This week in PR (18 March)

This week

https://twitter.com/stuartbruce/status/1504465021287362564

Ukraine and Russia

'Councils will be central in helping families settle into their communities & access public services: schools, public health & other support, including access to trauma counselling.'@JGJamieson on the launch of @luhc's #HomesForUkraine scheme ⬇️https://t.co/OzNoZldBAI

— Local Government Association (LGA) (@LGAcomms) March 15, 2022

• Ian Silvera: Industry frustration bubbles in UK while Ukraine gets on with crypto laws (17 March)
  ‘Ukraine’s steadfast government is still passing legislation, including a new Digital Assets Bill, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now signed into law so that his country can further benefit from crypto donations from abroad.’

• Stefan Rollnick: Putin’s far-right propaganda network (17 March)
  ‘This report from Lynn PR’s Misinformation Cell provides key insights into how they’re doing it, to help journalists, communicators, campaigners and policymakers in the UK fight back.’
• MHP Mischief: Spotlight on: communicating around the Russia/ Ukraine crisis (no date)
  ‘We’ve reflected on some of the themes we’ve seen over the last few weeks to help inform thinking around the challenges that the conflict has posed for companies.’

• Jon Gerlis: “What role does soft power ghave after the guns come out?” (16 March)
  ‘There are three types of power all nations, to some degree, have at their disposal. Military power (what we are seeing Russia employ in the invasion of Ukraine), economic power (what the EU, the USA and others are using in response), and soft power.’
• Mark Borkowski: Propaganda thrives amid the chaos of Russia’s invasion (15 March)
  ‘This can’t be real. It feels like something from a movie’ – this sentiment has shaped our reactions to the most pivotal events of the 21st century, starting with the surreal, startlingly fictional-seeming images on September 11. In a highly televisual and media-addled culture, do we have the capacity any longer to grapple with the meaning of images?’

• Vincent Carroll-Bataglino: Brits open doors to Ukrainians under Government sponsorship scheme (15 March)
  ‘A House of Commons petition to waive visa requirements reached 185,229 signatories and was debated by the Petitions Committee yesterday. This, alongside the government’s suggestion that full DBS checks should be carried out on hosts, has caused the Refugee Council to raise concerns too.’
• Arun Sudhaman, Paul Holmes and Maja Pawinska Sims: The PR Fallout from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine [podcast] (15 March)
  ‘I was seeing ‘boycott Coca-Cola’ hashtags on Twitter for 48 hours before Coca-Cola eventually made a decision [on its operations in Russia]. Do we want to continue making money in Russia or protect our reputation in Western countries?’
• Dan Slee: HOT TAKES: Following the war in Ukraine on TikTok (14 March)
  ‘As a communicator, I’m struck at how the information war is being played out in real-time on the TikTok video platform.’

Leadership

• Anaïs Merlin: “I’m not a regular leader, I’m an empathetic leader” (no date)
  ‘But ultimately, it’s important to remember that although we all strive to bring our best self to work, we are just humans—with many qualities, but many flaws too. Being aware of your own, and understanding of others’ is what makes a true empathetic leader.’
• Mark Flanagan: Leadership is changing – and it’s being shaped by women (11 March)
  ‘For much of my career, the dominant attributes associated with leadership have been associated with men… There are signs this is changing.’
• Trevor Young: Leadership content: rocket fuel for your brand reputation (14 March)
  ‘First-class leadership content has the power to not only differentiate your business in the marketplace, but also significantly build visibility, reputation and trust.’

Industry / profession

Purpose and ESG

• Sandra Macleod: Perfect Tense – the investment case for ESG (17 March)
  ‘CFOs and Heads of IR saw the ability to attract and retain top talent as the most important driver of reputation. In the many studies we conduct for clients, we are seeing a growing correlation between a strong, credible ESG strategy and the attractiveness of a company as a place to work.’

• Lucy Walton: Healthy Impact (no date)
  ‘Over a million people displaced in less than seven days.  Refugees – first from Afghanistan and now Ukraine – forever impacted.  The ‘S’ in ESG has never been more confronting.’

Gender, diversity and wellbeing

Proud to be featured in this list – thank you @WomenBeyondBox for including me. #neurodiversity #neurodiversityatwork #adhd #autism #dyslexia #dyspraxia #dyscalculia https://t.co/kZtJW3a0OP

— nik govier (@nikdone) March 15, 2022

• Ben Smith with Anna Geffert: A celebration of 60 years of Women in PR on the PRmoment podcast (15 March)
  ‘It is as valid today as it was 60 years ago, and that’s why [Women in PR] is thriving. It’s a network for senior leaders.’

Public and third sectors

• David Cohen: How can I take advantage of Google grants to make a successful paid keyword strategy for my non-profit campaign? (no date)
  ‘Google offers a £10,000 grant for eligible non-profits to use on online ads. This scheme can help organisations raise awareness, funds, or direct potential supporters’ attention towards a cause.’

Politics, public affairs and public sphere 

Nazanin is at the airport in Tehran and on her way home.

I came into politics to make a difference, and right now I’m feeling like I have.

More details to follow. #FreeNazanin

— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 16, 2022

• Simon Rendell: A new reality raises old questions for the energy sector (17 March)
  ‘With policymakers and the public acutely attuned to the energy sector in a way not seen for decades, communicators need to recalibrate messaging to protect and enhance reputation, while playing their part to help with the net zero transition.’
• James Surallie: Are the Government set to ‘level down’ higher education? (17 March)
  ‘Reaction to these reforms have been met with fierce criticism, with the Government being accused of placing a “cap on aspiration”.’

• Harry Brown: Will the crisis in Ukraine act as a catalyst to solve the Northern Ireland Protocol? It seems not. (15 March)
  ‘The war in Ukraine appears to have softened the UK’s stance. According to reports, Truss wrote to the Prime Minister suggesting that plans to trigger the Article should be put on hold as the EU and UK seek to work together in bringing about peace in Ukraine rather than rowing with each other once more over the Protocol.’

• George Thomas, Siân Jones and Dafydd Rees: Welsh Labour in Llandudno 2022 (15 March)
  ‘Starmer used his speech to focus on the contrast in leadership styles between Boris Johnson and Mark Drakeford, heaping praise on the latter and the job he is doing in Wales.’
• Stuart Thomson: Engaging with government: the charity challenge (15 March)
  ‘Whilst [the report] found that MPs and councillors would like more contact with charities, it was felt that this needed to be tailored. A ‘mass mailing’ approach is rarely, if ever, an effective way to engage.’

Brands, content and creativity

• Jessica Pardoe: Camelgate: Has Guerilla Marketing Gone Too Far? (17 March)
  ‘The problem with the type of OOH stunts I’m seeing more and more is that they seriously lack relevancy.’
• Andrea Almazan: Things I wish I’d known at the start of my career in social (no date)
  ‘My advice is, Immerse yourself in the other forms of art you love, find opportunities in data & research and think about how that could translate for the brands you are working with. I promise you, it will bring an entire world of creativity to life.’
• Ellen Bailey: They’re not that innocent – but they are the masters of reactive social media (16 March)
  ‘The creatives behind the iconic innocent accounts are fantastic at what they do; delivering brilliantly clever, witty, sometimes political – and always funny – reactive content.’

Risk, crisis and reputation

Am enjoying the scrutiny @BrewDog and specifically @BrewDogJames is under right now. I’ve boycotted the products since I had the misfortune to witness his arrogance 1st hand. His hubris has no bounds and his brand is deserving of the mauling it’s getting

— Andy West (@Westofcenter) March 15, 2022

Behaviour and influence

• Joe Stratton: Why PR agencies should lead influencer marketing campaigns (15 March)
  ‘Marketing and media buying teams treat them as a media platform, selecting and paying influencers to create sponsored content to shift products.’

Internal communication

• Ann Pilkington: Change comms and the problem with positivity (16 March)
  ‘Too often the objective of stakeholder engagement, if indeed an objective has been articulated, is to win the support of stakeholders predominately through the selling of benefits. Of course, every project team wants stakeholders to view the project positively. However, this isn’t always realistic.’
• Jenni Field: Chaos to calm: Mergers and acquisitions [podcast] (16 March)
  ‘Find the story. There will be a reason for the merger or acquisition and this story has to be told with honesty and integrity. We can’t  make it up.’

Media, digital and technology

Thank you @PRCA_HQ for telling me I’ve been shortlisted for Digital Journalist/Blogger of the year Award. It coincides with my blog turning 13-yrs-old.

Thank you to whoever nominated me, it’s a lovely surprise. Sorry I can’t join you on the night. Best of luck to everyone. #PR pic.twitter.com/yXbcIIVVii

— Rachel Miller, All Things IC (@AllthingsIC) March 18, 2022

• Nick Collins: Media Network: The Times’ star business columnist on his news priorities (no date)
  ‘Harry [Wallop]’s first column went live today. Before publication he sat down with his former Daily Telegraph colleague, MHP Mischief’s Nick Collins.’

• Andrew Bruce Smith: Page view journalism – tyranny or triumph? (14 March)
  ‘The setting of page view targets on journalists in this way seems to place the entire responsibility for hitting them on the shoulders of the individuals and their stories. In reality, there are a number of factors that determine whether or not an individual story gets significant page views – many of which are not under the control of the journalist.’

Academic and education

Very pleased to be working with @TPRAcademyMENA to deliver @CIPR_Global qualifications in the Gulf region. https://t.co/W0qbxucNXC

— CIPR Chief Executive (@CIPR_CEO) March 11, 2022

• Stephen Waddington: Meet the first Socially Mobile class of 2022 (15 March)
  ‘The programme is delivered via an online teaching platform and Guild community. It is assessed and certificated independently. Each week, students are required to submit an assignment reflecting on what they’ve learnt, and how they’ll apply it to professional practice.’

#prstudent #CreatorAwards22

https://twitter.com/ClaireSimpsonPR/status/1503347766650720260

• Sarah Cockett (Leeds Beckett)

 

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• Jasmine Denike (LCC/UAL):

@jazzdenike I mean, she’s kind of hopeful so obviously this’ll backfire #fyp #minivlog #datinginlondon #dating #singleinlondon #camden #london #londonlife #londondate #bumble ♬ Alaska – Maggie Rogers

• Elena Niculescu (Solent): The role of the reality TV ‘stars’ (16 March)
  ‘A day after International Women’s Day, Kim Kardashian decided to put women on blast by telling them to get up and get to work, in an interview for Variety.’
• Bethany Gough (Solent): Breaking the gender bias in our society (16 March)
  ‘As I move toward the end of my degree and begin thinking about my working life, I am sure I will be faced with many barriers because of my gender. Unfortunately, because of the historical patriarchal bias I do believe it is harder for women to establish themselves as successful. And when they are successful, they are often criticised for being established or branded as bossy or brash.’
• Thu Le (Leeds Beckett): PR/ Cultural context CQ- Cultural Intelligence Develop it ASAP to become a successful today-global (12 March)
  ‘Cultural intelligence is defined as the ability to work and communicate efficiently in a cross-cultural environment of two or more different countries.’
• Jack Cameron-Dolan (Leeds Beckett): Silence Is the new Press Release: How One Game Developer Broke the Internet With Almost No Marketing (no date)
  ‘The lessons this game’s marketing and hype cycle taught are ones that we all can use not only as PR practitioners, but as people who want to inspire, impress and exceed the expectations people have of us.’
• Sabrina Warsame (Leeds Beckett): The hard truth of outgrowing your friends (13 March)
  ‘Nobody prepares you for your early 20s and how friends start dropping like flies, it’s symbolic really, as things change and life is unpredictable. Your circle is way smaller compared to younger you, however, it’s not all doom and gloom. Sometimes you outgrow those people because you are in different stages of life, and they may find it hard to relate to present you.’
• Julie Mari (Solent):
  

 

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