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| Emily Graham |
The Institute for Public Relations has launched the IPR Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a resource to help conduct, share and promote research and best practices in core areas related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the PR industry. The initiative will be led by two IPR trustees: FleishmanHillard chief diversity & inclusion officer and global practice lead Emily Graham and Lamar University chair and professor Dr. Natalie Tindall. The CDEI’s research areas include topics relating to PR professionals who are Black, indigenous and People of Color; women; LGBTQ+; and those with disabilities. It will also address mental health-related issues and intersectionality (interconnectedness of identities, such as race, gender, ethnicity and sexuality). Features include free on-demand webinars and upcoming sessions of “Race in the PR Classroom,” a series IPR co-hosts with the PRSA Educators Academy. Graham says that the CDEI “will accelerate the rigor and relentless focus needed to act with intent and impact, empowering communicators to lead the charge.”
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Saxum, an integrated digital marketing agency, has signed a letter of intent to acquire VI Marketing and Branding. Following closing of the transaction, which is expected by year-end 2020, Saxum chairman and CEO C. Renzi Stone will serve as chairman and CEO of the new entity. VI co-founder and president Tim Berney will be an equity shareholder and partner, and serve as president of Saxum. Debbie Schramm, currently president at Saxum, will become president emeritus and chief integration officer. The new agency will maintain Saxum’s name and its Oklahoma City headquarters. Together, the agencies will have revenues of more than $38 million and more than 100 employees in Oklahoma City, Chicago, Denver, Houston, St. Louis, Miami, Nashville, Charlotte, Chattanooga and Tulsa “With deep expertise and a focus on creating meaningful and measurable change, we will provide best-in-class strategic counsel and execution for our clients,” Stone said. “Our combined agency will provide clients with access to even more incredible talent and capabilities.”
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Onclusive, which offers PR analytics and media monitoring software, has entered into a strategic partnership with The RepTrak Company, a reputation data and insights company. The partnership will combine RepTrak’s reputation metrics with Onclusive’s AI-powered media analytics. RepTrak will receive real-time media data and analytics from Onclusive to help clients assess both their corporate reputation and related media trends. RepTrak measures and monitors clients’ reputation, ESG and brand metrics against competitors and industry to uncover reputational opportunities and risks. “Our customers are managing corporate communications across numerous issues, but corporate reputation is foremost for many of them,” said Onclusive CEO Dan Beltramo. “Our data, in combination with RepTrak’s, gives communications teams a clear objective against which to optimize.
Gregory FCA is marking its 35th anniversary with a comprehensive rebrand... Madden Media, a Tucson-based agency, teams with Denver-based Karsh Hagan... Jasper, an AI content automation platform, launches Jasper Grid, an interface that allows marketing teams to create and orchestrate content across a range of channels, audiences and regions.
Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial, and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm... D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization... The Public Relations Society of America’s ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 in DC from Oct. 28-30.
CorpBridge Advisors is launched by Bob Christie (Brunswick and Alibaba Group veteran) and Russ Rubino (Nasdaq and Intercontinental Exchange/NYSE alum)... Golin marked its 30th anniversary in Miami with an Oct. 23 gathering that celebrated its new outpost in Coral Gables... The Notability Company debuted at the PRSA annual ICON Conference in Washington.
Padilla launches Padilla GEO 3D, a service that aims to improve generative AI search results for brands and organizations... Bader Rutter, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, unveils the Chef Advisory Network, an initiative designed to bring the voice of the kitchen into food company boardrooms... Dilenschneider Group founder and principal Robert Dilenschneider’s new book, Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time, was released on Oct. 28 by Wiley... Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, founded by former Mercury Public Affairs managing director Ian McCaleb in 2022, rebrands.
Vested forms a strategic partnership with growth marketing platform Fintel Connect, geared at driving growth for banks and financial brands through affiliate marketing... WPP launches WPP Open Pro, a new edition of its AI marketing platform WPP Open, which will provide a range of integrated, AI-powered delivery models... MikeWorldWide is hosting The Platform Fluency Initiative Webinar on Nov. 3 at 12:30 p.m. designed to help senior communicators navigate the opportunities of AI.
