
Life Lessons
Keeping Cool in the Home Office in the Heatwave
Creating an airtight AC installation in my garden studio took some imaginative thinking. An acrylic panel made all the difference – now it’s efficient, removable, and built to last.
Public Relations
Embargoed press releases from strangers land in my inbox far too often, complete with demands to hold the news until a set time. But without a relationship, there’s no agreement. If you want your story treated with respect, build trust before you ask for favours.
Artificial Intelligence
As generative AI reshapes how we write, it’s also changing how we speak and interact. In echoing its tone, we risk losing something human – our quirks, our voices, and maybe even our individuality.
Measurement
AVE and vanity metrics still haunt PR dashboards, despite years of critique. In this post, I reflect on the FIR Interview with Richard Bagnall and why a generational shift may be needed to change the narrative - starting with 22 reasons to say no to AVE.
Life Lessons
After days of troubleshooting my portable AC setup, the right fix came from an unexpected source: my 8-year-old granddaughter. Her simple, no-fuss solution reminded me how often we overlook the obvious.
Communication
I've used the word "authenticity" often – perhaps too often. A provocative read by Jess Zafarris made me rethink what it really means. When everything sounds authentic, we stop noticing what actually is. It's time to be more intentional.
Social Networks
X may no longer be a good place to engage, but is it still worth listening in? I reflect on why I stopped using X, what's changed since, and whether communicators should reconsider their stance in 2025.
Artificial Intelligence
Pope Leo XIV is making AI ethics a core focus of his papacy. This post explores what that means for all of us – and why communicators have a strategic role to play in shaping the narrative around AI, regulation, and digital responsibility.
Bluesky
Bluesky’s critics may be missing the point. It’s more than just an app – it’s a decentralised ecosystem aiming to reshape social media. Here’s why the backlash might be looking in the wrong direction.
IABC
More than a decade after leaving IABC, I still care. A recent post on LinkedIn stirred memories and concern. If IABC doesn't live by the values it promotes, it risks losing more than members. It risks losing its purpose and relevance.
Analysis and opinion at the intersection of communication, technology, and life's evolving priorities.
As deportation raids surge in the US, vulnerable communities are turning to mobile apps for safety and support. This post explores how these digital tools offer protection — and why similar responses haven’t emerged in the UK or EU.
I’ve walked past them countless times without seeing them – two old plaques on a wall. Then one day, I actually looked… and fell headfirst into six centuries of local history, hidden in plain sight.
There’s much to unpack in Mary Meeker’s new AI Trends report – and it’s not easy reading unless you’re deep into the subject. This post offers plain-English summaries of the eight core themes and a downloadable, business-friendly guide.
In late May, time away in Chester and a side trip to Liverpool gave my wife and me moments to explore two very different cathedrals. One wrapped us in history and warmth. The other, though grand in scale, left us searching for spirit. Both offered space for reflection.
Google’s Veo 3 generates realistic videos from simple text prompts – with sound, dialogue, and cinematic quality – that can mimic news reports and voices in multiple languages with stunning accuracy. A creative leap, or a deepfake disaster waiting to happen?
Marks and Spencer’s month-long cyber crisis is now less about systems and more about communication, and how it can make or break reputation. With media scrutiny high and brand trust wavering, this post explores why communication has become a critical risk.
The consumer metaverse may have stalled, but a new version is thriving in factories and warehouses. Discover how digital twins, spatial computing, and AI are reshaping industry – and what this shift means for communicators.
The Vatican’s continued investment in social media for Pope Leo XIV signals a smart strategic move to stay visible, credible, and relevant in a digitally connected world – and raises the question of how far this engagement could evolve across emerging platforms.
Moving from WordPress to Ghost has many benefits – but I miss one key feature: child themes. Here's what Ghost does (and doesn't) offer for custom theme users, and how to safely manage your theme customisations without losing your changes.
AI tools are trained on English, but not the kind most people speak. This post explores how generative AI reinforces American norms, often at the expense of global linguistic diversity. So, whose English is it really speaking?
Washington PR veteran Phil Elwood joins David Yelland on the BBC's 'When It Hits The Fan' podcast to explore how public relations has "infected" politics and media. Witty and unsettling in equal measure, it’s a sharp look at spin, truth, and the power behind the curtain.
A personal visit to Tyntesfield reveals more than Victorian grandeur – it’s a story of global trade, religious devotion, and architectural splendour. From guano riches to Gothic revival, this North Somerset estate tells a fascinating tale.