Top stories Nos. 41-50: Brands an d agencies act (or don’t) on DE&I ; Pivots during COVID-19; A ‘dive rsity-first’ PR practice; and more

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PR Daily’s top stories of 2020: Nos. 41-50

It’s the end of another year, so we’re taking a look at the stories that were most important to readers. Here’s some of the tales that had the biggest impact.

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Brands drop The Richards Group for racist remarks, Zoom launches events marketplace, and Wells Fargo fires 100 employees for abusing COVID-19 aid

Also: Dunkin’ goes spicy with menu item and partnership, Hormel offers ‘Breathable Bacon’ mask, videos are marketers’ most popular content format, and more.

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American Express tailors perks during COVID-19, Burger King offers a Whopper to smart students, and Molson Coors delivers to delighted fan

Also: How COVID-19 is affecting e-commerce, how to pitch TV news, join our Twitter #RaganChat, and more.

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Starbucks’ plan for ‘new normal,’ Layoffs at Boeing, Lyft and Norwegian Cruise Line, and SEO tips during COVID-19

Also: Costco and JetBlue require masks, Salesforce cancels in-person Dreamforce, how you can lean on nostalgia during the pandemic, and more.

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4 social media waves to ride in 2020

Marketers and PR pros have created innovative methods for engaging consumers and building brand awareness on online platforms. The coming year will be pivotal. Here’s what to watch for.

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Quaker Oats to rebrand Aunt Jemima, PepsiCo offers plan to support racial equality, and HSBC, Hilton and AT&T announce layoffs

Also: Amazon encourages employees to reflect on Juneteenth, Facebook launches largest voting effort in history, younger users turning to Instagram for COVID-19 news, and more.

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How businesses can address and remedy systemic social injustices

Communicators must play a central role in helping executives navigate the current upheaval and reverse centuries of inequality. The momentous journey must begin with small, yet crucial steps.

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4 steps for adopting a ‘diversity first’ practice in PR

Here’s how you can bring more consciousness to your workflow—and an exercise to help evaluate previous work and identify hidden bias or blind spots.

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Public speaking lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

One of most eloquent speakers, King is remembered for his ability to control a venue with the simple power of his voice. Here are a few reasons why he was so successful.

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4 marketing automation tools to help small and mid-size businesses

Growing pains are part of the deal, of course, but miring yourself in tech details eats up time and money—and often your patience. Try these approaches to ease your workweek.

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Lululemon condemns post with racist COVID-19 design, Ticketmaster responds to refund criticism, and Netflix subscriber numbers double expectations

Also: EDsmart is offering $1,000 for a ‘Harry Potter dream job,’ consumers share what they want to hear from brands, IPR’s employee engagement survey, and more.