Flintoff filmed by Recognition

Graham writes….on this important day for English cricket – the fifth test starts today - we want to wish the team and Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff well. Only two days ago our team were filming Freddie for a promotional webcast about a new video game he is bringing out soon. Our clients were the PR team for the video game store. We film lots of celebrities like this through our sister business Recognition Services, which makes web videos and audio clips for use by PR campaigns. The newspapers use them and good PR campaigns spread them around the internet, they are not expensive with a simple web video coming in at £390 plus VAT.

August seaside tales!

Duncan Bannatyne has one mission in life: to help British business, particularly struggling businesses. The UK press have one mission in life: to use celebrity names to sell papers (particularly in August when there is no news around!) These two missions have collided. Duncan accepted an invitation from a TV channel to help some struggling attractions at various seaside resorts. Viewers will see him advising these business owners on how to improve their product and maximise their income. The press have noticed he spends some of his summers in his French Villa and have contrasted this to helping these business. They have conjured up the little green envy genie and suggested he is hypocritical enjoying France while others stay at home! I know that Duncan enjoys the British seaside as much as anyone, his early summers were spent attending deck chairs a seaside. The story might make a August silly season tale, but it won’t stop Duncan’s enthusiasm for supporting the small business. you can hear his response in and audio interview here: http://www.recognitionpr.co.uk/journalistarea-story.asp?id=6976

Frances writes......At the beginning of August we always tell our team to beware the media’s agenda. The media need to fill the gap left by a lack of Parliamentary, Council and Court reporting as these bodies often take a break. News programmes aren’t shortened but instead the cameras and microphones turn to issues that would otherwise not have been of interest. Sources of information such as league tables from regulators, inspection reports about nursery schools, nursing homes and hospitals suddenly become the subject of detailed scrutiny. Reader, viewer and listener complaints about companies and public bodies receive greater attention.

As a result, in August Recognition is always busy. Normally around 30% of our work is devoted to answering hostile media stories, this week it has been nearer 50%. Furthermore, very often the decision makers from our clients are away and getting the information we need to fight back can be difficult. Thankfully we have managed to mitigate much of what has happened this August. But all organisations need to beware of August. Plan to issue some news and fill the vacuum, don’t let the media do it for you!

Dragon's investment......

I just had to blog about this one....UK Commercial Cleaning and Supplies is Duncan Bannatyne's latest investment, did you see them on Dragon's Den. Brilliant. They reminded me of starting this firm from my bedroom and I'm sure they reminded Duncan of his own humble business roots as an ice cream van owner. He invested £100,000 in this firm. The founder Tony Earnshaw, started from a window cleaning round when he was only 19. Now 6 years on he has a business which expects to turnover £1million per year and has healthy profits. Duncan's cash will help the firm open depots around the UK and our publicity support should keep him well known. Today he is in all the North's press and on our TV too. well done Tony!