Trust is on life support. People are tuning out. Tech is speeding up. Noise is everywhere. So how can government communicators break through?

In this powerhouse episode of GovComms, host David Pembroke is joined by Ros Weadman – strategic communication expert, author, and driving force behind the Elevate Local Government Communications Summit 2025 – to unpack what it really takes to cut through and connect in today’s chaotic communication landscape.

Ros doesn’t pull punches. With four decades in the game, she makes it clear: the old ways of pushing messages just won’t cut it. It's time to ditch the jargon, lead with heart, and communicate with courage.

This is more than an episode—it’s a call to arms for public sector communicators who want to build trust, lead with purpose, and transform how government speaks to the people it serves.

Discussed in this episode:

• How to ditch “message selling” and embrace bold, emotional storytelling
• The real reason people feel disconnected—and how to bring them back
• How to paint a vision people can believe in (and see themselves in)
• What’s broken in community engagement—and how to fix it
• Why communicators must stop hiding behind process and step up as leaders

Show notes:

• Elevate Local Government Communication Summit | GOVCOMM
• Evaluation Framework for Strategic Communication | PRIA
• Blog | GovComms Podcast

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