Ian Griggs

Analysis and opinion editor, PRWeek UK

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ian.griggs@haymarket.com
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Recent Articles by Ian Griggs

PM reinforces ‘stay at home’ message in national address after testing positive for COVID-19
March 27, 2020
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has used a video appeal to the nation to reinforce the Government’s ‘stay at home' message after testing positive for the coronavirus this morning.
Exclusive: Luther Pendragon and Linstock form enhanced reputation management agency
March 27, 2020
Linstock has merged into Luther Pendragon to create a reputation management consultancy specialising in public affairs, crisis comms and behavioural science.
Exclusive: Promotions as Hanover Health combines health and public affairs in London
March 26, 2020
Hanover Health has announced a new London Health Team, combining health comms and public affairs, under the leadership of senior directors Alex Davies and Emma Gorton.
WPP Health to host COVID-19 Q&A with LSHTM and WHO scientists
March 25, 2020
WPP Health Practice will host an exclusive live COVID-19 Q&A aimed at global media and policy makers, with experts from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), today.
‘Be honest about how bad it might get’: Alastair Campbell’s 20 crisis comms tips for the PM
March 23, 2020
Former No. 10 comms director Alastair Campbell has told Boris Johnson to resist the use of “smart-arse language” and express genuine sadness and regret at deaths in the UK from the coronavirus during his press conferences, as part of 20 crisis comms suggestions for the Prime Minister during the pandemic.
Public responds best to altruistic messaging from government on coronavirus
March 20, 2020
Coronavirus messaging from the government and health professionals on a range of behaviours – hand-washing, face-touching, self-isolation and stockpiling – are more effective when they appeal to the public’s better nature, new research has shown.
Government shifts to daily press conferences amid criticism over selective briefings
March 16, 2020
The government has overhauled its communications strategy for coronavirus and moved to daily press conferences amid criticism that it was briefing only selected outlets.
Exclusive: Government calls on external comms personnel from multiple sectors to assist in coronavirus response
March 12, 2020
The Government has seconded comms professionals from sectors including banking and retail to work with its own departmental comms teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, PRWeek has learned.
NHS takes action to combat coronavirus misinformation online
March 10, 2020
The NHS has ramped up efforts to combat online myths and misinformation about the emerging coronavirus epidemic in the UK, including working with social-media platforms and search engines.
Three agencies join forces to create COVID-19 readiness and response team
March 10, 2020
Hybrid comms agency Unity, reputational risk law firm Schillings, and crisis comms and consultancy Vigo have joined forces to create a multidisciplinary COVID-19 readiness and response team.
‘Why do they even have a comms team’: LBC presenter criticises PHE over coronavirus response
March 02, 2020
LBC Radio presenter Iain Dale has criticised Public Health England’s coronavirus media relations strategy, accusing it of having a narrow focus, and has threatened to call the organisation out each day until it agrees to put someone on his programme.
Priti Patel tried to sack Home Office comms chief on Christmas Eve, reports claim
February 28, 2020
The Home Secretary tried to have her director of communications at the Home Office removed from his post during a Christmas Eve showdown with the department’s permanent secretary, according to media reports.
Exclusive: MPs' health priorities survey is a boost for prevention campaigns but a challenge for pharma
February 26, 2020
A survey of MPs' attitudes to health-funding priorities, which shows a shift towards prevention and away from new medicines, could herald a golden age for behaviour change campaigns while pharma firms struggle to be heard.
Exclusive: Agency appointed to support fishing industry's post-Brexit political and media engagement
February 05, 2020
Public affairs agency Connect has been jointly appointed by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to support a campaign for a "better deal for fishermen" as the UK leaves the Common Fisheries Policy, post-Brexit.
Government's charity regulator appoints comms director
January 27, 2020
Government regulator the Charity Commission has named Paul Latham as its new director of comms.
Former ABPI public affairs chief and London mayoral adviser joins healthcare agency
January 15, 2020
The former head of government affairs for pharma trade body the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has been hired as a director at specialist healthcare agency OVID.
End of an era as 'father of the PR industry' Harold Burson dies
January 10, 2020
Harold Burson, regarded by many as one of the founding fathers of the modern PR and comms industry, has died at the age of 98, it was announced today.
Vodafone international policy director joins Hering Schuppener
January 09, 2020
Hering Schuppener Consulting has appointed Vodafone Group's international policy director, Gregoire Verdeaux, as partner to lead its EU corporate and public affairs team in Brussels.
'I pursued the attacker, tusk in hand, onto the bridge' - London Bridge hero is MoJ comms officer
December 23, 2019
A man who helped fight off terrorist Usman Khan with a narwhal tusk last month during a deadly attack that ended on London Bridge is a comms officer for the Ministry of Justice, it has been revealed.
Government appoints BT marketing chief to lead flagship GREAT campaign
December 20, 2019
The Department for International Trade has hired telecoms marketing specialist Dan Ramsay as the director of the government's ongoing GREAT campaign, which promotes British expertise and products to the world.