✅ Misstep to model: Women in PR's exemplary response to diversity shortcomings
Your week ahead in management, media and public relations
Organisations that fail to meet public expectations frequently become a lightning rod for public opinion. The limited nature of apologies and action means that efforts to address failings often go unreported and the reputational impact can be longstanding.
Women in PR was widely criticised within the UK public relations industry in February for announcing a Shadow Board that did not adequately represent women from racially diverse backgrounds.
It was a significant failure for an organisation that aims to increase the number and diversity of women in leadership roles in public relations and corporate communications. PRWeek also failed to spot the issue in its reporting, indicating that the industry has a significant way to address diversity and inclusion in practice.
Women in PR has taken exemplary action since. It has engaged with its community, undertaken an internal review, and outlined the steps it plans to take to make change. That started on Friday with a statement to members.
Women in PR has set three main goals in response to the issues highlighted by the shadow board:
improving representation
creating an inclusive culture
advocating for issues affecting its diverse membership
Women in PR said that it plans to address the immediate issues highlighted by the Shadow Board by conducting an audit, collecting diversity data, recruiting additional committee and Shadow Board members and launching a mentoring program with clear representation benchmarks.
It also said that it will seek to address broader cultural issues by undertaking a comprehensive refresh of its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy, including a listening period, incorporating insights and commissioning an external review.
Sarah Waddington CBE made a good point when she forwarded me the Women in PR newsletter.
“If everyone shared the Women in PR response in the way they’d been quick to point out the original issue, perhaps we’d start to see meaningful change as an industry. We must do better at creating a safe space so more people can learn and make change,” she said.
In an era when organisations claim to learn from mistakes but then fail to commit to action, the response and plan from Women in PR is refreshing. I look forward to reading about its progress.
Management
🌍 DIRECTORS’ NATURE DUTIES: A legal opinion published by the Commonwealth and Climate Law Initiative spotlights a director’s duty to the environment under English law. It argues that environmental impact is related to how a company operates and that directors should identify, assess and consider disclosing material nature-related risks facing companies. Source: Commonwealth and Climate Law Initiative.
🧑⚖️ EU AI ACT: The European Parliament has adopted the landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to ensure the safety and compliance of AI systems with fundamental rights while fostering innovation. The new law bans high-risk AI applications, establishes obligations for other high-risk AI systems, sets transparency requirements and includes measures to support innovation and SMEs. Source: European Union.
Industry
🚶 SLOW PROGRESS: Women in public relations have made strides in breaking taboos, rising to leadership roles, and reshaping the industry, but challenges like the gender pay gap and work-life balance remain. Work remains to be done to achieve true equality and create an environment where all women can thrive. Source: PRovoke.
Research and insight
🏆 MOST ADMIRED: Legal & General claimed the title of Britain's Most Admired Company for the second consecutive year. The top ten featured AstraZeneca, ARUP, Total SE, Ashtead Group, Diageo, Intermediate Capital Group, Equinor, Man Group, and Next. The index recognises the UK’s top companies based on feedback from C-suite peers, financial analysts and industry experts. Source: Britain’s Most Admired.
📈 MARKETING MATTERS: Research from McKinsey suggest that organisations that link marketing and management are twice as likely to outperform peers, achieving more than five per cent annual growth. CEOs need to work with CMOs to clearly define marketing's role, apply modern marketing methodologies and align on key metrics that link marketing performance to overall business impact. Source: McKinsey.
🔗 TRAFFIC TIDBITS: SparkToro reports that Google is responsible for nearly two-thirds of all web traffic referrals with other major sites such as Facebook, Reddit and YouTube trailing behind. Understanding these trends can help practitioners effectively reach target audiences through the most impactful channels. Source: SparkToro.
Media
📻 RADIO RAPPORT: Source: The Portsmouth News and Express FM have launched a content-sharing collaboration to strengthen local news coverage in the city. This partnership will enable public relations practitioners to secure both print and broadcast coverage for their stories. Hold The Front Page.
🎙 PODCAST POWERHOUSES: The top three podcasts in the UK for Q4 2023 were The Joe Rogan Experience, The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, and Shagged Married Annoyed. Edison Research has published a list of the top 25 podcasts by reach. The medium is a growing opportunity for public relations practitioners to pitch speakers. Source: Edison Research.
Technology and platforms
🔍 GOOGLE BUSINESS LINKS: Google has added a new feature displaying recent social media posts within Google Business listings. It allows businesses to showcase their latest content from connected social media profiles like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Practitioners should ensure social media profiles are properly linked and actively post engaging content. Source: Google.
👎 META PSYCHOLOGIST RESIGNS: A leading psychologist has resigned from her advisory role at Meta, accusing the company of prioritising profits over user safety by failing to remove self-harm content from Instagram. Lotte Rubæk said Meta's inaction on harmful content is triggering vulnerable young women and contributing to rising suicide rates despite the company's public stance on addressing these issues. Source: The Guardian.
Artificial intelligence
🎨 AI ANTICS: Lunchables' new campaign pits AI against kids' imaginations, tasking both with creating fantastical artwork based on Lunchables Dunkables products. The results highlight AI's creative limitations compared to human beings. It reminds practitioners to balance AI with human creativity and authenticity in campaigns and communications. Source: Marketing Dive.
I'm delivering the keynote address about aligning internal communications and management at the CIPR Inside Summit on Tuesday. My thanks to CIPR Inside co-chairs Katie Marlow and Rebecca Williams for their kind invitation and for creating what promises to be a brilliant event. Please come and join us.
Thank you to the following members of the House of Marketing & PR community of practice for sharing and debating stories covered in the newsletter over the past week: Alan Morrison, Maja Pawinska Sims, Andrew Bruce Smith and Sarah Waddington CBE.