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Propel, a PR software firm, adds an accessibility widget to its platform for those with disabilities—including visually impaired, blind, dyslexic, elderly, and neurodiverse individuals. The accessibility widget, created by UserWay, delivers solutions to more than 40 challenges a variety of disability communities face on traditional websites including: screen reader, dyslexia font, high contrast, keyword only navigation and others. Coca-Cola, Disney and eBay are also using this widget to make their sites more accessible and inclusive. The launch of the Accessibility Widget is the first initiative of Propel's newly formed diversity and inclusion board, which was created to provide equal opportunities to PR professionals and journalists from all backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disability communities. Propel co-founder and CEO Zach Cutler is one of the only venture-backed technology entrepreneurs with a physical disability. "Making our platform more inclusive is important and was easier than I imagined," said Cutler.
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Bliss Impact, a new offering from The Bliss Group focusing on purpose-driven initiatives, is one of 10 technology and professional services companies that have joined forces to launch purposewerx, a global collective created to drive and scale business and social impact. The collective's members also include global purpose consultancy Innate Motion, digital marketing and design agency Matchfire, and media specialists Truth + Unity. Purposewerx says that its founding members represent a combined $45 million in annual revenue. "Our experiences at traditional agency holding companies or networks, or as clients of those models, fueled our desire to build something novel," said purposewerx co-founder and chairman John McNeel. "We sought to create a specialized constellation of partners that were stronger together but honored our unique identities."
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The Institute for Public Relations has formed a partnership with The Commission on Public Relations Education. Under the partnership agreement, IPR and CPRE will coordinate activities and resources, as well as pursuing 501(c)(3) status for CPRE so it can maintain independent governance of its operations. In addition, the PR Council will support CPRE and IPR in these efforts, lending the strength of its members to address the profession's growth and aid CPRE's role in developing curricula and standards that prepare students for professional success. "IPR has long supported the work of CPRE and we are absolutely thrilled to partner with them and work with the PR Council to help support CPRE's mission to continue to advance excellence in public relations education," said IPR president and CEO Tina McCorkindale.
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
The Hoffman Agency, a Silicon Valley-based firm with offices in Europe, Asia and the U.S., teams up with United Partners Network, a global community of independent communications agencies... ChangeMakers acquires R&G Strategic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based firm with a practice that spans ESG and sustainability strategy and reporting; stakeholder engagement; climate and GHG consulting; sustainability campaigns; branding; communications; and marketing... AltaVista Strategic Partners, a Baltimore-based firm, opens an second office in Tampa, effective Oct. 15.
Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management rebrands as Biplane focused specifically on helping nonprofits build visibility, reputation and trust to advance their philanthropy... SKDK launches a payer negotiation practice that is designed to support health systems as they navigate increasingly complex negotiations with insurers... ChangeMakers, a strategy and communications firm with over 400 professionals across North America, launches RepScore.
Prosek Partners opens in San Francisco under the leadership of partner Nadia Damouni... Caliber Corporate Advisers, which works with clients in the fintech and financial services sectors, introduces the Caliber Authority Index (Caliber AI), a proprietary measurement platform... Herbie Thiele Consulting, a public affairs firm blending lobbying and communications, is launched by the longtime Sachs Media partner.
Bospar expands its Audit*E tool for small- and medium-sized businesses, which provides comprehensive visibility scoring, competitive analysis and platform-specific improvement recommendations, giving users actionable intelligence to help with brand positioning.... 5W is increasing its presence in Tampa and the Florida market....PR Consultants Group, a nationwide network of senior-level public relations, strategic communications and marketing specialists in more than 50 U.S. markets, has brought on 13 independently owned public relations firms across 13 markets and 12 states so far in 2026.
