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MikeWorldWide opens applications for its Digital Acceleration program, which will provide professionals entering the public relations industry with a mix of bootcamp-style intense learning, online learning and mentorship, and hands-on client experience. The paid, 12-week, program, which kicks off in March, is open to current students and recent graduates. Ten participants will be selected for the 12-week engagement that will consist of one-to-two-week rotations through social strategy, paid media, search marketing, and research and insights practice groups. Candidates will work together in the last week to develop an integrated program which they will present to MWW leadership. "This program enables people interested in digital to experience different disciplines of marketing and contribute to the best-integrated storytelling for our client partners," said MWW chief marketing and business development officer Tara Naughton. Applications can be submitted until Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m.
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Ballard Partners launches a practice group targeted at clients with an interest in legislative and regulatory matters affecting the cannabis industry. Firm partners Courtney Coppola and Eugene O'Flaherty will be chairing the practice group. Before coming to Ballard, Coppola worked in the administration of Florida governor Ron DeSantis as director of the state's medical cannabis program. O'Flaherty was previously house chairman of the judiciary committee in the Massachusetts legislature, handling all bills that dealt with the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis. "The cannabis industry in the United States has developed with conflicting and evolving policies at the federal, state and local level," said Coppola. "Our new practice group will help clients navigate the complexity of these ever-changing policies."
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TEAM LEWIS is completing its first year of a new approach to employee-directed philanthropy. Over the last year, TEAM LEWIS Foundation has given every employee the opportunity to nominate a charity to make a cash donation, resulting in more than $2 million in cash and creative work given to charities across the world. To date, over 400 employees have participated. The Foundation also works with team members and their nominated causes on creative projects benefiting such organizations as the Elton John AIDS Foundation, HeforShe, The Music Man Project and High Fives Foundation.
The Shipyard, which owns Fahlgren Mortine and TURNER, makes a strategic investment in FancyAI... LAVIDGE launches InkFox Publicity (a LAVIDGE Co.), a publicity firm that will work with publishers; hybrid presses; and professional, indie and self-published authors... 5W PR introduces an investment division.
Supreme Group acquires Broth, a science-first creative agency... BridgeView Marketing launches PR Rosetta Stone, a proprietary, AI-enabled PR reporting and intelligence system... Imperio Chaos, a New York-based public affairs and global advisory firm, is founded by former Dezenhall Resources VP Annie Moore and Victor Lopez, who was previously president of the San Diego Lincoln Club.
The PHA Group, which has offices in London, Manchester and Leeds, is expanding to New York... The Next Solutions Group launches NSG Health... Rational 360, a DC-based firm, has relocated to an 18,000-square-foot space on the city’s K Street business corridor... KAOH Media, a firm specializing in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and ESG-driven investments, launches Fieldwise Civic Engagement.
SKDK merges with digital advertising firm Wavelength Strategy... Supreme Group launches Supreme Intelligence, an artificial intelligence platform designed to meet the commercial needs of healthcare and life sciences companies... Relevance International introduces Artificial Intelligence Amplification Optimization, a proprietary service designed to help brands create a competitive advantage for AI visibility... IMAGINE PR introduces a brand partnerships division, which will focus on ensuring that partnerships are meaningful and measurable, rather than transactional.
SourceCode Communications acquires Rally Point Public Relations... Ruder Finn launches its AI Accelerator, a set of tools and capabilities that will be embedded across client work, agency workflows, and talent recruitment and development, as a way of building AI-native expertise across disciplines... Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy, a communications, media strategy and public relations firm, is merging with Athena Global Advisors. 
