Values Alignment is Key in Selecting Influencers
Tue, Aug. 4, 2026
By Steve Barnes
Communicators looking to form successful partnerships with influencers need to look less at follower counts and more on finding influencers who align with a brand’s values and target audience, according to a new study from social intelligence platform Sprout Social.

Sports tourism has become a major player on the travel landscape. The industry needs to keep its eye on the ball to make sure its effect extends past game time.
Creator marketing has become a standard part of the marketing equation—with one-off relations being replaced by established norms and expectations.
HUNTER brings on Lori Ruggiero as managing director of its corporate communications practice... Covo Intelligence, an independent research and intelligence firm, names Tony Cheevers director of strategic growth... MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) hires Brian Swarth as SVP of marketing, effective July 20.
Where should creators draw the line? The legal one is obvious. But the strategic one is just as important.
The Rapid, the bus transit system of metro Grand Rapids, is looking for a firm to develop an education and public engagement campaign for a proposed property millage ballot initiative.
The Albany Convention Center Authority wants proposals for a strategic communications and marketing plan to bolster its image and that of Albany Capital Center in order to attract businesses and leisure travelers to the Capital Region.
Stagwell has named Rachel Jacobson, who rose to the senior VP-business development post at the National Basketball Assn. during a 21-year run, CEO of Reach TV.
FINN Partners names Greg Swan head of futures and client transformation in the U.S... Haleon, a consumer health company, appoints Richard Manso as U.S. chief marketing officer... The Natural Diamond Council brings on Susie Dewey as CMO.
Lionsgate, which brings together diversified motion picture and television production and distribution businesses, promotes Laurel Pecchia to SVP, corporate communications... Anonymous Content, a New York-based film production and management company, recruits former Showtime/MTV executive vice president Liza Burnett Fefferman as chief communications and marketing officer, a newly created position... Legacy Motor Club brings on Ryan Grab as VP, marketing and communications.
Emblem Public Relations comes on board as agency of record for LAIE Vermouth, a craft sipping vermouth... AMP3 Public Relations picks up AOR duties for Dr. Scholl’s Shoes... KNB Communications, a healthcare marketing and PR agency, is engaged to elevate awareness around the launch of Novare.
ELMNTL, a Denver travel PR firm, brands, assumes global PR duties for Brunei’s Tourism Development Department... Laura Davidson Public Relations is picked by Sonas Collection, a portfolio of family-owned boutique hotels and luxury retreats located along Scotland’s West Coast... Stretch PR, adds Hairdo Spirit Wear, a line of temporary hair accessories, to its roster.
When it comes to AI-generated search responses, many of the sources that produce significant visibility aren’t the traditional “top-tier” outlets PR teams prioritize. Instead, they’re blogs, community forums and smaller publications, highlighting the need for communicators to adapt their media visibility strategies.
Continuing a trend that began last year, purpose-driven messaging is falling out of favor among communications pros working in our politically polarized environment, with many now also anticipating fewer future corporate investments in DEI, sustainability and other CSR initiatives.
Highwire launches Highwire Health, a unified healthcare marketing and communications practice... Red Fan Communications, an Austin, TX firm focused on strategic B2B communications, announces the launch of its Brand Authority Index—a diagnostic tool that quantifies how companies show up in AI-powered search... Dreamday introduces its influencer division, which formalizes a core capability within the agency’s integrated Performance PR model.
Sport Ireland is looking for a firm to promote its Her Moves campaign, which is designed to encourage girls to get involved in sports and physical actives.
Shore Fire Media, a creative communications firm and subsidiary of Dolphin, names Angela Barkan CEO. Barkan comes to the firm from BMG... Allied Global Marketing promotes chief strategy officerAdam Cunningham, to global chief executive officer, and ups chief of marketing operations Kelly Estrella to COO... Formation PR + Brand brings on Sarah Broberg as VP of strategic communications. Broberg comes to the agency from Carabiner Communications.
In today’s misinformation economy, the need for consumer brands to adopt an always-on communications strategy has never been greater.



















