Back“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” — Philip Pullman
This week I am writing from Oxford. I am sitting in a cafe surrounded by bright students holding our future in their minds.
Oxford has spent centuries turning ideas into institutions and movements that have shaped the world. Later today, I’ll be at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford for Oxford Venture Builder Pitch Night, hearing from founders at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys. But first I am heading to meet an inspiring friend, Lord Neil Mendoza who is the Provost of Oriel College. We met as he was stepping down from Soho Theatre board as I was joining, he sits on the UK’s soft power council and heads Historic England. Do follow him on LinkedIn if you are interested in the world of soft power.
Let’s get into this week’s fan-hitters.
BBC Radio 4 | 3 Fan-Hitters We Covered This Week
Hunter Biden’s Reputation Comeback
When you’re routinely described as a crackhead and convicted felon who uses sex workers, it’s fair to say your reputation can’t get much worse.
And so we turn to Hunter Biden. Often labelled the “black sheep” of the Biden family and a man who’s been torn apart in the media. And yet, he is now being lauded by some for his attempts at reputational rehabilitation, including a blistering foray onto X, where he’s taken on his trolls head on.
Is going into the lion’s den a smart PR move? And when you own your mistakes, use humour and honesty, do you leave your critics with very little ammo?
The Multi-Trillion Dollar Story
As SpaceX prepares to launch on the stock market, with Anthropic and OpenAI closely following behind, what moves are at play to try and get you to part with your cash?
It’s a fascinating look at how storytelling and positioning sit at the heart of some of the world’s most valuable companies.
Why Elmo Got It Wrong
Famously from The Big Apple, Elmo from Sesame Street has infuriated fans of the New York Knicks basketball team for posting a message saying he hopes “both teams have fun” in the NBA Finals.
As we explore in this week’s episode, he’s guilty of what some call “bothsideism”. With the World Cup just around the corner, there’s a lesson here for anyone in the public eye.
Please do have a listen on BBC Radio 4 every Wednesday at 4pm and Thursday at 8pm.
👉 Catch the extended version on BBC Sounds, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
CIPR Launches Defence and Security Network
Congratulations to the newly launched CIPR Defence and Security Network, established to support communications professionals working across the defence, security, armed forces, and government sectors.
I had the opportunity to speak with Peter Lisney Chair of the network, and Emma Livingstone Chart.PR, Vice-Chair, about the opportunities and challenges facing communicators in this uniquely important field. Our conversation also touched on initiatives such as the Armed Forces Covenant, which encourages organisations to support veterans, service personnel, and their families through inclusive workplace practices. I always admired the Americans on how they champion inclusion for veterans and think we should do more here in Blighty.
It was also a pleasure to see the network launched by Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach, who highlighted the critical role effective communications plays in national security and informed decision-making.
If you’re interested in joining or supporting the network, you can find out more here
The Baduel Brief
A recent LinkedIn post by Christian May, Editor-in-Chief for City AM on PR and AI slop inspired the theme of the first Baduel Brief, a new salon series bringing together leaders from business, politics, media, communications and the creative industries to explore the ideas shaping our culture and institutions.
Our first brief will take place on 29 June at Idalia, Kensington Olympia, where we’ll tackle a question many communicators are currently wrestling with: Does AI have a PR problem, or does PR have an AI problem?
I’m delighted that David Gallagher will chair the discussion, joined by Elif Güvençer, Christian May, Arun Sudhaman and Sir Craig Oliver.
Interest has been incredibly encouraging and we’re now close to capacity. My thanks to Rishini Weeraratne and the team at Idalia for partnering with us on the series. I’m looking forward to an evening of insight, gasps and giggles.
A New Player In UK Media
One launch that caught my attention this week was Zeteo‘s expansion into the UK.
Founded by Mehdi Hasan, the platform has already built a significant following in the US and is now bringing its model of independent journalism to a UK audience.
I’m particularly pleased to see my friend Sangita Myska involved in the launch, alongside Shebab Khan and the wider team.
As traditional media continues to evolve, it’s always interesting to see new entrants testing different approaches to building audiences and trust.
I’ll be watching with interest to see how Zeteo develops its UK presence.
BBC Still Holds Decision Makers Attention
A new report from Portland found that decision makers consume news from an average of 27 sources, yet the BBC remains the most influential news brand across broadcast, radio and online platforms. BBC Radio 4 tops radio listening, the BBC News website leads online consumption, and BBC remains the most-watched broadcaster among this audience.
While AI is changing how information is discovered and consumed, credibility remains a powerful currency. The channels may be evolving, but trusted journalism still plays a central role in reaching the audiences who shape policy and public debate.
The Value of Giving Back
Yesterday, I joined colleagues from across the profession for our latest CIPR Council meeting.
The CIPR’s work is supported by people who generously volunteer their time, expertise and energy to help strengthen the profession and shape its future.
As the writer Elizabeth Andrew once said: “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
My thanks to all my fellow Council members, both those who joined us yesterday and those who couldn’t be there. It is a privilege to work alongside inspiring people committed to giving back.
Dr Caroline Wood, Catherine Condie FCIPR Chart.PR, Hajira Amla Chart.PR, James Sharp Chart.PR, John Clegg Chart.PR FCIPR, Jonathan Cross, Jonny Morgan, Chart. PR, Karen Louise Floyd, Kelly Quigley-Hicks Chart.PR, Kirsty Peebles, Mike Browne, Paul Compton Chart.PR MCIPR, Paula Gaber McNulty, Rachel Wood PgDip Chart.PR MCIPR, Ropafadzo Gwanetsa, Samantha Seewoosurrun Chart.PR FCIPR, Sasha Fuller, Suad Bawa-Paintsil, Chart.PR, MCIPR, Suzanne Steele, Tanya Burak
Originally featured in Substack
