#43 The Future of PR: Trust, Inclusion and Industry Unity with Sarah Waddington
Steve and Lou are joined by Sarah Waddington CBE, CEO of the PRCA, the world's largest professional body for PR, public affairs and communications. Sarah shares her vision for unifying the PR industry, from breaking down the divide between digital and traditional PR to tackling fake experts, class barriers and gender inequality. She also unpacks the PRCA's new definition of PR, reflects on her debate with Sir Martin Sorrell, and shares her honest take on what AI means for practitioners. 00:00 - Introduction / What is PR? 01:22 - The PRCA's Mission and 2026 Priorities 04:59 - How PRCA Membership Works 06:39 - Fake Experts and the Case for Industry Standards 10:48 - Bridging the Digital and Traditional PR Divide 14:42 - AI and the Future of Junior PRs 18:03 - Gender, Diversity and PR's Inclusion Problem 25:55 - Debating Sir Martin Sorrell and Redefining PR 36:03 - AI: Opportunity or Threat? 39:57 - The CBE 43:04 - Who's Exciting in PR Right Now? Check out the full transcript here. – About the Digital PR Podcast Hosted by our very own Heads of PR, Lou and Steve, we recorded our first episode of the Digital PR Podcast back in December 2022, and have had some fascinating conversations with movers and shakers from the PR industry in the UK and further afield, sharing their knowledge and experiences. To let us know about any topics you’d like us to cover or guests you’d like to see (maybe you’d like to be a guest yourself?) drop us a line at dprpodcast@propellernet.co.uk. If you’re really enjoying the show, make sure to rate the podcast 5 stars and leave us a review. The Digital PR Podcast is brought to you by Propellernet and sponsored by CoverageBook. You can also watch on YouTube as a video podcast. To check out our socials and other useful links click here.