PR Veteran Steve Turner Shares What Actually Works in Automotive Communications

In the latest installment of the podcast series, host Ed Garsten sits down with Steve Turner, co-owner and principal of Solomon Turner PR, a St. Louis-based communications firm. Turner also authored the book “PR That Works,” making him a fitting guest to unpack which public relations strategies deliver results and which ones fall flat.

The conversation covers a wide range of topics relevant to the automotive industry and beyond. Turner and Garsten explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in public relations, examining how AI tools are reshaping the way agencies approach campaigns and client messaging. They also dig into the difficult question of measurement — specifically, how professionals can determine whether their PR efforts actually produced a positive outcome rather than simply generating activity without impact.

For anyone working in automotive marketing, communications, or media, the episode offers practical perspective on separating effective tactics from wasted effort. Turner’s experience running a successful agency and writing about the craft gives the discussion a grounded, real-world quality that goes beyond abstract theory.