Press

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

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 

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:

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

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/

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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

BBC

PR expert Mark Borkowski, who has represented fellow jungle contestant Noel Edmonds, says a number of opportunities await Harry if he chooses to take them.

“Harry Redknapp can do anything he wants now,” he told PA.

“There will be calls coming in for openings, appearances.

“They’ll be thinking ‘What is the next appearance on TV? What is the next opportunity?’

“It’s left now to the agents to try and keep away the bad publicity and keep things going positively.”

Borkowski said it’s important for Harry and fellow big stars from the show like Emily Atack and Noel Edmonds to “exploit” their fame so it’s not short-lived.

“This is the highest-rated TV programme, there are a lot of eyeballs.

“It ends with a very sharp full stop. They quickly go off the radar. But it’s in the power of the big personalities.

“It’s very brief, but it’s millions. It’s millions and millions of pounds from a show like this, for the best one.

“Your opportunities go up 100%, your earnings go up 100%. It’s right at the top.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46511266

BBC Radio

Vanessa Feltz

Hear article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p06q7xnt  from 2:23:30

The Guardian

Animal rights campaigners follow a long tradition in PR of capitalising on a quirky place names

Veteran PR Mark Borkowski said publicists have a “heroic heritage” of generating coverage by hijacking a city or town with a quirky name. “This was first deployed by the arch-publicist Jim Moran back in the 50s. He used Fleatown, Ohio, to launch a chemical which could eradicate animal mites. Hell in Michigan was the test bed for a quit smoking campaign. Intercourse, Pennsylvania, was the unfortunate city to launch a prophylactic,” he said.

He said stirring up controversy and angering Peta’s opponents was an easy way to gain coverage. “I am sure those who enjoy ribbing the woke vegans will generate ink and commentary giving the subject a wider discourse. All light and shade in search of a debate.”

Read full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/nov/23/how-hapless-wool-got-blanketed-by-petas-shock-publicity

In a 2006 interview with lads’ mag Loaded, Noel revealed how he had woke up one morning and decided to take his Ford GT40 out for a spin in his birthday suit.

He said: “I thought I’d take it out for a breather, the poor thing was stuck in its stable and needed exercise.

“I remember arriving at a roundabout horrendously fast, I almost didn’t stop.”

The revelation angered road safety chiefs at the time, leading Noel’s agent Mark Borkowski to say: “This happened 20 years ago when he woke up early one morning, stark naked and wanted to drive.

Read full article here: https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/3417151/noel-edmonds-boasted-about-driving-his-sports-car-at-186mph-while-naked-at-4-30am/

The Irish Sun

Top PR guru Mark Borkowski told us how Toff would be “snapped up” by companies to be the face of their brands.

She has since gone on to present segments for This Morning, written her own book, Always Smiling: The World According to Toff, and hosted backstage coverage for the National Television Awards.

Read full article here: https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/3424553/im-a-celeb-winner-will-have-to-hand-over-a-third-of-their-earnings-to-the-show-when-they-leave-the-jungle/

Sputnik News

The deal, according to brand specialist Mark Borkowski could be worth millions. “I would think it would be on a par with what the London Underground has done. It could be worth millions,” Borkowski told the Standard. “Resources are stretched so let’s hope it is a multi-million pound success for London.”

Recent dramas including Bodyguard has helped make the “sexiness” of the brand Mark Borkowski said.

Read Article Here: https://sputniknews.com/europe/201810311069389884-london-met-clothing-label/

Daily Mail

PR expert Mark Borkowski, who has worked with stars from Michael Jackson to Sir Cliff Richard, predicted the new range could make millions in foreign experts.

‘It’s that image you have for Beefeaters, Bobbies, telephone boxes and the Routemaster buses. It’s the Downton Abbey effect, the projection of the Olympics,’ he said.

‘I don’t think you’ll see floods of Londoners buying their cuddly Met plod toy with their uniforms.’

Read Article Here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6333733/Londons-Scotland-Yard-hopes-make-millions-expanding-range-branded-goods-sale.html

The Independent

Branding experts said the Met’s licensing deal could potentially be worth millions of pounds, but predicted Britons were unlikely to snap up the London force’s wares.

“I think it has more of a hope to succeed as a foreign export,” public relations guru Mark Borkowski told the Evening Standard. “It’s that image you have of Beefeaters, Bobbies, telephone boxes and the Routemaster buses.”

He added: “I don’t think you’ll see floods of Londoners buying their cuddly Met plod toy with their uniforms.

“If you think about NYPD or LAPD – I don’t think people in New York or Los Angeles have the same sort of romance about that police force.”

Read Article Here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/met-police-merchandise-clothes-sale-branded-budget-cuts-scotland-yard-a8610856.html