PRmoment Podcast

In the latest PRmoment Podcast news review, host Ben Smith sits down with PR heavyweights Mark Borkowski and Angie Moxham to dissect a packed agenda covering political downfalls, tech trillionaires, and sports geopolitics. Before diving in, Smith drops a crucial reminder to secure tickets for the upcoming PR in AI Masterclass, featuring an incredible lineup available both face-to-face and virtually.The Politics of War and a Leadership VacuumThe discussion kicks off with the unraveling of Keir Starmer's leadership following high-profile exits like John Healy over defence budget shortfalls. Angie Moxham delivers a scathing review, calling the exit the "last weapon of mass Starmer destruction" and the "final nail-in in Keir's coffin." She describes Starmer as a "wounded dog limping towards the exit door," concluding simply that "he's not a leader."Mark Borkowski highlights the internal party despair, noting insiders have long since "given up on Keir."Looking ahead, Moxham predicts Manchester's Andy Burnham will secure a slim win at the Makerfield election and ultimately "end up in number 10."Elon Musk and the Illusion of ValueThe panel then tackles Elon Musk's trajectory toward becoming the world's first trillionaire. Borkowski holds nothing back, blasting Musk for "interfering with British politics from the other side of the world with some really disgusting and inciting language." He strongly challenges the cultural idolization of "mega tech bros," asking if they should be viewed as examples for humanity: "I argue you're not."Moxham balances this critique with a critical lesson for comms professionals, noting Musk has "absolutely managed the art of perception to drive value in his businesses." For any CEO doubting PR's bottom-line impact, Moxham argues Musk is the ultimate proof of its power—even if he completely rewrites the rules of public accountability.The World Cup Paradox: Unity vs. GeopoliticsFinally, the conversation shifts to the upcoming North American World Cup. Moxham underscores the immense emotional and cultural stakes of the beautiful game, sharing a striking quote: "The World Cup is the only event on earth where a billion people cry at the same time. The question is... whether those are tears of joy or tears of hatred."While Borkowski notes that toxic global politics is already seeping into the tournament, he remains optimistic that great football will ultimately win out and rescue everyone from politicians to brands.Master the Future: PR in AI MasterclassAs technology and perception continue to redefine the global corporate landscape, staying ahead of the curve is non-negotiable. Head over to the PRmoment homepage to grab your tickets for the PR in AI Masterclass. Tickets are flying out the door for both the face-to-face and virtual sessions—don't miss out on learning from an absolutely amazing lineup of industry experts!

In the May 2026 edition of the PRmoment Podcast, host Ben Smith sits down with new business maestro Andrew Bloch (AAR, PCB Partners) to dissect a shifting UK communications landscape. The overarching theme of the month highlights a widening divide between agencies riding massive waves of momentum and those experiencing localized, procurement-driven hesitation.Before diving into the market data, Ben shares two critical industry diary dates for your radar:AI in PR Masterclass (July 2nd, 2026): Titled The Age of Algorithms, Predictive Analytics, and Risk, this event is a comprehensive guide to navigating future-facing tech. Secure your virtual or face-to-face London spot at PRmasterclasses.com.The Creative Moment Awards: The absolute final entry deadline is closing fast on Friday, 19th June 2026. Ensure your team's best creative work is in the running by submitting over at creativemomentawards.co.Key Themes1. The procurement squeeze and market polarizationAndrew Bloch defines the current climate as one of "cautious optimism" mixed with macro anxiety. Pipelines are active, but growth is unevenly distributed. Agencies with sharp specialisms—particularly in sports, consumer lifestyle, and social—are thriving, while others face gridlocked client sign-offs. Furthermore, clients are heavily relying on procurement to extract maximum commercial impact, shifting expectations entirely away from traditional "column inches."2. The independent "David vs. Goliath" surgeA massive takeaway from May's pitch cycle is the clear dominance of independent agencies over legacy network holding companies. Clients are progressively prioritizing agile storytelling and pure earned media capabilities over sheer corporate scale.3. M&A Strategy: earned media as strategic platform glueWhile private equity (PE) and trade buyers are exercising strict valuation discipline, high-quality independents remain hot targets. Private equity is increasingly viewing standout consumer PR agencies as anchor platforms to bolt on smaller social, data, and AI-enabled services.Major pitch wins & M&A DealsNotable Wins: Words and Pixels scooped the coveted UK/Ireland brief for tech giant Pinterest, beating out legacy networks. Newly launched Joe Public landed Sneak Energy, and The Romans expanded their sports footprint by securing Oakley's global and North American remit. Other wins included Grayling taking the Croatian National Tourist Board and Hope and Glory onboarding Ask Italian.M&A Highlights: Publicis made a massive $2.2 billion bet on tech infrastructure by acquiring data collaboration platform LiveRamp at a 30% premium. Meanwhile, Havas snapped up Paris-based corporate influence firm Format, and Mike Worldwide acquired workplace communications agency Hudson Lake.Quotes from Andrew BlochOn maintaining agency momentum:"In a market like this where budgets could disappear overnight, momentum is really the closest thing you can get to having security... You can't stand still in this market. Standing still is going backwards."On why private equity is hunting for PR firms:"What's really encouraging for the PR space is they're seeing earned media as actually the glue that ties together lots of different bits of the marketing mix."On the resurgence of pure storytelling:"A lot of agencies have almost forgotten the art of storytelling and the art of earned media... Let's not forget how important earned media is. That's where PR is."

In this episode of the PRmoment Podcast, Ben Smith and Will Hart, CEO of PRmoment Leaders, engage in a timely debate surrounding the structural integration of public relations and artificial intelligence. Moving decisively past the initial "experimental" phase where practitioners simply played with basic prompts, the industry has rapidly arrived at a critical juncture. Today's leaders are forced to confront foundational organizational design questions, evolving agency structures, and entirely new talent profiles.While Hart highlights the profound excitement of being able to fundamentally rethink traditional operational workflows, Smith offers a grounded counter-perspective: the core objective of public relations—using distinct channels to strategically influence audiences—remains fundamentally unchanged. However, the infrastructure utilized to achieve these goals is shifting dramatically. A primary catalyst is the democratisation of predictive analytics; a concept that was once a cost-prohibitive dream for marketers is now an accessible reality for modern PR targeting. Yet, this technological leap brings multifaceted risks. Agency leaders are navigating intense client pushback regarding intellectual property security, deepfakes, corporate reputation vulnerabilities, and looming sector-specific compliance regulations.A significant portion of the dialogue focuses on agency workflows and the existential threat of automation. Smith warns against a reductive approach to AI, noting that if an agency's sole strategy is the integration of basic tools, it triggers a "race to the bottom" since everyone has access to the same software. True competitive advantage relies on human curiosity and the ability to navigate strategic ambiguity. This technical evolution directly challenges the traditional agency pyramid model. As AI automates the "grunt work," leaders must figure out how to train junior entry-level staff who historically relied on those repetitive tasks to learn the trade. Concurrently, in-house corporate communications roles are experiencing a major boardroom elevation, transforming CCOs into critical stakeholders guiding their broader enterprises through the AI revolution.To master these urgent structural friction points, PR professionals should secure tickets to the upcoming AI in PR Masterclass (full agenda details at https://www.prmasterclasses.com/masterclass/pr-masterclasses-ai-in-pr/agenda).Curated by Smith, this advanced, pitch-free session is not a how to write prompts for ChatGPT tutorial - it's a high-level strategic activation. The elite speaker lineup includes Sal Della Monica (MikeWorldwide) discussing how to prevent efficiency from diluting work effectiveness, Allison Spray (Burson) exposing AI implementation traps, and Andy Barr revealing critical research on which media titles influence LLM results.Additionally, leading copyright lawyer Luke English will break down the legal landscape, Mike Robb (Boldspace) will showcase agent-based workflow redesigns, and Kat Arnull will delve into the power of market mix modeling. The day also features a powerhouse corporate panel with in-house communications directors from L&G, Tenable, Procore, and Verizon, wrapped up by Peter Heneghan (Albie) forecasting the ultimate redesign of future communications teams. Available both in-person and via virtual live stream, space is strictly limited.Will Hart on the scale of the AI shift:"AI in PR got real very quickly. It's massively exciting though. How many times in your life in your working life do you get to be in a place where you can fundamentally rethink everything you do and how you do it."Ben Smith on the hidden danger of over-automating:"You might run the most beautifully efficient PR business by integrating AI into your workflow. But if you're not very careful about the quality of your work, your level of insight may well decrease."Ben Smith on why relying solely on tools backfires:“If your strategy is the integration of tools and agents in your business, it's a race to the bottom. Because everyone's basically got access to that."Ben Smith on how predictive analytics solves PR's historical budget issue:"One of the things that has always had the handbrake on PR budgets is that unpredictability of outcome because there's so many other things going on... but AI has made predictive analytics accessible for a fraction of the historical cost. For PR that is going to change the game"

In this week's edition of the News Review on the PRmoment podcast, host Ben Smith, is joined by industry heavyweights Mark Borkowski and Angie Moxham to dissect one of the most significant political crisis management events of the year: Nicola Sturgeon's high-stakes sit-down interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC. Following her estranged husband Peter Murrell's recent guilty plea to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP, the former First Minister faced an intense 55-minute interrogation aimed at shifting the narrative from political complicity to personal betrayal.Ben kicks off the discussion by questioning whether the interview succeeded in separating Sturgeon's personal reputation from the unfolding financial scandal of the party she led for nearly a decade. Mark Borkowski offers a sharp critique of the crisis communications strategy, noting that while Sturgeon's performance was emotionally raw—particularly when discussing a £425 necklace bought with stolen funds—it ultimately struggled under the weight of incredulity. He argues that her core defense—claiming she had no "conscious memory" of a massive motorhome parked outside her mother-in-law's house—strained public belief, leaving the "brand" of Sturgeon severely damaged despite her formidable media skills.Angie Moxham shifts the lens toward the gender dynamics and long-term reputational impact. Moxham observes that Sturgeon deliberately weaponized a highly relatable narrative: the trope of a successful woman being unfairly blamed for the hidden, fraudulent actions of the man in her life. While Angie acknowledges that this framing could resonate strongly with a core segment of the public and female voters, she questions whether it can truly repair the massive trust deficit currently facing the SNP. Moxham analyzes how the "personal vs. political" mashup plays out for independent brand survival, noting that Sturgeon's insistence that she is “serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit” effectively positions her as the primary victim, eclipsing the independence donors whose money was actually taken.The panel agrees that while the BBC gave Sturgeon the necessary space to outline her trauma and bewilderment, the interview highlights the near-impossible task of separating a leader's legacy from systemic organizational failure. Ultimately, the review concludes that while Sturgeon successfully reminded the public of her formidable communication prowess, the sheer volume of high-value goods involved makes an absolute reputational recovery unlikely.Finally, Ben closes the segment with an important industry notice, urging listeners to submit their entries for the upcoming Creative Moment Awards before the final entry deadline on June 19th.You can watch the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Interview to see the exact moment Nicola Sturgeon addresses the embezzlement scandal and discusses the personal toll it has taken on her life.

On this PRmoment podcast today we're chatting about the Nils Leonardgate.Is comparing earned media creativity and paid media creativity pointless?I normally have this debate internally in my own head when I watch the annual PR/ad creative bun fight at Cannes but it's come a bit early this year following Uncommon founder Nils Leonard's latest activation of his "let's start a fight' strategy where he says: "The PR industry should be scared, not just of Uncommon but in general."We'll also discuss to what extent paid media creative and earned media creatives are similar, and to what extent are they different. Can they ever be compared with much validity? To talk about all this stuff welcome Hope & Glory co-founder James Gordon Macintosh.Before we start the final entry deadline to The Creative Moment Awards is on Friday 19th June 2026.Key Themes1. Ad Land's Cyclical "Discovery"Gordon-Macintosh believes that this is not a paradigm shift, but rather a predictable, cyclical reaction to macroeconomic pressures. Whenever paid media budgets shrink due to client belt-tightening or shifting algorithms, advertising shops look to colonise PR space to protect their revenue lines. Every decade, advertising "discovers" a discipline PR has been practicing for years—whether it's social media, creator marketing, or culture marketing—and rebrands it as something entirely new.2. Bought vs. Earned Creative ArchitectureThe structural divergence between advertising creativity and PR creativity forms a central pillar of the debate. Advertising is hardwired for absolute control—agencies write a script, buy the slot, and force eyeballs onto the screen. PR, conversely, requires navigating a chaotic, reactive ecosystem of third-party validation, shifting editorial gatekeepers, and genuine cultural conversations where control is surrendered in exchange for authenticity.3. The "Infinite Monkey Cage" of Ad-Led PRWhile acknowledging Uncommon's brilliant output (such as Rat Boot and PAIN), Gordon-Macintosh draws a line between flashy stunts and sustainable communication strategy.Quotes from James Gordon Macintosh:"Every decade, I'd say advertising discovers something PR has frankly been doing for years, and they try to give it a new name.""Advertising is about buying your way into the media space—you buy the eyeballs. PR genuinely has to engage with what people are actually talking about.""If you take an infinite number of monkeys and give them an infinite number of typewriters... mathematically one will eventually write Hamlet. In ad agencies, an earned idea is all too often luck, not skill."

In this episode of the PRmoment Podcast, host Ben Smith sits down with Will Hart, CEO of PRmoment Leaders, to unpack the four most pressing leadership challenges facing senior agency executives. As agencies navigate an era characterized by unprecedented disruption, Hart highlights how leaders are balancing day-to-day business survival with systemic shifts in technology and workforce culture.Key ThemesAI Disruption & Governance: Artificial Intelligence is the most pervasive topic across agency masterclasses. The challenge has evolved from initial existential panic to practical governance—determining how to safely integrate AI into client services, agency structures, and junior talent workflows without losing the human element.The Multi-Generational Divide: A distinct cultural fault line has emerged between pre-COVID and post-COVID workforces. Gen Z and junior practitioners prioritize hard boundaries and work-life balance, contrasting sharply with the traditional, "always-on" agency culture of the past.The Unsettled Hybrid Work Model: The debate over hybrid working remains volatile. While client-side CEOs increasingly demand five-day in-office weeks, agencies are attempting to maintain flexible structures (typically a 3:2 model) to retain talent, with proximity and commute times dictating employee satisfaction.High Performance in Hyper-Competitive Markets: Leaders are forced to maintain profitability, pitch constantly, and deliver exceptional creative work while fundamentally restructuring their businesses.On AI Panic: > "If you work hard, you're motivated, and you're intelligent... you're going to be alright. It's a tool for you to earn more. You don't need to panic." — Ben SmithOn Gen Z and Work-Life Balance: > "The Gen Z people... they have a different approach to life. They are more generally into work-life balance actually and, you know, hard to fault them on that, isn't it?" — Will HartOn the Current Pace of Change: > "It's sort of like building the plane as you're flying it... everything we've spoken about now, I guess particularly AI, is just driving such massive change." — Will HartElevate Your Agency: Join the Latest Semester of PRmoment LeadersAre you a senior PR agency leader trying to navigate these exact friction points alone? You don't have to. The latest semester of PRmoment Leaders has officially kicked off, offering an exclusive, private community where over 30 agency bosses openly share challenges, benchmarks, and strategies.This semester features an unmissable masterclass lineup designed to solve modern agency pain points:Clara Biu (Allwyn UK): On the evolving talent profile required for modern in-house teams.Bruce McLachlan (Amazon): Revealing "10 things I wish I'd known when running an agency."Nicola Green (Virgin Media O2): On elevating comms to the board level without a CMO.Thierry Ngutegure (Six Chillies): On the intersection of SEO, data, and PR storytelling.Frankie Cory (Hello Tomorrow): On building a modern agency from scratch with AI at its core.Ben Smith (PRmoment): Breaking down macro-trends and insights from over 430 podcast interviews.Click here to learn more about PRmoment Leaders and secure your place for the next cohort!

Stay Ahead of the Comms Curve! As discussed in this week's news review, modern public relations requires a bold, adaptive approach to narrative building and corporate communication. To ensure your skills remain razor-sharp in an evolving digital landscape, don't miss PRmoment's AI in PR Masterclass. Learn how to ethically and effectively leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to supercharge your campaigns, streamline insights, and manage modern brand reputations.

In this episode of the PRmoment Podcast, host Ben Smith sits down with the industry's veteran commentators, Mark Borkowski and Angie Moxham, to dissect the shifting boundaries of media integrity, agency workflows, and national political communication. Together, the panel delivers a timely analysis of an industry facing an existential crisis of trust.Here's the link to PRmoment's PR Masterclass AI in PR.1. The threat AI "make-believe" journalistsThe episode kicks off with a sobering discussion centered on tech journalist Rob Waugh's latest reporting in the Press Gazette. Waugh exposes an industrial-scale manipulation scheme where entirely fabricated, AI-generated journalist personas have successfully placed hundreds of articles across major global business titles. These ghost writers are systematically deployed to surreptitiously plug crypto schemes, tech startups, and corporate interests.Borkowski notes that while propaganda and astroturfing are legacy tactics, generative AI scales them to a terrifying degree. The panel recalls the recent Cannes Lions scandal, where an entry won a prestigious award using entirely fabricated media coverage out of South America, highlighting a systemic vulnerability where agencies prioritize superficial metrics over verification. Moxham points out that this "phantom press" is the inevitable consequence of traditional newsrooms being hollowed out by massive redundancies, leaving overstretched editorial teams vulnerable to automated deception.2. "Back to the Future": The PR revivalIn response to this rising tide of automated noise, Moxham champions a radical return to traditional PR foundations—a strategy she calls "back to the future." As algorithmic content compromises independent media, the panel predicts a massive audience backlash that will drive consumers back to trusted, verified heritage brands.For PR practitioners, the antidote to AI replication is raw human connection. Moxham sharply critiques the modern tendency of junior agency staff to act like "monkeys on a typewriter," hiding behind digital data and email grids. Instead, she urges a revival of "white-eyeballing it"—picking up the phone, pressing the flesh, and stepping out of the office to build deep client and media rapport. Borkowski echoes this, identifying a generational deficit where younger professionals struggle to navigate real-time phone conversations, even as overstretched journalists operate like "galley slaves" with little time to meet. Ultimately, the panel agrees that personal networks are the only asset guaranteed to survive a career, suggesting modern alternatives like personalized WhatsApp voice notes to maintain a high-touch human presence.3. Political Vacuums and the Power of the SoundbiteShifting to national politics, the conversation turns to the brewing leadership crisis within the Labour Party. With the party locked in a high-stakes strategic vacuum ahead of a pivotal, by-election, Moxham views Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as Labour's strongest candidate to stabilize market confidence and protect the country's recent economic growth metrics.Analyzing the broader communication landscape, Borkowski argues that while figures like Keir Starmer are fundamentally decent, they struggle because they project robotic corporate brands. Conversely, populists like Nigel Farage excel because they understand that modern audiences react emotionally to punchy soundbites rather than structured paragraphs. Farage operates masterfully as a "soundbite man," fearlessly voicing the exact grievances an unsettled electorate is thinking. The panel concludes with a stark warning: Reform UK is poised to deploy its deep pockets and sophisticated social media apparatus to destabilize Labour's By-election campaign.

This latest PRmoment podcast with Grayling's Tom Symondson explores AI integration in public relations.Tom simplifies the process into 3 themes:AI Integration and StrategyAgencies will implement AI by prioritizing internal efficiency and service innovation. Implementation success requires depth over breadth to maximize impact.Human Augmentation and RisksAI should serve as an augmentation tool to support experts rather than replacing critical thinking. Teams must guard against efficiency-focused work becoming low quality.Operationalizing AI ImplementationAgencies should decentralize AI expertise by embedding champions within teams instead of separate hubs. Prioritizing repetitive tasks allows firms to scale high-value client services.If you want to learn more about how the future of PR will be impacted by AI, don't miss PRmoment's PR Masterclass: AI in PR.DetailsIntroduction and Optimistic Outlook on AI in PR: Ben Smith welcomed Tom Symondson, who co-leads Accordience's AI team, to discuss the impact of AI on the PR agency model.Tom Symondson expressed extreme optimism about AI's impact, asserting that core PR skills like relationships, experience, creativity, bravery, and judgment are irreplaceable. They suggested that AI will automate tasks that are not highly valued by clients or consultants, such as general research and formatting of monitoring reports, allowing consultants to focus on high-value analysis and strategic input.Emerging Opportunities and UK Investment: Tom Symondson identified that AI will generate new mandates, clients, and revenue streams, particularly around technology-focused businesses, crises, and regulation issues stemming from AI. They expressed optimism about the UK industry's potential benefit from significant investments in large language models (LLMs) by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in London and the UK. Three Approaches for AI Implementation in PR: Agencies are anticipated to approach AI integration in three primary ways: improving internal efficiency, changing how client work is currently delivered, and creating entirely new tools and service lines that become new revenue streams. The internal efficiency focus involves automating or augmenting repeatable, client-invisible backend functions such as transcribing meetings, building action lists, and reporting processes. Tom Symondson noted that businesses should focus on depth over breadth, selecting one area for the biggest impact before moving on to the next.Understanding AI Augmentation: AI augmentation, distinct from replacement, refers to the technology supporting human experts rather than substituting them, particularly because much of the PR industry's work requires nuance. Tom Symondson gave the example of using an enterprise LLM system for new business research, where the tool supports initial framing but does not replace the consultant's own deep research process. They emphasized that the challenge for agencies is mapping out where this augmentation will have the greatest impact and providing training to take advantage of the tools.Obstacles to Successfully Embedding AI: The three main obstacles to integrating AI into an organization are cost, data and readiness risk, and time. Cost arises because enterprise-level access to AI tools is often high, and data readiness requires extensive security and system sign-off. Tom Symondson identified time as the biggest obstacle, as consultants need more time to experiment with different prompts and processes to understand the full range of AI's impact on their work.The Risk of Efficiency Over Effectiveness: Ben Smith cautioned that the "race to efficiency" can be a "race to the bottom" if not carefully managed. Tom Symondson agreed, noting the risk that increased automation could lead to less expert consultants if technology performs more research than people. The opportunity lies in using the time saved by AI to allow consultants to specialize further, for example, spending more time networking, attending events, or researching clients.The Role of Human Judgment and Criticality: Ben Smith highlighted the necessity of retaining a critical mind because LLMs, while able to generate answers quickly, still produce errors.Tom Symondson added that LLMs are excellent with structured data; therefore, agencies must connect their LLMs to accurate data tools, in addition to training colleagues on drafting effective prompts and knowing when to use the technology. They cited the doubling of AI's ability to complete long tasks every seven months, projecting that in 14 months, AI could complete a 40-hour human task.Importance of Openness and Ownership in AI Use: Tom Symondson stressed the need for consultants and agencies to use AI appropriately, ensuring it augments and supports work, rather than replacing critical thinking. A crucial element is fostering a culture of transparency where people are open about how they used AI for research, including what worked well, what struggled, and what human work was needed to finalize the product. This transparency ensures that people maintain ownership of the work product, balancing efficiency with quality.Innovation and Use Case Clarity: Ben Smith noted increased innovation in PR firms over the last 18 months, which Tom Symondson attributed to the significantly reduced ease and cost of experimentation, allowing someone to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in a weekend. However, Tom Symondson suggested that there might be less innovation this year as the industry moves toward a "substance phase," focusing on embedding existing AI use cases across the organization.Creative Quality and the Need for Uniquely Human Work: Tom Symondson identified the risk of "AI slop" or ideas that look and feel similar due to over-reliance on AI-generated content (e.g., AI writing, image, or PowerPoint generation). Great creative agencies will continue to succeed because their ideas are expected to feel "uniquely human" and grounded in culture, emotional intelligence (EQ), and personality.Operationalizing AI Implementation Across Agencies: Recognizing that time is a major barrier for busy teams, Tom Symondson emphasized the McKinsey principle that depth is more critical than breadth when implementing AI.Identifying and Managing Repetitive Tasks: In the internal productivity bucket, agencies focus on automating repeatable tasks, such as templating monitoring reports from spreadsheets into client emails, which Tom Symondson estimated could number in the thousands.Structure for AI Implementation and Expert Teams: The practical implementation of AI is highly decentralized, residing within the agencies themselves. Instead of a separate AI hub, teams have AI champions who are client-facing staff who integrate AI into their normal day jobs. Tom Symondson stressed the importance of having people work on AI who are connected to the day-to-day client work.The Opportunity for PR Compared to Other Marcom Sectors: Tom Symondson suggested that because PR is less structured and repeatable than sectors like production or media buying, the impact of AI is different, offering more opportunity for PR. AI will improve PR's ability to measure and articulate the value of its work by making it easier to structure and analyze diverse data sources. The discussion concluded that in the long term, AI will not replace talent, but rather reduce the fee earned from less-valued tasks, while increasing revenue from high-value services that require judgment, advice, and impactful results.

This PRmoment podcast looks at the PR pitch market in the UK and the PR M&A activity for April 2026.PRmoment founder Ben Smith interviews Andrew Bloch.Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates.Pitch Market - Trading has been generally positive and the market remains resilient, with many agencies out performing expectations. However, operational pressures are evident, including slower client response times and higher-than-expected inflation causing rising costs and impacting profitability. Transparent conversations around value, output, and outcomes are becoming increasingly critical as both sides navigate a more complex and cost-sensitive landscape. Agencies will be closely monitoring the impact of global events but for now, many are benefiting from momentum built in Q1, which shows little sign of slowing. By month-end, most agencies should have a clearer view of the year ahead.M&A Market - M&A activity points to a market increasingly driven by capability consolidation, specialist expertise and tech-enabled differentiation. Large holding groups are continuing to make targeted acquisitions to deepen strengths in high-growth areas such as social, influencer, sports marketing and experiential, with a clear focus on building more connected, end-to-end communications ecosystems. Private equity remains active in backing platform-building businesses and specialist agencies with strong vertical expertise, particularly where there is an opportunity to internationalise, professionalise or bolt on proprietary tech and data assets. We are also seeing growing value placed on owned technology, data and creator/influencer platforms as acquirers look for defensible IP and measurable ROI. Alongside strategic and PE-led deals, founder succession and management buyouts continue to shape the independent agency landscape, while newer niche businesses are increasingly carving out value through highly defined audience propositions before either scaling independently or becoming attractive acquisition targets. Overall, the market remains robust for differentiated assets that combine specialist sector expertise, scalable international reach and technology-led or measurable service offerings.

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by Mark Borkowski and Angie Moxham. Here's the agenda for PR Masterclass: AI in PR.In the PR News Review we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week we're talking about the UK local elections results.We discuss the predictably huge gains for Reform and the huge losses for Labour.We also talk about the likely comms strategies now for Farage & Reform and Starmer & Labour.The discussion centres on the shifting political landscape and the starkly different PR challenges facing the parties and their leaders.Podcast Summary HighlightsKeir Starmer and the Labour PartyThe panel offers a blunt assessment of Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Despite Labour's significant majority, the speakers argue that Starmer suffers from a fundamental "charisma deficit" and a "robotic" communication style that fails to resonate with the electorate. Mark Borkowski describes Starmer as having a "barrister mind" better suited for the High Court than the public stage, noting that his messaging has been overwhelmed by poor decisions and controversies, particularly the "Mandelson stain." Angie Moxham predicts a potential leadership challenge, suggesting a "straight-out shooting" between Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband may be on thehorizon. The consensus is that Labour needs a leader who can project authenticity and positivity to maintain public trust in a volatile environment.Nigel Farage and the Reform PartyThe rise of Reform UK is characterized as a significant disruption to the traditionaltwo-and-a-half-party system. While Farage is praised for his "fearless communication" and ability to connect with his base, the panel identifies a major PR "own goal": the inclusion of "Tory party failures" like Robert Jenrick. Borkowski argues that bringing "old circus acts into a newtent" undermines Reform's image as a fresh alternative. Farage's strategy is described as headline-driven and opportunistic, effectively exploiting the "malaise" of current politics to gain momentum, even if his long-term viability remains a question of whether the electorate feels genuinely "more affluent" under his influence.The Changing Face of LeadershipBeyond the main parties, the Borkowski and Moxham speakers touch on the other party leaders.Kemi Badenoch is highlighted as an increasingly competent and "safe pair of hands," showing improved focus and delivery.In contrast, Zack Polanski's leadership is criticised for being "unpicked" by ego and a lack of maturity, particularly following unprofessional social media conduct. The overarching theme of the episode is that in the "age of authenticity," leaders have "nowhere to hide."Success requires not just policy, but the "spiritual quotient" (SQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) to lead a nation that is increasingly fatigued by "dystopian" news narratives and systemic stress.

We probably don't talk about it enough but we've all benefited from the increased depth and breadth of public relations which has developed over the past 20 odd years. This change has probably been most vividly illustrated in consumer public relations. Which is why it's going to be so interesting to talk to today's guests: Charlotte Brooks MD, Mischief and Dan Deeks-Osbourn, head of strategy, Mischief as we compare consumer PR now, to 20 years ago, when Mischief was born.Mischief is one of a small band of consumer PR shops in London that have surfed the wave of creative and cultural relevance for the last 20 years. Current clients include Samsung, Just Eat, Eon, Ocado and Coca Cola. Currently 35 people work at Mischief and it is part of the MHP Group. On the show this week we talk about the evolution of consumer public relations and strategies for sustained agency success.Before we start, do check out our next PR Masterclass: AI in PR. Here are the themes:Is AI making PR more efficient, but less effective?What are the AI implementation trapsWhich media titles control ChatGPTWhy AI is winning the copyright warWhat is PR's Missed AI OpportunityWhy AI means that you will need to redesign your PR team's workflowHow newsrooms are using AIHow are in-house PR and comms teams using AI?Check out the full speaker line-up on  https://www.prmasterclasses.com/masterclass/pr-masterclasses-ai-in-prHere is a summary of what Charlotte, Dan and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed on the show:What was consumer PR like 20 years ago? And how does that compare with consumer PR today?Is what made a consumer PR firm great 20 years ago, still the same today?Is consumer PR more powerful now than in 2006?Why are PR budgets not increasing in line with the increased depth and breadth of work?Why PR makes marketing distinctive.Why is most consumer PR bought by CMOs? What happened to the in-house PR managers/directors? How has Mischief managed to keep itself relevant as a consumer PR for 20 years?What's the secret of client retention for PR firms?What will consumer PR look like in 20 years time?Evolution of PR landscapeModern public relations requires integrated multi-channel strategies rather than legacy media coverage focus. Effectiveness is now proven through sales impact rather than outdated metrics.Strategy in AI eraAlgorithms and Large Language Models demand clear messaging and constant, always-on creativity. Teams must balance generalist account management with specialized expertise in content and data analysis.Agency growth and retentionLong-term client retention relies on consistent impact and transparent partnerships. Agencies must reject complacency to maintain creative standards while expanding influence within broader marketing departments.

A PRmoment Podcast discussion analysing Sir Keir Starmer's failing leadership.Starmer's leadership critiqueAngie Moxham and Mark Borkowski identify poor messaging and lack of decisiveness as fundamental failures in Starmer's administration. Leadership weakness is exacerbated by Machiavellian advisors and poor personnel choices.Political succession forecastAnalysts predicted brutal local election losses and a potential leadership contest between Miliband and Rayner. Burnham remains a viable alternative but lacks immediate procedural positioning.Authenticity and system futureSuccess requires charisma and accountability, qualities deemed lacking in current political leadership. A likely end to the 2-party system, threatening future governance stability as a hung parliament is predicted for the next general election.

Today we're chatting to Zeno's Sarah Ogden and Thomas Bunn about its Clarity 2030 report. The report identifies a fundamental shift in the PR sector suggesting we are moving from the "Information Age" (where PR focused on distribution and volume) to the "Intelligence Age" (where PR must focus on strategic counsel and business outcomes).The report suggests PR has a Readiness Gap - in essence it is saying that currently public relations does not possess the skills required for the future this report predicts.This is a study across N America, Europe and Asia.Before we start, do check out our next PR Masterclass: AI in PR. When I put together the speaker lineup for PR Masterclass: AI in PR, I make sure we invite speakers who are actually doing it. Not just talking about it.Check out the full speaker line-up on  https://www.prmasterclasses.com/masterclass/pr-masterclasses-ai-in-prHere is a summary of what PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed with Sarah and Thomas on the PRmoment podcast:What is PR's readiness gap?What are the skills PR people have, and what are the skills the Clarity 3030 report predicts PR people will need? And what are the skills people with therefore no longer need in PR, according to this report?What are your other top 5 findings of the report?In the report it predicted 40% of current people working in PR will leave the sector. What was the justification for that prediction?What were the main geographical differences coming through in the report?How does Clarity 2030 view the evolving role of agencies in the PR ecosystem?Likewise, how does the report predict the role of the in-house team will change?The report suggests AI will automate the tactical 'heavy lifting' by 2030. If the tasks juniors traditionally use to 'cut their teeth' disappear, how does Zeno—and the wider industry—plan to train the next generation of strategic advisors who have never had to do the tactical groundwork?Top FindingsThe Strategic Pivot: By 2030, "Media Relations" will no longer be the primary KPI for top-tier PR. Instead, Strategic Counsel and Reputation Risk Management are cited as the top priorities for business leaders.The Talent Mismatch: There is a significant lag in "Business Acumen." The report finds that while PR pros are excellent at storytelling, they are often unable to speak the "language of the boardroom" (finance, operations, and data analytics).SummaryMeeting discussions analyzed the PR sector readiness gap and the necessity for strategic business advisory evolution.Industry Readiness Gap ChallengesThe PR sector faces a significant readiness gap, with 29% of professionals feeling unprepared for the shift toward strategic advisory roles. High-pressure environments and insufficient investment contribute to projected talent departures.AI Integration and SkillsCommunications teams are pivotally involved in AI adoption, yet lack necessary internal tools. Prioritizing emotional intelligence and creativity remains essential for overcoming the deprioritization of traditional tactical skills.Strategic Evolution of RolesAgencies must transition to providing deep business intelligence while in-house teams adopt strategic growth advisor positions. Training programs require fundamental restructuring to emphasize critical thinking alongside AI literacy for junior talent.

Welcome to the PRmoment podcast and on the show today we're chatting to Jim Donaldson about the news that WPP might sell Burson.Previously Jim was CEO UK and Middle East at Fleishman and held senior roles at both Weber Shandwick and Hill & Knowlton. He is now a non-exec to a raft of independent PR firms including Woodrow, Schon&Co and Matlin PR.Before we start, don't miss our new PR Masterclass: AI in PR.Check out the full speaker line-up at  https://www.prmasterclasses.com/masterclass/pr-masterclasses-ai-in-prAt PRmoment we usually let these industry navel gazing moments go, as most of the time, the news has been widely covered elsewhere but I've found the level of paranoid PR commentary linking PR's future to the Burson deal pretty nauseating.I get the need for self appointed PR thought leaders to feed the algorithms but much of the analysis of this potential deal seems ill informed.PRmoment founder Ben Smith put this alternative scenario to ex WPP and Omnicom executive Jim Donaldson about the reasons behind WPP's plans to sell Burson:WPP needs to grow.It still has quite a bit of debt (total net debt £2.17 billion) and its revenue has decreased in recent years. Sources: https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/type/HTML/id/3530066 and https://www.fidelity.co.uk/factsheet-data/factsheet/JE00B8KF9B49-wpp-plc/financialsCirca 84% of WWP's revenue comes from ad agencies, which it now calls its Global Integrated Agencies. PR is 9%. (including Ogilvy PR and Burson.) https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-17477290-1Q8TEVR2NNFQVT91FOUCPOQ2BFAd agencies' market has been decimated by the social media owners and they are petrified about what AI is likely to do to their business models.None of the WPP board have any PR experience, and frankly, they've got bigger problems right now. https://www.wpp.com/en/about/our-leadership/the-wpp-boardBurson is a potentially salable asset and WPP can then use those funds to invest in the renewal of its main source of revenue - advertsing agencies.Here's a summary of what Jim Donaldson and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:Does Jim agree with our alternative hypothesis to the reasons WPP might sell Burson?Jim identifies the "huge market shifts" impacting the marketing holding groups currently.Was WPP always a reluctant PR firm owner? Many of the deals where Sorrell acquired a PR firm, included a larger ad agency and the PR firm was a much smaller part of the deal.How salable is Burson as an asset? Does it have growing or declining revenues?Jim describes the holding groups as “a side show” to the most important, mainly positive trends happening in PR at the moment.

This week's PR News review covered Donald Trump's foreign policy, the resulting and global chaos before moving on to disucss NASA's Artemis mission for its public relations.Trump's foreign policy rhetoricMark Borkowski and Ben Smith centered on whether Donald Trump's actions were aimed at selling war or peace?Borkowski argued that Trump failed in the propaganda war with Iran by not achieving a clean exit.Global vulnerability, the Axis of chaos and increased defense spendingParticipants discussed the global chaos caused by single figures and the growing vulnerability to modern warfare. Governments need to communicate the necessity of a stronger defense, possibly through increased taxation or fund reallocation away from welfare and health.NASA's Artemis mission PR masterclassNASA's Artemis mission to the moon was praised as a PR masterclass due to its precise choreography and positive global impact. The mission served as a strong beacon of positive human ingenuity and counter-narrative to political chaos.It also served as a "reminder to us all of when America used to have a more positive role in the world."Melania denies Epstein rumoursBorkowski and Smith discuss why Melania Trump felt the need to make a statement denying rumours she had any connection with Epstein, when there were no rumours she had any connection with Epstein!

SummaryThis PRmoment Podcast discussion with James Thomlinson centered on the theme of agency paralysis within the PR industry due to economic pressures and the increasing complexity - of both the PR market and the PR agency business model.Agency paralysis discussedJames Thomlinson argues that agency paralysis is a trend within the Public Relations industry caused by increased simultaneous pressures and the extensive number of required leadership decisions. These decisions cover flexible working policies, AI platform adoption, strategic sector choices, and new offerings for the business.AI and decision-making frameworksYour profit and loss statement is the critical starting point for agency decision-making, covering revenue and cost sides, with workplace culture and client management following. Agencies should analyse all business functions to determine where AI is applicable, selecting tools that improve efficiencies and free up time for strategic or creative tasks.Agency Model Polarization PredictedThe PR industry is predicted to polarise into 2 main types of agencies due to AI influence: agencies providing platform access and agencies focused on superior culture and original strategic thinking. James Thomlinson believes a 15% profit margin for PR firms is now considered good, and 10% revenue growth is the target for top-performing agencies.

Welcome to this special podcast to celebrate the shortlists for the PRmoment Awards.In this show we're going to be talking in detail about the shortlist for the PRmoment Awards in London and we'll be talking about the shortlist for the North next week.On the show today we're going to be discussing the shortlist, talking about which firms were shortlisted the most and revealing some new data highlighting some of the extraordinarily high cumulative average category score for this year's PRmoment Awards.Don't miss out on your charts to attend the PRmoment Awards in either Manchester or London or even both if you fancy. Will and I were the chairs for two of the five streams for the PRmoment Awards judging day,  so we get a great insight into the work that's happening in UK PR and we're hopefully in a decent position to offer a behind the scenes view on that judging day and what we saw and how competitive it was in many of the categories.Important to note that host Ben Smith or Will Hart get a vote in the PRmoment Awards judging process. Who wins is entirely down to our wonderful judges.London Awards Ceremony , Park Plaza Westminster - Thursday 16 AprilManchester Awards Ceremony, Manchester Hall - Thursday 30 AprilMost Shortlisted AgenciesAnalysis of the London event shortlists showed W Communications, Hope&Glory, and The Romans topping the list, indicating breadth of high-standard work across these agencies. Being shortlisted is considered a significant achievement given the intense competition and high judging standards for all campaigns submitted.Judging Process ReviewThe judging process involves individual prescoring, followed by group discussion across 5 streams, which determines the final winners. Criteria are weighted across 6 areas, including objectives, strategy, creativity, implementation, results, and evaluation, ensuring a consistent and transparent evaluation.Emerging Award CategoriesNew categories introduced this year include Generative Engine Optimization Campaign of the Year and Pro Bono Campaign of the Year, reflecting the evolving PR sector and acknowledging previously unacknowledged work. 

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski.In the PR News Review we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective. This week, we're talking about Huw Edwards' publicist Barry Tomes leaving GMB hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls speechless, what to expect from Meta and Google as social media gets its Big Tobacco moment and whether new BBC director general Matt Brittin has the hardest job in media.Tickets for The PRmoment Awards are now available for both London and Manchester, go to PRmomentAwards.com to grab your tickets.Huw Edwards' Publicist BacklashThe panel expressed shock and disbelief over Barry Tomes' appearance, agreeing that his highly visible and unprofessional interview set the PR industry back. Mark Borkowski called the attempt to resurrect Edwards' career equivalent to trying to float the Titanic.Big Tech Accountability ForecastDiscussion covered the potential 'big tobacco moment' for Meta and Google, which was considered long overdue, having been predicted 10 years prior. Mark Borkowski anticipates Big Tech will employ a 'responsible product defense' strategy rather than using the exact big tobacco playbook.New BBC Director GeneralThe panel agreed that leading the BBC is the hardest job in media, with Angie Moxham confirming that Matt Brittin is a sensible choice. Brittin's background from Google is expected to apply a different, necessary lens to the organization, which is currently often viewed as being in a 'slow motion crisis'.

Our March review highlighted a resilient M&A market and increased pitch activity with specialist agencies dominating wins.Pitch and M&A Market HealthThe PR pitch market is good with high agency confidence, but client decision-making timelines are lengthening, creating a sustained grind. The M&A market is robust, demonstrating strong resilience with high demand for specialist, technology-driven agencies, particularly from US buyers.Major PR Wins SecuredMultiple high-profile pitch wins were announced, including Edelman securing Vista Global and Mischief winning Schweppes' global creative strategy. Hope&Glory's Wagamama win reflects a trend of PR firms successfully competing for social and influencer mandates against specialist social agencies.Strategic Agency AcquisitionsSeveral major acquisitions reinforced the demand for specialised capabilities, with Parity acquiring One Strategy Group to enter the US corporate advisory space. Publicis acquired AdgeAI, an AI-powered analytics platform, reinforcing the industry's focus on technology and predictive performance insights.

Host:  Will Hart, dean of school, PRmoment LeadersFeaturing:Victoria Usher, CEO and founder, GingerMayDavid Phillips, co-founder and CEO, PangolinThis is a special one-off edition of the podcast, hosted by Will Hart who heads up the PRmoment Leaders programme.  Joining Will are Victoria Usher and David Phillips, both founders of successful independent agencies operating for over 10 years and specialising in separate sectors (respectively, GingerMay in b2b and Pangolin in consumer). Both are also on PRmoment Leaders as it approaches the second anniversary in May.The discussion began with Victoria and David reflecting on what they know about leadership today that they did not know when starting their agencies.  They also explored their key relationships within their businesses, David's with his co-founder Will Cookson and Victoria with her team lead now by Amy Lawrence.  They discussed the key attributes required of agency leaders, including decisiveness especially when pivots are required of the business.They also explored how their time is most effectively used, including the split between current operations, client revenue and future-focused business strategy.  Other key topics covered included how to properly delegate and empower your agency teams and the critical importance of getting hiring right.The podcast concluded with Victoria and David sharing their thoughts on what they're enjoying most and taking away from their participation in the PRmoment Leaders programme.DETAILSWelcome and Context: The discussion was framed as a special one-off edition of the PR Moment podcast, with Will Hart hosting because May marks two years of the PR Moment Leaders program, providing a timely opportunity to reflect on leadership. Victoria Usher is the founder and CEO of Ginger May, a B2B specialist agency started in 2010 with 35 employees, and David Phillips is the co-founder of Pangolin PR, established around 12 to 13 years ago, with approximately 25 employees.Reflecting on Early Leadership Knowledge: When asked about what they know about leadership today that they did not know when starting their agencies, Victoria stated she initially knew nothing about leadership and that the reality differs vastly from the initial fantasy. She likened running an agency to having children, emphasizing that it is a constant, difficult job with a multitude of decisions. David concurred, describing his journey as a steep learning curve since leaving his roles at Freud's as junior account directors.The Co-Founder Relationship: David detailed the evolution of his working relationship with co-founder Will Cookson, noting that while they are close friends outside of work, they maintain a necessary professional distance during the intense work week. They find that their personalities complement each other, enabling them to quickly reach decisions without major disagreements, attributing this success to mutual respect. Will observed that many successful independent PR agencies are co-founded, acknowledging Victoria's "extreme bravery" in founding Ginger May alone.Challenges of Being a Solo Founder: Victoria admitted that the benefit of a partner is discussing nuanced business issues, as she previously had to manage problems alone, which was a "visceral" experience when your livelihood is on the line. She confirmed the difficulty of solo-founding and advised others to adopt David's' co-founder model. Having a trusted managing director, Amy Lawrence, has since provided a partner in crime, marking a significant turning point for the business.Leadership Decisiveness: Will suggested that decisiveness is often sought and respected in leadership roles because agency professionals are commonly criticized for being poor at making quick decisions. David confirmed that quick

This week the PR News Review panel of Angie Moxham, Mark Borkowski and Ben Smith explore Nigel Farage's data-driven political stunt, the gossip surrounding Zendaya and Tom Holland and finish with a discussion about Banksy's identity reveal.Farage's political stuntNigel Farage's action of paying an entire street's electricity bill was deemed a clever stunt to draw attention to the energy debate and, perhaps more importantly, collect valuable data for Reform UK campaigns. Zendaya and Holland's publicity powerSpeculation regarding Zendaya and Tom Holland's marriage was viewed as a powerful, controlled publicity move that created "catnip" marketing and forced the press to follow the celebrity-driven narrative. This approach demonstrated modern film marketing's focus on seeding gossip and hype, amplifying stories via social media.Banksy identity impact debatedThe reported revelation of Banksy's identity as Robin Gunningham was confirmed as an old scoop, but it was agreed that Banksy's anonymity significantly impacted the value of his work. The consensus was that the identity reveal will not damage the brand but will likely increase their power as a "national treasure."

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski.In the PR News Review we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week we're talking:Starmer, Mandelson and the Iran WarMusk, Tesla and Ofgem PR Ethics, Lobbying Rules and why PR firms need to be increasing careful in choosing their clientsBefore we start do check out The PRmoment Awards shortlists, they are an incredible selection of the best work happening in UK PR right now.Starmer, Mandelson and the Iran WarKeir Starmer's choice of Mandelson as ambassador was labeled a "nasty stain" despite Starmer taking responsibility for the move. Angie Moxham predicted that the recurring controversy would fatally damage Starmer's premiership.Musk, Tesla and OfgemIn the PR News Review we discuss Elon Musk's re-engagement with the UK media after Tesla secured an electricity supply license from Ofgem for domestic and business electricity.PR Ethics, The Lobbying Act and controversial clientsThe need for PR firms to ethically select clients was emphasised, citing controversies that make PR firms part of the story when representing controversial clients. The Prime Minister has requested the Ethics and Integrity Commission review UK lobbying rules. The PR News Review panel acknowledged "gaping holes" in the 2014 Lobbying Act.

In this week's show Ben Smith and Michael Kempner discuss the current US political climate. Michael Kempner talks us through the organic growth of MikeWorldwide from a garage in 1986 to a “$70 million turnover”, crediting early success to "intentional serendipity," a strong network, and a focus on problem-solving outside of traditional PR conventions. The discussion also covered Michael Kempner's optimism about the future of PR and Michael's advice on risk, failure, and the importance of hiring and retaining the right people.Ben Smith also reminded listeners that the shortlists for the PRmoment Awards in London and Manchester are now live and that ticket sales for both events have opened.

Ben Smith, Angie Moxham, and Mark Borkowski discuss the Greens' bi-election win in Gorton and Denton, attributing the success of the candidate, Hannah Spencer, and Zack Polanski's  effective communication campaign that provided a message of hope, local authenticity, and leveraged identity politics against Labour. On the show we also discuss the language of war in the Iran conflict, where Mark Borkowski noted the problematic trend of naming military operations like video games and the increased control of narrative through restricted journalist access.Angie Moxham critiques the current political rhetoric as incendiary and thoughtless. DetailsThe Greens' Bi-election Win in Gorton and Denton: Angie Moxham suggested that the Greens' success, led by Zack Polanski, was anticipated because they effectively campaigned on a message of hope and optimism, which resonated with people fatigued by negative news. They concluded that the victory was more attributable to effective communication than to the specifics of the party's policy.Authenticity and Identity Politics in the Bi-election: Mark Borkowski emphasized the authenticity of the successful candidate, Hannah Spencer, who was described as a working-class local person with a background as a plumber and plasterer. This local identity and seeming distance from the "Westminster bubble" provided credibility and appeal to the electorate, suggesting that identity politics played a significant role. Angie Moxham added that the lack of a genuinely working-class Labour leader, referencing Keir Starmer, highlighted the smartness of the Greens' communication strategy.Campaign Strategy and Protest Vote Analysis: Mark Borkowski noted that a clever local campaign, including the alleged dark arts use of an image connecting Keir Starmer with Indian President Narendra Modi, to target the Pakistani community, was effective in the constituency. Regarding the nature of the win, Angie Moxham concluded that the victory was likely a combination of the local grassroots efforts and a broader desire among people for hope, especially considering the current negative climate in the UK.The Language of War and Conflict Communication: The discussion shifted to the communication strategies observed in relation to the conflict in Iran, involving the US and Israel. Mark Borkowski noted the concerning trend of giving military operations evocative names like "Operation Roaring Lion" and "Operation Epic Fury," suggesting that the conflict is being "sold" as a "Call of Duty type of game". This language aligns with the increasing mechaniaation of warfare, making it easier to engage in conflict without physical "boots on the ground".The Danger of Incendiary Political Rhetoric: Angie Moxham described the language of war, particularly from figures like Trump, as "absolutely excruciating" and incendiary. They expressed concern that this thoughtless, insulting rhetoric will only lead to more death and destruction, likening the political climate to a "child's playground.”Mark Borkowski agreed that there is a current lack of calming voices on the global scene, emphasising that the aggressive language is driven by the 24/7 news cycle.Media Control and Propaganda in Modern Warfare: Mark Borkowski highlighted the extreme control of the narrative, specifically citing the IDF's restriction of independent journalists, which they contrasted with earlier conflicts where journalists had more access. They pointed out that both sides understand the power of propaganda, referencing ISIS's carefully staged executions for YouTube, concluding that the current age amplifies the loudest voice, making it easier to create factionalization.

Ben Smith and Andrew Bloch reviewed the UK PR pitch and M&A market in February, noting that the pitch market was "steadier" with clients taking longer to decide, while agency M&A was "booming" with high demand and competition driving up prices for agencies around the £20 million enterprise value, especially those leveraging AI. PR pitch wise we saw significant client wins for Edelman, Words and Pixels, Brazen, W, and Hope&Glory, and key acquisitions included Resident acquiring Okay Cool, Future Group acquiring Alfred's assets, Kink acquiring Lobby PR, Havas acquiring a 51% stake in Acento, and Source Code acquiring Rally Point. WPP's strategy was discussed, as it shifts into four unified business units, including WPP Creative under which PR brands will sit.

 Ben Smith moderated a discussion between Howard Kosky and Lynsey Barry about the effectiveness of virtual versus in-office PR teams, with an emphasis on how both agency culture and leadership styles are impacted by physical location. Howard founded and ran Markettiers for 30 years and built the group to a £38m + turnover. Like most businesses it was office based until Covid and then developed a hybrid in office, virtual set up.Lynsey Barry is CEO and founder at Five not 10, a B2B PR firm with 9 employees founded in 2021.Barry, a proponent of remote-first, asserted that culture is behavior-driven and requires deliberate virtual leadership, while Kosky emphasized the value of an office as a central base for culture development, in-person talent coaching, and cultivating young talent's social skills, though both agreed that leadership is crucial irrespective of the physical setting. The speakers also explored the challenges of scaling agencies, the complexity of hybrid models, the importance of employee well-being, and how the office should be viewed as an investment rather than merely a cost. 

Ben Smith, Mark Borkowski, and Angie Moxham discussed several key topics including the difficulty of the Downing Street director of communications role and the need for a fresh perspective, Jim Ratcliffe's controversial "colonialisation" comment, and the emergence of fake AI experts.Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski analysed the Washington Post redundancies, attributing reduced war coverage to "war fatigue" and economic factors driving editorial decisions, and concluded that PR professionals have an opportunity to engage the public with entertaining and mood-lifting campaigns amidst negative news fatigue.

Elizabeth Giles and Ben Smith of PRmoment introduce its latest PR Masterclass: The intersection of PR and GEO, and large language model (LLM) optimisation, scheduled for February 25th in London with virtual attendance available.

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by the dream team which is Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski.In the PR News Review we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week there's really only 1 story in town, Peter Mandelson and whether he's going to bring down Sir Keir Starmer's government.Before we start, check out our latest PR Masterclass: The Intersection of PR & GEO, all the info you'll need is accessible from the homepage of PRmoment.Summary of this week's PR News Review:Ben Smith introduced the PR News Review, focusing on the negative implications of Peter Mandelson's association with Epstein on Keir Starmer's government, with Angie Moxham expressing dismay and Mark Borkowski labeling Mandelson as "toxic,” with Angie Moxham viewing the situation as a "slow motion car crash" for Keir Starmer, and both agreeing that public disillusionment stems from broken promises and political bickering.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.This is our quarterly bonus podcast where we chat about Rajar's latest results. For those of you who aren't aware of Rajar - it was established in 1992 and operates the single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United KingdomRaja publishes the listenership figures each quarter, which is good for insight for PR, curious about how the public engages with radio and how the market is performing.On the show today, we have James Dickman, newsroom producer at Markettiers, who will discuss the latest Rajar results for Q4 2025. Here's a summary of this quarter's Rajar results highlights:Radio stayed a mass-reach medium in Q4 2025, with 50.0m adults tuning in weekly (86% of the UK 15+ population) and 1.015bn hours listened per week.Digital listening now dominates delivery. 44m adults used a digital route each week (75% of adults), and digital accounted for 75% of all listening hours. Online listening made up 30% of total hours, reflecting continued growth in app/streaming and connected devices.Within digital, DAB remained the biggest platform. RAJAR reported 757m weekly digital hours in total, split mainly across DAB (427m), smart speakers (188m), and website/apps (115m), with DTV (28m) also contributing.Listening continues to be anchored in everyday settings. Weekly listening is strongest at home (60%) and in vehicles (58%), and by share of hours it's 62% in-home, 26% in-vehicle, and 12% at work/elsewhere—useful context for daypart and placement planning.Commercial radio led the market overall, with 55.2% share of listening versus 42.8% for BBC Radio in the quarter's top-line results.Smart speakers are now a mainstream listening route: 64% of smart-speaker users use them for radio, and 21% listen to radio on a smart speaker every day. RAJAR also noted broader audio habits, with 38% listening to podcasts monthly and 19% using catch-up radio monthly.

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in the last monthAndrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates.Before we start, 2 plugs:Our next PR Masterclass: The Intersection of PR and GEO - Wednesday 25th February is proving massively popular. So if you do want to come - get your ticket quick is my advice. As ever with our PR Masterclass series, it's a hybrid event so both face to face and vital tickets are available. Take a look at the full programme and some of the finest past delegate testimonials you are ever likely to see on PRmasterclasses.comAndrew summarises the PR pitch market in January:“For agencies 2025 was tougher than expected for many.  Lots of uncertainty.  Economic pressures. Squeeze on margins. Less retainers. Slow decision making.  Clients will continue to be pragmatic.  Agencies will have to learn to operate with less predictability. They will need resilience and will need to hustle.  Most importantly they will need to innovate. Standing still not an option.  Lots of opportunities to embrace AI, innovate and expand in terms of service areas, drive organic growth.  The growth is there for those able to get ahead of it.”Andrew on the PR M&A market:“On the M&A side we will continue to see continued consolidation from the holding cos as they adapt, cut costs and make themselves fit for purpose.  The M&A market remains very strong with lots of strategic deal making to allow firms to adapt and shift to client demands and tech disruption. Deals are taking slightly longer but they're happening.  The market is strong.  Supported by PE money, hungry US acquirers and a booming independent sector looking to scale in terms of capabilities and geographies. Especially around AI, data, influencer.  Corporate, healthcare and consumer remain in strong demand.”January's PR WinsWingstop appoint SmartsMcDonalds appoints Freuds and Flint Global - Freuds for corporate.  Flint Global for govt relations.Hello Fresh Group appoints Ready10 and Golin Government Media and Creative Services roster - Agencies including 23Red, AMV BBDO, Accenture, Freud Communications, Lucky Generals,  Havas UK, M&C Saatchi and VCCP.UK Finance - Lansons Animal Friends Pet Insurance appoint Havas RedMyFitnessPal appoint KindredCoca-Cola appoint BrandnationHSS ProService appoint BrandnationAndrex appoint WSpurs appoint ShookMadri Exceptional appoint Tin ManKelloggs Crunchy Nut appoint Tin ManGreat British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) appoint GraylingNew Balance appoint ExposureMarriott International appoint WM&APretty Green acquires PinPoint MediaJack Morton merges with Impact XMFGS Global acquires MemeticaParitee acquire Truth ConsultingRadio News Hub complete Management Buyout from AFO Group - led by Directors Stephanie Otty and Jamie Fletcher.  Followed on from Markettiers MBO at the end of last year.Strata acquire WonderlandRuder Finn acquire Missouri Creative

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. This week I'm joined by Angie Moxham, founder of Fourth Angel.In the PR News Review we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week we're talking about Fake experts and SEO masquerading as PR firms, Brand Beckham takes a "don't explain, but you can complain approach" and The relaunch of Davos.Concerns Over Fake PR Experts and SEO Firms Ben Smith introduced the first main topic of the news review, which was coverage by The Press Gazette concerning "fake PR experts" which Ben Smith and Angie Moxham agreed seemed to be predominantly problematic SEO firms. Ben Smith noted that Google updates have increased the influence of "journalistic earned media coverage," creating an incentive for SEO and digital PR firms to masquerade as public relations firms. Ben Smith and Angie Moxham discussed how the rise of media databases played a role in these "spray and prey press release distribution" techniques Angie Moxham asserted the continuing importance of strategic, face-to-face consultancy and good old-fashioned practices, such as "picking up the phone to a good journalist." Brand Beckham Ben Smith then introduced the second story concerning Brand Beckham, which they described as taking a "don't explain but you can complain approach".Analysis of Davos and Political Reputational Risks Ben Smith introduced the final topic, the "relaunch of Davos," noting that attendance, previously often regarded as a reputational risk, seemed to have changed in the past 12 months, with Donald Trump's presence contributing to its renewed power status. Angie Moxham agreed that wherever Donald Trump goes, people follow, which has "rebooted" the event. They also discussed how Keir Starmer's decision not to attend Davos, due to a trip to China, backfired, suggesting that their diary management might not have been optimal in the "grand scheme of the chess playing of politics".

Ben Smith introduced Sam Corry, CEO of Taylor Herring, discussing the agency's history, evolution from media focus to consumer PR with an "entertain or die" mantra, and its recent internal shifts following the departure of founders Kath and James Herring after 24 years. Corry emphasized that Taylor Herring's current strategy focuses on integrated, long-term brand building, and announced the launch of "Cited," a proprietary GEO tool developed with Publicis Group's Performix to leverage extensive consumer data and provide measurable ROI for clients. Corry also highlighted the rapid growth of St. Mark Studios, Taylor Herring's standalone brand experience agency, and stressed the industry's need for data tools to demonstrate measurable results.

Ben Smith welcomed Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski to the weekly PR news review on the PRmoment Podcast.On this week's show our panel discuss Farage and Jenrick, Grok's explicit AI images and alleged Wikipedia edits by Portland.Mark Borkowski criticised the Reform party's recruitment of Robert Jenrick as a "massive PR own goal," which Angie Moxham agreed was simply to get headlines."Why oh why are they (Reform) taking on these lame ducks, these Tory party failures that were kicked out by the electorate.""The public will remember Robert Jenrick dissing every aspect of Reform, and particularly Nigel Farage. Now they are buddies. They are in the same swill pit"Regarding X's delayed restriction on explicit AI images, Mark Borkowski suggested the initial delay was due to arrogance that generated bad PR, while Angie Moxham notes the controversy secured more headlines for Grok and its image tool.What does this story say about the society we now live in: where criticism of an AI tool generating explicit images of women, got derailed to become a (false) debate about free speech?Finally, Mark and Angie discuss Portland's alleged "black hat" Wikipedia editing in an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

This week we're chatting to Nicky Regazzoni, co-founder & co-CEO of The PR Network and  Lesley Singleton, founder & CEO, Playtime PR about how to lead a virtual agency business.The virtual or in the office debate has become the ultimate PR conversation starter, up there with AVEs and timesheets. Everyone's got an opinion and the truth is there are some virtual agencies, some hybrid (3 or 4 days in the office seems like the norm atm) and some always in the office.Employers, employees and clients just need to find what works for them and the world will continue to turn.Both The PR Network and Playtime PR have run very successfully for many years with virtual teams.On this show we talk today about what good virtual agency leadership looks like.Nicky Regazzoni and Lesley Singleton identify that virtual leadership requires an emphasis on clear vision, intentional culture, trust, a "virtual open door policy," and clear, regular communication to compensate for the absence of physical presence and informal interactions.Lesley and Nicky discuss talent acquisition through flexible working models, client/employee relationships, and the management of large-scale virtual operations, noting that while no single right answer exists for running a virtual business, it necessitates highly organised systems and a continuous execution of strategies.

Ben Smith welcomed Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski to this week's PRmoment podcast News Review to discuss major PR stories, including "brand America" and Donald Trump's communication style, which Borkowski described as entering a dystopian age, with Moxham adding that America views life through a "Hollywood lens." The trio discuss the societal impact of the political narrative, with Moxham expressing concern about younger generations being constantly fed a frightening news narrative and a loss of faith in leadership.Borkowski and Moxham also discuss media coverage of Storm Goretti, the unprofessional performance of the English cricket team, and the implications of sports sponsorship for reputation with the rise of darts. The show concludes by paying tribute to the wonderful Bieneosa Ebite - one of UK PR's most important role models, who we sadly lost before Christmas.

Elizabeth Giles and Ben Smith discuss the upcoming PRmoment Awards, noting the final entry deadline is January 23rd, and that the awards night is scheduled for April in both London and Manchester. Ben Smith explained the robust and transparent judging process, which includes individual prescoring based on criteria like objectives, strategy, and results, available in the entry pack, and highlighted new categories, including Pro Bono Campaign of the Year and GEO Campaign of the Year. Ben Smith also provided tips for a successful entry, such as aligning with the judging criteria, avoiding grammatical errors, and including budget details for ROI context, and emphasized the benefits of entering, including independent recognition, quantitative data feedback on performance against peers, and enhanced SEO/LLM (GEO) visibility for winners.DetailsPRmoment Awards Deadline Elizabeth Giles welcomed listeners to the special podcast celebrating the PRmoment awards, noting the final entry deadline is on Friday, January 23rd.Judging Process and Criteria Ben Smith described the judging process for the PRmoment Awards as robust and transparent, with criteria available on page 21 of the entry pack, which is free to download from the PRmoment Awards microsite (00:01) (00:04). The campaign awards criteria include objectives (10 points), strategy (10 points), creativity (10 points, or 20 for the best use of creativity category), implementation (activation), and results and evaluation (10 points) (00:02). A final criterion is "why your entry should win," which offers entrants an opportunity to emphasize the merits of their work (00:03). The process involves individual prescoring by judges, followed by a cumulative leaderboard and a virtual meeting to discuss the winners (00:04).Awards CategoriesBen Smith mentioned that PRmoment keeps their award categories relatively tight, with about 30 categories, unlike some other awards that may have around 60. The categories are refreshed annually and include campaign awards across different sectors, such as B2B and automotive, and disciplines like best content, best creativity, and best influencer partnerships (00:06). They highlighted two new additions for the current year: the Pro Bono Campaign of the Year, recognizing great work by PR firms, and the GEO Campaign of the Year, reflecting the importance of large language models as stakeholders in public relations (00:07).Tips for a successful entryBen Smith provides some tips for entrants.

This week we're chatting to co founder of Signal AI David Benigson on the PRmoment podcastFrom media monitoring start-up, to $165m investment via 6 funding rounds: Signal AI founder David Benigson talks to PRmoment founder Ben Smith through its journey.In September 2025, Signal AI raised $165 million in a growth equity round led by Battery Ventures. This investment will support global expansion, product development, and strategic acquisitions. Signal AI has 220 employees and apparently 40% of the fortune 500 are clients.According to a report in City AM Signal AI reported £23 million in revenue in the year to March 2024.Before the Battery Ventures investment, the company had previously raised around $100 million investment from previous funding rounds including Aberdeen, Hearst, and Guardian Media Group Ventures.A quick plug for the PRmoment Awards, the final entry deadline is Friday 23 January. Don't miss the opportunity to shout about the work you and your team have done over the last 12 months and get an independent endorsement from the PRmoment Awards jury.Here's a summary of what PRmoment founder Ben Smith and David discussed on the show:David Benigson recounted the founding of Signal AI a decade ago in London with the initial goal of using AI to help business leaders understand real-time information for better decision-making in reputation tracking and media intelligence. Signal AI, which has scaled globally and now serves over 800 organizations by processing data from over 225 markets in 75 languages, evolved from discriminative AI expertise to integrating generative AI to create a conversational layer for clients. David Benigson and Ben Smith discussed Signal AI's six funding rounds, including a recent $165 million round, which allowed the company to reach an inflection point of profitability and self-sustainability, and David Benigson also detailed the shift in corporate communications toward data-driven practices, focusing on advanced monitoring, measurement, and "decision intelligence" for strategic risk management.

It's my twice yearly chat with W Communications founder and CEO Warren Johnson and today it's our 2025 PR Agency Review of the Year.Warren founded W Communications in 2009. It now has global revenues of £25 m and a headcount of 200, with 140 in London and 60 across the rest of the world.Over the next half hour or so Warren and I will discuss the ups and downs of PR agency life over the last 12 months.Before that, the breaking news is that the PRmoment Awards final entry deadline is Friday 23 January. Don't miss the opportunity to create proof points of the quality of your agency's work.Also, check out the speaker programme for our latest PR Masterclass: The Intersection of PR and GEO. It's another stellar line-up.SummaryWarren Johnson rated the PR agency market happiness index for Q1 as "three out of five" due to economic unease, but Q2 improved for W Communications due to diversification and a trend towards "silliness and frivolousness," while they rated Q4 as challenging due to "speurious pitches" and negative sentiment following a "disastrous budget." The discussion also highlighted the strength of corporate and B2B sectors, the volatility of consumer PR, the necessity of innovation and entrepreneurial agency behavior, and the positive impact of fractional hiring which benefits agencies by providing "phenomenally experienced ex clients." Warren predicts that 2026 will be "a real game of two halves," favouring innovative agencies, and expressed skepticism about AI's current efficiency in PR, suggesting it will allow experienced humans to do "even more work" while acting as a "real time bomb" by hindering junior development.DetailsPR Agency Happiness Index (Q1 and Q2) Ben Smith asked Warren Johnson for a hypothetical happiness index of the PR agency market at large, starting with Q1, which Johnson rated as "three out of five," characterizing it as uneasy and jittery due to negative sentiment in the wider economy. Ben Smith recalled starting 2025 positively, though political and geopolitical uncertainty soon challenged that outlook. Warren Johnson suggested that this constant disruption has become the "new normal". For Q2, Johnson noted that W Communications felt "quite good" due to heavy diversification, including spinning off their restaurant business, Chomp, and growing their influencer business, which was showing better monetisation. This period also coincided with a push in pop culture toward "silliness and frivolousness" to escape depressing global issues.Sectoral Performance and Innovation The discussion shifted to the performance of corporate, consumer, and B2B PR sectors in H1. Warren Johnson highlighted that corporate shops are having a moment, with some valuations moving them toward management consultancy models. B2B is thriving, supported by the ascendancy of LinkedIn and technology powered by AI. Consumer PR, however, is more volatile, experiencing good highs but also lows around the budget. Johnson stated that innovation is critical, as they experienced their best trading quarter ever in Q3, driven by diversification into specialized services like influencer and experiential marketing. They emphasized that agencies must be entrepreneurial and reward innovation, suggesting that clients post-COVID have increased their appetite to buy more from agencies.PR Agency Happiness Index (Q3 and Q4) and Economic Climate W Communications experienced their best trading quarter ever in Q3, predominantly driven by consumer work and specialized services due to extensive innovation. Warren Johnson noted that things started to slow down approaching the budget. Q4 was generally challenging due to "speurious pitches."

In the fifth episode of the season, Dean Connelly, founder of Latte Recruitment and Elizabeth Giles are joined by Emma Ewing, founder of Big Fish Training about resilience over the holidays. Ewing, who has previously worked with PRmoment on resilience has a unique insight as she brings her resilience expertise but also her vast knowledge of the PR sector, having provided coaching and training to PR leaders. This podcast runs through tips and advice for staying resilient during the hardest times of the year: December and January.Many thanks to our podcast sponsors the PRCA

This PR Talent Trends Year in Review podcast discusses the Public Relations (PR) job market and talent trends of 2025. The host is PRmoment founder Ben Smith and he's speaking with Dean Connelly, founder and PR recruitment director at Latte.The early entry deadline for the 2026 PRmoment Awards is on Friday, December 19th. The final entry deadline is on 23rd January.If you want more information about the best jobs available in UK PR do subscribe for free to PRmoment's weekly Top 10 PR Job updates. Finally, it's worth checking out PRmoment's new PR Masterclass: "The intersection of PR and GEO event.Key points from the discussion:Job Availability: There was a slight uptick in PR jobs in 2025 compared to 2024, specifically a 6% increase, according to Latte's data. However, this figure is still significantly down (17% less) compared to 2022, which suggests the "COVID boom" has flattened out. The years 2024 and 2025 have been "the toughest" in the last five years.Client Hiring Trends: In 2022, Latte had seven fewer clients but 17% more jobs were released than in 2025, indicating that agencies and brands were hiring at a rapid rate and more often at that time. Recruitment Levels: More roles were hired at the Account Executive (AE) and Senior Account Executive (SAE) level, making up 30% of the vacancies seen this year. 23% of the roles were at the Account Director (AD) and Senior Account Director (SAD) level.Consumer PR Senior Talent: It was a "tough year" for consumer senior-level talent but at more junior levels there are recruitment demand still outweighs supply.In-House Market: The in-house market seems to be a "slower market". Salaries: Pay increases have been relatively low for the past 12 months, which is "welcome news for business owners". Talent is no longer coming in with "ridiculous requests," and the frequency of needing to manage salary expectations in a conversation has "really dropped," likely driven by the softening job market.AI in PR Jobs: Job specifications are changing to reflect the increasing nature of AI, but not as widespread as one might think. The second half of the year saw more conversations around agencies testing candidates' AI skills and ability to prompt. Some small-to-midsize agencies have hired AI specialists whose job is to work on prompting and building a platform.Redundancies: The frequency of redundancies is about the same as last year, but bold headlines "creates fear". There is still a gap between available jobs and available talent, and good agency talent is "still getting snapped up pretty quickly". The market is more difficult for those who are in-house and want to stay in-house, as those roles are more competitive if they are for a "good brand".

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2025Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates.Before we start, you can now enter the PRmoment Awards. The early entry deadline is 19th December. The final entry deadline is 23rd January.Also, check out the speaker programme for our latest PR Masterclass: The Intersection of PR and GEO. It's another stellar line-up.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment discussed:Andrew's summary of the PR pitch scene in 2025“A tricky year for many agencies - stagnant economy, long lead times, rising costs, slow decision making, short in client demands and move from retainers to projects.Trading has been challenging but moving in top 2026 with cautious optimism.But. A bit of a tale of 2 agencies.  On one side - agencies taking initiative - embracing AI into workflow, refreshing proposition, energetic, sharpening their brand and their offering.  On the other, agencies standing still, leaning on past reputation and senior expertise without moving forward.  These are the ones finding it tough - complaining about pipeline and ghosting.  The ones that have adapted are picking up major wins - the industry feels split between the modern agencies and the ones getting left behind.PR has a huge opportunity. Attention grabbing is more important than ever. The role of earned media role in this is more important than ever.  PR can and should be at the centre of conversations.  GEO provides a massive opp both in terms of search visibility and rep management.”Listen to the pod for all this years biggest pitch wins and deals.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast. In today's show we're doing something a little different. We're talking about PR superpowers.You may have seen the Legends of Frank series that Frank has been running this year, to celebrate its 25th birthday,The Q&A style interviews with each Legend has been fun and informative. But today, as we reach the end of the year, I'm talking to GG to get a deeper dive into some of these Legends to identify the 10 most important PR Super Powers.I want to find out why they are legends, what is their superpower, what was behind their success at Frank, and their careers since.Before we start, you can now enter the PRmoment Awards. The early entry deadline is 19th December so do take a look at this year's categories and if you enter a few by 19th December, you'll save yourself a few quid.Here's a summary of what Graham andYou must have had some fun putting this Legends at Frank series together?Did many people get upset with them for not including them as a legend?Graham talk us through his top 10 PR super powers:"The skill to be able to talk a client into doing anything" - Bianca Lee Chang"Pub quiz team captain" - Jay Sorrels"Chutzpah, cheek, and able to talk people into anything" - Lucy McGettigan"Creativity and tattoo advice" - Graeme Anthony"Chasing down a new biz lead, never knew when he was beaten" - Flying Frank (the greyhound)"The master of puns"- Greg Double"Trying something new, being experimental, taking risks" - Sophie Raine"Doing the right thing all the time" - David Fraser"Swottiest PR" - Gemma Moroney"Pitch genius" - Frankie Cory (also Lucy Hart)"Client bravery" - Gavin Lewis"A network of contacts is crucial" - Andrew BlochGraham and Ben talk about the importance of friendship at work.Graham on how to foster a culture of fun at work.

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by Angie Moxham, and Mark BorkowskiThis is the PR News Review where we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week we're talking about rage bait.This week rage bait was named Oxford University Press' Word of the Year for 2025.Before we start, you can now enter the PRmoment Awards. The early entry deadline is 19th December so do take a look at this year's categories and if you enter a few by 19th December, you'll save yourself a few quid.  Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.

Welcome to the PRmoment podcast. Today we're chatting to Laura Burch, founder and managing partner at Work & Class and Roxy Kalha, founder and managing partner at The Heard about the challenges of founding a PR agency as a women.Laura launched Work & Glass in 2024 and Roxy launched The Heard in 2023. Before we start, the final date to get your early entries in for The PRmoment Awards is December 16th. All the info you'll need, including a list of the categories is on the awards microsite.Thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here is a summary of what Roxy and Laura discussed with PRmoment founder Ben Smith:Is it harder as a female founder in PR?Roxy and Laura both give a shout out to The Lonely Female Founders Club.What are the hardest parts of being a female founder?Why does Roxy dislike the term imposter syndrome?Who are Laura and Roxy's female PR founder role models?What are the biggest barriers to women launching a PR agency?Which behaviours reduce the confidence of female employees? Described by Roxy and Laura  as “death by a thousand cuts.”What were the catalysts that made Roxy and Laura decide to launch their own businesses?What are the variables that can help more female founders launch more PR firms?

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers and acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins, mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in November 2025.Andrew is the lead consultant PR, social, content and influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates.Don't forget The PRmoment Award's early bird entry deadline, on 19 December Market OverviewNovember has been a very buoyant month.The market has seen great wins and has been extremely busy on the M&A front, which is probably expected since people were trying to complete deals before the budget announcement.It is an important time of year for pitches, as agencies line up new business for the following year and clients aim to get everything in place for 2026.PITCHESWarburtons appoints Burson The UK's biggest bakery appoints Burson to handle its brand and consumer communications, focusing on building its heritage and innovation narratives ahead of the company's 150th anniversary. Burson will also manage the corporate news agenda.BAKERY79 appoints Stakked The modern food-to-go concept, established by Park Garage Group, has hired Stakked for PR support. The campaign will focus on building consumer awareness and driving uptake as Bakery79 rapidly converts forecourt concessions as part of its acceleration into the UK food-to-go market.Astrid & Miyu appoints Aisle 8 The jewellery brand, which operates 20 UK stores alongside sites in New York and LA, selects Aisle 8 (a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle specialist) to elevate its brand image and media profile.Bodyform appoints Earnies The menstrual care brand, part of the Essity portfolio, has appointed Earnies to deliver a major awareness campaign highlighting the impact and challenges associated with heavy periods.Tonys Chocolonely appoints Shook and Here Be Dragons Tony's has appointed Shook and Here Be Dragons for a creative project celebrating the chunky nature of its chocolate bars. The campaign involves using high-profile talent, like 'The World's Strongest Footballer', as well as a PR stunt marking the standardization of the brand's signature red colour.WaterAid appoints Mischief The global water charity has selected Mischief to deliver its festive campaign and winter appeal. The project focuses on raising awareness and funds to support WaterAid's mission to help communities access clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene.Baller League appoints SoapBox The 6-a-side football league has hired SoapBox, a sport communications specialist, to handle its PR, event management, and press office function.Meta appoints John Doe Meta has expanded John Doe's brief to include creative communications for its wearables products, covering AI glasses, VR headsets, and other emerging technology from the Meta Wearables portfolio.The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism appoints W The Department of Tourism has awarded W a five-year contract for UK and European PR and communications. The agency will execute a strategic program covering media relations, influencer partnerships, and event activations to position the destination as a leading Caribbean holiday choice.Samsung appoints Ogilvy Samsung has expanded Ogilvy's remit to handle the brand's UK social and influencer work. This appointment builds on Ogilvy's existing relationship with Samsung, which includes B2B responsibilities across Europe.BMW Group appoints Kindred Kindred has been appointed to develop the creative communications strategy for both the BMW and Mini brands. The brief focuses o

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast. In this weekly show I'm joined by Angie Moxham, and Mark Borkowski.This is the PR New Review where we look at the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective and this week we're talking about the budget, the Labour government continuing dreadful communications and the resulting loss of trust from the electorate.Before we start, you can now enter the PRmoment Awards. The early entry deadline is 19th December so do take a look at this year's categories and if you enter a few by 19th December, you'll save yourself a few quid.  Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.

Welcome to the News Review on the PRmoment podcast.If you're enjoying these shows don't forget to subscribe; we published at least one new podcast every week.In this episode it's our weekly New Review feature where we discuss the most interesting topics that we've seen in the media each week and I'll be doing that alongside my good friends Angie Moxham and mark Borkowski.It's pretty much your final chance to get your ticket to PR Masterclass: The Agency Growth Forum which is next Wednesday 26th November.A few tickets are still available - both face-to-face and virtual.In this week's news review we talk about the UK Government Communications, the lack of trust in politics and the seismic changes we're currently seeing in the structure of the media.

Thank you for joining us today! Our guest is Anouschka Menzies, co-founder of Bacchus PR.Bacchus PR was founded 27 years ago and now has over 130 employees across 5 offices - London, New York, Miami, Dubai and most recently Riyadh.It works across the fashion, restaurants, hotels and real estate sectors and has a fee income of approximately £14m. Annouska describes the type of business that Bacchuss does as 70% consumer and 30% corporate.Before we start, the headline news is that The PRmoment Awards have now opened for entries.. So if you want: Independent third party recognition of your work and a compelling differentiator that attracts new clients and builds credibility, then do enter.Improved this year is our insights & feedback functionality, you now receive constructive feedback on your campaign work and agency performance, broken down by the specific judging criteria.And finally from a GEO and LLM Optimisation perspective: Every winning entry will receive a dedicated profile page on the PRmoment Awards website, which will showcase the successful submission and explain the judging panel's decision. Also, our PR Masterclass the Agency Growth Forum is less than 2 weeks away. Virtual and face to face tickets are now available.Check out PRmasterclasses.com or the homepage of PRmoment for the full speaker lineup.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Anouschka and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:Anouschka started the business with Charlotte Lurot and, a couple of years later, Daize Washbourn joined. Has having 3 leaders from an early stage accelerated the ambition of Bacchus? Anouschka talks about PR needing to have a commercial impact and needing to generate cash for clients. How does that come through in the approach to Bacchus's work? All of Bacchus' senior staff in London have been with the business for over a decade. That creates great experience and knowledge in the business but can it result in a lack of opportunity for more junior employees?Anouschka talks about how Bacchus made the move into real estate PR? That seems quite a jump from restaurants and hotels? But that was a crucial step for the business right.How does Bacchus create an entrepreneurial culture in its business? “It needs to be a better package than anyone else is offering.”Anouschka has built an international business when lots of her peer agencies have struggled to build an international network. Why did she decide to go international relatively early in Bacchus's journey?“Corporate PR is probably easier than consumer PR!”“Any international entity coming to the UK needs to understand that our press will leave no stone unturned.”How excited is Anouschka about PR's GEO opportunity?If Anouschka had one piece of advice for young PR agency leaders out there, what would it be?“Never compete with anyone but yourselves?”Is Anouschka nervous or positive about the future of the PR agency business?

Welcome to the PRmoment podcast's weekly News Review.We're joined by Angie Moxham, founder of 3 Monkeys and Fourth Angel and Mark Borkowski, founder of Borkowski PR.In this new show Mark, Angie and PRmoment founder Ben Smith review the biggest news stories of the week from a PR perspective.This week we compare the communications styles of Trump verses and the BBC. Does Trumps fearless, confident style threaten to overwhelm the BBC's risk averse approach?We also talk about Labour's ongoing communication struggles. Angie and Mark discuss Rachel Reeves U-turn on a U-turn and why confused comms seems to indicate a confused government. Also a reminder that our our PR Masterclass: Then Agency Growth Forum is in less than 2 weeks. Virtual and face-to-face tickets are now available so check out PRmasterclasses.com or the homepage of PRmoment for the full speaker lineup.Thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.