The transport for London accused of lying by the Rail Union
November 19, 2010
The transport for London has been accused of lying by the rail union about the level of staff on the Tube. A document was leaked by the Rail Maritime and Transport Union which showed that some stations had no staff. In it’s defense the TFL said that the document was valid but only on rare occasions were stations left unmanned. This comes after they also said that as a result of the cuts they will not impact the stations. It goes down the safety of our trains and the ability of having access to staff to provide the service which rail passengers are paying for.
British Airways Strikes – no such thing as bad publicity?
June 2, 2010
It’s the old cliché that in PR there is no such thing as bad publicity – just look at how Kate Moss bounced back more famous and with even more couture brands demanding her name since she was pictured snorting cocaine, clearly she knows the power that any type publicity can bring.
However the same can’t be said for the iconic British airline, British Airways. Since their cabin crew announced that they would be striking, initially over the Easter break and more recently over the summer holiday season, people’s trust in this iconic brand has slipped terribly, not to mention the share prices have also dropped. This is deemed a PR disaster, as potential customer will be very reluctant to book their summer holiday with a company who cannot guarantee that it will even have staff to work. Of course one the back of these strikes, rival brands such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet will be able to pick up the lost British Airways customers. No such thing as bad publicity – try telling that to BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh.
What is a PR stunt?
May 30, 2010
PR is Public Relations. This can also be called Marketing or Publicity. A PR stunt is often referred to as a publicity stunt or marketing stunt.
A PR stunt is usually organised by a company, product or celebrity, with the attention of grabbing media and public attention. This attention will then, in theory, to more purchases of said product or interest in said celebrity. Someone famous once said ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’ and this is a well-used phrase today.
The most recent real-news story of a PR stunt was the boy in the balloon. In October last year two parents contacted the police claiming that their six year old boy had floated away on board a helium balloon coloured and shaped to look like a UFO.
Local police and worldwide media followed as the police tracked the balloon until it landed more than 50 miles away. When the balloon landed, the boy was not inside. Authorities began a manhunt, presuming the boy to have fallen out. However, that same afternoon, the boy was reported to hgave been hiding in his house upstairs.
Suspicions only really arose about it being a publicity stunt when the boy was asked about why he was hiding. He turned to his father and said, “you guys said that, um… we did this for the show.”
Whoops. Although it all seems to have gone wrong, and the parents were arrested, they did receive publicity, which – usually – is the key reason behind a PR stunt.
Girls Aloud back in the papers?
April 14, 2010
Given the five luscious ladies have all been promoting their own cause for the last year, it’s relatively intriguing that they’re in the papers as a group. Having said that, the only reason they’re in the papers is because Nadine Coyle – the Irish beauty – has apparently not spoken to the other band members for months.
Nicola Roberts (the Liverpudlian redhead who has been campaigning for skin cancer awareness) has said that they rest of the band haven’t spoken to Nadine for seven months.
With Cheryl Cole taking the world by storm, and Nadine planning a solo album, it’s going to be interesting to see how the next Girls Aloud album will be structured. If, that is, the contract is seen through.
Pete Docherty arrested in connection with drugs? Really?!
March 23, 2010
Peter (With the ‘r’ as he now insists) Docherty has been arrested again in connection with selling or giving illegal substances to the now deceased heiress Robin Whitehead.
There were two others questioned in connection with these charges, but it’s little surprise that Docherty has been arrested about illegal drug use and possession yet again. The only thing I don’t understand is how the police still don’t actually give him a proper sentence. He obviously isn’t learning his lesson, and it is giving young people the message that ‘Having, selling and taking drugs is cool. You might get arrested but, hey, never mind, you’ll not be convicted, nor prevented from taking them again.’
When people as famous as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Paul McCartney, Bob Marley, Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dog and Queen Latifah have all been arrested for drugs possession and NOT ONE of them has had to serve time, it just makes you think. It’s no wonder knife crime, thievery and childhood violence is on the up. They all think there are no repercussions to living ‘da gansta life’.
At least I’m not bitter.
Mixed reviews for Lloyd Webber’s Phantom sequel
March 15, 2010
Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera has received mixed reviews from critics this week. While some have given it a whopping five out of five stars, others have condemned it to only one or two.
It has been described as superb, “his finest show since the original Phantom” with good singing and actors’ performances. Many critics who gave the show poor reviews for plot, substance and believability said the set and special effects “cannot be faulted” and that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score is wonderful.
The plot has been criticised as having “bizarre mechanics” and as being implausible, and the play has been called “Paint Never Dries” by one harsh critic.
One critic says:
“This Phantom is not the phantom we knew. The “poisoned gargoyle who burns in hell” has clearly taken an anger management course in New York… Where’s the menace, the horror, the psychological darkness?”
I think the moral is that we’re going to have to go and see it to make up our minds, as it looks like the jury’s out on this one.
Tributes paid to TV Presenter
March 3, 2010
Tributes were paid yesterday to the ‘well loved’ TV presenter Kristian Digby, who was found dead in his East London flat on Monday morning.
His death has been announced as ‘unexplained’ after ambulance crews pronounced him dead at the scene at 0745 GMT on Monday 1st March 2010.
Mr Digby, 32, worked on a number of property shows, including, To Buy or Not To Buy and Buy It, Sell It, Bank It. He also worked as a film producer, having studied Film, Video and Photographic Arts at the University of Westminster.
His colleague, Dominic Littlewood, said “There’s not a bad word I can say about Kristian. He was a lovely, fun, nice, jolly, decent person.”
Tributes like this have been coming thick and fast, and are raising more questions as to the cause of his death.
Is Bad Publicity Good Publicity?
July 23, 2009
So, is bad publicity actually good publicity. General consensus is that bad publicity is better than no publicity at all.
So for all you companies out there, all you individuals, business owners, Z list Celebs and anyone else trying to get a name for yourself, if you’ve got something to flaunt then flaunt it, whether it’s good, bad or ugly.
Many celebrities and businesses are all over the news each week and it’s nothing to do with their talents or achievements. Just look at some of the ‘honours’ handed out by The Sun Newspaper each year in their ‘Bizarre’ Awards; shagger of the year, cainer of the year…the list goes on and on.
If you are a lothario, or you are constantly on the party circuit it seems that this is enough these days to get you publicity. The recipients of these awards are gratious for their prizes and then feel abliged to live up to their name, almost to prove they are not just a one year wonder.
Then there’s I’m A Celebrity where and publicity, good or bad is welcome, even if it takes a meal of testicles to make it happen. It seems that the ever growing trend of Reality TV means that it’s easier than ever to obtain publicity, whether it is good or bad. So my view is that bad publicity (or any publicity) is better than no publicity.
What do you think? Doesn’t it make you sick?
Celebrities will do anything to stay in the public eye - it seems any publicity is better than no publicity
Was Jordan Trying To Get The Public Back On Her Side?
July 17, 2009
So, was Katie Price (Jordan) trying to get the public back on her side with the recent interview with Piers Morgan earlier this months. Many claim it was a cry for sympathy, or a PR exercise to get people to change their opinion of her following the drinking, cavorting and frankly embarrassing scantily clad performances of the previous month.
Katie claims she suffered a miscarriage just weeks before the couple’s split and the end of their marriage. She also admitted to being a “binge drinker” and said she didn’t want the marriage to end.
After commenting numerous times that Peter Andre was her ‘life’, she then however put the final nail in the coffin with the outrageous comment:
‘Once the divorce is over I could be married next summer.’
I wonder if she has anyone in mind?
Ladies and Gents - Katie Price (or more aptly Jordan if she continues to go back to her old ways) is officially back on the market again!
Katie Price aka Jordan is back in the market again!
