Falls Church, VA; August 14, 2024 — PublicRelay and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are proud to announce they have been named finalists for the inaugural Zenith Awards, presented by Ragan and its Communications Week brand. The awards recognize the ultimate campaigns in communications, PR, and marketing, along with the people and teams leading the charge.
The finalist recognition comes in honor of a joint initiative to tie communications output to business outcomes for PG&E. This program developed a customized PR analytics model linking media coverage quality directly to key business metrics — specifically, Customer Satisfaction Score (CSS) and Customer News Recall.
Elevating Communications as a Strategic Business Partner
PG&E set out to transform its communications function from a reactive support team to a proactive driver of business outcomes. Partnering with PublicRelay, the utility integrated media data, customer sentiment insights, and critical KPIs to:
- Demonstrate the direct correlation between high-quality media coverage and customer satisfaction.
- Optimize spokesperson strategy, elevating local leaders to drive stronger sentiment and CSS.
- Tailor messaging by region to maximize relevance and impact.
- Isolate the influence of communications from operational challenges, giving communicators a stronger seat at the decision-making table.
Delivering Measurable Business Value
Through a longitudinal research approach, PG&E and PublicRelay uncovered actionable insights that have reshaped PR strategy. The results included higher resonance for key messages, a shift toward regional spokesperson use during crises, and greater alignment between communications and company leadership.
“This recognition reflects the power of combining innovative analytics with strategic communications leadership,” said Azhar Unwala, SVP of Insights & Analytics at PublicRelay. “PG&E’s commitment to tying PR outputs to tangible business outcomes sets a standard for our industry.”
Winners of the Zenith Awards will be announced during Communications Week’s flagship event.
About PublicRelay
PublicRelay is the unmatched choice for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and non-profits seeking accurate, actionable insights into their communications efforts. Combining cutting-edge technology and AI with human analysis, PublicRelay delivers data and insights that show communications’ impact on business goals, predict risks, trends, and outcomes, and guide smart communications strategy. Known for exceptional partnerships with clients, PublicRelay delivers communications analytics and insights that leading communications executives need to compete in today’s complex marketplace.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States, serving more than 16 million people across Northern and Central California.
