In June, headlines highlighted Gen Z’s reshaping of workplace expectations, social media’s rise over traditional news as the primary information source and AI’s growing influence as a creative partner in PR. As these trends gain momentum, they reinforce a clear message—successful communication today demands clarity, credibility and a deep understanding of how and where audiences engage.
Crisis Communications
Weiss Hospital braces for 2 more weeks without AC; inpatient unit evacuated – Kaitlin Washburn, Chicago Sun-Times
“Chicago-based Weiss Memorial Hospital’s response to its recent AC failure offers a key lesson in crisis communications: when leadership acknowledges they knew of an issue in advance but opted not to fix it, public trust is quickly eroded—especially in a healthcare setting. The CEO’s comment that they were “crossing our fingers” to avoid a $250,000 expense came across as deflective and tone-deaf, shifting focus on blame rather than accountability. That said, the hospital’s subsequent statement outlined real-time actions, such as patient relocations and mechanical repairs. In any crisis, effective leadership requires responsibility and empathy, not excuses.” – Haley Hartmann
Reputation Management
X Hires Third PR Lead in a Year – Eleanor Hawkins, Axios
“Elon Musk’s X has just hired its third public relations lead in under 12 months, continuing a pattern of high turnover and mixed messaging. While the company is quietly rebuilding its comms roster, its leadership continues to undermine the role of traditional PR and media, most recently with CEO Linda Yaccarino’s quip at Cannes: ‘Does anyone still read [The Wall Street Journal]?’ This tension between X’s PR hires and public jabs at the press is a fascinating case study in reputation management (or lack thereof) and raises the question: what’s the real comms strategy here?” – Makenna Eldridge
Employee Communications
Gen Z is bringing the gig economy to Corporate America – Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert, Business Insider
“It’s no secret that Gen Z is changing the game in culture, especially at work. They value experiential growth, autonomy, and clear connection to impact over the traditional 9-5 “system.” Corporations who want to attract and retain top talent must evolve their communication style and policies to keep pace. Transparent, concise communication is key. Keeping messaging direct, authentic, and purpose-driven is table stakes. Those in positions of leadership need to communicate not just the “what” but the “why” and articulate how each role or project ties into organizational impact.” – Kate O’Neil
How to Respond to ‘Quiet Cracking,’ a New Workplace Threat – Bruce Crumley, Inc.
“The new workplace trend ‘quiet cracking’ serves as a crucial reminder that a company’s internal health is linked to its external reputation. Employees that ‘quietly crack’ feel both underappreciated by managers and closed off from career advancement while doing work they otherwise like. To address this phenomenon, organizations should amplify genuine internal efforts—such as professional development and sincere recognition—through transparent communication. By consistently showcasing a supportive and appreciative workplace culture, organizations can build a strong brand that recruits and retains top talent.” – Grace DuFour
Worker pessimism, uncertainty and disconnect reach ‘critical levels,’ survey finds – Ginger Christ, HR Dive
“This is just the latest warning employers have been getting about the sorry and still-declining state of employee wellbeing. The message is simple: if you don’t know how your employees are feeling – or you know they’re not doing well—it’s imperative that you act now. Ask them about their pain points and address them. And have leadership from the CEO on down to front-line supervisors engage them with candor, direction and support.” – Nick Kalm
Digital & Social Media
At Cannes Lions, everyone is trying to sell your attention – Sara Fischer, Axios
“At this year’s Cannes Lions Festival, the spotlight was on the booming attention economy with tech giants, creators, and brands all vying to own consumers’ focus. Axios reports that the event, now nearly rivaling the Cannes Film Festival in scale, showcased how companies from Meta to United Airlines are evolving into media platforms. From AI-led activations to branded beachfront takeovers, the festival underscored a major shift: capturing attention is no longer just about ads, but about immersive, content-driven experiences.” – Jenny Cummings
Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests – Ian Youngs, BBC
“With social media now surpassing traditional TV and news websites as Americans’ primary news source (54% vs. 50%), according to a new report from the Reuters Institute, PR professionals need to adjust their strategies. This highlights a growing need for companies and their executives to craft compelling direct-to-audience content on platforms where stakeholders actually consume information.” – Kristin Monroe
Bombshell Love Island Brand Partnerships Enter the Villa for Season 7 – Bill Bradley, Adweek
“As Love Island USA soars in popularity, so do brand partnerships. After last season’s record-breaking viewership and social media buzz, major brands like Maybelline New York and Pepsi are using this opportunity to drive brand awareness. Although Pepsi doesn’t need the extra visibility, partnering with fan-favorite islanders for a 15-second ad is a strategic move to attract new consumers and deepen audience engagement.” – Emily Schultz
BeReal is back. Can it stick around this time? – Eve Upton-Clark, Fast Company
“Following BeReal’s viral moment in 2022, the app is back in an attempt to ‘make something that really answers the demands of Gen Z,’ who are sick of lenses, filters, and pressure to post. Despite this content fatigue, studies show that Gen Z continues to consume social media across leading platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube with no signs of slowing. It begs the question – if the desire for authenticity on social media is so prevalent, at what lengths will users go to find it? Can BeReal exist beyond a cultural moment? Time will tell, as BeReal attempts to ‘bring back the social aspect of what social media was built for.’” – Catherine Wycklendt
Marketing
Chicago launches new tourism campaign to play up its ‘swagger’ – Monica Eng, Axios
“Chicago’s new ‘Never Done. Never Outdone’ campaign leans into the city’s grit, charm and confidence—and it works! Built around real input from locals, it’s a fresh take on tourism marketing that feels both bold and authentic. With RP’s headquarters in Chicago, I love seeing bold ideas that spotlight a city our team knows well and genuinely loves.” – Paige Borgman
Public Relations
The Washington Post Will Ask Some Sources to Annotate Its Stories – Benjamin Mullin, The New York Times
“From a PR/comms perspective, this move by The Washington Post presents a fantastic opportunity for organizations to share more of their messages with key audiences. Often, only one or two sentences from a 30-minute conversation will make it into a story, and the sources (as well as the PR folks that work with them) don’t know what those are until they see the published version. By letting sources annotate what they’ve said, they can provide readers with additional context or reiterate important points with more detail. And, as long as everyone involved is operating above board, they can correct any inaccuracies that may have come up because of nervousness or a lack of experience/media training.” – RJ Bruce
Creative Collaborators: How AI Is Driving PR Innovation – Grant McLaughlin, PRSA
“As AI continues to evolve, forward-thinking communicators are finding ways to use it as a collaborative tool, supporting rather than replacing creative strategy. From real-time message testing and storytelling to crisis simulations and media outreach, the article shows how firms are embedding AI across entire campaigns. The takeaway for communicators is clear—AI isn’t a shortcut; it’s an amplifier. Used intentionally, it can make our ideas sharper, our outreach more precise, and our work more impactful, so long as the human voice isn’t lost in the process.” – Natalie Szydlo
Why Factories Are Having Trouble Filling Nearly 400,000 Open Jobs – Farah Stockman, The New York Times
“The U.S. manufacturing labor shortage highlights a communications challenge as much as a workforce one. Outdated perceptions about factory work are louder than any realities of advanced, clean and rewarding careers. PR can play a pivotal role in reshaping the narrative of the manufacturing industry through employer branding, authentic storytelling and a new-gen outreach that helps companies close the talent gap.” – Emma Smits
People with severe diabetes are cured in small trial of new drug – Gina Kolata, The New York Times
“Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ strategic communication around their stem cell breakthrough exemplifies how biotech companies can build sustained momentum through carefully timed data releases and impact-focused messaging. By announcing that 10 out of 12 patients with severe Type 1 diabetes no longer need insulin after a single treatment, Vertex has positioned itself at the forefront of a potential diabetes cure rather than just another incremental improvement. Their decision to present findings at the American Diabetes Association meeting and simultaneously publish in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrates sophisticated media strategy that maximizes credibility and reach across medical and mainstream audiences, which then resulted in The New York Times’ piece. Overall, it’s a good media relations case study on using data to demonstrate societal impact.” – Michael Grimm