Episode Details

How do you manage the narrative when the stakes aren't just sales, but public safety and trust? In this episode of PR in the Real World, we go inside the "pressure cooker" of blue-light comms with Liz Riding, Head of Media and Engagement for Lancashire Constabulary.

Liz Riding has spent 28 years navigating the most demanding comms environment imaginable. From managing the fallout of 30 murder inquiries in a single year to the unprecedented social media storm of the Nicola Bulley case, Liz shares what it’s really like to be at the centre of a national crisis. We explore the shift from traditional journalism to the era of "citizen journalism" and the challenges of triaging 38,000 social media comments in just three weeks.

Beyond the tactics, this is a deeply human episode about the weight of public service. Liz speaks with extraordinary honesty about her own experience with workplace stress and the "vulnerability" required to lead a team through trauma. She explains why she chose to be open about her mental health to build a more resilient culture and why, despite the intensity, she still considers her job a privilege.

From a PR and communications perspective, this episode covers:

• The "Trust and Confidence" Metric: Why public sector PR prioritises reassurance over the bottom line and how to measure the intangible.
• Hyperlocal vs. National Comms: Cutting through "national noise" (and international misinformation) by focusing on community-led, targeted messaging.
• The Nicola Bulley Case Study: Lessons learned from managing a viral social media narrative that outpaces traditional media.
• Tackling Disinformation: The reality of triaging 38,000+ comments to find policing value amidst bots, conspiracy theorists, and "citizen journalists."
• The Evolution of Media Relations: How the Leveson Inquiry changed the "off the record" culture and the push to rebuild trust with reporters.
• Leading with Resilience: Why Liz chose to be visible in her own mental health journey to empower her team to do the same.

We discuss "Op Centurion" - a proactive campaign tackling antisocial behaviour, and how Lancashire Police uses social media to find over 70 high-risk missing people every year. Liz also shares her experience "speaking truth to power" as police staff in a rank-heavy organisation and why she transitioned from a front-counter role at Clitheroe to a senior leadership position.

This episode is relevant for professionals working in:

• Public Sector & Crisis Comms: Anyone managing reputation in high-consequence environments.
• Social Media Managers: Dealing with high-volume moderation, bots, and viral misinformation.
• PR Leaders: Interested in building team resilience, mental health awareness, and "vulnerable" leadership.
• Journalists & Students: Seeking to understand the complex relationship between the press and the police.

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