Andrew Hayes

The October monthly episode of our For Immediate Release podcast explores critical communication trends. Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I discuss six compelling topics, including Reddit's potential for crisis comms, the state of blogging in 2024, ethical concerns in celebrity news coverage, workplace connection challenges, and AI's impact across industries. In a blog post, I've set out some key takeaways that present opportunities for communicators, including leveraging Reddit for stakeholder engagement and preparing to guide organisations through AI adoption. Read more and listen now for valuable perspectives and insights on navigating today's complex communication landscape. https://lnkd.in/e5_CcMR2

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One of the great challenges I have faced in my #publicrelations career is to hear, "we don't sell to the public so we don't need community relations." Tell that to your #brand if you have a crisis. This article has some great tips on building effective community relations. https://lnkd.in/d7iizvip

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Take a few minutes to check out this new Institute for Public Relations study regarding disinformation in the workplace. In addition to exploring why people share disinformation, it offers research-based strategies to help communicators combat it. Very useful and well done! https://lnkd.in/gq8PqrS3

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Why do we do PR? Well, I would answer it's because trust and confidence among all audiences is at historic lows—an avg of 28%. With low/no trust, there is no commerce, there are no deals and business GRINDS to a halt. So, THAT is why we do PR. https://lnkd.in/g9M-_JQ4 #publicrelations, #pr, #trust, #credibility

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In a comprehensive annual review, Rod Cartwright's "Reputation, Risk and Resilience 2024" highlights the complex challenges and opportunities for corporate communicators, offering a fresh perspective on global risks. 📊 Despite the challenging outlook, as PR professionals we must see risk management, crisis preparedness, and resilience-building as sources of positive value. 🚀

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Worth reading from TimelyCare VP Katie Neal: 13 Leadership Lessons for PR Pros (Taylor’s Version). Let’s face it. Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department (out April 19), sounds like it should be about a corporate communications team. While most PR professionals will never win any Grammys, we share more in common with the megastar than you might think. We are creators, storytellers and writers. We find inspiration in life, work and relationships. And we are influential to our teams, across our organizations and in our communities — demonstrating daily how smart, strategic communications can advance your brand, even in times of crisis. In addition to Swift’s mastery of public relations, have you noticed that her catalog of leadership lessons is almost as extensive as her collection of songs? I curated 13 key Tay-keaways for comms pros — each paired with an album or song — to inspire your leadership style as well as your playlist. Are you ready for it?

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Well-prepared spokespeople are an essential part of any crisis communications strategy. But how do you ensure your spokespeople are prepared and have all the tools they need to succeed? Click on my piece below and find out. Then ping me! ICR

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As the first anniversary of Oct. 7 approaches, how have your #ERG programs evolved over the past year? Is there more space or structure at work for interfaith dialogue and inclusive, intersectional comms? Please share this with your comms people doing the work and let me know if you're comfortable sharing your efforts for an upcoming Ragan Communications and PR Daily story. [email protected]

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Does your PR team know how to explain the work we do? In too many instances, asking different members of your team how to explain public relations may bring many different answers. The obvious problem with that is that it creates confusion. As we all already know, too many people already don't get what we do. It is less about saying the exact words but more about general cohesion of the story. If your agency hasn't gone through this exercise with your team, it is something to think about.

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The essence of genuine engagement in today's public sphere is not merely about being heard, but about remaining authentic amidst a sea of loud and conflicting voices. At Moxie Strategies, we uphold a quant-first approach because we believe that authenticity isn't just about the message, but how you substantiate it. Check out my ROI-NJ piece where I delve into how quantitative analysis empowers organizations to stay true to their core values while effectively engaging with their audiences. This method helps us navigate through the noise and focus on what really matters—authentic connections and tangible outcomes. Read on to see how a data-driven strategy can make a real difference.

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As evidenced by the dynamics of the presidential election, women continue to be held to a different, much stricter standard than men. In my book "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators, I delve into why and how women continue to struggle for equality and representation. "Women’s quest for equality is the longest-running struggle in the history of the world. Men have ruled over humanity for millennia, and nowhere has their dominance been more pronounced than over the lives and bodies of women. Although women have made great strides toward equality in the last few decades, they continue to be held to a different standard than men, and society holds many unconscious and deeply rooted biases against them. Nevertheless, women continue challenging traditional gender norms, advocating for equal rights, and reshaping female empowerment narratives." https://lnkd.in/gsTAMAbc

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One of the hottest topics in comms at the moment..is your organisation ready? Learn from the experts on how to prepare in this upcoming webinar. #cybercrisis

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The @PageSociety just released its newest report Beyond Communication: CCO Leadership in Navigating New Complexity. The findings underscore the CCO as an ever-more-essential partner with the CEO in defining and activating corporate character. Read more here: https://hubs.la/Q02x4nPQ0

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In this recent article with Authority Magazine, I discuss the barriers women face in advancing to leadership roles and share actionable strategies to overcome these challenges. It's an honor to be part of this conversation and to continue advocating for a future where equity is not just an aspiration but a reality. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dXx-XWxK 💪🏽 #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #Equity #DEI #HopeForTheFuture #AmiraBarger

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PRO communications tip: Be careful of the exclamation points. I recently saw an influencer post this same message. It was very interesting to read the comments she received and how many people overuse the exclamation point. The overarching theme was: - Too much enthusiasm can kill one's credibility. - Exclamation points can feel like a carnival barker screaming at you. Bottom line: - You can’t create ongoing excitement for customers in your communications with too many exclamation points. - You create excitement for customers by explaining why you’re going to make their lives better.

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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These highlights from Cision's 2024 State of the Media Report offer important insights about interacting with journalists. Download the full report (see last slide) to get all the details. #mediarelations #PR #journalists

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