ChatGPT is testing ads – and reshaping brand trust

As AI tools begin to introduce ads, crucial questions are emerging for marketers.

PR: drop the ‘we’

When something goes wrong, organisations speak with a single institutional voice. It usually sounds like: ‘We are aware…’, ‘We take this seriously…’, ‘We apologise...’

‘Too busy’ for a health checkup? Please read this

Sharing this personal experience is not easy, but if it encourages even one man to ask for a PSA test earlier, it may save lives.

‘Exclusionary rather than motivating’ – Creative Hits and Misses of the Week

Michael Dowell, executive creative director at MSL UK, casts his critical eye over creative releases from the past seven days.

The Confidence Trap: what PR gets wrong about young talent

I've been sitting in on internship interviews recently. It's one of my favourite parts of the job - a genuine window into the next generation of talent coming into our industry. It's also made me reflect on some of the mistakes our industry makes when assessing potential in early careers candidates.

Fake weddings can be PR gold – but brands must tread carefully

Celebrity ‘fake weddings’ are not new. But they are very much having a moment – and not exactly for the right reasons.

Let’s recognise PR’s underrated rock stars

There’s a growing tendency in PR agencies: the over-veneration of strategists and creatives.

‘What’s the point in that?!’ – Creative Hits and Misses of the Week

Jack Patarou, associate creative director at VCCP Roar, casts his critical eye over creative releases from the past seven days.

Switching off isn’t slacking off

Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin has caused a predictable storm by advocating for an ‘always-on’ leadership culture.

LaGuardia tragedy: Air Canada CEO didn’t have to speak French, he just had to have a plan

Handling communications in the aftermath of the fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York was an unwinnable task. Two pilots were dead and dozens of passengers injured after an Air Canada plane collided with an emergency vehicle on 22 March. No statement was going to change that.

Travelodge backlash shows why comms needs its seat at the table

Travelodge has faced criticism for its response to serious incidents that happened in its hotels, which shows why PR’s voice matters when handling crises.

Social media addiction ruling requires major rethink for brands

‘These are Trojan horses: they look wonderful and great… but you invite them in and they take over’

KitKat heist – crisis masterclass or PR fail? Creative Hits and Misses of the Week

Meg Vernon-Dacey, board director at Wonderland Comms, casts her critical eye over creative releases from the past seven days.

The death of April Fool’s Day – and why PR is better for it

Where have all the April Fool’s campaigns gone?

Key takeaways, AI-enabled, verticals... PRWeek Jargon Buster returns

PRWeek spotlights some words that are best avoided in press releases and other PR copy – and suggests alternatives.

I've had PR office affairs. This is my advice

The internet was recently ablaze with the fallout from the Coldplay couple. You know the ones. The female HR executive caught in the arms of the male CEO of a tech company on a ‘kiss cam’ at a concert (both married to other people).

Five Campaigns We Liked in March: vote for your favourite

From a ‘LinkedIn Speak’ enabler to Oatly’s merch giveaway, PRWeek rounds up its five favourite campaigns from March 2026. Vote for your favourite in the poll – it closes at 5pm on Tuesday 7 April.

KFC ‘Pickle Puffer’ – a step too far? Creative Hits and Misses of the Week

Ollie Edwards, deputy ECD at VCCP Roar, casts his critical eye over creative releases from the past seven days.

The best PR pros call (and you can’t convince me otherwise)

I recently read a post on LinkedIn basically saying that PR professionals who sell in by phone should be considered pariahs.

Religion remains a DEI blind spot

Corporate leaders are acting surprised by today’s cultural and religious violence, but they’re missing a hard truth: they helped create the conditions for it.

Chappell Roan shows why owning the narrative matters more than being right

You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling of fury the internet experienced at the latest Chappell Roan controversy. It had all the ingredients of a modern media frenzy: a famous man, a tearful child, and a female pop star cast as the villain.

AI is rewriting the crisis comms playbook

For decades, crisis communications has operated on a fairly stable set of assumptions.

‘Tube takeovers just feel a bit done’ – Creative Hits and Misses

Ana Richardson, creative strategist at Splendid, casts her critical eye over creative releases from the past seven days.

Is visibility the new entry-level requirement in PR?

It took a feature in a national newspaper for me to receive two job offers from my dream agencies. But is that what it takes for graduates to land an entry-level role now?

Kent meningitis outbreak: a wake‑up call for comms sector

Prevention is always better than cure, yet the UK has not seen a major NHS symptom-awareness campaign for meningitis aimed specifically at students since 2015.

PR still doesn’t understand the social newsroom

The call from LADbible’s web MD, Natalie Evans, for PRs to start co-creating with social publishers exposes a truth the industry has been slow to face: the newsroom has changed, but PR hasn’t.

PR agencies, stop waiting for a ‘comparison’ candidate

It’s seemingly not uncommon for PR agencies now to prolong the interview process to wait for a ‘comparison’ candidate – someone to compare their candidate with to confirm their decision to hire.

Navigating a world of the ‘fauxfessional’

My colleagues and I stumbled across what looked like a new tech publication. But after looking at the journalists listed, something was amiss.

AI and bias – don’t feed the beast

In the opening scenes of the classic teen film 10 Things I Hate About You, the camera swoops across the high-school yard while the narrator categorises the various subgroups of the American adolescent ecosystem: the jocks, the mean girls and, inevitably, the geeks.

Purpose is facing its biggest stress test

At the turn of the decade, businesses appeared to be moving steadily towards a more purposeful world. Where ‘doing well by doing good’ was not just in vogue, but was also seen as a smart, future-proofed choice.