Sam Hodges, former head of comms for BBC Television, reflects on the complexity of leading PR at one of the world’s largest broadcasters.
OPINION
‘What in-house teams get wrong when briefing an agency’
A good brief is far more than just part of a box-ticking exercise, it’s the point where a great relationship can be born.
‘Your comms department is a strategic centre of excellence’
How you talk to people inside your organisation determines what they say outside it – so why not turn your company culture into a competitive advantage?
‘Do we underestimate what other departments think of us?’
When Syeda Hasnain, head of communications at Merck Healthcare UKIE, took up a secondment to a commercial marketing role, she gained a valuable glimpse of comms from the other side.
‘Business leaders need to decide whether to speak up for their principles’
Should corporates voice concern or remain silent in the face of ever more challenging social and political conditions?
‘A handful of bullet points isn’t enough for an internal crisis comms plan’
When a crisis happens, company leaders rely on employees and contractors to help them recover, yet they often prioritise communication for customers, shareholders and the media.
Danny Rogers on... why In.Comms, and why now?
The editor-in-chief explains the rationale for the title and why in-house comms pros have become so influential and valuable to organisations.
‘A new “strategic triangle“ can secure corporate affairs a place in the boardroom’
When corporate affairs leaders are actively engaged with strategic planning and financial decision-making, everybody wins.
‘For good or ill, we’re all influencers now’
Almost everything you do anywhere is just a click or two away from social media these days, so how would you respond?
‘Should we debunk the comms “dark arts” myth?’
It can be expedient to keep alive some of the mystery behind what happens in the world of PR, but maybe now it’s time to come clean…
‘Measurement of what matters is different for in-house than for agencies’
As there can be no one-size-fits all playbook, everyone has a different interpretation of what needs measuring.
‘The best comms is not just firefighting, it’s campaigning’
Building trust is essential, and controlling the message in a fragmented media landscape is more difficult (and important) than ever.
‘Are you a strategic advisor or just a post box?’
Why comms must be at the heart of crisis response, and in-house teams need to be involved long before everything starts to unravel.
‘It’s time for communicators in health to become registered professionals’
Others in the field, including doctors, nurses, lawyers and accountants, have their own regulatory bodies – so why not us?
‘Comms is never just about comms: we have to be chameleons’
Giving teams a strategic role across the business can help to drive effectiveness and efficiency in getting results.