Letter from London: Everything Was Forever
Counterpunch
I first met media expert Mark Borkowski 30 years ago before traveling to West Africa to write for an English newspaper about Peter Kosminsky’s Dying of the Light, a film on murdered UK aid worker Sean Devereux. I have long warmed to Mark and always try to read him. Last week, he spoke of our growing push for smartphone-free childhoods and asked why so many of us were considering switching off entirely.
Is it harming our mental health and strength, he asked? Does it stunt our attention span? Will it affect our cognitive abilities? Mark also referenced overloaded media channels struggling to balance quality with survival, hinting at things racing away from us before proper safeguarding.
$100 million Sussex misfire
The Royal Observer
“Taking on Harry and Meghan was a great coup for Netflix,” PR expert Mark Borkowski told an outlet. “It probably got a lot of eyeballs and subscriptions, but they [Harry and Markle] never delivered,” he claimed before further adding about the Montecito twosome: “The amount of income this pair has to raise is enormous.”
Another insider pointed out that Harry and Meghan’s deal with the company is an “overhead agreement,” which means the ex-working royals will not receive the full $100 million since some of it also funds their staff at the company.
Biggest corporate crisis
PR Week
Formula 1 team Red Bull was in the spotlight even more than usual during the pre-race season period this year.
When its boss, Christian Horner (pictured), faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour, Red Bull chose to keep him front and centre. Horner was interviewed by the press, calling the claims against him a mere “distraction”, in a strategy that crisis comms pro Mark Borkowski referred to as “Horner playing hardball”, and cautioned could cause further problems for Red Bull.
Harry And Meghan’s Controlling Attitudes Reportedly Ruined Their Hollywood Reputations
The List
Creating media and producing are collaborative processes — especially if it’s your first time doing so. This means that Harry and Meghan need help from authorities in the field. Yet, PR expert Mark Borkowski told TheWrap that the couple doesn’t “have a quality team around them.” Instead of seeking counsel from others, they prefer to always be in charge.
Borkowski says that the Sussexes “drive this ship, they are in the wheelhouse, whether you are the Obamas, or Meghan and Harry you have to defer to people who can really get the job done.” By the sound of it, they’ve alienated many Hollywood partnerships.
Meghan and Harry’s $100 Million Netflix Deal Is a Hollywood Miss
The Wrap
“Taking on Harry and Meghan was a great coup for Netflix,” public relations and image guru Mark Borkowski told TheWrap. “It probably got a lot of eyeballs and subscriptions, but they [Harry and Markle] never delivered.”
Borkowski added that the clients he works with are closely watching their budgets and costs, but, given the former royals’ lifestyle, “The amount of income this pair has to raise is enormous.”
https://www.thewrap.com/meghan-and-harrys-100-million-netflix-deal-is-a-hollywood-miss-exclusive/
Victoria Beckham devastated over Romeo & Mia Regan’s split
The Sun
PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun that being a ‘momager’ means Victoria has to “take the rough with the smooth”.
He said: “If you create a soap opera out of your life, you have to accept the ups and downs — just like the Kardashians have proved.
“Break-ups might not be pleasant but they carry on the family narrative and make it interesting.
“I think Victoria has ultimate control as far as she can and it goes without saying that any mum wants their children to be happy.
“But these are still young people making their way in life and it’s not always a happy story.” Victoria has a notoriously tricky relationship with eldest son Brooklyn’s wife, heiress Nicola Peltz, after the pair fell out over the design of her wedding dress.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/26199922/victoria-beckham-devastated-romeo-mia-regan-split/
Love Island star Jake Cornish has sparked rift rumours after he was missing from nights out in London with his co-stars.
The Sun
LOVE Island star Jake Cornish has sparked rift rumours after he was missing from nights out in London with his co-stars.
Liberty’s proclamation she found “self love” while in the ITV2 matchmaking series has been widely praised – with her premature departure hinting the prize money wasn’t the most important thing to her.
And despite her walkout, PR expert Mark Borkowski reckons it hasn’t affected her money-making potential one bit.
The straight-talking beauty has already been offered a book deal and been approached by a variety of fashion and beauty brands.
Mark told the Mirror: “Liberty’s timing and tactics have chimed with a post-Covid world. She will be a multi-millionaire.”
Football, commercials and movies: Travis Kelce’s meteoric Hollywood rise
Marca.com
“It’s very interesting,” Mark Borkowski said to Page Six. “I think the guy was always going on to great things before he met Taylor Swift.
https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/2024/02/17/65d0c80c268e3e390e8b4574.html
From starring in commercials to producing a movie: How Travis Kelce is going Hollywood
Page Six
Global PR and branding expert Mark Borkowski told Page Six: “It’s very interesting, I think the guy was always going on to great things before he met Taylor Swift. He was part of a legendary team and he had a big part to play in it. He was poised to be one of those players who have a huge career both on and off the field.
Kelce’s “passion” definitely took over as he swept Swift — who had flown from Japan for the game — into an embrace on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
https://pagesix.com/2024/02/17/entertainment/how-travis-kelce-is-going-hollywood/
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘catastrophic’ management has left ‘brand Sussex’ in chaos… so what IS the plan?
Newsbreak
PR insiders have now also waded in on the Sussexes’ “contradictory” image overhaul, telling The Sun it flies in the face of their blistering attacks against the Firm in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, scathing books including Harry’s memoir, Spare, and their Netflix documentary series.
PR expert Mark Borkowski tells us: “Everything that they have done has always been a bit of a knee jerk.
“It is not being considered. If you look at the whole thing, from Oprah, right the way through to Harry’s appearance with James Corden, the book, the story-spinning, it’s just been a catastrophic disaster.
Meghan Markle et Harry irresponsables ? Ils sont accusés de semer le chaos
Gala
Selon Mark Borkowski, “depuis Oprah jusqu’à l’apparition d’Harry chez James Corden, le livre, l’histoire, c’est tout simplement un désastre catastrophique”. “Si vous voulez comprendre comment construire une fondation ou une marque, il y a une bonne façon de le faire, ou vous pouvez le faire à la manière de Harry et Meghan, ce qui n’est pas la façon la plus sensée d’aller de l’avant ou de s’établir comme des leaders d’opinion qui pourraient effectivement changer le monde”, a-t-il ajouté. Pour Nick Ede, expert en marques et en culture, s’“ils ont le droit d’utiliser le nom, car il leur appartient”, “cela brouille les lignes entre leur passé et leur présent”.
“J’ai l’impression que cela contredit tout ce qu’ils ont présenté ces dernières années avec le documentaire, Spare et l’interview d’Oprah”, a-t-il poursuivi. Selon un autre expert des relations publiques, la façon dont ils ont façonné leur entreprise “pourrait conduire à des conflits”. “Ils sont en difficulté depuis un certain temps et ont dû faire face à un certain nombre de défis, a-t-il expliqué. Maintenant, ils essaient désespérément de posséder le domaine Sussex.com, mais il ne semble pas y avoir de stratégie. Cela semble un peu désespéré”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘catastrophic’ management has left ‘brand Sussex’ in chaos
The Sun
PR insiders have now also waded in on the Sussexes’ “contradictory” image overhaul, telling The Sun it flies in the face of their blistering attacks against the Firm in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, scathing books including Harry’s memoir, Spare, and their Netflix documentary series.
PR expert Mark Borkowski tells us: “Everything that they have done has always been a bit of a knee jerk.
“It is not being considered. If you look at the whole thing, from Oprah, right the way through to Harry’s appearance with James Corden, the book, the story-spinning, it’s just been a catastrophic disaster.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/25916077/prince-harry-meghan-markle-staff-exodus-archewell-netflix/
PR expert weighs in on the Harkles’ collapsing brand
The Sun posted a video on Youtube (link below) of PR expert, Mark Borkowski, talking about what the Harkles are doing wrong and what lies ahead for them. For those who don’t want to watch it because it’s kinda long, I summarized it below (it’s not verbatim). A lot of it is Captain Obvious and what we have discussed before. I don’t think it takes an expert to tell us that they’ve failed miserably. Anything in italics are my comments. Also he didn’t call them the Harkles/Harold/etc, I did lol.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s ‘knee jerk’ PR strategy slammed as ‘catastrophic’
The Express
PR guru Mark Borkowski has said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new website is an attempt by them to “dump their failures” and restart.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1866942/prince-harry-meghan-markle-pr-strategy-catastrophic
How Edward Enninful got 40 of the world’s most famous women in one room for iconic final Vogue cover
The Daily Mail
Many of the 40 women could command a combined rate of north of £1.5million per day. Oprah famously can be paid up to £600,000 a day while Linda Evangelista famously said she wouldn’t get out of bed for less than £10,000.
But Mark Borkowski, one of Britain’s leading PR gurus, told MailOnline that being featured on such an iconic cover would mean that most, if not all would, have not charged Vogue at all. Some of their costs may have been covered by fashion houses and model agencies who want the exposure, he said.
Divided brothers? Britain’s press pounces on Harry’s fleeting visit.
The Washington Post
Publicist and royal commentator Mark Borkowski said the contrast in media treatment showed “just how deep the hatred of Harry is from the British media.” He said it was “unfair” to suggest his visit had been a “PR exercise” and that more likely, like everyone else, he was “shocked” by news of his father’s ill health and wanted to be with him.
Borkowski acknowledged that Harry’s “visceral” autobiography had probably “caused deep wounds between the family,” but suggested that the royals could in the future use more hands on deck, possibly including Harry.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/08/prince-harry-william-charles-cancer/
Spin machine: reputation and media experts are turning to TikTok
Spears Magazine
Just as more tech-enabled amateur sleuths are looking into the actions and statements of those in the public eye, TikTok provides a forum for influencers to join the conversation about their favourite public figures. This can be seen as a continuation of a trend that developed in the Nineties, says Tim Maltin, founder of London-based firm Maltin PR. ‘Arguably, Tony Blair was one of the first prime ministers to govern by media,’ says Maltin. ‘One always remembers certain phrases like “Education, education, education”.’
But soon after the method increased in prominence, so did the internet – and, with it, opportunities to dissect the work of figures such as Blair’s director of communications, Alastair Campbell. This left the public ‘more able to recognise’ the ‘craft of the spin doctor’, says PR guru Mark Borkowski, who, around the turn of the millennium, wrote a column for the Guardian’s website analysing notable PR manoeuvres. Campbell stepped back from the high-profile press secretary post for a role running communications and strategy behind the scenes, before events caught up with him and he resigned in 2003 over the Iraq weapons/David Kelly affair.
But in and of itself, knowing that a public figure is making use of PR advisers doesn’t count against them, Borkowski says. ‘I don’t think anybody in the world out there doesn’t think someone significant hasn’t got PR help. Everybody knows that every celebrity worth their salt has got a publicist.’
The best reputation managers 2024
Spears Magazine
Reputations can take a lifetime to build and hours to lose. These are the experts trusted with supporting HNW clients
The best reputation managers 2024
This year, UHNWs will need specialists who know about politics like never before. One savvy operator at the forefront of this work is PR guru Mark Borkowski. He retains his Top Flight place.
https://spearswms.com/wealth/reputation-managers-best-high-net-worth-individuals/
Why no one can tune out Taylor Swift
Tortois
Like her or not, she transcends pop. The PR guru Mark Borkowski says there hasn’t been a star like her since John Lennon or Princess Diana; someone who occupies “a position of obsession”, now “hugely amplified by the splinternet, which means almost everybody is seeing something about her almost every day”.
To wit: there are eleven months left in her “Eras” tour, already the highest-grossing musical bonanza of all time having banked her $1 billion last year. Anyone hoping to tune her out in those eleven months probably hopes in vain.
https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/02/02/why-no-one-can-tune-out-taylor-swift/
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry warned of severe outcomes if royal rift grows
The News International
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been warned of severe outcomes if their rift with the senior members of the royal family grows in 2024.
As per The Express, PR expert Mark Borkowski said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should utilise 2024 in order to rebuild their positive image among the public.
He shared, “2024 is a pivotal year for them. They need to do something to recover and find a new positive tactic because what they’re doing is clearly not working.”