PRSA Announces More Keynote Speakers for ICON 2026
June-July 2026
Author and branding expert Sally Hogshead and three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning journalist and entrepreneur Gaby Natale have joined the keynote lineup for ICON 2026, PRSA’s premier annual conference for PR and communications professionals.
The two internationally recognized speakers will join Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum, previously announced as the first keynote speaker for the conference in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 18-20, helping round out a dynamic and forward-looking keynote lineup designed to inspire communicators navigating a rapidly evolving profession.
Sally Hogshead will take the stage on Oct. 19 with her keynote presentation, “The Fascination Factor: Authentically Communicate Who You Are at Your Best.”
A New York Times bestselling author and expert on the science of fascination, Hogshead is widely recognized for her work helping leaders and brands better understand how they are perceived and how to communicate with greater authenticity and influence. She has twice been named the world’s No. 1 Global Brand Guru and frequently appears on NBC’s “TODAY” show.
On Oct. 20, Gaby Natale will deliver her keynote presentation, “PIONEER: Embrace Your Uniqueness, Break Barriers and Redefine What is Possible.”
Natale is a three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, bestselling author and breast cancer survivor. She made history as the first Latina to win three Daytime Emmy Awards and is widely known for empowering audiences through conversations around resilience, reinvention and overcoming barriers to success.
Visit the PRSA website for more details on ICON 2026.
Texas State University Wins Top Honors in Bateman Case Study Competition
For the first time in more than two decades, one university dominated PRSSA’s Bateman Case Study Competition, a feat judges hadn’t seen in years.
Texas State University captured first place in the 2026 Bateman Case Study Competition — and made history in the process. It marked the first time since 2004 that one school (the University of South Carolina) advanced two teams to the final round.
Texas State University’s AdvCats team earned first place, Montclair State University placed second, and Texas State University’s StarCats team took third-place honors.
This year’s competition featured 46 entries representing 35 colleges and universities nationwide, making it one of the most competitive Bateman competitions in recent years.
The competition centered on ACCESS Newswire’s new educational program, which provides college professors complimentary access to the platform so students can gain hands-on experience with press release distribution, media pitching and coverage tracking across multiple channels.
Through hands-on demonstrations, immersive university events such as “Ready, Set, Launch,” digital engagement, and regional partnerships, participating teams connected students, professors, entrepreneurs, and university marketing and communications departments directly to the platform. The initiative aimed to build awareness, help students develop career-ready communications skills, and support faculty with applied-learning opportunities.
“What makes the Bateman Competition so impactful is that students are solving real-world communications challenges while developing strategic thinking, creativity and measurable execution skills,” said PRSA Board Chair Heide Harrell, MA, APR.
Founded in 1973, the Bateman Case Study Competition challenges PRSSA members to create and implement a comprehensive public relations campaign for an actual client. Over the years, it has become one of the organization’s most prestigious and rigorous student competitions.
