The Motherhood sponsored an informative conversation surrounding the theme of “Navigating Turbulence” at the annual Pittsburgh PR Summit. Hosted by PRSA Pittsburgh at Alloy 26, the event included panels on several timely topics, including crisis management, 2024 election preparations, and artificial intelligence. Here’s a look at what we learned. 

How AI Will Change PR and Your Career
Aaron Watson, CEO of Piper Creative 

Aaron Watson kicked off the summit with an interactive conversation about ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence. Throughout the discussion, Aaron touched on some of the burning questions PR professionals had about how AI will fit into the future of the profession and impact the industry. 

Topics included tangible ways communications professionals can implement AI, potential pitfalls of AI and headwinds the PR industry may face, insights into the essential skills required to leverage AI effectively, and what forward-thinking agencies are doing right now. 

One item to have mastered when it comes to tools like ChatGPT is a refined prompt strategy to help supplement your work. For those who attended the summit, you can get the exclusive whitepaper on AI prompts you can use right now.

Mastering PR Strategies for the 2024 Election 

• Keegan Gibson, Senior Director, Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy 
• Monica Malik, Vice President, Public Affairs Market Manager Western Pennsylvania, Citizens
• Caitlin O’Connor, Director of Public Relations and Communications Initiatives, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

As the 2024 election starts to approach, PR pros must consider how they can prepare their strategies, questioning how the developing political world may impact the media industry and how to prepare for new challenges the 2024 election may bring to companies and brands. 

Keegan Gibson, Monica Malik, and Caitlin O’Connor delved deep into the complexities of the upcoming presidential election and explored its potential impact on internal and external communications. 

Overcoming and Adapting to Real-Life Crisis Situations in Pittsburgh 

• Adam Brandolph, Director of Public Relations, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (Port Authority) 
• Nicole Ford, Reporter, WPXI-TV
• Mike Manko, Communication Manager and Public Information Officer, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office
• Hollie Geitner, Communications Director, Duquesne Light

Organizational crises are inevitable, and PR pros must be ready to face the challenges. The importance of preparing in advance for moments of crises can help companies adapt to or deploy the crisis communication challenges they may face. 

Adam Brandoplh, Nicole Ford, Mike Manko, and Hollie Geitner discussed real life crises they have faced, how they were managed, and some of their best pieces of advice for other PR professionals in the industry. 

Prep, prep, prep! With the PR and marketing industries constantly facing new and challenging obstacles and opportunities, it’s important to be prepared and ready to face or adapt to any crises or new tool that may come your way. Whether you’re questioning how to navigate the world of AI, how to deal with a political election or how to adapt to real-life crises, it is important to always be prepared. 

Thank you to all the panelists at the Pittsburgh PR Summit who shared their thoughts and expertise, giving us the chance to learn how we must adapt to the world around us and continue moving forward.