The PRovoke Media Podcast

The latest Echo Chamber episode explores how agencies can improve their new business presentations, the role PR has played in the rise and fall of unicorns and AMEC's Measurement Month. Aarti Shah talks to Steve Astle who — until recently — was head of communications at FICO about what wowed him during agency business presentations, then Blueshirt CEO Alex Wellins talks about the US tech IPO lands...

Two of the PR world's leading creative lights join the Echo Chamber after their agencies — Edelman and Unity — came top of the Holmes Report's recent Global Creative Index . In conjunction with Arun Sudhaman, the group discuss what sets the best public relations work apart, talk about the PR industry's efforts to become more creative, and explore differences between creativity in PR and advertisin...

Holmes Report founder and CEO Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the future of public relations in the so-called 'post-truth era'. Recent political campaigns — notably Brexit and Trump — have demonstrated that people are willing to suspend their disbelief when it comes to facts, particularly when it comes to more emotive issues. Indeed, as behavioural research demonstrates, presenting p...

Whether you’re hiring for a PR agency or an in-house marketing team, it’s helpful to know as much as possible about the capabilities, expectations and possibilities of your potential future employees. That’s why Hacks and Flacks brought in Amy Shanler, associate professor of Public Relations  at Boston University and the head of  BU’s PRLab , for a glimpse into how tomorrow’s professionals are bei...

Public relations and search engine optimisation should be natural bedfellows, yet few PR firms have actively invested in substantial SEO capabilities. One that has is Threepipe, which recently acquired an SEO firm in the UK. Threepipe CEO Jim Hawker joins the Echo Chamber to discuss why the deal makes sense for his agency, and also explores the broader difficulties of genuine digital integration,...

Data can tell a great story, and research campaigns are how you find that data. In this  Hacks & Flacks  episode, the hosts talk to March Research Manager Jeremy Guterl, Account Manager Steph Jackman and Senior Account Executive Samantha Bell about their recent work developing, distributing and promoting a successful PR research campaign. Jeremy defines the difference between media-genic and strat...

The host of the Hacks & Flacks podcast Manny Veiga talks about the rise of podcasting — and the role for PR agencies and brands. Then Matt Kelly, founder & CEO of  Radical Compliance  joins to talk about the intersection of corporate compliance and reputation. The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC and sponsored by  March Communications , producer of the  Hacks & Flacks podcast .

Agency veteran Neil Backwith, who now consults for a number of highly-regarded UK PR firms, talks to Arun Sudhaman about how firms can optimize their commercial performance, and why so many continue to find this difficult. Cohn & Wolfe digital innovation head Chad Latz also visits the show to talk about his key digital trends from Cannes and beyond.

The Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman catches up with MSLGroup CEO Guillaume Herbette in Cannes to discuss the continued restructuring at the Publicis Groupe PR network. In Delhi, meanwhile, Sudhaman discusses the evolution of India's PR industry and political communication with Promise Foundation founder Amith Prabhu.

Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman previews next week's Cannes Lions with a host of industry figures. Daniel Franklin, executive editor at the Economist, discusses the title's expanded presence at Cannes, along with how marketers are grappling with the rise of technology. Vikki Chowney from H+K Strategies previews her highlights from the 2016 festival, including the curious appearance at Cannes of...

Hacks & Flacks talks to  Erin Callanan , co-chair of PRXNE16, the annual conference for PRSA’s North East district. She talks about the challenges of organizing an event, previews the PRXNE16 lineup — plus a session on  client messaging  from March Communication's managing director Cheryl Gale. Hacks & Flacks  – produced by March Communications — is the sponsor for the Echo Chamber. You can follow...

Podcasting live from the World PR Forum 2016 in Toronto, Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman talks to Ford Canada VP of communications Lauren More about how in-house communications departments are modernising their offering, and how the CCO role is changing in accordance. We also catch up with MEPRA vice-chair Alex Malouf to discuss the challenges affecting the growth of the Middle East PR industry...

This week, the Echo Chamber is hosting content from its podcast partner March Communications that puts on the popular  Hacks & Flacks  podcast. In this episode,  Katie Delahaye Paine   — also known as the Measurement Queen — explains how to create a culture of measurement within a PR agency or internal marketing department, and also shares her perspective on the tech businesses use to monitor and...

Golin CEO Fred Cook joins the show to discuss the first  Global Communications Report , which predicts good PR agency sector growth over the next five years, but raises several questions especially when it comes to attracting and retaining the right talent. Capstone Hill CEO Jamie McLaughlin also joins to talk more about talent.  Show Notes:  Global Top 250 PR Agency Ranking   I ndustry Growth Slo...

The Holmes Report editors Paul Holmes, Arun Sudhaman and Aarti Shah talk about the 2016 Agency of the Year winners  that were unveiled on May 3 at the SABRE Awards North America. The editorial team talks about why M Booth, Cohn & Wolfe, W2O Group, Zeno Group, Method Communications and other winners were standouts in this year's highly-competitive agency of the year competition.

Paul Holmes joins the show to discuss the launch of the first Global Communications Report, which predicts good PR agency sector growth over the next five years, but raises several questions over the industry's ability to adapt to a rapidly shifting landscape, not least when it comes to attracting and retaining the right talent, and for communications directors aiming to expand their influence and...

In this year's SXSW recap, Aarti Shah talks to a festival veteran and first-time attendee. Kwittken co-founder Jason Schlossberg explains why he might not return to Austin next spring for the first time in many years. Meanwhile, CC Group's managing director Rich Fogg offers his perspective as a first-time attendee. Show notes:  Why I Am (Probably) Not Coming Back To SXSW Interactive Next Year   SX...

David Tiltman, head of content at WARC, visits the Echo Chamber to discuss the Warc 100 — a ranking of the world’s best marketing campaigns and companies, based on performance in effectiveness and strategy competitions. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Tiltman explores the characterisics of effective marketing work, and addresses the increasing importance of public relations thinking. The epsio...

Ogilvy & Mather UK vice-chairman Rory Sutherland makes a highly-anticipated appearance on the Echo Chamber PR show. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Sutherland explores why behavioural economics is of critical importance for companies seeking to understand why people make decisions, and addresses the "fetishization of data". Sutherland also discusses the rise of Donald Trump, the Brexit campaig...

APCO founder Margery Kraus joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the International Women's Day with Aarti Shah, including how the PR industry's gender representation has evolved over the last three decades. Ogilvy PR's Jen Risi then joins the conversation to talk about the UN Women's HeForShe movement.

Business Insider global advertising editor Lara O'Reilly joins the Echo Chamber to discuss how ad blocking software is forcing digital media companies to rethink their advertising models. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, O'Reilly also explores the restructuring at Publicis and Omnicom, the 'mediapalooza' agency reviews, and the impact of new social media platforms like Facebook Instant Articles...

Tech analyst — and author of ' What If Twitter Died? ' — Bob O'Donnell comes onto the Echo Chamber to talk to Aarti Shah about the future of the struggling social network. The episode explores Twitter's way forward and the role its  new VP of communications Natalie Kerris  plays in this. The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC. 

Sally Costerton drops by the Echo Chamber to discuss HP's "mystifying" media spat with FT journalist Lucy Kellaway. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Costerton chews over the pros and cons of taking on big media from a PR perspective. Also discussed on the show — Pepsico's decision to eliminate marketing procurement, likened by Costerton as a "tour of Helmand", and the M&A fever gripping the PR...

Cohn & Wolfe Americas CEO Jim Joseph joins the Echo Chamber for our annual roundup of Super Bowl marketing with Arun Sudhaman. Joseph found this year's ads underwhelming and also noted that brands are, curiously, not making the most of digital marketing to bring their Super Bowl spend to life. After that, Mats Stigzelius from new influencer marketing platform Takumi discusss the rise of Instagram...

Holmes Report editor Aarti Shah talks to H+K Strategies'  new US CEO Beth Balsam  about her vision for H+K's US revival, the agency's groundbreaking  parental leave policy  and why female empowerment has become such a popular marketing theme. Show notes: Always #LikeAGirl Imagine The Possibilities: Barbie Touch The Pickle