BROADCAST PR 2010 AND BEYOND HIGHLIGHTS
The conference was a huge success. More than 70 delegates overcame the weather and transport challenges to hear from the speakers, who shared their insight and expertise on a range of broadcast media issues.
Every single presenter, all leading media decision-makers, had the delegates furiously scribbling notes on everything from the best time and way to pitch a story into Sky News, to how to develop and communicate a meaningful CSR strategy; from the evolution of ‘thought leadership’ to the emergence and successes of two internet radio stations; and how social media is being used by politicians and media owners to reach new audiences.
You can download the presentations from here. It’s a 5MB PDF file.DOWNLOAD
If you want to know how to put some of those broadcast media ideas into practice for your brand, then give us a call on 020 7253 8888.
BROADCAST PR 2009 - CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
markettiers4dc held its first conference at Sadler's Wells, London this month. More than 60 senior in-house delegates heard from key broadcast decision makers – producers, journalists and editors – about how to improve their broadcast PR.
The Regional View
Tom Reeves, breakfast show producer on Mercia FM opened the conference speaking on 'The Regional View', covering topics on how local radio is more relevant than ever, and how it relates to local news/presenters above the national hits. He went on to discuss how to adapt in the ever changing media world and giving your story a twist to stand out. He also covered the recent phenomenon of networking and hubbing, why and how to use local radio, website hubbing, and a few tips including:
- Focus on your USP over networked and national stations.
- Look for the different angle.
- Be prepared to consistently raise the bar.
- The world is smaller but the number of platforms you need to penetrate in
order to ensure your message is heard has multiplied significantly. - Forward plan and think topically
- Pass the information onto everyone in your organisation.
“I just wanted to offer my congratulations on an incredibly successful event. When things are as busy as they are, it's easy to forget the journalist's perspective on what they need from you so it was really useful to get a good, clear insight into their thoughts.” In-house Head of Communications delegate
Tuning In To Online Media
Next up was Editorial Director for Digital for The Independent, Jimmy Leach, for the session 'Tuning In To Online Media'. Jimmy's entertaining delivery covered the rise of newspaper brands online in contrast to their falling print circulations, and how online communications is more than a Facebook group, putting some video on YouTube and doing a few Tweets.
Who Do We Get To Front This Campaign?
A three-way debate followed as the speakers and audience explored the culture of celebrity-led PR activity in the session 'Who Do We Get To Front This Campaign?' Robin Britten, Founding Editor, BBC Radio 5 Live, opened the session delivering a no-nonsense case for why the story is more important than any celebrity ambassador. PR agency guru Andrew Bloch, MD of Frank PR, followed with his own examples of how to use – or not – celebrities including the recent success of the Girls Aloud Kit Kat launch. Bloch spoke on how selection and relevance is important and to be aware of celebrity contracts, as well as budget. Simon Thompson, Showbiz Editor of Heart Radio Network, closed the session, describing in detail the typical listener to Heart stations and how selective they are of the celebrities they want to hear on-air – most were surprised to hear that Big Brother isn't on their agenda.
Broadcast Means Business
Ursula Errington, Business Correspondent for Sky News, brought to vivid reality the newsgathering process of multi-platform rolling news with the session 'Broadcast Means Business'. Fast, timely and real are the watchwords for any PRs handling campaigns with a business dimension. Making sure that any spokespeople are available/ready for comment asap should the story run are a given (but surprisingly not always followed by company PRs) while above all, "be bold" was the rallying cry from Ursula to the room, in what was a hugely well-received session.
The Future of Broadcast Media
markettiers4dc were privileged to host two eminent broadcast industry experts to close the conference. Simon Bucks, Associate Editor, Sky News and Prof. Adrian Monck, currently Head of Journalism, City University, who takes up a new role as Managing Director, Head of the World Economic Forum Communications Team, in August, who led the final session looking at making sense of the future of broadcast media.
Simon Bucks spoke on how he has seen his own channel evolve into a multiplatform media organisation since it was launched and how Sky does not just represent TV – but how online and other mediums are just as important. They discussed how PR professionals can best embrace the changes – from basic steps like tailoring information and content to the medium, as well as making sure PRs actually bother to have as broad a media appetite as possible.
Monck focused on the ultimate responsibility of a PR to their trade – that the days of a throwaway comment are gone, as the multimedia age means there is an eternal record, with reputations made and lost through the management – or lack of it – of communications.
The duo led an enthralling debate on how broadcast could evolve in the coming years, something that set delegates thinking as they left this first highly successful conference about how PR and broadcast media have an incredibly exciting future together.
They know how broadcast media works, and so do we. Call a consultant to talk about how you can get the best from broadcast PR.
