Earned First

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Longform Stories

Leadership lacks credibility in GEO era, Burson study finds

Research shows that corporate brands and leaders can be highly visible in AI-generated answers yet completely fail to win audience trust for lack of proof.

1d ago·1 min read·172 words

Ex-Sodali leaders establish capital markets advisory firm

Alleato opens with 35 people across three Australian cities, including the acquisition of design agency Rifle Media.

1d ago·1 min read·128 words

Jonty Summers to depart Hanover Middle East

Samantha Gregson Donnelly has taken over as MD of Hanover Middle East.

3d ago·1 min read·92 words

Of cockroaches & credibility🪳

India's Cockroach Janta Party has 22 million Instagram followers, no formal ideology, and many lessons for communicators paying attention to the power of frustrated youth.

3d ago·2 min read·241 words

KKR expands A-P comms team with new appointments

KKR's latest senior addition is Jinal Parekh as assistant VP in Mumbai.

4d ago·1 min read·98 words

Cheering at the wake

Earned media is back, they say, but earned from what, and paid for by whom?

4d ago·1 min read·174 words

The hard road from disruptor to respected sports brand

The Enhanced Games and LIV Golf are two sporting properties with a shared challenge: getting attention and earning legitimacy are entirely different games.

May 27·2 min read·272 words

Introducing Earned First's Workplace Monitor

Our new research programme will offer a comprehensive assessment of employee sentiment and satisfaction at both PR agencies and in-house departments across Asia-Pacific.

May 27·2 min read·399 words

Vector rethinks global push as founder loses control

Japan's biggest PR firm had ambitious plans to overtake Edelman atop the global rankings, but a debt crisis has put an unconventional entrepreneur/entertainer in charge.

May 21·2 min read·249 words

Podcast: Holding groups, CMOs & Cannes with Charlotte Mceleny

Industry journalist Charlotte Mceleny joins the podcast to discuss pressing questions at a time of significant marcomms disruption.

May 21·1 min read·126 words

Omnicom PR names Joanne Wong as Asia-Pacific CEO

New international structure installs OPR leads at regional and local levels, displacing several existing senior roles at Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHillard and Golin.

May 20·1 min read·131 words

Enter Now: Asia-Pacific Consultancy Performance Index 2026 🌏

Submissions are now open for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Consultancy Performance Index, our data-driven benchmark that recognises PR consultancies across a range of key industry metrics.

May 18·2 min read·336 words

Japan's SSU to integrate with entertainment firm Akatsuki

New entity will combine creative PR and IP management, while privatising the country's second-biggest PR firm.

May 15·1 min read·97 words

Weber Shandwick names new CEO

Karen Pugliese will become Weber Shandwick's new CEO upon Susan Howe's retirement in September.

May 14·1 min read·98 words

AI CEO avatars are inevitable

Corporate reputation experts, say hi to simulacra.

May 14·1 min read·12 words

Podcast: Mazen Nahawi on conflict, communications and courage in the Middle East

The CARMA CEO on why Gulf nations risk losing the narrative war, and what non-Western holding groups bring to global communications.

May 8·1 min read·33 words

Clarity is the differentiator | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — Louise Mezzina explores why integration and cultural insight matter more than structure or scale.

May 6·1 min read·37 words

Treat AI as another channel at your peril

The real question facing PR is not how quickly we can master AI visibility but whether we are willing to break a decades-long cycle and finally use the tools at our disposal to do something far more v…

May 6·1 min read·46 words

Roundtable: The Narrative Crisis

Earned First and Zeno convened in-house comms leaders in Singapore to examine what it means to lead communications when narratives move faster than organisations can respond.

May 1·1 min read·30 words

The mighty status quo

Asia-Pacific emerges as the strongest advocate for reinventing corporate affairs, even as the function struggles to account for the risks ahead.

Apr 30·1 min read·25 words

Podcast: AI and the future of women in the workplace

Nineby9's Christine Fellowes and Ashbury's Jane Morgan on what the data shows about AI's uneven impact on women in the workplace.

Apr 26·1 min read·31 words

Vero acquires majority stake in SEA's Mad Hat Asia

Deal takes Vero's fee income to $13.5m and deepens its integration of corporate and public affairs with cultural intelligence across the region.

Apr 23·1 min read·31 words

When signals fade

As politicians lean into vice, business leaders are seeking quietude

Apr 22·1 min read·13 words

Presence without performance: Gulf internal comms study

Nine in ten Gulf organisations have an internal communications function, but fewer than one in three think it actually works.

Apr 22·1 min read·27 words

PR isn't dead. It just keeps getting mistaken for marketing

The industry should probably read Sir Martin Sorrell's premature obituary for PR as a warning shot. Keep selling channels, and the channels will eat you.

Apr 22·1 min read·35 words

Ashbury adds senior talent in Asia and Middle East

This week's newsletter features Ashbury's hires of Jane Morgan and Saima Farooqi, while also examining Burson's potential sale, and much more.

Apr 15·1 min read·30 words

Podcast: QI Group's Ramya Chandrasekaran on AI, culture & the evolving role of the CCO

Ramya Chandrasekaran on embedding AI, navigating geopolitics across 17-plus markets, and why comms leaders need to get close to the lawyers.

Apr 14·1 min read·36 words

Introducing the Earned First Awards

Across the profession, awards have multiplied. Recognition for serious communications work hasn’t.

Apr 14·1 min read·17 words

No ordinary sale

WPP's heavily-trailed decision to sell Burson marks another watershed for the public relations sector.

Apr 13·1 min read·17 words

Notes from the AI front lines

The pace of change can appear breathtaking, but the PR industry's adoption of AI is likely to be rather more uneven than it might first appear.

Apr 9·1 min read·32 words

When data isn't enough | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — Doy Roque explores the impact and limits of data-driven communications in the age of AI.

Apr 7·1 min read·38 words

FGS Global expands Asian PA offering with ex-Global Counsel hires

The KKR-owned consultancy has recruited several former Global Counsel executives in Singapore, where it is also installing new leadership.

Apr 1·1 min read·29 words

Podcast: Mary Njoki on PR transformation in Africa

Glass House PR founder and CEO Mary Njoki joins the Earned First podcast from Nairobi to explore the trajectory of public relations in Africa.

Apr 1·1 min read·32 words

Last chance: Help define how public relations is changing

There's still time to participate in the new PR2030 study on how the function must transform, led by Earned First, IPR and Ruder Finn Asia.

Mar 31·1 min read·34 words

New advisory collective takes on Japan Inc's ASEAN challenge

Adding to the global unbundling trend, PR Collective Asia aims to cater to demand for speed, flexibility, and separation of strategy and execution.

Mar 30·1 min read·32 words

All aboard the multipolar express

Multipolar momentum should expand possibilities for communicators. Instead, rising insularity is testing their ability to connect beyond comfort zones.

Mar 26·1 min read·24 words

Beyond 'business as usual'

As the Gulf conflict drags on, internal communicators must manage employee sensitivities while again making the case for their sustained relevance.

Mar 19·1 min read·25 words

Five ethics blind spots that could undermine PR's AI future

The global PR profession has produced substantial AI ethics guidance. A close reading reveals five gaps that still need to be addressed.

Mar 18·1 min read·32 words

SEC Newgate launches in Japan

Ex-Teneo MD joins to help firm support Japanese and international clients amid corporate and geopolitical upheaval.

Mar 17·1 min read·21 words

Upbeat media coverage of AI outpaces public opinion

New research by CARMA into perceptions of AI highlights distinct attitudes to opportunity and risk, as well as potential for a new communications approach.

Mar 17·1 min read·32 words

Enter Now: Africa Consultancy Performance Index 🌍

Submissions are now open for the inaugural Africa Consultancy Performance Index, our data-driven benchmark that recognises PR consultancies across a range of key industry metrics.

Mar 16·1 min read·32 words

Podcast: Margaret Key on why she left Publicis & what comes next for PR networks🎙️

After recently joining Stagwell, Margaret Key joins the Earned First podcast to talk holding group disruption and much more.

Mar 14·1 min read·34 words

Alex Malouf launches MENA comms consultancy

Narrative Shapers focuses on international engagement across KSA and the wider Gulf region.

Mar 13·1 min read·19 words

Keeping up with China Inc's global ambitions

Long-awaited overseas expansion creates new opportunity for communicators, but will test the fitness of global and local agency models alike.

Mar 12·1 min read·27 words

How independents scale | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — James Brasher discusses how resilient independent agencies grow without losing what made them worth acqu…

Mar 10·1 min read·37 words

State of PR in Africa: AI usage soars amid concerns

Glass House PR's 2026 report reveals near-universal AI adoption in African PR, alongside growing unease about authenticity, platform risk and an education system struggling to keep pace.

Mar 10·1 min read·37 words

When stability is the brand 🏙️

For countries that have built their reputations on predictability and openness, conflict can be an uncomfortable communications test.

Mar 5·1 min read·24 words

PR 2030: Help define how public relations is changing

Senior communicators are invited to take part in a new APACMEA study on how the function must transform, led by Earned First, IPR and Ruder Finn Asia.

Mar 3·1 min read·36 words

Political comms gets personal in Japan 🇯🇵

Sanae Takaichi’s rise illustrates how personality, tone and shareability have become as important as policy detail, normalising populist strategies in politics and beyond.

Feb 27·1 min read·30 words

Podcast: Gil Bashe on healing the healthcare system 🎙️

Finn Partners chair of health and purpose Gil Bashe joins the Earned First podcast to discuss the healthcare sector's trust crisis.

Feb 22·1 min read·30 words

Making sense of mergers 🧩

Agency mergers are no longer a novelty in PR, but familiarity has not made their outcomes any more predictable in a sector where culture and talent remain crucial.

Feb 20·1 min read·33 words

Communications in 2026: fewer shortcuts, higher stakes

Five changes shaping how organisations speak, position and earn trust in a more brittle global environment.

Feb 18·1 min read·23 words

Podcast: One Plus One's Kelly Bennett 🎙️

New Zealand PR firm founder Kelly Bennett joins the Earned First podcast to discuss PR talent, independence and life after Omnicom.

Feb 17·1 min read·28 words

OPR's umbrella takes shape ☂️

By merging Golin and Ketchum and integrating Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard, Omnicom Public Relations is seeking to simplify the largest PR group ever assembled, as client needs become more comp…

Feb 12·1 min read·35 words

MENAT Consultancy Performance Index: Scorecards & analysis

Full scorecards and analysis from Earned First’s 2026 Middle East Consultancy Performance Index, benchmarking PR firms across business, creativity, innovation and culture to identify the region’s top-…

Feb 11·1 min read·35 words

Indian agency collective expands with On Purpose investment

Zach James and Rishi Seth have made a significant investment in Girish Balachandran's On Purpose, adding the firm to an emerging Indian collective alongside The PRactice.

Feb 10·1 min read·34 words

Podcast: PRAXIS MENA review with Iman Issa

North Seventy Five co-founder Iman Issa joins the Earned First podcast to discuss the key ideas and themes that shaped the inaugural PRAXIS MENA summit in Abu Dhabi.

Feb 9·1 min read·35 words

From power brokers to bit players

Neo-mercantilism is rewriting the rules of corporate influence

Feb 8·1 min read·14 words

Momentum brings responsibility ⚖️

At PRAXIS MENA in Abu Dhabi, senior communicators argued that rapid growth and confidence across the region must now be matched by courage, cultural intelligence and a sharper focus on tangible impact…

Feb 6·1 min read·36 words

Why communicators must shape decisions | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — Madan Bahal explains why strategic depth and judgment matter more than scale or service sprawl.

Feb 6·1 min read·39 words

PRAXIS MENA: Trust in healthcare is no longer institutional

Healthcare leaders described a future in which trust, information and decision-making increasingly sit with the individual.

Feb 6·1 min read·25 words

PRAXIS MENA: Why brands can’t buy relevance

Brand and agency leaders argued that relevance cannot be bought through spend or scale alone, pointing instead to culture, consistency and earned trust as the real drivers of attention.

Feb 6·1 min read·36 words

Emily Poon named CEO at Singapore Institute of Directors

Emily Poon takes on leadership role after departing Ogilvy PR last year.

Feb 6·1 min read·21 words

Atul Sharma joins Value 360 as CEO

Atul Sharma arrives at Indian independent after recently departing Ruder Finn.

Feb 5·1 min read·18 words

PRAXIS MENA: CCO role recalibrates as strategy, data & judgement converge

Mubadala CCO Brian Lott and former UK government communications chief Alex Aiken highlighted how communications leadership is evolving toward greater visibility, judgement and strategic responsibility…

Feb 5·1 min read·36 words

PRAXIS MENA: Context and earned trust vital to strengthening UAE reputation

Despite a broadly positive perception, the country must find a way to combat "conspiracy theories" and win over neutral observers around the world.

Feb 4·1 min read·34 words

PR 2030: Examining how public relations must transform across APACMEA

Industry leaders are invited to take part in a new study on how communications is evolving across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, led by Earned First, IPR and Ruder Finn Asia.

Jan 29·1 min read·42 words

38 years of reinvention | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — Andreas Fischer-Appelt reflects on nearly four decades of change in communications, and what constant re…

Jan 5·1 min read·42 words

Australia’s creative and purpose frontier | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — Icon Agency’s Joanne Painter explores how global work, earned-first creativity and rapid AI adoption are…

Dec 5·1 min read·44 words

Asia’s independent PR evolution | Partner Content

In this edition of Independents’ Day — Earned First’s monthly series in partnership with PROI — SPRG founder and chairman Richard Tsang reflects on three decades of transformation in Asian communicati…

Nov 4·1 min read·38 words

Why communication makes or breaks transformation | Partner Content

In the latest instalment of Independents’ Day — sponsored by PROI — we explore findings from the network's Transformation Readiness Index, which reveals why communication is often the decisive factor …

Oct 3·1 min read·46 words

PROI's lessons from 55 years of independence | Partner Content

Independents' Day is a new monthly column sponsored by PROI, in which Earned First talks to independent PR firms from across the globe.

Sep 3·1 min read·33 words