Nathan Friedman

Recent industry research shared by Eleanor Hawkins at Axios shows that 66% of Fortune 500 Chief Communications Officers are women, a demographic variance not yet seen in other C-suite roles. Diverse perspectives are essential to effectively lead, listen to and engage the many different groups and audiences that can dictate a company’s success and I look forward to similar progress in inclusion across other leadership roles and industries.  https://lnkd.in/e7c-5fS7

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It’s timely for Oversight Board to be investigating deepfake pornography cases on the day the government announced the creation of sexually explicit "deepfake" images is to be made a criminal offence in England and Wales under a new law. Do have your say on the case. Your submission could shape how these devastating images are handled so pls check this link out - https://lnkd.in/gc4ecUwM #contentmoderation #online #Meta #ai

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Start-up and scale-up founders, CEOs and CMOs can save themselves a lot of heartache if they assess their company's readiness for corporate communications before they bring on an expensive corp comm leader. By identifying where the requisite building blocks for success already exist, executives can develop the function in a way that impacts business results by making better hiring decisions, understanding where to expect results near and long term, and strategically planning their investments in the function. Looking for a guide to help you do this? Drop me a line. As a 25-year veteran leader who has helped a number of start-ups and scale-ups build their corporate communications departments, I can help you figure out if you are ready to add this strategic function. #CorporateCommunications #ScaleUp #StartUp #PublicRelations

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🥵 Hot take: Comms people make the best dinner guests. 🍽️ That’s it, that’s the post. - we know “enough to be dangerous” about a lot of different (sometimes random) topics - we like to talk, but more importantly, we like to listen - we’re just a bit weird (but weird is the new cool if you ask me) So, who’s hosting the next dinner party? #communications #pr #hottake

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Rightly said!! Communication folks need to be brutally honest with management. It might come across as harsh sometimes, but it's always the truth. And CXO-level folks, please listen to us. We see things from a different angle and have insights based on real data and feedback. Our job is to point out both the good and the bad, so the company can make better decisions. We're not just saying what you want to hear, but what you need to hear to keep the company on the right track.

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"But NPR’s troubles extend far beyond concerns about its journalism. Internal documents reviewed by The Times and interviews with more than two dozen current and former public radio executives show how profoundly the nonprofit is struggling to succeed in the fast-changing media industry. It is grappling with a declining audience and falling revenue — and internal conflict about how to fix it." This article sheds good light on the disruption facing the media industry. #Media #Communications #PR

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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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Comms Pros know - more than most - words matter. But sometimes, we use language that undermines our value. In-house stakeholders aren’t “clients.”  → We’re shoulder-to-shoulder partners. P&L centers shouldn't be called “The Business.”  → We're part of the business, not a subordinate function. Reinforcing an "us'" and "them" mindset is a disservice: It positions us as a less strategic function and makes us less effective. Ultimately, our job is to protect & promote brands and reputations. - Our roles are critical. - Our opinions are essential  - Our voices / expertise truly matter. We're Strategic Partners, not Service Providers.

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Since Kamala Harris' ethnic background has been a source of discussion, we should all be aware that people of mixed race/ethnic backgrounds are the fastest-growing and youngest demographic in the U.S. They play an increasingly important part in shaping the future of our country. My book "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators," includes a chapter titled "The Rise of Biracial Americans." According to the U.S. Census: "The population of people who are two or more races is projected to be the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group over the next several decades, followed by Asians and Hispanics. The causes of their growth are different, however. For Hispanics and people who are two or more races, high growth rates are largely the result of high rates of natural increase, given the relatively young age structure of these populations..." https://lnkd.in/gsTAMAbc

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Internal comms teams have been grappling with this for a while. For a while it seemed easy to take political stands that were popular, but an organization needs to align the needs of ALL stakeholder, not just its employees. And that is even based on the (usually faulty) assumption that ALL its employees think alike on an issue. Maybe its time to bring back the apolitical "apathetic" workplace. Let work be work and in doing so, it might even remain one of the increasingly rare places, where people with divergent ideologies have to learn to get along. In a hyper polarized world, where we increasingly live and socialize in self imposed silos, work and school should provide a break. https://lnkd.in/gDmUKhzB

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#MediaMentions Hey internal comms peeps, pros, and practitioners, how valuable are media mentions to colleagues? (I mean, all employees.) I know which teams need to know about media mentions, and I know that some specific media mentions will delight (or horrify) colleagues across the org, but how valuable is it to publish all media mentions internally? #InternalComms #EmployeeComms #intranet #PR #MR #MediaRelations

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SAN FRANCISCO

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Why do we do PR? Well, I would answer it's because trust and confidence among all audiences is at historic lows—an avg of 28%. With low/no trust, there is no commerce, there are no deals and business GRINDS to a halt. So, THAT is why we do PR. https://lnkd.in/g9M-_JQ4 #publicrelations, #pr, #trust, #credibility

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🚨 Ever feel like we're in a forever crisis? Hotwire's Joanne Denyeau and my new friend Lauren Condoluci are digging in and sharing their insights in a webinar you won't want to miss to help you learn: 📝 how to rewrite the comms playbook to embrace disruption, challenge conventions, and deliver meaningful messages Join the free webinar on May 16th, "Focus Amidst the Frenzy: Communications Strategies in a State of Forever Crisis", to explore scenario planning and crisis management for our current 🌎. Embrace the uncertainty & secure your spot ↙ https://lnkd.in/ekk94Hmi #webinar #innovation #CrisisComms #PR #comms

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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This is a great article that takes the conversation way past the rainbow and focuses on the core issues of rights and freedom!

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Thank you to PRNEWS for publishing my piece on lessons brands and communications leaders can learn from the recent fallout at NBC News and the pitfalls of binary thinking. "This debacle is one of many scenarios that remind us of why deliberate, well-coordinated and consistent internal communications are even more important in today’s climate where sensitive information leaks are becoming commonplace." If you're so inclined, you can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eSjSG26d

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Question: Can Comms pros jump across different industries, MarComms disciplines and geographies? Or are they more effective when choosing one focus area and sticking with it? To me, Comms foundations are broadly transferable, if you apply strategically and have the right overarching experience/training. Some hiring managers and prospective clients think differently. Editor's note: I've intentionally diversified my career path - in-house/agency/consultancy, international placements, multiple industries, most Comms disciplines. But interested in your views. Thoughts?

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