Smoke Signal, A Public Relations Podcast

It is PR Measurement Month! This year, we speak renowned measurement leader and author Mark Weiner. Here’s a bit about Mark to set the scene: His latest book PR Technology, Data and Insights was named one of the top three PR books for 2022. He is a member of the exclusive Arthur Page SocietyThe Institute for Public Relations awarded him Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018He is a member of the PR News all of FameThis year our theme builds on the Public Relations Institute of Aus...

In this episode I am joined by Dan Wilcock, Sustainability and Governance Manager for the UN Global Compact Network Australia.The UN Global Compact Network may be the biggest movement you haven't heard of. A special initiative initially set up by then UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, it is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and take action in support ...

In this episode of Smoke Signal, I am joined by Scott Brinker, a.k.a Chief Martech, author of the Marketing Technology Landscape Supergraphic. Scott is in the envious position where is hobby and passion has become his career and vice versa. First launched in 2011 with 150 tools, the latest 2023 version, released last month, featured an unbelievable 11,038 tools and technologies. This exponential rise in Martech is mirrored in Commtech.“Everything that marketing does is now conn...

PR Futurist Stuart Bruce features in this episode of Smoke Signal Podcast, sharing his insight on how tech is impacting the practice of public relations.Regardless of what you call it - CommTech, CommsTech, PRTech, one thing is clear, technology is impacting the practice of public relations at an exponential rate. Whether it is to enhance, augment, make us more efficient, there seems to be an app, website or tool for every aspect of our role.The challenge we face though, as Stuart points out,...

It is only February and it almost feels like we can already call it – 2023 will be the year of AI.It has been impossible not to get caught up in the ChatGPT tsunami that has made headlines, swamped social media feeds and seemingly replaced the weather as the most popular piece of small talk before meetings.Not to add to the deluge, but rather to cut through the hype and the noise, in this episode I speak to UK based digital and data PR expert Andrew Bruce Smith. Andrew is Chair of the UK’s Ch...

Most PR practitioners are used to managing issues. In fact, many thrive most when they are in the midst of a major crisis. But what about war? That is the situation that has faced Julia Petryk, Head of PR at MacPaw, since Russia invaded Ukraine at the start of 2022.MacPaw, is a software development company that has apps installed on one in every 5 Mac computers worldwide. It has 30 million users and 500 staff with its headquarters being in Kyiv, Ukraine.“PR as a business function is so ...

It is November so that means one thing – it is AMEC Measurement Month. In conjunction with The Public Relations Institute of Australia this episode features an in-depth discussion with measurement pioneer, Katie Paine.This year’s Measurement Month theme is Measure What Matters. Katie coincidentally wrote a book by that same title way back in 2011 and says what matters today as a communication professional is that you are making a difference to the bottom line in a way that senior leadership e...

In this episode of Smoke Signal I continue to take a deep dive into climate communications. I am joined by Belinda Noble, who is President and Founder of Comms Declare – an Australian coalition across the communication, marketing, media and advertising sectors united to drive positive climate action.“Comms Declare wants marcomms to be respected and trusted... We want people’s talents to be used to promote solutions that make the world a better place… Our end game is to make fossil fuels as so...

In this episode we are tackling the climate crisis. We are six months on from COP26, where the outcome didn’t match the hype. Australia’s State of the Environment report has just been released and generated world headlines for the grim picture it painted and the environmental challenges facing Australia. And we are seeing an energy crisis globally as we struggle to agree how to a transition to renewables.Against this backdrop we take a timely and much needed deep dive into the role of th...

July 16 is World PR Day – a day dedicated to recognising and celebrating public relations and communication. Yes even PR needs PR.I am joined by one of the committee members responsible for organising World PR Day, Enitan Kehinde, for a Q&A on the initiative, the events and how practitioners can get involved.“PR is a very important practice across the world, across businesses and across governments, so it is time for us to prioritise PR…. Our goal is for practitioners across the wor...