Brandinc PR Founder Brandi Sims Selected as Judge for the PRSA Foundation’s AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship

Brandinc PR Founder Brandi Sims Selected as Judge for the PRSA Foundation’s AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship

AUSTIN, TX – Brandinc PR announced that Founder and CEO Brandi Sims has been selected for the third consecutive year to serve as a judge for the AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship, a scholarship program administered through the PRSA Foundation.

Established in 2023 and funded by AGEAN Public Relations, the fellowship awards one BIPOC-identifying student annually with a $2,500 scholarship and a five-week paid internship with AGEAN Public Relations. The program is designed to support emerging talent pursuing careers in public relations and strategic communications.

As a judge, Sims will join a panel of communications professionals responsible for reviewing applications and identifying candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to the PR profession through their academic work, leadership, and extracurricular involvement.

Eligible applicants must be full-time undergraduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university, rising juniors or seniors, and pursuing majors related to public relations, marketing and communications, journalism, English, digital marketing and design, or public policy.

“Supporting the next generation of communications professionals is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen the future of our industry,” said Sims. “Programs like the PRSA Foundation AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship create important pathways for students from underrepresented communities to gain both financial support and hands-on experience in public relations.”

Through Brandinc PR, Sims has remained committed to mentorship and professional development initiatives that help emerging communicators build careers in media, communications, and public relations.

Applications for the fellowship include a resume and a personal statement outlining applicants’ career goals, their interest in public relations, and how the fellowship would support their professional development.

About Brandinc PR

Brandinc PR is a strategic public relations and communications agency specializing in brand visibility, media relations, and storytelling for entrepreneurs, organizations, and cultural leaders. The agency works across industries including lifestyle, hospitality, entertainment, and community initiatives.

PR Burnout Is Rising: New Industry Report Highlights Mental Health Challenges for Communications Professionals

PR Burnout Is Rising: New Industry Report Highlights Mental Health Challenges for Communications Professionals

PR.co recently released a new industry survey revealing a sobering reality: 60% of public relations professionals report feeling overwhelmed weekly, if not daily.

For a profession built on managing narratives, relationships, and reputation, the emotional and cognitive demands of the job are becoming harder to ignore.

The findings reflect a growing conversation within the communications industry about workload pressure, burnout, and mental wellbeing in public relations roles.

The Reality Behind PR’s “Always-On” Culture

Public relations has long been recognized as one of the most demanding communications careers. The profession operates at the intersection of media cycles, brand reputation, and stakeholder expectations, often requiring professionals to respond quickly and strategically to evolving narratives.

According to the new PR industry report from PR.co, several factors are contributing to the growing stress levels among communications professionals:

  • Constant “always-on” expectations

  • Reactive workflows driven by media cycles

  • Last-minute client and stakeholder requests

  • Shifting priorities across campaigns

  • Limited time to recover between high-pressure initiatives

These conditions create an environment where strategic thinking must coexist with rapid response, leaving little room for decompression.

Why Structure Matters in Public Relations Workflows

While high-pressure environments are not new in the communications industry, many experts argue that how PR work is structured is a major contributor to burnout.

“We already know PR is intense,” said Brandi Sims, PhD, MBA, CEO and Founder of Brandinc PR. “It’s consistently ranked among the most stressful careers because of constant demands and high expectations. But how the work is structured plays a major role in burnout.”

In other words, the issue is not only the workload. It’s also the operational design of PR teams, including:

  • Inefficient communication processes

  • Lack of campaign planning buffers

  • Reactive media strategies instead of proactive storytelling

  • Limited mental health support for communications teams

Without structural changes, productivity gains may continue to come at the expense of the people doing the work.

Why Mental Health in PR Deserves Industry Attention

The conversation around mental health in communications is gaining traction as agencies, in-house teams, and independent consultants reevaluate how they manage workloads.

As organizations demand faster responses to social media trends, breaking news, and brand crises, PR professionals are expected to navigate an increasingly accelerated information ecosystem.

The PR.co report underscores an important reality: sustainable communications strategies must consider the wellbeing of the professionals executing them.

When teams are supported with clear workflows, strategic planning time, and realistic expectations, they are more likely to produce creative and impactful campaigns.

The Future of Healthier PR Workflows

The survey results highlight a critical inflection point for the public relations industry. Agencies and communications leaders have an opportunity to rethink how teams operate in order to create more sustainable working environments.

Potential solutions include:

  • Implementing proactive media planning instead of reactive pitching cycles

  • Setting realistic client expectations around response times

  • Building campaign timelines that allow for recovery periods

  • Investing in better workflow tools and collaboration systems

  • Encouraging a culture that prioritizes wellbeing alongside performance

If the industry wants to continue attracting top communications talent, reimagining PR workflows will be essential.

Explore the Full PR Industry Report

The complete findings from the PR.co survey provide deeper insights into the evolving pressures facing public relations professionals today.

You can access the full report here:
👉 https://pr.co/pr-resources/pr-industry-survey-mental-health-wellbeing

Brandi Sims Selected for BrownStyle Magazine’s Women in Media 2026 Issue

Brandi Sims Named to BrownStyle Magazine’s Women in Media 2026 List

Brandi Sims, Founder & CEO of Brandinc PR, has been selected for the 2026 Women in Media issue by BrownStyle Magazine, a national publication celebrating over 100 women of color shaping culture through journalism, public relations, digital storytelling, and creative leadership.

The March 9, 2026 print and digital release is guest edited by acclaimed media executive and author Amy DuBois Barnett, with journalist and media personality Loren LoRosa featured on the cover.

The Women in Media issue centers ownership, representation, legacy, and the expanding influence of women across the communications industry.

As a public relations strategist, podcast host of The Brandinc PR Podcast, magazine columnist, and doctoral candidate studying social media amplification, Sims’ work has focused on elevating underrepresented voices and securing national media visibility for entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofits, and cultural leaders.

“This recognition reflects the power of strategic storytelling and community-driven visibility,” Sims shares. “Media shapes perception. And perception shapes opportunity.”

The Women in Media 2026 issue will be available in print and online beginning March 9, 2026 at BrownStyleMagazine.com.

 

Tourism & Nonprofit PR Case Study: Media Strategy for The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

Tourism & Nonprofit PR Case Study: Media Strategy for The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Tourism & Nonprofit PR Campaign

Overview

Brandinc PR partnered with Laneterralever to support communications and media relations for The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a leading conservation-focused zoo and botanical garden located in Palm Desert, California.

The campaign focused on generating media visibility around key initiatives, events, and conservation storytelling designed to attract visitors while highlighting the organization’s mission.

Brandinc PR’s Role

Brandinc PR supported the campaign through:

  • Media outreach

  • Communications strategy

  • Event publicity

  • Story development for journalists

  • Support for media engagement during key events

Campaign Focus

The communications strategy highlighted:

  • Conservation and environmental education

  • Signature events and seasonal programming

  • Community engagement initiatives

  • Tourism visibility for the Palm Desert destination

Results

The campaign generated increased visibility for The Living Desert across regional and national media outlets while supporting the organization’s broader mission of conservation awareness and community engagement.

Case Study: PR & Communications Campaign for Tap, an Entertainment Tech Startup Launch

Tap

Case Study: PR & Communications Campaign for an Entertainment Tech Startup Launch

Overview

Tap partnered with Brandinc PR to lead public relations and communications strategy during the launch of its entertainment industry networking platform. The app was designed to connect professionals across film, television, music, and digital media, creating a centralized ecosystem for collaboration within the entertainment industry.

Brandinc PR supported Tap from 2022–2023, leading a multi-channel communications campaign that included media outreach, publicity event support, community engagement, and social media strategy.

The goal of the campaign was to generate national media visibility, industry credibility, and awareness within the entertainment and creative professional community ahead of the platform’s growth and fundraising efforts.

The Challenge

Launching a new platform in the entertainment technology space requires more than product announcements. Emerging startups must build credibility with both industry professionals and investors while gaining early traction among target users.

Tap needed a strategic PR and communications partner capable of positioning the platform as an innovative solution for connecting creatives across the entertainment industry.

The Strategy

Brandinc PR implemented a comprehensive startup PR launch strategy designed to elevate Tap’s visibility within both the entertainment and tech sectors.

The campaign focused on three primary pillars:

Media Relations

Brandinc PR led targeted outreach to entertainment, technology, and culture publications, positioning Tap as a new platform designed to support collaboration among creatives.

Community Engagement

To build early adoption and credibility, Brandinc PR supported outreach to entertainment professionals, creative communities, and industry leaders, helping generate buzz around the platform’s launch.

Publicity & Communications Support

Brandinc PR assisted with publicity event coordination and social media messaging to ensure consistent storytelling across media, community engagement, and digital channels.

Media Coverage & Visibility

Through strategic media pitching and press release distribution, the campaign generated national visibility across entertainment, technology, and business media outlets.

Notable Media Placements Included:

  • iHeartRadio

  • Black Enterprise

  • AfroTech

  • Afro News

  • Canvas Rebel

  • Medium

  • Additional regional and industry publications

These placements helped introduce Tap to a wider audience of entertainment professionals, creatives, and technology innovators.

Brandinc PR also supported the distribution of multiple press announcements through national newswire channels, expanding Tap’s visibility across hundreds of media outlets and news databases.

Press releases reached major newswires, search engines, and social media platforms, giving journalists and industry professionals access to the announcement across networks used by millions of readers each month.

Additional press announcements highlighted key company milestones, including leadership additions and funding announcements, which were distributed across technology, business, and entertainment news channels.

Campaign Results

The integrated PR and communications strategy helped Tap build strong early visibility in the entertainment and technology sectors.

Key outcomes included:

  • National media placements across top entertainment and technology publications

  • Press release distribution across hundreds of digital news outlets and industry newswires

  • Increased awareness among entertainment professionals and creative communities

  • Strategic media visibility supporting investor interest

Business Impact

Following the campaign’s visibility and momentum, Tap successfully secured $1.8 million in pre-seed funding, which was later announced publicly through a press release and media distribution campaign.

The funding milestone further validated the platform’s potential and demonstrated how strategic public relations can support startup growth, investor interest, and industry credibility.

Services Provided

Brandinc PR provided the following services during the campaign:

  • Startup PR strategy

  • Media relations and media outreach

  • Press release writing and distribution

  • Publicity event support

  • Community outreach and engagement

  • Social media messaging and launch communications