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Kismet Group, an Australian private equity group, acquires Media.com, an internet domain that will equip users with text, video and audio-based capabilities to publish their stories, communicate their views and confront misconceptions. Unlike social networks, which are advertiser-driven, Media.com is a subscription-based network, enabling profile holders to have “clear air” to express their views. The company’s decision to disallow comments means users can tell their stories and state their position without harassment or objection. “The Media.com network is critical and timely for protecting society from the harm caused by misinformation, especially considering today's fragmented and increasingly divisive media landscape where clickbait, polarized news, and engagement-reliant social platforms can dramatically affect anyone’s reputation.” said Media.com CEO and founder James Mawhinney.
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Elev8 New Media, which specializes in securing media and press coverage for its clients, launches an influencer marketing division. The new division’s services will include influencer strategy development, influencer identification, campaign execution, measurement and analytics, and compliance guidance. “With the launch of our influencer marketing division, we are excited to harness the power of influencer marketing to help our clients connect with their target audiences on a more personal level,” said Elev8New Media co-founder and CEO Jessica Starman.
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Ripley PR, an agency specializing in home service and building trades, franchising, B2B technology and manufacturing public relations, is named PR Agency of the Year in the Southeast United States by the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards for 2023-2024.The awards, which recognize small and medium-sized businesses, are based on factors including a nominee’s service excellence, innovative practices, ethical or sustainable methods of working, and consistency in performance. “We’re delighted to have been chosen during our 10th anniversary as the Southeast’s PR agency of the year by an association that truly values small and mid-sized businesses,” said Ripley PR founder and CEO Heather Ripley.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Enteratinment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
KITH, which provides corporate reputation and crisis preparation services, is now owned by CEO Stephanie Craig, who has been with the firm since 2021... The Marketing Cloud, a part of Stagwell, introduces several expansions to Agent Cloud, the platform it launched in October 2025 to simplify access to its AI tools and marketing assistants.... Notified launches its AI Press Release Optimizer.
V2 Communications launches its AI Visibility Solution and Earned Media at Scale, two service offerings designed to help companies increase visibility and credibility in generative search... The Public Relations Global Network brings on Greenough Communications as its Boston member agency... DBC is relaunching The DBC Industry Calendar as a free site to help communicators more easily discover relevant events and awards in the cluttered event landscape driven by the growth of webinars and online events. 
PAN releases new original research showing that a significant share of B2B citations surfaced by ChatGPT are inaccurate, misattributed or entirely fabricated, introducing a new credibility risk for brands... REQ, which has offices in DC and San Diego, opens in Phoenix... Notified introduces Market Intelligence, an addition to its all-in-one IR Hub, which gives IR teams a more streamlined way to prepare for earnings calls.
