Brendan Hodgson

November 20, 2026 In this week's edition (#166) coming to you a day early due to travel: why comms is misunderstood, RIP brand social, where AI is taking the newsroom, why personality beats precision, & much more...

A day early due to travel - but let's see how it performs on a Wednesday vs a Thursday.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/november-2...

Consulting Slop Consulting Slop is an AI-powered strategy generator that produces firm-grade strategic thinking tailored to your company. It models the reasoning styles of leading consulting firms to deliver sharp, d...

This is magnificent... "synergizing synergies. Aligning alignment..."

consultingslop.com

November 6, 2025 In this week's edition (#164): The state of creator journalism, Google & trust, the atrophying of expertise, why CEO's don't call the shots, countries with the best reputations, and much more...

A five-day breather with the family (crammed between two overnight flights... urgh) was still a necessary respite from a mad rush to the finish of 2025. So forgive the rushed effort, but there's still a few goodies in this week's 164th Miscellany. Enjoy! brendanhodgson.substack.com/publish/post...

October 30, 2025 In this week's edition (#163): the 2026 Relevance Report, everyone is a strategist, Sora and trust, marketing's next chapter, the Q3 Crisis Review, AI Assistants & news errors, and much more...

This week I'm participating in a fiction writing contest with a colleague who I'm sure is going to kick my @ss. But I'm glad to be doing more than doomscrolling. Of course, if you must use your screen, you could do worse than peruse this week's Miscellany. brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/october-30...

October 23, 2025 In this week's episode (#162): the post-naive internet era, brands & Reddit, the challenge of AI influencers, the best Insta content format, the next generation of AI news sites, and much more...

A little bit of humiliation to go with is week's 162nd edition of the Miscellany. I won't go into detail, but let's just say I need to spend a bit more time getting to know colleagues in the office. So with that lesson learned, let's crack on, shall we?

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/october-23...

October 16, 2025 In this week's jumbo edition (#161): AI's role in journalism, 2026 PR outlook, Antifragile comms strategies, the future of PR leadership, AI & the CCO, the era of compounding crisis, and much more...

This is a particularly good week for comms content, if I do say so myself. So much so that I've actually had to save some articles for the next edition. So do yourself a favour and carve out an hour or two and explore the 161st edition of the Miscellany.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/october-16...

October 9, 2025 In this week's edition: a smarter way to disagree, passing peak social media, how TikTok keeps scrollers scrolling, why context comes first, the creative cheatsheet, and much more...

Well, this has been one helluva week. Hoping now I can relax, catch up with other things, and perhaps even think more about this week's Miscellany which explores a smarter way to disagree, why context comes first, the creative cheatsheet, and much more.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/october-9-...

October 2, 2025 In this week's edition: Embarrassing yourself is the new big trend, the poisoning of trust, the Invisible Expert, how to be a Supercommunicator, the hard lesson for Disney, and much more...

The 159th edition of your trusted Miscellany wants to apologize for leaning heavily into crisis this week, but it seems there was a lot of it about. But we do also take a few detours, so not entirely bleak. I promise.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/october-2-...

September 25, 2025 In this week's edition: AI and corporate affairs, how people get misled, rise of the CEO voice, return to real and more marketing trends, why trust dies when headlines lie, and much more...

If you're finding this week's sporting rivalries all a bit too much (Go Europe!), a few hours with your faithful Miscellany where you can dig into everything new in communications might be the tonic you're looking for.
open.substack.com/pub/brendanh...

September 18, 2025 In this week's edition: the last days of social, the shift to "strategic silence", Trump the teacher, the best brands on social, dubious PR agencies, purpose & whether people care, and much more...

This week I discovered that using full stops in texts was deemed highly aggressive to Gen-Z's (who knew?). My response: I might start adding slammers (!!) just to annoy them. In that vein, I hope you find a few revelations in this week's Miscellany. Enjoy! brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/september-...

September 11, 2025 In this week's edition: advice from Wimbledon, the curious case of Margaux Blanchard, structures for content teams, managing personality-driven newsletters, and much more...

In this week's Miscellany, advice from Wimbledon, the curious case of Margaux Blanchard, structures for content teams, managing personality-driven newsletters, and much more... Go on, and get yer read on!

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/september-...

Words have impact:

September 4, 2025 In this week's edition: why measurement matters, how Trump's death rumour went viral, embargoes vs exclusives, rise of the MAHA mom-fluencers, say this not that, and much more...

I recently watched the second Happy Gilmour movie. It won't win awards, but it was comfort food of the highest order (with the bonus of Scotty Scheffler demonstrating some impressive acting chops). Very much needed, much like your weekly Miscellany.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/september-...

August 28, 2025 In this week's edition: READINESS & crisis management, the "Yes Advantage", AI slop & disinformation, the best AI tools for journalism, the end of the apology era, ChatGPT & shaming, and much more...

This week's edition of the Miscellany is celebrating becoming a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member. He's not yet sure what that means but at least he knows he'll get a fruit plate and maybe a bucket of beer.

Enjoy: brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/august-28-...

August 21, 2025 In this week's edition: A public speaking masterclass, crisis in the age of infinite content; the money behind bite-sized social media posts; the rationale for newsletters; and much more...

Writing to you this week from Dubai, your faithful curator of all things communications, PR and media is beginning to think he needs an assistant or at least guidance on how to better manage time. It's all getting a little spicy. Enjoy.

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/august-21-...

August 14, 2025 In this week's edition: the role of newsletters in PR, a fan-building masterclass, why workplace loyalty is dead, what hiring an OnlyFans star means for L'Oreal, the news from TikTok, and much more...

Oasis was this week's brainworm and I'm not even a fan (personally, I prefer the Stone Roses). But hey, that's culture for you. And it's one of the things we talk about in this week's edition of your trusted Miscellany. Enjoy!

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/august-14-...

August 7, 2025 In this week's edition: owning the room in the age of AI, clarity by substraction, genes, memes and manufactured dissent, the authority gap, when a company should speak out, and much more...

Cornwall was a welcome respite from endless sun but now we're focused on catching up with the latest communications trends, best practices, mishaps and misdemeanors and all other communications miscellany. In this 151st edition...

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/august-7-2...

July 17, 2025 In this week's edition: bridging the trust gap, corporate character, why no one is reading your press release, why spin is (obvs) the enemy of truth, why CEO's are turning to AI, and much more...

Well, that's the last time I hit publish from my phone. I only hope the quality of content masks the minor stylistic errors on this the 150th edition of your faithful Miscellany. Enjoy, and we'll see you in a few weeks. I clearly need a break!

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/july-17-2025

July 10, 2025 In this week's edition: Leaving reputation value on the table, planning a survey that makes news, the most effective way to reach employees, where people get their news, and much more...

Coming to you from the Eastern Province, today's edition of your trusted Miscellany explores why companies are leaving reputation value on the table, how to plan a survey that makes news, the most effective way to reach employees, and much more. Enjoy.
brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/july-10-2025

July 3, 2025 In this week's edition: faceless creators, Reddit's vow of 'humanity', Tesla's robotaxis and the media, the creativity dividend, Chanel's new magazine, AI-personalized news, and much more...

In this week's "Diddy goes to jail" edition of your trusted Miscellany: faceless creators, Reddit's vow of 'humanity', Tesla's robotaxis and the media, the creativity dividend, Chanel's new magazine, AI-personalized news, and much more...

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/july-3-2025

June 26, 2025 In this week's edition: how to spot "brand mission" BS, the death of the age of storytelling, Air India's CEO message backlash, more ads or better infrastructure? AI pollution, and much more...

Deep breath, everyone. We've (almost) survived another week. Let's celebrate with today's ceasefire edition which explores how to spot "brand mission" BS, the death of the age of storytelling, Air India's CEO message backlash, AI pollution, & much more... brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/june-26-2025

June 19, 2025 In this week's edition: 2025 digital news report, AI hallucinations & crisis, discovering earned attention, what execs don't want in a presentation, masters of outrage, AI browser wars, & much more...

Yes, it's all gone a bit pear-shaped this past week, and hopefully cooler heads will prevail (despite temperatures well above 40C). So in the spirit of optimism - and distraction - I give you this week's Miscellany chock full of communications-y goodness... brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/june-19-2025

June 12, 2025 In this week's edition: the state of the consumer, Pew's news media tracker, the reputation equation, how AI slop is warping metrics, zero-click searches, the UAE's new media law, and much more...

My wife dropped by Riyadh this past week so I'll beg forgiveness for the rush job that is today's Miscellany. In today's edition: the state of the consumer in 2025, Pew's news media tracker, the reputation equation, and much more. I'll do better next week. brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/june-12-2025

June 5, 2025 In this week's edition: reputation, risk & resilience in 2025, "insidious fear", the news platforms targeting young audiences, rebranding diversity, the biggest threat to reputation, and much more...

Eid is upon us, so let's not waste any time. In this week's Miscellany, we explore reputation, risk & resilience in 2025, "insidious fear", the news platforms targeting young audiences, rebranding diversity, the biggest threat to reputation, and much more... brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/june-5-2025

May 29, 2025 In this week's edition: 2025 reputation rankings, Google Veo upends AI video, tackling mis/disinformation, CEO transitions and corporate reputation, the risks of corporate rebrands, and much more...

Coming to you from Dubai where the humidity is dripping, this week's Miscellany ponders Harris' 2025 reputation rankings, explores how Google' Veo is upending AI video, and considers the impact of CEO transitions on corporate reputation, and much more... brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/may-29-2025

May 22, 2025 In this week's back-to-work edition: how to influence chatbots, Zuck's declaration of war on the ad industry, our crisis of truth, the corporate rebrand, PR's seat at the table , and much more...

Let's get back to work with our 142nd Miscellany which explores how to influence chatbots, Zuck's declaration of war on the ad industry, our crisis of truth, the corporate rebrand, PR's seat at the table , and much more... Enjoy!

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/may-22-2025

May 1, 2025 In this week's edition: Why social media is over, why media relations is dying, supercharging your crisis training, AI in comms, from the temple to the garden, and much more...

Having just landed on a beautiful day in sunny England, let's celebrate with a Miscellany that explores why social media is over, why media relations is dying, supercharging your crisis training, AI in comms, from the temple to the garden, and much more...

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/may-1-2025

April 24, 2025 In this week's edition: Every marketing channel sucks, why crisis preparedness is still so bad, media saturation, why AI company logos look like b*ttholes, how to influence POTUS, and much more...

In this week's "early voting" edition of the Miscellany: Every marketing channel sucks, why crisis preparedness is still so bad, media saturation, why AI company logos look like b*ttholes, how to influence POTUS, and much more... brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/april-24-2...

April 17, 2025 In this week's edition: the forces shaping the media landscape, digital media and AI trend reports for 2025, why we should speak slower, why we fall for fake news, "views" are lies, and much more...

This week's scrummy edition of the Miscellany leans heavily into the the forces shaping the media landscape, offers up the latest digital media and AI trend reports, suggests why we fall for fake news, explains why "views" are lies, and much more. Dig in! brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/april-17-2...

April 10, 2025 In this week's mega "catch-up" edition: It's chaos out there, marketing's "woke" rebrand, LinkedIn superusers, the cult of content, surviving the big "switch-off", the voice of Trump, and much more...

In this week's mega "catch-up after Eid" edition of the Miscellany: It's chaos out there, marketing's "woke" rebrand, LinkedIn superusers, the cult of content, surviving the big "switch-off", the voice of Trump, and much more...

brendanhodgson.substack.com/p/april-10-2...