It’s often thought that public relations and legal departments are always at odds. The classic cliché is of a PR person suggesting an idea only to be rebuffed by the lawyer in the room because it could, from his or her point of view, expose the organisation to enormous liability.
What first comes to your mind when you see a giraffe? Probably not “nonviolent communication”. What giraffes have to do with communication and what we can learn from them.
Many conceptual ideas start with psychological personas. They’re a good way of simplifying things and firming up the audiences you’re targeting. This is why it’s worth questioning personas and giving them greater depth.
We humans are curious and interested in our fellow humans. Sometimes we like to put ourselves in other people’s shoes, understand them and learn something from them. Journalistic portraits cater to this need. They also have a firm place in corporate commu-nications.
Whether they’re spectacular wildlife shots on Instagram or creative portraits on a business website, images exercise a fascination. It’s hard to imagine life without them, either on social media or in corporate communications. Even so, people still underestimate their power.
Does humour lack gravity? Not in the slightest. A well-placed witty comment makes you look super competent as well as super likeable.
When my daughter pushes someone I feel it’s wrong. But there is a behavioural theory that recommends a form of pushing as a means to an end. So is it okay for her to do so?
The traditional media landscape is under serious threat. Public service media in particular are under pressure from all sides, from authoritarian and populist governments, purely profit-driven media companies, and internet and social media giants. High time, then, to take up the cudgels for media diversity.
Figures enrich storytelling and can arouse emotion. Rounding, comparing and putting them in context can multiply the impact of your writing.
The power of youth language to stir the emotions is evident in the comments on newspaper articles about young people’s use of language and in conversations with friends or work colleagues. Among the people around me, the debate reaches its peak every year when the Langenscheidt publishing house announces its Youth Word of the Year.
