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Super Bowl LX: Why brands punted the TV spot for social media feeds With attention splintered across screens, brands that built for socials, reaction and cultural traction were the real MVPs, says Woodrow Communications’ Haley Brown.

On Gen Zeitgeist this week, Woodrow's Haley Brown explains why brands that built for socials, reaction and cultural traction scored big with younger audiences.

Takes from the field: Decoding Super Bowl LX’s cultural end zone Authentic, lighthearted ads scored a touchdown while AI fumbled the moment at Sunday’s Big Game, says Weber Shandwick’s Paige Krikorian.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Weber Shandwick's Paige Krikorian shares her Super Bowl LX takes from on the ground in San Francisco and details how authentic ads scored a touchdown at Sunday's Big Game, while #AI fumbled the moment.

www.prweek.com/article/1948...

AI 25: Class of 2026 The annual list of the 25 most influential people in communications technology spotlights those making the biggest impact in the realm of AI.

PRWeek’s annual AI 25 (formerly Dashboard 25) spotlights the biggest comms tech players in the space. Whether they hail from AI companies, agencies or client teams, these pros are leading the charge in pushing the boundaries of what #AI is capable of.

Omnicom Public Relations unveils restructured agency portfolio Golin and Ketchum will merge under the leadership of Matt Neale; Porter Novelli will become a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard.

New: Omnicom Public Relations has revealed its PR agency reorganization following the finalization of Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group last November.

Details:

www.prweek.com/article/1947...

Minnesota’s CEOs are calling for calm. Nonprofits are bracing for a storm Vague corporate calls for de-escalation are leaving nonprofits exposed to harassment and funding threats, says Camino Public Relations’ Arianna Morgan.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Camino PR's Arianna Morgan explains how vague corporate calls for de-escalation, like the Minnesota CEO open letter, are leaving nonprofits exposed to harassment and funding threats amid political turmoil.

Why PR executives are divided on the Minnesota CEO open letter Crisis experts from Precision, Fenton, Golin and Firehouse Strategies on whether the open letter is a model for collective corporate safety or a performative substitute for concrete action.

Engage or don’t engage in social matters? That is the question CEOs are constantly grappling with, and the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another regarding the right answer in recent years.

This week's analysis:

Why Gen Z is stacking side hustles on top of their 9-to-5s Gen Zers are juggling multiple roles in addition to their full-time jobs to support passion projects and professional growth, says RLF Communications’ Anna Beth Miles.

Gen Zers are working 9-to-5 — and then some. In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, RLF Communications' Anna Beth Miles breaks down why Gen Zers are stacking side hustles on top of their full-time gigs and what it means for the future of work.

It’s not just 2016. The classics are back Brands are tapping into classic literature and canon references to feed Gen Z’s appetite for emotional maximalism, says Weber Shandwick’s Matilda von Scheele.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Weber Shandwick's Matilda von Scheele dives into how brands are tapping into classical literature and canon references this year to feed Gen Z’s appetite for emotional maximalism.

The new power players shaping policy and advocacy conversations PR and advocacy teams need to prioritize partnering with trusted, independent creators to better reach Gen Z audiences, says Avoq’s Jane Hill.

Creators are the new power players shaping policy & advocacy conversations online, says Avoq's Jane Hill. In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Hill details why PR teams should prioritize partnering with independent creators to reach Gen Z audiences.

www.prweek.com/article/1945...

Gen Zers on what’s hot — and not — in 2026 PRWeek asked Gen Zers to share their PR predictions for the year ahead.

What's hot — and not — in 2026? For this week's Gen Zeitgeist, PRWeek asked Gen Zers to make their predictions for 2026. See Gen Z PR pros' hottest takes for the year and the tools, practices and trends they're leaving behind in 2025.

PRWeek’s most-read stories of 2025 Crises dominated PRWeek’s most popular stories of 2025, from fallout on one college campus to Cracker Barrel’s makeover that only made its biggest fans angry.

Crises dominated PRWeek’s most popular stories of 2025, from fallout on one college campus to Cracker Barrel’s makeover that only made its biggest fans angry.

All I want for Christmas is tinned fish, compost bins and toilet paper Irony and original aesthetics are selling sustainability this holiday season, says Precision Strategies’ Ani Feinberg.

In this week's festive Gen Zeitgeist, Precision Strategies' Ani Feinberg breaks down the unlikely items topping her holiday wish list this year and the brands behind her gift guide that are prioritizing sustainability and aesthetics.

Brands, AI and Dead Internet Theory Companies integrating AI into their social media strategy risk keeping the human connection alive for consumers, says Edelman’s Masa Najjar.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Edelman's Masa Najjar explores the concept of Dead Internet Theory and how brands' experimentation with #AI is affecting the way Gen Z consumers connect with their content.

www.prweek.com/article/1941...

Journalism organizations respond to White House website calling out ‘media offenders’ The New York Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and Committee to Protect Journalists issued statements expressing concern over the Trump administration’s move.

The New York Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and Committee to Protect Journalists issued statements expressing concern over the Trump administration’s move.

Best Places to Work 2025 honorees Nearly 100 agencies and in-house teams sought the honor this year, but the following companies separated themselves from the pack by committing to their employees’ professional and personal well-being...

Best Places to Work 2025: Nearly 100 agencies and in-house teams sought the honor this year, but the following companies separated themselves from the pack by committing to their employees’ professional and personal well-being.

See all the honorees here:

Omnicom closes acquisition of rival Interpublic The $9 billion deal brings together agencies such as IPG’s Weber Shandwick and Golin with Omnicom’s Ketchum and FleishmanHillard under one holding company.

Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group to create the world’s largest marketing services holding company has closed, nearly one year after the stock-for-stock deal was announced, the holding company said on Wednesday.

Details:

What AI means for your job: Insights from AI Deciphered When should you trust AI? The answer, according to Chris Wiggins, The New York Times' chief data scientist, is simple: you shouldn't. Speaking at the PRWeek AI Deciphered conference, Wiggins issued a ...

When should you trust AI? The answer, according to Chris Wiggins, The New York Times' chief data scientist, is simple: you shouldn't. Speaking at the PRWeek AI Deciphered conference, Wiggins issued a sharp warning that "people are constantly using it incorrectly.”

www.prweek.com/article/1939...

Generation Zohran: How Zohran Mamdani’s campaign captured Gen Z By using niche media channels and clever, relatable messaging, Mamdani connected with younger voters in record numbers, Suhas Vittal says.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, New Jersey City University graduate Suhas Vittal breaks down how New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani captured the Gen Z vote in last week's election through relatable messaging and unique storytelling.

www.prweek.com/article/1939...

The widening realm of healthcare comms Shifting policy, pharmaceutical innovations and expanding brand initiatives make the sector one of PR’s most important areas.

Shifting policy, pharmaceutical innovations and expanding brand initiatives make the health sector one of PR’s most important areas, writes PRWeek's Steve Barrett.

Health Influencer 30: Class of 2025 Now in its 5th year, the PRWeek Health Influencer 30 encompasses some of the most prominent players impacting healthcare and pharma PR.

Now in its 5th year, the PRWeek Health Influencer 30 list encompasses some of the most prominent players influencing healthcare and pharma PR.

Meet this year's Health Influencer 30:

www.prweek.com/article/1938...

Unboxing the fall of the unboxing video The influencer gifting strategy that became a staple in the early 2010s has lost its spark with consumers amid excessive, impersonal PR packages, says Rise at Seven’s Gretchen Turnbull.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Rise at Seven's Gretchen Turnbull unboxes the fall of the unboxing video — the social media staple that connects consumers with products through influencer PR packages.

www.prweek.com/article/1935...

A Swiftie’s guide to meaningfully marketing ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ In order to resonate with Taylor Swift’s fanbase, brands need to emulate the popstar’s unique storytelling in their own narratives, says Narrative’s Connor Gerrity.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Narative Strategies' Connor Gerrity breaks down a Swiftie's guide for brands looking to meaningfully activate around Taylor Swift's #TheLifeOfAShowgirl album release this Friday.

Need to know info: What a shutdown means for government communications How press secretaries, the White House and agency briefings have communicated with the public in previous shutdowns.

The federal government appears headed for a shutdown. What does that mean for government communications?

How press secretaries, the White House and agency briefings have communicated with the public in previous shutdowns:

PRWeek Healthcare Awards 2026 opens for entries The winners of the fifth annual awards will be celebrated during a gala dinner at Current at Pier 59 in New York City on May 7.

PRWeek’s Healthcare Awards program is back for the fifth year and open for entries.

The awards showcase the best campaigns, craft, projects, agencies, teams and individuals in the healthcare and pharma PR sectors.

Details:

www.prweek.com/article/1934...

The Life of a Baker: How KitchenAid crafted its Taylor Swift-inspired stand mixer ahead of TS12 The kitchen appliance brand partnered with MSL, WoW Studios, Manifest and OneMagnify to bring 12 sparkly orange stand mixers to life.

Taylor Swift is entering her showgirl era this Friday, and, ahead of the release of her 12th studio album, KitchenAid is cheffing up a wishlist collab, combining some of the global pop star’s enchanted baked goods with its stand mixer.

Trendjacking: cringey or Gen Z gold? Brands hopping on the latest trends for visibility need to do so with intention in order to resonate with Gen Z audiences, says Bold Vision PR’s Erica Williams.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Bold Vision PR founder Erica Williams questions if trendjacking is a viable PR strategy for reaching Gen Z or just plain cringey.

www.prweek.com/article/1933...

Global health officials repudiate Trump’s Tylenol-autism link Experts from the WHO and other national health organizations emphasized that there is no conclusive evidence tying paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, to autism or ADHD, despite President Trump’...

Global health officials are repudiating President Donald Trump’s unproven medical claim that Tylenol’s active ingredient, acetaminophen, is linked to autism.

Details:

‘Boy, it’s been a busy first 60 days’: Cracker Barrel social lead reflects on backlash Bri Reynolds joined Cracker Barrel just weeks before its logo change sparked intense backlash.

"Boy, it's been a busy first 60 days.”

Mere weeks before Cracker Barrel Old Country Store changed its logo, igniting a wave of intense backlash against the chain of country-themed restaurant and gift stores, Bri Reynolds joined as its social media lead.

The 2025 PRWeek and Boston University AI in PR Survey The inaugural AI survey provides the biggest insights into its use in PR yet produced, with perception still outpacing reality.

PRWeek and Boston University's inaugural #AI survey provides the biggest insights into the technology's use in PR yet produced, with perception still outpacing reality.

Explore the 2025 PRWeek and Boston University AI in PR Survey:

www.prweek.com/article/1932...

Carolina Panthers fire PR employee over Charlie Kirk social media post Charlie Rock, who served as a football communications coordinator with the NFL team, is the latest person to face firing for comments in relation to Kirk’s death.

The Carolina Panthers have fired a PR employee following a social media post he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Details:

www.prweek.com/article/1932...