Making sense of a tough year for comms professionals
by Ben Capper
Read moretrust us – we need your help
We all know that trust is the bedrock of what we do in the public sector. Without it, messages don’t land, communities don’t engage, and the best-intentioned campaigns fall flat. And we’ve all heard the news that ‘trust is at an all time low’. But here’s the thing: how do we really know that? While we talk about trust a lot (and believe me, at Orlo we talk about trust a LOT), how often do we stop to measure it? To really understand what it looks like from inside our own organisations?
That’s exactly what we want to change. We know this is ambitious, and that’s why we need you.
by Helena Hornby
Read moreno, we don’t need another logo (and the real value of comms)
Public sector comms isn’t just about pushing messages out, prettying up posters or sprinkling fairy dust on a report that no one understands.
by Dominic Ridley-Moy
Read morehandling a crisis: rising from the ashes when it all goes up in smoke
There’s plenty of training and advice about being prepared for a crisis. And the biggest advice is to have a plan so that you know what to do. While you can’t be prepared for every eventuality, knowing you have a process for dealing with a crisis will put you in a better position when it happens.
by Andrew Broughton
Read morewhat do showaddywaddy, blue, culture club and toadfish from neighbours have in common?
misunderstood at work? you might be narrating unreliably
Last week, I was preparing to lead a session of our work book club. We’d been reading Milkman by Anna Burns, a novel that’s famously challenging, darkly hilarious (in my opinion) and narrated by someone whose grip on memory, chronology and conversational accuracy is somewhat questionable.
by Eva Duffy
Read moreembracing the contradictions of creativity
Creativity is a beautiful mess. Frustrating as hell one moment, sparking genius the next. As comms pros, we’re always chasing that spark to craft stories, make connections, and spark real change.
But here’s the kicker, the creative process? Never a straight line.
by Lara Iyer and Alan Oram
Read moreawareness days – have they had their day?
There’s nothing I look forward to more at the start of a new year than a fresh diary in which to write. Whether you have an actual diary or a digital one, January is the time to look ahead and think about what’s coming up in the months that follow.
by Joanne Cochrane
Read morecomms unite! reclaim the story
THave you noticed how EVERYONE is a storyteller these days? Have you been grinding your teeth and biting your tongue at the endless references to 'the narrative'? It's time to restore some sanity to storytelling.
by James Morton
Read more#chargesafe to avoid an ‘explosion’ of lithium battery fires
One of the best aspects of working in local government communications is the ability to share experiences and materials for the greater good.
by Andreas Christophorou
Read morehow not to communicate about anything, ever.
Some hard lessons from the Conservative campaign disasterclass of 2024
by Ben Capper
So there you have it. Genny Lec 2024, done and dusted. And dusted very thoroughly.
Read morea gen z view on the general election
With all the General Election excitement at the moment, campaigning parties are turning to different social channels to captivate new audiences and spread their message far and wide – encouraging a new wave of voters. The channel in question? TikTok.
Read morewhen is there an i in team?
Organisational change is a funny old thing. I’d heard about it previously, but always been part of the cavalry that came in to save the day and be greeted with sighs of relief from those that had already ridden the storm. Battle-scarred and exhausted, the incumbent team would view my unjaded eyes and natural sense of optimism as a breath of fresh air. Then as a blended team, we would move forward into the brave new world infused with hope.
by Catherine Farrell
Read more3 lessons for comms professionals from bridgerton season 3
Dearest gentle reader…
I’m sure, like this author, you must be aware that season three of Bridgerton is the talk of the Ton. The tuneful strains of violins giving new dimension to Pitbull echo throughout Mayfair and beyond, leaving many a fan a-flutter. I will leave it to you, dear reader, to decide if by fan, I mean the device ladies use to cool themselves, or those enamoured of the Bridgerton world…
by Jill Spurr
Read morelooking to spread your wings and go freelance?
how is AI improving workplace productivity to make every second count?
In today’s fast-paced world, time has become an increasingly precious commodity. Thankfully, innovative solutions are emerging to revolutionise the way organisations operate. Artificial Intelligence is leading the charge, helping companies to automate tasks and handle data analysis by using virtual agents, reducing the need for human intervention in everyday processes.
by Francesca Esses
Read morepeople like us
i survived 5.5 years as a “freelancer”. here’s what i (and fellow freelancers) learned along the way…
Four and a half years ago, I wrote a blog post. And amazingly, I still get people asking me about it to this day.
by Ben Capper
Read more5 ways data will shape communications in 2024 - and how you can make the most of it
In 2023 we saw data have a significant and ever-present impact on communications. It was used on a massive scale to power the launch of ChatGPT, which took AI into the mainstream, presenting opportunities and headaches (reputational risk, bias issues, and ability to produce authentic-sounding misinformation on an industrial scale) for pressed communications pros.
by Alex Waddington
Read morethe view from the other side of the fence
How does it feel to leave the public sector, and what does it look like on the other side?
by Shirah Bamber
Read more