PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network

Strong communicators do more than listen to what people say. They pay attention to how it is said, what is changing, and what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Erin Vogt, Partner and COO at Peritus PR, explores what she calls the “art of sensing”—the ability to read a room, recognize patterns, and respond to subtle shifts in client, prospect, and team behavior. She explains wh...

Hosting a global sporting event is about much more than filling stadiums and delivering a great experience. For a host city, it is also an opportunity to shape reputation, strengthen community pride and create something that lasts long after the crowds go home. In this episode, Aaron Blank, president and CEO of Fearey, and Peter Tomozawa, CEO of Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 , take us behind the scene...

Health information has never been more accessible—but that doesn’t mean people know what to believe. Patients are turning to social media, influencers, search engines and AI for answers, while trust in traditional authorities continues to decline. Jenny Ousbey, founder and CEO of OVID Health, talks about what this shift means for healthcare communicators. She explains why effective campaigns start...

Nick Leighton introduces the concept of Conversation Visibility™. Buyer behavior has shifted toward seeking peer-to-peer, unfiltered opinions, making platforms like Reddit incredibly valuable. But as Nick explains, traditional marketing and broadcasting do not work on Reddit. The community actively rejects corporate language. Public user histories and aggressive anti-spam bots mean companies canno...

In this episode, co-host Abbie Fink steps into the guest seat to unpack the findings from the Public Relations Global Network's 2nd Influence Insights survey. Drawing on responses from roughly 1,800 executives globally, the survey reveals a glaring "performance gap": while 90% of leaders believe influence is critical to their business, only 17% feel their organization is executing it well enough t...

Natalie Ghidotti, owner of a Little Rock-based PR agency, discusses the unique challenges that smaller markets present to PR practitioners and the power of combining a global network with deep local expertise. The middle of the country often gets forgotten in business. Natalie explains how her team at Ghidotti helps family-owned, B2B companies in the Heartland reach a national audience while stayi...

On May 13, 2026, the Public Relations Global Network will present the key findings of the PRGN Influence Insights 2026 , the second edition of its global survey on brand influence. The 2026 PRGN Influence Insights Survey offers a closer look at how brands are managing trust, reputation, AI, audience behavior and the growing complexity of influence across channels, audiences and markets worldwide....

Jaime Gardner joins Abbie Fink to talk about the biggest business development challenges agency leaders face: winning the right clients, moving prospects through a long business development cycle, and growing existing accounts. Jaime makes the case for proactive relationship-building over reactive crisis-driven engagement, arguing that agencies are better positioned when they help clients get ahea...

Megan Yocum & Johnny Reynolds talk about PR for small businesses and how public relations can be a valuable asset regardless of the size of the company. They explain how PR can effectively tell a company's story and discuss issues such as strategic planning, realistic goal setting, and budget considerations. They emphasize the importance of building brand visibility, establishing consumer trus...

Shawn Jiang discusses the intricacies of doing business in China and the evolving dynamics of public relations in the region. He shares valuable insights into the current landscape of the Chinese market, highlighting recent shifts, government strategies, and the role of communication firms in navigating these changes. Shawn emphasizes a noticeable shift from rapid growth to a more moderated pace d...

Tina Kozak is the CEO of Detroit-based Franco . She's the first woman and only the third person to hold the CEO position in firm's 62 year history. Her career highlights span a variety of areas from client service and industry innovation to organizational culture and empowering women. As Franco’s CEO, she leads the company in its values, culture and strategic vision. One of metro Detroit’s most re...

Nick Leighton returns to the podcast to talk about how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing public relations. He explains his concept of the "Narritect," a person who designs and engineers brand messages, similar to how an architect develops blueprints. As AI accelerates content creation, brands risk drowning in content and starving for clarity. The Narritect's task is to construct coherent...

Robert Bauer joins us to unpack the intriguing topic of predictions within the PR industry — how they are formulated, their inherent risks, and their potential impact on reputation management. He emphasizes the need for balance between cautious foresight and bold, sometimes controversial declarations about the future and shares his insights into the process of crafting meaningful predictions that...

Terrie Ard returns to discuss the findings of the 2026 M.Cast™ Trends Report . She explains the importance of adopting a "futurist mindset" and looking for signals and patterns of change to anticipate what is coming next, rather than simply reacting to the present. Terrie explains the concept of the "Invisible AI Revolution," predicting that artificial intelligence will soon move from a novelty to...

Abbie Fink talks with newly appointed PRGN President Frédéric François about his vision for the Public Relations Global Network throughout his term. Frédéric shares three key initiatives: combating misinformation and disinformation, advancing digital-first strategies among PRGN member agencies, and responsibly integrating AI into our work. By aligning agency efforts towards these goals, PRGN aims...

Gábor Jelinek, Executive Director of the Public Relations Global Network, joins us to discuss emerging trends and PRGN members' predictions for the public relations industry in 2026. Starting with a look back at last year's predictions, Gábor points out the continuities and new developments in global communications. He specifically notes the impact of AI in PR, its role in reshaping how agencies w...

"Influence is the currency of today, but also of the future." Gilbert Manirakiza, CEO of Newmark Group, discusses his experience as host of the recent PRGN conference in Nairobi, Kenya. He shares insights into the strategic planning and execution of the conference, emphasizing the importance of fostering global collaboration among public relations leaders. Gilbert and his team included voices from...

In our final episode on PRGN's 2025 Influence Insights research, Rogério Artoni discusses the significance of cultural and social values in public relations, especially in the Latin American context, with a sharp focus on Brazil. Download PRGN's whitepaper on insights from the 2025 global survey on Brand Influence. Rogério highlights that understanding these values is crucial for effective communi...

Andy See discusses PRGN's 2025 Influence Insights survey results from an APAC perspective, highlighting the distinct challenges and opportunities for brands in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Andy, Bill, and Adrian talk about how cultural, regulatory, and market dynamics impact brand strategy and communication approaches in APAC and beyond. Their discussion underscores the importance of adapting s...

In this episode we continue to unpack the findings of the PRGN Influence Insights research study , which surveyed 550 business, marketing, and communications leaders in over 40 countries to uncover their priorities in public relations and communications. Bill Southard and Joaquín Fernández discuss on the survey results and their implications in the European context. They explore the differences be...

Bill Southard and Natalie Ghidotti join Abbie Fink to dissect the findings of PRGN's groundbreaking global survey on brand influence. This survey of marketing and business leaders across 40 countries was commissioned by the Public Relations Global Network and conducted by Researchscape International with the involvement of PRGN’s 50+ member agencies globally. The PRGN Influence Insights survey hig...

Natacha Clarac shares her insights about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of public affairs and lobbying, highlighting both its potential benefits and the ethical responsibilities that come with its use. She emphasizes that while AI can streamline processes and enhance data analysis, a human touch remains crucial for crafting authentic and impactful messages. Natacha encourag...

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and one tweet to destroy it." Aaron Blank joins us to discuss the crucial importance of crisis communications and the proactive measures businesses should take to prepare for potential crises. Aaron explains how companies can effectively manage their reputations when unexpected situations arise, emphasizing that having a solid crisis plan is not just a good...

Bradly Howland, CEO of Alkemi Collective, joins us to talk about accountability and transparency in the PR industry. He discusses the challenges of ownership within agencies and client relationships, emphasizing the impact of generational shifts on workplace culture. Bradly highlights efforts to professionalize PR in South Africa, addressing both agency and client accountability through industry s...

Tammy Zollner, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at RPM International, shares her journey of transforming internal communications and fostering a culture of engagement and understanding among a diverse workforce, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. She outlines the process of centralizing RPM's communications, transitioning from a company where many weren't even aware of the parent...