Shows
For Immediate ReleaseFIR Interview: Monsignor Paul Tighe on AI, Ethics, and the Role of Humanity“Artificial intelligence will not save us. But it might help us understand who we are.” – Monsignor Paul Tighe
In one of our most thought-provoking FIR Interviews to date, we speak with Monsignor Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Section of Culture of the Dicastery for Culture and Education at The Vatican, about the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence and the role of the Church in shaping global conversations around technology.
As AI continues its rapid development and deployment across all sectors of society, the question of how we use it – and why – has never been more important...2025-07-2942 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #474: AI is Redefining Public RelationsIn multiple ways, Artificial Intelligence is redefining the role of the public relations professional. Some of that change is the result of new tools that automate processes that once consumed copious amounts of time. One such tool reviews services that solicit expert commentary at journalists’ requests, then crafts responses. The marketing of this tool, dubbed Synapse by its Lithuanian founders, has sparked a considerable amount of controversy over ethical considerations. Neville and Shel discuss the pros and cons in this long-form FIR episode for July 2025.
Communicators are now also supposed to be able to detect phishing attacks di...2025-07-281h 33For Immediate ReleaseFIR #473: The Digital Employee Experience is the MessageIt has been more than 60 years since Marshall McLuhan told us that the medium is the message. The decades that have passed since then have done nothing to diminish the truth of McLuhan’s prescient statement. For today’s employees, the medium for most information is the digital interfaces the company provides. There’s an interface for the intranet, for email, for internal social networking and collaboration, for emergency alerts, for calendaring, and for all manner of resources employees need to get their work done.
What message do these interfaces send to employees? If they’re unified, consumer...2025-07-2216 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #472: The Evolution of TrustNew research reveals that B2B decision-makers have increasingly recognized the importance of trust. The study also showed that companies that measure trust as a board-level KPI are over three times more likely to report more substantial profits than those that don’t, yet only 22% of companies state that trust is a board-level KPI.
In this brief midweek episode, Neville and Shel analyze the data and explore opportunities for communicators to enhance organizational trust.
Links from this episode:
IPA | New IPA/FT global study reveals trust is a powerful business driver
2025 Edelman Tr...2025-07-1615 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #471: Can You Be Influential and Anonymous at the Same Time?There’s a new brand of influencer. Faceless creators wield their influence while never appearing on camera, while VTubers — virtual YouTubers — employ AI-generated avatars instead of showing their faces. This is no flash-in-the-pan trend. One network of faceless creators grew from 5,000 to 21,000 creators in just three months, with some raking in as much as $40,000 per month from brands eager to add their content to the mix. There are numerous reasons this shift is happening, from social networks like TikTok elevating its algorithm over follower counts (enabling someone with few followers to see a post go viral) to the ability for br...2025-07-0715 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #470: Creative Commons Proposes an AI Copyright SolutionCopyright challenges and intellectual property issues are consistently recognized as a serious, top-tier concern when it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI). It may not be the top concern — that’s usually related to fake news and the trustworthiness of content, followed by privacy concerns — but many creators are upset and worried about the integrity of their work when it’s used as fodder for new training models. The courts will inevitably weigh in — in fact, one already has, with a federal court ruling in Anthropic’s favor, asserting that its use of authors’ books without compensation constitutes fair use due to the tra...2025-06-3012 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #469: Is Internal Communication Failing?A growing body of research suggests employees are more disconnected than ever. What are internal communication teams getting wrong? Also in this long-form monthly episode for June 2025:
Buzzstream interviewed over 150 digital PR pros to assess the state of digital PR. It looks a lot like it did five years ago.
Social media has overtaken television as Americans’ primary source of news.
Chief Communication Officers are in a precarious position, expected to anticipate and address political and societal upheaval, often sharing information executives don’t want to hear.
Pope Leo XIV has called for an ethical AI framework in a me...2025-06-231h 34For Immediate ReleaseFIR #468: New Threats to ReputationWhile a company’s reputation doesn’t appear as a line item on a profit and loss statement or a balance sheet, it is nevertheless a critical intangible asset that significantly influences financial performance and long-term success. A strong positive reputation fosters trust among consumers and B2B customers, leading to increased customer loyalty, premium pricing power, and greater resilience in times of crisis. It also makes the company more attractive to top talent, reducing recruitment costs and improving employee retention. A favorable reputation can also enhance relationships with investors and partners, providing better access to capital and more adva...2025-06-1724 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #467: Mary Meeker's 2025 AI Trends ReportPick a superlative, and it probably applies to Mary Meeker, the venture capitalist and former Wall Street securities analyst best known for her annual Internet Trends Reports. These reports, released in the form of presentation decks, were the culmination of deep research Meeker conducted. Her last report was published June 12, 2019 at Recode’s Code Conference, but she just released a new one dedicated entirely to AI. With credibility as strong as hers, it’s likely that this report will become the defining source of truth about the state of AI. In this short midweek FIR episode, Neville and Shel brea...2025-06-0525 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #466: Still Hallucinating After All These YearsNot only are AI chatbots still hallucinating; by some accounts, it’s getting worse. Moreover, despite abundant coverage of the tendency of LLMs to make stuff up, people are still not fact-checking, leading to some embarrassing consequences. Even the legal team from Anthropic (the company behind the Claude frontier LLM) got caught.
Also in this episode:
Google has a new tool just for making AI videos with sound: what could possibly go wrong?
Lack of strategic leadership and failure to communicate about AI’s ethical use are two findings from a new Global Alliance report
People stil...2025-05-261h 43For Immediate ReleaseFIR #465: The Trust-News-Video Podcast PR TrifectaSeemingly unrelated trends paint a clear picture for PR practitioners accustomed to achieving their goals through press release distribution and media pitching. The trends: People trust each other less than ever; people define what news is based on its impact on them, becoming their own gatekeepers; and video podcasts have become so popular that media outlets are including them in their upfronts. In this short midweek FIR episode, Neville and Shel find the common thread among these trends and outline how communicators can adjust their efforts to make sure their news is received and believed.
Links from...2025-05-2126 min
For Immediate Release PodcastEric Schwartzman on Bot Farms and Digital DeceptionIn this FIR Interview, Neville and Shel talk with author, investigative journalist, and New York SEO, Eric Schwartzman, about his Fast Company article, "Bot farms invade social media to hijack popular sentiment." A consultant who specialises in SEO for financial services companies, Eric explains how coordinated networks of smartphones and AI-generated content are distorting public perception, manipulating virality, and reshaping what we trust online. Eric, a long-time friend of FIR and a former entertainment public relations correspondent for FIR, discusses how bot farms now outnumber real users on social networks, how profits drive PR ethics, and why...2025-05-2142 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #464: Research Finds Disclosing Use of AI Erodes TrustDebate continues about when to disclose that you have used AI to create an output. Do you disclose any use at all? Do you confine disclosure to uses of AI that could lead people to feel deceived? Wherever you land on this question, it may not matter when it comes to building trust with your audience. According to a new study, audiences lose trust as soon as they see an AI disclosure. This doesn’t mean you should not disclose, however, since finding out that you used AI and didn’t disclose is even worse. That leaves little wiggle room fo...2025-05-1317 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #463: Delivering Value with Generative AI's "Endless Right Answers"Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, Cassie Kozyrkov, wrote recently that “The biggest challenge of the generative AI age is leaders defining value for their organization.” Among leadership considerations, she says, is a mindset shift, one in which there are “endless right answers”. (“When I ask an AI assistant to generate an image for me, I get a fairly solid result. When I repeat the same prompt, I get a different perfectly adequate image. Both are right answers… but which one is right-er?”)
Kozyrkov’s overarching conclusion is that confirming the business value of your genAI decisions will keep you on tr...2025-05-0716 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #462: Cheaters Never Prosper (Unless They're Paid $5 Million for Their Tool)A Columbia University student was expelled for developing an AI-driven tool to help applicants to software coding jobs cheat on the tests employers require them to take. You can call such a tool deplorable or agree with the student that it’s a legit resource. It’s hard to argue with the $5 million in seed funding the student and his partner have raised. Also in this long-form monthly episode for April 2025:
How communicators can use each of the seven categories of AI agents that are on their way.
LinkedIn and Bluesky have updated their verification programs in ways that...2025-04-281h 30For Immediate ReleaseFIR #461: YouTube Trends Toward Virtual Influencers and AI-Generated VideosVideos from virtual influencers are on the rise, according to a report from YouTube. And AI will play a significant role in the service’s offerings, with every video uploaded to the platform potentially dubbed into every spoken language, with the speaker’s lips reanimated to sync with the words they are speaking. Meanwhile, the growing flood of AI-generated content presents YouTube with a challenge: protecting copyright while maintaining a steady stream of new content. In this short midweek FIR episode, Neville and Shel examine the trends and discuss their implications.
Links from this episode:
YouTube Cult...2025-04-2421 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR Interview: Zora Artis on Bridging AI and Human Connection in Internal CommunicationZora Artis is a leading voice in strategic internal communication with a passion for how IC can lead the integration of AI into the workplace in ways that reinforce, rather than replace, human connection. In this FIR Interview, Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz speak with Zora about how artificial intelligence is reshaping internal communication, prompting a strategic transformation in the profession.2025-04-2336 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #460: The Return of Toxic Workplaces and the "Big Boss" EraThe tide is turning.
For several years, workers have enjoyed a seller’s market. Unemployment has been low, and companies have competed for the best employees. Now, for a variety of reasons, we are experiencing a surge in layoffs, exacerbated by sizable staff reductions in U.S. federal agencies. With so many newly-unemployed workers on the street, employers now have the advantage as we shift to a buyer’s market.
Emboldened by the flood of potential recruits on the market, and anxious to be on the good side of the current U.S. presidential administration, some...2025-04-1421 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #459: AI Transforms Content from Passive to InteractiveIn this episode, Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson discuss the evolving landscape of podcast consumption, particularly in light of Satya Nadella’s innovative approach to engaging with audio content through AI. They explore the significance of transcripts, the potential for AI to facilitate interactive experiences, and the challenges that come with adopting these new technologies. The conversation highlights the future of podcasts as a medium that can be both passive and interactive, reshaping how audiences engage with audio content. Neville and Shel also examine how these same generative AI tools can make other content interactive and the ease with wh...2025-04-0919 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #458: Preparing Managers to Manage Human-AI Hybrid TeamsThe most common refrain we hear about society and the rapid advances in Generative Artificial Intelligence is, “We’re not ready.” We’re not ready for Artificial General Intelligence, and we’re certainly not ready for Artificial Superintelligence. Yet both are approaching uncomfortably quickly.
Business (along with government) is near the top of the list of unprepared entities; in business, managers lead the list of employees who need to get up to speed…fast. It could be as soon as this year that managers will be asked to lead hybrid teams of human employees and AI agents that autonom...2025-04-0420 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #457: Communicating Tariff Impacts`There are few business leaders who won’t need to explain to various stakeholders the impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the trade war it will initiate. How they position those impacts could determine whether they find their organizations in the Administration’s crosshairs. Communicators should counsel leaders on how to address the impacts. Neville and Shel share their thoughts in this short midweek FIR episode.
Links from this episode:
Trade associations: PR’s secret weapon during tariff battle
More pocketbook, less politics: How C-suites should talk about tariffs
Trump’s tariffs – how should t...2025-03-2821 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #456: Does AI Put Communication Expertise At Risk?It’s not just jobs that AI will affect. It’s the perception that employees have important expertise. After all, if AI can do the work, it’s easy to view employees’ special knowledge and experience as less important to the organization. Neville and Shel examine the steps communicators can take to continue to be viewed by leaders as subject matter experts who expertise brings value to the company. Also in this episode:
The publishing platform Ghost is enabling technology to embed it in the fediverse.
New studies reveal that bad communication is leading employees to leave their jobs.
A...2025-03-241h 29For Immediate ReleaseFIR #455: Traditional PR is Dead (Again)In the early days of Web 2.0, several pundits told us that traditional PR was dead, especially for startups, where founders would be better served by handling their own public relations. After some disasters, along with many founders finding themselves overwhelmed by the need to build their business and craft thought leadership pieces while handling media inquiries, that philosophy faded. But now it’s back, and getting a lot of attention as Lulu Cheng Meservey, founder and CEO at the agency Rostra, has released a manifesto calling on leaders to skip the agency and “go direct.” Neville and Shel share their t...2025-03-1720 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #454: When the Media Rewards Spectacle Over SubstanceAt the now-infamous press conference that turned out to be an orchestrated ambush of Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Real American’s Voice correspondent Brian Glenn lobbed a hand grenade of a question to Zelenskyy. That single question was emblematic of an entire shift in the way the media works, requiring a comprehensive rethink of how public relations practitioners prepare for a media environment in which engineered outrage is rewarded by the press because spectacle earns more clicks than substance. In this short midweek episode of For Immediate Release, Neville and Shel break down the many implications for the practice of...2025-03-1018 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #453: Humor Us -- How Playful Teasing Strengthens Brand RelationshipsIt may seem counterintuitive, but playful teasing between brands and customers can produce unexpected benefits. Inspired by research from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, we explore why strategically “roasting” customers with humor and lighthearted banter can enhance brand loyalty and deepen customer connections. Discover how embracing a bit of playful provocation might be the surprising secret ingredient your brand needs to stand out, build lasting relationships, and keep your audience coming back for more.
Also in this episode, we follow up our report from FIR #442 (December 26, 2024) about the publicity battle between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively...2025-03-0414 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR Interview: Steve Rubel on AI, Media Analytics, and the Future of PRIn this FIR Interview, Steve joins Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz - for the fifth time in an FIR Interview - to discuss the role of AI in modern communication, how data-driven storytelling is transforming PR, and why agencies must adapt to survive in an AI-driven industry.2025-02-2640 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #452: Communicating in Chaos“We are once again at a moment in time where things will not — and cannot — be the same again. However it unfolds, the only certainty is chaos will follow.”
So wrote global PR practitioner Catherine Arrow in a post on LinkedIn. In this monthly longform episode, Neville and Shel discuss Catherine’s observation that communicators are caught in the thick of conflict in which division is actively cultivated and truth is disputed and weaponized.
Also in this episode, YouTube viewing has shifted from mobile phones to television sets, with implications for the way communicators and marketers...2025-02-241h 29For Immediate ReleaseFIR #451: Return-to-Office-Obsessed Execs Are Minimizing the Employee VoiceLeaked audio of JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reveals an executive who has dug in his heels and has no interest in listening to the voice of the employee. In the clip, he essentially tells employees, “My way or the highway.”
While the return-to-office mandates don’t represent a majority of businesses, they have been high-profile, as have employee responses, most of which plead for continued accommodation of remote or hybrid work schedules. Executives, of course, are empowered to make the final decision, but ignoring the voice of the employee comes with high risks, including the loss o...2025-02-1723 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #450: Senior Leaders Doubt Communicators' AbilitiesListen to communicators talk about their impact on their organizations and you would be forgiven for thinking that executives find their communication teams to be indispensable. Recent research says otherwise. As complexities mount in the worlds of business, media, and politics, less than 20 percent of senior executives are confident their communicators and public affairs professionals are up to the task of navigating the current environment. Neville and Shel outline the research results and discuss ways communicators can reverse this troubling trend.
Links from this episode:
CEO confidence in communications dwindles, new report
Study: Only 17% of Executives...2025-02-1320 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #449: Employees' Use of Shadow AI SurgesEmployees everywhere are using AI to save time and be more productive. The thing is, many of them are using tools their employers have not approved and they’re not telling anyone. Companies are benefiting from this stealth approach to using generative AI, but there are plenty of risks, too. Neville and Shel look at the data and discuss approaches companies can take that will benefit both them and their employees.
Links from this episode:
Why employees smuggle AI into work
FIR #419: Is Shadow AI an Evil Lurking in the Heart of Your Company?
The Rise of...2025-02-0613 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #448: Has Night Fallen on Change Management and Enterprise Social Networks?Change leadership consultant Caroline Kealey thinks change management is dead. Communication leader Sharon O’Dea thinks Enterprise Social Networking (ESN) is dead.
That’s right: It’s time for another installment of “X is Dead.”
In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel outline the cases these two communication thought leaders make and offer our own thoughts.
Links from this episode:
2025: The Year Change Management Died
Sharon O’Dea’s LinkedIn post on Enterprise Social Networks
The next monthly, long-form episode of FIR will drop on Monday, February 24.
We host a Communi...2025-01-2923 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #447: Decisions, Decisions: The Struggle to Communicate in the Age of Ubiquitous MalignancyThe 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer characterized the current communication environment as one infected by grievance. Another commentator claimed that we are living in an age of ubiquitous malignancy. Communicating with a broad audience of stakeholders is especially challenging in this landscape. While the Trust Barometer identifies business as the only one of the four sectors trusted enough to do anything about it, the options at this point are anything but clear. Also in this long-form episode for January: Different AI large language models (LLMs) portray brands differently, making it a new requirement that communicators consider how AI will position them...2025-01-271h 48For Immediate ReleaseFIR #446: Navigating Grievance: Insights from the 2025 Edelman Trust BarometerIn this short midweek episode, Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson unpack the findings of the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, revealing a global crisis of grievance and eroding trust in societal institutions—government, business, media, and NGOs. Key topics include the impact of trust inequality, the rise of hostile activism, and the expectations placed on CEOs to address societal issues.
Neville and Shel explore the challenges and opportunities for businesses and communicators, emphasizing the need for empathetic leadership, authentic dialogue, and community engagement. They also discuss the implications of income disparity, the role of stakeholder capitalism, and how co...2025-01-2019 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #445: Media Relations in a Turbulent Media LandscapeThe media landscape is in turmoil. It may not be exactly the turmoil we hear about, though, based on research release in a new Poynter Institute report. For example, it is taken as gospel that “people don’t trust the media,” but a survey finds that’s not necessarily accurate. Local news reporters, for example, are highly trusted, mainly because they have established relationships in the community. That supports a broader notion: These days, connection matters more than credentials, for better or for worse, leading to the rise of the “newsfluencer,” who can be anybody from an experienced journalist with a Subst...2025-01-1424 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #444: Preparing for Trump 2.0Media outlets around the world — and in particular in the U.S. — are strategizing how to cover the incoming Trump Administration. Some are even planning to shift their focus to more soft news in order to retain readers and avoid drawing the president’s ire. We look at the implications for the media relations industry in this short midweek episode.
Links from this episode:
How publishers are strategizing for a second Trump administration: softer news and more social media
The Trump to-do list: How communicators are getting ready for the MAGA takeover
Communicating Successfully Amid Political and So...2025-01-0922 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR Interview: Exploring AI's Future in PR with Martin WaxmanIn this FIR Interview, recorded on 19 December 2024, Shel and Neville chat with Martin Waxman about the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on public relations. From relational AI and synthetic personas to crisis management and ethics, the discussion highlights opportunities and challenges for PR professionals. Martin shares insights from his academic research and LinkedIn Learning courses, offering practical advice for integrating AI into communication strategies while maintaining trust and human relationships.2025-01-0850 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #443: From RSS to ChatGPT -- FIR's 20-Year Tech Communications ChronicleFor Immediate Release launched on January 3, 2005. Episode #1 explained what podcasting is, then looked at the role blogs played in the tsunami tragedy in Asia. On our 20th anniversary, Neville and Shel recall FIR’s origins and the many changes the show has undergone in two decades, some significant milestones, memorable moments, some of the challenges we have faced over the years, and other recollections. We will return to our normal programming next week.
Links from this episode:
FIR Episode #1
First mention of podcasting for business (Rex Hammock) in September 2024
FIR Interview: Michael Whiley at GM on th...2025-01-0352 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #442: Justin Baldoni's Attack on Blake Lively Explains Why PR is a Dirty WordAstroturfing, smear campaigns, social media manipulation, unauthorized release of private information, defamation, character assassination, whisper campaigns, media planting, and gaslighting.
These activities are undertaken by the seamiest, most ethically challenged public relations practitioners. While there are far more PR professionals who abide by ethical codes, the bad actors get all the attention, leading to a sordid reputation for the industry that some believe we will never be able to overcome.
The latest example comes from the agency representing actor/producer/director Justin Baldoni, who responded to accusations of inappropriate behavior by engaging an agency that...2024-12-2619 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #441: PR, AI, and Social Media Are All Shook UpThe world’s biggest PR agency laid off five percent of its global staff. It’s a sign of the headwinds facing the industry, including reduced opportunities for earned media, which is what PR agencies spend a lot of their time trying to achieve. We’ll explore what’s happening in the PR agency world in the long-form FIR episode for December 2024. Also in this episode, an update on the social media landscape, with Reddit surpassing X (formerly Twitter) in the U.K.; a look at some of the key findings in “AI Activated,” the latest relevance report from the USC Anne...2024-12-231h 29For Immediate ReleaseFIR #440: Experimenting for InfluenceEven when they know it has been rigged, people assign a lot of credibility to experiments. When they see the experiment produce favorable results, for example, potential customers might be more inclined to buy. Experiments can also influence decision-makers in your company — again, even if they assume you put your thumb on the scale. The phenomenon is similar to wrestling, with audiences knowing the match is staged by enjoying it all the same. Neville and Shel review some research on the subject and discuss ways communicators can apply experimentation to their work in this short midweek episode.
Li...2024-12-1817 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #439: Agentic AI Tops Digital Trends for 2025There is a common thread among many of the predictions and trends posts that typically blossom across the web as the year draws to a close: AI agents are poised to revolutionize (a word we don’t use lightly) work in 2025. The frontier AI models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Llama, and a few others — have captured imaginations and led to various uses throughout the business world. But these chatbots, which deliver answers to natural-language queries, will pale compared to agentic AI, which sets off to complete tasks that require multiple steps autonomously. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel delve...2024-12-1319 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #438: Google's AI Overviews Upend SEOIt doesn’t seem to be a big deal at first glance. A Google AI Overview answers a search query at the top of a Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Beneath it, all those traditional links and snippets are still there. However, analyses reveal that many people are reading the AI Overview and calling it quits — they never click a link to visit a website. That’s concerning to organizations that have relied on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to drive traffic to their pages. In this short midweek FIR podcast episode, Neville and Shel look at the data and the tr...2024-12-0415 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #437: AI Takes Root in the WorkplaceResearch finds that corporations no longer see AI as a novelty; it’s a full-blown business tool, one that is so critical that its development is mostly being done in-house. In the November long-form episode of “For Immediate Release,” Neville and Shel review new research about AI’s place in the business world and among employees. Also in this episode, we take a look at social media in 2024 — a consequential year — and what to expect in 2025. Beutler Ink has published its principles for ethically engaging with Wikipedia. Companies will twist themselves in knots deciding whether, and how, to respond to social an...2024-12-021h 31For Immediate ReleaseFIR #436: Nothin' But Bluesky (and TikTok and Threads, and Instagram and WhatsApp...)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...2024-11-2722 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #435: Physical Presence is Not a Collaboration Magic BulletWhen executives justify their return-to-office mandates, they almost universally cite the collaboration and innovation that result 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.2024-11-2019 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #434: Podcasts Defeat Mainstream Media in 2024 U.S. ElectionAmong 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.
Links from this episode:
Borkowski Media Trends: US Election Special
Donald Trump’s America: Reflections on a Country in Flux – NevilleHobson .com
Trump’s Win Cemented It: New Media Is Leaving the Old Guard Behind
How AI shaped the 2024 electi...2024-11-1320 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR Interview: Embracing AI and Authenticity in Internal Comms with Monique ZytnikIn 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, responds to content overload and the need for more meaningful and strategic engagement.2024-11-0645 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #433: Something Old, Something NewBlogs have been with us for 30 years, which qualifies as “something old.” In this long-form episode of FIR for October, we’ll examine the state of the oldest social media category. We’ll also examine the state of generative Artificial Intelligence, which has been around, for all practical purposes, since November 2022, which makes it “something new.”
In this episode, we’ll also explore Reddit’s potential as a channel for government agencies and businesses to engage with stakeholders during a crisis and which agencies and brands are already there. Intuit’s chief communication officer didn’t like the direction a podc...2024-10-281h 32For Immediate ReleaseFIR #432: The CEO Authenticity Balancing ActCEOs and other senior executives are increasingly expected to nurture a presence on social media—especially LinkedIn, which has seen a 35-percent increase in C-suite professionals in the U.S. over the last five years. These executives are also expected to be authentic in their online engagements, even sharing some details of their personal lives. Professionals also expect their leaders to speak out on pressing societal issues. It’s rare to find an executive who is comfortable displaying vulnerability. That’s where communicators need to step in, helping leaders find the most comfortable way to engage authentically online.
Link...2024-10-1818 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #431: The Evolution of InfluenceIn this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel dive into PRWeek’s “The Evolution of Influence” report, exploring the dynamic shifts in how public relations professionals exert influence in today’s fast-changing landscape. We break down the seven key themes revealed by the survey, including the growing challenges of decentralization, the increasing importance of AI in PR, and the ever-present threat of fake news and deepfakes. Join us as we unpack these insights and discuss how communicators can stay ahead of the curve in maintaining consumer trust, authenticity, and influence in a digital-first world.
Links from this episode2024-10-0219 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #430: Influencers, Memes, and AI Boost Marketing Transparency MandateMuch of the content in this monthly long-form episode of FIR spotlights rising trends in marketing, including employee influencers, Gen Z’s rising power as influencers, the role of influencers in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and AI’s growing presence in the marketing space. All of this is raising alarms about the need for marketers to be transparent and laser-focused on what matters to their stakeholders. Also in this episode: the dominance of chat podcasts and Dan York’s money-focused Tech Report.
The next monthly, long-form episode of FIR will drop on Monday, October 28.
We hos...2024-09-301h 22For Immediate ReleaseFIR #429: Fake Podcasters Dusciss DebunkbotDebunkbot was designed to talk people out of their beliefs in conspiracy theories — and it works. To discuss this remarkable chatbot, we turned to PDF2Audio, which creates an audio podcast discussion (or summary or lecture) from any uploaded PDF. It’s not Google’s NotebookLM, which features a similar capability within a more robust note-keeping tool, nor does it replicate the easy-going, conversational flow that Notebook LM delivers. However, it offers multiple voices, avoiding the sameness of NotebookLM’s outputs. Both tools — though jaw-dropping — have flaws, but given that the technology is just months old, it’s not hard to imagine...2024-09-2713 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #428: Which AI Tool Is Best For What?Edelman, the global PR agency, has vetted the current crop of AI tools, winnowing out those not enterprise-ready, categorizing them, and identifying those that excel at various tasks. Given the dozens (if not more) of new AI tools that appear every day, this can be a big help to overwhelmed communicators who can’t take the time to try out every app that looks potentially useful. Does the report measure up to its promise? Find out in this short midweek episode.
Links from this episode:
Edelman’s 2024 AI Landscape Report
The next monthly, long-form episode of F...2024-09-2519 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #427: The Metaverse Lives! Just Don't Call It The Metaverse.When OpenAI released Chat GPT 3.5 in November 2022, conversations about virtually any other technology were sucked into the vacuum of space. Venture capitalists and other investors shifted priorities overnight, sinking billions into Gen AI and often turning their backs on other endeavors. That and the colossal failure that is Meta’s Horizon Worlds fueled a belief that the metaverse is dead.
It is not. Considerable work is still being done while well over 1 billion people use existing metaverse technologies. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel look at the state of the metaverse, which is more vibrant an...2024-09-0418 minFor Immediate ReleaseFIR #426: We've Got Your Share of Model Right Here“Share of model” refers to the frequency or prominence with which a particular brand, keyword, or phrase appears in an LLM’s responses to user prompts relative to competing brands or related terms. It measures how often and favorably an LLM mentions or discusses a specific entity or concept in its outputs. Marketers and PR practitioners were accustomed to measuring share of voice in search results as part of the SEO efforts. As searches shift to generative AI models, a new approach is needed. Hubspot has just introduced one, and Neville and Shel take a look at AI Search Grader...2024-08-3015 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFIR Interview: Pete Pachal on AI, Social Media, Journalism and Brand EngagementIn this FIR interview with Pete Pachal, founder and CEO of The Media Copilot, Neville and Shel explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and media, with a focus on how generative AI influences social media, journalism, and brand engagement. We also consider how brands must adapt to new social media landscapes where AI-driven conversations may replace traditional metrics of engagement, requiring a shift in how they interact with their audiences.2024-08-1248 min
Circle of FellowsFrom Meh to MarvelousThe goal of communication in any organization is for the recipient to think, feel, or do something. Most often, the outcome we seek is a behavior: We want the recipient to do more of what they’re already doing, do something differently, or do something new. Conveying information alone will rarely inspire someone to action. That requires communicators to add creativity to the mix. In this Circle of Fellows episode, four IABC Fellows explore the application of creativity to business outcomes, including the various approaches one might take, the differences between influencing employees and other stakeholders, and convincing leadership th...2023-08-181h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 68Shel Holtz2023-01-3128 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFIR B2B #146: Language MattersCorporations are increasingly weighing in on social and political issues, and the need to be sensitive to special interests has never been greater. In this show we run through some examples of how the choice of words matters in framing your organization's position in a controversy.2021-04-0515 min
For Immediate Release PodcastDavid Murray On His New Book, "An Effort to Understand"Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2021-04-031h 01
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 54Tamara Rodman2021-03-2921 min
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #67: Corporate Social ResponsibilitySend comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2021-03-191h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastAndrea Weckerle and Jolie O'Dell on CiviliNationSend comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2021-03-1744 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #205Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2021-03-141h 32
For Immediate Release PodcastFIR On Technology #006 - Understanding Core Web Vitals, a new Google search ranking factor in May 2021See https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/2021-03-1332 min
For Immediate Release PodcastPhil Gomes on NFTsSend comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2021-03-1233 min
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 53Victoria Dew2021-03-0233 min
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #66Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2021-02-211h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #204Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2021-02-211h 37For Immediate Release PodcastFIR B2B #145: Greg Ness Is a 'Fractional CMO.' What the Heck Does That Mean?With 20 years of success nurturing technology startups to success, Greg Ness is now a "fractional CMO," working with a small team of experts to bring marketing expertise to emerging companies in a package he calls "go-to-market-as-a-service."2021-02-1624 min
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 52Andy Gilman2021-02-1118 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR B2B #144: The Future of Virtual EventsA discussion of issues with producing these events, the kinds of IT tools that are required, and what you need to do to plan them appropriately.2021-01-2817 min
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #65Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2021-01-241h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 512020 takeaways2020-12-2214 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #202Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2020-12-201h 10
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #64Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2020-12-181h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #63Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2020-11-231h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #201Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2020-11-211h 17
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 50Louis de Schorlemer2020-11-1836 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR B2B #143: Mitch Ratcliffe On How COVID is Making All Marketing Local AgainJournalist and social media entrepreneur Mitch Ratcliffe believes COVID-19 has shifted all marketing to become local and omnichannel.2020-11-1020 min
For Immediate Release PodcastALP2020-10-2020 min
For Immediate Release PodcastIt's time for agencies to pivot back to long-term planning2020-10-2025 min
For Immediate Release Podcast9 ways to price your agency's services2020-10-2037 min
For Immediate Release PodcastMoney vs. PassionChip and Gini talk about how to make a living while doing something you love. It can be difficult to get to a place where you’re both happy with what you do, and also getting compensated well, but it’s far from impossible. They discuss their past experiences related to this, both the good and the bad, and share what they have learned along the way.2020-10-2019 min
For Immediate Release PodcastALP: Why Agency Price Wars are a Bad IdeaChip and Gini discuss the drawbacks to pricing wars, and how you can extract fair value for your services as an agency.2020-10-2018 min
For Immediate Release PodcastThe role of your team in selling agency servicesOn this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini talk about business development, sales responsibilities, and the importance of defining the roles your team members play in contributing to the growth of the agency.2020-10-2021 min
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #62Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2020-10-181h 00
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #200Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2020-10-181h 04
For Immediate Release PodcastEE Voice Episode 49Mark Dollins, Jon Stemmel2020-10-1434 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFIR On Technology #005 - Understanding WordPress 5.5See https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/2020-09-3019 minFor Immediate Release PodcastFIR B2B #142: Why B2B Marketers Should Care About 'The Social Dilemma'The new movie The Social Dilemma carries the message that the social giants have sold us and our data down the river, and we now are stuck with the consequences. We believe B2B marketers can do more to fight against misuse of personal information and the spread of hate speech online.2020-09-2917 min
For Immediate Release PodcastFor Immediate Release #199Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com Attach up to a 3-minute audio comment. Or leave an audio comment from the FIR Podcast Network website. Join the FIR Community on Facebook.2020-09-271h 25
For Immediate Release PodcastCircle of Fellows #61Send comments to fircomments@gmail.com. Attach an audio comment up to 3 minutes long), leave a comment on the post for this episode on the FIR Podcast Network, or comment on the FIR Podcast Network Facebook Group.2020-09-2059 minFor Immediate Release PodcastThought Leader Life #242Guest Dr. Dorothy MArtin-Neville2020-01-2408 min
The Chats with Chip PodcastCWC 10: Neville Hobson on AI and machine learning in PROn the latest episode of Chats with Chip, I’m joined by Neville Hobson to talk about the role artificial intelligence and machine learning will have in the public relations industry. Neville is the co-founder of the FIR Podcast Network and currently works for IBM — home of Watson. We talk about everything from the automated creation of news stories by computers to the role that big data plays in communications — with a digression or two along the way, of course. The post CWC #10: Neville Hobson on AI and Machine Learning in PR appeared first on FIR…
Click to read...2016-07-1931 min
Inside PRInside PR 420: Neville Hobson Hangs Up His MicThis week, we have something special: Joe’s interview with Neville Hobson, co-host of theHobson & Holtz Report and one of the first PR podcasters.
But first, our #InsidePRMustKnow segment.
Martin: The social news distribution space is getting a little more crowded. Facebook’s adding a Twitteresque app to let publishers send out breaking news alerts.
Joe: An academic study shows that what works for marketing – good SERP – also will affect voting decisions in elections. Something for us all to be aware of and vigilant about. Also, helps understand the concern of European authorities over the dom...2015-08-1926 min
Six Pixels of Separation PodcastSPOS #230 - Podcasting About Podcasting With Neville HobsonWelcome to episode #230 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. This past week, I wrote a Blog post titled, The Selfish Art of Podcasting. Well, if there's one episode that I can point to as an example of that kind of selfishness, this one would be it. While visiting London for less than 24-hours a few weeks back, I was thrilled to finally meet Neville Hobson in person for breakfast. I've been connected to Neville for almost six years now, but we've never met in our "protein forms" (as I like to call it). Hobson is...2010-11-2936 min
The Rundown – Luke Armour – Digital Marketing and Public Relations Observations, Commentary, FrivolityThe Rundown with Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson-Part IIWelcome to the Rundown Podcast. Here I give and get The Rundown on social media and all things Public Relations and Digital marketing on the web. Episode 4 of The Rundown Podcast features part two of my discussion of podcasting with communication and podcast rockstars – Shel Holtz (@shel) and Neville Hobson (@jangles) from the […]2009-06-0800 minThe Rundown – Luke Armour – Digital Marketing and Public Relations Observations, Commentary, FrivolityThe Rundown with Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson-Part IWelcome to the Rundown Podcast. Here I give and get The Rundown on social media and all things Public Relations and Digital marketing on the web. Episode 3 of The Rundown Podcast features part one of a discussion of podcasting with two of my favorite podcasters – Shel Holtz (@shel) and Neville Hobson (@jangles) from […]2009-05-2800 min