The Public Relations Blog

1. Apple’s polarizing ‘iPhone Pocket’ sells out in hours
2. Grammys demonstrate earned media with wildfire relief fundraising
3. United Airlines unifies messaging during shutdown
4. 60-second close: Unify communications for crisis and reach

1. Apple’s polarizing ‘iPhone Pocket’ sold out in hours

• Apple’s $230 iPhone Pocket sold out within hours of launch.
  
  
• While fashion influences the accessory, many mocked it online.
  
  
• Premium-based brand positioning is key, demonstrating the brand's ability to generate cultural buzz for high-priced accessories, even where public opinion remains mixed.

2. Grammys demonstrate earned media with wildfire relief fundraising

• The Grammys leveraged high-trust messengers like the Jonas Brothers and Avril Lavigne to elevate local businesses through earned media.
  
  
• Blending broadcast ads, social media visibility, and on-screen QR codes, the initiative became a multimedia experience.
  
  
• The cohesive messaging and multichannel PR campaigns generated $7 million in relief funds.

3. United Airlines unifies messaging during government shutdown

• United Airlines published an internal CEO memo, signaling employee communications aligned with its external communication strategy.
  
  
• The company prioritized transparency and rapid crisis communications.
  
  
• During a turbulent moment, United shared key policy decisions with its workforce, reinforcing trust and alignment in communications.

4. 60-second close: Unify communications for crisis and reach

• From Apple's polarizing iPhone Pocket to celebrity-powered earned media, adopting a unified communications strategy is critical for PR that delivers.
  
  
• Unifying internal and external messaging remains critical for brand growth and crisis communication strategies.
  
  
• Axia’s team can strategically outline and unify your communication strategy for maximum impact and visibility. Ask me how we can assist you.

In this episode, Mark Basch joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the common media mistakes publicly traded companies make.

Tune in to learn more!

1. Amazon’s internal blunder leads to global outage
2. Authenticity is essential for modern communications and reaching Gen Z
3. 60-second close: Build brand trustworthiness with credibility and consistency

Recently, I was interviewed by a leading enterprise technology publication about the lessons corporate leaders can learn from the AWS outage. The conversation revealed something every brand — not just cloud providers — should take seriously: Crisis communication is as critical as technical resilience.

1. Cracker Barrel’s new social media lead reflects on “busy” first 60 days
2. Taco Bell leverages celebrity cameos for its new “Crispy Chicken” menu
3. Charlie Kirk’s death exposed gaps in crisis communication plans.
4. 60-second close: Navigating crisis and creativity

AI can speed up monitoring and drafting during a crisis, but it can’t replace empathy. Knowing when to lean on tools and when to rely on people makes all the difference in protecting trust.

When disasters strike, people become overwhelmed. Chaos spreads rapidly. When crises occur in your company, many will turn to leadership for information, solutions, and reassurance. As a leader, you can help minimize damage and restore order by speaking with clarity and authority. 

This is why effective crisis communication can be so impactful. Use these tips to guide stakeholders, employees, and the public through the storm with clear, confident, and consistent messaging.

When a TikTok video allegedly showing a CEO cheating at a Coldplay concert went viral, it wasn’t because of who he was — at least, not at first. The moment exploded because it activated four of the internet’s most powerful engagement triggers: voyeurism, drama, ambiguity, and high stakes.

People couldn’t look away.

A blurry concert video. A kiss cam. A ducked face. And now, a PR nightmare.

What started as a seemingly innocuous moment at a Coldplay concert earlier this week — a couple caught briefly on the Jumbotron awkwardly ducking out of frame — has spiraled into a viral spectacle. Internet sleuths quickly identified the man as the married CEO of a tech company. The woman beside him was not his wife.

Within hours, the video racked up millions of views. By the next morning, memes circulated, TikTok think pieces exploded, and the CEO’s company, Astronomer, found itself facing a serious reputational fallout.

1. Is Tesla experiencing a brand crisis?
2. Chewy's recent content shows the power of thought leadership
3. 60-second close: Set your narrative, or someone else will