PR: our pick of the best reads from the last month

With the General Election, a seemingly endless string of brand crises and interesting sector developments, it’s been a busy month for the Public Relations industry. Here’s our pick of some of the best reads from the last month, to help you get up to speed with all things PR.

Spinners, secondees and speechwriters: the people behind the General Election campaign – PR Week
A great overview for anyone with an interest in what is going on behind the scenes at Westminster – real life The Thick Of It!

CIPR welcomes AMEC initiative and pledges AVE ban - CIPR
The CIPR has announced a ban on the use of AVEs by its members, news which has been met with both support and cynicism from across the industry.

Marketers plan to increase PR spending over the next 5 years, according to new report – Ad Week
In what is a positive sign for the PR industry, new research shows that 62% of marketers plan to increase their investment in public relations – in part fuelled by the rise in digital communications.

Strategy for strategic communications? Why it matters – PR Week
Whilst a lot of PR briefs today still focus on delivery, this article by a Professor of PR ethics argues for PR to become part of a business’ strategic management function.

Stop running from the truth: Justin Trudeau is playing us with his PR stunts – Guardian
In a world with few widely-accepted political ‘heroes’, Justin Trudeau stands out. This article is a cynical take on how he is using PR to generate positive headlines around the world and distract from issues at home.