announces ‘pet of the year,’ and Pantone selects two colors for 2021
Also: Cartoon Network racks up kudos for its anti-racism PSA, top challenges content marketers must overcome, Facebook’s ‘Year in Review,’ and more.
Ted Kitterman
How to deliver meaningful, safe messages about mental health
A health care comms expert shares lessons learned from a campaign to support mental health during the pandemic.
Beki Winchel
IKEA discontinues 70-year-old catalog, KFC and Lifetime offer holiday ‘mini-movie,’ and Dentsu to lay off 6,000
Also: American to offer pre-flight COVID-19 tests, 70% of UK consumers say digital content affects perception of accompanying ads, remote meeting etiquette, and more.
Beki Winchel
Time releases ‘worst year ever’ cover, Lufthansa Group to lay off 29,000, and Zalando co-CEO steps down to support wife’s career
Also: Microsoft embraces positivity and connection with its holiday commercial, Planters ages its mascot again, a guide to creating effective infographics, and more.
Ted Kitterman
How crisis communications has changed
After a year of disruption and chaos, what about the practice of crisis communications is new and what’s the same as it ever was?
Beki Winchel
Walmart announces employee bonuses and extended leave, Warner Bros. to stream films with theatrical releases, and Southwest warns of 6,800 job cuts
Also: McKinsey & Co. reports that only 18% of top companies made internal DE&I commitments, Dunkin’ holiday drink goes viral, Miller Lite celebrates lack of holiday office parties, and more.
Logan Trautman
5 common Facebook ad types that are worth investment
Though it’s no longer the hot, new item it once was, Facebook offers some of the best marketing opportunities for brands looking to capture a digital audience.
Dustin Siggins
3 mistakes Sherwin-Williams made in firing TikTok star Tony Piloseno
The employee had more than a million followers watching his videos of mixing paint. Now the social media star is taking his talents to Florida Paint.
Beki Winchel
State Farm and St. Jude embrace #GivingTuesday, McDonald’s offers free McRibs to fans who shave, and Starbucks gives free coffee to frontline workers
Also: Burger King racks up engagement with tweets tied to Utah monolith, Hawaii entices remote workers with free tickets, mobile wallet consumers spend more per purchase, and more.
Beki Winchel
Spotify tests ‘Stories’ feature, Salesforce mulls Slack acquisition, and ‘pandemic’ is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year
Also: U.K. grocers unite for anti-racism campaign, The Walt Disney Co. brings layoffs to 32,000, Black Friday is currently second-largest online sales day in U.S. history, and more.
Ted Kitterman
GM reverses on climate, Snapchat copies TikTok, and when to expect the COVID-19 crisis to end
Also: A Detroit brewer takes hit from Lions’ Barry Sanders, Dick’s Sporting Goods makes leadership change, Apple defends employee over bribery charges, and PR pros giving thanks.
Ted Kitterman
Black Friday makes way for online sales, cognitive overload during COVID-19, and the CDC’s messaging woes
Also: AstraZeneca reports good results on third vaccine candidate, Guitar Center files for bankruptcy, Cineworld announces funding to survive COVID-19 losses, what communicators are thankful for, and more.
