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Paul Wilmot Communications has launched a dedicated division focusing on cannabis products in the CBD and THC space. The agency has been retained for media relations, influencer campaigns, community management, thought leadership and corporate communications. According to Paul Wilmot Communications CEO Hampton Carney, the focus of the new division will be to educate consumers regarding the benefits of cannabis products “while creating broader, mainstream acceptance of the category.” PWC will be promoting retail concepts and product categories ranging from skincare, wellness and anti-anxiety aids to tinctures, body balms, supplements and fashion lines.
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5W Public Relations is expanding its digital practice in response to Instagram’s decision to hide likes on posts in an increasing number of markets around the world. The agency says that the shift in Instagram’s strategy will result in an increase for paid opportunities. “Instagram’s plan to hide likes is a fundamental shift in the communications landscape. Influencer marketing will be fundamentally different once this change takes place. Brands will expect to see increased metrics and measurement mechanisms,” said 5WPR CEO and founder Ronn Torossian. According to Torossian, the analytics employed by 5W will allow the agency to continue to provide accurate follower counts for posts.
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| Aydin Sun |
Faselis, a software-as-a-service company focused on media and the public relations industry, has developed a platform geared toward helping startups get press releases out to journalists. The Faselis Growth platform takes users through a step-by-step process that goes from the writing phase to media distribution. According to Faselis CEO Aydin Sun, the platform is meant to help startups and small companies do their own PR. “Startups can sign into Faselis Growth without any subscription fee or even entering their credit card number. They will pay after their press releases are 100 percent ready to reach the journalists,” he said. The company also publishes a blog teaching startups how to write creative press releases.
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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