AT&T chief tells staff to block outside narratives; WB CEO urges focus

Greetings, comms pros! Let’s take a look at a few recent news stories and see what we can learn from them.

1.  AT&T CEO cautions employees to only listen to internal updates amid company’s HQ move

Last year, AT&T CEO John Stankey sent a memo telling his employees that they needed to come back to the office — or look for new jobs. Stankey again emphasized the importance of collaborative work in a memo obtained by Business Insider announcing a new HQ for the telecommunications giant, slated to open in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in 2028.

Over the next few years, we’ll be transforming this site from the ground up – demolishing the old buildings and designing a new, modern campus that’s built for how we work best: together. This is an investment intended to put the employee experience at the center of our workspace.

Stankey’s note also warned employees to only listen to internal updates rather than external noise — this is notable in the wake of how viral his RTO memo went last year.

I am sure this news triggers many questions and natural curiosity for nearly everyone. I am also sure that it will trigger speculation and editorial narrative by those outside the company. I’d ask for patience in getting the answers to your questions and suggest you ignore speculation from uninformed “sources” who are not participating in this work.

Stankey added that more information will follow in the spring and that employees should remain focused on their tasks.

The memo is a reminder that AT&T’s prevailing philosophy is rooted in in-person work. The note serves as something of a continuation of last year’s RTO memo. Stankey reaffirms to the reader that the company’s culture requires people to collaborate in-person, and a new headquarters will serve as a physical reminder of that ideology.

Additionally, AT&T’s memo uses a similar tactic to WB’s in terms of attempting to control the internal narrative before it’s uncontrollable externally. By making the proactive statement about employees only heeding internal updates, AT&T makes it clear that they’re the voice of authority for the truth about company news.

2. WB chief Zaslav urges focus as company rejects another Paramount takeover bid

The saga over Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery — and Paramount’s attempt to swoop in and trump the streamer’s bid — continues. In a memo to employees obtained by Business Insider, CEO David Zaslav signaled that even as uncertainty swirls following another rejection of a Paramount takeover attempt, employees should stay focused on their jobs and goals.

What matters most right now is our focus as we start the year. Our operating plans remain unchanged, and our priorities for 2026 are clear and intentional. The 2026 Goals process will be launched in February.

Zaslav’s statement defines the boundaries of who gets to set the narrative at WB. WB is communicating to its employees that internal truth needs to take precedence over external narratives. Messaging like this can help preserve a sense of normalcy in a time of uncertainty. During times of change, employees need to hear from their leaders to know what to expect next. By keeping the focus on goals instead of the outside noise, WB’s statement offers employees a way to mentally frame their work.

3. Report: More than eight in 10 remote and hybrid workers value clear manager comms — but only half get it

A survey from Founder Reports revealed that remote and hybrid employees want to hear from their employees more than they are. The data reported that 85% of respondents said they wanted clear manager comms, but just 51% got them. Additionally, just 40% of remote and hybrid employees reported that their manager gives them clear feedback.

With a vast majority of remote and hybrid employees reporting that they need clear comms from their managers, it points to the fact that internal communicators need to focus on better message delivery through managers. By instilling proper communication training and providing managers with comms frameworks and FAQ docs to help answer employee questions, internal comms pros can help close this concerning gap.

4. How about some good news?

• A zoo in Florida released a record number of manatees back into the wild.
• France banned the use of “forever chemicals” in cosmetics and clothing.
• For the second year in a row, no rhinos were poached in the Assam state of India.
• Ragan Training is an excellent place for communications professionals to find inspiration and valuable resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here!

Have a great weekend comms all-stars!

Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications.