Corey duBrowa, head of BCW, and AnnaMaria DeSalva, head of Hill & Knowlton discuss the merger of their global PR agencies to become Burson. Hear what they have been doing to integrate and support their teams before the July 1 launch. As they work toward the launch, they are managing changing approaches to ESG, how to use emerging AI tools to help clients manage risk and reputation, and a turbulent political environment. Plus, in the midst of all this, Corey was able to write a book on extended play recordings.

A discussion with Weber Shandwick’s Chris Perry on his new book, Perspective Agents: A Human Guide to the Autonomous Age, which focuses on relationships of two parallel revolutions: the technological uprising of automation and AI; and, and a new sense of human autonomy that allows us to find new meaning and direction. Perspective Agents challenges us to adapt and thrive in this new era of machine and man. Chris asks, “How does having instant answers enable us to do our own discovery, to do our own fact finding, and frankly to elevate our own agency.”

New PMI Chief Communications Officer Moira Gilchrist, who holds a Ph. D. in pharmaceutical sciences, says she wants people to know her company has changed and is serious about ending cigarette smoking. “ My passion…is to bring those facts to the fore so that everybody can make a decision about us based on facts of today and not on the memory on the memory of the 1990s,” a reference to a time when many tobacco companies were found to have misled the public about the dangers of smoking.

Award-winning journalist and Boston University College of Communication professor David Abel, newest movie, Inundation District, focuses on Boston’s Seaport district, which is threatened by rising seawater. The film is a master class in science-based journalism in a time of eroding trust in science. A prolific filmmaker, Abel’s works have largely focused on natural resource issues off New England’s coast. However, his journey as a filmmaker began in 2013 when he was documenting the first little person to run the Boston Marathon. He was at the finish line when the bombs exploded that day. His reporting on the tragedy with colleagues at the Boston Globe earned the team a Pulitzer Prize. This is an episode for anyone interested in becoming a better storyteller and the power of visual media.

Jon Weisman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Nancy Elder, of the New York Mets join The Crux to discuss leading comms for two of the world's leading sports franchises. From working with team execs to dealing with team execs to players’ social media habits, Nancy and Jon provide a fascinating inside look at their roles as communicators in major league baseball.

D. Graham Burnett, director and co-founder for the Institute for Sustained Attention, says the problem of fragmented attention has reached “catastrophic proportions.” He is helping lead a fight against “powerful systems” that are “fracking” society’s attention. How? By building a school and community on the topic, and his writing and teachings, including a Princeton course, “Attention Economy.” For communicators, is there a more essential question than this: How do we get people to pay attention to what we are saying?

In this episode of “The Crux of the Story,” highly respected communicators Tom Martin and Gary Grates cover all things mentoring. From the role of technology, to “official” mentoring programs, to building informal relationships, Tom and Gary discuss how potential mentees can maximize their networking opportunities. Tom and Gary's mentorship experiences stem from their extensive careers as practitioners, consultants, educators, and thought leaders in communications. Plus, check out Tom's new podcast, “Mindful Mentoring with Tom Martin.”

What defines a “crisis” in 2024? Crisis consultant Molly McPherson joins The Crux to discuss the evolution of reputation and crises. From working in the “crisis cauldron” that is FEMA to her hugely popular TikTok posts on high-profile crises, Molly has become a leading and insightful voice in what it take to manage crises in a volatile environment. Plus, she’s a Boston University College of Communication grad!

Martin Reeves of Boston Consulting Group and Tomas Kellner of Amazon discuss how constructing a compelling story around your business strategy will catalyze action internally and create advantages in the marketplace.

NYU Stern professor Alison Taylor joins the Crux to discuss the “do’s and don'ts” of business ethics from her newest book, Higher Ground, How Businesses Can Do the Right Thing. She focuses on how companies should focus on addressing their imperfections, rather than realizing statements on problems they can’t solve. From the UN Climate Week, to Levi’s corporate, she comments how key leaders can improve on commenting on social issues. Finally, Alison notes that company’s cannot solve every social issue, rather they must focus on one to three possible issues they can address.

The Ocean Outlaw Project’s Ian Urbina on Non-Profit Journalism on the Open Ocean by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez

Boston University’s professors Marni Zelnick and Meghan Irons join the Crux to talk about the importance of social responsibility in film-making and journalism. Marni emphasizes the importance of “pulling back the curtain” on real world topics within creative filmmaking as she does in her film Druid Peak. Meghan focuses on how her experience working on writing a narrative on the violence in Dorchester taught her invaluable lessons on the challenges and triumphs of this type of journalism. The unifying factor in creating media that reflects the importance of social issues is centering each narrative on real human stories.

What are the “four corners” companies can employ to conquer stakeholder engagement? How can companies employ expertise when releasing statements on the conflict in Gaza? How can AI be the “cure” for economic disease? Matt McDonald, President of the “data native” business consulting firm Penta Group, joins the Crux on today’s episode to provide profound insight on stakeholder engagement to economic theory.

Don Spetner, senior corporate advisor at Weber Shandwick, talks about the evolution of the Chief Communications Officer role. Where the core of public relations was once media relations, now the internet has allowed everyone to have their own “bullhorn”. Gary, Mike and Don break down two of the most controversial PR flops such as the BP oil spill live cam, as well as the newest Bud Light Campaign. Additionally, Don Spetner warns professional communicators to stop “showing their superman logo” and handling everything themselves. Tune in for more.

Have you ever heard of “forced morality?” Why do companies like Patagonia and Chick-fil-a stick to their values? How can employers show more kindness to employees experiencing grief and loss in their personal lives? On this episode of the Crux, Bradley Akubuiro talks about dexterity and nimbleness within the workplace. He tackles topics such as showing courage in corporate settings, especially during his time in the Boeing workforce. Bradley speaks on his experience as a minority leader and the emotional "tax" this role entails. Tune in to hear more about Bradley's diverse roles, the importance of millennial leaders and more.

How do public policy, business and journalism all come together to shape corporate culture in today’s climate? Today's episode tackles just that. On this episode, we are joined by Judd Legum the author and founder of Popular Information, a newsletter that is described as “unfiltered, unbought and unbossed.” He breaks down how shoplifting policies, such as the one’s in San Francisco, really relate to the phenomena called “Shrink.” Furthermore, this episode also cover’s Judd Legum’s history of creating his newsletter Popular Information and even address’s other aspects of his career including his run for office.

Jargon is at the very essence of every current corporate climate, but what do all these terms mean? On this episode of the Crux of the Story we are joined by editor, Veronica Majerol, and contributing writer, Jordyn Holman of the New York Times’s column “Shop Talk”. They break down the essence and importance of clarifying the often confusing jargon within the business world. From “dogfooding” to “impact chats”, this episode tackles defining what terms like this actually mean.

Scientist and award-winning communicator Chris Reddy from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute joined us on The Crux to talk about effective science communication in a crisis. For more than 25 years, Chris has been called on for high profile ocean disasters including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He shares with us lessons learned, such as keeping the humanity of those affected in the forefront of the messaging. In a time when science has been weaponized and distorted, Chris’s perspective on clear, accurate communication offers thoughtful insight and opportunity to work together toward common understanding.

The power of trust can transform a business from top to bottom, and is proven to affect the bottom line as well. Trust is more than just a coms issue, but a strategic business issue as well. Join us for a fascinating discussion with Russell Dubner from Boston Consulting Group about his work with the C-suite to evaluate and establish trust in leading companies.

PRLab celebrates its 45th anniversary--It is the longest-operating student-run PR agency in the country. Creating a synergy between clients and students that benefits both is a key to success, leading to multiple awards through the years. Join our conversation to discuss what has changed, and what remains the same as the next generation prepares for careers in communication.