The latest public sector news, opinion and features.
Got a story? Contact Ian Griggs on 020 8267 4893 or ian.griggs@haymarket.com.

News and news analysis

Has the Government’s decision to back Dominic Cummings ‘trashed’ its own public health message?

By Ian Griggs, May 27, 2020

The furore over Dominic Cummings’ journey to Durham and his subsequent excursions during the height of the lockdown measures shows little sign of abating after revelations first emerged on Friday night.

Exclusive: Cicero/AMO hires Chancellors' former adviser

By Ian Griggs, May 21, 2020

Cicero/AMO has hired Sonia Khan, who was a special adviser to two recent Conservative Chancellors, as a director working across its public affairs and corporate comms teams.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games announces marketing and creative framework

By Ian Griggs, May 18, 2020

Organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have agreed a marketing and creative services framework of agencies to support the event, including PR from agencies Grayling, sports specialists Pitch and Gung Ho.

How will the collapse of Number 10’s truce with the media affect its comms in the pandemic?

By Ian Griggs, May 14, 2020

The uneasy truce Downing Street director of comms Lee Cain called with the media as the pandemic took hold in the UK in March is already showing signs of falling apart, as the Number 10 comms machine begins to revert to its instincts and favour certain journalists over others. But is this practical for a Government trying to get its message across or a responsible attitude toward a country amid a crisis?

Exclusive: Roche Diagnostics hires public sector health comms veteran

By Ian Griggs, May 13, 2020

Roche Diagnostics has appointed public sector and charity health communications specialist Rachel Clinton as its external comms manager.

Behavioural science experts: ‘Government COVID-19 messaging must be clear and avoid a divisive tone’

By Ian Griggs, May 11, 2020

Government messaging on the coronavirus pandemic should be clear, positive and targeted, and avoid an authoritarian or divisive tone in order to help people stick to social distancing rules, behavioural experts have warned.

Exclusive: DfID appoints new comms chief as predecessor returns to journalism

By Ian Griggs, May 06, 2020

Judith Porter has been appointed director of communications at the Department for International Development (DfID), replacing Tim Singleton.

Edelman Trust Barometer: UK Government trust surges to record levels, but 'shadows loom'

By Arvind Hickman, May 05, 2020

The Government's economic relief package has led trust levels to soar to 60 per cent, but the public is not impressed by its handling of testing and PPE supplies. Edelman warns that peaks in trust at times of global disasters are usually followed by a trough.

Chancellor picks top political journalist as comms chief

By Ian Griggs, April 27, 2020

Former ITV News national editor Allegra Stratton has been appointed director of strategic communications to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.

LGcomms chooses new chair as Jones steps down after four years in post

By Ian Griggs, April 22, 2020

LGcomms, the membership body for comms professionals in local government, has named Alix Macfarlane as its new chair.

Former Met comms chief appointed to lead London’s COVID-19 Comms Group

By Ian Griggs, April 22, 2020

Former Metropolitan Police head of news Chris Webb has been appointed as the strategic comms lead for the London Local Resilience Forum’s (LRF) COVID-19 Communication Group, which comprises local councils and regional emergency services.

Exclusive: Government comms chief quits post amid bullying row

By Jonathan Owen, April 01, 2020

Kirsty Buchanan has left her job as director of comms at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) after less than a year amid allegations of bullying, PRWeek can reveal.

‘Head boy or class clown?’: PA pros compare the Chancellor and Prime Minister’s approach to crisis comms

By Stephen Delahunty, April 01, 2020

Before going into self-isolation late last week, Boris Johnson looked uncomfortable delivering anything other than good news during the daily press briefings, while Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been praised for a confident, empathetic style that seems to be cutting through.

Exclusive: End of an era as Greater Manchester Police comms chief departs to start agency

By Jonathan Owen, March 30, 2020

Amanda Coleman, the long-serving director of corporate comms at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has resigned from the force and is setting up her own comms agency specialising in crisis management, PRWeek can reveal.

Opinion and features

The Government’s failure to keep ‘on message’ could be a matter of life and death

By Angela Corpe, May 26, 2020

24 hours earlier, a shabby, sneering Cummings said he didn’t care what people thought.

From the editor-in-chief: 'We're going back to work, but how much have we changed?'

By Danny Rogers, May 21, 2020

Week 10 working from home, the warm spring mornings continue to bring cheer and I’ve been reading a lot about how we could all WFH forever, as Twitter suggested last week.

COVID-19 has given us a hybrid Parliament and a form of politics that forces us to adapt

By Fraser Raleigh, May 20, 2020

Just like Parliament itself, politics isn’t built for social distancing.

Why do some government and political slogans land while others fall flat?

By Lucy Chapple, May 20, 2020

A good slogan inspires unity and action, while a poorly crafted one will land in a politician’s face like spit in the wind.

The PR industry’s greatest challenge could be to fight the coronavirus infodemic

By Drew Benvie, May 19, 2020

COVID-19 has brought sudden and extreme change to our lives.

The pandemic has brought the skills of journalists working in PR to the fore

By Grant Feller, May 18, 2020

It takes a white-hot news story to bring out the best in a journalist.

Why small agencies will thrive post-coronavirus

By Holly Ward, May 15, 2020

PRCA research recently talked about the state of the PR industry during the COVID-19 pandemic; despite almost half of agencies furloughing staff or making redundancies, there’s still optimism.

This could be a moment of change: two views on juggling parenting and work during the pandemic

By Ben Brooks-Dutton and Corinna Field, May 14, 2020

During the lockdown, parents working in the PR industry have been forced to add a new act to their panoply of circus skills. Forget plate-spinning; combining work with home-schooling is the new juggling act.

PRWeek UK Top 150: Media relations and content production are highest priority investment areas

By Ian Griggs, May 13, 2020

Digital content production and media relations are the two top-priority areas of investment for the industry, a survey of agency bosses for PRWeek’s Top 150 project – conducted before the coronavirus pandemic arrived in the UK – has found.

Boris Johnson’s statement: Should we stay or should we go now?

By John McTernan, May 11, 2020

‘Should I stay or should I go?’ The last great song by The Clash could be the theme music to a nation rising to consider whether to go to work following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation last night.

PRWeek Top 150: Changes in public sector rankings as budgets contract and scrutiny increases