Jeremy Tunis

ngl: I’m excited about Johnson & Johnson’s new Center for U.S. Healthcare Policy Research, which is designed as a home for all the evidence-based policy analysis, original research, issue briefs, and the like that the company has been pushing out for the past decade. I’m excited for two reasons. First, it’s good to see pharmaceutical companies driving their own research agenda. The reality is that companies that are deeply embedded in the system tend to know the right questions to ask, because it’s informed by day-to-day business realities. That doesn’t give industry a particular monopoly on the truth, but it allows for a different set of perspectives, and perspectives that don’t necessarily get shared. Second, it’s good to see companies talking about policy research out loud. A lot of times, pharma policy arguments are made by proxy. But there is something direct and credible when those arguments are attached to a specific organization. It doesn't mean that they're going to win every policy debate, but it's good to have them in the arena. https://lnkd.in/dpS6aFne

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You can’t overcommunicate with a communicator.* One reason former reporters make exceptional communications professionals is we know how to ask questions in order to pull the answers we need from leaders and we know what questions to ask because we instinctively know what the public expects. Will there be times when not every question can be answered immediately? Of course. But giving comms pros access to information that can’t yet be shared still helps them strategize. Having the big picture helps the planning process. If your communicator is too intimidated to ask questions, that’s a problem that needs addressing. If your communicator isn’t trusted, same. Are they not trusted for valid reasons? Or not liked because they press hard for information? Two different scenarios. Leaders, encourage those who surround you to share information. Yes, info is power, and that’s the point. Your communicators hold the power, in part, to your reputation. Arm them with information. *One example where this does not hold true is during a crisis. Please don’t inundate us with minituea, rather follow the BLUF method. (Bottom Line Up Front) Communicators will always ask for more details if they need it. Trust me on this.

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Mixing Board, powered by Axios conference yesterday was a masterclass in modern communications. It was part comms therapy session, part strategy lab, and part adrenaline rush for those of us who thrive in the chaos of a breaking story. A few standout takeaways from a packed agenda that left my brain buzzing and my comms heart full: Slow down to move fast. Real-time crisis simulations reinforced that calm is a communicator’s superpower. Taking a breath before the next move often determines whether you lead or react. And turn a crisis into a campaign. The Space Comms Playbook. The “women-in-space” storytelling session was a masterclass in orchestrating a macro story while choreographing individual narratives — webcast, video, astro-comms and all. A reminder that the best launches are about the people making it possible, not just the one funding it. Lauryn & Michael Bosstick on building beyond your lane. The most successful creators don’t just sell, they explain why it matters. Attention is the new currency, but authenticity is what makes it valuable. Podcasts are the new talk shows, and founders who can connect mission to meaning on the mic win long-term loyalty. (I am an OG of The Skinny Confidential Dear Media community, so I was beyond excited to hear from them.) AI and agility. From Grammarly to Lindsay McCallum Rémy @ OpenAI, communicators are harnessing AI to streamline workflows and pressure-test messaging but never at the cost of human judgment. It should make us smarter, not smaller. Comms leaders are the “emotional shock absorbers.” Jennifer Rankin Byrne comments hit hard, comms leaders often absorb, interpret, and manage an organization’s emotional undercurrent. We’re not just messengers, we’re meaning-makers.  My POV: This the unseen work and tax of our work. We have to be strong and clear minded in chaos. Pointing the direction forward and reminding everyone it will be fine… just trust me. Community is the new commerce. Allison Ellsworth reminded us that building authentic community isn’t a campaign, it’s a calling. The best brands move at the speed of culture and stay anchored in creativity and authenticity. Cristin Culver insightfully shared that in this attention economy, you can’t afford to play it too safe — don’t be afraid to be controversial. Standing out often means having a clear, bold point of view. And a huge shout-out to Eleanor Hawkins for curating such an insightful day and for her conversation with Dan Bartlett that perfectly captured where comms is headed next: more EQ, more courage, more clarity. Whether you’re in the trenches of crisis or mapping out a long-term brand story, the message was clear: Be proactive, be human, and walk toward the open doors.

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🚨 $5M in AI Grant Funding Now Open! The Public Benefit Innovation Fund (PBIF) is offering non-dilutive grants of $500K–$2M to support AI-enabled solutions for U.S. public benefit programs like Medicaid and SNAP. They're looking for bold, scalable projects that: ✅ Reduce admin burden ✅ Improve eligibility + access ✅ Tackle backlogs ✅ Streamline verification ✅ Boost communication and equity 💡 Open to nonprofits, gov agencies, startups, and research teams 🗓 Deadline: August 16, 2025 Selected projects join a supportive cohort for expert coaching, peer learning & visibility with policymakers. Apply now 👉 Link in the comments section Questions? contact: info@publicbenefitinnofationfund.org

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This is a no-duh, but it has to be said. I'm attending a conference POSSIBLE where everything is about AI and its utility and ubiquity. Get it. Love it. I'm a big user. Healthcare was not a big focus at the meeting. That said... AI is changing the game in healthcare by analyzing huge amounts of data in seconds, spotting patterns that can lead to earlier diagnoses, personalized treatments, and better disease prevention. I recently listened to a panel discussion about breast cancer screening (not at the conference I'm at today, BTW). Researchers combined infrared imaging, AI, numerical simulation, and good old-fashioned doctor-led radiology to improve cancer cell detection. That's the kind of tech team-up we want to see, especially in pervasive chronic diseases. Comma but. AI is only as smart - and unbiased - as the data it’s trained on. And historically, that data has left large swaths of people out of the equation or included inaccurate information. For example, patients have been misdiagnosed by dermatology AI that wasn’t trained on darker skin. Heart disease risk assessments often underestimate danger for certain people. And those little green lights on smartwatches? They struggle to read vital signs on darker skin tones. AI can’t solve health inequity. People can. The human touch is not going away anytime soon. Yes, we need regulation. Yes, we need audits and ethical oversight. But we also need intentionality and accuracy. If we don’t design healthcare AI to be inclusive from the start, we’re not advancing medicine, we’re just automating and expanding medical inaccuracies - more efficiently.

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Someone asked me today if I think AI will be the death of the Comms job. Here’s what I think… AI can be a powerful accelerator in a communications role, especially if you're the kind of person who operates at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and influence. I see AI not as a replacement, but as a multiplier. I think it’s in how you incorporate it into your work. For example, it’s great at narrative intelligence and sentiment monitoring. You can use AI-powered tools to track how a brand and its leadership are perceived across media, investor channels, and employee platforms. It’s also great for real-time sentiment analysis and can flag reputational risks early and bring forward emerging themes that shape proactive messaging. AI is also good for optimizing your voice. It can analyze tone, cadence, and audience response to your communications—helping refine your future writing. It’s also incredibly useful in crisis planning. AI can model reputational impact across different crisis scenarios—helping prepare messaging frameworks and response protocols. It can even predict how people might react to sensitive announcements or organizational changes. Personally, I’ve used it the most for content personalization. AI can segment audiences and tailor communications based on demographics and engagement history – which boosts relevance and can improve trust. Where do I see the biggest opportunity for Comms people and AI, though – it’s in media and thought leadership amplification. AI tools can identify trending topics, optimize headlines, and suggest media angles that align with a brand’s strategic narrative. They can also track competitor messaging and whitespace opportunities for executive thought leadership. So I’m not afraid of AI, I embrace it. Make your life easier so that the human brain has the bandwidth to truly shine! #AI #AITools #Communications #View

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I've been doing a lot of research into AI, what the regulatory pros and cons are, and here are a few thoughts of mine why I don't think AI will replace us strategic communicators. Here's why: Human Touch Matters: Communication is all about connecting on a human level. Emotions, empathy, and creativity are things only we can bring to the table. In order to tell stories, we have to live our stories. AI is a Tool: Instead of fearing AI, let's embrace it! It can handle repetitive tasks, giving us more time for strategy and relationship building IRL. Adapt & Evolve: The industry is always changing. By learning to work with AI, we stay ahead of the curve and continue to deliver value. Let's harness the power of AI while keeping our unique human touch alive! #PR #StrategicCommunications #AI #FutureOfWork

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One question stuck with me after a week in San Francisco, and it says a lot about how public affairs teams grow (or stall). In Silicon Valley, everyone asks “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯?” In Washington, everyone asks “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸?” It’s a small difference, but it changes everything about the culture you build and the depth of insights you get. At the Masters of Scale Summit and in meetings with investors and builders, that first question came up constantly. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯? Not as a test of authority, but as an invitation to curiosity — to share experiments, surprises, and the messy parts of progress. In Washington, we tend to prize knowing. And for good reason: in public affairs, credibility depends on accuracy and confidence. But when “knowing” becomes the only thing rewarded, it can stifle the curiosity that drives better strategy and sharper insight. That limits your ability to anticipate what’s coming. For leaders, that’s a challenge: are you building a culture that rewards curiosity, not just existing knowledge? For rising professionals, it’s an opportunity: the people who get ahead in this field aren’t the ones who know the most, they’re the ones who keep learning the fastest. Because in an environment this complex and fast-moving, what you know will always change. What matters is how quickly you learn, connect, and apply what’s next. That’s how innovation happens, whether you’re building technology or building impact and momentum for policy change.

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Reports of the death of the press release have been greatly exaggerated. It's become a bit of a cliche to boldly state that press releases are pointless and only the most inexperienced PR reps use them. I couldn't disagree more. Used wisely, press releases are an important tool in your tool box. While the days of reporters simply writing up press releases are long gone, press releases are useful for: ✅ Influencing the conversation ✅ Getting on reporters' radars ✅ Building a drumbeat of news And yes, if you have a well curated press list, releases can lead to coverage. Provided you're not spamming people with useless information, just showing up in reporters' inboxes can be hugely important. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "oh yeah, I get your releases" from a reporter I've just met. Press releases help build awareness so that, when you do more targeted outreach, people have some baseline familiarity with your brand. Make sure what you're sending is timely, interesting, and relevant — but don't abandon press releases just yet.

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City leaders: your communications team is *much* more than a newsroom Too often, city leaders see their communications staff as the “news release and social media” department. But a strategic communications professional is so much more than a content creator, they’re a key advisor in shaping public perception, building trust, and ensuring residents feel heard. And that advice extends to internal communication as well. Think about it: 🔹 Communication professionals can predict how residents and/or staff will react to a decision before it’s even announced. 🔹 They know how a single word choice can change the entire tone (and public response) of an initiative. 🔹 They understand when transparency is needed most and how to prevent messaging missteps that erode trust. When cities leave communicators out of leadership conversations, they risk miscommunication, backlash, and lost opportunities for meaningful engagement. But when communication pros have a seat at the table, the result is stronger, clearer, and more effective leadership. City managers—do you treat your communications team as a strategic partner? If not, it’s time to start. #CityLeadership #StrategicCommunication #CommunityEngagement #LocalGovernment #PublicRelations

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