In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit recent essays from Craig and Steve on corporate communications, media scrutiny, and the strategic role of the comms function. Craig breaks down his argument that many communications teams are doing valuable work in the wrong order, adding tools, reports, and activity before clearing out low-value work and building repeatable strategic access. Steve then pushes into the risks of bypassing the press, the value of editorial scrutiny, and why Pope Leo’s communication style offers a timely lesson in speed, authenticity, and disciplined message control. For PR and corporate reputation professionals, the episode is a sharp reminder that credibility depends on sequence, scrutiny, and sustained alignment between what an organization says and what it can actually support.

Takeaways

Communications teams cannot earn strategic influence by simply adding more dashboards, reports, tools, or meetings.
The real opportunity is moving from high effort and low impact toward work that creates judgment, access, and organizational influence.
Boeing shows the risk of a widening gap between public claims and operating reality, especially when communications enters only after the crisis forms.

Episode Hashtags
#ProvokeMedia #Boeing #AlaskaAirlines #Shell #Greenpeace #Axios #Meta #DoorDash #GameStop #CNBC #Pfizer #Amazon #Wirecutter #NewYorkTimes #RealMadrid #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CorporateAffairs #MediaRelations #CrisisCommunication #ReputationManagement #StakeholderEngagement #LeadershipCommunication #StrategicCommunications #MediaScrutiny #GoDirect #PopeLeo #VaticanCommunications #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced in partnership with Advocast and Shawn P Neal.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com