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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. The agency analyzed more than 11,000 links generated by ChatGPT across executive-level research prompts, originated as a part of its C-Suite Signals research program. Each citation was reviewed and classified as: real and correctly attributed, misattributed or fully hallucinated. Only 69 percent were both real and correctly attributed, while 19 percent pointed to incorrect sources/domains and 12 percent referenced sources that did not exist at all. The agency says these findings show that AI systems still frequently imply legitimacy through citations that appear authoritative on the surface, even when the underlying sources cannot be verified. As a result, perceived credibility can be created — or undermined — without brands having any direct visibility into how those references are formed.
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REQ, which works with clients in the technology, healthcare, real estate and financial services sectors, opens an office in Phoenix. The agency also has offices in Washington, DC and San Diego. The Phoenix-based team joins REQ as part of a realignment within their joint parent company, Agital, providing local expertise at a moment when Arizona is attracting investment across microelectronics, energy, AI and next-generation development. It adds on-the-ground expertise in utilities, healthcare, real estate development nonprofit initiatives, and community-based experiential PR, sectors that are key to the region’s overall growth. “We’ve built strong relationships with clients and media across Phoenix and the Southwest, and that foundation allows us to deliver thoughtful, high-touch PR services across a wide range of industries,” said Brian O’Malley, Phoenix-based vice president of public relations at REQ.
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Notified introduces Market Intelligence, an addition to its all-in-one IR Hub, which gives investor relations teams a more streamlined way to prepare for earnings calls. The first phase of Market Intelligence, available now to IR clients who wish to become early adopters, delivers instant access to publicly available earnings call transcripts. Capabilities including earnings summaries, Q&A analysis, trending market topics, analyst insights and sentiment analysis, will be added soon. Notified also offers access to an AI-powered IR Assistant to provide a chatbot-based experience purpose-built for IR professionals – all within a secure, closed environment. Bringing together expansive market data and AI-driven analysis directly within IR Hub, teams can centralize due diligence, anticipate investor questions, monitor peer activity and strengthen stakeholder engagement from a single platform.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
Quad/Graphics launches Direct, a Quad Agency to help marketers create, execute and measure direct marketing campaigns in one connected offering... InnoVision Marketing Group SVP/senior creative director Giselle Campos and SVP/general manager Alanna Markey are among the first-ever winners of the San Diego Business Journal’s Indispensables Awards, which recognizes professionals who make the greatest impact within their organizations and across the San Diego business community... Park Place Technologies, an IT infrastructure services firm that works with Feintuch Communications, releases the second episode of its “The Savvy CIO” podcast. 
Ripley PR is named a silver winner in the TITAN American Business Awards’ Outstanding PR Campaign category... Excellera, a corporate-advisory firm, came in at number one in deal count, as well as fourth in deal value, in Mergermarket’s list of top EMEA firms... Thunderly is telling the stories of military veterans who transferred the discipline, organization and leadership skills developed in service to their country into successful post-military careers as franchise business owners, as part of its year-long "American Dreamers: The Stories of Franchising" effort.
Legendary Boston PR man George Regan is stepping down from day-to-day management of his namesake firm. The 75-year-old will remain chairman.
