TLG - Why it's time for a new kind of communications.

Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University and author of 'The Better Angels of Our Nature' delivered the inaugural Thought Leadership Lecture at the RSA on 1st November.

Steven Pinker explored the ways in which modernity and its cultural institutions are actually making us better people, and provided the audience with fascinating insight into the conditions, norms and policies that combine to engage the "better angels" of human nature - our capacity for co-operation, empathy and altruism.

Watch the lecture here: http://bit.ly/xXOLWh

Following the launch of TLGdigital yesterday, TLG has today launched TLGinsights, a research company focusing on corporate reputation.

Jon Walsh, former Nestle group marketing director, is setting up the new service, which aims to fill the "vacuum" in the UK market for specialist research into corporate reputation.

"There are huge opportunities in market research," said Jon. "Whilst there are strong political consumer offerings, the reputation area is underdeveloped. We have been pioneering a values-based approach to support Thought Leaders."

Walsh added: "TLG is an exciting challenger brand and the 'insights' business I lead will add value to existing and future clients."

The launch of TLGinsights follows the launch of TLGdigital, which "offers corporate brands the opportunity to integrate and maximise the potential of digital PR, to leverage their leadership credentials."

Politicians, journalists and business leaders have accused UK corporates of being too narrowly focused on products and marketing online, and failing to build the deep consumer relationships that charities and NGOs have.
The findings come from a poll of more than 1,000 'opinion formers' by Populus for TLGdigital, part of TLG Communications.

The survey revealed that 61 per cent of opinion formers believed corporates should be using online channels not just for sales and marketing, but also for promoting awareness of social issues.

Additionally, more than two-thirds of respondents said that they would be more likely to 'trust', 'consult' and do business with a company taking a leadership position on a social issue online.

'Businesses need to go to another level to really engage people, meaning communication around issues and tapping into the values of different stakeholder groups,' said Malcolm Gooderham, TLG's founder and MD.

Ethical investment was the issue most likely to resonate with opinion formers, followed closely by healthy eating and encouraging greater charitable giving.

The Criminal Bar Association has called in public affairs support as the profession battles savage government cuts.

The CBA has turned to TLG for the brief, which also covers media relations. The Ministry of Justice has announced plans for major cuts to criminal legal aid and will consult on further cost-saving measures in the autumn.

Meanwhile, popular television series such as Rumpole of the Bailey and, more recently, Silks have represented criminal barristers as either drunks or bed-hopping cocaine users.

TLG media relations director Jonathan Oliver will lead the account. He said: 'The reality is that criminal barristers are incredibly hard- working public servants.'