 Joe Romano |
RPR Public Relations, Inc. has expanded its emerging technology portfolio with a dedicated cryptocurrency and blockchain practice. The new practice provides counsel both for companies working within the cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure, and those producing services that enable the new technologies. Portland, ME-based RPR is targeted at small to midsize businesses, and has a history of representing tech companies in new areas prior to their mass acceptance, such as green tech, nanoscale/MEMS, and Internet-enabling technologies. “There is tremendous demand for PR counsel in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space,” said RPR partner Joe Romano. “We fight for the emerging technology players who have to set the communications agenda and reset false impressions in misunderstood and emerging markets such as cryptocurrency.”
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Vistra Communications has acquired Tampa-based Marketing Associates USA, which develops marketing strategies and services for major corporations and federal government agencies. The addition of Marketing Associates enhances Vistra’s ability to leverage its SBA 8(a) Certified and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) credentials with large corporations and federal government contracts. Marketing Associates, which will become Marketing Associates—A Division of Vistra, will gain access to Vistra’s infrastructure to provide marketing strategies and capabilities to clients. “The combination of Vistra with Marketing Associates provides our clients an amazing suite of communications and marketing services,” said Vistra president and CEO Brian Butler.
 Mitch Swan |
Film publicist Mitch Swan has launched Millennial PR, which will focus on representing features, documentaries, and short films accepted into film festivals. A former publicist at Big Time PR, Marketing, and Branding, Swan has worked on over 100 film campaigns, covering theatrical, digital and festivals. He has represented films at venues including Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW, Los Angeles Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival. Millenial will also provide PR for web series. In 2016, Swan led the PR campaign for the LGBT web series “Her Story,” which was nominated for Outstanding Short Form Series Comedy/Drama at the 2016 Emmy Awards.
DJE Holdings, parent of Edelman and Zeno, launches RUTH as an independent shop named after Ruth Edelman, mental health advocate, wife and longtime business partner of Dan Edelman.
New York City PR firms make up the largest slice of O'Dwyer's 147 firm overall ranking with 33 of 40 in the New York/New Jersey area either calling Manhattan their home or having a presence there.
Subject Matter+Kivvit, which joined forces in May, has rebranded as Avoq, an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park (NJ), Miami and Chicago.
While PR pros stationed at in-house comms. teams and those working for agencies share many of the same objectives, they also have markedly different top priorities, according to a recent report.
Edelman is cutting 240 employees or about four percent of its workforce to cope with the cooling down of the PR sector, according to a memo from CEO Richard Edelman.
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