Bob Pickard
@pr.bobpickard.com
Principal, Leadership Communication Inc. Public relations for newsmakers. 30+ year comms career @ 🇺🇸🇨🇳🇯🇵🇨🇦🇰🇷🇸🇬 Served as CEO of Burson in Asia and North Asia of Edelman. Former MDB global comms chief. Publicized in PRC state media for “purely sensational hype.”
This merger is not inspired by a compelling vision. Reorganizations like this can produce Frankenstein firms: fragmented cultures, chronic stress, and managers fixated on margin and empty of meaning. Endless layoffs. Massive churn. The organization loses coherence. Bad news for staff and clients.
New: Omnicom Public Relations has revealed its PR agency reorganization following the finalization of Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group last November.
Details:
www.prweek.com/article/1947...
Details:
www.prweek.com/article/1947...
Omnicom Public Relations unveils restructured agency portfolio
Golin and Ketchum will merge under the leadership of Matt Neale; Porter Novelli will become a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard.
www.prweek.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:57 AM
This merger is not inspired by a compelling vision. Reorganizations like this can produce Frankenstein firms: fragmented cultures, chronic stress, and managers fixated on margin and empty of meaning. Endless layoffs. Massive churn. The organization loses coherence. Bad news for staff and clients.
“The files have reflected back on Epstein’s relationship with members of the media, revealing Epstein’s tactics for manipulating coverage about himself and the extent to which he attempted to make himself useful to the media for his own gain.”
February 9, 2026 at 4:39 AM
“The files have reflected back on Epstein’s relationship with members of the media, revealing Epstein’s tactics for manipulating coverage about himself and the extent to which he attempted to make himself useful to the media for his own gain.”
Real flame atop the Calgary Tower tonight. It’s a salute from the host city of the 1988 Winter Games in Canada at the opening of the games in Italy today. The timeless Olympic flame is a beacon of international friendship and peace. “A light of spirit, knowledge, and life.”
#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026
#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026
February 7, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Real flame atop the Calgary Tower tonight. It’s a salute from the host city of the 1988 Winter Games in Canada at the opening of the games in Italy today. The timeless Olympic flame is a beacon of international friendship and peace. “A light of spirit, knowledge, and life.”
#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026
#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026
During his long public life going back to the 1980s, one common thread is how Trump has actually been a master of PR. Not ethical persuasion, but for propaganda and publicity purposes.
Host: Joe Rogan was one of your biggest endorsers in 2024. He said he understands why critics compare ICE officers to the Gestapo.
Trump: What happens is that, I think we do a phenomenal job, but I don't think we're good at public relations
Trump: What happens is that, I think we do a phenomenal job, but I don't think we're good at public relations
February 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
During his long public life going back to the 1980s, one common thread is how Trump has actually been a master of PR. Not ethical persuasion, but for propaganda and publicity purposes.
Bullshit corporate comms: “‘The Post is taking a number of difficult but decisive actions today for our future…These steps are designed to strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart and, most importantly, engages our customers.’”
Confirmed: 1 in 3 Washington Post staffers are being "impacted," PR-speak for laid off, in this severe round of cuts. As Wolf Blitzer said just now, "it's a heartbreaking development."
February 4, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Bullshit corporate comms: “‘The Post is taking a number of difficult but decisive actions today for our future…These steps are designed to strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart and, most importantly, engages our customers.’”
This looks interesting: “Some former BlackBerry employees are bringing back the idea of a physical smartphone keyboard, and they’ve dubbed the new phone the Communicator.”
Former BlackBerry employees bring back physical keyboard with new smartphone
Former Blackberry employees are looking to the past to help innovate a new way to find connection and cut through the deluge of modern distractions.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 4, 2026 at 3:34 PM
This looks interesting: “Some former BlackBerry employees are bringing back the idea of a physical smartphone keyboard, and they’ve dubbed the new phone the Communicator.”
Toxic, abusive communication – disrespectful and unbecoming. Another attempt to intimidate the media from asking legitimate questions. Sneer-and-smear trash talk might silence timid journalists, but it just doesn’t work on true professionals.
KAITLAN COLLINS: What would say to Epstein survivo---
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
February 4, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Toxic, abusive communication – disrespectful and unbecoming. Another attempt to intimidate the media from asking legitimate questions. Sneer-and-smear trash talk might silence timid journalists, but it just doesn’t work on true professionals.
There’s a fascinating new PBS documentary about the propaganda framing, media relations and narrative control behind the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945 (and its aftermath)
Bombshell | American Experience | PBS
Bombshell explores how the U.S. manipulated the narrative about the impact of the WWII bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
www.pbs.org
February 1, 2026 at 3:12 AM
There’s a fascinating new PBS documentary about the propaganda framing, media relations and narrative control behind the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945 (and its aftermath)
Reposted by Bob Pickard
In 2025, as Bluesky grew from 25M to 42M users, we took actions to keep it welcoming, using proactive design to reduce toxic content by 79%. Our 2025 Transparency Report shares how we're building a safer platform while keeping a transparent and human-centered approach: bsky.social/about/blog/0...
2025 Transparency Report Overview - Bluesky
In 2025, as Bluesky grew from 25 million to 41 million users, we improved the trust and safety infrastructure to better enable our mission. Here's what that looks like in plain language.
bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 PM
In 2025, as Bluesky grew from 25M to 42M users, we took actions to keep it welcoming, using proactive design to reduce toxic content by 79%. Our 2025 Transparency Report shares how we're building a safer platform while keeping a transparent and human-centered approach: bsky.social/about/blog/0...
Reposted by Bob Pickard
If you're in Vancouver and think it's morally repugnant for a Canadian company to be signing contracts to support ICE "public relations," come join at 111 East 5th Ave at 3pm *today* to let @hootsuite.com know this is indefensibly vile.
January 30, 2026 at 6:25 PM
If you're in Vancouver and think it's morally repugnant for a Canadian company to be signing contracts to support ICE "public relations," come join at 111 East 5th Ave at 3pm *today* to let @hootsuite.com know this is indefensibly vile.
Companies are now investing significant resources in ‘manipulating’ LLM search results about their brands (a practice known as Generative Engine Optimization or GEO).
How Businesses Are Manipulating ChatGPT Results
You’ve long heard about search engine optimization. Companies are now spending big to feature prominently in the output of AI chatbots. It’s called GEO.
www.wsj.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Companies are now investing significant resources in ‘manipulating’ LLM search results about their brands (a practice known as Generative Engine Optimization or GEO).
This is a peculiar communications statement for a global payments network. Visa operates internationally, but the announcement is explicitly US-centric (also radioactive for many with the T-word). This kind of framing creates avoidable brand blowback, especially beyond the headquarters country.
January 29, 2026 at 3:09 AM
This is a peculiar communications statement for a global payments network. Visa operates internationally, but the announcement is explicitly US-centric (also radioactive for many with the T-word). This kind of framing creates avoidable brand blowback, especially beyond the headquarters country.
Looking over the Bow River just after sunset
January 29, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Looking over the Bow River just after sunset
I remember this terrible day in 1986. I was at school that morning and, when everyone heard the bad news, students gathered around televisions on campus to watch the horrific space shuttle Challenger explosion which was played over and over and over again on all the networks for the rest of the day.
40 years after the Challenger disaster, NPR explores the engineers' last-minute efforts to stop the launch, their decades of guilt and the vital lessons that remain critical for NASA today.
40 years after Challenger: Lingering guilt and lessons learned
Forty years after the Challenger disaster, NPR explores the engineers' last-minute efforts to stop the launch, their decades of guilt and the vital lessons that remain critical for NASA today.
n.pr
January 28, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I remember this terrible day in 1986. I was at school that morning and, when everyone heard the bad news, students gathered around televisions on campus to watch the horrific space shuttle Challenger explosion which was played over and over and over again on all the networks for the rest of the day.
Reposted by Bob Pickard
Never underestimate the power of propaganda. When Jacques Ellul wrote about it, he didn’t use the term as negative or positive. Propaganda—later rebranded as public relations—could be used for good or bad. To promote news of democratic elections, or to bully adversaries in an economic war.
Bessent: "I'd encourage Carney to do what he thinks is best for Canadians, not his own virtue signaling. We do have a USMCA negotiation coming up. He rose to power on an anti-American, anti-Trump message. That's not a great place to be when you're negotiating w/ an economy multiples larger than you"
January 28, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Never underestimate the power of propaganda. When Jacques Ellul wrote about it, he didn’t use the term as negative or positive. Propaganda—later rebranded as public relations—could be used for good or bad. To promote news of democratic elections, or to bully adversaries in an economic war.
Reposted by Bob Pickard
ICE public relations 101
January 27, 2026 at 11:19 PM
ICE public relations 101
As the controversial Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank marks ten years of operations, concerns persist about how the Beijing-dominated multilateral institution handles governance and human rights.
@thediplomat.com
@thediplomat.com
A Decade of Questionable Governance at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
As the AIIB marks ten years of operations, concerns persist about how the Beijing-dominated multilateral institution handles governance and human rights.
thediplomat.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:50 PM
As the controversial Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank marks ten years of operations, concerns persist about how the Beijing-dominated multilateral institution handles governance and human rights.
@thediplomat.com
@thediplomat.com
This is leadership communication wisdom:
“One thing I’ve learned over time is that you don’t need to comment on every single comment.”
François-Philippe Champagne,
Canadian Minister of Finance
(quoted in today’s @theglobeandmail.com)
“One thing I’ve learned over time is that you don’t need to comment on every single comment.”
François-Philippe Champagne,
Canadian Minister of Finance
(quoted in today’s @theglobeandmail.com)
January 25, 2026 at 4:54 AM
This is leadership communication wisdom:
“One thing I’ve learned over time is that you don’t need to comment on every single comment.”
François-Philippe Champagne,
Canadian Minister of Finance
(quoted in today’s @theglobeandmail.com)
“One thing I’ve learned over time is that you don’t need to comment on every single comment.”
François-Philippe Champagne,
Canadian Minister of Finance
(quoted in today’s @theglobeandmail.com)
Reposted by Bob Pickard
In search of new revenue streams, newsrooms are embracing prediction market companies as partners—an ethically dubious move that launders speculation as serious data journalism.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/polymarket...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/polymarket...
Legacy Media’s Risky Bet
In search of new revenue streams, newsrooms are embracing prediction market companies as partners—an ethically dubious move that launders speculation as serious data journalism.
www.status.news
January 24, 2026 at 4:17 PM
In search of new revenue streams, newsrooms are embracing prediction market companies as partners—an ethically dubious move that launders speculation as serious data journalism.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/polymarket...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/polymarket...
“Beckhams will have been working with the top communications experts across the world to build a media strategy and a retaliation plan.”
A “retaliation plan” for unthinking revenge?
“They will be spending at least $135,000 a month on rehabilitating their image.
The best image money can buy?
A “retaliation plan” for unthinking revenge?
“They will be spending at least $135,000 a month on rehabilitating their image.
The best image money can buy?
A public relations expert has revealed the four things the Beckhams will be doing now to salvage their image.
#VictoriaBeckham #DavidBeckham #celebrities #entertainment
#VictoriaBeckham #DavidBeckham #celebrities #entertainment
PR expert reveals what David and Victoria Beckham should do now
A public relations expert has revealed the four things the Beckhams will be doing now to salvage their image.
talker.news
January 24, 2026 at 2:30 AM
“Beckhams will have been working with the top communications experts across the world to build a media strategy and a retaliation plan.”
A “retaliation plan” for unthinking revenge?
“They will be spending at least $135,000 a month on rehabilitating their image.
The best image money can buy?
A “retaliation plan” for unthinking revenge?
“They will be spending at least $135,000 a month on rehabilitating their image.
The best image money can buy?
Happy to be back home. 🇨🇦
January 20, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Happy to be back home. 🇨🇦
Reposted by Bob Pickard
It’s that time of year. The zombie public relations stunt that simply won’t die. Blue Monday isn’t a thing, at all. It’s bullshit. Invented to help flog holiday bookings in January - that’s all it is. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Feeling low? Don't blame it on Blue Monday | Ben Goldacre
Ben Goldacre: Despite hype around the 'most depressing day in the year' there is no reason to believe people are more miserable in January
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:01 AM
It’s that time of year. The zombie public relations stunt that simply won’t die. Blue Monday isn’t a thing, at all. It’s bullshit. Invented to help flog holiday bookings in January - that’s all it is. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Golden Hour in the Golden State
January 17, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Golden Hour in the Golden State
It’s nowadays so rare to see morning newspapers in the hotel lobby.
January 16, 2026 at 5:34 PM
It’s nowadays so rare to see morning newspapers in the hotel lobby.
The illuminated vastness of SoCal at night never fails to impress.
January 15, 2026 at 6:03 AM
The illuminated vastness of SoCal at night never fails to impress.