PR NEWS: Neotrope, a brand marketing, PR, and content development firm established 1983, has announced the launch of its 2017 annual Non-Profit PR Grants program for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charities. Launched in 2000, the PR Grant™ was designed to help raise awareness of selected charities to traditional media, to the public, as well as to potential “halo” sponsors and donors.

MARKET STUDY: What types of advertising media, such as radio, television, and online ads, rose or fell in popularity in 2017? What are the main demographics advertisers target? Which moods and inflections are most sought after for resonance and persuasive power? To answer these questions, Voices.com has released their look at the media and advertising trends that will dominate over the next year.

NEWS: ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, today announced the promotion of Kelly Kelleher to the role of director of corporate marketing and events.

TRADEMARK NEWS: Capacity LLC, trusted leader in order fulfillment, e-commerce, and electronic data interchange (EDI), has secured the intellectual property rights to its signature tagline, "fulfillment delivered.(R)" The company's trademark application was approved earlier this month, officially confirming what clients already know: Capacity is a modern order fulfillment partner in a sector that often clings to outdated practices.

TRADEMARK NEWS: ProValue(R) Parts, a North American e-Commerce Replacement and Performance Aftermarket Auto Parts Store. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted the company registered trademark status and protection for its name ProValue Parts.

NEWS: The largest voice-over marketplace in the world, Voices.com, has announced the launch of an industry roadshow, set to take place across the United States this upcoming Spring 2017. The event is LevelUp - a fast, 1-day information sharing event that will bring voice actors, coaches, and clients together like never before for a fast-paced day of workshops and networking.

NEWS: EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that the firm's Marketing, Communications and Design Team has received the 'Gold Award of Excellence and the 'Silver Award of Distinction' from the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program honoring communication professionals for creative excellence.

PRODUCT LAUNCH: RoweBots, a leading supplier of RTOS solutions for wearables and Internet of Things devices, announces WearableOS, a special variant of the Unison(TM) RTOS. WearableOS is focused on delivering the precise set of features that wearable OEM developers need. Wearables have unique requirements that are not found in many embedded devices and as a result most RTOS solutions don't deliver what is needed in terms of power management, wearable focused processor, peripheral and wireless circuits supported, and wireless architectural variants.

COLUMN: Do you congratulate an ad agency account team when they talk a client into a bad campaign? What if they can do it...