MARK MY WORDS
Mark’s view
Whenever the news agenda hits hysteria point, Mark offers thoughtful analysis, a wry point of view and an insider’s insight
Latest ‘MARK MY WORDS’ Blog Posts
When a Trump-supporting journalist heckled President Zelensky for not wearing a suit, he showed us all how PR, Media and Communications have changed forever.
A week on, and I am still thinking about that bizarre, telling moment: JD Vance standing beside Donald Trump as Volodymyr Zelensky, a wartime leader, was questioned, not about war, democracy, or geopolitics, but about why he wasn’t wearing a suit.It was a question that should have been inconsequential. Instead, it became a symbol of […]
Topic of the week: The inaugural Musk salute
Topic of the week the inaugural Musk salute. Oh, the delicious irony of it all. The world’s richest attention seeker has finally jumped the shark, and we’re all pretending to be shocked. About as shocking as a celebrity’s “candid” paparazzi shot. Pure performance, darling, and not even a good one.Look, I’ve spent decades watching the […]
The Grammys—where music is an afterthought…
Ah, the Grammys—where music is an afterthought, and the real winners are those who can manufacture the most viral hysteria. And this year’s undisputed champion? Bianca Censori, Kanye West’s latest human installation piece, who arrived cloaked in fur only to dramatically shed it, revealing… well, almost nothing. Should the City of Coventry be filing a […]
Do we have a blind spot?
Do we have a blind spot? Is there a delusion we can’t see? When Trump won in 2016, and Brexit divided the nation, the “experts” didn’t pause to question what they missed. Instead, they cocooned themselves in an echo chamber, stuck in a loop talking about interference and manipulation. Looking back, they were utterly disconnected […]
As a PR man, I look at Gregg Wallace and see an ego gone rogue – and a strategy only Trump would endorse
Let’s discuss Gregg Wallace and his white-van-man alter ego. A man who has turned his once reliable MasterChef charm into a full-blown case study in professional implosion. Watching him navigate his downfall has been like observing a soufflé collapse in slow motion: utterly predictable, yet still oddly fascinating.There are issues aplenty arising from the allegations levelled against […]
I work with celebrities. After Liam Payne’s death, can’t we treat them as humans and not gods?
As a showbiz publicist, I know about the Faustian pact between famous people and the public. Stars think they understand it, but they really don’t.As the worldwide tributes continue, the tragic death of Liam Payne at the cruel age of just 31 has shaken the foundations of how we perceive celebrity and fame. As a publicist […]
Farage’s ‘False Flag’ Adidas
A fortnight ago Rishi Sunak apologised for the damage he did to the credibility of popular trainer brand Adidas Sambas after wearing a pair in a podcast interview, during one of his infinite attempts to appear down with the kids.Adidas were presumably still reeling from the reputation damage caused by a stuffy right wing politician […]
Elon Musk’s Barnum-esque page pageantry is having a negative impact on Tesla’s sales and share price
I’ve been asked by a few people, including the The Guardian, for a communications perspective on reports that Elon Musk’s Barnum-esque page pageantry is having a negative impact on Tesla’s sales and share price. A charismatic figurehead is critical to effectively communicating and ultimately adding value to a business. Still, Musk risks becoming a cautionary […]
How much is Elon Musk to blame for Tesla sales slip?
I’ve been asked by a few people, including the The Guardian, for a communications perspective on reports that Elon Musk’s Barnum-esque page esque pageantry is having a negative impact on Tesla’s sales and share price. A charismatic figurehead is critical to effectively communicating and ultimately adding value to a business. Still, Musk risks becoming a cautionary tale about […]
Liz Truss’ attempt to crack America by hitching her wagon to the Trumpist juggernaut
A few weeks ago in our Media Trends newsletter we discussed Liz Truss’ attempt to crack America by hitching her wagon to the Trumpist juggernaut and concluded: “…she has been assiduous in telling her new target audience exactly what they want to hear. In the braying arena of the American culture wars, any conscript willing […]
I’m honoured once again to have been included in the PRWeek hashtag#powerbook2024
I’m honoured once again to have been included in the PRWeek hashtag#powerbook2024 alongside illustrious industry humans I hold in high regard James Herring Sarah James James Gordon-MacIntosh Warren Johnson Graham Goodkind Julian Vogel Julian Henry Gary Farrow Alan Edwards Fenella Grey Farzana Baduel Paul Charles Fergus Lawlor Jo Carr plus my wonderful MD Lucie SpecialeOne […]
Media and communications professionals should be paying attention to this growing movement
The push for a ‘Smartphone-free childhood’ is the latest chapter in an evolving narrative that the overwhelming avalanche and decreasing reliability of the information we are presented daily is not just distracting us but harming our mental health and not simply curtailing our attention spans but affecting our cognitive abilities. Contemporary media channels are saturated with […]
The latest move by the Home Office – paying Albanian social media influencers to ‘de-influence’ migrants from crossing the channel – is undeniably audacious.
Given the small budget relative to the extensive publicity the move has received, some have written it off as just another virtue-signalling (or vice-signalling if you disagree) stunt in the government’s ongoing struggle to address this complex issue. But its origins and implications raise some critical questions. The whole campaign comes hot on the heels […]
King Charles a man overshadowed by his own existence
In the life of King Charles, a man overshadowed by his existence, the recent revelation of his battle with cancer is another step on an enigmatic journey. It also demonstrates his wish to be open in a world clamouring for authenticity. The previous monarch would not have declared a serious health issue. Stoicism and distance […]
What possessed Rishi to announce his proposed vaping ban exclusively on LadBible
People are asking me what possessed Rishi to announce his proposed vaping ban exclusively on LadBible. It’s such a baffling comms strategy that I can only guess. Despite serious concerns about the health hazards of children vaping, the policy itself isn’t an easy sell. Before becoming mired in culture war skirmishes, Rishi had signalled a […]
The magic recipe for success isn’t found in a PRCA handbook
My old mucker and ex Borkowski pixie, Paul McEntee, posted something that sparked a reflection on the ever-evolving world of comms. In today’s dynamic realm of hashtag#PR and media, the magic recipe for success isn’t found in a PRCA handbook; it’s crafted with equal parts creativity, agility, and a dash of maverick spirit. While taking […]
Navigating public challenges and conflicts requires a pragmatic mindset
Navigating public challenges and conflicts requires a pragmatic mindset, especially in the spotlight. I’ve witnessed the power of practical solutions and compromise in my 40-year career in the media and public relations industry.Like any of us, even those in the public eye, we sometimes find ourselves entangled in prolonged disputes. Embracing pragmatism means prioritising resolution […]
These days, it’s not uncommon for corporate entities to issue apologies and admit mistakes
These days, it’s not uncommon for corporate entities to issue apologies and admit mistakes, but the statement from Fujitsu’s European boss, Paul Patterson, is significant. It explicitly acknowledges their involvement in errors and their impact on innocent individuals. This could be considered a notable ‘mea culpa’ in the context of corporate PR.
Accountability seems swift and relentless in the era of cancel culture
Accountability seems swift and relentless in the era of cancel culture, where reputations can crumble at the speed of a tweet. A single misstep, a whispered rumour, and one can be brought down in seconds. No one is too big to fail, no mistake too small to go unnoticed.The Post Office Ltd scandal paints a […]
Have you ever wondered why Trump’s popularity defies conventional expectations
In a world rife with political intrigue and controversy, this morning’s news serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing debate around U.S. immigration challenges and the disqualification of the former President from the Colorado presidential ballot under the 14th Amendment. What’s striking is that despite these legal actions and establishment decisions, Donald Trump’s popularity […]