Beyond the Noise - the PRWeek podcast

<p>PR’s pay gaps, and how to close them, are the focus of the latest episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>This week has seen the launch of the 2024 <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1888355/prweek-reveals-pay-gaps-report-2024-agencies-closer-pay-parity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pay Gaps Report</a> from PRWeek and People Like Us, which sees UK PR agencies reveal their own gender and ethnicity pay gaps alongside analysis of the big trends.</p><p>To discuss the findings are Sheeraz Gulsher, co-founder of People Like Us; Jo Carr, co-founder of PR agency Hope&Glory and president of Women in PR; and Paul Joseph, partner at PR agency Full Fat.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests disect the big themes from the Pay Gaps Report and talk about progress in pay parity across the industry more generally.</p><p>They discuss their disappointment at the continued lack of participation from the UK’s biggest agencies.</p><p>Carr and Joseph speak about steps taken at their agencies to close pay gaps.</p><p>The guests put the findings in the context of the comms market more generally and discuss whether Labour’s plans for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for larger firms may change the project in the future.</p><p>Finally, the trio each give their top tip for closing PR’s pay gaps.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Heather Blundell talks about her first year as Grayling’s UK chief executive in the latest PRWeek podcast.</p><p>Heather Blundell, who has over 15 years of experience working for global agencies including Edelman, Weber Shandwick and Ketchum, and who joined Grayling in October last year - speaks to PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt in the latest episode of Beyond the Noise.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>In the episode, Blundell discusses her first year at the agency and her experiences during the first 12 months. </p><p>She speaks about the challenges, including what changes she has made at the agency ranging from launching a media relations unit called Grayling Media to a new 'integrated' healthcare division.</p><p>Blundell gives an update on what specialisms are faring the strongest for the agency and where Grayling UK has seen strong growth this year. </p><p>New business is also examined, and the UK chief executive discusses agency/ client relationships and offers advice on how to avoid ghosting and poor pitching.</p><p>In addition, Blundell gives her take on the current recruitment market in PR, and explains why she believes its important for agencies to take part in the annual Pay Gap Report. </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What’s the secret to launching a comms agency in this era? PRWeek UK’s latest podcast takes a close look.</p><p>This week's Beyond the Noise episode features founders of two new agencies: Aimee Jacobs of <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1813552/ready10-launches-live-events-arm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Klaxonn</a>, the live experiences comms specialist, and James Hayward-Browne, one of three former Rise At Seven execs who launched digital PR firm <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1799458/ex-rise-seven-trio-launch-digital-pr-agency" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bottled Imagination</a>.</p><p>Both agencies are nominated for New Consultancy of the Year at the upcoming <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1881893/prweek-uk-awards-2024-%E2%80%93-shortlist-revealed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PRWeek UK Awards</a>.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, Jacobs and Hayward-Browne discuss the origins of their agencies and identify the biggest challenges in the early days, looking at key issues including recruitment, culture and the office.</p><p>They talk about the best techniques to market their agency. The importance of networking, growth targets and plans for the future are also discussed, alongside agency websites and branding (and the importance, or otherwise, of agency ‘merch’).</p><p>The duo also offer their top tips for aspiring agency founders.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Our guests this week are Samantha Ndebele, healthcare senior account manager at Burson, and Lucy Somers, deputy group director of digital at PLMR and director of PLMR Genesis Digital.</p><br><p>Ndebele entered the industry after gaining an MA in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Kingston University, while Somers undertook at apprenticeship at PLMR.</p><br><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. </p><br><p>A recent episode looked at the <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1883419/pr-undergrad-courses-over-radical-thinking-needed-%E2%80%93-prweek-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">future of academic courses in PR</a>, with news that just one BA PR course currently operates – two decades ago there were 20. This week we look at things from the perspective of two high-flying comms professionals who entered PR relatively recently.</p><br><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and senior reporter Evie Barrett, Ndebele and Somers discuss their different paths in to the industry, looking at the advantages of taking an academic route and of apprenticeships.</p><br><p>They also talk about elements of their roles that can only be learned ‘on the job’, and Ndebele recounts her experience of being on a PR internship.</p><br><p>The duo predict what we may start seeing in PR courses in the years ahead.</p><br><p>Last but not least, they offer advice for any budding comms professional thinking about taking their first steps into the sector.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Tom Stroud, a communications consultant and contestant on hit Netflix dating show Love is Blind UK, is the special guest on this week’s PRWeek Beyond the Noise podcast episode.</p><br><p>Tom Stroud discusses his background in PR and communications, as well as his experiences on the reality series Love is Blind UK, which has been in the top 10 most-viewed shows on Netflix since the season launched on 7 August. </p><br><p>Love is Blind is a Netflix reality dating TV show featuring contestants who are looking for love based on personality rather than physical appearance.</p><br><p>Stroud talks about what influenced him to take part in Love is Blind UK, what PR skills he used to maximise the opportunity, and chats about what PR skills have come in useful in the aftermath of appearing in the show.</p><br><p>Stroud received backlash for his differing views with his partner Maria on whether men should pay for most things in a relationship, or if it should be more of a 50/50 split. Speaking on the podcast, he addresses the backlash and explained how his social media strategy has helped him respond to the criticism. </p><br><p>Other topics discussed include reality TV stars becoming influencers and the biggest comms lessons Stroud has taken away from the experience. </p><p>Joining Stroud on this episode are PRWeek UK new editor Siobhan Holt and senior reporter Evie Barrett.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The right for PR practitioners to ‘switch off’ from work emails and phone calls out of contracted hours is just one of the topics discussed on the latest PRWeek UK podcast.</p><p>This week’s Beyond the Noise podcast is hosted by PRWeek’s editor-in-chief, Danny Rogers, and features news editor Siobhan Holt and senior reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>Potential new government guidance is pledging to give employees the right to ‘switch off’ from work outside of contracted working hours. The PRWeek journalists assess whether this guidance could work for the PR and communications industry. </p><p>Separately, the trio chat about the BBC talent show <em>Strictly Come Dancing</em>,<em> </em>which is set to return to television screens soon. We ask how the BBC can restore the show’s reputation following the recent allegations and string of negative stories; and hear from PR professionals who specialise in crisis and discuss the wider comms lessons. </p><p>In addition, the journalists question whether the portrayal of comms and PR on television is helping or hindering the PR industry.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Jordan Schwarzenberger, manager of the content-creator phenomenon Sidemen, is the special guest on this week’s episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Jordan Schwarzenberger discusses his background with the YouTube collective Sidemen, who have amassed 6.4bn views from almost 400 YouTube videos in a startling career spanning more than a decade.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. </p><p>Schwarzenberger talks about influencer-brand collaborations and offers some dos and don’ts for brands, including the importance of creative freedom and having one key message for creators. He looks at how Sidemen work with influencers for their branded ventures, which include fast-food chain Sides, Best Cereal, and XIX Vodka.</p><p>Earlier this year the Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint that the use of XIX in a Sidemen video wasn’t identifiable as marketing communications.</p><p>Schwarzenberger slammed the ruling – and others, including one this week <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1885025/steven-bartlett-hit-twice-asa-ad-bans-huel-zoe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">against Steven Bartlett</a> – as “insane”, saying they set “super-dangerous” precedents.</p><p>Elsewhere, the guest talks about how he and the group responded to the crisis last year brought about by group member KSI using a racial slur on a Sidemen video, and other members of the collective laughing. Schwarzenberger stresses the importance of being authentic when apologising.</p><p>Other topics discussed include the value of AI-enhanced influencers; Sideplus, Sidemen’s paid-for subscription service; and which social platforms are the most important to them. Schwarzenberger, who manages Sidemen via his Arcade Media venture, also gives the lowdown on his decision to <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1884989/grayling-taps-sidemen-lorraine-figures-new-service" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">join PR agency Grayling on a new advisory board</a>.</p><p>Joining Schwarzenberger on this episode are PRWeek’s John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (senior reporter).</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The implications of the recent far-right riots in parts of the UK are discussed from a comms industry perspective in the latest episode of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Our guests in this special edition are agency chief executives Farzana Baduel of Curzon PR and Shayoni Lynn of Lynn, who are also two of the founders of the new Asian Communications Network.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, Baduel and Lynn discuss their personal experiences of how the riots have affected them and others in the sector.</p><p>They offer advice to industry leaders who are unsure about how to react regarding their own staff.</p><p>The agency founders analyse how disinformation has fuelled the disorder and examine the communications of individuals and organisations that have been countering it.</p><p>And given the role of X (formerly Twitter) in the crisis, and the statements from owner Elon Musk, we ask: is it time for PR to ditch the social media platform?</p><p>The duo also look at why relatively few brands and corporations have spoken out about the crisis.</p><p>Elsewhere, the impact of the riots on 'brand Britain' is scrutinised, as is the responsibility of some media in encouraging racism and hatred.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Our guest this week is Richard Bailey, who just stepped down as senior lecturer in PR at Leeds Beckett University, where he first started teaching in 2003.</p><p>Bailey is also co-author of a <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1882899/one-pure-pr-undergrad-degree-offered-uk-report-finds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new report by the PR Academy</a> that paints a bleak picture of undergrad PR courses. There is now one solitary university offering a single honours bachelor of arts degree in PR - two decades ago, there were 20.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and news editor Siobhan Holt, Bailey examines at how the BA syllabuses have changed over the years and offers some explanations as to why the number of PR undergraduate courses has dwindled.</p><p>These includes issues around fees, alternative ways to get into the sector, and wider concerns around a lack of understanding about the industry.</p><p>Bailey looks at how PR employers view BA PR degrees and discusses the continued strength of MA courses, and of journalism degrees in the UK. He also discusses how the types of people taking the courses has changed.</p><p>Bailey ends by offering predictions of what might be to come.</p><p>PRWeek will be looking at PR academic courses from the point of view of younger practitioners in a future episode of Beyond the Noise.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The experiences of black PR professionals in the industry is the focus of latest podcast from PRWeek UK, which follows recent research on the topic.</p><p>Our guest on Beyond the Noise this week is Kamiqua Lake, founder of The Black Comms Network, which partnered with PRWeek on the new report called <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1882388/two-three-black-pr-pros-consider-leaving-industry-new-research-finds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">One Step Forward Two Steps Black</a>.</p><p>The report, based on a survey of 170 professionals and conducted by Opinium, examines the lived experience of black and mixed race communications practitioners in the UK.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Lake is joined this week by PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and reporter Eliza Wiredu.</p><p>The trio discuss some of the major findings of the report, including the statistic that two thirds of black comms professionals have considered leaving the PR industry.</p><p>A lack of transparency around pay and progression opportunities is discussed, alongside the question of whether a lack of representation in leadership teams is a barrier.</p><p>The different types of microaggressions experienced by black and mixed race comms professionals are put under the spotlight.</p><p>Lake also offers her view on the kind of qualities possessed by progressive and inclusive employers and gives advice.</p><p>Meanwhile, agencies can still enter their data for the Pay Gaps Project from PRWeek and People Like Us. <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1879318/prs-ethnic-gender-pay-gaps-provide-figures-major-prweek-project" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here for more details.</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>This week's Beyond the Noise podcast is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington and senior reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>Last Friday's global IT outage that impacted Microsoft Windows devices, linked to an update by cyber security firm CrowdStrike, caused chaos for companies and other organisations across the world.</p><p>The PRWeek journalists assess CrowdStrike's communications response. We hear from some PR professionals at the forefront of the crisis and discuss the wider crisis comms lessons.</p><p>Separately, the trio discuss the possible implications of last week's news that Havas has seen its B Corp status revoked following a complaint by Clean Creatives related to the firm winning Shell’s global B2B media account last year.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>We're talking sport in the latest episode of PRWeek UK's Beyond the Noise podcast, with comms around the Euros, Wimbledon and the Olympics under the microscope. </p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week's edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt, with guests John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (senior reporter).</p><p>With Tuesday's news that Gareth Southgate is standing down as manager of the men's England football team, the trio look at the comms skills of the man who was named <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1735131/uk-communicators-year-2021-winner-revealed-prweek" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PRWeek UK Communicator of the Year in 2021</a>.</p><p>The team examine how brands have approached communications around the Euros, especially the slew of newsjacking that took place before, during and after the month-long tournament. The FA's comms, including the use of video and approach to journalists, are also discussed.</p><p>With the Wimbledon Tennis Championship also concluding on Sunday, the PRWeek team look at the communications of one of the sport's biggest names: Novak Djokovic.</p><p>Wimbledon brand campaigns are scrutinised, and the team look at how the challenges and opportunities for creative comms differ for the upcoming Olympics in Paris. In particular, they ask why purpose campaigning seems to be a better fit for the Olympics than other major sporting events.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>With the integration of the two WPP agencies now complete, Whitehead joins PRWeek UK editor John Harrington in the latest episode of Beyond the Noise.</p><p>Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week, Whitehead discusses the background to the merger - which has created the global agency behemoth Burson - and how the move was communicated internally.</p><p>He speaks about the challenges of bringing together two huge agencies, including the impact on the workforce, logistical and cultural issues, and how clients have reacted.</p><p>Whitehead discusses his priorities for the future and gives an update on Burson's AI capabilities and offers.</p><p>Current trading trends and lessons from Cannes Lions are also examined, and the UK CEO discusses why the launch happened a couple of weeks earlier than initially announced.</p><p>In addition, Whitehead, whose first role in comms was working for the Conservative Party in the 1990s, gives his take on the UK general election campaigns - and what the Starmer government could mean for the PR industry.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>A special edition of PRWeek UK's Beyond the Noise podcast looks at the general election and what it means for the communications industry.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week's episode, recorded on Friday shortly after Keir Starmer was confirmed as the UK next Prime Minister, features PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers, UK editor John Harrington and senior reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>The trio analyse the election campaigns and discuss which parties and individuals got their strategies right and which faltered.</p><p>They also look ahead to what a Labour government might mean for the comms industry.</p><p><a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1879733/ripe-opportunities-%E2%80%93-will-labour-victory-shake-comms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read about what PR professionals think will happen under the Starmer administration.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>A special edition of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast, recorded live at the Crisis Communications Summit last week, looks at how Premiership Rugby has been overcoming its recent crises.</p><p>The session features Jonny Fordham, head of communications at Premiership Rugby, speaking to Lee Cain, the founder of Charlesbye and a former comms director at Downing Street.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>Fordham discussed how he and his colleagues coped with recent crises at the league, not least the administration of three clubs last year, alongside reports of racism in rugby, and some players leaving for a rival league in France.</p><p>The head of comms spoke about how Premiership Rugby "flipped the narrative" to "talk about the rebuild" of the league.</p><p>The importance of speaking with your critics and of countering misinformation were emphasised. And Fordham offered advice to anyone facing similar crises.</p><p>He added: "The more open and honest you were the better our coverage started to become."</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The latest episode of the Beyond the Noise podcast looks at some of the lessons from PRWeek's Crisis Communications Conference.</p><p>Recorded on Thursday immediately after the conference in London, this week's edition features UK editor John Harrington, news editor Siobhan Holt and senior reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>The trio discuss how social media fuels so many crisis communications incidents these days, and debate whether it's right for organisations to even come off X (formerly Twitter) entirely.</p><p>They talk about how communications professionals should approach journalists who seem to be 'amplifying trolls' by basing stories on a few negative comments on social channels.</p><p>The journalists look at how AI is being used in crisis comms plans, and the importance of having good relationships with the media in the age of AI-generated mis/disinformation.</p><p>The need to look after comms staff when a crisis hits, including ensuring the team is well resourced, is also discussed. So to is the question of how to respond after a crisis subsides.</p><p>And we ask: why are so many crisis comms experts former journalists?</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>This PRWeek podcast, in partnership with Real Chemistry, takes a special look at healthcare and pharmaceutical communications, and the evolving role of AI tools in patient engagement and advocacy.</p><br><p><em>This episode is in association with Real Chemistry</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Why did Burson launch earlier than expected? That’s the focus of PRWeek’s latest Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington alongside reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>The team speak live to PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers, currently attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on the French Riviera, to find out more about this year’s Festival, the Cannes Lions PR winners, and what presentations have stood out to him this year.</p><p>The bombshell news that Burson – the agency created from the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton, which is due to be formally completed on 1 July – has launched ahead of schedule is also analysed, alongside other elements such as its corporate comms approach and what it means for the industry.</p><p>And the journalists take a closer look at this year’s 30 Under 30 cohort to find out what key issues are important to PR’s future leaders and discuss what the pros would change about the industry.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>PRWeek's latest podcast hears from two jurors on the Cannes Lions PR category about what to expect from the 2024 International Festival of Creativity.</p><p>Our guests on this week's Beyond the Noise are Kat Thomas, founder and chief creative officer at One Green Bean and this year’s PR Lions jury president; and Fenella Grey, another juror and former EMEA MD and chair, now senior advisor, at Porter Novelli.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>As the industry prepares to make its annual jaunt to the French Riviera, PRWeek journalists Siobhan Holt and John Harrington quiz our guests on some of the big talking points at Cannes in 2024.</p><p>They examine whether 'purpose' work will be prevalent this year after a dip in the number of purpose-led campaigns in 2023, and discuss how the genre is evolving.</p><p>The duo give their take on the likely success - or otherwise - of PR agencies in the PR Lions category. They also talk about the new and revised Cannes categories for 2024.</p><p>And they answer the question: will AI-led campaigns be a big hit this year?</p><p>Thomas and Grey also offer insights into the Cannes Lions judging process - including the number of entries jurors have to sift through.</p><p>Cannes Lions takes place from 17 to 21 June. Stay tuned to PRWeek for all the news and insights from the festival.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What are the big lessons for the comms industry from the 2024 general election campaign so far? That's the focus of PRWeek's latest Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington alongside reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>The team look at the wider lessons for the industry from a campaign that in recent days has been dominated by the debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, and in particular the Conservative leader's disputed claim that Labour will add £2,000 to household bills.</p><p>The bombshell news that Nigel Farage has taken over as leader of Reform UK and is contesting a seat is also analysed, alongside other elements of the campaigns, including the use of TikTok and other social channels.</p><p>And the quartet ask: can election 'stunts' - like those used by the Liberal Democrats and their leader Sir Ed Davey - ever really work?</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Salaries and bonuses are the focus of the latest episode of PRWeek UK’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Sarah Leembruggen, managing director of recruitment consultancy The Works Search, speaks to PRWeek EMEA editor-in-chief Danny Rogers and PRWeek UK’s news editor, Siobhan Holt, about the communications jobs market. </p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this podcast, Leembruggen shares her advice on hiring, pay and bonuses, redundancy, staff benefits and how to retain staff members. </p><p>This week’s podcast coincides with the release of The Works Search’s annual Salary Guide, which polled more than 400 corporate comms professionals to find out the latest job market trends. </p><p>Further details from this report will be published online, visit <a href="http://prweek.com/uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">prweek.com/uk</a> to read more.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Tesco’s 10-year reputational turnaround is the focus of the latest PRWeek podcast, which was recorded live at the PR360 conference.</p><p>This special edition of Beyond the Noise features Tesco group comms director Christine Heffernan speaking to Danny Rogers, EMEA editor-in-chief of PRWeek, in a session at the PR360 conference in Brighton earlier this month.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this podcast, Heffernan discusses how reputation was “front and centre” of the turnaround programme at the supermarket giant in the aftermath of the accounting scandal in 2014.</p><p>The role of internal communications was central to the turnaround. Heffernan talks about the listening programme Tesco undertook with its 300,000-strong employee base; how the group tracks staff sentiment; and how it communicates internally via its ‘news and views’ internal comms platform.</p><p>Heffernan provides details of Tesco’s new values and how these manifest themselves in practice, including Stronger Starts, its £5m grants programme for community initiatives in partnership with Groundwork UK.</p><p>She also gives her views of purpose marketing and how purpose is now “business as usual” for Tesco.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The power – or otherwise – of brand boycotts is just one of the topics examined in PRWeek’s latest Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington alongside reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>In the podcast, the team discuss the conclusions of the inquiry into the NHS infected blood scandal and the resulting <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1873745/nhs-hurt-infected-blood-scandal-prs-warn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reputational impact</a> on public trust.</p><p>After Barclays’ involvement in The Great Escape Festival led to more than 160 acts pulling out of the Brighton music event, the trio ask whether brand boycotts work and how comms professionals can handle an abstention.</p><p>Elsewhere, the trio chat about the recruitment sector and explore the <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1873041/recruitment-agencies-getting-harder-its-complicated" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenges in the PR and comms job market</a>.</p><p>This podcast is being updated with a new version of the recording.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In a Beyond the Noise special, Danny Rogers, PRWeek's editor in chief, EMEA, and Steve Barrett, editorial director for PRWeek US, discuss the comms industry figures and trends from the current UK Top 150 Consultancies and Global Agency Business Reports.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Rogers and Barrett analyse what was a tough 12 months in PR consultancy; the comparative performance of agency giants such as Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Brunswick and Teneo; and the shift in power from employee to employer that we have seen post-pandemic.</p><p>PRWeek's experts also muse over the impact AI is having on consultancies and clients and their effects on PR fees, on the 'end of peak purpose' and whether sustainability messages vary on both sides of the Atlantic.</p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this week’s episode, news editor Siobhan Holt is joined by UK editor-in-chief Danny Rogers and reporter Evie Barrett to discuss PR360, PRWeek UK’s annual conference held at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton.</p><p>In the podcast, the journalists pick out highlights from the two-day event, such as Amarilis Whitty, senior communications and PR director at Mattel, who discussed the <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1871973/the-barbie-brand-halo-effect-%E2%80%93-mattel-comms-boss-barbies-pr-strategy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Barbie film campaign</a>. </p><p>Other standout speakers include Celia Richardson, director of comms and marketing at the National Trust, who commented on ‘culture wars’, and Tesco’s group communications director, Christine Heffernan, on how she approaches internal comms for one of the largest private sector employers in the UK. </p><p>The conversation with Heffernan will also be available in a separate podcast available later this week, so stay tuned! </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Does PR have a class problem? That’s just one of the topics examined in PRWeek’s latest Noise in Brief podcast. Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt alongside reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>The team discuss the newly launched <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1870719/ready10-launches-working-class-pr-agency" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">‘working class’ PR agency</a> and overall class diversity in the industry. </p><p>Elsewhere, the journalists chat about a <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1870758/why-boycotting-oil-gas-bad-pr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">comment piece by Liam Thompson</a> from the Rosely Group who argued that "Boycotting oil and gas is bad PR". The trio debate if boycotting is the right response and what this could mean for comms. </p><p>The journalists also analyse <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1871377/co-op-live-arena-opening-%E2%80%93-communications-calamity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Co-op Live’s communications crisis</a> and chat about the reputational impact it could have on the brands and businesses involved. </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The editorial team discusses the PRWeek UK Top 150 PR Consultancies Report in the latest episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this week’s episode, UK editor John Harrington is joined by news editor Siobhan Holt and reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu to discuss PRWeek UK’s Top 150 PR Consultancies Report, the long-running definitive report on the industry. </p><p>In the podcast, the journalists explain how the survey and project is conducted, and give insights into this year’s Top 150 table. </p><p>Each member of the team also offers detailed analysis on different trends identified from the Top 150 data, ranging from client demands and pitching to mergers and acquisitions.</p><p>To access PRWeek UK’s Top 150 Consultancies 2024 in full – <a href="https://www.prweek.com/uk/top150" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt alongside UK editor John Harrington and reporter Eliza Wiredu.</p><p>In this week’s episode, the team discuss the publicity around the launch of Taylor Swift’s latest album and asks if the American singer-songwriter is a PR genius. </p><p>Elsewhere, the journalists chat about the recent acceleration in mergers and acquisitions following <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1867807/burson-adds-buchanan-gain-financial-comms-firepower" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buchanan’s announcement </a>to become part of its sister agency, <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1858826/wpp-merges-bcw-hill-knowlton-create-burson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Burson</a>, when the agency giant launches in July; plus <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1868780/unity-merges-greentarget" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Unity’s merger into Greentarget</a>. The trio analyse what this could mean for comms and marketing businesses.</p><p>Separately, the team question what minority investments could mean for the industry following the news that a US firm is investing in London agency, <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1869375/next-practices-group-invests-london-agency-targets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Williams Nicholson</a>.</p><p>The journalists also pick their favourite winners from the <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1868120/prweek-uk-corporate-affairs-awards-2024-winners-announced" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PRWeek UK Corporate Affairs Awards</a>.  </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>PR consultant Mark Borkovski discusses culture wars in the latest episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Joining the podcast this week is PR consultant, author and popular public speaker Mark Borkowski.</p><p>A regular in PRWeek’s Power Book, he is the founder of his eponymous PR agency Borkowski, which has successfully delivered publicity, communications and crisis management campaigns for over 30 years.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and news editor Siobhan Holt, Borkowski discusses how to navigate ‘culture wars’.</p><p>There has been a spate of high-profile incidents by brands recently, from Bud Light’s missteps in handling the aftermath of its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney last year to Nike’s England men’s football kit featuring what the brand described as a ‘playful’ version of the St George’s Cross on the collar.</p><p>In this episode, Borkowski talks about the challenges associated with ‘culture wars’ and considers the recent examples in the news. He reflects on how the changing media landscape is affecting the situation.</p><p>We also hear his insight on avoiding controversy and backlash.</p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Is trading on the up? That’s just one of the topics examined in PRWeek’s latest Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington and reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>In the podcast, the team discuss the most recent PRWeek UK <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1867439/agencies-rebound-march-%E2%80%93-prweek-trading-tracker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Top 150 Monthly Trading Tracker</a>, which surveys <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1867471/an-action-packed-month-%E2%80%93-agency-bosses-prweek-top-150-monthly-trading-tracker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK PR agencies</a> on trading in the past month. </p><p>Elsewhere, the trio chat about the recent news that <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1868088/pr-fightback-labours-criticism-comms-spending" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scottish Labour has criticised the Scottish Government</a> for its comms bill for health and social care, and explore how the PR and comms industry can justify its value to the general public. </p><p>And the journalist also discuss Brazen PR’s <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1866380/one-five-london-pr-pros-nepo-workers-research-finds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">‘Mind the Gap’ report</a>, which asks if it’s time for brand marketers to burst the London PR bubble.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>AI experts from Hill & Knowlton and MSL reveal what their agencies have been doing to keep on top of AI in the latest episode of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Joining the podcast this week are Allison Spray, global head of intel and tech innovation at Hill & Knowlton; and Natasha Torres-Coote, account manager at MSL and one of the driving forces behind the agency’s AI strategy.</p><p>Spray, a leading AI expert at H&K and parent company WPP, <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1823062/ai-wont-job-human-knows-use-will-%E2%80%93-pr-ai-prweek-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">appeared on Beyond the Noise almost one year ago</a> to talk about trends in AI at that point. On this week's episode, she and Torres-Coote discuss what has been done in the intervening months and how AI is being adopted at the agencies.</p><p>The role of the technology in countering mis- and disinformation for clients, and its use in creative campaigns and PR measurement, are among the topics discussed.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, Spray and Torres-Coote reveal the most common questions from employees on AI, what kind of training is being provided, and whether staff are really concerned about their jobs.</p><p>We also hear what clients are saying about AI.</p><p>Finally, the duo give their view of what may lie ahead for the technology and how it may affect comms.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What explains the recent exodus of agency bosses? That's one topic examined in PRWeek's latest Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington and reporter Evie Barrett.</p><p>Recent weeks have brought news of a number of senior agency figures announce their departures, <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1865838/why-so-agency-bosses-departing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a trend examined in a recent PRWeek article</a>.</p><p>The PRWeek team discuss why it may happening now, looking at issues such as the challenging trading conditions, burnout and the desire to try something new.</p><p>Elsewhere, the recent <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1866366/nike-england-shirt-row-dangers-culture-war-baiting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">controversy around Nike's new England shirt</a> featuring a differently-coloured cross of St George is explored in the context of brands operating in the 'culture war' era.</p><p>And the trio pick out some of their highlights from last week's PRWeek PharmaComms conference.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Big themes and lessons from the 2024 PRWeek UK Power Book are examined in the latest episode of the Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>The Power Book, which lists the most influential people working in UK communications today, went live earlier this month. <a href="https://www.prweek.com/pwrbookhome" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here to access the coverage</a>, including the 'top 10s' of PR professionals in different sectors.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week's episode features PRWeek's Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Siobhan Holt (news editor).</p><p>The trio discuss the background to the Power Book and how it has evolved since the first iteration back in 2007.</p><p>They offer views on the individuals and organisations judged by Power Book members to be the best and worst comms performers over the past 12 months. PR leaders' favourite creative campaigns from 2023 are also discussed and we examine how prepared they feel for the AI era.</p><p>Finally, the journalists discuss the selection process behind the Power Book and what it takes to be included each year.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The royal photo sage, agency acquisitions and 'floating it down the Thames' - these topics are put under the microscope in the latest edition of PRWeek's Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and features reporters Eliza Wiredu and Evie Barrett.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1864660/an-unprecedented-crisis-%E2%80%93-pr-media-pros-manipulated-royal-photo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">saga over the Princess of Wales' doctored Mother's Day photograph</a>, and the subsequent statement from Kate following the backlash, continues to make headlines. As conspiracy theories and the rumour mill go into over-drive, the trio scrutinise how the crisis has been handled from a comms perspective and look at the wider lessons for the PR industry.</p><p>With <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1863720/mhp-group-buys-creative-agency-reveals-2023-revenue" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MHP Group's intriguing acquisition of creative agency Studio La Plage</a> last week, PRWeek journalists ask why this kind of investment is proving popular for PR agencies.</p><p>They also ask why the often-maligned <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1863824/why-floating-things-down-thames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">'float it down the Thames' PR stunt</a> continues to be a campaign of choice for some brands and agencies, and debate the rights and wrongs of the trope in the AI age.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What does new PRCA guidance on client-agency relationships say, and will it make a difference? The latest episode of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast takes a look.</p><p>Our guest this week is James Crawford, MD at PR Agency One and a PRCA fellow who was among the people behind the trade body's updated Client Consultancy Partnership Charter. He is joined by PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and news editor Siobhan Holt.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>The Charter, <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1863441/ai-idea-theft-payment-terms-prca-reveals-client-consultancy-charter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">released last week</a>, includes among other things a new section on AI, more on transparency and diversity, and a commitment aimed at curbing ‘idea theft’ by clients. Other parts are intended to tackle client 'ghosting' and the use of advertising value equivalents (AVEs) in PR measurement.</p><p>Crawford discusses the background to the Charter, including some of the big trends in recent years that the updated document seeks to address, and talks about how it is intended to be used.</p><p>He highlights some of the main changes in the updated version that clients and agencies alike should know about.</p><p>Crawford also addresses why the Charter does not tackle payment terms and responds to some criticism that parts of the language used is non-committal.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What do the recent agency and holding company results tell us about the state of the PR market? And what's happening with recruitment? PRWeek takes a look in the latest Noise in Brief podcast. </p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK editor John Harrington features reporters Eliza Wiredu and Evie Barrett.</p><p>Recent weeks have seen most of the big listed holding companies - including WPP, FTI Consulting, Omnicom, IPG and Publicis - announce results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and the full year. Edelman also revealed its FY numbers last week. <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1862578/edelman-wpp-fti-omnicom-ipg-publicis-%E2%80%93-q4-fy-results-round-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read PRWeek's round-up here.</a></p><p>The PRWeek trio pick out the biggest trends from the figures and look at how trading has changed so far in 2024.</p><p>The state of the PR recruitment market is also put under the microscope following the publication of PRWeek's Recruitment Report last week.</p><p>Among other things, the Report found the <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1861750/prweek-2024-recruitment-report-rocky-year-new-jobs-advertised-dropped-almost-one-third" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">number of new PR jobs advertised dropped by around one third</a> last year. It also looked at <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1861901/prweek-2024-recruitment-report-account-managers-demand-c-suite-roles-gained-biggest-salary-increase" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which job titles have been most in-demand</a> - and which saw the biggest pay rises.</p><p>Meanwhile, the journalists also look at recent trends in brand collaborations, and ask: what makes a good brand partnership?</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What do clients really want, and don't want, from agencies? That's the focus of the latest PRWeek podcast, featuring Andrew Roache, external affairs lead for the UK and Ireland at Mondelēz International.</p><p>Roache, who has worked at Mondelēz International since 2022, discusses his role and how the Cadbury and Oreo owner works with different agencies.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>Roache has seen both sides of the client/agency relationship. Prior to joining Mondelēz International, he worked at drinks giant Carlsberg and listed pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers. Roache's agency-side experience includes stints at Red Consultancy and McCann.</p><p>Speaking to PRWeek news editor Siobhan Holt and UK editor John Harrington, Roache offers some dos and don'ts of client pitching and discusses the role of procurement. He also gives advice on how to get on pitch lists in the first place.</p><p>Roache speaks about the skills that he values the most from agency execs and addresses the importance of AI capabilities and regional expertise. The role of agencies in lobbying activity is also discussed.</p><p>Elsewhere, the comms professional offers a glimpse behind the activities currently underway celebrating Cadbury's 200th anniversary.</p><p><a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1861069/creativity-backed-up-%E2%80%93-clients-want-agencies-mondelez" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here to read PRWeek's interview with Roache from earlier this month.</a></p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features reporter Evie Barrett and PRWeek UK editor John Harrington.</p><p>The trio discuss the major talking points behind recent industry hires, departures and promotions.</p><p>They analyse promotions and departures at Burson (the new agency being formed from the merger of Hill & Knowlton and BCW) and Brunswick; and discuss whether law firm-owned agency Schillings Communications poses a real threat to big advisory firms.</p><p>There’s also a look at the Super Bowl 2024 campaigns, and the team asks if purpose marketing has entered a new era.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What's happening to margins at PR agencies? And how can agencies be more profitable? PRWeek's latest podcast takes a look.</p><p>Our guest on Beyond the Noise this week is Esther Carder, media specialist partner at accountancy and business advisory firm Moore Kingston Smith.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>Late last year <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1850735/pr-agency-margins-dip-inflation-slashes-real-income-growth%20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moore Kingston Smith published its Annual Survey</a> that analyised Companies House data on 40 of the UK's biggest comms agencies. The research found that the UK's high inflation rate has severely dented 'real terms' fee income growth at major PR agencies, while profit margins have also dipped.</p><p>Speaking to podcast host Frankie Oliver, the founder of New Society, and PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, Carder discusses the findings in more detail.</p><p>She looks at some of the biggest trends in recent months given the changing rates of inflation and subsequent cost pressures.</p><p>Carder offers advice to agencies about how to mitigate rising costs and become more profitable businesses. She stresses the need for "bravery", urging agency to "hold firm" on fee increases.</p><p>Carder also offers predictions for the rest of 2024 and beyond.</p><p>We also ask whether, given the recent squeeze on margins, PR firms are still attractive investment opportunities.</p><h3><strong>Departure</strong></h3><p>This will be Frankie Oliver's final appearance as host on Beyond the Noise. She is stepping down after 40-plus episodes and more than a year and a half.</p><p>She explained: "I’ve so enjoyed hosting the PRWeek podcast for the last 18 months with John [Harrington, UK editor] and Danny [Rogers, editor-in-chief] and I hope our listeners have enjoyed it too. It’s been such a great experience and I’m really grateful to all the wonderful guests that have come on the show.</p><p>"The time has come however for me to hand over the gauntlet as I shift New Society, the consultancy I set up to tackle the climate communications problem, into being a not-for-profit. We are winning really exciting philanthropic funding and I am therefore fully focusing all my time on delivering the critical campaigns we so urgently need in the world to drive rapid action on the climate crisis. I wish PRWeek the very best with the podcast and have no doubt the show will go from strength to strength."</p><p>Harrington said: "Frankie has been a great host of Beyond the Noise since it launched back in May 2022, helping to steer its direction during another tumultuous period for the PR industry.</p><p>"I'd like to offer a big thanks to Frankie for all her work. We wish her all the best with New Society and whatever else the future holds."</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What really lies behind WPP's decision to merge BCW and Hill & Knowlton? And will it succeed? The PRWeek team put the deal under the microscope in a special edition of the Noise in Brief podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>This episode focuses on the bombshell news last week that <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1858826/wpp-merges-bcw-hill-knowlton-create-burson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BCW and Hill & Knowlton are joining forces to form a new agency called Burson</a>. It will create what is believed to be the world's biggest PR agency.</p><p>PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers, UK editor John Harrington and reporter Evie Barrett discuss the background to the move and the advantages, and challenges, of such a colossal merger.</p><p>They talk about the financial challenges at WPP at the moment and how the group's recent performance, in its PR business and elsewhere, may have triggered the action.</p><p>The trio also weigh up the pros and cons of choosing the Burson name and discuss what the move tells us more widely about the global PR market in 2024.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Arlo Brady, chief executive of Freuds, discusses Davos, trading predictions and more on PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this episode, Freuds chief executive Arlo Brady reflects on the biggest lessons from The World Economic Forum in Davos, which took place last week.</p><p>Topics include ESG and ‘woke-washing’, AI, the reputation of ‘UK PLC’, and progress with Sustainable Development Goals.</p><p>Brady, who has worked at Freuds for about 17 years, also discusses recent trends in trading at the famous agency and offers predictions for the year ahead.</p><p>Brady is joined by regular host Frankie Oliver, the founder of New Society, and John Harrington, editor of PRWeek UK.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>From client pitching to the Post Office, PRWeek's latest Noise in Brief podcast looks at major stories affecting the sector over the past week or so.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week's edition features PRWeek UK editor John Harrington alongside reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>The trio discuss the major talking points behind the Post Office/Horizon scandal, looking at the communications responses and the wider implications for reputation and crisis management.</p><p>The findings of Edelman's latest Trust Barometer - which found growing unease and mistrust among many people around innovation - are debated. There's also a look at the backlash to the project from the campaign group Clean Creatives among others.</p><p>The client/agency pitching process is discussed following a story last week in which an agency was invited to pitch as a "courtesy".</p><p>Finally, with the trading numbers now in, we ask: which supermarket groups 'won' Christmas with their festive campaigns?</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What's in store for PR in 2024? That's the focus of the latest episode of Beyond the Noise, PRWeek's fortnightly podcast series.</p><br><p>Gazing into their crystal balls are regular host Frankie Oliver, the founder of New Society, alongside PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers and UK editor John Harrington.</p><br><p>PRWeek UK’s Beyond the Noise podcast, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><br><p>The trio discuss how trading is likely to pan out for PR agencies in 2024 following a challenging 2023. They examine recent data from the PRWeek Top 150 Monthly Trading Tracker, which looks at whether agency leaders are upbeat about the next 12 months.</p><br><p>The impact of the 'year of elections' on the industry is put under the microscope. The opportunities and challenges posed by AI are also scrutinised, and we ask: what's next for ESG and 'purpose'?</p><br><p>They also look ahead to the 'summer of sport' and discuss what it means for comms and for the brands.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In the first episode of 2024, PRWeek news editor Siobhan Holt is joined by PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>In this edition, the editorial team analyse the comms successes and failures that have hit the headlines in the New Year, plus the four journalists discuss what the PR industry should do more and less of in 2024. Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform. Big themes and stories in comms from the past week are put under the microscope in the latest edition of Noise in Brief, PRWeek UK’s bite-sized podcast.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.</p><p>In this week’s episode, PRWeek news editor Siobhan Holt is joined by reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu.</p><p>In this edition, the trio discuss BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg interview with <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1851359/nauseating-amoral-%e2%80%93-pr-pros-michelle-mones-ppe-controversy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baroness Michelle Mone and the PPE controversy</a>. </p><p>They also analyse the biggest <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1850552/cliff-richard-hugh-grant-elon-musk-10-car-crash-media-interviews-2023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">car crash media interviews</a> and corporate PR disasters of 2023. We also hear about their individual favourite campaigns or activations this year. </p><p>PRWeek's Noise in Brief podcast will return in January 2024. </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>How does PRWeek pick its UK Communicators of the Year list - and what does it tell us about comms in 2023? That's the focus of the first episode in a new PRWeek podcast series: Beyond the Noise Extra.</p><p>As the title suggests, Beyond the Noise Extra is an offshoot of Beyond the Noise, our regular fortnightly podcast.</p><p>In this series we'll be looking at a specific project that PRWeek has been working on and discuss it in a bit more depth.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week PRWeek concluded its coverage of the UK Communicators of the Year 2023 project.</p><p>We revealed the full top 20 list, which is chosen by the editorial team, and spotlighted the person at number one for their comms prowess throughout the year.</p><p>To discuss the project in this podcast are PRWeek UK journalists John Harrington (editor), Siobhan Holt (news editor) and Eliza Wiredu (reporter).</p><p>The trio talk about the criteria for choosing people for the prestigious list and speak about those individuals who they personally championed - and some who almost made the cut.</p><p>They also discuss what makes a good communicator in 2023.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>As COP28 draws to a close, the challenge of climate communications is the focus for the latest episode of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast.</p><p>Our guest this week is renowned environmental campaigner Jonathan Porritt, who joins our regular host Frankie Oliver, the founder of New Society.</p><p>PRWeek UK’s Beyond the Noise podcast, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week's show was recorded shortly before countries at the climate change conference in Dubai agreed a deal that commits them to move away from using fossil fuels. Some campaigners and countries argue that the deal doesn't go far enough, however - they wanted a commitment to a 'phasing out' of such energy sources.</p><p>Porritt, the former director of Friends of the Earth and ex-co-chair of the Green Party, discusses how best to resolve key communications challenges and help create a strong political will to tackle climate change.</p><p>He offers advice for heads of sustainability or corporate comms about how to address the big issues.</p><p>Porritt and Oliver also discuss the role of the media in spreading false messages around climate.</p><p>Among Porritt's other achievements are co-founding Forum for the Future to foster better collaboration between the private and public sectors and civil society. He has also written numerous books, the most recent of which is called 'Hope in Hell'.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In this week’s episode, PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers is joined by news editor Siobhan Holt and reporter Evie Barrett, who discuss the most recent agency mergers and acquisitions.</p><p>Also in this edition, with the inflation rate slowing after it hit a 40-year high in October 2022, and interest rates unlikely to drop from their current levels any time soon, the journalists debate whether high-interest rates are a burden on PR agencies or not.</p><p>They also discuss COP28, the latest United Nations Conference aiming to tackle climate change, and ask whether the controversies surrounding the host nation Dubai are undermining the climate talks.</p><p>We also hear about their favourite climate campaigns that have coincided with the launch of COP28.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Should the industry be doing more to support male PR professionals? That's the focus of PRWeek UK's latest podcast.What about men in PR? PRWeek podcast.</p><p>In the first episode of Beyond the Noise since International Men's Day on 19 November, we look at whether more should be done to help men in PR across areas such as mental health support and parental leave.</p><p>PRWeek UK’s Beyond the Noise podcast, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or on your favourite platform.Our guests this week are Emmanuel Ofosu-Appiah, associate director at Edelman Smithfield and also vice chair for the PRCA Race and Ethnicity Equity Board (REEB). Ofosu-Appiah discusses a report this year from REEB called 'Behind the Mask', which looks at, among other things, the lived experience of black and Asian men in PR. Also appearing is Will Cook, deputy MD at Harvard. Cook talks us through the PR agency's Wednesday Wanders scheme, which aims to help improve mental wellbeing among male employees.</p><p>As host John Harrington, the UK editor of PRWeek, points out, the discussion this week in no way underplays the barriers faced by women in the comms industry, which have been the subject of <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1844256/women-running-fumes-%E2%80%93-prs-gender-barriers-prweek-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">previous Beyond the Noise episodes</a>.</p><p>A <a href="https://hbm.cms3.hbpl.co.uk/ArticleManager/1849355/[ADD%20LINK:%20https://www.prweek.com/article/1847992/uk-editor-does-pr-need-advocacy-group-men]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">comment piece by Harrington</a>, published last week, argued for having an advocacy group for men in PR. It created some <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1848571/does-comms-need-men-pr-group-industry-debates" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">discussion and debate in the industry</a>.</p><p>The trio discuss important issues such as mental health support, the pressures and challenges of being a father in PR, and some unhealthy stereotypes sometimes attached to men in the industry.</p><p>The nature of brand campaigns targeted at men are also put under the microscope - and the guests debate the merits of having an advocacy group for male comms professionals.</p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Big themes and stories in comms from the past week or so are put under the microscope in the latest edition of Noise in Brief, PRWeek UK’s bite-sized podcast.</p><p>Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.</p><p>Download the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or listen on your favourite platform.</p><p>This week’s episode features PRWeek editor-in chief Danny Rogers and reporters Evie Barrett and Elizabeth Wiredu, who discuss how the comms chief for John Lewis revealed – on <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1847675/john-lewis-asda-pr-chiefs-reveal-christmas-campaign-secrets-prweek-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">last week’s PRWeek UK Beyond the Noise podcast</a> – that a newspaper broke the embargo on the retailer’s Christmas campaign.</p><p>The chaos it caused raised an interesting question about whether embargos and exclusives actually work anymore, or are more trouble than they are worth.</p><p>We also hear about some of the unsung heroes within the PR Industry. These are professionals who don’t have classic PR roles but are nevertheless essential to the success of comms teams and businesses.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>