Hill and Knowlton

Hill+Knowlton Strategies has partnered with production company Happy Finish to launch REALITY+, which will work with brands that incorporate extended reality into their communications programs. REALITY+ will provide XR solutions—including virtual reality, augmented reality and 360° video production – as well as communications and behavioral science expertise. In addition to assisting clients with the technical challenges of XR, the new endeavor will offer guidance on data and insights, behavioral science, purpose-led communications, event production, media relations, and content and publishing. REALITY+ is the latest in a number of creative initiatives from H+K. H+K has also recently launched Flight School+, a crisis communications training and simulation tool; Better Impact, a new approach to brand purpose and CSR; and H+K Smarter, a behavioral science unit.

Noemie Pollack
Noemi Pollack

The Pollack PR Marketing Group has created The Noemi Pollack Scholarship, which will annually award a partial tuition scholarship to an undergraduate student pursuing a major or minor in public relations at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The first recipient will be awarded in Spring 2020. The scholarship was created in honor of agency CEO and founder Noemi Pollack and to mark the agency’s 35th anniversary in 2020. Recipients of the scholarship will be expected to actively participate in the research and operations of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations. Applicants must be an undergraduate student pursuing a major or minor in public relations at USC Annenberg with a 3.0 GPA or above.

ASTRSK

ASTRSK PR has launched its third annual Pro Bono Contest. Applications are now open to early-stage startup founders for the opportunity to receive one year of free public relations services from ASTRSK’s team. To be considered, startups must have at least one female, LGBTQ or minority founder; be “early-stage” (no more than $1.5 million in funding); and be a consumer-facing startup (no B2B startups). Qualifying founders can submit their entries here from Oct. 9-23. Finalists will be announced Oct. 29, with the top five competing in a pitch off on Nov. 12.