Alastair Campbell performing the speech he’d write for Sir Kier Starmer if he was handling the PM’s comms. It is what a strong leader would sound like. Superb. www.instagram.com/reel/DRH9HiO...

Breaking Brand podcast (5 min listen): In just 24 hours, Shein has turned a reputation management challenge from hell into a potentially positive lasting legacy that could earn them even more loyal customers. Listen via Substack: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/shein-coul...

“Not racist, honest.” Says Reform UK. Despite her backtracking, the Runcorn and Helsby MP’s faux pas is both repulsive and shows her to be an utterly incompetent media spokesperson for a Party committed to publicly denying its racist foundations.

Latest from the Breaking Brand podcast: Prince Andrew suffers King's wrath and reputation annihilation (3mins 38 secs). Put t'kettle on: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/prince-and...

Can Prince Andrew pull off one of the greatest reputation-rebounds of the last decade? www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...

Great to be quoted by LBC today alongside legendary BBC Royal Correspondent, Jennie Bond - talking about the Duke of York's chances of reputation redemption: www.lbc.co.uk/article/prin...

Never envisaged writing a post on tractors, but I promise this is a good 'un - if real-time reputation management and crisis comms stories are your thing. Red Tractor's reputation is under scrutiny after misleading environmental claims: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/red...

Great to be quoted in this career advice piece for STYLIST magazine - a focus on why a promotion is not always as forthcoming as people might wish for it to be: www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers...

“Trump says,” but have Israel and Hamas? With the Nobel Peace Prize judges deciding this year’s reecipient today I cannot help but wonder if Trump has called this now to boost his chances of receiving the award he is so desperate to get his hands on. Is he that crass…

Love this from our Annie: "... too often, organisations default to hollow ‘non-apologies,’ which express regret that customers are upset, rather than taking responsibility for the negative action itself." Great perspective on effective crisis comms management: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sor...

Latest audio (with transcript) on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts: Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms and should not be hailed as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't. Listen now (3 mins): breakingbrand.substack.com/p/overrated-...

[LISTEN on Substack] As reputations go, Sarah, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/no-way-bac...

Mitchum found itself in an almighty reputation storm of its own making last week. Our Annie takes us through what happened, how the brand reacted, and why the whole sorry affair blew up in Mitchum's face: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/wha...

A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it? prpaul.substack.com/p/when-rebra...

Great to be quoted extensively in the Daily Mail today. Talking about how Costa Coffee has failed to create the brand experience that customers are increasingly seeking and finding in smaller independents: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...

Good to be quoted in the latest PRWeek focus on hiring within the PR sector. Feeling rather fortunate to be recruiting once again given the challenges our industry is facing: www.prweek.co.uk/article/1930...

You will almost certainly think twice about taking your phone with you to the loo after reading this: Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’. www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...

Looking forward to going to this tomorrow - @BCorpUK 's B Social Breakfast at the British Library: www.tickettailor.com/events/blabu...

Several UK high street retailers are facing serious financial difficulties. The role PR plays during such testing times is often undervalued yet is critical to maximising brand equity and retaining customer loyalty. www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...

New podcast: Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming (3mins 56 secs... just enough time to make a cuppa and sip while listening!). Click here: prpaul.substack.com/p/sanex-inte...

Sanex has joined the long list of major brands facing ad bans for campaigns that are clearly insensitive and lack both cultural and emotional intelligence. Here are the lessons that brands need to adhere, or risk irreparable reputational damage: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/san...

Feels like this is a post I could very easily schedule to be shared on repeat, such is the prevalence of brands publicly apologising after an expensive ad or PR campaign draws significant backlash from customers. Today’s guilty party: Swatch www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/cut...

If you are banging your head against the wall because your current purpose-led messaging isn’t resonating with customers, chances are you are prioritising the wrong message: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gre...

In just four years, GB News has risen to become the UK’s most-watched TV news channel - overtaking BBC News and Sky News. This is a huge turning point for news broadcasting and a rocket up the proverbial for the PR industry: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gb-...

Latest Substack: prpaul.substack.com/p/zara-lates...

Still seeing organisations banging the self-promotional drum on social media to woo new customers. But is it working? When we focus the conversation on ourselves and not on the needs of those we want to do business with, we have lost. More on this: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/you...

Latest musings on Substack: prpaul.substack.com/p/the-salt-p...

Latest thoughts on Substack: The rise of GB News is not just a win for a four-year-old start-up – it is the biggest rocket up the backside for anyone with responsibility for communicating their news stories to the media. Read on (if you want to): prpaul.substack.com/p/what-gb-ne...

A short post revealing why a wee shift in how businesses and brands sell themselves might be needed if they are not clearly communicating the 'value' element to their customers. Trust me, it matters: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/why...

M&S's reputation under fire again, only this time it is of their own making according to the ASA: prpaul.substack.com/p/m-and-s-ad...

Great to have the chance to share with the Press Association details of how the Clearly team orchestrated a PR campaign that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as "the biggest suicide prevention initiative we've ever seen" in the UK: pa.media/pa-mediapoin...

The Times (US) has written an interesting piece on the Andy Byron incident and shared some insights into hoe he might restore his reputation and rebuild his career: www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...

While The Daily Mail and The S*n front pages today give priority to the far right anti-asylum demonstrators, The Guardian and Daily Express lead with incredibly powerful images and headlines: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is a top story on The Times website today. I am baffled as to how the individual’s educational background bears any relevance to his protest. His actions are the story, not his schooling.

Astonished at the volume of senior people poking fun at the CEO and HR leader in THAT video filmed at a Coldplay concert. If you're one of them my advice is to stop NOW: you're causing needless damage to your reputation and your business.

Southern Water, the second most indebted water firm in the UK, faces growing reputation issues following doubling of CEO compensation in 12 months: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sou...

It's a classic case of making sure that the words you use in your press statements or key note addresses are carefully considered. If they're not, as we can see here, they become fodder for the media seeking a great headline. Thames Water... who IS doing your PR? Blunder after blunder...

Masterchef's Torode goes, but BBC scores reputation own goal: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/mas...

FTSE100 organisations are ditching their DEI and ESG policies. But the reputational (and probable bottom line) damage caused will be profound: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/fts...

The Conservatives see this as the PM bowing down to Trump. I see it as the US President quite literally dropping a boo-boo and relying on the UK to help it out. Same image, different perspectives.

Sir Kier Starmer and Donald Trump sign major trade deal between the two nations, but a bit of a boo-boo from the US president ensured it would be a memorable moment for all the wrong reasons. Sir Kier not bowing to his American counterpart, rather picking up the pieces… and not for the first time.

Trust the Daily Mail to lower the tone of its front page by showing a picture of Nadine Dorries in a bikini. Tasteless against the context of today's lead story. Even The S*n showed restraint.

As a PR agency, getting PR for ourselves is as important to us as getting it for clients. Great to be quoted in this Press Association piece on crisis comms: pa.media/pa-mediapoin...

The advertising industry regulator has banned an advert for Twix, with some commentators arguing this was an over-reaction. I'm disagree. Brands need to be more responsible and 'think' about how their campaigns can be interpreted by those seeing them: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/asa...

TfL has banned what it calls a 'controversial' advert from Save the Children. The ad is part of a campaign calling for the two-child limit on Universal Credit to be scrapped. I kinda 'get' the rationale, but then... ahh no, I don't. Daft decision in my view.

M&S, Cartier, and North Face have all been hit by a cyber attack. But the reputational damage and loss of customer trust appears to have been overlooked: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...

You'll likely agree or totally oppose this notion, but from a reputation management perspective no organisation should ever describe their culture as being a 'family.' Let me explain: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/how...

Looking forward to attending SXSW London on Tuesday next week. Anyone around in between sessions for a chinwag? www.sxswlondon.com

Very fortunate to be cited by the Press Association on a mental health PR campaign we ran that generated c.400 media mentions. I share tips on standing out in a noisy market to avoiding data overload: pa.media/pa-mediapoin...

“I was born in Southport. I grew up down the road in Formby. I’ve been a #Liverpool fan all my life.” Merseyside Police deserve huge credit for averting a potentially inflammatory series of events à la Southport riots through sound communication: