History of Internal Communication

Information management and intranet expert Martin White joins us this episode to talk about his extensive experience helping hundreds of companies manage their information and communication. He shares his insights into the importance of accountability in sharing information, the role of language in multi-national companies and the vital need to reflect corporate culture.

This episode, we are joined by Suzie Robinson, an intranet and digital employee experience consultant, from ClearBox Consulting. Suzie has worked with intranets since 2008 and has practical experience with all aspects of an intranet lifecycle, from research, to implementation, to ongoing governance, and overall strategy. Suzie’s intranet experience has grown out of the roots of internal communicat...

After a short break, the History of Internal Communication Podcast is back with new host Emily Rees! In this episode, Emily speaks to the writer and historian Dr Scott Anthony, a specialist in the history of public relations and propaganda, who has just published a new book with BFI/Bloomsbury on the history of British propaganda film. Tune in to hear them discuss the crossovers between IC and PR,...

In Episode 21, we are joined by Jenni Field, the director of Redefining Communications and former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in 2020. Reflecting on her experiences across many different industries, Jenni talks about the importance of identifying root causes of communication problems rather than just alleviating symptoms. Join us for a discussion of the importance of b...

In Episode 20 we are joined by Christine Shukis-Brown, the Deputy Director of Strategic Communications at King’s College London. Christine shares her insights into cultural shifts from her time at the BBC, where she began as an archive researcher and moved into internal communication and change initiatives. With her involvement in digital transformation at the City of London Corporation and her Ph...

The nineteenth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast features Dr Mike Esbester, a Principal Lecturer in History at the University of Portsmouth. Mike’s research into the early British railways explores the roots of workplace safety practices. In this interview, he shares insights from his project ‘Railway Work, Life & Death,’ highlighting how historical approaches to safety...

On 14 May 2024, Meta announced the closure of Workplace, the work comms platform that it had launched in 2016. In Episode 18, we talk about history as it unfolds, as we are joined by Simon White, a former employee of Meta’s predecessor Facebook. Now the HR leader for the intranet and communication application Blink, Simon shares with us his wealth of experience of digital communication and how thi...

In the seventeenth episode, we are joined by Michael Ellender, the Internal Channels Lead at the BBC. Michael shares his journey in internal communication, reflecting on the shifts from traditional methods to digital platforms and the impact of these changes on organisational culture and employee engagement. His unique perspective highlights the challenges and innovations within the BBC’s internal...

The sixteenth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast features Sue Dewhurst, the former Director of The SD Group, and Liam Fitzpatrick, the Co-Founder of Donhead Consultants. In 2001, Sue and Liam developed the first competency framework for internal communication practitioners in the UK. Their model marked a turning point, providing a structured approach to professionalising this...

In Episode 15, we are joined by Isabel Hull, the Research and Content Director at Kademy. Isabel shares invaluable insights on mastering change communication in today's workplace environment. She talks about maintaining a coherent message across channels, navigating the pitfalls of unofficial channels, and bridging the skills gap in communication teams in the fact of technological advancements...

In the fourteenth episode, we are joined by Mike Klein, an internal and social communication consultant at Changing the Terms. With a career that began in political PR in the US, Mike has worked in internal communication in many different countries and held posts at Shell, Cargill, and Maersk Oil. Join us as we explore Mike’s insights from measurement to leadership, offering valuable perspectives...

The thirteenth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast features David Macleod, the Co-Chair of Engage for Success. David co-authored the hugely influential 2009 Engage for Success report. In this interview, David looks back at how internal communication has developed in the 14 years since he and Nita Clarke wrote the report. He reflects on the monumental shifts he's witnessed...

In Episode 12, we are joined by Katie Marlow, the co-chair of CIPR Inside, and Dan Holden, the outgoing chair of CIPR Inside. Katie has been a Communication Consultant at Little Bird for thirteen years and has worked for the NHS and local government in the past. Dan is a Communication Consultant at All Things IC and has experience in various internal comms roles, including with the consumer group...

In the eleventh episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast, we are joined by Liz Clayton-Jones, the Founder Director of Beehive Performance Ltd and the former editor of the Mars company magazine. In our conversation, Liz gives fascinating insights ranging from her interest in communicating with introverts to changes in society that have altered the way we communicate.

The tenth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast features Dev Mistry, the Global Internal Communications Manager at the online event hub DICE. With over a decade of PR and communications, Dev talks about the role of internal communication in PR, strategies for inclusivity, and the power of storytelling. He gives fascinating insights on a wide range of topics from making voices he...

In Episode 9, we are joined by Marc Wright. With a deep understanding of internal comms since the 1980s, Marc's journey began after studying English Literature at Oxford. In 1985, he acquired Crown Business Communication and he later founded MCA Live in 1996 and simplycommunicate in 2005. Marc's vast expertise has shaped the field's evolution. Join us for a fascinating discussion as we...

In the eighth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast, we are joined by Alex Gapud, a Cultural Anthropologist at the business consultancy Scarlett Abbott. Having previously researched a PhD at the University of Edinburgh in social and cultural anthropology, he discusses his expertise in human culture and the insights this offers organisations that wish to improve communication wit...

In Episode 7, we are joined by Rachel Miller. Through her IC consultancy work with All Things IC and her masterclasses, Rachel is well known by internal communication practitioners. Before beginning her consultancy work, Rachel had years of experience working in-house for various organisations including Visa and London Overground. Her upcoming book ‘Internal Communication Strategy’ is greatly anti...

In Episode 6, we are joined by Jenny Davenport and Liz Cochrane. Jenny is a trailblazer in the realm of industrial democracy during the transformative 1970s. Jenny also played a vital role in the development of the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip). Liz Cochrane is the course director of the masters programme and played a pivotal role in its creation. In this month’s podcast episode, we'll delve in...

The fifth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast explores the changing ways that we communicate with two of the most prominent figures in the sector. Dom Walters is a renowned Leadership Communication Consultant and host of the ‘Future of Internal Communication’ podcast series, with a background in prestigious organizations like Lloyds, PWC, and Computershare. We are also joined...

In the fourth episode, we’re joined by Sam Bleazard, the Employer Brand Content Producer for Fortnum & Mason. Sam brings a wealth of experience to the Institutional History of Internal Communication research, having worked for three of the project's case studies: Royal Mail, Unilever, and John Lewis. He is also the host of his own popular podcast series Comms from the Shed. In this episode...

In Episode 3, we are joined by Matt Eastley (Content Strategist and Editorial Specialist). In his career, Matt has experience working on house magazines for two of our case studies. In 2000-10 he was the Editor in Chief at Royal Mail, where he worked on the Courier magazine, and in 2015-22 he worked on the Ariel magazine at the BBC, where he became Head of Internal Communications & Engagement....

In the second episode, we speak with Suzanne Peck (President of the Institute of Internal Communication) and Jennifer Sproul (Chief Executive of the Institute of Internal Communication). The Institute of Internal Communication is a partner of the Institutional History of Internal Communication in the UK project. Since its foundation in 1949, the institute has gone through many changes in form and...

For the first episode, we are joined by the two people who came up with the 'An Institutional History of Internal Communication in the United Kingdom' project: Michael Heller from Brunel University London and Mick Rowlinson from Exeter University. They talk about how they came up with the project, what questions they hope we can answer through our research, and, most importantly, how they hope it...