In this episode of Engage, host Ben Verinder, managing director of Chalkstream, explores a critical question for every PR professional: how can we help organisations make better decisions? Joined by Dr Jon White, consultant in public relations and organisational development, and Shayoni Lynn, CEO and founder of behavioural science communications consultancy, Lynn Group, the conversation examines the biases that undermine even experienced leaders and the unique role communications professionals can play in challenging flawed thinking.

From Apple's decade-long Project Titan initiative to groupthink in the 2008 financial crisis, the panel discuss how cognitive shortcuts often lead to costly mistakes. The conversation also tackles contemporary challenges facing the profession, including bias in AI systems, the ethics of applying behavioural science in communications, and issues of ageism within PR itself.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

CIPR members can earn 5 CPD points for listening to an episode of Engage.

Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global

This conversation examines the pathways to director and non-executive director roles for PR professionals, the unique perspective communications experts bringing to board-level decision making, and practical advice for practitioners considering this career progression.

Hosted by Ann-Marie Blake FCIPR, Co-Founder of True Comms, this episode investigates key aspects of board participation including the differences between trustee and non-executive director positions, how effective boards operate, managing time commitments, and overcoming imposter syndrome when transitioning to leadership roles.

Joining Ann-Marie for this discussion are:

·         Noha Al Afifi MCIPR, CIPR Board member, Deputy Chief Executive of Arthritis Action

·         Stephen Waddington Found. Chart. PR, Hon FCIPR, Founder of Wadds Inc

Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on LinkedIn, using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

If you're a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.

In this episode of Engage, Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications) leads a thought-provoking exploration into the complex debate around misinformation with guests Dr. Leon Hawthorne (former CNN, CNBC and BBC broadcaster) and Tom Southern (Director of Special Projects at the Center for Information Resilience) offering contrasting views on its impact and scale.

From social media monetisation to the challenges facing traditional media in adapting to digital spaces, our guests examine how technological change has transformed our information landscape. Their discussion spans critical issues including platform responsibility, institutional trust in polarised environments, and what role communications and PR professionals might play in fostering healthier information ecosystems.

Further resources:

From missing flights to Novichok poisonings, in this episode of Engage crisis comms specialists Rod Cartwright and Sarah Thomas share their real-world experiences of navigating risk and preparing for crises with host, Charlotte West.

Exploring the most common threats and opportunities facing organisational reputation today, Sarah and Rod also discuss the role of leadership and culture in a crisis, as well as the skills needed by comms and PR teams to future-proof the industry.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Join the CIPR’s crisis comms network

CIPR members can earn 5 CPD points for listening to an episode of Engage.

Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global 

The following episode summary was originally created by AI and edited by the CIPR’s podcast editorial board:

A year on from the launch of ChatGPT, host and chair of the AI in PR panel, Andrew Bruce Smith, marks the natural language processing tool’s first birthday by reflecting on the technological advancements we’ve seen in AI over the past year and its impact on the future of PR and comms teams.

Featuring Swati Virmani (senior lecturer at De Montfort University) and Antony Cousins (executive director for strategy at Cision), in this episode, panellists discuss the ethical considerations and challenges while weighing up the benefits of adopting AI by practitioners and teams.

Timestamps and resources mentioned:

03:03 - Reflections on technological milestones over the past year

• Humans Needed More Than Ever research

09:00 - What’s the use case for AI in PR and comms?

• Ethan Mollick’s blog ‘everyone is above average’

15:12 - What skills if any, should PR and comms practitioners develop in line with the evolution of AI?

23:00 - What AI tools should teams and practitioners be adopting now?

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the impact on public relations (PR) practice 

27:59 - What are the ethical and legal implications of using AI?

36:50 - Tips for adopting AI and thoughts on what’s next for AI.

Share your thoughts about the topics discussed in this episode on LinkedIn or X, formerly Twitter, using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

If you're a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.

In the fourth and final episode in the series celebrating the CIPR’s 75thanniversary, host Henry Heming interviews speakers and attendees at the Horizon conference focusing on the future of the profession.

Featuring interviews (and timestamps) with:

00:44 - Sheeraz Gulsher, co-founder at People Like Us, discusses creative campaigns and practical tips on making PR more inclusive.

07:17 - Fatima Banglawala, comms and public affairs manager, MedTech UK and Ireland, Johnson and Johnson summarises some of the key takeaways from Jay Richards, co-founder at Imagen’s opening keynote on Gen Z.

09:37 - Trudy Lewis, founder at Colinear, shares her favourite takeaways from the conference’s morning sessions.

10:37 - Grace Fogarty, founder at Grace Fogarty Training, shares her simple, memorable tools for feeling more confident when networking and quickly developing meaningful connections. 

15:23 - Subira Jones, also known as The Corporate Hippie, explains the difference between feeling rundown and being burned out. Taking listeners from powerless to empowered, explaining how PR and comms practitioners can fireproof theirs (and their colleagues) career.

21:14 - Diana Verde Nieto, co-founder at Positive Luxury, discuss how we can move towards being positively good when it comes to sustainability through the ‘reimagining model’.

27:27 - Alan Oram, director at Alive with Ideas, shares his reaction to Mark Shayler’s session.

27:53 - Mark Shayler, owner at Ape, makes the case for the role of innovative and disruptive thinking in challenging the status quo and bringing about sustainable societal change. 

36:05 - Rachel Miller, founder at All Things IC, summarises her favourite session from the conference.

35:35 - Katie King, CEO at AI in Business, addresses the opportunities, challenges and ethical questions which are raised by increased integration of AI tools and platforms in PR workflows, project management and content creation. 

42:05 - Son Pham, senior campaign manager at Manifest, captures the atmosphere at the conference and his personal highlight.

42:29 - Alex Partridge, founder of UNILAD and LADBible shares how the media landscape is changing, what the future holds for media, and why adaptability is your greatest strength.

46:22 - Advita Patel, 2025 CIPR president, shares her final thoughts from the conference.

Share your thoughts about the topics discussed in this episode on LinkedIn or X, formerly Twitter, using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

If you're a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Engage podcast returns with a new episode exploring the rise of spin the evolution of 1990s celebrity culture and power. 

Hosted by Mark Phillimore, a Senior Lecturer on the Master programme in Public Relations at the University of Greenwich, this is the third instalment in the Engage series dedicated to celebrating the CIPR’s 75th anniversary. 

This episode explores the commodification of celebrity in the 1990s and how the changing nature of celebrity PR, media relations, and the rise of digital and social media forced PR to adapt and become more nimble, integrated and inventive. 

Joining host, Mark Phillimore, for this episode are: 

·        Mark Borkowski, Founder of Borkowski 

·        Rob McGibbon, celebrity interviewer, journalist and author.

Share your thoughts about the topics discussed in this episode on LinkedIn or X, formerly Twitter, using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

If you're a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.

To what extent is there a War For Talent in PR and Communications? How can companies attract, develop and retain key people? What steps should employers take to ensure their onboarding processes are truly inclusive and encourage greater diversity?

In this episode of Engage, host John Clegg, Internal Communications and Engagement Manager at HR Wallingford, considers these questions and explores the motives and concerns of communications professionals as they strive to build their careers.

Joined by panellists:

• Christine Yuan, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, BCW

The book John mentioned in this episode is Building a Culture of Inclusivity, Effective Internal Communication For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Priya Bates and Advita Patel, available from KoganPage and other book sellers.

Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on X/Twitter or LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global

If you’re a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.

How important is understanding the rise of brands for building successful campaigns and engaging with audiences effectively?

In this episode of Engage, host Rebecca Jabbar media trainer and founder of Brand Champion Bootcamp, delves into the evolution of brands, examining how successful brands have built their reputations, grow their customer bases, and use employer brand to attract and retain employees, and what strategies they have used to do so.

Joined by panellists:

• Alex Francis, brand manager at Canal and River Trust

Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on Twitter or LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

This is the second episode in the Engage podcast series celebrating the CIPR’s 75th anniversary. If you’re a member of the CIPR, you can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode and read further information about the milestone: https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/About_Us/CIPR_Anniversary.aspx

In conjunction with the CIPR’s 75th anniversary celebrations, this episode of Engage explores how the PR and communications industry has evolved in recent years and the challenges practitioners and teams are still grappling with.

From social inclusion to diversity, and the impact of technology on the outcomes and skills needed to work in the sector, panellists reflect on their own experiences and discuss the strides made by the profession to date.

Host Calhan Behrendt, Outstanding Young Communicator at the 2022 Cymru Wales PRide Awards and Account Manager at OnWrite, sits down with:

• Eva Maclaine, Founder at Maclaine Communications

Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on Twitter or LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.

Further resources:

• Find out whether you are eligible to #GetChartered and book your assessment.

If you’re a member of the CIPR, you can also log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode.