Today, more so than ever before, we live in a society driven by communication. Technological advancements continue to amplify the complexities of our diverse, dynamic world — a global environment in which economic success is strongly correlated to the dissemination of tailored messaging. Institutions have been forced to evolve in response to these changes and the conflicting interests of...
What defines tech news, and consequently what is tech public relations? New research conducted at USC Annenberg discovered a turning-point in both practices due to 2017’s technology scandals.
Today's issues are not the same as they were a few years ago. Covering technology is no longer just about the company’s innovations. Now it’s what users do with those innovations and their impact...
I’m a gamer, but don’t quiz me on what year each World of Warcraft expansion came out when I tell you that I’ve played the game before. Don’t test me on which multipliers are most effective for demon hunter gear in Diablo 3 . Don’t tell me I’m not a real gamer if I can’t tell you which keyboard shortcut constructs additional pylons in Starcraft II (it’s E, by the way).
For all the talk...
The USC Center for Public Relations issues two reports: this Relevance Report that predicts trends, and our Global Communications Report each spring that analyzes them. Since we live and work in a time when truth is questioned daily, it seems timely for the industry to weigh in on ethical issues facing the public relations profession.
In this year’s Global Communications Report , we...
The nearly equally politically divided United States means companies are likely to upset 50% of their stakeholders at any time. In today’s political and social landscape, business is often pulled into the issues of the day — wanted or not. The best course is to be ready, act boldly and proceed with purpose.
We know trust in the U.S. has taken a nosedive, especially in government and...
This summer, many Americans found themselves misty-eyed as the documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? paid tribute to the vision and legacy of Fred Rogers. As director Morgan Neville explains, “In a much more cynical age that we live in today and to be confronted by such emotional sincerity is overwhelming and ultimately, I think, kind of cathartic… . He’s explaining to these unformed people...
Demands on companies and their CEOs to take stands on social issues ranging from immigration to climate change, gun rights to gay rights, Brexit to global trade, have rapidly accelerated in the past two years.
Additionally, companies are now being urged by many investors to demonstrate positive social impact. In his widely reported letter to CEOs this past January, BlackRock’s Larry...
The summer before I started the master’s program at Annenberg, my father, CEO of a tech startup, asked me, “Are you aware that technology will soon replace PR and marketing workers like yourself and other interns?”
I replied, “You mean those customer service robots that are not so helpful will replace my job? There’s so much strategic thinking behind PR and marketing that I’m not...