Today programme spoofed
As a seasoned media watcher I like spotting a publicity wheeze on a hard news programme. The most satisfying hit in the UK must be the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. Spoof stories posing as hard news when outed must be so frustrating for the show that gave the world Andrew Gilligan. This morning […]
Internet on the road to recover
My old pal Rhonda Palmer emailed me this link today http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8858230%255E7582,00.html It’s a feature from the Australian newspaper. “Internet recovers from dotcom crash” it boldly proclaims. I’m so pleased the internet is making a comeback. Borkowski had a ball with all those crazy dot com tycoons rolling up to our offices with bulging wallets hiring […]
What is situ-commercial?
PR Watch http://www.prwatch.org pointed out that Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal reports on a new Advertising trend: “The most obvious alternative to TV clutter, placing products Within shows, is generating some backlash among viewers. Marketers and media buyers see the ‘situ-mercial’ as a promising alternative.” What is a situ-mercial? It’s a commercial designed to look, sound […]
The PR disaster that never was
Benicio Del Toro has confessed he used to steal cars. The Oscar-nominated actor has revealed how he went off the rails after his mother died of hepatitis when he was just nine. The Puerto Rican star admitted: “I would get into trouble. Good healthy trouble – like stealing your neighbour’s car and then getting caught, […]
How far will a press agent go for his client?
My pal Bill Grantham sent me this cutting from Variety this morning. His message to me was See how far a publicist will go for his client I am not sure I would go this far. But hey never say never. Neil Simon (76) underwent kidney transplant surgery Tuesday in New York. His wife, thesp […]
Naming and shaming?
I have just rattled off a feature for Marketing on the Dasani disaster. Stand by for the fall out.
Theatre is a freak show
My pal Adrian Bryan Brown, the fantastic Broadway theatre publicist sent me the following email this morning. The UK Press Association website “Ananova” has replaced its “Theatre” wire with a link called “Showbiz quirkies.” Yes, we are now officially a freak show! http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/ I have been banging on about how theatre marketing and PR needs […]
Sexy tap water: it was my idea
My first book launch was for a brilliant and funny book called Glad to Be Grey by Peter Freedman. It was a glorious celebration of everything dull. Frankly it’s time to reprint the book, but I digress. On the week of its publication I staged a number of stunts to generate column inches to try […]
Twin Towers Shock
I’m always on the look out for potential PR disasters. The Manhattan Coffee Company might be heading for a fall: I saw the above at the outlet next to the ITN building, and I couldn’t help thinking that a couple of things were wrong with the logo.
Tamworth Two the real deal
The cover feature of the Media Guardian yesterday was about the Tamworth Two. Remember the tale of the two little pigs that escaped from an abattoir in Malmesbury? The story is to be turned into a comedy film. I am utterly outraged that my central role in the drama will merit no attention whatsoever. The […]
Their dark materials
I love watching the counter spin being created around the popular image of John Kerry in his attempts to win the democrat ticket. The PR giants on huge retainer to muddy the waters are using all the dark powers in their armoury to tackle Kerry’s popularity. If its not thrusting into the limelight via Drudge […]
Hey man, like this is so cool
I hear on the grapevine that a company is going round the block claiming it’s blowing orthodox PR apart with a whole new publicity concept it has invented called “Buzz”. I might be inclined to say yo, ma man! this is so cool cos it’s like the word on the street, get what I’m saying, […]
My Greatest Mistake
My company has always been known for maverick, edgy promotions, and campaigns that have been banned. We represented the Malcolm McLarens of this world and were known for being very rock’n’roll. So, when Carlsberg-Tetley approached us about eight years ago, at the beginning of the alcopop boom, they wanted a wild, rock’n’roll campaign for their […]