This year’s Cannes Lions opened with high of 30 degrees, and the sense of expectation creeping over the beach front’s historic promenade. Bigger than ever, the annual festival of creativity is set to cover branding, communications and advertising in a style unique to the iconic French coastline. Communicate magazine, with the ICCO, is working to bring readers daily updates about the public relations representation at the 65th festival of creativity.

This year’s Cannes Lions opened with high of 30 degrees, and the sense of expectation creeping over the beach front’s historic promenade. Bigger than ever, the annual festival of creativity is set to cover branding, communications and advertising in a style unique to the iconic French coastline. Communicate magazine, with the ICCO, is working to bring readers daily updates about the public relations representation at the 65th festival of creativity.

Public relations is arguably one of the UK’s most important, but least understood, sectors. Rarely on the frontline, public relations practitioners can be found working behind the scenes to ensure the UK’s most vital services continue to function as normal, as well as rise up in the face of adversity. Wednesday night celebrated these unsung heroes at a ceremony in the heart of London.

On a mild May morning, following a walk through Leeds city centre and along the canal, delegates to last week’s #CommsHero event were greeted with a friendly smile, ‘swag bag’ and delectable views across the city. And so began the movement’s 14th event since it launched in 2014, a product of marketing communication firm Resource’s commitment to celebrating the heroics that communications professionals achieve every day.

The middle class in Latin America is larger than that of India and China combined. Benefitting from a heady combination of investment, industrial innovation and a rapidly growing young population, the region’s 19 countries are prime for change. This, says Ricardo Carioni, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Nicaragua to the UK and Ireland, and keynote speaker at the Maggie Nally Memorial Lecture 2018, is what drives the region’s growing contribution to global PR and communications. Here, he speaks exclusively to Communicate magazine.

Taking place in just over a month, the countdown to Cannes Lions has officially begun. From 18-22 June, the renowned location on the French Riviera will play host to the 65th annual Festival of Creativity, with organisations of all shapes, size and purpose attending to showcase their talents. Communicate takes a look at what attendees can expect so far.

British summers, though unpredictable, can be among the best in the Western hemisphere. Rolling green countryside, undulating blue coastline and endless parkland stretching across cities offers an escape for even the most urban of dwellers. That is, until hay fever strikes.

On 16 May, the Yorkshire city of Leeds hosts what should be the main event in the calendar of every #CommsHero. Taking place at the riverside location of The Studio Leeds, communicators, public relations practitioners and marketing professionals will come together to celebrate being a #CommsHero under the 2018 theme, ‘Heroic customer engagement.’.

The third book in the #FuturePRoof series was released today ahead of celebrations for the NHS’ 70th birthday. With contributions and unique case studies from healthcare communicators and public relations professionals, ‘#FuturePRoof Edition Three: the NHS at 70 with Lessons for the Wider PR Community’ highlights the pivotal role of communicators in delivering a positive future for the NHS.