What do bushfires, TikTok, and police comms have in common?

For Kendall Masters, they’ve each shaped a sharp, no-nonsense approach to government communication.

In this episode, she joins David Pembroke to unpack what it really takes to build trust, cut through the noise, and connect with the public — especially when time and attention are in short supply.

Kendall shares lessons in agility, authenticity, and strategic clarity, from rolling out TikTok with Victoria Police to managing emergency comms during the 2019–20 bushfires and COVID-19. They explore the limits of video, the myth of reach-for-the-sake-of-it, and why good reporting is about more than numbers — it’s about telling the right story to the right people.

Discussed in this episode:

Moving from traditional media to digital-first comms
Lessons from bushfire and COVID-19 emergency response
When video works — and when it doesn’t
Launching TikTok with Victoria Police
Ditching vanity metrics for meaningful reporting
Building skilled, strategic comms teams

Show notes:

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