> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://capitolcommunicator.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# 5th Annual HarrisX & Ragan Survey of Communication Leaders reveals insights into how the communications industry is evolving
- URL: https://capitolcommunicator.com/the-5th-annual-harrisx-ragan-survey-of-communication-leaders-just-released/
- Published: 2025-11-18T21:22:12.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-25T02:06:04.000Z
- Author: Capitol Communicator
- Tags: PR, Communications, #wp-top-right-sponsored, #Import 2026-10-08 18:55

[**The 5th Annual HarrisX–Ragan Survey of Communications Leaders reveals insights from 400 CEOs and communications leaders**](https://www.harrisx.com/posts/5th-annual-harrisx-ragan-survey-of-communication-leaders?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) on how the field is evolving and responding to new challenges and opportunities driven by AI adoption, shifting corporate voices, and changing dynamics of trust and control between CEOs and their communications teams.

“The communications industry is at an inflection point. Our annual HarrisX-Ragan survey of CEOs and communications leaders reveals that AI is reshaping the profession, with many senior leaders trusting custom-trained agents for some tasks more than their top experts. CEOs are also tightening control over messaging amid growing polarization and online backlash,” said [**HarrisX**](https://www.harrisx.com/?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) **CEO Dritan Nesho.** “Together, these trends mark a fundamental shift in executives’ confidence and their approach to communications—far deeper than efficiency gains and shifting priorities alone.”

“We’re at the precipice of something big,” said **Diane Schwartz, CEO of** [**Ragan Communications**](https://www.ragan.com/?ref=capitolcommunicator.com)**.** “Leaders have deep trust in their communications teams, but they’re also intrigued by the promise of AI. This is the moment for communicators to differentiate themselves from AI and emphasize the skills that technology can’t replace: strategy, creativity and empathy. By balancing these skills with an embrace of the efficiency AI can offer, comms leaders can increase their value.”

Highlights of the study include:

**AI Reshaping How Comms Work Is Done and Many CEOs Want Even More**

- 95% of organizations now use AI in communications work, 96% of whom report it has had a positive impact.
- 30% of organizations say more than half of communications work is already done by AI, and 55% expect that to be true by 2030.
- 57% of CEOs say they would choose a custom-trained AI tool to write an important speech over a top communications professional with no AI support.
- While 31% of CEOs believe AI-powered communications platforms will soon add more value than internal comms teams or external agencies, 42% expect AI to add more communications jobs.

**CEOs Expect AI Skills to Define the Future of Communications, but Don’t See It As Essential Yet**

- 49% of CEOs say traditional communications skills will soon take a back seat to AI prompt engineering and data fluency.
- However, CEOs do not yet view AI and tech fluency as a top skill for communications leaders today — only 18% name it among the most valuable skills.
- Instead, CEOs rank strategic thinking (42%), creative problem-solving (40%), and staying calm under pressure (37%) as the most valuable communications leadership traits right now.

**Comms Leaders See AI as Trusted Partner, Not Competitor**

- 70% of comms leaders say AI enhances their ability to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.
- Only 13% worry that AI will replace their role and just 30% expect AI to have a negative impact on the number of communications jobs at large.
- 68% of comms leaders say AI will increase the value of internal teams by enabling more scalable, strategic services; 64% think AI will also increase the value of external agencies.
- 63% of comms leaders believe AI will level the playing field and democratize great communications across all types of organizations and brands.

**Corporate Voice: CEOs Pulling Back While Communicators Push to Speak Up More**

- 58% of CEOs say their organizations speak up too often on social or political issues.
- 59% of communications leaders believe their companies should speak up more.
- 83% say their organization usually gets it right when deciding whether to comment publicly.
- Hiring announcements, community investments, and environmental initiatives rank among the safest topics for external communications.

**Trust Between CEOs and Comms Leaders Is Strong but Control Remains with the CEO**

- 83% of CEOs say they highly value their communications teams.
- 98% of CEOs say their communications leaders have sufficient access to them, and 92% of comms leaders agree.
- However, only 56% of CEOs say they *always* consult their communications leaders before making major external announcements, and 65% do so for important internal announcements.
- 74% of CEOs say they personally lead communications, yet only 20% of comms leaders say the function is directly overseen by the CEO.
- 74% of CEOs believe the communications department should report directly to them, but just 31% of comms leaders agree.

[**See the full findings here.**](https://www.harrisx.com/posts/5th-annual-harrisx-ragan-survey-of-communication-leaders?ref=capitolcommunicator.com)