Communications
The importance of brand in the search for talent
Steve Wilson of Commercial Services Group says councils can start to build a true talent pipeline if they can develop their own employer value proposition.
Pre-elections: steering a path through comms
Andy Allsopp looks at the need for careful judgement from council communicators during the pre-election period, and sets out three key takeaways from the Local Authority Publicity Code.
Councils 'struggling' to tackle cohesion threats
Councils are struggling to tackle threats to social cohesion due to a lack of support from central government, according to a major review.
Turning the tide on the ‘post-politician’ era
Chris Criscione highlights some ways he believes local government can – slowly but surely – improve its reputation and communicate better with its residents.
No chickening out
There are epoch defining moments in life.
Thinking critically in the Rubik’s cube of place
Neil Gibson, facilitator of ADEPT and Amey’s Pioneering, Action-orientated, Creative and Entrepreneurial programme, explains the importance of investing in thought leadership.
Oflog chair ‘aware of the systemic pressures’
Chair of the Office for Local Government (Oflog), Lord Morse, has said he wants to ‘set the record straight’ over a controversial interview.
Beware the rise of conspiracy theories in our local politics
Conspiracy theories thrive in the absence of transparency and effective communication, says Jessica Studdert. 'Part of the answer must lie in more, not fewer opportunities for public participation in decisions and building buy-in over trade-offs.'
Councils try to tackle rising community tensions
Councils have taken a key role as they seek to tackle rising community tensions stoked by events in Israel and Gaza.
The colour purple
There are headaches all round at the regular meetings of councils’ communications chiefs, Diary hears.
EXCLUSIVE: Council warning over asylum communication
‘Limited’ Home Office communication over asylum – including poor data sharing - continues to stymie efforts to resolve accommodation problems, councils have warned.
MJ Housing: Building communities as well as homes
With £16bn to spend and 9,000 hectares of land, Homes England has a new strategic plan and a mission to work with councils to deliver affordable homes, says Peter Denton.
Power of the 80/20 rule
Darren Caveney says the councils with the most clear and consistent communications strategies tend to fare best – and he sets out a simple hierarchy of plans that will lead to success.
Tower Hamlets’ golden communications thread
Communications needs to be the business of everyone in a council, and if the service is just treated as a matter of tactics you are doing no more than stumbling along, says Andreas Christophorou.
Breaking down public sector silos
A programme in Nottingham is bringing public sector leaders together to better understand how their own challenges relate to the city as a whole. James Rhodes and Jonathan Rycroft explain.
Another council halts TikTok use
Another council has decided to stop using TikTok despite data showing more than 23 million people in the UK are on the social media app.
Lengthy logo business
Days may be numbered for London’s worst council logo, but remember local government doesn’t always move terribly quickly.
Comms should be at your top table
Darren Caveney sets out three of the key reasons why your comms lead should sit on your weekly senior management table
Ten steps to rebuilding trust
The MJ’s series on avoiding organisational failure continues with a look at the common ‘get out of jail free’ communication approach when things go wrong, and offers a 10-point action plan to restore trust.
The light fantastic
Cornwall Council is the latest in the firing line for being caught leaving the office lights on after everyone’s gone home.