Caroline Donnelly

Burnout is prevalent in the communications profession “PR professionals continue to have a higher risk of poor mental health than the general UK workforce” said the CIPR & PRCA 2023/24 Mental Wellbeing Audit. Here are some sad statistics: - State of Us 2023 survey found that 1 in 2 communications professionals experienced stress, anxiety, or burnout in the year leading up to the survey - Women in PR 2023 campaign revealed 66% of female PR professionals have considered quitting their PR job due to burnout - CIPR & PRCA 2023/24 Mental Wellbeing Audit showed that 91% of PR professionals reported poor mental health in the last 12 months Communications/PR colleagues do you relate to this? (I know I do) What do you think would help make a difference? #communications #burnout Image description: White quote on a beige background which says “PR professionals continue to have a higher risk of poor mental health than the general UK workforce” 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m Georgia, I’m a strategic comms specialist with over 13 years' experience 👩🏻‍💻 I post about comms - from neuroinclusive comms to leadership in comms - and the importance of flexible working as a tool to tackle the motherhood penalty 👩🏻‍💼 All opinions are my own, not my employer’s

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Misinformation in an #election period comes with a heightened source of caution. With the added influx of #GenAI technology, the ability to disrupt the information ecosystem is inevitable. Really pleased to contribute to Press Gazette on my experience in how to spot #misinformation from #disinformation and #malinformation and how it commonly presents https://lnkd.in/egKkbGQt

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According to PRWeek UK research, over 65% of #publicrelations agencies rate the quality of briefs that they receive from in house comms teams as either 'very poor', 'poor' or just 'average'. Only 2.2% say they receive an 'excellent' brief. This is clearly a massive challenge and shows how important it it that the whole industry steps up, if we're to ever break out of the chicken and egg cycle that we spend too much time inhabiting. Senior in-house practioners that I speak to are regularly frustrated by the quality of #PR agency reponses and work - typically across their #planning, #strategy and #measurement / #evaluation appoach. Tactics and activty are rarely questioned, and are where the PR agency focusses in response. This research helps explain why - without excellent briefs, the PR agency can be in the dark about how else to respond. The rise of #procurement departments implementing rules where prospective suppliers can't contact the prospective client just makes the matter worse. The PR agency is literally blindfolded. #PRWeek's article, linked in the first comment below, sets out a number of challenges that need addressing. They focus on : Budget Clarity - Some briefs fail to mention any budget, while others provide unrealistic ranges Clear Organisational Objectives - Many briefs lack clear, specific objectives. Without well-defined goals, clearly defined audiences and transparent sharing of benchmark data, agencies will always find it challenging to tailor their strategies effectively. Objectives need to be outcome focussed and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) Decision-Maker Involvement: A lack of up front attention from decision makers and absence at critical stages can easily lead to misalignment. RFPs and pitch processes are not a chore to be delegated and avoided Procurement and Process Efficiency: Overly complex procurement processes can be burdensome, and frequently result in clients buying based on price, not value Realistic Expectations: Some clients exhibit a lack of understanding of PR's capabilities and can set unrealistic expectations If we want to improve the perception, practice and achievements that can be delivered through PR and Comms programmes, we all need to work together to take responsibility. In house teams need to invest the time to write great briefs and run great RFP processes. They need to provide clearly stated outcome focussed objectives, realistic budgets and be present and engaged throughout the process. In turn, agencies need to focus on strategic planning based on these objectives, great creativity and brilliant tactical execution. With all of this aligned, we can all move on to a world of better #measurement and #evaluation as well. Let's all work together to make frustrated quotes like this from the article be a thing of the past! 😖 “Lack of SMART objectives across all briefs” – Anon 😖

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I recently created a poll looking into what three press coverage opportunities would be most valued by my network, and the results were very interesting, to say the least. Out of the options of a by-lined article, an attributed comment, and a paid-for podcast... Drum roll, please... 🥁 The by-lined article was a clear winner.   But what does this mean? 🤔 With the least number of votes, the Attributed Comment (Quote) received 12% of the votes. This option received the least interest from my network, suggesting that while quotes are valuable for specific contexts, they do not provide the same depth or lasting impact as the other options. In second place, we have the paid-for podcast with 21%. The podcast option also received notable support, perhaps due to its potential for repurposing and longevity, suggesting that some of you appreciate the engaging, versatile nature of audio content. And in first place, we have the by-line article with 64% of the votes. This option was the most popular, indicating a strong preference for content that offers depth and editorial control. Everyone who commented seemed to value the impact and the opportunity to express thorough insights in an article format. I think all of these options have a time and place where they can be most effective, but as the results suggest, a by-line article with the right placement can go a long way. The results point to a recognition that by-line articles require more effort but are still seen as having a greater impact and better longevity compared to just a quote included among others. When compared to a paid-for podcast, the element of trust can be called into question when financial strings are attached. A podcast can be a powerful tool, but you have to be selective. With a by-line, you get more real estate, and presuming I write something thoughtful and compelling (nothing too vain), it will attract a lot of eyeballs to you and your company.  As well as positioning you as an expert and authority within your industry. With the by-lined contributed article taking centre stage, there's a sense that people value detailed analysis and well-crafted narratives that stand the test of time.  These, of course, can be leveraged not only for immediate impact but also for building a robust content library that enhances your brand's credibility and SEO as time goes on. Stay tuned for my next poll.... 

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A little bit of 'crisis comms' advice from a comms professional... for Innovate UK (and/or anyone else going through some bad press right now)... >> Do not change your messaging after the event in the hope no one will notice. << Own your mistake / problem. Take accountability. Be honest. Be transparent. Be human - show vulnerability. If you messed up, say it. If you don't know what's gone wrong, say it. If you need time to come up with a plan, be truthful. The worst thing you can do is A) lie or B) try to cover it up. Boris Johnson is a fantastic example of why this is not a good strategy! For context, if you've been living under a bush and missed the huge wave of commentary about this on LinkedIn, the ‘Women in Innovation Awards’ promised that 50 female-founded and female-led businesses would receive a £75k grant and package of support, from a funding pot of £4 million. 1,452 women applied for the award; but only 25 awards have been granted. Assuming each grant is £75,000, this is a total of £1,875,000. This leaves £2,125,000 unfunded at present 💸 Originally, the website said it would award 50 women up to £75,000. It has now been changed to say 'up to' 50 women would be awarded 'up to' £75,000.

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