The PR Week

The word “impression” is a very intriguing one in the world of marcomms. As a savvy brand, you certainly want to make an impression. However, as a savvy brand, you also understand that an impression is no longer that Holy Grail metric to which your efforts should aspire. During this podcast, Spectrum Science’s Bryan Blatstein (EVP and head of media) and Allie Golden (Group SVP, client services) di...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Aaron Kwittken , founder and CEO of PRophet Global.  The former founder and chairman of KWT Global discussed building PRophet, Stagwell’s AI-powered SaaS platform, the evolving landscape of PR and communications with the integration of AI and the importance of brand safety in influencer marketing. Kwittken also gave his thoughts on the biggest marketing a...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Torod Neptune, a veteran of prominent in-house and agency roles from Medtronic to Waggener Edstrom.  Neptune is also a member of the 2025 PRWeek Hall of Fame class, announced just this morning, alongside other industry heavyweights.  Now a member of the faculty of the University of North Carolina, Neptune talks about PR and communications in academia, as...

In this episode of The PR Week , Steve Barrett and Frank Washkuch sit down with Ron Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Berk Communications, to discuss his career in sports and entertainment PR, from working for George Steinbrenner to an era when athletes are also global influencers.  Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, from Shamrock Capital’s acquisition of the Penta Group...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Sarah Jenkins, head of creative brand initiatives at Grindr and an alum of agencies including The Romans and Freuds.  She talks about using creativity and brand initiatives to foster community, how Grindr’s audience challenges brands to be creative, and marketing faster than the speed of what’s trending.  Also on the agenda: the biggest marketing and comm...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Cheryl Overton, founder of Cheryl Overton Communications and an alum of agencies including Egami Group, Zeno Group, PMK*BNC and Edelman.  She talks about the growing appreciation for earned media and its versatility, why brands are wise to focus on consumers over the age of 50 and the changing nature of DEI at corporations.  Overton also discusses the big...

On this edition of The PR Week , we're thrilled to welcome JJ Carter, who took the helm as CEO of FleishmanHillard last October. Join us as he discusses the agency's evolution, particularly in light of Omnicom Group's pending acquisition of rival Interpublic Group . Plus, we'll dive into the week's biggest marketing and communications news, including IPG’s Q2 earnings , Real Chemistry’s latest acq...

Pam Jenkins recently left Weber Shandwick , where she spent the last two decades, to join nonprofit Shatterproof as its CEO.  The organization works to reduce the burden of substance use disorder in the U.S. by increasing access to treatment, expanding education and driving public policy change. Jenkins talks about her previous work with Shatterproof at Weber and her plans for the nonprofit. Plus,...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is PAN president and CEO Philip Nardone . He talks about the evolution of tech PR and media over the last three decades, as well as recent changes at major agencies.  Also on the agenda is the departure of Sally Susman from Pfizer , CEO Mike Doyle leaving Ketchum , WPP’s profit warning and a spotlight on the brands responding to tragic flooding in Texas.  PR...

Before you fire up the grill and crack open an adult beverage for the Independence Day long weekend, hear from the latest guest on The PR Week podcast, Luz Corona, U.S. editor of Campaign.  She talks about her first trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which was full of insights but also a few controversies.  Other topics on the agenda: layoffs at We. Communications , Pam...

The guest on the latest edition of The PR Week podcast is the global CEO of Allison, Jonathan Heit.  He talks about the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, where Allison’s holding company, Stagwell, held Sports Beach and other activations. Also on the agenda: Allison’s collaboration with other agencies for Go Daddy and what clients are looking for halfway through 2025.  Plus, the biggest...

This is truly a moment of immense transformation for the comms industry — “and Cannes just accelerates that.” So believes Omnicom PR Group CEO Chris Foster. In this conversation with PRWeek VP and editorial director Steve Barrett, Foster highlights what he deems to be wake-up calls for the sector. Of course, there was much that energized him during his week on the Croisette, including some particu...

On this special edition of The PR Week podcast , VP, editorial director, Steve Barrett talks with FleishmanHillard chief inclusion and impact officer Adrianne Smith about the growth of Inkwell Beach at Cannes and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the creative industry.  Smith reflects on her journey to make the festival more inclusive, the challenges and misconceptions about DE...

PRWeek VP and editorial director Steve Barrett caught up with PR Lions jury chair and Weber Shandwick chief creative officer Tom Beckman in Cannes this week for a wide-ranging discussion. Beckman talks about standout work and other trends from this year’s Cannes Lions in the latest edition of The PR Week podcast. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One   Follo...

On this week’s first live-from-Cannes special edition of The PR Week, PRWeek editorial director Steve Barrett interviews Stagwell CEO Mark Penn, who discusses the Stagwell Sport Beach at Cannes, the role of sports in marketing and the positioning of Stagwell as a challenger in the holding company landscape. Penn highlights the importance of collaboration among creative agencies and shares insights...

“You build a brand. You earn a reputation.” Just one of a myriad pearls of wisdom Ray Day, executive chair at Allison Worldwide and vice chair at Stagwell Group, shared with PRWeek’s Gideon Fidelzeid during this podcast. Reputation has always been among every company’s most important assets and every brand communicator’s most vital responsibilities. The associated challenges, though, have never be...

This week’s guest on The PR Week podcast is Josh Earnest , former White House communications director and EVP of communications and advertising at United Airlines.  He talks about a wide range of topics and issues, such as his priorities leading earned and paid media at a major international carrier, the challenges of messaging for critical topics like airline safety and issues at Newark Liberty I...

Maybe the biggest news to come out of PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2025 was that Real Chemistry supplanted Edelman as the No. 1 PR firm in the U.S. by revenue for 2024 .  Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan talks about that honor, and what the disposal of specialist shop Swoop will mean for his firm, on the latest edition of The PR Week podcast . He also previews Real Chemistry’s presence at t...

This week’s episode of The PR Week podcast comes to you from PRWeek’s Women of Distinction event at The Lighthouse at Pier 61 in New York City. PRWeek’s associate news editor Diana Bradley and reporter Julia Walker discuss this year’s Women of Distinction and Women to Watch honorees .  Additionally, they give highlights from a panel held with comms execs from Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Merck on copin...

PRWeek toasted the best international work last week at the PRWeek Global Awards in London. Here’s a special behind-the-scenes look at the show with Andy Pharoah, VP of corporate affairs and sustainability at Mars and chair of judges for the awards program.  Weber Shandwick was the big winner, taking home six awards from the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, in the heart of Knightsbridge, London. Plus, here...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Dan Kramer, chief executive of global shareholder services at Equiniti.  On the agenda: Kramer talks about his company’s recent acquisition of earned media platform Notified, working with PR and investor relations clients that report up through different parts of the business and how companies like his are using AI.  Plus, PRWeek senior reporter Jess Rude...

The latest guest on The PR Week — and not just any week, but Agency Business Report week — is Doug Thornell, CEO of SKDK, a firm that was up 26% in 2025 by revenue earned.  He talks about the current complicated operating environment, which includes giving advice to clients about issues such as President Donald Trump’s promise to institute a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies.  Plus, the biggest m...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is busy putting out a shingle for her own consultancy, Pam Goldstein Advisory. Pam Goldstein previously had a long tenure at McDonald’s and before that worked as a corporate communications and crisis wrangler at Edelman. She talks about the type of professional it takes to handle a corporate crisis and the kinds of work her firm will focus on. Plus, the bigg...

Before joining Bully Pulpit International, Jeff Nussbaum was a speechwriter for former President Joe Biden and helped to direct speechwriting and messaging operations at four Democratic National Conventions.  He’s also the author of the book “ Undelivered ,” which takes a deep dive into addresses that never saw the light of day from historical figures including former Presidents Dwight Eisenhower...

Steve Lombardo recently returned to the agency world at the helm of strategic communications and public affairs shop Adfero. His range of experience includes stops at Koch Industries, Edelman-owned StrategyOne and the presidential campaigns of former President George HW Bush and Mitt Romney.  He talks about what he sees as the most important news coming out of Washington, DC, and the biggest marke...