Hello and welcome back to Powell Tate Insights!
For our first edition of 2022, we’re unpacking some of the under-the-radar issues and trends likely to impact the public affairs and communications environment this year, with the help of thought leaders and friends from across a range of sectors.
While it seems clear that this will be a challenging year, once again driven by the pandemic, politics and continued economic and social upheaval, I can’t help but feel optimistic. At Powell Tate, we’re energized by our place in the new Weber Shandwick Collective (more about that below), and eagerly jumping into another year of brave, industry-defining work. I look forward to sharing more with you in future editions of PT Insights.
 
-- Paul Massey, President, Powell Tate
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We opened the year by connecting with dozens of thought leaders across policy, politics, business, public health and the media to explore the issues and trends they see shaping the public affairs and communications landscape in 2022.
Top recurring issues are familiar ones. From the myriad implications of the ongoing pandemic to politics and polarization; economic recovery, inflation and the supply chain; voting rights; the threat of misinformation and disinformation; and impending transformative Supreme Court rulings and a nomination process.
Our team of experts also shared some additional perspectives as public affairs and communications imperatives:
- We can’t rely on what we used to know.
- Racial equity and climate change will serve as critical lenses for corporations and policymakers.
- States, cities and corporations will increasingly fill the void created by federal gridlock.
- America’s leadership position in the world is fragile.
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Photo by NASA on Unsplash
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On Issues Decoded, Jim Meszaros, EVP of International Public Affairs, highlights eight global developments to watch in 2022 as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic challenges, rising political and social unrest, and the prospect of disruptive geopolitical conflict.
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In December 2021, Weber Shandwick announced the creation of The Weber Shandwick Collective, our new global enterprise brand. This network of specialist creative, marketing, communications and consulting firms – including Powell Tate – is built for the convergence of society, media, policy and technology, ensuring we deliver integrated, culturally resonant solutions to clients’ most complex strategic and communications problems.
Weber Shandwick also announced Weber Shandwick Futures – one part think tank, one part incubator and two parts business engine – to identify potential investments, partnerships or M&A opportunities that help shape future-forward offers to clients.
The announcements were featured in PRovoke and PRWeek.
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Since March 2020, Powell Tate, Weber Shandwick and our research partners at KRC Research have been examining the perspectives and experiences of U.S. consumers and workers amid the pandemic. One issue we’ve asked about, and that we’ve studied for over a decade: the state of civility in America. Our latest findings – including that just 39 percent of survey respondents believe the general tone in the U.S. is civil and respectful – were recently featured in The New York Times, with a quote from Micho Spring, Chair of Weber Shandwick’s Global Corporate Practice. The findings were subsequently cited in The Washington Post.
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In 2020 and 2021, organizations set significant diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals. In Fast Company, our colleagues from United Minds lay out five predictions and recommendations for advancing DEI strategies in 2022 – from reporting progress to engaging employees to taking a stand on key issues.
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On Purpose Decoded, Kate Olsen, SVP of Social Impact, lays out three critical pivots in purpose communications to accelerate progress on the central ESG challenges of structural inequities, climate and misinformation in 2022.
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Over on PowellTate.com, we’re sharing thought-provoking insights from Mike Connery, SVP of Digital Innovation, on how combating misinformation is every brand’s purpose, and from Trish Taylor, EVP and Health Practice Lead, on the need to advance health equity beyond this cultural, pandemic-driven moment.
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We’re continuing to grow our team of exceptional communicators, creatives, strategists, planners and analytics experts! If you or someone you know wants to combine purpose and passion in game-changing public affairs and communications work, explore a career with Powell Tate.
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Thanks for reading and see you next month.
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