Bluesky -- the Twitter-esque social network that has suddenly started attracting refugees from Elon Musk's X -- had its start when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey asked software engineer Jay Graber to introduce federation to Twitter. She told him she couldn't, but she could create a new social network based on a new federation protocol called AT, a decentralized foundation for public social media. At first, Bluesky was an invitation-only network. Many of those who scored invites were underwhelmed. But a surge of migrations from X has reinvigorated Bluesky, which is also adding features as a further incentive for people to join and stay. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel discuss Bluesky's potential and whether communicators should consider establishing a presence for their companies or clients.
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The post FIR #436: Nothin’ But Bluesky (and TikTok and Threads and Instagram and WhatsApp…) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss PR professionals wanting a seat at the table when it comes to business decision-making.
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The post ALP 252: Strengthening your PR agency’s role in business decisions appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Few communication disciplines are as challenging as executive communication. These professionals ensure that organizational leaders communicate effectively, whether making a speech or delivering testimony to a governmental body. In the November 2024 installment of Circle of Fellows, our panel explored executive communication challenges like rebuilding institutional trust in an era of widespread credibility loss, working closely with executives whose time is limited, and helping executives communicate effectively during a crisis. Learn how seasoned communicators navigate these complexities while avoiding communication failures that can escalate into PR disasters. Our panel of Fellows shared proven strategies for ensuring consistent communication among all members of an executive team, helping executives communicate the “why” behind decisions, and making good apologies when needed.
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The post Circle of Fellows #110: Executive Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

When executives justify their return-to-office mandates, they almost universally cite the collaboration and innovation that results from serendipitous encounters between employees. They also point to the need to boost productivity. The problem with these arguments is that the evidence does not support them. In this short midweek FIR episode, Neville and Shel look at one financial services company that has seen eye-popping increases in performance metrics since listening to its employees and adopting a policy that lets employees work where they want. We also review a report on what it actually takes to build connections and collaboration in organizations.
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The post FIR #435: Physical Presence is Not a Collaboration Magic Bullet appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the common challenges agencies face in obtaining timely feedback and necessary information from clients.
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The post ALP 251: What to do when clients don’t get your agency what it needs to succeed appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Among the many post-election analyses flooding media channels are reports that mainstream media and social media wielded far less influence than they have in the past. Instead, influencers and podcasts held sway. In this short midweek FIR episode, Neville and Shel break down the reports and discuss the impact on communicators far beyond the election and politics.
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The post FIR #434: Podcasts Defeat Mainstream Media in 2024 U.S. Election appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this FIR Interview, Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson speak with Monique Zytnik, a business communicator and author of Internal Communications in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Monique delves into the transformative impact of AI on internal comms, highlighting the need for experiential, audience-centered engagement over a flood of generic content. This approach, she explains,... Continue Reading →

The post Trends, AI and Authenticity in Internal Comms with Monique Zytnik appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini share specific examples of agency owners breaking or ignoring rules that they don’t like — or that clients may pressure them to bypass.
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The post ALP 250: Are you playing with fire as an agency owner? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.