Qwoted 100 PR Superstar: Blair Huddy of Hudson Davis Communications

To get a quick idea of Blair Huddy’s intellectual and media prowess, consider her background. In addition to her master’s in communication, she has studied Coding with Python and Climate Policy at Harvard Business School, Corporate Finance and Securities at Columbia University–and that’s just for starters.

On the PR and marketing side of things, Huddy–the Founder & CEO of Hudson Communications–has worked with the likes of Meta, Google, Apple, Oracle, Adobe, Visa, Turing, Universal Music Group and Salesforce. As a returning Qwoted 100 PR Superstar, Huddy shares her views on topics ranging from the paramount value of truth-telling to the “what if” scenario of journalism’s first AI-generated reporter.

Qwoted: What do you see as the future of PR—technologically, strategically, or in any category you’re passionate about?

Blair Huddy: With many shifts in journalism, I believe we will see new ways of finding news, as well as how it’s reported and communicated. Video news will continue to grow but social media regulations could heavily impact millennials and younger generations as they prefer to watch news on devices rather than read an article or watch TV.

Qwoted: What do you do that you’re most proud of and that other PRs could learn from?

Huddy: I say no to my clients often and it’s something I had to work at but it’s been so valuable. When I tell clients “no” and why I don’t think it’s a good idea, we develop a better relationship and see much better performance.

Qwoted: What’s your toughest challenge with reporters?

Huddy: Understanding what they’re working on so I can get them relevant information.

Qwoted: What learnings have made a tremendous difference in your career?

Huddy: I’ve learned mostly by making mistakes and it’s helped me see that failure is a result of trying. I want to keep trying and keep failing forward as I learn how to be better. It’s helped me learn so many crucial skills and helped me get to my best way of operating.

Qwoted: How do you break through the noise floor to get effective coverage?

Huddy: Tell a really good story, quickly. Straight to the point, give the details later. And I try not to be a jerk. I talk to reporters like they’re people because they are. The genuine interaction has always worked for me.

Qwoted: How does PR in 2024 square with the future of journalism?

Huddy: We’re definitely seeing big shifts with massive media layoffs and regulatory pressure from governments on social media. That will heavily impact how a lot of people get their news. Journalism will adapt, and new prominent figures will emerge. We might even see the first fully AI journalist!

Qwoted: What advice would you give to those who seek an effective PR person?

Huddy: Look for pros who match up with your mission and vision but are also ready to be a true partner and use every aspect of your business to tell a compelling story.

Qwoted: What is your golden rule of PR?

Huddy: Always tell the truth.

Qwoted: If there’s one thing you could change or improve about journalism or PR—in any area—what might that be and why?

Huddy: The stories many upper tiers are telling today are really troubling. I see a huge gap in actual facts versus headline reporting for views. I’d love to get back to journalistic integrity and reporting facts, on both sides, especially politically.

For more information, reach out to Blair Huddy at blair@hudsondaviscommunications.com or connect via LinkedIn.

Lou Carlozo is Qwoted’s editor-in-chief and host of the financial services podcast Bankadelic. Email lou@qwoted.com or connect via LinkedIn.