Trends
The Edelman Trust Barometer [REPORT]
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer landed this week, and the shift it highlights feels important for anyone working in communications.
2026 Outlook Study Forecasts 9.5% Growth in U.S.Ad Spend
Amid the industry's rapid transition from AI experimentation to scaled execution, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released its annual 2026 Outlook Study, "A Snapshot into U.S. Ad Spend, Opportunities, and Strategies for Growth." Based on insights from more than 200 brands and agency buyers, IAB's study forecasts 9.5% year-over-year growth in U.S. ad spend, accelerated by major cyclical events and a clear shift toward performance-led strategies and the increasing use of agentic AI in shaping how marketing decisions are planned, activated, and optimized.
One thing I keep seeing across organizations right now ……
Growth decisions are getting more conservative but not more effective. By Lisa Torres - Founder & Principal, The LIT Group Co.
5 Entertainment PR and Publicity Trends Defining 2026
The publicity playbook that built Hollywood is obsolete. As we move deeper into 2026, the campaigns capturing cultural oxygen share a common trait: they treat audiences not as consumers, but as co-conspirators. By Gabriel Andriollo
When Culture Is the Campaign: Why Duolingo’s Bad Bunny Moment Works
The strongest brand moments rarely start in a boardroom. They start by listening.
Oral History Teaches Starting Over is a Process Not a Plan
What Oral History Teaches Us About Starting Over. The New Year has a way of convincing us that starting over requires a clean slate. A new plan. A bold declaration. A dramatic reinvention. By Tony Hernández- Documentary Filmmaker & Oral Historian Preserving family, founder, and cultural legacy
U.S. Population Growth Slows Due to Historic Decline in Net International Migration
Population growth in the United States has slowed significantly with an increase of only 1.8 million, or 0.5%, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the new Vintage 2025 population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Marketing didn’t lose it soul. It Optimized it away.
After finally coming around to reading Filterworld, recommended by one of the sharpest strategists in the game, I had a clarifying realization: much of modern marketing has stopped trying to understand culture, especially online. It is trying to game it. Built to outsmart algorithms through optimization, predictability, and speed. It works in the short term. By Marcos Hernandez - Agency Partner | Brand Steward | Catalyst for Disruption & Growth
Consulting Reality: What You’re Actually Signing Up For
I'm going to tell you something most people won't… Not everyone is supposed to be an entrepreneur. So please stop telling people who just got laid off that they can "just consult." It's not that easy. By Elizabeth Rosenberg- Global Marketing and Communications Advisor
Pet Holiday Spending, New Year’s Reset, & Why Pet Brands Need Deeper Consumer Insight
Holiday spending has become one of the clearest behavioral signals of pet humanization in the U.S. – proof that pets are treated as full family members and intentionally included in household rituals and budgets. Recent consumer data shows that this humanized relationship increasingly shapes when and why pet parents spend, particularly during the holidays and into the New Year. The U.S. pet industry now exceeds $150 billion in annual spending, underscoring the scale of opportunity tied to these seasonal behaviors.
The Black influence – How Black culture & identity drive the market. [REPORT]
Black consumers are sending a clear signal to businesses that want to leverage their buying power, influence, and brand loyalty. Get the key insights into Black consumer trends that brands need to know to win over Black audiences in 2026 and beyond.
More Than a Championship: A Hispanic (Cuban) American Story at the Heart of America
Monday night’s college football championship — though not a win for the University of Miami — was still a moment of jubilation. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the game affirmed something larger than a final score: pride, belonging, and possibility for my hometown of Miami, Florida, and for many Hispanic Americans watching across the country. By Gabriela Alcantara-Diaz – Founder, President / SEMILLA Multicultural, Inc. By Gabriela Alcantara-Diaz – Founder, President / SEMILLA Multicultural, Inc.
MLK’s Dream Is Our Brief, Not a Seasonal Theme. Making His Dream Our Creative Mandate.
Martin Luther King Jr. never asked America to be polite. He asked America to be brave. As a kid growing up in Mexico, the United States was, to me, an idea before it was a country: a messy, noisy, colorful experiment that somehow kept promising more than it delivered and yet never stopped reaching for better. King’s words traveled further than any border patrol; they reached living rooms, classrooms, and later, conference rooms – including the ones where I’ve spent most of my professional life trying to convince brands that culture is not a risk, it’s a gift. By Luis Miguel Messianu
Starting my 25th Year at HHF
As I start not only 2026 but my 25th year with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, I am reinvigorated by the opportunities that lie ahead in this privileged position to serve our community, serve our country, and serve everyone with whom I get to do the work. By Antonio Tijerino
Los Angeles Is the Future of the U.S. Consumer. [REPORT]
Los Angeles is about to shape the future of the American consumer. With the World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the Olympics in 2028, the city will be the cultural and economic epicenter of the decade.
The Future of Wine is Multicultural
The wine industry is facing a reset. Declining volumes, shifting demographics, and competitive pressures are reshaping the market. But moments of disruption also create moments of renewal—and today’s industry has a unique opportunity to reimagine its future.
The Fourth Monkey has emerged………
You shouldn't have to compete with a phone for someone's attention in a meeting. By Chris Laping - The Emotional Intelligence Network
7 facts about Venezuelans in the U.S.
On Jan. 3, the United States conducted a military strike on Venezuela and brought President Nicolás Maduro to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking. In recent decades, Venezuela has experienced economic and political crises that have led to record numbers of Venezuelans migrating. They’ve mainly gone to neighboring Latin American countries but also to the U.S. and elsewhere.
What we know about internet use, smartphone ownership and digital divides in the U.S.
For 25 years, Pew Research Center has tracked some of the biggest technological shifts in history.
Telemundo Dominates Daytime in 2025 as the Most-Watched Spanish-Language Network Weekday Afternoons among Total Viewers
Telemundo closed 2025 as the #1 Spanish-language television network in weekday afternoons (Monday–Friday, 1–5 pm) averaging 548,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen. Year-over-year, the afternoon daypart also surged +22% among adults 18–49, with every program in the block delivering double-digit growth versus 2024.
