450 Cannabis Brands Gathered in Palm Springs. Here’s What You Could Learn From Them
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.–Let’s clear up some likely misconceptions about what happens at a cannabis convention: No, they do not shoot weed out of T-shirt canons. And they don’t give it away for free–that’s illegal, even in the most permissive states. But doling out generous samples for $3 a pop? Producing cumulous clouds of smoke that…
Jen Psaki Tries to ‘Fake’ Out the CBO’s Build Back Better Score
Blame Voters for the Rising Crime Rate
Instagram Global VP of Marketing Melissa Waters Becomes the Latest Exec to Exit Meta
Instagram global vice president of marketing Melissa Waters is leaving the company just a year-and-a-half after joining it from health, wellness and fitness startup Hims & Hers, where she had been chief marketing officer for a little over one year. Meta had not responded to a request for comment at the time of this post….
Did Peloton Pull a Fast One or Have They Learned From a History of PR Blunders?
And just like that … it’s the holidays and we are talking about Peloton. Again. A lot has been written about the situation already, most of it focusing on the short-term stock price recovery and on how Ryan Reynolds saved the day on a ridiculous and alleged 48-hour timeline. As a brand and comms. professional…
What Influencers Look for in Brand Deals
A few years ago, the word “influencer” meant something pretty different than what it represents today. In 2016, the Instagram-focused social media consumer probably pictured a wealthy ex-Bachelor contestant who took beach photos in a personalized floppy hat and sponsored weight loss tea. But in 2021, the creator economy has evolved to encompass a more…
NBC Sports Will Broadcast USFL Football Games Next Year
A new professional football league is on the way in 2022–the USFL–and NBC Sports has struck a deal to air its regular and postseason games beginning next April. Top line NBC Sports is set to present 21 USFL games across NBC (which will have eight games), USA Network (nine games) and streamer Peacock (four games)….
Platforms Foment Climate Misinformation, Creating a Thorny Landscape for Brands
When Jill Hopke, an associate professor of journalism at DePaul University, was researching ads on Twitter during the global climate change conference COP26 last month, she saw ads with phrases like “lower carbon,” “reducing methane emissions” and “net-zero emissions.” These ads did not come from eco-conscious startups or conservation NGOs, but from companies that sell…
This Wireless Phone Ad Shows Why Some Family Plans Are Better Without Family
The holidays can be idyllic, offering moments of serenity spent with loved ones in cozy environments. That is the dream sold by many advertisements, but there is another side to the holidays. Fights with family members, passive-aggressive behavior from relatives and surprising levels of judgment from people you only see once a year are also…