Internal communications has for a very long time felt like the poor relation to public relations. It was seen as a little less glamorous (if PR ever was), not quite as important as managing reputation and certainly less exciting than social engagement.
It might be picked up by the PR team, if they have the time and usually then by the most junior member, often batted across to HR (because, you know, it’s about our people), and blamed for the multitude of inane messages clogging up inboxes.
Professional services firms are, certainly by the measure of many of their clients, late to embracing internal communications. Many sizable firms have only recently employed dedicated internal communications champions and are having to look outside the sector to hire in specialists. Unlike many other communications specialists, it can take a while for them to adjust.
