Richard Midson
Podcaster and Communications Strategist
Richard Midson is a communications strategist, long-standing podcast host on the topic of Public Relations (or as he calls it “building relationships with the public) and university teacher. Over more than 25 years in news, politics, and public relations, he has built a reputation for cutting-edge reporting as a journalist and broadcaster, and now, a plain-talking podcast host and advisor who shows organisations how to tell stories in an increasingly noisy AI and social world.
A Career of Storytelling
From newsrooms and radio studios in the UK, to the European Parliament, to events around the world and lecture theatres, Richard’s career has always been about one thing: making complex ideas clear, compelling and human.
He brings a mix of sharp analysis, live performance skill (to workshops and seminar rooms), and hands-on experience that few in the field can match. For organisations, students and listeners alike, Richard Midson is a communicator who helps people understand what is happening in comms, why it matters and how to use it.
Across his career, Richard’s work has reached audiences in the millions, through nightly London news broadcasts, a YouTube channel that reached 1.6 million across its lifespan and podcasting.
He has been interviewed on podcasts, spoken at conferences on communications, and asked to mentor both communications professionals and organisations trying to punch above their weight. He started bringing that same energy to teaching at UNSW in 2025, and combined with his ongoing consultancy, he’s become a sought-after voice on how storytelling in the AI era has become the must-do marketing approach.
Journalism and Broadcasting
Richard began his career in British journalism working across local radio in both hard news and young adult-focused high-profile news outlets. He soon moved on to ITN, one of the UK’s largest news organisations, where he worked as a duty editor, helping to shape coverage of major national and international events on radio.
He went on to London’s LBC News, where he presented the weekday “drivetime” programme on the UK’s only all-news radio station at the time, anchoring 2.5 hours of live broadcasting every night, delivering fast-moving news to an audience across the capital. That role placed him at the centre of breaking stories, which saw him asking sharp questions to some holding them to account, while encouraging others to speak up for the first time. His ability to think clearly as events unfolded and communicate what was happening to a large audience in real-time enabled him to hold the role for several years. It’s something he still draws on in his work today, bringing live presence to everything he does.
Political Communications
Following journalism, Richard moved into political communications, serving as an adviser to the leader of the third-largest group in the European Parliament during the years of Brexit. It was a turbulent, high-stakes period, and his work involved media training, a London Mayoral campaign and an ongoing content strategy.
This experience provided him with a rare insider’s perspective on how political narratives are shaped in the real world and how communications can be used to influence debate on a global scale.
Consultancy and Advisory Work
Alongside teaching and podcasting, Richard has advised organisations as a communications consultant for years. His speciality is building repeatable communications systems inside organisations. He believes that anyone can deliver a high-profile presence themselves with the right training, accountability and strategic steer.
His consultancy work spans startups, research groups, corporates and NGOs, with projects including:
- Designing communications engines that scale without reliance on external agencies.
- Training staff and interns to deliver effective campaigns.
- Preparing teams for high-pressure media interviews or public events.
Clients value his ability to cut through complexity and provide clear, actionable strategies. His approach is grounded not in jargon but in lived experience, from editing breaking news to managing European political messaging.
Podcasting – About Public Relations
Richard is also the founder and host of The Public Relations Podcast, now in its fifth year (2025). The show draws on his network of global practitioners, as well as solo episodes where he answers real-world communication questions, exploring how narrative, strategy, and technology intersect in modern PR.
The podcast has featured professionals from across industries and countries. He doesn’t shy away from the reality of comms, chatting with people from every side of the industry in a practical and technique-focused way, whether it’s something that is politically sensitive or light-hearted.
He is also a great believer that you don’t find answers in old textbooks but in watching what others are doing today and talking to them.
Teaching and Academic Work
Among Richard’s many current activities, he spends time teaching at the University of New South Wales (ranked among the world’s top 20 universities). He currently teaches courses in digital campaigning, celebrity business and theory, and the impact of the digital world on society and the public zeitgeist.
Students have praised his teaching for its interactive style and practical grounding. One described his classes as “rare in their level of detail and interactivity,” pointing to the way he uses live examples and hands-on exercises to bring communications theory to life.
He enjoys bringing his experience as a newsroom editor, a political adviser, and a working consultant to the class, giving students a uniquely real-world and often blunt view of how communications actually work.