Ageism in PR

In this episode of Engage, host Abha Thakor, journalist, Chartered PR Practitioner, and CIPR Fellow, examines ageism in the public relations profession and the experiences practitioners face in the workplace.

Abha is joined by Jenny Manchester, author of the 2025 CIPR-funded report "An age-old problem: What can we do to tackle ageism in PR?", and Avril Lee, CIPR Honorary Fellow, independent communications consultant and Chair of the CIPR's Diversity and Inclusion Network and the Taylor Bennett Foundation.

Drawing on the findings from Jenny's research, their conversation examines how age shapes assumptions about creativity, the lack of visibility of older professionals, and the recruitment practices that ask candidates to hide their experience. The discussion also considers why the PR industry skews so much younger than the wider workforce, the intersection of ageism with gender and race, and the practical steps employers can take to build a more age-friendly workplace culture.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The CIPR-funded report An age-old problem: What can we do to tackle ageism in PR?
• Centre for Ageing Better's Age-Friendly Culture Toolkit and Age-friendly Employer Pledge
• Find out more about the CIPR's Diversity and Inclusion Network

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Share your thoughts about this episode and your experiences on LinkedIn using #CIPREngage and tagging @CIPR_Global.