PR firms must be ‘more commercial’ – PRWeek podcast
In the latest PRWeek podcast, non-executive directors Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy explain how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt is joined by two non-executive directors – Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy – to discuss how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times, focusing on client fees, restructuring and staff redundancies.An experienced comms professional, Clarke has held senior roles at Weber Shandwick and Grayling, and now runs her own consultancy, Alison Clarke Consulting. Michael Murphy has also held top leadership roles at Grayling and Weber Shandwick and now advises We. Communications, Lodestone and Action Global. In this episode, the pair chat about when an agency should consider increasing its fees, how to approach the topic with clients, and explain how to stop working with a client without jeopardising the relationship or their agency’s reputation.Clarke also warned that PR agencies must avoid a ‘race to the bottom’ in relation to client fees. The two comms professionals discuss when an agency leader should consider restructuring a team, and what frameworks to follow. They also offer advice on how best to handle redundancies and what factors the leadership team should consider.
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‘AI has democratised mediocrity’ - global CEO Havas Red, PRWeek podcast
James Wright, global chairman of the Havas PR Network, global CEO of Havas Red, and Group CEO Havas ANZ, talks about business at the group in the latest PRWeek podcast.James Wright speaks to PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt in the latest episode of Beyond the Noise.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.In the episode, Wright discusses business at the PR network and talks about Havas’ new office in Manchester, as well as the current recruitment market in PR.Wright gives an update on which specialisms are faring the strongest for Havas and its agencies, and where there has been strong growth this year. He speaks about B Lab revoking Havas’ B Corp status and discusses the impact on both staff and clients. New business is also examined, and the chief delves into agency/client relationships and says clients must ‘take some responsibility’ to avoid ghosting and poor pitching behaviour.In addition, Wright gives his take on AI technology, the Omnicom/IPG deal, and shares his predictions for 2026.
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PRWeek UK Awards show PR is transforming – PRWeek podcast
What do the winners of the PRWeek UK Awards 2025 tell us about the big trends in the sector? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.In today’s episode, PRWeek journalists Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) pick out some of the major lessons from the flagship awards night, which took place on Wednesday (15 October).The trio discuss what the winning campaigns tell us about the state of purpose campaigns in 2025, and about how PR agencies have been expanding the breadth of work they are undertaking.The journalists look at how innovation – especially around AI – and creative investment are big themes among the winning agencies this year.More generally, they reflect on a positive mood about the health of the industry among attendees, albeit with some caveats.Separately, the team pay tribute to this year’s PRWeek UK Hall of Fame inductee: John Waples of FTI Consulting.
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PR and antisemitism: ‘where's the empathy?’
What more can comms professionals do to help stem growing antisemitism? And why aren’t more speaking out? PRWeek UK’s latest podcast looks at the issues.Joining a special edition of Beyond the Noise are three agency leaders who are Jewish: David Fraser, founder of Ready10 and Ready Media Group; Mandy Sharp, CEO of Tin Man Communications; and Barry Frankfurt, MD of Creative & Commercial.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests this week discuss their experiences of antisemitism in recent years and reflect on how the fatal attack on a synagogue in Greater Manchester on 2 October has put the issue into sharper focus.They talk about how the industry has responded to the attacks, including a “deafening silence”and a lack of “empathy” from some, which point to wider problems.The founders offer advice to other people in comms about how to support their Jewish colleagues and peers.
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PR’s DEI ‘hypocrites’ attacked on PRWeek podcast
PR’s pay gaps, and its DEI efforts in general, are under the spotlight in PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.It follows the publication this week of the latest Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us, which sees agencies reveal their gender and ethnicity pay gaps.Click here to read the PRWeek Pay Gaps ReportOur guests are People Like Us co-founder Sheeraz Gulsher and the bosses of two agencies that took part in the Pay Gaps Report: Heather Blundell, UK CEO at Grayling, and Pam Scobbie, co-founder and CCO of John Doe Group.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, the guests give their take on the overall findings of the ground-breaking report. This includes some stiff criticism of the lack of participation among the UK’s biggest PR agencies.They discuss why gender and ethnicity pay gaps might still exist and scrutise the industry’s efforts to close them.Blundell and Scobbie give examples of some of the work they have done to promote diversity, equity and inclusion at their agencies. And the guests offer advice to PR firms that want to make progress in these areas.As PRWeek earlier reported, the Grayling and John Doe bosses criticised the recent pattern of female leaders at UK comms agencies being replaced by men.
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