Publishers are facing a new threat of disintermediation and revenue loss from the use of their content to train AI systems. Large language models (LLMs) such as Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT are only as good as their training data, which is often sourced from large chunks of the internet, Google Books and Wikipedia. These models require regular updates with contemporary data to stay up-to-date. This has led data-rich organizations, including media publishers, to sell their content to train these models. The Associated Press and the Financial Times are among the first to broker deals with OpenAI t ..read more

A new report identifies five critical trends to future proof the corporate communications function. The growth of information and the rise of AI are transforming the communications landscape, creating both management challenges and opportunities for organisations. The corporate communications function is at the forefront of this challenge. The annual Communications Trend Radar 2024 report highlights five trends that corporate communications and public relations leaders must address to ensure their organisations remain relevant and effective. To navigate this developing environment, communicati ..read more

A call for fresh, bold thinking to reimagine Britain’s future and its role in the world. A new book will explore the future of Britain through the perspective of corporate communications and public relations practitioners. Our vision is to help frame policy that will contribute to the future of the UK economy and society. The project's working title is Renewal. The book will explore management viewpoints of the relationship perspective of Britain and its future role in the world. It’s a response to the need for fresh thinking to reimagine our collective future. David Miliband, CEO of the Inter ..read more

Rachel Miller's new book Internal Communication Strategy offers a practical, step-by-step guide to organisational communication by developing a robust internal communication strategy. It’s not every book about internal communications that offers a revolution. However, Rachel Miller’s new book does just that, opening with the mission statement: “Organisations that understand and harness the power of corporate communication can revolutionise from the inside out.” Internal Communication Strategy: Design, develop, and transform your organizational communication provides a structured, step-by-step ..read more

Claire Munro spoke to Rachel Miller ahead of the publication of her book Internal Communication Strategy. The book aims to provide internal comms practitioners with knowledge, skills, and real-world examples, while also addressing critical challenges, the impact of AI, key trends, and the importance of developing a professional network in the field of internal communications. Rachel is the founder of consultancy All Things IC, Chartered PR and Fellow of both the CIPR and the Institute of Internal Communications. What do you hope to achieve with this book? A. I have two aims with the book. Th ..read more

A CIPR webinar aimed to improve relationships between the public relations industry and intellectual property licencing agencies.  For as long as I can remember, the public relations industry has had a fractious relationship with the Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA) and the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA). The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Midlands group hosted a lunchtime webinar to bridge the gap. The NLA and CLA collect licence fees on behalf of publishers from public relations agencies and in-house corporate communications and public relations teams. Their purpose is ..read more

As organisations manage a complex business landscape, the internal communications function can demonstrate its value as a strategic management function. This a keynote that I gave to the CIPR Inside Conference this morning. My focus as a public relations practitioner and management researcher is on elevating the internal communications function's role in management. The headlines are challenging. The function temporarily achieved this status during the COVID-19 pandemic but is now reverting. Four out of five internal communications functions are not operating at their optimal potential. I want ..read more

Marketing can no longer ignore its impact on the environment. This is the stark message from leading marketing professionals and authors Michelle Carvill and Gemma Butler. Can Marketing Save the Planet? is well-researched and designed to help communications practitioners transform their work. Though it’s explicitly billed as a marketing book, the advice covering strategic, ethical and commercial issues is highly applicable to public relations practitioners. It attempts to address the challenges of the tension between market-led consumerism and the climate crisis, calling on practitioners to em ..read more

The criticism levelled at Arts Council England this week highlights the sensitivity that organisations face in making statements on political and social issues. The non-departmental public body published a new relationship framework, including risk monitoring guidance to the organisations that it funds. It covers investment, governance and management, financial viability and reputational risk. The document sets out the governance expectations of organisations funded by Arts Council England in identifying and classifying risk issues. It includes recommended management processes for a risk event ..read more

The 2023 Gallagher report reveals the increasing value of internal communications in areas such as culture, strategy, and measurement and persistent challenges for the function to achieve greater management influence. Another day, another survey about the contribution of the communication function to management. (I may be on to something with my PhD studies). The Gallagher State of the Sector 2023/24 report identifies the opportunity for the internal communication function to contribute to management and the objectives of an organisation. There's a lot to unpack in the 40+ page report. It has ..read more