Here are some top headlines in industry news that you should know about:
CMU Taps Harlan Teller as New Communications Chief – Central Michigan University is set to welcome a new vice president for university communications. Harlan Teller, who will also serve as the chief marketing officer, brings decades of public relations and marketing leadership, including roles at Northern Arizona and Northern Illinois universities. He will start Aug. 1. With a background spanning higher education and working for major firms like Hill and Knowlton, he is expected to play a key role in boosting CMU's enrollment strategy. Find out more about Teller.
Google Tests Video Ads and AI-Powered Campaign Tools – Google is rolling out video-rich, shoppable ad formats in U.S. search results to help brands grab attention earlier in the buying journey. These interactive ads allow users to click, watch and shop directly from video content. Also, Google is adding “agentic capabilities” to Google Ads and Analytics — AI assistants that offer real-time recommendations, streamline campaign setup and even implement changes for marketing professionals. Get a sample of what it looks like here. The press release was published in Advertising Today, part of Affinity Group Publishing.
Brandi Boatner Talks AI, Trust and Culture in PR’s Future – In an interview with PRNEWS, Brandi Boatner, president of NYWICI and global influencer marketing lead at IBM, shared insights on how artificial intelligence, trust and cultural intelligence are reshaping the communications industry. She emphasized the need for proactive PR, digital fluency and ethical storytelling in a world challenged by misinformation. Why is cultural intelligence becoming a required skill? Read the full Q&A on PRNEWS.
Charter and Cox Communications Announce Merger – Charter Communications and Cox Communications are set to merge, forming a new industry giant in broadband and entertainment. The deal includes Charter acquiring Cox’s commercial fiber, IT, and cloud units, while Cox’s residential business joins Charter Holdings. Cox will own about 23% of the combined entity, which will take on $12B of Cox’s debt. A rebrand to Cox Communications is planned for next year. What could this mean? Find out the details.
USF Honored for Innovative Sports Communications Strategy – The University of South Florida Athletics earned a 2025 CSC ChangeMaker Innovation Award for its creative content strategy behind the launch of its women’s lacrosse program. The athletics communications and branding teams, led by Micah Banks and Carl Schmid, crafted a campaign blending education and engagement. It included a “Lacrosse 101” video starring mascot Rocky D. Bull to introduce fans to the fast-growing sport. Read more here.
Rhetorik Debuts AI Skill Targeting for Smarter B2B Marketing – UK-based data firm Rhetorik has launched AI Skill Targeting, a precision tool that lets marketers identify leads based on actual skills — not just job titles. The platform analyzes billions of datapoints across 800 million professional profiles, aiming to help teams pinpoint high-value individuals most likely to engage. You can read more about it and request a demo here. The press release was published in the UK Media Observer, part of Affinity Group Publishing.
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