Triumph for Extinction Rebellion as protests spark huge surge in ‘climate change’ web traffic
The Independent
Mark Borkowski, who has written extensively about the art of the “publicity stunt”, said that the campaign was markedly different from previous eco-protests. The aims of the Extinction Rebellion press operation is gradual change – to gather momentum, and what we’ve seen recently with them has been something that has built up over a period of time,” he said
Read full article here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/climate-change-protests-extinction-rebellion-london-google-search-a8886171.html
Triumph for Extinction Rebellion as protests spark huge surge in ‘climate change’ web traffic Group apologises for disruption but says demonstrations were ‘hugely successful’
The Independent
Extinction Rebellion activists have hailed their protests in London as a “huge success” after data suggested they caused a five-fold increase in online searches for climate change.
PR experts also agreed that the type of disruptive tactics employed by Extinction Rebellion had successfully made people take notice.
The media are doing exactly what they [Extinction Rebellion] want them to do, and that is talking about them.”
Mark Borkowski, who has written extensively about the art of the “publicity stunt”, said that the campaign was markedly different from previous eco-protests.
“The aims of the Extinction Rebellion press operation is gradual change – to gather momentum, and what we’ve seen recently with them has been something that has built up over a period of time,” he said.
“Publicity stunts, to a certain extent, are a tipping point to achieve a consciousness. What the PR world does badly sometimes are bad publicity stunts – that go off and generate a focus of attention for a 24-hour period but is then forgotten about.
“What they have done through the use of direct action and social media is build a momentum behind their campaign. You have to sustain the momentum of your action to keep interest going.”
He added: “They’ve had really strong iconic messages, such as the pink boat and stopping the traffic, which have really resonated with people’s consciousness – similar to protests in the past like ‘Ban the Bomb’, Greenham Common and anti-racism that had a profound effect.
“A lot of charities and protest movements could learn from the PR tactics of Extinction Rebellion.”
Read full article here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/climate-change-protests-extinction-rebellion-london-google-search-a8886171.html
PRWeek reveals the Top 150 UK PR consultancies in 2019
PR Week
“Mark Borkowski, founder of the eponymous agency, comments: “Traditional media – people talk about it being dead, but it still has a huge impact on feeding social.”
Read full article here: https://www.prweek.com/article/1582740/prweek-uk-top-150-consultancies-2019-digital-skills-top-pr-priorities-list
Royal baby could be ‘CLEAN SLATE’ to allow Meghan Markle to move on from family rift
The Express
“PR guru Mark Borkowski also claimed the Royal Baby could be an opportunity for the couple to attract some positive press.
He said: “With the arrival of the baby we’ve got a number of routes to go down now.
“There is the Christening, which is great stuff, great photo opportunity, great capital for newspapers so they’ll want to play with that”
Ant and Dec win ‘means duo are cherished as much as history’s biggest stars’
Millbank Monitor
“Publicist and strategist Mark Borkowski told the Press Association: “People are saying they love Ant, that he’s been through a terrible time, and whether you are famous or you are not, you have these issues in your life.”
Read full article here: https://milbankmonitor.com/ant-and-dec-win-means-duo-are-cherished-as-much-as-historys-biggest-stars/20/03/2019/
How Greggs Made Its Vegan Sausage Roll a Social Media Sensation.
Bloomberg
Greggs got the publicity it desired because of the fun attitude to marketing, showing it’s a brave and modern brand, British publicist Mark Borkowski said. “In a very noisy world where it’s very difficult to raise your head above the parapet, to extend the story, to keep it running as your main marketing initiative, you need noise,” Borkowski said in a phone interview. “Piers Morgan gave that sort of noise.
Read full article here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-09/how-greggs-made-its-vegan-sausage-roll-a-social-media-sensation
Real Influence is at a premium- don’t squander it on irrelevant stunts
PR Week
Stunts and unlikely partnerships have their place in PR but they need to be meaningful, plausible and free from cynicism to work, says Mark Borkowski”
Read full article here: https://www.prweek.com/article/1487918/real-influence-premium-dont-squander-irrelevant-stunts
Richard E Grant’s Oscar glee: ingenue or a crafty campaigner?
“The PR agent Mark Borkowski describes the campaign as “beautifully uncool” and the actor as simply “joyous.”
Read full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/feb/22/richard-e-grant-oscar-glee-ingenue-or-wily-campaigner
Royal BOMBSHELL: The Queen makes HUGE staff change announcement via Buckingham Palace
Express
At the time PR consultant Mark Borkowski said Buckingham Palace’s communications had been “DIY” and needed to change.
Read full article here: https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1090220/Queen-elizabeth-ii-buckingham-palace-royal-family-news-ladbrokes-coral-meghan-markle
Buckingham Palace announces Queen’s new communications secretary
Express & Star
Buckingham Palace’s handling of the aftermath of Philip’s accident in January was dubbed “DIY” public relations by Mark Borkowski, a PR consultant.
Read full article here: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2019/02/20/buckingham-palace-announces-queens-new-communications-secretary
Mark talks Liam Nesson’s
Front Row BBC Radio 4
Talking about the interview bombshell, what happens when big names make big mistakes, and damage control.
Listen to full clip here:
Ant and Dec win ‘means duo are cherished as much as history’s biggest stars
The Independent
Ant and Dec’s win at the National Television Awards shows the duo are “cherished” as much as some of the biggest stars in TV history, an industry expert has said.
The duo won their 18th consecutive gong at the ceremony, for best TV presenter, voted for by viewers, despite Ant McPartlin having been off-screen for much of the time.
Publicist and strategist Mark Borkowski told the Press Association: “People are saying they love Ant, that he’s been through a terrible time, and whether you are famous or you are not, you have these issues in your life.
The public understand there are problems in life.
“The award says something about what the public want, they cherish Ant and Dec in the same way as they cherished Morecambe and Wise in the past, or in the 50s, the Goons.
“There are certain acts that might be flawed but the public love them.
“Ant said the right thing (in the pair’s acceptance speech) about Dec keeping the seat warm. He’s done the right things.
“The public are saying, ‘We are giving you a big vote of confidence, we love you, we want you to be back on our TV screens, we understand what you have been through’, and so they should take that and move onwards.”
He said the pair would be “damned if they won” and “damned if they didn’t win” by some commentators and added: “Who is snapping at their heels as a double act? Jedward?
Read full article here: https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/ant-and-dec-win-means-duo-are-cherished-as-much-as-historys-biggest-stars-37741511.html
Duke should be prosecuted if found at fault, crash victim suggests
Bournemouth Echo
Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski has criticised Buckingham Palace’s handling of the situation, describing it as a “DIY PR moment”.
Speaking about the decision by the 97-year-old duke to order a new car and go driving a few days after the accident, Mr Borkowski said: “It would have been wise to just go a little bit silent on this story.
“It seems to me he had a point to prove that despite his ageing years, he loved his car and wasn’t going to stop, it was a real statement from him – business as usual.”
He added that palace officials were having to work with the determined duke: “We all have clients who want to do things in a way they want to do, they might take some advice from a PR person it doesn’t necessarily mean they get the advice, we call that situation ‘doing all the wrong things really well’.
Read full article here: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/national/17374001.duke-should-be-prosecuted-if-found-at-fault-crash-victim-suggests/
Duke should be prosecuted if found at fault, crash victim suggests
Yahoo UK News
A mother-of-two injured in the Duke of Edinburgh’s car crash has suggested he should be prosecuted if found at fault over the incident.
Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski has criticised Buckingham Palace’s handling of the situation, describing it as a “DIY PR moment”.
Speaking about the decision by the 97-year-old duke to order a new car and go driving a few days after the accident, Mr Borkowski said: “It would have been wise to just go a little bit silent on this story.
“It seems to me he had a point to prove that despite his ageing years, he loved his car and wasn’t going to stop, it was a real statement from him – business as usual.”
He added that palace officials were having to work with the determined duke: “We all have clients who want to do things in a way they want to do, they might take some advice from a PR person it doesn’t necessarily mean they get the advice, we call that situation ‘doing all the wrong things really well’.”
Read full article here: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/duke-prosecuted-found-fault-crash-162257963.html?guccounter=1
Gillette Appeals To Shave Off Toxic ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ Attitude
Odishabytes
PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Guardian that the advertisement is a “fantastically well-thought through campaign”, adding that the younger generation wants brands to have a purpose, not simply sell a product and “Masculinity is a huge part of Gillette’s brand, and there is a recognition in this ad that the new generation is reworking that concept of masculinity, and it is no longer the cliche once was.”
Read full article here: http://www.odishabytes.com/gillette-appeals-to-shave-off-toxic-boys-will-be-boys-attitude/
Masculinity is a huge part of Gillette’s brand
CNA Lifestyle
“It is no longer enough for brands to simply sell a product, customers are demanding that they have a purpose – that they stand for something,” he said.
“Masculinity is a huge part of Gillette’s brand, and there is a recognition in this ad that the new generation is reworking that concept of masculinity, and it is no longer the cliche is once was.
Read full article here: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/trending/gillette-metoo-campaign-draws-praise-and-abuse-11128408
Fantastically well-thought through campaign
The Guardian
Gillette #MeToo ad on ‘toxic masculinity’ gets praise – and abuse Backlash includes call for boycott of P&G, complaining commercial ‘emasculates men’
The advertisement shows men intervening to stop fights between boys and calling other men out when they say sexually inappropriate things to women in the streets.
“We believe in the best in men: To say the right thing, to act the right way. Some already are in ways big and small. But some is not enough. Because the boys watching today will be the men of tomorrow,” the voiceover says.
PR expert Mark Borkowski called the advert part of a “fantastically well-thought through campaign”, adding that it appealed to a younger generation that were very aware of the power of advertising and marketing on society.
“It is no longer enough for brands to simply sell a product, customers are demanding that they have a purpose – that they stand for something,” he said. “Masculinity is a huge part of Gillette’s brand, and there is a recognition in this ad that the new generation is reworking that concept of masculinity, and it is no longer the cliche is once was.”
Read full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/gillette-metoo-ad-on-toxic-masculinity-cuts-deep-with-mens-rights-activists
Murray’s options are vast
The Guardian
Mark Borkowski, a PR expert who has worked with Michael Jackson, Van Morrison and a host of other stars and brands, believes Murray’s options are vast. “There is almost nothing he couldn’t do next,” he says. “What we look for in PR these days is authenticity and raw emotion, and Murray has got that in droves. Sponsors will be salivating at having him because he is so open and honest and because he is an inspiration to so many people.”
Read full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/11/andy-murray-next-pundit-politician-tennis
New British Army recruitment posters target ‘snowflakes’ and ‘me me me millennials’
Talk Radio
Is it clever for the British Army to be targeting millennials in their new recruitment drive? Mark discusses the campaign with Jamie East on talkRADIO
‘Duelling duchesses’ and a Game of Thrones script: Why the royal Christmas is under more scrutiny this year
CBC
‘Duelling duchesses’ and a Game of Thrones script: Why the royal Christmas is under more scrutiny this year
Negative headlines have been swirling around younger members of House of Windsor
Borkowski isn’t surprised by the headlines swirling. “You can interpret a look in whichever way you want to see it,” said Mark Borkowski, a British public relations expert. “The media, particularly the online [sites] who are generating clickbait over this row, will continue to stir this up, because it’s of value to them.”
“As I saw the hype that built around the royal wedding of Meghan and Harry, I thought this spells trouble… this is going to upset the apple cart. “Borkowski sees history repeating itself, particularly as an outsider — Meghan — enters the royal realm.” You’ve got a very modern viewpoint against something that is very much establishment. Kate is very much what you’d expect to be the future queen, and you’ve got this disruptive force within [the family]. It is like a Game of Thrones sort of script.” Any family anywhere in the world has tension, he said. “When there’s a dynasty and when there’s inheritance and when there’s title, when there’s power, all that is a toxic mix,” said Borkowski.
Read full article here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/meghan-harry-william-kate-controversy-christmas-1.4943178