Catherine Hill

Are the tools of journalism applicable to #corporate communications? Without a doubt. I recently had the opportunity to discuss three of those tools, and how to apply them, at a gathering of comms professionals from @Method Communications, @Sling&Stone, @Harvard and other teams from our @VCCP family. I’d love to hear about other skills from #journalism you think are applicable to helping companies tell their best stories in authentic, media-genic ways. Comment below!

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Chapter 2 of my new book, "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators," includes A Basic Guide to Public Relations, which offers an overview of the practice of PR. Available now on Amazon! 2. A BASIC GUIDE TO PUBLIC RELATIONS In our modern world, effective communications are key. As organizations and individuals navigate the dynamic landscapes of our interconnected lives, public relations have become a critical element that helps shape perceptions, nurture relationships, and drive visibility, leading to success. Public Relations is the art and craft of managing internal and external communications between an organization, its stakeholders, and the media. A well-crafted and executed public relations plan can establish credibility, build trust, and maintain a positive reputation. https://lnkd.in/gCAHTsP8

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How do policymakers in D.C. and those who engage them get their information? It depends on their partisan leanings. Check out the results of Avōq's research below.

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Is your leadership team crisis-ready? My latest insights piece for Marino. explores the questions that leaders should ask to ensure their readiness to protect their organization's stakeholders, interests, and reputation when the unexpected occurs. https://lnkd.in/eBsdvW58

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I wrote a piece for Politico on major trends buffeting the media including artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and fighting disinformation in an age of dwindling resources. The conclusion is that founders, CEOs, politicians and others in the public eye now face an exponentially increasing threat of reputational damage. In today’s media landscape, a single negative review can quickly go viral, a poorly phrased statement can trigger a global backlash and an ill-judged joke can wreck careers. While the media world’s pace of change is dizzying, the words written by businessman Warren Buffett almost a decade ago have never been more relevant: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” Article here: https://lnkd.in/dtTNY4PU

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📣 Navigating Public Statements with Diverse Member Opinions 📣 In this week's Association Insights, I tackle a complex challenge: making public statements when not all members agree. Here’s how to approach this delicate task effectively: 👉 Establish a Clear Decision-Making Framework: Set transparent rules about the levels of consensus needed for different types of public statements. 👉 Align with Predominant Member Interests: Understand and represent the majority while maintaining open dialogue to manage expectations and relationships. 👉 Find Common Ground: Emphasize shared values and goals to craft a balanced statement that respects diverse viewpoints but upholds industry priorities. 👉 Communicate Transparently: Always explain the decision-making process and reasoning behind public statements to all members to foster trust and understanding. Handling disagreement requires a strategic and inclusive approach to effectively represent your association's interests and maintain unity. 💬 How do you manage differing opinions in your organization? Share your strategies below! #PublicRelations #AssociationManagement #Leadership #CommunicationStrategy #AssociationInsights #OnWrdUpWrd

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The essence of genuine engagement in today's public sphere is not merely about being heard, but about remaining authentic amidst a sea of loud and conflicting voices. At Moxie Strategies, we uphold a quant-first approach because we believe that authenticity isn't just about the message, but how you substantiate it. Check out my ROI-NJ piece where I delve into how quantitative analysis empowers organizations to stay true to their core values while effectively engaging with their audiences. This method helps us navigate through the noise and focus on what really matters—authentic connections and tangible outcomes. Read on to see how a data-driven strategy can make a real difference.

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Avōq just released insightful research into the changing media preferences of D.C. policy insiders. LinkedIn is up, Twitter is down... but there is a lot more to it than that! To get a deeper look, download the topline and schedule a full briefing to learn what these changes mean for your policy communications strategy: https://lnkd.in/eMpRhMZh

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It was great to join a Quorum webinar today with my colleagues Khadija Butt Hina Razzaq & Bryce Ballard from Rational 360 talking about how we work to quantify impact in the integrated campaigns that we run across clients -- and discussing some of the trends that we're seeing in public affairs, social listening & digital campaigns. Thanks for the opportunity to join in this discussion and to the many great questions that came in!

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Misinformation and disinformation, the threat of deepfakes, the rise of AI, dwindling workforces and resources - are converging trends undermining the quality of and trust in the media? Have a read of this excellent piece by Tom Harper, APCO European head of media and former Sunday Times journalist, in POLITICO today.

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Are the tools of journalism applicable to #corporate communications? Without a doubt. I recently had the opportunity to discuss three of those tools, and how to apply them, at a gathering of comms professionals from Method Communications, Sling & Stone and other teams from our VCCP family. I’d love to hear about other skills from #journalism you think are applicable to helping companies tell their best stories in authentic, media-genic ways. Comment below!

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Check out this insightful summary from our recent PRWeek roundtable on the power of communications to make or break your deal. #HeartofHealth

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Don't know where to start with AI in public affairs? I've got something for you. Last week, we embarked on a journey to use AI for scoping out scenarios and simulating stakeholder interactions. This week, we’re taking it a step further. Join me Saturday as we refine our approach, explore intensive training methodologies, and establish robust systems for ongoing scenario management and documentation. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲? In Part Two of this series, we will: - 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Using insights from previous simulations to enhance communication tactics. - 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀: Create dynamic training sessions to keep your strategy sharp and effective. - 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗢𝗣𝘀: Work with ChatGPT to build a sustainable repository of scenario documentation and Standard Operating Procedures. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲? To learn how to: - Refine your strategy based on real-time feedback from AI simulations. - Develop targeted training modules to improve team response strategies. - Establish continuous learning practices that keep your team adaptive and proactive. - Standardize your team’s responses to enhance coherence and efficiency in stakeholder interactions. The newsletter drops every Saturday. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you’re missing out. Link in my bio.

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Thrilled to have hosted a webinar on the Ethnicity Pay Gap with three exceptional experts on the subject. Our discussion delved into systemic biases, actionable solutions, and the imperative for change. Let's turn insights into action for a more equitable future. #EthnicityPayGap #DiversityandInclusion

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Fighting misinformation can be infuriating, not to mention difficult, but there are ways to do it effectively and here are some tips from Spin Sucks.

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SPOILER ALERT 🚨🚨🚨 I don't think TikTok is going anywhere. But, the debate happening among policymakers makes for pretty good conversation. In my latest thought piece for H/Advisors Abernathy, I examined the newscycle to see how a potential #TikToK ban could play a big role in the 2024 election cycle, rankle #BigTech data collection and lay the groundwork for more #dataprivacy advocacy. https://bit.ly/T1kT0kban

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“I just need a few key messages that I should hit.” It’s a common request that every communications pro has encountered many times ahead of a media interview. And if you’re anything like me, you roll your eyes. Why? Because key messages are fine and good, but only if they are used to form a broader narrative. More often than not, they’re seen as a license to be repetitive, robotic and focused only on your own outcome. Brute-forcing key messages down a reporter’s throat doesn’t help them do their job. Media opportunities are a two way street - you give value, share expertise and contextualize whatever you’re talking about in exchange for the profile the media outlet can give you and your business. The best and only way to respect this duality is to shape a simple and memorable story which contains the messages you want to hit, and which shows instead of telling why what you’re discussing is important and meaningful. I used to keep a folder of video clips that could’ve been titled “when key messages go wrong” - often depicting some hapless executive or politician stumbling through a repeated response straight from the message sheet he or she was handed. They universally looked silly and unprepared, and the interview did nothing but undermine trust and damage the speaker’s reputation. Next time, before the camera starts rolling, think about a story instead of a key message. Your brand will thank you.

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