The PR Week

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...

When a crisis hits, communicators are the ones working behind the scenes to fix the problem and rescue a brand’s reputation.  This episode of The PR Week comes to you live from the 2025 PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference , where leaders from media, corporate communications and public affairs shared what it takes to stay steady under pressure. You’ll hear from Judy Smith , whose career inspired Scandal...

AJ Jones II is back full-time in Washington, DC, with a new job leading communications for Monumental Sports & Entertainment , the owner of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and other sports brands.  Jones talks about making the transition to the sports world from Starbucks, where he was EVP and chief corporate affairs officer and previously...

Dive into the crucial topic of men's mental health and social connection in this episode featuring Laura Bremer, US president of Citizen Relations and Nate Checketts, co-founder of performance apparel brand Rhone, champion for mental fitness. Drawing from the  2024 Citizen Connections Report , this critical conversation explores the growing desire for deeper social connections, particularly amongs...

Who starts a PR firm in the middle of a pandemic?  Steve Hirsch and his business partner, Evan Leatherwood, did just that , when they launched Hirsch Leatherwood in 2021 at the corner of reputation management and media and content strategy.  He joins the latest edition of The PR Week podcast to discuss the agency’s founding principles, what types of employees it hires and how Hirsch sees the legac...

The eighth annual PRWeek/Cision industry report recently deployed. PRWeek's Gideon Fidelzeid speaks with Cision’s Katie Tod to dissect key data and highlight what it means for communicators’ day-to-day function. Since 2017, industry pros have been the main source of a Cision/PRWeek annual report that captures the current state of the comms industry and function. This year’s iteration produced some...

PR leaders from Microsoft, We. Communications, and the USC Center for PR unpack their latest research on AI’s impact on the industry. The We. Communications and USC Annenberg study Energized by AI reveals that AI is making communicators feel more valued, while USC’s Relevance Report, produced with Microsoft, showcases how AI is reshaping the way we work, create, and connect. PRWeek.com Theme music...

The biggest day in the industry got even bigger this year.  The PRWeek Awards U.S. kicked off bright and early on Wall Street last Thursday, with PRWeek ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange alongside prominent industry executives.  Later, the stars of the industry were out at the PRWeek Awards U.S ., which honored the best work — good to see you again, Michael Cera! — to top age...

Next up on The PR Week : Dawn Beauparlant, CEO for North America at WE Communications.  Recorded just one day before The PR Week Awards , Beauparlant talks about what she’s most looking forward to during the big night. She also previews some upcoming agency news and talks about topics including tariffs and the suddenly uncertain economy.  Also on this edition of the podcast:  Sandy Hook Promise’s...

This week’s guest on The PR Week is Susan Howe, CEO of The Weber Shandwick Collective.  She talks about her first six months as Weber’s chief executive after succeeding Gail Heimann, as well as her firm’s award-winning bowl-game work for Pop-Tarts and the adjustment to another hectic Trump-driven news cycle.  Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including President Dona...

In this week’s episode, PRWeek senior reporter Jess Ruderman takes you inside PRWeek’s inaugural Sports Conference , featuring highlights from Wednesday’s event in New York City and off-stage insight from industry leaders. You’ll hear from our opening keynote presentation, plus exclusive conversations with communications pros from national athletic organizations and clients about what to expect in...

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Beth M. Foley, VP and chief communications officer for Edison International and Southern California Edison.  She talks about Southern California’s recovery from wildfires that ravaged the region early this year, and how authorities can ensure their messages remain front and center amid a hectic news cycle. She also discusses the importance of internal com...

Super Bowl LIX has come and gone, and amazingly the city of Philadelphia is still standing after the Eagles won the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time.  But on to the real main event: the ads. For this special edition of The PR Week , Steve Barrett and Frank Washkuch are joined by the top editors at Campaign US and MM+M, Luz Carona and Jameson Fleming, respectively, for their takes on the t...

In today’s episode, we take you inside PRWeek’s big day in New York City, featuring highlights from PRDecoded, the PRWeek Healthcare Conference and the PRWeek Healthcare Awards. You’ll hear from our two keynote presentations, plus exclusive off-stage conversations with industry leaders, hosted by PRWeek’s Frank Washkuch, Diana Bradley and Julia Walker. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCO...

Even with a new president, the future of TikTok is still uncertain .  One bidder for the app is Project Liberty, which is mounting what it calls a “people’s bid” for the ByteDance-owned video-based social media network. If the organization, which was founded by businessman Frank McCourt, is successful, it could place the platform under U.S.-based ownership, satisfying the law that banned TikTok in...

Chris Foster is ready to be bullish about 2025. In conversation with PRWeek VP, editorial director Steve Barrett at the World Economic Forum, the CEO of OPRG discusses a new U.S. administration, AI advancement, the rise of “local” and how PR has been getting ready for the huge change this year will bring — and how the discipline will benefit because of it.  PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPL...

Join PRWeek VP, editorial director Steve Barrett as he sits down with Weber Shandwick global president and North America CEO Jim O’Leary in Davos to discuss the modern agenda for corporate leaders — and how they can navigate the volatility of 2025. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One   Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and sp...

PRWeek VP, editorial director, Steve Barrett is in Davos this week for the World Economic Forum. For this special edition of The PR Week podcast , he talks with Edelman CEO Richard Edelman, GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis, Omnicom PR Group CEO Chris Foster, Weber Shandwick Collective North America CEO Jim O’Leary and Infosys CMO Sumit Virmani.  Plus PRWeek’s Frank Washkuch and Diana Bradley bring...