losing the reputation battle, but winning the war

June 6, 2014 Darren Caveney

Reputation. It's a key element of any communications campaign. But as an outcome, reputation enhancement alone is not going to cut the mustard with residents.

by GUEST EDITOR Julie Waddicor

As foot soldiers and officers, we stand surveying the battlefield. Through no fault of our own, we seem to have lost the fight for reputation.

Our successful campaigns lie strewn in the mud, some effective in their time but forgotten now. The war around us has moved on, focusing on changing how residents relate to us and the relationship we have with them.

future leaders on tour

August 1, 2013 Darren Caveney

Future Leaders, now in its second year, is giving talented public sector comms people the chance to expand their leadership skills. In the days of zero training budgets this is a timely initiative by LGcomms.

by GUEST EDITOR Emma Rodgers

When was the last time you got time away from the office to think about how you spend your time at work, how effective your leadership style is and what to do to build your own personal credibility?

journeyman

October 23, 2012 Darren Caveney

When does a journeyman become a master, and does it actually matter? Achieving 25-year's service is a pretty good position from which to call it.

by Phil Jewitt

Last Friday I received the above tokens in recognition of 25 years local government service. I’ll fess up; I was just a bit proud as I was called to receive them at our staff achievement awards. And yes, there was a clock, only a small one but quite heavy, which is my standard measure of quality, mostly used when assessing cakes and puddings! It’s never been about milestones or glory for me though; it’s been about the difference that can be made. So this isn’t a post about the last 25 years, more my reflection on what next; where my public role and public sector service provision is probably heading....what’s on and over that horizon.

it’s a great time to do what we do

September 13, 2012 Darren Caveney

by Will Mapplebeck

This is a great time to be in communications, a brilliant time to be doing the jobs we do.

I'll explain why in a minute, but before I go on I don't want to downplay what a tough time many of us have been through.

In hard times, communications is often the first thing to go, viewed as an expensive luxury next to the real job of providing vital services to vulnerable people.

That means many of us have seen our jobs under threat, our roles reviewed and our working practices change. Before I did this job at Newcastle, I was on a temporary contract which sometimes rolled over month-by-month, so I know all about uncertainty.

a career path less travelled

September 12, 2012 Darren Caveney

It's a common tale - not knowing what career path to choose. And its useful to remember that not everyone has go down the tried and tested path.

by Jenny Baird

I didn’t come to communications in a ‘traditional’ way. I’m not a ex-journalist, a prolific blogger, or an influential tweeter. I don’t have a degree in marketing or PR.

Like many others out there, I finished university and thought – what now?

After years of seemingly endless exams and receiving my degree in English Literature I somewhat naively assumed I would know the answer. But I didn’t. I didn’t have a clue. So I decided to leave the country.

Six months later, I landed in a cold and windy Manchester after an adventure that saw me teach primary school children in South Africa, meet the King of Swaziland, drive a 4x4 along a perfect Australian beach and jump out of a plane at 12,000 feet. I also found Nemo.