PRWeek
Milanos or Ted Lasso’s biscuits? Hannah Waddingham says…
Reporting, video editing
Spent an afternoon chatting Milanos and cheese toasties with Emmy-award winning actress Hannah Waddingham ahead of the release of her latest campaign with Pepperidge Farm. We discussed her partnership with the brand, why she decides to work with companies, the proper way to drink tea and if she prefers Milano's new London Fog flavor to Ted Lasso's classic biscuits.
Getty
Is journalism’s loss still PR’s gain?
Reporting news analysis
Following a series of mass layoffs across the media industry, I chatted with former reporters turned comms about how and why they made the transition agency side. Recruitment agency Monday Talent offered perspective on hiring potential and Muck Rack CEO Gregory Galant provided insight on what the shift means for the industry at large.
PR pros author Valentine’s Day poems to their agencies
Reporting, animation
Leading up to Valentine’s Day, I tasked PR and comms pros with writing a poem to their agency. After gathering and vetting submissions, I used Canva to create the animation video to supplement the content and embed the visual into the story.
Getty
Evite on how Taylor Swift affected Super Bowl LVIII electronic invites
Reporting
Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, I spoke with Evite’s senior director of brand marketing on how Taylor Swift has impacted the company’s business - dominating evite creation and overall party inspiration and prep.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia cream cheese introduces holeless bagels
Reporting
While a good NJ bagel will never have a large hole, I put aside my personal opinion to chat holeless bagels with the Philadelphia cream cheese team. Partnering with creative agency Rethink and PR firm Zeno, the Kraft Heinz company explained how they came up with the campaign.
Getty
Bigger but better? Rivals on potential, pitfalls for supersized Burson
Reporting news analysis
Following WPP’s announcement that it would be merging two of its largest PR shops, BCW and Hill & Knowlton, I chatted with industry heads about what the move means for the industry at large and initial thoughts on the combined firm that could change the PR landscape.
Getty
Still a topic of ‘hand-wringing’: Four years after COVID began, agency RTO policies are yet a work in progress
Reporting
Four years after the first confirmed COVID case in the U.S., I surveyed agencies on where their in-office policies currently stand. I spoke with industry leaders on the pros and cons of RTO, if firms should be requiring a specified number of days and how leadership is monitoring staff’s in-person attendance.
Scott Bleicher
Nadya Okamoto wants to break the stigma around periods
Reporting print feature
For PRWeek’s November-December newsmaker cover feature, I spoke with August cofounder Nadya Okamoto on all things periods, being a female Gen Z founder, struggling with girlboss culture, having a meaningful social presence and her alternate identity as August’s Period Fairy.
Getty
Is reproductive loss leave offered at your agency?
Reporting news analysis
In anticipation of California’s legislation making it unlawful to deny reproductive loss leave going into effect January 1, 2024, I rounded up current policies for agencies based in California or with a presence in the state. I spoke with law firm Davis & Gilbert partner and co-chair Michael Lasky and partner Sharon Cohen on the logistics of the law and potential effects on the industry as a whole.
BCW
BCW lays off 21 North America employees
Reporting
After receiving an anonymous tip, I confirmed layoffs at the agency from an internal memo, citing “costs against our revenue realities.” The reduction followed a series of departures from the agency.
Getty
PRSA-NY again revises statement on Israel-Hamas conflict, saying earlier messages ‘lacking in clarity’
Reporting
The New York chapter of PRSA issued a third statement regarding its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict after receiving backlash for its language “lacking clarity.” I spoke with PRSA-NY president Carmella Glover on why the chapter chose to issue a correction.
Autumn Communications
Autumn Communications supports Israel Friends with media coverage
Reporting
After the attack on Israel by Hamas militants, I spoke with Autumn Communications CEO Shelley Reinstein on the conflict’s personal impact and how her agency responded by supporting on the ground media coverage for survivors and organizations such as Israel Friends. Rounded up how other firms responded to the Middle East conflict.
August
Menstrual hygiene competitor brands launch the Tampon Tax Back Coalition
Reporting
Chatted with August CEO Nadya Okamoto on how her company is joining forces with competitor brands Cora, Lola, The Honey Pot, Rael, Here We Flo, Saalt and Diva to take down the luxury tax on menstrual products, otherwise known as the ‘tampon tax,’ currently effective in 21 states.
Getty
PR Council releases DE&I guidelines for agencies and clients
Reporting
Breaking down the 22-page report from PR Council on diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines for agencies and clients, I spoke with BCW chief inclusion officer Carol Watson and Golin EVP of DE&I Natasha O’Dell Archer who led the working group on the creation of the guidelines.
Primal Kitchen
Primal Kitchen’s Taylor Swift-inspired ‘Seemingly Ranch’ product sells out in one day
Reporting
An inside look into how condiment brand Primal Kitchen quickly reacted to the Taylor Swift ‘seemingly ranch’ social media obsession by rebranding its ranch product bottle, selling out in less than 24 hours.
Screenshot courtesy of Hidden Valley Ranch’s X account, formerly known as Twitter
Look what she made them do: 9 brands respond to Taylor Swift ‘seemingly ranch’ incident
Reporting
An ode to the Swifties, I rounded up brands’ response to the viral ‘seemingly ranch’ craze featuring over 40 references to Taylor Swift’s portfolio of songs.
Sandy Hook Promise isn’t joking about gun violence threats in latest PSA
Reporting
Speaking with Sandy Hook Promise chief operating officer Dawn Lyons, I broke down the creation of the nonprofit’s latest public service announcement against gun violence.
PRWeek
Building on PR’s inheritance
Reporting
For PRWeek’s 25th anniversary edition, I asked eight young professionals to make their predictions for the next 25 years of PR and comms.
LaunchSquad
San Francisco partners with LaunchSquad to ensure fair APEC Summit coverage
Reporting
In preparation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in San Francisco, I spoke with LaunchSquad partner and cofounder Jason Mandell on how the agency was selected by the city and county to support its reputation in reporting and coverage across the event.
Getty Images
The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. Does it matter for PR agencies.
Reporting news analysis
Following SCOTUS’ decision to repeal affirmative action, I spoke with PR agencies on how - and if - the decision poses a threat to student facing programs with HBCUs & university’s PRSSA chapters.
Micah Blay
Bras, branding, a ‘Vangina’ and the tampon tax
Reporting
A year after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I spoke with menstruation brand August and nonprofit I Support the Girls about their rolling Tampon Tax billboard and Vangina, showcasing creative, mobile efforts to address period equity and equality by bringing menstruators issues to the streets.
Getty Images
Three years later: How agencies are keeping the focus on diversity
Reporting news analysis
Three years after the murder of George Floyd, the importance of diverse voices at the agency level has lost traction. I asked talent and agency professionals how they are retaining and seeking out diverse talent and what they need to do better.
Getty Images
How the American Library Association is turning the page on book bans
Reporting news analysis
Marking the beginning of National Library Week and the anniversary of the Unite Against Book Ban campaign, I spoke with the Office for Intellectual Freedom’s director and activists about their work with Unite Against Book bans and how they’re providing resources to members in their community.
@PayGapApp / Twitter
The return of the Gender Pay Gap Bot
Reporting
Following the @PayGapApp’s return for a second year on International Women’s Day, I spoke with the co-creator on how companies have responded to its viral crusade shedding light on organization’s gender pay disparities and changes in pay equity over the past year.
Getty Images
How PR agencies are preparing for post-public health emergency messaging
Reporting news analysis
Ahead of the official end of the public health emergency, I spoke with communication and healthcare experts to identify long-prepared messaging and response plans, how agencies are adjusting to the “new normal” and if they’re planning to wind down covid era protocols.
PRWeek US
What a ban on non-competes would mean for the PR industry
Reporting news analysis
Following the FTC’s proposed nationwide ban on non-competes, I looked at where each state currently stands, creating an interactive map and speaking with industry professionals about what the ban could mean for agencies.