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Stephen Waddington

@wadds.bsky.social
707 followers 255 following 31K posts

Dad to five incredible humans. Husband. Professional advisor, Wadds Inc. Founder, Socially Mobile. PhD student and author. Allotment dweller.

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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Drew Benvie @drew.battenhall.com · 25/04/2025
Team vibes 💯 this week. And if you’re looking for a career start in a place like this (I sit on the left close to coffee) then check out the battenhall Instagram as we have two internships up for grabs. See you this summer 😎☀️🌞
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
A brilliant data led myth busting report about the contribution of the indie creative agency sector to the U.K. economy. 99% of agencies are indie, half are outside London, yet it’s the 1% in London, owned by holding companies that define the sector. open.substack.com/pub/wadds/p/...
open.substack.com
✅ How independent agencies define the UK's creative economy
The UK independent agency sector contributes £26.7 billion to the economy. It’s time we gave it the recognition it deserves.
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Paul Holmes @provokepaul.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Things I would not have believed possible 6 months ago: the United States is losing a global public relations war to China. Because the world views China as a more trustworthy trading partner.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Channeling my inner Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, heading off on a road trip of the road trip on the Ribble Valley and North Yorkshire. Visiting my Mum, Leeds Business School and a couple of agencies along the way.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
In this week's newsletter, The We Show the Salary activist campaign aims to address the inequality that arises in the UK job market from salary secrecy. It's an issue that is acute in the public relations industry. wadds.substack.com/p/a-call-to-...
wadds.substack.com
✅ A call to action for employers on pay transparency
The We Show the Salary activist campaign aims to address the inequality that arises from salary secrecy.
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) @cipr.co.uk · 03/04/2025
“You’re bringing a critical perspective. You’re not there to just rubber stamp through [but] to work with your knowledge and critically appraise what’s in front of you.” @wadds.bsky.social on how to be an effective part of a boardroom in Ep. 19 of our Engage podcast. Listen now: bit.ly/3FBOKHy
CIPR logo. Engage podcast series. Title states “Joining the Board: The opportunity for comms professionals”. Headshots of the episode host, Ann-Marie Blake, and guests, Noha Al Afifi and Stephen Waddington sit beneath the title. Listen on Apple Music & Spotify.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Peripheries in Podcasting by Claudia Sarmento and Plinio Fraga is a powerful case study of what happens when traditional media norms are upended by raw emotion, lived experience and a deep connection with marginalised communities.
wadds.substack.com
✅ How a podcast has disrupted media and influence as a platform for marginalised voices
Podcasting isn’t just disrupting media. It’s redefining who gets to speak, how stories are told and the nature of journalism itself.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Three stories from this week's newsletter. - How corporate comms teams are managing the US Federal Government DEI reversal - AI opyright challenges for creators and publishers - A Demos report calls on the UK Government to use public relations expertise to achieve its missions A busy week ahead.
open.substack.com
✅ How corporate comms teams are managing the US Federal Government DEI policy reversal
The issue cuts across the relationship management perspective of government affairs, the media and employee relations
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
The corporate communications function faces the task of repositioning company DEI policies while balancing regulatory compliance, stakeholder expectations and organisational values.
wadds.co.uk
How corporate comms teams are managing Federal Government DEI policy reversal — Wadds Inc. | Professional advisor to agencies & comms teams
The corporate communications function faces the task of repositioning company DEI policies while balancing regulatory compliance, stakeholder expectations and organisational values.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
A new public relations planning model suggests that there are 14 types of media, organised by message control versus amplification and moderation.
wadds.substack.com
✅ Addressing the limitations of the PESO model
A new public relations planning model suggests that there are 14 types of media, organised by message control versus amplification and moderation
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
PRovoke Media @provokemedia.com · 18/03/2025
CCGroup owners Richard Fogg and Paul Nolan become co-MD of the combined tech agency; the deal trebles the size of Lou Hoffman’s firm in the UK.
provokemedia.com
The Hoffman Agency Acquires UK Tech Specialist CCGroup
CCGroup owners Richard Fogg and Paul Nolan become co-MD of the combined tech agency; the deal trebles the size of Lou Hoffman’s firm in the UK.
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Mandy Pearse @mandypearse.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Join over 180 other organisations and take part in the biggest UK survey of public sector comms. For those in council, police, fire, NHS trust, ICB or RSL comms. Please do it NOW survey closing soon. #communications #publicrelations #localgov www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSC2025Blu...
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Almost at the end of an eight hour train journey from the Pyrenees to London. Spent the time auditing my literature and reference management. Managed to complete around 50 of 500+ references. No one warns you the PhD process is so mind numbingly tedious and dull.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
I’ve read A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros over the weekend. Aside from the physical and wellbeing benefits of moving in the outdoors and travelling from A to B, walking creates the space to reflect, think and be creative. A pilgrimage for ideas, if you like. amzn.to/3XUBS5z
amzn.to
Amazon.co.uk
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
A slighted protagonist calling for a book to be banned is a brilliant marketing strategy for author and publisher. I’ve ordered Careless People due for delivery 25 March assuming Meta doesn’t manage to get it pulped first. amzn.to/4ixBz8Z
amzn.to
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
Buy Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Wynn-Williams, Sarah (ISBN: 9781250391230) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Research briefing - A review of studies about AI for PR identifies five challenges and opportunities wadds.substack.com/p/five-emerg...
wadds.substack.com
✅ Five AI themes reshaping the future of public relations practice
A review of studies about AI for PR identifies five challenges and opportunities
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Farzana Baduel @farzanabaduel.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
The @cipr.co.uk hosted a powerful panel on Missing Women—why so many female PR practitioners leave before reaching senior roles. Important report by @wadds.bsky.social 🔗 newsroom.cipr.co.uk/new-study-re...
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
This week's research newsletter looks at the conditions that lead to high performance and excellence in public relations and management. It's the root to elevating the corporate communications and public relations function within management.
wadds.substack.com
✅ Creating the conditions for high performance in management and public relations
Corporate communications, public relations, media and management insight
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Mandy Pearse @mandypearse.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
On International Women’s Day #IWD2025 a big shout out to all my talented PR women colleagues and do read about The Missing Women Study led by @wadds.bsky.social and supported by @cipr.co.uk newsroom.cipr.co.uk/new-study-reve…
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) @cipr.co.uk · 06/03/2025
"This groundbreaking research should be a wake-up call to industry leaders to ask what they are going to do to change the experience of women working in public relations for the better." @advitapatel.bsky.social on the launch of the new 'Missing Women' study. Find out more: bit.ly/4hbY9CR
CIPR logo. The Missing Women Study. A report funded by the CIPR Research Fund.
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) @cipr.co.uk · 05/03/2025
"We identified a culture within [public relations] practice that exhausts women through constant pressure to prove their worth, manage impossible expectations and navigate gendered double standards." @wadds.bsky.social on the launch of the Missing Women Study. Learn more: bit.ly/4hbY9CR
CIPR logo. The Missing Women Study. A report funded by the CIPR Research Fund.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
New blog - A new report highlights how political shifts, stakeholder activism and accelerating news cycles are transforming the top management communications role. wadds.co.uk/blog/how-the...
wadds.co.uk
How the CCO has become the most dynamic role within management — Wadds Inc. | Professional advisor to agencies & comms teams
A new report highlights how political shifts, stakeholder activism and accelerating news cycles are transforming the top management communications role.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Lovely to be back in the river on such a gorgeous evening
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Bob Pickard @pr.bobpickard.com · 24/02/2025
“Scientists noticed that X stopped being an effective tool for communication soon after the platform was purchased by Elon Musk in 2022. Harassment policies were rolled back, disinformation became more prevalent, and algorithms were manipulated…” www.dailyuw.com/science/scie...
dailyuw.com
Scientists move to Bluesky, transitioning away from X and Meta platforms
A photograph of a short-eared owl mid-flight was the last Instagram post biology professor Carl Bergstrom shared before announcing his departure from the platform Jan. 10.
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Mandy Pearse @mandypearse.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
A quick Comms job. Take a 10 min coffee and fill in the Public Sector Comms Survey 2025. The biggest survey of the sector. For those in council, police, fire, NHS trust, ICB or RSL comms. Nearly 140 replies in. Let’s beat 250. www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSC2025Blu...
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
James Whatley @whatleydude.com · 24/02/2025
Today is the last day to submit your responses for the government consultation in regard to copyright and artificial intelligence. ipoconsultations.citizenspace.com/ipo/consulta...
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Mandy Pearse @mandypearse.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
📢 Calling all comms/PR leaders. Public Sector Comms Survey 2025 is live. The biggest survey of the sector. If you work in a council, police, fire, NHS trust, ICB or RSL please fill it in. You’ll need your comms metrics. All data anonymised. www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSC2025Blu... #comms
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Drew Benvie @drew.battenhall.com · 19/02/2025
Social media agency types in New York, Singapore and London, I’m hiring for multiple open roles at @battenhall.com Details here: www.linkedin.com/posts/lerkeh... DM or email join@battenhall.com
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Pete Marcus @petemarcus.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Incredible long read on the Murdoch family saga — covering phone hacking, Brexit, Trump, and more www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
theatlantic.com
Growing Up Murdoch
James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire
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Drew Benvie @drew.battenhall.com · 11/02/2025
Thanks to the #PRogress event team of @wadds.bsky.social and co for having me this morning - was lovely to see some familiar faces and meet new agency bosses too
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Drew Benvie @drew.battenhall.com · 11/02/2025
Looking forward to presenting Battenhall’s Year Ahead in Social this morning to @wadds.bsky.social’s PRogress event. Also, blast from the past, I’m working from the caff opposite Battenhall’s first office on Bonhill St Shoreditch. Back to our roots today ☕️
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
If ever there was a time to bring back an Alistair Cooke style Letter from American, it’s right now. Never understood why the BBC let the format die with Cooke
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Damn AI, taking the job of AI.
bbc.com
DeepSeek: What lies under the bonnet of the new AI chatbot?
Tumbling stock market values and wild claims have accompanied the release of a new AI chatbot by a small Chinese company. What makes it so different?
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Good long read in The Sunday Times (£) by Tim Shipman on Starmer's reset meeting tomorrow with EU leaders. Trade, crime and migration are top of the agenda. www.thetimes.com/article/3e72...
thetimes.com
Britain and the EU want a big deal, fast. How far will it go?
The PM is in Brussels on Monday for his big ‘reset’ on trade, immigration and more. It could include concessions on fishing and freedom of movement
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Price gouging for Edinburgh half marathon weekend is ridic
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Mandy Pearse @mandypearse.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
It’s here Public Sector Comms Survey 2025 is live. The biggest survey of the sector. If you work in a council, police, fire, NHS trust, ICB or RSL come and benchmark. You’ll need your orgs comms survey and metrics data. www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSC2025X
surveymonkey.com
Public Sector Comms 2025
Help the Public Sector improve its communications by taking this survey.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
How do you explain the success of Ryanair's Michael O'Leary and Wetherspoons' Sir Tim Martin? They contrast starkly with the issues at NatWest that led to Alison Rose's departure and Bernard Looney's exit from BP. wadds.co.uk/blog/2025/1/...
wadds.co.uk
How companies survive crises through  capability and character — Wadds Inc. | Professional advisor to agencies & comms teams
What makes some organisations resilient in crises while others struggle to recover? Successful companies understand that their reputation is built on what they do and how they do it.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
A cheeseburger may hold the key to unlocking the value of public relations in management. No, really! wadds.substack.com/p/why-a-chee...
wadds.substack.com
✅ Why a cheeseburger may hold the key to unlocking the value of public relations in management
Corporate communications, public relations, media and management insight
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Sales 101 from a northern city on the move
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Important piece of business school research today. I need to visit three McDonalds, buy three cheese burgers, and then record and report on the experience.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
WPP (Ogilvy, Burson...) back-to-the-office petition exceeds 10k signatures. www.change.org/p/demand-wpp...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Demand WPP to Revoke its Four-Day Office Return Mandate
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Paul Holmes @provokepaul.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
"How do we balance the short-term necessity of satisfying a single powerful stakeholder (rhymes with Rump) with the long-term importance of maintaining sustainable, muturally-beneficial relatiosnhips with other important audiences?" Just one of the questions we examine in our 2025 trends forecast.
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Public Relations and Communications Association @prca-hq.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
🎙️ “What does it take to lead a creative agency shaking up the industry?” Host: @farzanabaduel.bsky.social Hear from Gemma Moroney of SHOOK (Creative Agency of the Year 2024), who shares her journey into PR and building a creative culture. 📺 ow.ly/jn3m50UBBEL 🎧 ow.ly/aXq050UBBEM
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
In today's newsletter, AI summaries may be making us dumber, and lots of other corporate communications, media and management goodness. wadds.substack.com/p/ai-summari...
wadds.substack.com
✅ AI summaries may be making us dumber: the hidden cost of digital shortcuts
Corporate communications, public relations, media and management insight
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Reposted by Stephen Waddington
Sam Wallace @samvonwallace.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
All those Question Time, Newsnight, soft-ball interview appearances They didn't improve the discourse just created a permanent toxicity at the heart of our politics
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Same issue exists in public relations at management level: competency vs experience vs knowledge
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Early morning 16 miles from home to the coast and back. 30-year personal best for 10km, 10 miles and half marathon. Almost 100 days of training and damp January paying off.
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Signed first edition of Propaganda by Edward Bernays. A cool £6,500, but an incredible opportunity to own a piece of public relations history. www.abebooks.co.uk/signed-first...
abebooks.co.uk
Public Relations. by Bernays, Edward L: (1952) Signed by Author(s) | Raptis Rare Books
Free Shipping - Signed by Author(s) - 1st Edition - Hardcover - University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK - 1952 - Dust Jacket Included - First edition of Bernays' classic work regarding public relatio...
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Stephen Waddington @wadds.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
I can’t love Newcastle airport any harder. Land side to airside and cleared security in 12 minutes.
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