In this episode of the Public Affair Trends Podcast, host interviews Max Fose, President and CEO of Fose + McKay, a national marketing and public affairs agency.

Max shares insights from his 26-year career, discussing how the fundamentals of communication—his '3 C's' of creative, consistent content—remain crucial despite radical shifts in delivery platforms, from email to social media and AI.

He emphasizes the increased value of agencies understanding diverse disciplines like marketing, voter data, and media, highlighting the fast-paced nature of political campaigns.

Fose also explores the challenges and opportunities presented by fragmented media, the rise of influencer marketing, and the role of data and AI in tailoring messages, while stressing the paramount importance of credibility in an era of instant content generation and potential misinformation.

He also offers advice to younger practitioners on gaining experience and building a long-term, trusted reputation in public affairs.

This episode features Nicole Schlinger, founder and president of Campaign HQ, discussing the evolution of public affairs. She emphasizes the diminishing impact of traditional, top-down communication strategies in the current climate of declining trust and rising misinformation, especially on hyperlocal issues like data center development.

Schlinger advocates for identifying supporters and persuadable audiences earlier, leveraging human-to-human interaction through tools like telephone town halls, live calls, and texting to engage effectively, facilitate respectful dialogue, and understand authentic public opinion, proving that direct human connection remains vital amidst digital saturation and increasing polarization.

In October's First Friday edition of Public Affairs Trends, host Neil Hughes revisits conversations with Katie Harbath, Gerry Gunster, and Megan Bloomgren. Their insights explore preparing for difficult decisions, understanding the people behind the data, and building credible coalitions. Together, they highlight why listening, trust, and sound judgment remain essential as technology changes how public affairs professionals work.

Neil also covers Zack Laven's promotion to principal at Fulcrum, new Public Affairs Council research showing widespread AI adoption but limited formal measurement, and a Virginia experiment testing text messaging alongside door-to-door canvassing. The episode examines a shared challenge across these stories: determining whether new tools and increased activity produce meaningful results.