iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Factual accuracy isn't a comms strategy. In #FIRpodcast 531, @nevillehobson.xyz & I discuss research suggesting that using familiar language can help accurate information compete with misinformation. But where's the line between persuasion and manipulation? bit.ly/4s82iPu

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

AI adoption needs more than tools. Only 36% in BCG’s 2026 survey felt adequately upskilled. In On the Same Page, episode 9, Mark and I discuss how communicators can help shape the change, build trust, and support employees. Listen or watch: bit.ly/4yeKROz

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

AI was supposed to replace ghostwriters. Instead, AI may be creating demand for humans who can help executives sound human. In FIRpodcast 530, @nevillehobson.xyz & I ask: if the thinking is genuinely yours, does it matter whether a human ghostwriter or AI helped produce the words? bit.ly/4rSSKYv

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

@nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss crisis communication as governance, and how fake AI-generated “experts” are slipping into mainstream media. Plus @danyork.bsky.social ’s Tech Report. 🔗 bit.ly/4rz3yL3

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The reasons communicators pursue certification keep growing. So do the reasons employers consider hiring certified communicators. If you question the value of certification, just talk to those who have achieved this distinction, like Christine.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Is engagement dead? Is it an inappropriate objective for communicators to pursue? Mark Dollins and I talk about employee engagement and internal comms on episode 8 of our "On the Same Page" podcast. Enjoy the clip! The full episode is here: bit.ly/46QPWRQ

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Engagement surveys that produce a single score are meaningless. That doesn't render the idea of engagement bankrupt, though. In episode 8 of the "On the Same Page" podcast, Mark and I focus on the communicator's role in building and sustaining engagement. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/otsp-8-emplo...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Do the stories your company tells align with each other? With vision/values/mission? With reality? A strategic narrative will help. Mark and I dive into strategic narratives in episode 7 of "On The Same Page." www.firpodcastnetwork.com/otsp-7-no-st...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

An audience pays attention. A community shares an interest. A fandom goes further: it becomes part of your identity. No wonder marketers want in. But can brands create and nurture fandom? @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore the topic in #FIRpodcast 528 🎧💻 bit.ly/4x2OCpx

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In the latest episode of "On The Same Page," Mark Dollins tells the tale of an orchestra that decided to inform musicians that their conductor was leaving by letting them find out the news via a press release to the public media, Catch the entire episode: bit.ly/4dc5q6k

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Sharing news with employees is just a small part of internal communications, but it's vital, with more layers and moving parts than public journalism. Mark and I discuss how to communicate news internally in the latest "On The Same Page" podcast episode. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/otsp-6-one-s...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

"The AI made the decision, not us." You can delegate a task to AI. You cannot delegate accountability. In #FIRpodcast 527 with @nevillehobson.xyz & me: AI hiring, Reddit, Meta, Neutrogena, employee influencers + @danyork.bsky.social tech report. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4xaPvxc

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Anthropic is watermarking text processed by Claude. Cue the AI-writing "gotchas". But a watermark can't tell us who did the thinking. In #FIRpodcast 526, @nevillehobson.xyz and I ask a better question than "Did you use AI?" bit.ly/4bUlAAR

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

AI workslop isn't simply bad AI output. It can waste colleagues' time, damage trust, and erode what an organization knows to be true. In FIR 525, @nevillehobson.xyz and I ask whether this is really an AI problem – or a leadership problem. bit.ly/4wX4E50

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The CMP or SCMP after your name is a signal that you are aligned with a global communication standard, as Patrick Armstrong SCMP, notes. It's just one of many reasons for experienced communicators to pursue ISO-compliant certification.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I'm delighted to let you know that Mark Dollins is joining the "On The Same Page" podcast. Our first episode together looks at how to help leaders find their voice when communicating with internal stakeholders. bit.ly/4z9UvU8

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Managers are unprepared to lead AI-fluent employees, while companies flood employees with AI information, some of which contradicts earlier messaging. This problem is at the heart of FIR episode 524. Managers say they're unprepared to lead AI-fluent employees. bit.ly/4cdIByD

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Another testimonial from a communicator who values her certification.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Certification is the signal that you adhere to recognized global standards of communication excellence. The journey is as valuable as the designation.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

@nevillehobson.xyz is ill, so this is a shorter-than-usual monthly episode that includes reports on rethinking thought leadership, maintaining brand sovereignty in the AI era, and whether hedging in your communication can serve a purpose. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-523-no-b...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Podcasting 2.0's new podcast features are about open standards, platform independence, accessibility, and who controls the relationship with your audience. @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore the opportunities and obstacles in the latest FIR 522. 🎧💻 firpodcast.s.gy/1cKbhF

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Your brand is no longer defined solely by what you say about yourself. Increasingly, it's defined by the answers AI gives when someone asks about you. @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss the rise of the answer economy with Pete Blackshaw in a new FIR Interview. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3RdeqR4

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I am pausing the “On the Same Page” podcast & Steve won't continue as co-host. I am considering the right future for the show. Steve's recent post was inconsistent with the respect for people that is fundamental to our profession and to any work carrying my name.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Ford rehired 300+ veteran engineers after AI quality checks fell short – and topped JD Power's quality survey as a result. In #FIRpodcast 521, @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss the gap between documentation and judgment, and what IBM and Klarna's AI reversals reveal. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4vOuU0S

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Wowcher sent a marketing email referencing a toddler's crocodile attack 2 days after it happened. Plus shadow AI, anti-AI sentiment, news trust, personal branding & internal comms – all in #FIRpodcast 520 with @nevillehobson.xyz and me. bit.ly/4oRbOEJ

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

New research extends the hostile media effect to misinformation: people believe fake news targets their side more than the other. In #FIRpodcast 519, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look at what that means for communicators. 🎧💻https://bit.ly/4aOTG8J

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

PR misread the internet in 1995 and social media in 2007. Are we about to do it a third time with AI? In FIR 518, @nevillehobson.xyz and I dig into Stephen Waddington's sharp provocation for the CIPR. bit.ly/4e96fOo

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Some companies spent more on AI than on the employees they replaced. Now they're walking it back, quietly. In #FIRpodcast 517, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look at what communicators should do when a loud promise meets a messy reality. bit.ly/4omRpHF

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

The Economist is building separate web content for AI agents, not just humans. In #FIRpodcast 516, @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore what that means for communicators, and why content like FAQ and press releases may need restructuring. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-516-your...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

In #FIRpodcast 515, @nevillehobson.xyz and I cover 6 topics that explore how content is found, how communicators prove their value, and how organizations govern the AI tools now operating within them. Plus @danyork's monthly Tech Report on WordPress 7.0. Worth a listen. 🎧💻https://bit.ly/3RsGLme

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Was Twitter a unique moment in media history rather than a repeatable model? In #FIRpodcast 514, @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss why text-based social networks may be fragmenting – and why relevance, trust, and smaller communities could matter more now. 🔗 bit.ly/43iN7qO

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Today, using Claude Cowork and AI agents in comms workflows is a realistic proposition. In #FIRpodcast 513 @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore what happens when AI starts orchestrating workflows themselves. This has moved way beyond just experimenting. 🔗 bit.ly/4dflcN1

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Is AI becoming the new “executive influencer”? In #FIRpodcast 512, @nevillehobson.xyz & I explore whether leaders are using AI to support decisions – or starting to defer to it. Big questions around judgment, trust, and accountability. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4n2UdJ2

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

I used to answer customer surveys. Now I mostly treat them like spam. holtz.com/blog/blog/we...

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Policies. Training. Guardrails. And still a major law firm filed AI-generated errors in court. In #FIRpodcast 511, @nevillehobson.xyz & I unpack why this is about accountability, not tech. Plus 5 more stories and @danyork.bsky.social's tech report. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3QBStdK

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Employees aren’t waiting for AI strategies – they’re already using the tools. In FIR 510, @nevillehobson.xyz & I explore “shadow AI” as a signal of unmet demand, not just a risk – and what that means for leadership, governance, and communicators. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3QSkb5Z

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Reposted by Shel Holtz

For Immediate Release @firpodcast.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

AI voice cloning + fake content uploads + automated copyright claims – someone else earns revenue from your original work before any human reviews it. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz unpack the story – and suggest what communicators should do – in #FIRpodcast 509. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4cboG3Y

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Reposted by Shel Holtz

For Immediate Release @firpodcast.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

AI isn’t just trained on data anymore – it’s trained on us. In FIR 508, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz explore the rise of “data labour” where identity (voice, behaviour, daily life) becomes the input. What does that mean for trust, ethics, and transparency? 🎧💻 bit.ly/4tVXWdZ

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

AI writing – helpful or harmful? In FIR 507, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look beyond the LinkedIn backlash. For many professionals, writing isn’t their skill – it’s a task. AI can help. But voice, judgement, and trust still matter. Where do we draw the line? 🎧💻 bit.ly/41wX578

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

AI is changing communication – and the assumptions behind it. In FIR 506, @nevillehobson.xyz & I cover: • Billable hours • Observed work • PR budget hype • Misinformation risk • Bots vs humans • Are humans still central? Plus, @danyork.bsky.social on tech. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4t270x8

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Is social media still “social”? In #FIRpodcast 505, @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore Hootsuite’s 2026 Trends report, addressing social as search, AI vs authenticity, and more. Plus a darker question – what if AI starts to dominate the conversation? 🎧💻 bit.ly/4bhc7DJ

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

In #FIRpodcast 504, @nevillehobson.xyz and I talk about “AI washing” – when organizations attribute layoffs to AI even though the real reasons may be different. When the message differs from reality, trust erodes. It's an ethical bind for communicators. bit.ly/4s338vH

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

A leader can build goodwill for days... and lose it in seconds. In #FIRpodcast 503, nevillehobson.xyz & I examine the #IOC press conference moment that turned into a global story about blame, executive readiness & leadership capital. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3OKM3YX

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

In #FIRpodcast 502, @nevillehobson.xyz and I unpacked what happened when an AI coding agent's code was rejected by a human developer – and the AI then published a critique of him and his decision. Plus 5 more topics in this long-form episode for February. 🔗 bit.ly/46ou3cR

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

In #FIRpodcast 500, @nevillehobson.xyz & I talk about AI-enabled workplace abuse and why it needs to be treated as workplace harm. For communicators, this is about preparation – what to do before anything happens to prevent silence becoming permission. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4tsVU5w

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

PRSA says staying “apolitical” protects credibility. In #FIRpodcast 499, @nevillehobson.xyz & I ask a harder question: what happens to credibility, truth and standards when ethical goes quiet? 🎧💻 bit.ly/4tmraTN Thoughtful discussion welcomed.

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Most crises aren’t sudden. AI, trust erosion, and compound risks expose how unprepared organizations still are. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz host a new #FIRpodcast interview with Philippe Borremans @riskcomms.bsky.social on crisis communication trends for 2026. 🎧💻 bit.ly/45AKdzn

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Shel Holtz @shelholtz.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

I want Ross charged, tried, and convicted. But even though I have never voted for a Republican, Ross is nevertheless entitled to a defense. Let's stay on the right side of the Constitution, unlike Republicans.

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Reposted by Shel Holtz

For Immediate Release @firpodcast.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer warns of a crisis of insularity – trust hasn’t collapsed, but has narrowed. In the lead story in #FIRpodcast 498, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz examine Edelman’s idea of “trust brokering”, which has attracted critical response. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4q2FIoL

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