My earliest memories of working in communications have me elbow-deep in newspapers, fingers covered in black ink. Before dawn at the New Jersey Statehouse, I’d sit at a long table with a leaning stack of papers, cutting out articles with scissors, taping them onto legal-size sheets, photocopying them, and hand-delivering the packet so every office started the day with the same understanding of the news. That packet was our “newsfeed” — and it moved at the speed of a copy machine.
It felt fast at the time. The news had a rhythm: morning papers, midday radio, evening broadcast. You learned reporters by name and by beat, built trust through conversation, and shaped tomorrow’s headlines with a well-placed quote or event. And when you shut off the lights, the news truly paused until morning.
Fast forward 25 years, and as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the world of communications looks almost unrecognizable.
Today, there is no morning news cycle — only a constant one. A story can spark on a podcast, catch fire on social media, morph through commentary, and reach thousands before a traditional outlet even weighs in. Reporters are still essential, but they now share the stage with newsletter writers, creators, analysts, and everyday voices who can influence the narrative in real time.
Today, there is no morning news cycle — only a constant one. A story can spark on a podcast, catch fire on social media, morph through commentary, and reach thousands before a traditional outlet even weighs in.
A modern communications team isn’t just a press shop; it’s a strategy hub. We don’t simply prepare spokespeople for interviews anymore. We build messages that bend to different platforms without losing authenticity. We think not only about what to say, but how it will land — in print, on camera, in short-form video, in a screenshot, or clipped without context. The work blends storytelling, data, instinct, and speed. It requires calm in noise and clarity in complexity.
And yet, as we near this milestone anniversary, I’m struck by how much the purpose of the work remains the same.
In 1776, the revolution spread through communication — pamphlets, speeches, letters, and spirited debate in taverns and town squares. The tools were slower, but the mission was identical: inform, persuade, inspire, and move people to act.
That hasn’t changed.
The platforms are faster, the volume louder, and the stakes higher. But the heart of the job is still about connection and trust. It’s about helping people understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what they can believe in.
Because whether you’re covered in newsprint or scrolling three screens at once, communications has always been about people — and giving them something true to hold onto.
Lisa Camooso Miller is a seasoned communications leader with over 20 years of experience in public affairs, having held key roles in government, political and advocacy organizations. She is senior advisor at ROKK Solutions and currently hosts her own podcast, “The Friday Reporter.”