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Beyond the Noise - the PRWeek podcast
Cannes, creativity, Talker Tailor Trouble Maker
Big themes and stories in comms from the past week or so are put under the microscope in the latest edition of Noise in Brief, PRWeek UK’s bite-sized podcast.
Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
Speaking from Cannes, PRWeek editor-in-chief Danny Rogers gives his impression of the International Festival of Creativity, which is taking place this week in the French resort.
Rogers and UK editor John Harrington discuss the shortlists for the PR Lions and other Lions categories and analyse PR's chances.
Elsewhere, news editor Siobhan Holt and reporters Elizabeth Wiredu and Evie Barrett talk about new research from PRWeek asking creative chiefs at PR agencies about the biggest trends in creativity.
The team also discusses the sad news that consumer PR agency Talker Tailor Trouble Maker has closed its doors, and what it tells us about the industry in this challenging time.
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LADbible’s Natalie Evans on AI, the death of ‘churnalism’, advice for PR
31:12|PRWeek speaks to Natalie Evans, managing director of web editorial at LADbible, for the Future of the Media series.Among other things, Evans discusses what makes a good story for LADbible in 2026; becoming less reliant on Meta and Google’s algorithms; how LADbible is shedding its old stereotypes; co-creating content with brands; use of AI; and other advice for PR professionals.Stay tuned for more interviews with editors, as part of the Future of the Media, which will be published on the podcast feed soon.
Will Whitehorn: “We have to industrialise in space. It is an imperative”
26:38|How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there’s no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon and Jeff” going to allow us to do? And why is SpaceX still “the elephant in the room”? Join Alice as she talks to Will Whitehorn, chair of giant space tech investor Seraphim and former president of Virgin Galactic, and they discuss the implications of “The Elon Musk show” and its legacy, “the beginnings of a competitive space industry of scale”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Will Whitehorn OBE, Seraphim Space Investment TrustWill Whitehorn OBE | LinkedInKey topics covered:UK satellite manufactureUK universitiesSpaceX valuationReuseable rocketsAgricultural managementPopulation pressureClimate crisisSolar powerData centres in spaceIndustrialising in space
City A.M. editor-in-chief on legal threats, journos as influencers, advice for PR
35:23|PRWeek speaks to Christian May, editor-in-chief City A.M., for the Future of the Media series.Among other things, May discusses what stories work best for City AM and how that has changed; the rise of legal threats against media; print’s return; blurring lines between journalist and influencer; fake AI ‘experts’; whether press releases are getting worse; and the use of video, audio and AI.The journalist also offers advice for anyone working in comms.Stay tuned for more interviews with editors, as part of the Future of the Media, which will be published on the podcast feed over the coming weeks.
155. ‘CEOs are not influencers’ – LinkedIn leadership tactics
39:24||Ep. 155Executive profiling in the social-media age is the topic of this week’s Beyond the Noise podcast, considering the risks and rewards of having a ‘viral’ CEO.In the latest episode of Beyond the Noise, PRWeek deputy news editor Evie Barrett is joined by Katy Bloomfield, managing partner of PR at b2b comms agency Definition, and Jordan Greenaway, founder and chief executive of thought leadership PR agency Profile.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.After dissecting the McDonald’s CEO’s recent viral burger-bite clip, the guests assess the changing landscape of LinkedIn leadership.Bloomfield and Greenaway analyse how to capture a CEO’s genuine voice – even when dealing with someone who’s camera-shy or social media-averse.They also debate whether catering to algorithms is a good idea, and consider how much value social media engagement can actually provide a business.Balancing personal and corporate branding for business leaders is among the other topics discussed.
Space-Comm Expo: Jamming, spoofing, FOMO and farming
20:38|What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And why is the UK government centralising space strategy in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology? Join Alice and Jonners as they reflect on the UK space sector’s largest trade event and the “energy, diversity and …sheer scope of what this industry has to offer”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedIn Subscribe to The Karman LineApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-k%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n-line/id1876605462Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qED4CgdRDxfKKzYNKZCIH?si=lZ-I4a19SPGLAJL-dHi4DQYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKármánLineUKKey topics covered:Space-Comm Expo, London, March 2026Conference overviewSector integrationInsuranceCustomer utilityGovernment roleFuture outlook Technological advancements· Telecoms· Manufacturing Defence and security· Satellite capabilities· Current threats
154. Creativity: be brave, not stupid
45:00||Ep. 154Creative bravery is the topic of PRWeek’s latest podcast.Joining PRWeek UK editor John Harrington this week are Ahalya Moxon, associate creative director at FleishmanHillard, and Shilpa Saul, partner at The Unmistakables.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.The idea for this week’s episode was sparked by comments from Nicola Green, Virgin Media O2’s chief communications and corporate affairs officer, at PRWeek’s Year Ahead Conference in January. Green said her brand’s “biggest fear is becoming undiscoverable”, meaning she’s keen to take “considered risks” that are “brave but not stupid”.Our podcast guests examine some recent and historic campaigns that have arguably crossed the line from ‘brave’ into ‘stupid’ and analyse why they fell down.They look at how campaigns can find that balance to be provocative enough to be remembered without drawing damaging criticism.The duo discuss whether there are times when ‘playing it safe’ is the best approach; whether there are generational differences regarding creativity; and stress the importance of having diverse perspectives when creating campaigns. Saul also argues that people are “losing the art of critical thinking”.Finally, the guests look at how to respond if a campaign receives heavy criticism.
153. Fake AI ‘experts’ – how is Reach hitting back?
28:20||Ep. 153How is Reach, the publisher of The Mirror and the Daily Express, cracking down on fake AI ‘experts’? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.Our guest on Beyond the Noise this week is David Higgerson, chief content officer at Reach.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.The Mirror and Daily Express publisher last month confirmed it was compiling a directory of trusted PR agencies, and considering blocking emails from domains it doesn’t trust, to stop the rise of fake AI ‘experts’. It followed a series of high-profile incidents reported by Press Gazette in which media titles, some owned by Reach, inadvertently quoted ‘experts’ in articles who were later exposed as fake.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, Higgerson discusses how widespread the problem of fake ‘experts’ being put forward as case studies has become in the age of AI.He talks through what Reach has been doing as part of its crackdown, including how the publisher is using AI itself to tackle the problem, and the importance of strong journalist/PR relationships.Higgerson tells the podcast there is “no danger” of legimate comms professionals being prevented from contacting Reach journalists as part of the actions.Separately, he discusses other recent developments at Reach, whose stable also includes OK! magazine, the Daily Star and a host of regional newspapers. This includes the growth in specialist video roles, how Reach journalists are using AI, and the impact of Google AI summaries on traffic.
152. PR in UAE: ‘Don’t discuss business, just be helpful’
18:08||Ep. 152PRWeek’s latest podcast examines how the PR industry in the UAE, and the wider Middle East, has been responding to the new crisis.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or on your favourite platform.Our guest this week is Conrad Egbert, who is based in Dubai and leads the PRCA’s operations in the MENA region.Events in the Middle East have dominated the news in recent days following the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran, and the retaliatory strikes directed at several US allies in the region. This includes the United Arab Emirates, which is home to a particularly thriving PR industry.Speaking to PRWeek journalists John Harrington and Eliza Wiredu on Tuesday afternoon (3 March), Egbert discusses what life is like on the ground in Dubai in the aftermath of the strikes, and during the ongoing crisis.He talks about how the PR industry is adapting to the situation, including how agencies are handling live events and supporting employees and clients alike.He analyses how the authorities have been handling their communications and bemoans the deluge of mis- and disinformation appearing online.Egbert also explains how PR in the UAE will “bounce back” after the crisis.
Why the business of space is everyone’s business
43:05|As of 2026, the UK space industry is a significant and strategic driver of the national economy, contributing over £19 billion in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs. Satellite-based services and data underpin roughly 18% of UK GDP, equivalent to approximately £454 billion of the wider economy. And the sector is growing exponentially.But this is just the tip of the iceberg. For the space industry to fully realise its potential it needs more of the right people to understand what’s happening and get involved. People like policy makers, investors, regulators, planners, communicators, lawyers and consultants.Dr Alice Bunn, the president of UK Space, and her panel of guests, Sam Alden co-CEO of Space Solar, Nick Shave managing director of Astroscale and Anushka Sharma founder of Naaut, discuss the surprising, awe inspiring business of space and make the compelling case for why more companies and investors should get involved. Contributors:Host:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedInGuests:Nick Shave, Managing Director of AstroscaleNick Shave FRAeS | LinkedInAstroscale: Overview | LinkedInSam Adlen, CEO of Space SolarSam Adlen | LinkedInSpace Solar: Overview | LinkedInAnushka Sharma, founder of NaautAnushka Sharma | LinkedInNaaut: About | LinkedInKey topics covered:Impact of Space on Everyday LifePractical ApplicationsEnvironmental MonitoringGlobal SecuritySustainability and Innovation in OrbitSpace DebrisManufacturing in MicrogravitySpace-Based Solar PowerEconomic and Regulatory LandscapeCost ReductionInvestment and FinanceRegulation and PolicyThe Future of Space ExplorationNew PlatformsAcademic Contribution