John Carson

I've had a few conversations lately about whether or not the #communications industry should have a basic professional designation, one you can't legitimately practice in the industry without. After the Lindsay Shepherd incident in B.C. this week, where a government communications staffer wrote anti-Indigenous statements on their personal social media account, it does make me wonder if this idea of a professional designation driven by standards and ethics has merit, and how something like this incident would be treated. If any of my industry colleagues have thoughts on this, I'd love to hear it.

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My latest blog unpacks the insights from the Agency By Others 2025 growth report. The data puts the bigger is better growth myth to rest: big agencies aren’t the ones driving growth. Small. Specialist. Independent. Local. This is where public relations agencies are thriving and growing. ✅ Agencies with just three to ten employees now make up nearly half of all high-growth performers. ✅ Growth is surging outside London - in Wales, Scotland, and the North West. ✅ Clients are choosing specialists over generalists: think sustainability, marketplace, influencer, and data. ✅ A focused proposition sets top performers apart. It's a wake-up call and a confidence boost for the small but mighty independent sector that is quietly leading the way. https://lnkd.in/gMSQxda6

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Hudson’s Bay has received 17 bids in the court-supervised process called the Sales and Investment Solicitation Process, which aims to help the company find buyers or investors who could keep parts of Hudson’s Bay running and preserve the brand. https://lnkd.in/ggYQb256

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I am a former radio and TV news producer, writer, and assignment editor. Much of my approach to PR comes from more than 20 years working in some of Canada's largest newsrooms. I think about all the things I liked and didn't like about being pitched (and dare I say things I hated?). While I am slightly biased, I think former journalists bring so much to PR teams. When you are reaching out to journalists for coverage, who better to help fine-tune your approach and message than a former journalist? Former journalists have that insider look at the newsrooms you want to cover your story, business, event etc. Take advantage of that insight. It can pay off!

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Wellness in newsrooms is a passion of mine. I believe everyone deserves psychological safety, including cultural safety. This program is a good first step. Journalists and news professionals across Canada today are launching an industry-wide mental health support program to combat stress, burnout and trauma exposure. Twenty volunteers were trained this month and are now officially open for business to offer confidential colleague-to-colleague help through the Canadian News Industry Peer Support (CNIPS) program, a pilot initiative of the Canadian Association of Journalists. https://lnkd.in/gpMFAZbt

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Canada is facing a growing problem with bureaucratic red tape that is stifling innovation and efficiency, particularly in the realm of digital technologies. While it may not be the most glamorous issue, the need to overhaul and modernize our regulatory framework is urgent. Current regulations are outdated and often fail to account for the rapidly evolving nature of digital advancements, leaving businesses tangled in unnecessary or irrelevant compliance procedures. This not only hampers the agility of Canadian enterprises but also puts them at a disadvantage compared to their global counterparts. To remain competitive and foster innovation, Canada must embrace a comprehensive review and simplification of its regulatory processes. Streamlined, clear, and up-to-date rules would bolster the ability of businesses to innovate and respond to new challenges swiftly. It's time for policymakers to acknowledge the pressing need for an efficient regulatory overhaul if Canada hopes to thrive in an increasingly digital world. While it might not capture headlines in the same way as flashier political issues, the benefits of cutting through the red tape would be far-reaching for our economy and society. The latest from the Globe's business commentary, by Ryan Manucha, Colin Deacon:

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I’ve been watching the recent CRTC hearings on Canadian content in radio, and honestly…it feels like déjà vu. The same points get rolled out every time: ● CanCon quotas are too high. ● It makes us less competitive. ● The playing field isn’t fair anymore. ● Canadians already have unlimited choice. ● The radio industry is struggling. It’s the same song broadcasters have been singing for decades — and it’s not wrong. But here’s what I can’t shake: when I hear the questions from the Commission, I wonder if they’re actually listening to radio the way Canadians do. ● Do they spend eight hours in a truck with the radio on? ● Are they plumbers working a new site with rock blasting in the background? ● Parents driving kids from rink to rink, groceries in between? ● Cubicle warriors with a station on all day long? I doubt it. And that’s the problem. We just launched a Classic Rock station in Southwestern Ontario. First 100 days? The response has been unreal. But the biggest complaint/request we hear? "Don't play the Tragically Hip". Think about that. One of Canada’s most beloved bands — and listeners are turning on them. Not because they don’t love the Hip, but because they’re oversaturated. Why? Because quotas force stations to lean too heavily on a narrow catalogue. The result? The audience gets tired, the station gets punished, and even the band gets hurt. Everyone loses. It’s like trying to feed someone their favourite meal every night. Eventually, they don’t want it anymore. Not because the meal got worse — but because you stopped giving them a choice. That’s what outdated regulation does. And I’ll say this as someone who’s been in this business 30 years, who has built a radio group from scratch and spent two decades researching audiences: it's time for the commission to LISTEN to radio leaders for a change. BTW the one thing no one says but is also obvious - if they increase Canadian Content in any way - Canadian radio will die. Not because of the music - but because men and women like me - will leave. We'll go somewhere else to invest our dollars, time and creativity without ridiculous rules. Period. End of discussion.

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