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.
Doctor still practising after qualifying in WWII
May 27, 2010
Although this is not happening in London, I wonder if it could be soon, giving our ageing population.
In Augusta, Georgia (USA), there is a doctor called Walter Watson who has been present at the birth of generations of the same families, spanning from grandparents to grandchildren.
He has spent a huge 63 years as an obstetrician. He is thought to be the oldest practising medical practitioner in the world. He is nicknamed “Papa Doc” and has treated one patient, Sabra Allen, for 59 years. She is now 77. He has delivered 17 members of her family, including all five of her own children, and twelve of her grandchildren.
Dr. Watson turned 100 on February 25th, and says he has no plans for retirement yet, even though he suffers from minor arthritis and diminished eyesight.
In this country, that means he has already worked 35-40 years beyond retirement age and it still going today. Could this be a more regular occurrence, or is there just something special in the water of Georgia?
Airports reopen after more ash disruption
May 18, 2010
London Heathrow and Stansted airports are open again after more ash disruption form the Icelandic volcano.
There was further disruption for air passengers last week and over the weekend as many of the UK’s airports were closed to due volcanic ash. Stansted and Heathrow airports, however, have both re-opened again, and are starting to allow flights.
If you are planning from either of these airports – or other UK airports – it is strongly advised that you check with your airline before travelling to the airport, as there are still plenty of airports closed.
Some of those still disrupted are:
• Newcastle International
• City of Derry
• Bournemouth
• Belfast International
• Glasgow
• Exeter
• Bristol
• Gatwick
• Leeds Bradford
• Newquay
• Liverpool John Lennon
David Cameron, Prime Minister
May 12, 2010
So, we’re in uncharted waters on the very edge of a recession. Is that a good thing or not? We certainly needed something to change after the cock-up of the last 5 years, but Labour haven’t been all bad.
Well, at about twenty past seven last night, Gordon brown officially tendered his resignation to the Queen, who dutifully accepted. Less than 90 minutes later, David Cameron was walking out of Buckingham Palace, officially Britain’s new Prime Minister.
Given that the Conservatives didn’t win an overall majority in the election, the government will be made of a “full and open” coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, headed by Nick Clegg. Mr Clegg is officially the Deputy Prime Minister, a role that was accepted by the Queen herself.
Both parties have had to bend and compromise in this coalition, some being almost strictly against their priorities and standards. But a partnership is a partnership. Some of these are the referendum of the voting system (which will go ahead), a cap on immigration (which will go ahead) and an agreement not to join the Euro during the premiership.
General Election day arrives
May 6, 2010
It’s May 6th 2010, the day the country will probably change for better or worse. This election is the tightest there has been in decades, and is the first time since the Second World War that there is the possibility (albeit slim) of a Liberal Democrat Prime Minister.
Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown are all running for Prime Minister. Not one of them was the party leader in the last general election, making this the first time all major parties have a new candidate since 1979.
The Liberal Democrats have maintained the hope that they will hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, as for them to become the only party in Government would take an almost unimaginable victory and number of votes. For this to happen, the Liberal Democrats would need at least 42% of the UK vote, with no other party gaining more than 28%.
Last general election, Labour won with 36% of the vote, so Clegg would need a lot of support to get through.
Let’s drink some coffee and red bull and sit up all night with an election TV marathon and see what tomorrow will bring!
