A monthly conversation among Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
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September 26, 2026Episode 1331 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #133: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment, Part 2
Last month, a panel of IABC Fellows shared their observations on the results of a recent AI-focused survey conducted by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (Global Alliance). This month, a fresh panel (with Adrian Cropley returning) will pick up the conversation where the August panel left off, exploring various aspects of... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #133: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment, Part 2 appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
August 28, 202657 min
Circle of Fellows #132: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment
Episode 132 of IABC’s Circle of Fellows examines what the newly released Reimagining Tomorrow 2026 report from the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management means for the profession. The report surveyed 536 communication professionals across six global regions and found a profession that has embraced AI in practice but not yet claimed AI governance in leadership: 95.9% of organizations now permit AI, yet only 8.6% have communication professionals leading the formal governance structure. One in four organizations discloses AI use to no one at all. Joining moderator Shel Holtz are Bonnie Caver and Adrian Cropley OAM, both Global Alliance board directors and the research partners behind the survey, as well as Mike Klein. (Theomary Karamanis was scheduled to be a panelist but laryngitis prevented her from participating.) Together, they dig into what the data means for the profession, what it will take to move from adoption to accountability, and what it takes to be a leader in the AI era. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #132: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
July 24, 2026Episode 1351 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #131: The Evolving Media Landscape and What It Means for Media Relations
Local newsrooms keep shrinking, journalism schools keep closing their doors, and the reporters who remain are stretched thinner than ever. For organizational communicators, that shift changes the math on media relations. It's no longer enough to know how to write a pitch. You need to understand who's left to receive it, what standards still govern their work, and how to build the kind of relationship that gets your story told well instead of not at all. Circle of Fellows #131 features four IABC Fellows with deep backgrounds in journalism and media relations. Moderated by Shel Holtz, SCMP, the panel discussed what's changed in the newsroom, what hasn't, and what it means for the way communicators do their jobs. The panel dug into what that means day to day for communicators, including: Thinking local and strategic. Where does your story actually need to go, and which relationships and networks get it there? Knowing journalistic standards and principles (JSPs). Understanding what reporters can and can't do — and where the real limits are — makes for smarter pitches and fewer frustrated calls. Respecting deadlines and information needs. How communicators and journalists can work together, rather than at cross purposes, to produce the stories both sides actually want. Getting to know the people in your "journalism 'hood." In a shrunken media landscape, personal relationships with the reporters who remain matter more than ever. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #131: The Evolving Media Landscape and What It Means for Media Relations appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
May 29, 2026Episode 12558 min
Circle of Fellows #128: The 7 Cs of The New Communication Compass, Part 2
In the second of our special Circle of Fellows discussions, Brad Whitworth moderated a panel to discuss the remaining three chapters of the book, “ The 7 Cs of the New Communication Compass .” The book’s author and editor, Dianne Chase, joined Brad, along with the IABC Fellows who authored the three chapters: Zora Artis, who wrote the “Cohesion” chapter Cindy Schmieg, author of the “Collaboration” chapter Shel Holtz, who penned the “Community” chapter Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #128: The 7 Cs of The New Communication Compass, Part 2 appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
April 26, 20261 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #127: The 7 Cs of The New Communication Compass, Part I
The next two "Circle of Fellows" episodes will offer something different from our panels of the last several years. We welcome Dianne Chase, a veteran communicator and former IABC chair, to the discussion. While Dianne is not a Fellow, she did recruit six Fellows to write all but one of the chapters for her new book, The 7Cs of the New Communication Compass . (Dianne wrote the seventh chapter.) The book, which has five stars on Amazon, "offers both a guiding framework and a practical roadmap for mastering strategic communication in complex environments," according to its description. "If you are a leader, manager, educator, public official, influencer, or anyone striving to make an impact, this book is an essential and thought-provoking read. It distills communication excellence to foster collaborative results and organizational effectiveness.” The book's Cs include Collaboration, Connection, Compassion, Cohesion, Community, Congruency, and Calibration. For the first of these conversations, Dianne will join Shel Holtz, Ginger Homan, Jane Mitchell, and Brad Whitworth to discuss Connection (Brad's chapter), Compassion (Dianne's chapter), Congruency (Jane's chapter), and Calibration (Ginger's chapter). Join us for this very different "Circle" at noon EDT on Thursday, April 23. Participants in the live stream can ask questions and share comments, observations, and experiences, and become part of the discussion. If you're not able to join us, you can listen to the audio podcast later or watch the YouTube replay. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #127: The 7 Cs of The New Communication Compass, Part I appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
March 29, 2026Episode 1261 hr 2 min
Circle of Fellows #126: Communicating in the Era of the Polycrisis
The days when a crisis communicator could simply reach for a dusty binder and follow a pre-scripted, linear checklist are gone — and they aren’t coming back. In the “good old days,” a crisis was often a contained event with a predictable lifecycle; crisis teams could address them by checking off items on a checklist. Today, we face the era of the polycrisis, where economic instability, geopolitical friction, and a 24/7 social media cycle collide, creating a torrent of simultaneous challenges. This new reality has effectively obliterated the traditional news cycle, replacing it with an always-on environment where a single viral post can tarnish a brand before leadership even knows there is a problem. Thriving in this volatile landscape requires a move away from rigid manuals toward a more fluid, strategic approach. Rather than a step-by-step rulebook, modern practitioners need logical scaffolding — a flexible framework of principles and values that provides a foundation for action while allowing for real-time adaptability. It is about preparation, not just prescription. As the boundaries between internal and external perception continue to erode, the ability to maintain transparency and connection through these multifaceted disruptions is no longer a luxury; it is table stakes for organizational survival. Four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) shared their perspectives in this episode of IABC's Circle of Fellows. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #126: Communicating in the Era of the Polycrisis appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
February 26, 2026Episode 1251 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #125: Communicating in the Age of Grievance
The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a troubling shift from polarization to grievance to insularity—a progression in which stakeholders aren’t only divided or angry but also withdrawing into tight circles of “people like us” while viewing outsiders with suspicion. In this Circle of Fellows conversation, our panel will examine the strategic and practical implications of a world in which employees trust their CEO and neighbors more than external sources, domestic companies enjoy trust advantages over foreign competitors, and income divides deepen distrust across organizational hierarchies. The Fellows will explore how communication professionals can position themselves as trust brokers within their organizations, helping bridge the executive suite, front-line employees, and diverse stakeholder groups while navigating generational differences in how people experience and express grievances. From Gen Alpha’s focus on external blame and politicized “whataboutism” to the role of AI governance in building institutional credibility, this fast-paced discussion will provide frameworks for communicators to remain centered and effective even as insularity and grievance reshape the landscape we navigate daily. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #125: Communicating in the Age of Grievance appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
January 23, 2026Episode 1241 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #124: The Impact of Mentoring
The communication profession is currently weathering a perfect storm of tectonic shifts, from the promises of AI to the messy realities of hybrid work, and we are languishing in denial if we think traditional, one-way “career advice” will save us. In the January 2026 Circle of Fellows, our panel will move beyond the clichés to examine mentoring as a pragmatic, strategic tool for institutional knowledge transfer and professional resilience. High-impact mentoring fosters the “trusted advisor” mindset, helping practitioners navigate the minefield of ethical leadership while bridging the gap between academic theory and high-stakes business execution. Whether you’re a senior leader looking to cultivate the next generation of strategic thinkers or a rising professional seeking to future-proof your career, this episode provides actionable frameworks for building the kind of meaningful, two-way developmental relationships that drive both individual growth and organizational success. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #124: The Impact of Mentoring appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
December 19, 2025Episode 1231 hr 0 min
Circle of Fellows #123: The Future of Communication — 2026 and Beyond
The communication profession stands at a pivotal moment. Artificial intelligence is transforming how we create and distribute content. Trust in institutions continues to erode while employees demand authenticity and transparency. The hybrid workplace has permanently altered how we reach our audiences. And the pace of change shows no signs of slowing. In this environment, what... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #123: The Future of Communication — 2026 and Beyond appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
November 26, 2025Episode 1221 hr 2 min
Circle of Fellows #122: Preparing Communication Professionals for the Future
The forward-looking discussion was joined by five seasoned leaders: two professors shaping the next generation of communicators and three senior practitioners traversing today’s real-world pressures. Together, they bridge campus and workplace, theory and execution, to define what readiness really looks like in a world of constant change. Shel Holtz, SCMP, IABC Fellow, will moderate the session. This episode featured a candid, fast-paced discussion on the skills and mindsets that matter now — and the ones you’ll need next. From AI literacy and data comfort to ethical judgment, change agility, and human-centered storytelling, the panel will share practical frameworks you can apply immediately. You’ll hear how universities are evolving curricula, how employers can cultivate lifelong learning, and how individual pros can future-proof their careers without losing the craft that sets them apart. You’ll get actionable guidance, plenty of examples from classrooms and boardrooms. Whether you lead a team, teach, hire, or are building your own career path, this conversation will help you set priorities for the year ahead. If you can’t attend the live session, you can watch the video replay or listen to the podcast, which will be available shortly after the panel concludes. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #122: Preparing Communication Professionals for the Future appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
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