Back“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” — Jimi Hendrix
I’m writing this week’s newsletter on a train to Sheffield, on my way to Crossed Wires Festival, one of the world’s biggest podcast festivals.
It’s a fitting place to reflect on how ideas travel. Podcasts have become one of the most powerful ways we share ideas today. They reward curiosity over certainty, conversation over performance, and listening just as much as speaking.
That feels like a useful reminder beyond podcasting too.
But first, onto this week’s fan-hitters.
BBC Radio 4 | 3 Fan-Hitters We Covered This Week
Are The British Media To Be Avoided At All Costs?
Public life would be an awful lot easier if you never had to answer questions from pesky journalists.
Or would it?
This week David Yelland and I look at Andy Burnham’s decision not to take questions as he launched his vision for Britain, should he become the next Prime Minister.
Pumping out your message on your own terms might sound like the PR dream. But the rapidly changing nature of communications in the age of AI means that if you try to bypass traditional media, your message might sink without trace.
Harry’s Trip To The UK
Harry is due to visit the UK with Meghan and their children next week. The King had offered them a royal estate to stay at. But suddenly there’s briefing and counter-briefing, and the whole trip is up in the air.
If they do come, there are PR pitfalls for both sides at every turn.
Taylor Swift’s Rumoured Wedding
Taylor Swift PR’s seems pretty bulletproof.
She’s expected to get married this weekend and she (and/or her PR team) are playing a blinder. Speculation and fan theory are running wild about the details and the venue.
As we explain, there’s a special kind of skill to this sort of rumour-mongering. Let’s call it “breadcrumbing.”
Please do have a listen on BBC Radio 4 every Wednesday at 4 pm and Thursday at 8 pm.
👉 Catch the extended version on BBC Sounds, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The First Baduel Brief Salon
At the inaugural edition of the Baduel Brief salon
Earlier this week, we hosted the inaugural edition of The Baduel Brief, my invitation-only salon bringing together leaders from politics, business, culture and media.
Our first conversation explored a question many communicators are grappling with: Does AI have a PR problem, or does PR have an AI problem?
I’m grateful to Lord Kulveer Ranger for opening the evening with a thought-provoking keynote, and to David Gallagher for chairing a lively discussion with Elif Güvençer, Christian May, Arun Sudhaman and Sir Craig Oliver. It was exactly the kind of thoughtful, good-humoured debate I had hoped the series would encourage.
My thanks also to our partners, Idalia at Pillar Hall and Château D’Esclans / Whispering Angel, part of the LVMH portfolio, and to Rishini Weeraratne, David Olajide, Solomon Ibeh and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the evening possible.
Recognising the Best in Our Profession
One of the highlights of my week was attending the CIPR Excellence Awards as CIPR President.
Awards are about more than trophies. They’re a chance to celebrate the judgement and creativity that communications professionals bring to increasingly complex challenges. It was a pleasure to celebrate this year’s finalists and winners, and to catch up with friends and colleagues including Sheeraz Gulsher, Darryl Sparey (Chart.PR, FPRCA, FCIPR) and Ross Keany.
My thanks to our sponsors JGA Group and Specialist Speakers – the speaker bureau, and to Catherine Morgan-Garrod, Anna Nagle, Caleb C., Sarah Ion CMktr MCIM (she/her), Janet Adeyemi and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the evening possible.
Supporting the Next Generation
Sarah Waddington at Socially Mobile
One initiative I’d like to shine a light on this week is Socially Mobile founded by Stephen Waddington and Sarah Waddington CBE CDir ChartPR.
Applications are now open for its ten-week online development programme, designed for PR professionals with four or more years of experience who are ready to take the next step in their careers.
I’m particularly pleased to see the programme continue to gain recognition, with Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management accreditation and a recent national diversity award shortlist. Fully funded places are available for practitioners from lower socio-economic backgrounds and under-represented groups, helping ensure that talent, rather than circumstance, shapes opportunity.
If you know someone who could benefit from the programme, applications are open until 27 August at www.sociallymobile.org.uk.
What Really Makes A Great Leader?
PRWeek UK’s Am I the PR Asshole? cover
I was listening to the latest episode of PRWeek UK‘s Am I the PR Asshole? with John Harrington, Shayoni Lynn FCIPR FPRCA and Richard Fogg , and one part of the conversation stayed with me.
It got me thinking about what separates leaders who genuinely move organisations forward from those who simply occupy positions of influence.
Over the years, I’ve come to recognise three types.
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The political operator with competence. Rare, but formidable.
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The competent person with little political intelligence, who is often overlooked despite their talent.
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And perhaps the most dangerous of all: the political operator without the competence to match.
What I’ve come to believe is that leadership requires both. Competence without political intelligence is often overlooked. Political intelligence without competence rarely ends well.
I’ve found myself looking at leaders through those two lenses ever since.
Wish you all a lovely weekend ahead.
Warm regards,
Farzana.
Originally featured in Substack
