February 2026

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 28 feb 2026

'Checkout charity', the concept of stores seeking charitable donations at the time of customer's checking out (paying bill for their shopping), is a common practice and has shown some success. Research study by Élodié Manthé from Université Savoie Mont Blanc (France) suggests that this concept can have negative impact as some customers might feel embarassed at this situation. Study from University of Adelaide Business School's academics, 'Doing good but feeling bad: How checkout donation requests might backfire for retailers by eliciting negative emotional and cognitive consumer response' (Authors: Arvid O. I. Hoffmann, David Matthews, Sally Rao Hill, Ying Zou), published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, suggests that customers in this situation often don't feel happy about it and feel pressured, guilty, anxious and pushed into making a decision they did not plan to make. Researchers found that consumers who experienced negative emotions as a result of being asked to donate at the checkout were: less willing to donate, less satisfied with their shopping experience and more critical of the retailer. Authors explain, 'This creates both time pressure (feeling rushed) and social pressure (feeling judged), two factors that can make customers feel bad. As a result, they are less likely to experience a positive emotion of doing a good deed — or what researchers call the 'warm glow' effect.' Authors suggest - Introduce information about the donation request early in the shopping journey using posters or flyers; Design payment screens that allow customers to choose privately; Communicate clearly and transparently about how the money is collected, where it goes and what impact it makes.' Read on...

The Conversation: 'Checkout charity' requests often backfire, leaving shoppers feeling guilty: New study
Authors: Arvid O. I. Hoffmann, David Matthews, Sally Rao Hill, Ying Zou

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 28 feb 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making inroad into both person and professional aspects of human life. Public relations is a field that faces many challenges as AI era brings automated solutions with creative innovation. Stefan Pollack, President of The Pollack Group, says, 'Public relations in 2026 will demand a new operational mindset: one that pairs the precision of data with the intuition of human judgment. The agencies that win will not be the ones that automate the most tasks, but those that cultivate trust velocity, identify falsehoods, clarify context and mobilize accurate information before narratives calcify. Our currency will be verified belief.' Following are his take on various aspects of technology-driven PR - (1) IMPAT OF AI: Automation of tasks such as entry-level production work, monitoring, drafting and clipping; Human expertise will shift to more strategic role to interpret, apply and guide insights at higher level; Move from reactive PR to predictive communication; Hybrid models will evolve with part consultancy, part creative studio, anchored by data-driven foresight and human storytelling. (2) AI'S SUPPORT AND TRANSFORMATION OF PR: It will transform PR into intelligence discipline; Help continuously scan for shifts in public sentiment, spikes in misinformation and opportunity gaps; PR professionals will evolve from message distributors into message designers, architects of context and meaning. (3) VIDEO AND AUDIO CONTENT: Shift from content to experience; Short-form video sparks awareness, long-form video deepens trust and podcasts sustain dialogue; Easy access to creative tools; Authenticity will become the dominant aesthetic. (4) COMBATTING MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION: PR will evolve into constant verification mode; Brands will build 'truth supply chains'; Integration of communications, legal and data teams to perform reality checks and seek proofs. (5) THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Earn attention through precision and proof; Leaders will become editors-in-chiefs than mere spokespersons; Harness internal voices; Emphasize human element. (6) IN-PERSON EVENTS: Building real human connections will happen more; Events will blend intimacy and impact; Smaller, more curated, high-intent gatherings focused on collaboration and creativity. Read on...

O'Dwyer's PR News: The Biggest Challenge for Public Relations in 2026
Author: Stefan Pollack

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 26 feb 2026

Usable and functional web design is the key to retain visitors and transform them into engaged customers. Members of the Forbes Technology Council suggest following web design essentials for success - (1) Interaction Design That Enhances User Flow (Franky Joy, Lane Automotive); (2) Transparent Contact And Pricing Overviews (Joe Way, University of California at Los Angeles); (3) Intuitive Navigation For Diverse Users (Mike Alvarez, Glooko Inc); (4) Clear Content And Purposeful Storytelling (Laxmi Vanam, Vanguard); (5) Easy-To-Understand Navigation Language (Raghu Para, Ford Motor Company); (6) Unified Navigation Across Company Platforms (Kevin Korte, Univention); (7) Clear Brand Message Hierarchy (Judit Sharon, OnPage Corporation); (8) A Balance Of Speed, Clarity And Trust (Harikrishnan Muthukrishnan, Florida Blue); (9) Fast-Loading, Readable Pages (Tannu Jiwnani, Microsoft); (10) Loading Progress And Quick Click Feedback (Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC); (11) Consistent Microcopy - Small Functional Text Messages (Dan Haiem, AppMakers USA); (12) Navigation Cues And Progress Indicators (Venkata Thummala, Stanford Health Care); (13) Rhythmic Content Pacing (Vibhor Kapoor, AdRoll); (14) Sufficient White Space Around CTAs (Stoyan Mitov, Dreamix); (15) Alignment With The Customer Journey (April Ho-Nishimura, Infineon Technologies AG); (16) Helpful Micro-Interactions (Tracy Yu, Apple); (17) Frictionless Form Fields (Uttam Kumar, American Eagle Outfitters); (18) A Clear Problem-Solving Statement (Zornitza Stefanova, BSPK); (19) Relevant Responses To Search Bar Queries (Jayashree Arunkumar, Wipro); (20) A Compelling Hook That Grabs Attention and Keep Visitors Engaged (Subasini Periyakaruppan, Biotechnology Innovation Organization). Read on...

Forbes: Smart Web Design Details That Drive Engagement And Sales
Author: NA