Beyond the Noise - the PRWeek podcast

In each episode of the new podcast series Am I the PR A***hole? (AITPRA), PRWeek will read out your anonymous PR confessions and our judges – Lynn Advisory founder Shayoni Lynn and Hoffman Agency UK co-MD Richard Fogg – will decide whether an ethical line has been crossed. Confessions can be submitted via this link.This week’s confessions include:Purposely uploading unflattering images to a press portalPitching the same ‘exclusive’ to two rival newspapersAsking juniors to sort travel adminAnd finally… booking a destructive thrash techno band for a credit card launch.

How should public affairs and political comms in the UK navigate political upheaval? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.This week’s episode of Beyond the Noise features Damion Potter, executive chairman, public affairs in the UK, at H/Advisors; Emily Fermor, partner at Hanbury Strategy and chair of the PRCA Public Affairs Professional Board; and Fraser Raleigh, MD, public affairs and government relations, at SEC Newgate.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.As Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces his first proper challenge as Labour leader since coming to office, our guests discuss how their workload has changed since the crisis began following the elections on 7 May.They talk about what clients have been looking for specifically in this period of uncertainty and how they know which politicians, spads and civil servants to target in particular.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, they discuss whether they think the expected leadership challengers are likely to be more or less amenable to businesses and lobbying should they come to power. How the Starmer government has differed from expectations from a public affairs perspective, and how this has changed over time, is also examined.The guests also give their perspective on how they think the political crisis might end – and whether Starmer will last the distance.

What does PRWeek’s UK Top 150 Consultancies project tell us about the agency world in 2026 and beyond? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.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. This week, PRWeek journalists Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Siobhan Holt (deputy editor) delve into some of the main findings from PRWeek’s flagship UK Top 150 Consultancies project, which went live this week.They look at how agencies are increasingly having to run to stand still, especially given the pressure on margins, despite the agency sector overall being in growth.The trio discuss what agency leaders are saying about trading in 2025 and so far this year, and look at trends across different sectors, including consumer, health and tech PR.The journalists also discuss trends such as the apparent deprioritisation of media relations and the growing importance of AI, and look at changes in headcount, redundancies and more.

PRWeek speaks to Sarah Lester, editor at Manchester Evening News (MEN), for the Future of the Media series. Among other things, Lester discusses what stories work, and how that has shifted PR and media relations; the rise of fake ‘experts’; whether press releases are getting worse; the advantage of video content and social media channels for news; how MEN journalists use AI; misinformation in the media and how to stop it; the future of the media and how she feels about the publishing industry.

PRWeek speaks to Adam Leyland, editor-in-chief at The Grocer, for the Future of the Media series.Among other things, Leyland discusses PR and media relations; the grocery trade title's social media strategy; how journalists use AI; and how PR can help with the UK's HFSS (high in fat, salt, or sugar) legislation.Stay tuned for more interviews with editors, as part of the Future of the Media, which will be published on the podcast feed soon.

The Apprentice contestant and PR specialist Lawrence Rosenberg and Andrew Bloch, the PR adviser to Lord Alan Sugar, are guests on this week’s PRWeek Beyond the Noise podcast episode.Lawrence Rosenberg discusses his background in communications and public affairs, as well as his experiences on the BBC reality show The Apprentice.On the show, the public affairs professional was looking to impress Lord Sugar and secure his mentorship, as well as a £250,000 investment in his business plan. He reached the final five candidates of the show. Andrew Bloch, PR adviser to Lord Alan Sugar, co-founded and led Frank PR as managing partner for 20 years before stepping back in 2020 to launch Andrew Bloch & Associates. He also works as an adviser to several firms in the PR and communications industry. Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or on your favourite platform.Rosenberg talks about what influenced him to take part in The Apprentice, what comms skills he used to maximise the opportunity, and chats about what PR skills have come in useful after appearing in the show.Bloch explains how he first met Sugar, how he got involved in The Apprentice, and shares his insights from over the past 20 years.Rosenberg responds to the criticism he received for his business plan, which was to launch a PR firm using AI technology. He also explains his future plans after the show. Bloch shares his view on Rosenberg’s business plan, and discusses how he is assisting the show’s winner, Karishma Vijay. Other topics discussed include reality TV stars becoming influencers and the biggest comms lessons Rosenberg has taken away from the experience. Bloch offers his advice to Rosenberg on how to monopolise on the comms and PR opportunities. Joining Rosenberg and Bloch on this episode is PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt.

How can PR overcome its ageism problem? That’s the topic of PRWeek’s latest podcast.Joining us this week is Madeleine Weightman, co-founder of The Work Crowd, which co-produced a recent studyshowing that comms is among the most-affected industries when it comes to age discrimination.Our other guest is Ginny Paton, founder and MD of Ready or Not and president of Women in PR, which has also looked at the issues.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests discuss the main findings of the report, which was produced with Hanson Search and surveyed more than 200 senior industry leaders.They look at some of the stereotypes about older workers in comms and discuss why they persist, and why our industry doesn’t appear to value experience more.The guests discuss why ageism can affect women more than men. They offer advice for employers, and to employees who may have been affected.

What’s the secret to launching a comms agency in today’s market? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a closer look.This week’s Beyond the Noise episode features the founders of two new agencies: Gerry Wisniewski (pictured left), founder and managing director of Catchfire, and Fenella Grey (pictured right), co-founder of Hello Tomorrow.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.Speaking to PRWeek reporter Elizabeth Wiredu, Grey and Wisniewski discuss the origins of their agencies and the biggest early-stage challenges, including recruitment, AI and cash flow.They also cover the importance of networking, growth targets and plans, as well as their views on building an independent agency versus the traditional large agency model.Finally, the duo offer their top tips for aspiring agency founders.