Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing

PROTECT Your Organization from Misinformation with Blockchain Tech!

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There’s a rising tide of disinformation threatening corporate communication and financial stability. It’s increasingly influential and at times very well-funded.

Most recently there was the infamous Adidas hoax, where activists manipulated public perception to spark conversations about workers' rights.

A new tool called Wiztrust Protect is a blockchain-based solution designed to certify and verify corporate information, helping companies safeguard their reputation and ensure the truth prevails in an increasingly deceptive digital landscape.

Listen For
3:51 The Rising Tide of Corporate Misinformation
8:10 Examples of Stock Market Manipulation Hoaxes
12:27 How Wiztrust’s Blockchain Verification Works
18:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Rod Cartwright

Guest: Raphaël Labbé, Wiztrust
Website | Email

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The Human Element of Crisis Management in PR

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Our World faces a lot of big problems all at once right now. Wars, disinformation, climate change, and money troubles.

A new report suggests these problems actually reinforce each other, creating a “new abnormal” state of constant risk. Life feels uncertain and that’s becoming normal.

The report emphasizes we need to shift our focus, not just by using technology but by focusing on people. Shift resources toward human preparedness and critical human infrastructure rather than relying solely on technical systems.

Listen For
7:12 Why Crises Deserve a Human Response
10:23 Poly-Crisis: The New Normal in Crisis Management
14:24 Crisis as a Turning Point
16:59 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Brittany Brown

Guest: Rod Cartwright
LinkedIn
Download the Full Report “Reputation, Risk and Resilience
Article for UK’s National Preparedness Commission o the crucial role of human preparedness and critical human infrastructure

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Why Communications Strategy is NASA’s Secret Weapon

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Why is strategic communications so important to NASA? And what strategies do they use? What audiences do they target?

Brittany Brown of NASA shares how NASA tailors messages for different audiences - ranging from super fans to untapped communities and stakeholders. She shares insights into memorable campaigns, including the Apollo 11 moon landing and the Parker Solar Probe.

Listen For
5:21 Segmenting NASA's Audiences
9:38 Making Complex Science Relatable
11:02 Collaborating with Partners - There's Space for Everybody
21:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Arik Karani

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Regulating PR. What Three African Nations are Doing

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Arik Karani, the President of the African Public Relations Association shares why three African nations have introduced mandatory certification for public relations professionals. It’s intended to standardize the PR practice and enforce ethical practice but they also standardize pay rates and even protect practitioners from being fired needlessly.

Is it working in Africa? Would it work in the United States?

Listen For
4:37 Elevating Professional Standards
8:57 Penalties for Unlicensed Practice
12:58 Standardizing Pay for PR Professionals
19:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Sia Papageorgiou

Guest: Arik Karani, President African Public Relations Association
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Accreditation vs Certification for Communications Pros

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Is professional certification is becoming a must for the industry? Sia Papageorgiou challenges the traditional idea of accreditation and argues that certification is the real game-changer for PR professionals. She shares insights on why the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) stands out with its internationally recognized standards, and why it’s crucial for communication professionals to continually update their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing field.

Listen For
2:43 Certification over Accreditation
6:02 Ongoing Education and Accountability
12:55 Mandatory Certification in Some Countries
17:00 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Vince Nero

Guest: Sia Papageorgiou, FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP
Website | Email | X | LinkedIn
CSCE link to training offerings

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AI Issues in Content Creation: Striking a Balance Between SEO and Authenticity

We perform a tricky balancing act every day – writing for both the human eye and the search engine algorithm. As content creators, we’re constantly faced with the dilemma: Should we prioritize crafting engaging, meaningful stories that resonate with our readers, or should we focus on hitting those all-important keywords that boost our SEO rankings?

The rise of semantic SEO adds yet another layer to this puzzle, as it pushes us to consider not just the words we use, but the intent and sentiment behind them.

In this episode, the Search Dilemma: Human Eye or Algorithm?

Listen For
3:34 Prioritizing Human-Centric Content
5:31 Google’s Evolution and its Impact on SEO
15:27 Testing and Personalization
21:20 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Dallas Taylor

Guest: Vince Nero, Buzzstream
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Throwback Thursday - Oh the Things We Can Do With Generative AI

This episode first published in May 2023.

It’s as if we have a new toy. When Open AI released Chat GPT-3 last November, and made it fully accessible to the public, it suddenly changed how we can create engaging and relevant content for our audiences, with just a few prompts.

Not only can we CREATE content, but we can also gather valuable insights into customer behaviours and preferences like never before. By analyzing the data generated by customer interactions, businesses can identify patterns and trends they can use to optimize their strategies.

But it’s all so new for so many of us. What exactly can we do with this NEW TOY?

Listen For
2:00 Understanding Generative AI as a Tool
6:35 Mega Prompting for a Consistent Brand Voice
8:06 Personalizing Content with AI
19:41 Ethical Considerations in AI

Guest: Brad Williamson, Lead Strategist Catch Digital
Website | Email

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The Influential Power of Audio

Sound is powerful.

Doug connects Dallas Taylor of the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast to explore the remarkable influence of audio on human connection and branding. From the hidden magic of Sonic branding to how podcasts create lasting bonds, they uncover why audio remains one of our most potent yet underutilized senses.

They also dive into the darker side of audio, discussing the rise of deep fake technology and its impact on trust in the digital age. Whether you’re a PR professional or just curious about sound’s role in our lives, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of audio.

Listen For
4:17 Audio’s Hidden Powers
6:58 Sonic Branding’s Emotional Impact
11:41 Audio and Deep Fakes
20:55 Answer to Question Posed Last Week by Dean Heuman

Guest: Dallas Taylor
Website
Dallas’ podcast 20 Thousand Hertz

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