FEATURES

In an era of pervasive smart phones, the reputational risks of making a mistake have never been higher.

In a climate where it is now much harder (but arguably more important) for companies to talk about their green credentials, In.Comms weighs up the efficacy of the dual-role leader.

When newsletter open rates plateau or decline, the creation process becomes more trouble than its worth, or if you’ve just fallen out of love with the current template, perhaps it’s time for a refresh?

Jon Sellors, director of external affairs at Intact Insurance, tells In.Comms how the switch from RSA Insurance has been so much more than just a name change.

In.Comms spoke to several veterans of the Downing Street communications operation to weigh up the highs, the lows and the oddities of doing PR for the PM.

Ever sent an email to the wrong person? Accidents will happen, but after any blunder it’s what you do next that really matters.

The social media team behind the NHS’ recent viral meme discuss taking risks and how it all happened.

Having managed global crises and high-stakes data breaches, the ICO’s Angela Balakrishnan has wisdom to share about everything from authentic leadership and diversity, to doing something scary every day.

Influencers promoting brands is nothing new, but your own staff can be more effective. Encouraging them to become ‘empluencers’ can help boost trust, engagement and the bottom line – but be careful it doesn’t backfire.

In.Comms asked trade body chiefs and headhunters for their views on how comms professionals can position themselves to reach the very top.

If you’re even thinking about moving to pastures new this year, here’s the practical advice you need to help boost your chances of getting the role you want.

In.Comms reveals the biggest reputational catastrophes of the year – including fires, tech outages, cyber attacks and more.

In.Comms asked a selection of in-house comms professionals what they wish for this year - for the profession and for themselves.

As the use of AI becomes more widespread, make sure it won’t cause issues for your customers, or get you into legal hot water.

Five ways to increase your visibility and get more engagement on the world’s biggest professional network.

Haymarket’s head of communications and impact Tara Geoghegan on why the company has joined the global movement – and how it's brought everyone along on the journey.

We all make mistakes but, as history shows, some cause more damage than others.

As the dust settles after the most dramatic Budget season in living memory, we speak to comms figures for their take on its impact.

With many CCOs seemingly facing an existential crisis thanks to AI, here are the barriers standing in the way of success, and the steps needed to clear them.

Frustration is mounting among comms professionals as job descriptions become impossibly broad, salaries shrink and expectations of a ‘unicorn’ employee skyrocket.

Dealing with falsehood is anything but a new problem, but in this post-truth age the many challenges it presents are becoming ever more front of mind for comms people.

To engage stakeholders effectively it’s becoming ever more important for comms teams to deploy senior leadership in a strategic way.

One in five people in the UK can be considered neurodivergent. So what is your organisation doing to make sure those voices are being heard?

With web searches aggregating mentions of your brand into a single listing, how can you help ensure they are accurate?

The IoIC’s Internal Communication Leader of the Year shares her insights on transforming employee comms into a strategic powerhouse.

From traditional intranet and email bulletins, to Whatsapp, fortune cookies and emoji-only announcements, the options available are greater than ever now.

With PR professionals continuing to lose out to journalists on some of the country's top comms jobs, In.Comms canvasses industry opinion.

Whether it’s SEO, GEO, AEO or the next version around the corner, things are changing fast… but that could be good news.

Though issues such as price rises and executive pay keep bobbing back up, group HR and communications director Neil Morrison says authentic and consistent messaging is vital.

After the tragedy Nick Price-Thompson tells In.Comms how he sought to create local government comms that put the emphasis on listening.

Set against a tough economic backdrop, a number of companies have dispensed with the services of PR agencies in favour of boosting their in-house PR capability.

Some say internal comms deserves to be its own unit, others believe different departments should just collaborate more; In.Comms investigates how the jigsaw can fit together.

Leaning on a scientific understanding of how the human brain actually works can help make your messaging clearer, more engaging and more effective.

Communications and impact manager Tara Geoghegan on fostering a unified culture and driving global initiatives in a hybrid world.

If transformational change is ‘80 percent about the people’, how can you ensure they are all getting the message?

TfL’s director of communications and corporate affairs says his organisation is ‘a beast’ of many parts, with a heritage that also needs to be handled with care.

In the face of political backlash and employee fatigue, corporate DEI initiatives are at a crossroads. So which way now?

Within a year, the small comms team at West Oxfordshire District Council has gone from interested bystander to exploiting AI, with dramatic results.

The wide-ranging campaign celebrated 200 years of chocolate-making through fostering a strong sense of pride and belonging.

How a bolder approach and shift in tone helped cause a big boost in resources and outcomes.

Switching to internal comms on joining computer chip-maker Arm, Adele McIntosh has loved the new challenge: being the voice of both the company and its people at the same time.

The National Trust’s director of communications and fundraising Celia Richardson on learning to deal with protest, bots, and concerted attacks.

If you’re simply responding to what your business wants you to talk about you’ve got things backwards, explains Lloyd’s Banking Group’s Andrew Walton.

She’s merged O2 with VirginMedia, turned the Millennium Dome into The O2 arena and now has her eye on eradicating ‘data poverty’; but Nicola Green still has her feet firmly on the ground.

Soho House’s chief communications officer Anouska Ruane tells us about creativity, versatility and keeping the magic of the brand alive while driving growth and commercial success.

Alex Aiken, comms advisor to the UAE and former executive director of UK Government communications, explains the importance of building a common platform upon which everyone can build and prosper.

Alex Doorey, who has since moved on to M&S, takes us deep under the surface of her job as VP corporate affairs, brand, marketing and sustainability, at energy supplier Ovo.

Having guided the comms for some of sport’s biggest global productions, the Football Association’s director of marketing, communications and public affairs, Joanna Manning-Cooper, believes that, at heart, her job is simple… or should be.

Jennifer Sproul, chief executive of the IoIC, talks to In.Comms about the rise of ‘shadow communications’ and the increasing need for empathetic leadership in uncertain times.

From Bluetooth bottle-openers and boring phones to pub-saving campaigns, Jonathan O’Lone’s remit at Heineken is anything but ordinary. He shares what all of this has taught him (so far).

As luxury brands seek to foster deeper connections with audiences, Baker discusses how transparency can build credibility.

When Mc Aloon moved to a brand new role building an in-house comms operation at a luxury hotel and investment group, life definitely did not slow down.

There’s no one set of rules that can cover every agency relationship. So what should you do?

When a huge fire blacked out Heathrow, Shaun Jepson, British Airways’ head of corporate communications & public affairs, needed a quick and well-drilled response from his team.