Cross-posted from the FIR Podcast Network
Today’s panel features three former IABC chairs: Michael Ambjorn (2015-16), founder of UK-based Align Your Org; Dr. Barbara Gibson (2008-09), principal of Cultural Resolution and lecturer at the University of London; and Brad Whitworth (1989-90), senior marketing and communication manager for the global partner organization at Cisco Systems. Our discussion topics for the day:
Snapchat is under fire — again — for what many feel is a racist filter. At the same time, a Medium post has raised new controversy over Snapchat’s beauty filter.
A study designed to dig into the discontent among women employees of a consulting firm over work-life balance found all employees were unhappy about the situation — results the company’s leadership dismissed. Yet employees are quitting over the all-work-and-no-play mentality embraced by too many companies.
The New York Times has introduced its own flavor of “text-message journalism’ with messages from a deputy sports editor who is at the Olympic Games in Rio. The Times isn’t the first news organization to let readers subscribe to get updates via Facebook Messenger and other messaging apps. Is text-message brand journalism inevitable?
How much text messaging is too much? One post from a massage therapy group recounts one therapist seeing another texting while giving a massage.
Pokémon Go seems to have paved the way for faster public acceptance of augmented and virtual reality. What will companies do with it?
In a LinkedIn post, Arik Hanson argues that social media is widening the chasm between front-line employees and executive leadership. Is he right? Do CEOs need to get social?
In his technology report, Dan York follows up on Instagram Stories vs. Snapchat Stories and reports on the ad-blocking wars at Facebook and a new report on blockchain from the World Economic Forum.
Connect with our panelists on Twitter at @MichaelAmbjorn, @Barb_G, and @BradWhitworth.
Links to the source material for this episode are on Contentle.
Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.
About today’s panel:
Michael Ambjorn is Past Chair of the International Association of Business Communicators. He is also founder of Align Your Org where – with a participation-centric approach – he and his colleagues enable effective strategic planning, communication – and clarity of execution. He has held leadership roles at IBM, Motorola and the 260–year–old Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. A consummate connector, speaker, facilitator – and mentor – he is also active in a number of further networks.
Dr. Barbara Gibson brings to her work more than 25 years of experience in public relations, corporate communication, internal communication, public affairs, strategic planning, marketing, and advertising. She founded Cultural Resolution, a global business consultancy focused on helping companies that operate internationally achieve greater success when working across cultures. She also serves as Programme Director for the MA in Intercultural Communication for Business & Professions at Birbeck, University of London, and is president of SIETAR UK, the society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. As if that’s not enough, Barbara is the group chair for CIPR International, a volunteer role leading the organization — a sector group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations — for professional communicators working internationally or who aspire to do so.
Brad Whitworth , ABC, CMP, IABC Fellow, is senior communication manager at Cisco Systems. Brad joined Cisco in 2007 and today leads integrated communication for the part of the company that builds partner ecosystems for new markets. Before Cisco, Brad led communication programs at HP, PeopleSoft and AAA. He earned undergraduate degrees in both journalism and speech at the University of Missouri and an MBA at Santa Clara University. A former broadcaster, Brad has made more than 300 presentations to executives, communicators, and university classes around the world. Brad has a long history with IABC, including serving as chairman of the international board and president of two local chapters. He is one of the authors of The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication.