Meet the PR firms challenging the giants

Hi and welcome to Insider Advertising for May 24. I'm senior advertising reporter Lauren Johnson, and here's what's going on:

• Check out the PR firms challenging the giants.
• Meet David Zaslav.
• Marketing tech startup Key raises $3 million.

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Tips, comments, suggestions? Drop me a line at LJohnson@insider.com or on Twitter at @LaurenJohnson.

9 public relations companies are challenging the status quo and taking on giants like Edelman and BCW

• The biggest public relations agencies are facing new competition from established and upstart firms, Sean Czarnecki reported.
• They vary by model and service, and several are acquiring competitors to grow and add services.
• Insider identified nine to watch, based on factors like recent growth, acquisitions, and account wins.

Read the story.

David Zaslav is about to shake up Hollywood as the new Discovery-WarnerMedia chief. Insiders describe an aggressive deal-maker and demanding boss.

• David Zaslav, Discovery's CEO, will lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia.
• His reputation for speed gave Discovery an edge over Comcast as a merger partner, Claire Atkinson reported.
• Insiders say he's known for relationship building but also being demanding with staff.

Read the story.

A startup that wants to help creators harness fans' contact info has raised $3 million in seed funding

• Startup Key has raised $3 million with backing from adtech and marketing tech execs, I reported.
• The startup works with influencers to help them collect first-party data like email addresses.
• Google's and Apple's moves are pressuring creators to build direct relationships with fans.

Read the story.

Other stories we're reading:

• A court ruled that a Trump spokesperson must pay $42,000 to Gizmodo Media Group for wrongfully claiming the outlet defamed him (Insider)
• Amazon shuts down Prime Now app. (Insider)
• Media mogul Barry Diller ripped AT&T's WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, saying the company should be 'dead and buried by now' (Insider)
• Inside the Discovery-AT&T deal: Cute emails, a big loan and now, a media giant (New York Times)
• Axel Springer is in talks to buy Axios (The Information)
• These influencers say a popular marketing agency owes them thousands of dollars for unpaid brand deals (BuzzFeed News)

Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow! You can reach me in the meantime at LJohnson@insider.com and subscribe to this daily email here.