In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Acceleration Community of Companies’ Michael Kittilson shares his experience returning to his alma mater to teach the next generation about the power of #AI. www.prweek.com/article/1958583/i-went-back-college-teach-ai-students-already-ahead

After 34 years as a passenger airline, Spirit has ceased operations. The wind-down was managed in secrecy for days to ensure a smooth shutdown. I spoke with Spirit SVP of corporate comms about how they prepared for the shutdown. Read it here @prweekus.bsky.social www.prweek.com/article/1957...

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” reveals a stark reflection of the current media landscape. Where print was once king, experiential marketing and PR now reign supreme, says Allen & Gerritsen’s Sophie Lynch in this week's Gen Zeitgeist.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Venture PR's Michael McKay explores why, in a landscape defined by shrinking newsrooms and AI-generated noise, Gen Z communicators are uniquely positioned to navigate the AI storytelling shift.

PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2026 is here. Over the past year, the agency world experienced unprecedented upheaval. That’s why this year’s report serves as a field guide to navigate quick change — whether that change stems from acquisitions, AI or tariffs. www.prweek.com/article/1954...

PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2026 rankings are here. After one of the most tumultuous years on record for the PR sector — capped by Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG and an industry-wide surge in #AI — the leaderboard has shifted. Explore the rankings here: www.prweek.com/article/1956...

PR pros shared their sports communications playbooks at PRWeek’s second annual Sports Conference in New York City on Tuesday. Get the instant replay on all the highlights here: www.prweek.com/article/1956...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, GCI Health's Katherine Carbone addresses the outdated stereotypes around Gen Z's health habits and how brands can better address the generation's interest in living long in good health rather than just living long.

How NASA’s comms team made the Artemis II moon mission relatable — The lead comms integrator for Artemis II shares how her team “fueled public interest” in the mission. www.prweek.com/article/1954698/nasas-comms-team-made-artemis-ii-moon-mission-relatable

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, AntiSocial's Abbey Kape addresses the rumors about Gen Z's workplace habits. Despite "unemployable" labels, Gen Z’s unconventional methods are delivering new, strategic ways of working, says Kape. www.prweek.com/article/1953...

The 2026 PRWeek Salary Survey is here: Findings reveal a cautious industry with comms pros holding onto their jobs even as they believe employer loyalty is waning. Explore this year's Salary Survey here:

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist Autumn Communications' Ava Almonte details why brands are increasingly betting on Bravo, adapting to the shift in stardom hierarchy by partnering with reality TV stars on social-first campaigns.

From 'AI ethics officer' to 'AI solutions architect': Inside the new AI roles shaping communications. Read this week's News Analysis:

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Flywheel's Emma Irwin details why the traditional grocery experience is failing Gen Z shoppers. Grocery aisles are out of sync with digital feeds, costing brands the trust and wallets of Gen Z, she says.

Women of Distinction 2026 — PRWeek welcomes 27 leaders into the esteemed alumni network that comprises many of the most notable female practitioners in the PR industry. Meet this year's honorees:

PRWeek celebrated the best of the industry on Thursday night at the 2026 edition of the PRWeek U.S. Awards, and you can check out all of the winners right here:

Oscars voting may have closed last week, but the campaigns for this year's nominees have been unfolding for months. In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Peppercomm’s Abbey Reisler explains how the latest Oscars contenders are changing the awards season playbook. www.prweek.com/article/1951...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Golin's Rachel Bistany explains how brands are earning Gen Z's trust and dollars by mastering the data that feeds LLMs. www.prweek.com/article/1950...

Fans and brands on social media are poking fun at a video of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski struggling to eat the chain’s new Big Arch burger and referring to it as a “product.” Can McDonald’s turn the moment into a positive marketing opportunity? www.prweek.com/article/1950...

New: Real Chemistry is no longer the largest PR firm in the U.S. by revenue following the divestiture of healthcare agency Swoop. Details:

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Autumn Communications' Ben Mayhew takes us into the 2026 Winter Olympics Village and ranks the brands that are capturing the attention of athletes and viewers at home during this year's games. www.prweek.com/article/1948...

On Gen Zeitgeist this week, Woodrow's Haley Brown explains why brands that built for socials, reaction and cultural traction scored big with younger audiences.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Weber Shandwick's Paige Krikorian shares her Super Bowl LX takes from on the ground in San Francisco and details how authentic ads scored a touchdown at Sunday's Big Game, while #AI fumbled the moment. www.prweek.com/article/1948...

PRWeek’s annual AI 25 (formerly Dashboard 25) spotlights the biggest comms tech players in the space. Whether they hail from AI companies, agencies or client teams, these pros are leading the charge in pushing the boundaries of what #AI is capable of.

New: Omnicom Public Relations has revealed its PR agency reorganization following the finalization of Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group last November. Details: www.prweek.com/article/1947...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Camino PR's Arianna Morgan explains how vague corporate calls for de-escalation, like the Minnesota CEO open letter, are leaving nonprofits exposed to harassment and funding threats amid political turmoil.

Engage or don’t engage in social matters? That is the question CEOs are constantly grappling with, and the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another regarding the right answer in recent years. This week's analysis:

Gen Zers are working 9-to-5 — and then some. In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, RLF Communications' Anna Beth Miles breaks down why Gen Zers are stacking side hustles on top of their full-time gigs and what it means for the future of work.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Weber Shandwick's Matilda von Scheele dives into how brands are tapping into classical literature and canon references this year to feed Gen Z’s appetite for emotional maximalism.

Creators are the new power players shaping policy & advocacy conversations online, says Avoq's Jane Hill. In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Hill details why PR teams should prioritize partnering with independent creators to reach Gen Z audiences. www.prweek.com/article/1945...

What's hot — and not — in 2026? For this week's Gen Zeitgeist, PRWeek asked Gen Zers to make their predictions for 2026. See Gen Z PR pros' hottest takes for the year and the tools, practices and trends they're leaving behind in 2025.

Crises dominated PRWeek’s most popular stories of 2025, from fallout on one college campus to Cracker Barrel’s makeover that only made its biggest fans angry.

In this week's festive Gen Zeitgeist, Precision Strategies' Ani Feinberg breaks down the unlikely items topping her holiday wish list this year and the brands behind her gift guide that are prioritizing sustainability and aesthetics.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Edelman's Masa Najjar explores the concept of Dead Internet Theory and how brands' experimentation with #AI is affecting the way Gen Z consumers connect with their content. www.prweek.com/article/1941...

The New York Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and Committee to Protect Journalists issued statements expressing concern over the Trump administration’s move.

Best Places to Work 2025: Nearly 100 agencies and in-house teams sought the honor this year, but the following companies separated themselves from the pack by committing to their employees’ professional and personal well-being. See all the honorees here:

Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group to create the world’s largest marketing services holding company has closed, nearly one year after the stock-for-stock deal was announced, the holding company said on Wednesday. Details:

When should you trust AI? The answer, according to Chris Wiggins, The New York Times' chief data scientist, is simple: you shouldn't. Speaking at the PRWeek AI Deciphered conference, Wiggins issued a sharp warning that "people are constantly using it incorrectly.” www.prweek.com/article/1939...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, New Jersey City University graduate Suhas Vittal breaks down how New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani captured the Gen Z vote in last week's election through relatable messaging and unique storytelling. www.prweek.com/article/1939...

Now in its 5th year, the PRWeek Health Influencer 30 list encompasses some of the most prominent players influencing healthcare and pharma PR. Meet this year's Health Influencer 30: www.prweek.com/article/1938...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Rise at Seven's Gretchen Turnbull unboxes the fall of the unboxing video — the social media staple that connects consumers with products through influencer PR packages. www.prweek.com/article/1935...

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Narative Strategies' Connor Gerrity breaks down a Swiftie's guide for brands looking to meaningfully activate around Taylor Swift's #TheLifeOfAShowgirl album release this Friday.

The federal government appears headed for a shutdown. What does that mean for government communications? How press secretaries, the White House and agency briefings have communicated with the public in previous shutdowns:

PRWeek’s Healthcare Awards program is back for the fifth year and open for entries. The awards showcase the best campaigns, craft, projects, agencies, teams and individuals in the healthcare and pharma PR sectors. Details: www.prweek.com/article/1934...

Taylor Swift is entering her showgirl era this Friday, and, ahead of the release of her 12th studio album, KitchenAid is cheffing up a wishlist collab, combining some of the global pop star’s enchanted baked goods with its stand mixer.

In this week's Gen Zeitgeist, Bold Vision PR founder Erica Williams questions if trendjacking is a viable PR strategy for reaching Gen Z or just plain cringey. www.prweek.com/article/1933...

Global health officials are repudiating President Donald Trump’s unproven medical claim that Tylenol’s active ingredient, acetaminophen, is linked to autism. Details:

"Boy, it's been a busy first 60 days.” Mere weeks before Cracker Barrel Old Country Store changed its logo, igniting a wave of intense backlash against the chain of country-themed restaurant and gift stores, Bri Reynolds joined as its social media lead.

PRWeek and Boston University's inaugural #AI survey provides the biggest insights into the technology's use in PR yet produced, with perception still outpacing reality. Explore the 2025 PRWeek and Boston University AI in PR Survey: www.prweek.com/article/1932...

The Carolina Panthers have fired a PR employee following a social media post he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Details: www.prweek.com/article/1932...