Sohail Ansari, Ph.D’s Post

One fascinating aspect of public relations that is rarely discussed is its historical roots in wartime propaganda and government communication efforts. During World War I and II, governments heavily utilized PR tactics to shape public opinion, boost morale, and garner support for war efforts. Edward Bernays, often considered the "father of public relations," played a significant role in these efforts. He applied principles of psychology and sociology to influence public attitudes and behaviours, effectively using techniques such as media manipulation, celebrity endorsements, and staged events to sway public opinion. PR has a long history of intertwining with political campaigns and activism, often shaping public discourse and perception. This intersection highlights the power dynamics and ethical considerations within the field of public relations, as practitioners navigate the balance between advocating for their clients' interests and serving the public good. #beatricesargin #beatriceprglobalstrategies #prfunfacts #funfacts #publicrelations #historyfacts

In the 2nd instalment of our series on which research and reports communications professionals should be reading we're highlighting the European Communication Monitor. The longest-running academic study exploring the field of corporate communications, it has been conducted annually since 2007 and is known as the largest transnational study on strategic communication worldwide. In 2024, the study design has been refocused by the renowned universities conducting the research. The ECM focuses on corporate communications in the business world. Each year, a random sample of 30 top leaders among the elite group of chief communication officers in the 300 largest companies headquartered in Europe is interviewed. In-depth insights based on statements, experiences, and forecasts from those shaping the future of the field provide unique insights into the current status and future developments of the field. Read the full report for insights - you can find a link to it and other useful reports here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gJjFgWJK #InternalComms #communications #BetterBusiness #AGlassOfWater #comms #BetterCommunications #research

"...strategic communication in the sense of engaging in conversations that are substantial for survival and sustained success (Zerfass et al., 2018) is no walk in the park. Planning and executing communication activities with internal and external stakeholders requires a broad set of competencies, resources, structures, and processes." ECM 2023 So it's important to be aware of emerging trends and tools. Whether your title includes corporate communications, corporate affairs, public relations or simply communications, the European Communication Monitor is going to be something you'll want to read. To find out what else is worth keeping abreast of, check out the list I've pulled together in the link below. #comms #BetterCommunications

Luke Capizzo, Ph.D., APR has contributed to a new article, "Diagnosing shared crises as acute intractability: Organizing crises and intractable issues in public relations theory." "The common perspective on crisis communication in public relations has often prioritized reputation and image repair over stakeholder- and community-oriented understandings. This project works to map and connect across crisis theories and understand how issues, risks, and crisis form a continuum, rather than act as separate or competing perspectives. Practitioner and researchers can benefit from more proactively seeing challenges as they, potentially, progress along this continuum and manage them proactively." To read the article, visit this link: https://lnkd.in/gigEpkyc Free article access until April 5.

Hot off the press (in Routledge Taylor & Francis Group Leisure Studies)!! Do the relationships between governments and residents matter in getting people's support for mega sport events? Does the way in which governments respond to crisis matter? In short, yes, they all matter and it's about time we focus more on public relations and communications with key publics! If you want to read more about it: 1. Click on the link below (it's open access) and 2. Follow the work of Sungkyung Kim As always, shout out to my co-authors (Sungkyung Kim and Doyoung Pyun) and supporting universities (University of Stirling, Università degli Studi di Bergamo and Loughborough University) https://lnkd.in/dmeP9zBw

Very useful guide on the art of the apology in a crisis by Christian Koch in the latest CIPR Influence https://lnkd.in/eiQNGV5a

❓ What can entrepreneurs and corporate innovators learn from this interview with the President of Guyana❓ The lesson is simple... 😫 One of the greatest mistakes entrepreneurs and innovators make when trying to sell their idea/product/service is to not think about their audience. They think about all the awesome things that their product or service can do (the features) and expect people to get on board with it, without really telling them what the benefits TO THEM are. Even if they have focused (rightly) on benefits, they might not be the benefits that particular audience cares about. 🔊 YOU MUST ALWAYS TALK TO A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE and address THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS if you want to succeed. 🔊 Your audiences will differ dramatically as you go through your journey. They could be investors, colleagues, beta users, customers, and any number of others. They all need different things... and you need to know what they are. 👀 So, where does the President of Guyana fit into all this? We'll hand you to our brand and marketing guy, Michael, to explain... "Have a watch of the video in the post below," Michael says, "In his post analysing it, an experienced commentator makes a basic error by judging the interview 'a car crash'." "He is thinking about his own needs as a viewer and not those of the audience the President of Guyana is talking to." "Actually, the President nails this," Michael explains. "This interview is from the BBC News World Service; it’s not just for the UK or a western audience, which is how this commentator seems to have judged it." "The President clearly knows the (international and domestic) audience he wants to reach, controls the narrative, and has very clear messaging." "I’ll concede the accusations at the end might seem bonkers to a Western European audience - as they do me, a former BBC hack - but I’ll bet they play well with his." "But here's the point: when you're trying to sell an idea, a product, a service, or whatever, your goal (where you want to get to next) and the audience (the people who will get you there) are paramount." "I'm pretty sure the President and his team have thought about that a lot," Michael adds. "So - putting arguments over carbon emissions aside - take a leaf out of the book of the President and know exactly who you're talking to and what will make them engage with you and support your goals." 😎 If you want to know how can help take those lessons into digital innovation, check out this really lovely video about 5-Day Prototyping: https://lnkd.in/erT_MTdV Clients have used our services to raise €3.5m in the last year, win awards, test the market and get their first clients (often long before having a product). #guyana #guyanapresident #saas #saasdevelopment #saasdesign #digitaldesign #digitaldevelopment #innovation #entrepreneurship #investorsgroup #prototype #prototypedesign #prototyping #fundraising #fundraisingsuccess

An impressive performance by the Guyanese president here in the face of antagonistic questioning, with valuable lessons for journalists and interviewees alike. But a word of caution to would-be media combatants. If you want to take a defiant, front-foot approach on a contentious issue, you MUST have solid, fact-based messaging, you MUST be able to deliver it clearly and convincingly, and you MUST be well prepared for the ensuing questioning and pushback. While this grab may have many spokespeople cheering, there are many more examples of over-confident and under-prepared business and political leaders taking similar aggressive approaches with disastrous, career-damaging results. The bottom line? Be strategic, be prepared and get yourself some expert advice.

This is quite a remarkable car-crash interview between Stephen Sackur of BBC World News and the Guyanese President Irfaan Ali – an encounter which makes a worthy addition to any decent collection of media training case study clips. Especially in this age of geopolitical complexity, it’s so important to think the communication through before a public conversation even starts. Orthodoxies and assumptions widely differ across international borders and cultures. Talking heads in the frame must be prepared to lock horns and check any assumptions or condescensions at the door. #publicrelations #geopoliticalPR #mediarelations #leadershipcommunication #communications #globalsouth