The State of PR 2026: What PR Leaders Need to Know Now

Thursday, March 19th, 2026
at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET

Webinar: The State of PR 2026

The State of PR 2026 Report, created in partnership with leading agency, We. Communications reveals an industry at a crossroads. While PR fundamentals remain essential, AI, narrative risk, and rising expectations are reshaping how communications leaders operate and how they prove impact. Diving into the survey input from more than 1,100 PR professionals, this discussion will decode the trends, tensions, and opportunities that matter most to communications executives right now.

In this webinar, we’ll break down the findings into clear leadership takeaways, including:

  • The top challenges PR teams face, and why they’ve intensified
  • How AI is transforming PR workflows and strategic visibility
  • Shifts in media relations, pitching, and journalist engagement
  • The growing importance of social listening and narrative intelligence
  • The measurement gap, and what leaders must do to close it

This session will leave you with data-backed insights and practical guidance to future-proof your comms function for the year ahead.

Fill Out The Form Below To Register

Charlie Baldwin

SVP - Insight & Analytics | We. Studio
Charlie is a nationally recognized leader in communications analytics and insights, named to PRWeek’s 2023 Dashboard 25 for his influence in communications technology and measurement. With more than 15 years of experience, Charlie helps mission-driven organizations and nonprofits demonstrate and amplify the impact of their communications through data-driven strategies. Charlie specializes in designing and evolving global insights and measurement programs that empower organizations to tell compelling stories, engage audiences and drive systemic change. He has advised leading brands such as Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Coca-Cola, and has guided teams behind high-profile campaigns, including the global launch of Microsoft’s consumer-facing AI products. Passionate about using analytics to advance social good, Charlie develops innovative solutions to measure and optimize communications for nonprofit initiatives, social media platforms and community engagement programs. His human-centered approach blends technology and behavioral insights, ensuring every campaign resonates authentically and achieves meaningful results.

Kelly Costello

Director - Corporate Communications | Meltwater
Kelly Costello is a strategic communications leader with over a decade of experience shaping global narratives for high-growth technology companies. As Head of Corporate Communications at Meltwater, she partners closely with executive leadership to lead communications through major milestones, including the company's IPO, enterprise transformation and rapid AI innovation. Kelly specializes in executive storytelling, internal alignment, and building scalable communications systems that drive clarity, trust, and measurable impact. 

State of PR


Download the full State of PR 2026 Report for the charts, data points, and global findings informing PR leadership strategies this year.

Data-Driven PR Plan Template & Toolkit

In this toolkit you will find templates and other useful resources to help you plan, execute and measure data-driven PR campaigns.