Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence and Innovation in Internal Communication: Join us in 2024 as we honour our rich heritage and explore future trends. Discover how we're embracing technology, championing sustainability, and focusing on people and employment to shape a brighter future for IC professionals today and tomorrow. Be a part of our journey as we continue to lead the way in internal communication excellence.
Our History
On 12 March 2024, we celebrate our 75th anniversary with the grand unveiling of our historical timeline. This momentous occasion will not only commemorate our journey but also showcase the milestones that have shaped our story. Join us in this celebration of our shared heritage and achievements.
Take part in the Big Question for Internal Communicators in 2024
Throughout the year, we're posting The Big Question to our community, seeking your insights and perspectives. As the year concludes, we'll create a detailed report featuring all the key highlights and insights gathered. This comprehensive summary will be shared with you, showcasing the collective wisdom and foresight of our community.
Celebrating 75 years of IoIC Podcast
In this episode, Jen, Dominic, Cat are joined by Professor Michael Heller and Dr Joe Chick to discuss the institutional history of internal communication. They recap the progress of their research project and share their discoveries from archival research.
The evolution of internal communication
Nineteenth-Century Origins
Journey back to the nineteenth century and discover the roots of internal communication. Beginning with the pioneering Ibis Magazine of 1878, find out about the origins of a practice that has evolved for over a century alongside technological advances and social change. Learn how tensions between employee involvement and corporate control date back to the earliest forms of communication in this first chapter of the history of internal communication.
Read the full blog | here
Communication in the First and Second World Wars
Discover how the First World War marked a turning point in the second chapter of the history of internal communication. From Boots' Comrades in Khaki magazine maintaining contact with employees on the front lines to the emergence of professional institutions facilitating the sharing of best practice, explore the wartime catalysts that propelled internal communication into a new era of professionalism and strategic importance.
Read the full blog | here
Communication Developments in the Pre-Digital Age
Explore the transformative impact of the Second World War on internal communication practices in the third chapter of the history of internal communication. Despite paper shortages, communication remained a priority, with special edition magazines for the forces. Find out how debates about wartime propaganda shaped the evolution of communication strategies, setting the stage for a dynamic post-war era in internal communication.
Read the full blog | here
Internal Communication in the Digital Era
Uncover the birth of the term ‘internal communication’ in the fourth chapter of the history of internal communication. Explore the transition from company magazines to a broader array of communication channels. Take a journey through the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, where the British Association of Industrial Editors played a central role in shaping professional standards and facilitating the sharing of best practice.
Read the full blog | here
A Journey into the Future
Join us on the final chapter of our journey through time as we head into the digital era and beyond. From the advent of intranets in the 1990s to the rise of social media platforms like Yammer and Slack, find out how digital technologies revolutionised internal communication. Explore the ongoing quest for professionalisation led by institutions like the Institute of Internal Communication, setting the stage for a future where technological advancements are balanced with human-centric communication principles.
Read the full blog | here
Creating Sustainable Futures Report
Our latest report, Creating Sustainable Futures for Internal Communicators, explores developments in technology, sustainability, employment and people’s expectations of work.
