Category: Corporate Communications

Below are some news items and blog posts relating to the Corporate Communications services provided by Mangold Consultancy.

Our aim is to help you assess, develop and create the right “tone-of-voice” for your corporate communications.

For details on the full range of services we provide, please visit the main Mangold Consultancy Services page.

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Tom Mangold has worked in media for 70+ years – what would you ask him?

Abby & Tom Mangold

This is my Dad, Tom Mangold.

  • He’s an award-winning journalist and author.
  • Reporter on circa 120 episodes on BBC Panorama.
  • He’s 90 and STILL working.
  • He cycles every day.
  • He continues to inspire me and our work at Mangold Consultancy.

If you asked him, he’d tell you I stole everything I know from him. I will neither confirm nor deny this.

I’m going to film interview content with Dad and share it online.

We tend to talk about:

  • the state of journalism and television
  • crisis communications
  • media interviews
  • “news” on Social Media
  • rubbish spokespeople

Watch this space for unique insight from someone who has worked in the media industry for more than 70 years!

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The bravery of those who speak out against appalling behaviour

ITV News uncovers multiple claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Gino D'Acampo

For the last couple of months I’ve been supporting a close friend as she worked with Sejal Karia and the team at ITV News to reveal the appalling behaviour of Gino D’Acampo.

Some of her friends and family told her not to take part, that it might ruin her career, that it was too risky. If I’m honest that was my initial reaction too.

But as we talked and reflected on the disgusting comment he made to her as she was trying to do her job in the early 10s, I realised that I needed to support my friend with whatever decision she made.

We need to stand with the people who are brave enough to call out these ‘celebrities/talent’ who think they can get away with behaving anyway they want.

And we need journalists and producers working tirelessly for months to gather the evidence to tell these stories, despite the constant threat of legal action if they publish anything.

Thank you to all the people brave enough to call out these perpetrators.

Reference image from ITV News report “ITV News uncovers multiple claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Gino D’Acampo“ February 2025

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What keeps you awake at night?

What keeps you awake at night. Photo by cottonbro studio at Pexels

It is never easy asking people this question when you meet for the first time.

But tasked with writing the crisis communications guidelines for new clients, we have to take the plunge, so we know early on where they could be exposed from a reputational perspective.

4 years on from asking one client this question, we are their retained crisis communications agency, available 24/7 responding to calls, and working with the whole team to test and reinforce their crisis communications protocols.

Tough questions = good results.

Photo by cottonbro studio at Pexels

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We all learn from mistakes

Learn from mistakes. Photo by Luis Cortes on Unsplash

So here are some errors in crisis communications that we’ve seen:

• A 9-5 mindset: Crisis management is round-the-clock. Use peacetime to prep and improve how you manage a crisis.

• Fear of asking the obvious: Who, what, when, where, why. If any of this is unclear then ask. Often other people have the same questions.

• Slow sign-off: The bigger the business the greater the challenge. To avoid approvals becoming a bottleneck, nominate who is signing off and stick to it!

• No clear crisis comm process: Without it, you’re playing catch-up and reacting rather than managing the situation.

Address these, and you’ll be better equipped to handle crises with confidence.

Photo by Luis Cortes on Unsplash

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What is retained crisis communications support?

What is retained crisis communications support? Photo Vlad Deep at Unsplash

Our team is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

We are hands-on in a crisis: using 20+ years in national journalism, global crisis communications and social media expertise.

AND, if you remain crisis-free we use your retainer to grow team resilience, since any time not used for actual live crises goes toward preparation.

You can choose from

• workshops to assess reputational risks
• crisis simulations to test your team and processes in a safe space
• media training on camera
• social media management to handle challenges online

Retained crisis communications support = knowing you and your team are prepared for the unexpected.

Photo Vlad Deep at Unsplash

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It’s 9pm on Saturday night, the phone rings, it’s work

It’s 9pm on Saturday night, the phone rings, it’s work

This can only mean one thing, bad news. Who do you call next?

In crisis management, timing is everything.

I well remember those late afternoon Friday calls to press offices, chasing a response to the story we were about to broadcast.

Everyone’s on the clock, press teams scramble to reply before the weekend, risking rushed comments and heightened media exposure.

But what if a crisis happens out of hours? Waiting until Monday morning is not an option.

That’s where retained crisis comms support comes in. It provides:

• 24/7 support to swiftly navigate crises and safeguard reputation

• Quicker decision making and strategy setting through established trusted relationships with senior leaders

• Proactivity to anticipate potential media scrutiny and the trajectory of the crisis

This is the unparalleled advantage of having a crisis comms agency on retainer.

Original photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

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The rain actually stopped!

Rain stopped play at Alexandra Palace and Park

We had a great day working with the team at Alexandra Palace and Park.

So lucky to have the chance to be in such an iconic British building, steeped in so much history.

Abby and Jess Mangold at Alexandra Palace and Park

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A critical friend

Critical Friend

A critical friend.

It’s the kind of friend, colleague and advisor I like to be.

It’s a balancing act advising CEOs when their business is under attack. Don’t say enough and you’re not worth the investment, push too hard and you can be seen as well….pushy.

So for me and Mangold Consultancy being a critical friend means being:
● straightforward by giving clear advice
● open and honest, even if it’s hard to hear
● invested in clients and their challenges, until issues are resolved

And when you look at it like that, it mirrors the relationships I have with friends too.

With special thanks to Ayesha Murray for being one of my very special and crucial critical friends.

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What we can all learn from tabloid journalists…

What we can learn from tabloid journalists

When I listen to tabloid journalists talk about their trade, it is clear how well they know their reader. Their instinct first and last is to ask questions and write articles that matter to their audience and are worth taking their precious time to read.

Understanding who you are writing for is rule number one, whether it is a front page splash or an open letter to customers apologising for a product failure.

In a crisis there are so many people you need to communicate with; employees, customers, suppliers, unions, partners, regulators, the media to name just a few.

The key is to keep the essence of the message the same but adapt it depending on the audience.

Let me give you an example:

You’ve had to recall your best selling product because some people say it doesn’t work. Your media statement and social posts will contain the same information but the tone they’re written in will be very different. There should be no hint of “corporate” when posting on social media so you need to work with the social team to get the tone the same as all the usual posts, whilst maintaining the overall message you are communicating to the media and others.

The key, particularly in crisis comms, is to assume everything you write will end up in the hands of the media or others who may want to scrutinise it, so consistency is everything. And you need to treat each stakeholder individually, understanding their needs, expectations and mind set and how you want them to feel before you start to explain to them what’s going on.

As with so much of our work at Mangold Consultancy there is loads of cross over between the skills we developed as journalists and those we now use in communications.

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What do we really offer?

Mangold Team Meeting

What do we actually offer?

That’s a big question that we explore often: what makes us and the business, Mangold Consultancy, different to any other crisis comms and media training consultancy?

We have many USPs but the two main ones are that we’re journalist-led and insight-driven.

Let me explain.

Journalist-led:

– With over 25 years of experience in journalism (BBC, national newspapers and regional media), social media, politics and communications, we provide unique insights into how the media works.

– We can identify and anticipate solutions to potential issues before they arise and bring a cynical journalist’s perspective to our work, always questioning communications to ensure credibility.

Insight-driven:

– Over the last decade, we’ve honed our approach based on client needs and the ever-evolving social and media landscape.

– Senior leaders find peace of mind knowing that we have faced challenging situations as both journalists and communications specialists.

– Our experience and resilience allow us to ask the tough questions necessary for complete crisis preparedness and management.

Why does this matter?
It’s a fact that no organisation is too big to get it wrong. Many of the largest ones miss the most obvious issues. Near misses and tragedies often stem from a weak culture or lack of prep.

That is why we put our all into preparation, covering every scenario to ensure our clients feel fully equipped and ready for any situation.

At Mangold Consultancy, we’re passionate about helping organisations communicate effectively and manage their reputations. Our insight-driven, journalist-led approach ensures our clients are always prepared, credible and resilient.

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Living through crises

Horse Meat Scandal

How do you live through crises?

You know, the ones in real-time, vivid colour, surround sound, no let up.

When I talk about living through crises, plural, I mean it. The horse meat scandal was one.

Back in 2013, relatively new to crisis communications, my brief was to support a client facing the force of media scrutiny, after processed beef products sold by UK supermarkets were found to contain horse meat.

Rooted to one room, the phone an extension of my ear, time dictated by challenging media calls, social media chatter and client needs – it was the most exceptional 10 days of my life.

I discovered:

  1. why asking ‘stupid questions’ always pays
  2. how to manage aggressive, demanding and well informed journalists
  3. the crisis peak is soon followed by reputational build back requiring equal if not greater resilience.

If you want to talk lived crisis experience, please give me a shout.

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How to make someone really stop and listen

How to make someone stop and listen

How do you make people stop and listen?

After years spent preparing for interviews, both asking and answering questions. And even more following the big news interviews, I wanted to summarise what makes me really listen:

1. Paint me a picture – literally. Use language with colour, imagery and stories to help me make an emotional connection with what you are talking about.

2. Vocal power. Use your tone of voice, pauses and stress on critical words, to make it feel like you’re talking directly to me.

3. Hold my hand. Lead me through what you’re saying by keeping it simple, impactful and ultimately memorable.

Image credit: Magda Ehlers

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I hate doing video…

I hate doing video
  • I hate listening to my own voice.
  • I hate having to watch it back.

And I know lots of people feel exactly the same way.

Given that I train others how to speak on camera I’ve forced myself to take my own medicine and now – I’m actually starting to enjoy it, a little!

Here’s what I’ve learnt and what you need to know…

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Get comfortable with your sound bites

You've got no idea what you're bloody talking about!

When it comes to media training, we often see our clients fighting to convert wordy corporate messages into convincing sound bites.

So how do you get comfortable with what you’re saying?

Practice with the corporate message, a bit, and then abandon it and practice saying it like you’re talking to a friend.

Remember why you’re doing the interview – to promote, rebut or disrupt – keep a laser focus on your why, through every twist and turn of the interview.

Finally don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. Not like a parrot, but by using examples to explain your points in different ways.

Contact me if you’d like any more media training tips.

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We train award winners!

Betsy the Dog - Award Winner

🤗 Huge congratulations to our 4 fabulous clients recognised as inspiring industry leaders. Well-earned, richly deserved.

👀 Discretion prevents a public shout-out, but you know who you are!

For clients on the journey to awards, our media training is still a win – why?

💭 Reconciling opposing views in the office

👊 Confidence to answer difficult questions in front of an audience

⚖ Diplomacy to find centre ground in a professional stand-off

🏋‍♂️ Clarity to sell strengths in a VIP meeting

👉 Media training is a recipe for success in these situations and more.

🐶 Thanks to Betsy for wearing her award with such good grace.