Sam Ajilore and Mariah Carey

Music blog spotlight: That Grape Juice

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

That Grape Juice is the number one music blog created by Sam Ajilore. Now over a decade old, That Grape Juice continues to be at the forefront of urban music and culture, with bases in London and LA. We caught up with Sam to find out what’s on the agenda for 2019, who are the greatest artists of all time and how the blog works with PR.

What are your plans for the blog in 2019?
Growth! If there’s one thing that’s a guarantee in the digital landscape it’s change. Thankfully, I’ve long approached That Grape Juice as being a ‘voice’ that can permeate a multitude of platforms. Hence, moving forward, the plan is to make the site’s ‘voice’ as accessible and omnipresent as possible – via the web, podcasts, and streaming services.

How is music changing and does this affect your content?
The music industry is most definitely in the midst of one its most pronounced eras of change thanks to streaming, which is now the primary means of consumption.

Because of this, the traditional rulebook has been tossed out of the window and artists have been gifted much more agency over what they release and when they release it.

This, in turn, has de-emphasised the immediate importance of ‘the single’ and ‘the album’ as well as the rigid promo schedules that used to define both. It’s made for a much more interesting arena, one where artists are now framing releases as they choose, which is evidenced by the surge in mixtapes, EPs and songs rolled out simply to feed fans.

As a music news and review platform, it’s resulted in much more content to cover – with some acts working multiple tracks at the same time. It’s really exciting.

Who’s your favourite band/artist?
I’ve always loved spectacle and performance as much as I have music itself. So, the genesis for me will always be Michael Jackson. More contemporarily though, I’d say Beyoncé. She pretty much carries the MJ baton for me personally.

Who’s going to be hot in 2019?
It’s always tough to call and there’s so many variables. I will say that I’m super excited about Normani (formerly of Fifth Harmony). She’s a dynamite performer and is navigating the solo landscape exquisitely so far. She’s making all the right moves and musically has ample potential.

On home soil, I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing from rapper Dave. He has a unique perspective and articulates it in a super compelling way.

Do you play any instruments?
I wish!

Humbly speaking, I feel I have a fairly good ear for melody. As such, I really hope (at some point in this life!) I can parlay that towards learning the piano.

What’s the best song ever?
Wow, this is so hard! And for that reason, I have to list at least three. In no particular order:

  • Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
  • We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
  • I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

I have a thing for songs that are lyric/story driven while still being easy on the ear. Traits each of these tracks possess.

How do you work with PRs/brands on content?
There’s the standard influx of press releases – of which we receive up to 100… per day!

At a more involved level, we routinely collaborate with PRs on artist interviews, live show reviews, robust features and campaign-long story-telling.

What one thing should they know before contacting you?
A personal approach is often the best approach! We’re pleasant music-lovers who are dually committed to serving our audience the freshest content, while working with PRs, brands, and similar to achieve their campaign goals too.

As such, while mass targeted press releases are sometimes a necessity, it’s so much more impactful when we receive emails from folk who understand the platform they’re reaching out to and have a clear goal in mind when touching base.

It’s surprising to still see generic emails filled with all-encompassing verbiage such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ and ‘your blog’ instead of the blog’s actual name.

Put simply, the more personalised the better.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes! From all regions. Music is so universal these days, with the internet being a ‘global village’. So, we’re happy to receive content from everywhere.

What other blogs do you read?
Far too many to name! I will say, though, that I really enjoy reading personal blogs.

My field (music) is rooted in fantasy, spectacle, and escapism, whereas such blogs are anchored in the real, the here, and the now. All of which speaks to me outside of my ‘professional self’.

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

CIPR advisor service

How to hire PR professionals and agencies

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

The CIPR has launched the Client Advisor Service to guide businesses through the process of hiring public relations support. Whether it’s for in-house PR staff or external PR agencies and independent practitioners, the new Service will connect businesses with experienced CIPR Client Advisors.

The Advisors are all Chartered PR Professionals and will help businesses identify their needs and provide a range of support from preparing job descriptions and briefs to joining interviews and pitch panels.

The Service will be launched at MHP Communications on 24 January, where CIPR President, Emma Leech, will set out her vision for the CIPR in 2019. You can register to attend online.

The CIPR has also launched two new guides, designed to further support businesses looking to recruit PR staff or hire the right PR agency.

In-house roles
Recruiting for public relations roles offers information and advice for individuals and businesses seeking to recruit for PR roles. It covers the whole hiring process from common job titles and typical salaries by both role and experience, to shortlisting and making an offer.

The guide is also a valuable tool for anyone applying for PR roles, as it’s the ultimate guide to what’s required.

PR agencies and independent practitioners
The second guide, A guide to selecting PR agencies and independent practitioners, explains what services you can expect to receive from external PRs, how to define what you need and how to select the right people.

The guide provides detailed case studies for different areas of PR including The McOnie Agency’s work on the Ebola outbreak for Arco – in the ‘Issues and Crisis Management’ section; Taylor Herring’s Fit Kwik campaign for Kwik Fit – in the ‘Special Events, Conferences and Meetings’ section; and MHP’s Drop the Duty campaign for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association & Scotch Whisky Association – in the ‘Government Relations and Public Affairs’ section.

Again, the guide is not only vital for businesses trying to work how to pick a PR agency, but also for the agencies and independent practitioners themselves, who can draw inspiration from the detailed selection of successful campaigns.

Emma Leech said: ‘Reputation has never been more important for businesses and yet public relations is sometimes misunderstood and undervalued by UK PLC. The Client Advisor Service, along with these new guides, aims to change that.

‘The Service takes the pain out of hiring PR support and gives businesses peace of mind when recruiting or hiring agencies. Our Client Advisors will work closely with businesses to ensure they get maximum value from their public relations function. This is an exciting and significant step forward for our industry as we continue to assert the strategic value of public relations to the business community.’

Find out more about the Client Advisor Service. 

Bionic Basil

Pet Blog Spotlight: Bionic Basil

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The Bionic Basil pet blog was created by Cathrine Garnell and inspired by Basil, the cat. Ranked in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs, Basil and the ‘B’ Team of feisty felines share humour, brain training, mindfulness and cuteness. In this spotlight, Cathrine shares how she portrays each cats’ unique personality, why cats rule, and which kitty is most likely to endure a costume photo shoot.

How has your blog changed from when you first started? 
Where the blog began and where it is today is a lot different; it started out as just Basil’s blog but as it progressed the rest of The B Team joined in, and as time passed they each got an exclusive post which suits their personalities, sharing lots of really fun things to keep any cat fancier entertained on a weekly basis.

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger? 
Crafting with Cats, Colouring with Cats, Gardening with Cats, Brain Training with Cats, Fashion with Felines, Feline Fiction etc… did I mention cats!

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing? 
Basil, Amber, Smooch, Parsley, Pandora and Fudge, aka The B Team, each have their own personalities, expressions and voice. They are all completely different individuals so when writing their posts, it’s all about them and what they’re doing at that moment.

Bionic Basil, the B team

What are better cats or dogs?
Oh now there’s a tough question, obviously I have many cats, but I love dogs too, though sadly don’t have the time to have another at this point. So at BBHQ, cats rule supreme at the moment.

Did you have a pet growing up? 
I had lots of pets, mainly dogs, though I also had ponies, donkeys, and my father used to keep rare breeds cattle, so from an early age I’ve been surrounded by all kinds of animals, hence the reason I have my own little cat-herd today.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners? 
If you can, do get pet insurance.

How do you work with PRs and brands?  
Most of the time, agencies, publishers and PRs will contact us via email and we simply take it from that point forward. Assessing the brand’s needs along with how we can best present their product/idea in the style of our blog.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?  
A couple of the best collaborations we have done recently are with Miaustore and Catit. Both are such great companies and produce such innovative products for feline enrichment.

Do bloggers need their own industry association? 
A dedicated Pet Blogger association/platform would be great in the UK. Our American friends have Blogpaws, so a UK counterpart would be great, and would help address questions and issues for new and seasoned pet bloggers alike.

What other blogs do you read?  
We read lots every week. On our blog we have a page dedicated to pet blogs, a directory of sorts and we visit most of those regularly. Though our favourite UK pet blogs in no order are:  Erin the Cat Princess, Katzenworld, Memories of Eric and Flynn, Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny and Athena, Cat Goddess.

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

Zoe Ball

Zoe Ball takes on Radio 2 breakfast show as first female presenter

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Yesterday, Zoe Ball presented her first Radio 2 breakfast show after taking over from Chris Evans. From next week, Ball will be up against Evans – presenter of the show for nine years – when he starts presenting a rival show on Virgin Radio.

Ball said: ‘It’s going to be interesting times, I’m going to be up against Chris, I’m up against Jamie Theakston [on Heart], my old telly husband. But I feel generally it’s a really exciting time for radio, and I hope we can make a success of it.’

Ball isn’t the only new presenter for the channel, as Sara Cox launches her drivetime show, Jo Whiley begins a new evening solo slot, and Trevor Nelson brings his Rhythm Nation to late nights.

Ball told BBC news: ‘The thing we really wanna do is bring lots of music, lots of energy, not too much chat – but enough, and we want people to have learned something by the end of the show.’

The Telegraph said that Ball and the team began the show ‘fast-talking and jumpy, clearly excited to be there, if wary of the reaction’.

It continued: ‘The programme that unfurled after the first hour or so was warm and bright.

‘The really good news is that Ball was sparky and friendly, and not at all cheesy, braggy or shouty.’

The Guardian’s Mark Lawson gave the show four stars and said the first show was helped by celebrity guest John Cleese: ‘Cleese has helped start a dawn format that feels built to last’.

Ex-BBC boss Roger Mosey, writing for the Mail, was less impressed with the ‘underwhelming’ guests but is generally positive about the new breakfast show. He said: ‘This is an amiable programme with decent music, and Ball is warm and lively as a breakfast companion. I predict most of the audience will stay with Radio 2, and she’ll beat Evans’ digital-only offering by many multiples.

‘Whether it will be as compelling a listen as Evans at his best, I doubt, but the reduction in egotism is refreshing. I think the BBC can be optimistic that Radio 2 will at least stay afloat in these choppy waters.’

The Times’s Clive Lewis only gave the show two stars, as it was ‘too frantic’. He said: ‘At its best, Radio 2 manages to hold together an enormous, disparate audience by making the various shifts in tone seem unforced and perfectly natural. Ball, on the other hand, sounds as if she is still working her way through a recipe on how to bake a new personality.’

BBC director-general Tony Hall, who was at Radio 2, told the Press Association that Ball was ‘brilliant, absolutely brilliant’.

On Twitter, the reaction was generally positive:

 

 

 

However, some listeners were still wary about Ball presenting the show:

 

 

On The Radio urged listeners to give the show some time: ‘It isn’t fair to make a judgement on the first day. Any new breakfast show takes time to sound right to listeners as they get used to a new routine first thing in the morning, but Zoe and her team got off to a flying start. They’ve probably put in a lot of time doing “dry-runs” for the show and it certainly paid off.’

Zoe Ball and BBC Radio 2 are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.

Fiona Bruce

Praise for Fiona Bruce’s first Question Time

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

The reviews are in for Fiona Bruce’s first episode of Question Time, which aired last week.

Fiona Bruce took over from David Dimbleby following his departure at the end of 2018 after 25 years of presenting the show. Question Time has aired almost 1,400 episodes and still pulls in around two million viewers for each.

There were rumours that the BBC were choosing Bruce to give a ‘softer feel’ to Question Time, but before the show Bruce said: ‘They’d have the wrong person if they were.

‘The person I am in the newsroom, which you won’t particularly see on air because you’re so sublimated in a studio, is opinionated, feisty, argumentative.

‘That’s what I’m known for there. I think you’ll see more of that.’

Her debut was considered a success with positive reviews in the press and online.

Thursday’s show had a panel comprised of the Conservative deputy chairman, James Cleverly, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, columnist Melanie Phillips, comedian Nish Kumar and Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The Telegraph said: ‘She brought calmness, clarity and even some dry wit to her impressive debut’.

The Guardian said Bruce ‘felt fresh and effective’, however, it felt that perhaps ‘the BBC should have taken advantage of the succession to shake up the structure as well’.

Following the show, Press Gazette asked its audience what they thought – with 78% saying she ‘Smashed it’.

Some viewers said that Bruce needed to speak louder, but general feedback was very good.

Fiona Bruce and Question Time are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.

Top 50 political influencers

The Top 50 Political Influencers in the UK

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

With 29 March and the Brexit deadline fast approaching, there’s never been a more exciting time to cover politics – but with the media in rapid flux, who really sets the agenda?

Vuelio has curated the Top 50 Political Influencers working in the media, download the full list here.

When it comes to politics, the digital media environment continues to develop in novel, sometimes unanticipated, ways – with some serious consequences. New media have radically altered the ways in which Government institutions operate, political leaders communicate, and campaigns are fought.

While every major vote since Obama’s first presidential victory in 2008 has been heralded as some kind of ‘social media’ event, in the UK the 2016 referendum and 2017 General Election broke new ground with alternative political voices not only loudly opposing mainstream views, but also seeming to wield genuine influence over the electoral outcomes. The work of unashamedly partisan individuals or small collectives, at least part of the appeal of this new commentariat was their distance from the Westminster bubble.

Although new media has complicated the political media system, it has by no means dismantled it. Legacy media – radio and television news programmes, even newspapers – coexist with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Indeed, content produced by the mainstream is fed upon by emerging influencers, increasing its reach and impact even as it is transformed under the weight of myriad digital judgements.

The Top 50 Political Influencers reflects this evolving media, including broadcasters and print journalists in addition to bloggers and other digital influencers. Those on the list include the most politically informed, those with the best contacts and membership of the right WhatsApp groups for the inside track on breaking news and the latest leaks, and those able to lead conversations across a range of social media platforms.

In these many different ways, each of the 50 has the power to shape politics in the UK – and together, they do.

 

Vuelio is renowned for its media rankings, with the top blog rankings, across all topics and industries, famous the world over. With in-house research teams covering both the media and political landscapes, as well as content and data feeds being analysed by proprietary algorithms, we are uniquely placed to curate this list of political influencers from the world of media.

The ranking takes into consideration a huge range of factors, including audience, engagement, industry recognition and platforms, alongside a research-led qualitative assessment. The list includes a small number of politicians where they are deemed to also have a significant media role relating to politics.

Elle Linton 2019

Fitness Blogger Spotlight: Elle Linton, Keep it simpElle

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Elle Linton is the author of Keep it simpElle, the fitness blog that recently ranked in the Top 10 Fitness and Exercise Blogs. Giving a behind the scenes view of life as a personal trainer, Elle shares a range of fitness content from race prep guides to perfecting the squat. We caught up with Elle who told us about planning her blog in 2019, how to get into fitness and the best PR campaigns she’s collaborated on.

What are you plans for the blog this year?
I started the year by sitting down and spending some time really thinking about what direction I want my blog to go in. I’m keen to ensure my content remains within the health, fitness and exercise niche mostly to utilise my expertise as a fitness professional. I’d love to create more content related to my studies as my Business of Fitness posts are always well received. I also plan to focus on continuing to build an audience that I connect with through my personal goals especially in running and cycling.

Keep it simpElle

How important is the new year to your content?
After blogging for nearly seven years, I don’t think there’s anything I need to say that hasn’t already been said. I’ve saved all the New Year content for social channels and have continued to create content on the blog that I hope would inspire people at any time of the year, while knowing there is plenty already for those wishing to be inspired right now!

What advice would you give people who want to stay fit and healthy all year?
Set yourself goals! Start with a big, hairy, audacious goal (aka BHAG) then work backwards breaking it down into the smaller steps you need to get there. Then try to stay focused… if you’re training for your first triathlon and you decide to take up gymnastics, ask yourself if that is contributing to you achieving your end goal. Small changes are the ones that add up to results so never dismiss the small wins; celebrate every single one!

What’s the best activity to get into if you’re new to fitness?
This will definitely vary for everyone! I’d say it’s a combination of what resources you have available and what you will enjoy the most. Walking is probably the easiest place to start as most of us do that in some capacity every day. I would recommend working with a professional if you want to join a gym, even if that’s just going to an instructor-led class. The world is your oyster when it comes to fitness… try everything once and don’t stop until you’ve found the activity for you!

How much exercise should we be doing each week?
NHS guidelines suggest you do aerobic and strength training each week to stay healthy or improve health. The amount of activity suggested by them (for adults aged 19-64) is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking in addition to a full body strength workout on two days of the week.

If you’re struggling to meet those activity levels then that could be a great goal, but success would be to do the best you can with the situation that you’re in.

How important are your social channels compared with your blog?
I think we’ve all known for a long time that social channels shouldn’t be prioritised over our own blogs but it’s been hard to do when many brands use social metrics as their main data source. But we don’t own the content on our social channels; these platforms are fickle, and they can be taken away at any time. It’s also becoming common knowledge that followers, engagement etc can be bought and not just earned. For that reason, I will always prioritise my blog as its content is owned and controlled by me. Social channels are a great resource for connecting with others on a more regular basis but for me, it’s not the be all and end all.

Keep it simpElle

What are the best PR campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
There are a few stand out campaigns for me over the past 12 months. I started 2018 with a collaboration with USANA in which I got to work on some health goals that were pertinent to me. This collaboration was over a six-month period so I had enough time to really test the products and see if I gained anything from them. I opted to prioritise long term partnerships last year in order to remain authentic and not flood my channels with new brands that I had very little knowledge about.

I also worked with Tough Mudder last year which was a lot of fun trying out all of their events surrounded by a strong community of women. This collaboration overlapped with working with Samsung and Black Tower Wine which allowed me to create some epic content with great technology, meet lots of great people and to provide my audience with ticket giveaways and lots of wine!

The other notable collaboration for me was with Shimano on a trip to Amsterdam. I got to ride in a city I love but would have never been brave enough to cycle in on my own. The product was useful and really opened my eyes to how it really worked rather than relying on the myths that were flying around. Again, I got to meet some great people on that trip that I otherwise might not have met.

Do you accept press releases?
I don’t think anyone ever has a choice to accept press releases; they always drop into my inbox and many times they are unsolicited, impersonal and irrelevant. It’s only been on the rare occasion that I’ve responded but usually the issue is that I do not advocate products on my channels that I have not tried myself so I’m unlikely to feature something just because I have been sent a press release.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m an honest person; it’s one of my core values so it’s also something I highly respect as a trait in other people. Life is so much easier, and everyone is so much happier working together when information is clear, expectations are shared from the beginning and communication is clear! Also, I love, love, love updates and/confirmation of things happening!

What other blogs do you read?
For all my cycling inspiration I read Fitbits by Tess, Fat Girl Fit by Lisa and Paddle Pedal Pace by Lucy. For my running inspiration I read That’s My Mum by Adrienne and A Pretty Place To Play by Bethan. My guilty pleasure for interiors and the freelance life means I enjoy Break The Loop by Hayley.

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

Carly Rowena

Fitness Blogger Spotlight: Carly Rowena

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

The number one fitness blog, Carly Rowena, is celebrating a triple victory after the birth of her baby and also picking up the Best Health and Fitness Blog at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018. In the busiest time of the year for fitness, we caught up with Carly to find out what’s in store for 2019, how anyone can get into exercise and what advice she has when working with PRs.

Carly RowenaWhat are you plans for the blog this year?
I adore writing my blog and in all honesty never know what direction it’s going to take; all my posts are from the heart and are inspired by things happening in my life or issues that my clients or followers are talking to me about. This year you can expect more travel, fun and innovative workout challenges but also parenting honestly: the good, the bad and the bullshit.

How important is the new year to your content?
This year it took a little backseat as we had our little girl on the 9 December however I love a big spring clean in January and that includes my blog – it’s a brand new chance to analyse, rethink and refresh.

What advice would you give people who want to stay fit and healthy all year?
Sticking to a health goal is all about mindset and time, instead of denying yourself everything you love, how about adding new ingredients, recipes and meals into your day. When it comes to time, I want you to think long term, not just for that holiday you’ve booked. Too often we think short term and that’s why we end up crashing. If you focus on the future and plan to always have exercise in your life, you are far more likely to succeed and make huge changes.

What’s the best activity to get into if you’re new to fitness?
The best fitness activity is to do something you actually enjoy. Whenever I speak to a new client my first question is how they like to move because fitness is simply moving – so that can be dancing, walking, running, climbing, skating, bouldering, anything you like and if you like it, you’re far more likely to stick with it.

How much exercise should we be doing each week?
Personally, I feel everyone should be able to find 30 minutes a day to move, that can be walking to work or walking to go and get your food at lunch or simply following a routine at home or in the gym.

How important are your social channels compared with your blog?
Social channels are incredibly important, each channel shows a different side of you and attracts different people who may then fall in love with your blog.

What are the best PR campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
Oh there’s been so many but I have to say I loved being a part of Reeboks Girl Squad, it was incredibly empowering and I got to meet so many wonderful people, plus my face was on the side of a bus – I felt like a girl band!

Carly Rowena Do you accept press releases?
Unfortunately not, I prefer that all of my posts are written by me as they’re all so close to my heart.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I appreciate that PRs have a huge task ahead of them, especially as there are so many platforms and bloggers to speak to, however, I think it’s really important to do your research before you email. Too often I get messages calling me by a different name and offering work with brands that have no relevance to my audience.

What other blogs do you read?
I love nothing more than to curl up at the end of the day and catchup with my favourite blogs, currently I am loving: The Adventures of Us and Sorelle Amore.

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

PR

PRs react to the portrayal of the industry in Radio 4’s Media Show

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Last week’s edition of Radio 4’s Media Show caused outrage across the PR community and many have spoken against it, defending the industry.

Criticism of the show was that it was an inaccurate portrayal of PR, suggesting the profession was all about publicity stunts and doing anything to get your clients’ news out. The show jumped from making PR sound like a ‘fluffy’ profession, to calling PRs ‘bullies’ and ‘liars’.

Both the CIPR and PRCA have spoken out accusing the show of misrepresentation of the profession.

Emma Leech, CIPR president, said: ‘Public relations is not a dark art. We are not bullies and we are not liars. What we deliver goes far beyond media relations.

‘The truth is tens of thousands of public relations professionals provide ethical and strategic support to businesses of all sectors. We help build trust in organisations by establishing and improving relationships with key stakeholders – not just journalists. Many aspects of PR such as community engagement, digital communication and internal communication involve no media relations.

‘It’s wholly unfair and somewhat naive to label an industry of 70,000 people as dishonest. CIPR members are bound by the Institute’s Code of Conduct and adhere to the highest standards of professional practice. Media broadcasters have a responsibility to accurately reflect the reality of modern public relations. We have contacted the show’s producers to offer our help with definitions, research and guests for future shows.’

Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: ‘BBC Radio 4’s show, The Art of Public Relations, was shockingly inaccurate in its representation of the PR and communications industry as we know it today. The fact that the BBC failed to contact the PRCA, the CIPR, or any other valid representative bodies for their insights is bad enough, but to continuously misrepresent PR as publicity is incredibly embarrassing for the broadcaster.

‘PR and communications is a £13.8bn UK industry, with 86,000 people working in it, and growing every year. It is a creative industry and a success story in that it continuously draws in new skills to stay credible and relevant. This is why the show was a huge disappointment.’

Industry bodies weren’t alone in speaking out, many PR professionals have taken to Twitter to share the truth about public relations:

Not all opinions were wholly negative though, as PR as publicity is obviously one aspect of the profession, which is familiar to many:

Darryl Sparey, business development director at Hotwire, went into detail about the shortcomings of the show in the Hotwire blog, but was unsurprised a 27-minute broadcast was unable to represent the full industry.

What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter @Vuelio.

Ben Hunte

BBC News appoints first LGBT correspondent

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The BBC has appointed Ben Hunte as the first LGBT correspondent in its history.

Ben will report on the stories, issues and debates surrounding sexuality and gender, and focus on providing insight and analysis on matters affecting the LGBT community in the UK.

Ben played a key role during the coverage of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season, and presented his own series of LGBT-themed programmes on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra called The Ben Hunte Interviews.

Dedicated roles that are focused on highlighting underrepresented communities provide more diverse views, and richer information for UK news.

Across the media, outlets including Buzzfeed and Thomson Reuters Foundation have added positions such as LGBT editor and LGBT correspondent.

Job titles that feature the patch a journalist covers make it easier for PRs to know what to pitch to a specific contact. For PRs with news relevant to the LGBT community, this increase in focused positions provides access to the right contacts, and in turn helps keep audiences informed with the issues that matter to them. It’s a win-win.

Ben Hunte is listed alongside thousands of other journalists, editors and influencers in the Vuelio Media Database.

PRCA 50 years

The PRCA is celebrating its 50th anniversary

/0 Comments/in , , /by

This year, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) turns 50 and is celebrating with activities throughout 2019.

Founded on 5 November 1969, the membership body now represents over 30,000 PR and communications practitioners across 66 countries.

To mark the 50th anniversary, the PRCA will be using a special logo throughout 2019, releasing a celebratory book, hosting a birthday party in November, alongside a host of other regional and national activities.

Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: ‘The PR and communications industry has changed fundamentally since the PRCA launched in 1969. But our mission remains the same – to be its voice. And now that the PRCA is the largest PR professional body not just in the UK, or indeed in Europe, but in the world, that voice has never been louder or clearer.

‘The professionalisation of the industry, combined with the proliferation of new skills, means that we face the next 50 years with enormous opportunities. We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary with pride and optimism, and look forward to a year of reflection, celebration, and discussion.’

Vegan sausage roll

The best campaign of the year …so far

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

We’re only a week into 2019 but there’s already a strong contender for best campaign of the year. Greggs grabbed headlines throughout 2018 with its reactive PR and campaigns and this year is no different.

The launch of a Greggs vegan sausage roll seemed inevitable – there are reportedly over three million vegans in the UK and ‘vegan’ was one of the most requested topics by journalists in 2018.

It was the social strategy that went alongside the launch that received all the attention, particularly when it triggered Piers Morgan into tweeting this:

This was the start of a series of anti-vegan tweets from the GMB host. Greggs, already dealing with a few ‘upset’ social media users, replied to Morgan with:

This simple, inoffensive reply shot the story into the headlines as the company was seen to be ‘hitting back’ at Piers Morgan. With a slow Government-isn’t-back-in-session-yet start to 2019, stories about the vegan sausage roll started to dominate – the Evening Standard reported that Londoners are split on the ‘insanely popular sausage rolls’, while Good Morning Britain presenters (without Morgan) tried them live on air.

Morgan tried one this morning on air, and spat it into a bin.

Greggs scored a whopping result with a single, simple tweet that wasn’t mean or malicious. A later tweet from Morgan perhaps revealed how much he enjoys getting attention this way, while also highlighting Greggs’ success:

Other brands joined in on the pro-vegan gently-anti-Morgan tweeting, including McDonald’s:

As well as Pizza Hut and TGI Fridays:

But the media’s attention was only for Greggs’ vegan sausage roll and ‘owning’ Morgan.

So, what lesson have we learned for 2019? Is it this one from W?

Or is it the same as every other year: be smart, be responsive and be relatable.

Happy 2019 from your Monday PR Club. Now… where’s the nearest Greggs?

Shortlist website

Shortlist Media rebrands as the Stylist Group

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Shortlist Media has rebranded as the Stylist Group following the closure of Shortlist magazine at the end of last year. Stylist will continue to be published, while the Shortlist website will live on as a ‘product recommender’.

After 552 issues and 11 years, Shortlist magazine released its final issue on 20 December 2018. Signing off with, ‘Bye, then’, Shortlist staff photos and names were displayed on the final page, marking its end with a short, sharp farewell.

A Shortlist writer told the Press Gazette that staff had been ‘under the impression that the magazine was essentially bulletproof’ before it closed.

Joe Mackertich, editor of the title, explained the appeal of a print product like Shortlist: ‘Magazines, with their beginnings, middles and ends, are a soothing counter agent to the internet’s infinite hall of shrieking mirrors.

‘A good publication flatters you with grown-up language and smart references. The amount of thought, care and attention that went into Shortlist was testament to the respect we had for you.

‘This counts for a lot in a world in which we’re all constantly subjected to a horrifying torrent of hyperbolic, dumb-by-design headlines.’

Shortlist is, for now, still publishing news online with a regular output of stories. It has followed a similar path to The Independent – the first national newspaper to become digital-only.

The benefits of digital publications have been known to PRs for years, though there is still a strong desire at both an agency and in-house level for the prestige of a printed product.  While print is by no means dead, the rise of digital – often at the detriment of printed publications – continues.

All the latest moves and changes in the media are updated in the Vuelio Media Database. 

What Journalists want featured image

What do journalists want?

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

PRs spend lots of time pitching to journalists in the hopes that it will lead to coverage. But wouldn’t it be easier if we knew exactly what journalists wanted, when they wanted it? 

Our latest white paper reveals what journalists have requested through the Journalist Enquiry Service in 2018.

The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service is now part of Vuelio. This service allows journalists to ask for help, comment and case studies from PRs and comms professionals. Tens of thousands of requests were sent in 2018 and all of them provide an opportunity for coverage.

So, what were the hottest topics of 2018? What can journalist requests teach us about PR pitching? And which member of the royal family were journalists most interested in?

Download What Journalists Want – what the Journalist Enquiry Service taught us about coverage in 2018.

 

Top 50 political influencers

Coming January 2019: the UK’s Top 50 Political Influencers

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

Vuelio is renowned for its rankings, with the top blog rankings, compiled by our in-house media research team, famous the world over. To prepare for what could possibly be the most tumultuous year in politics, we’ve now turned our attention to political influencers from the world of media including broadcasters, editors, columnists, journalists and bloggers.

Launching in January, the Top 50 Political Influencers is being compiled using automated metrics as well as human intelligence. It will be the most comprehensive guide to media commentators, and those with the power of persuasion, ever produced.

Each entry in the ranking will be profiled, making it the who’s who of political media influencers of 2019.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the Top 50 Political Influencers – sign up to Vuelio political updates here.

Vuelio specialises in both media and political communications software, allowing a truly integrated approach to both stakeholder and reputation management. There’s an increasing expectation on many PR teams to also understand the political landscape, and those in public affairs to also understand the media.

Find out more about identifying, understanding and engaging with both media and political influencers.

PRCA

Jessica Ozdemir elected vice chair of the PR and Communications Council 2019

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Jessica Ozdemir, senior marketing manager, international at WE communications, has been elected as the vice-chairman of the PRCA’s PR and Communications Council 2019.

The PR and Communications Council provides a formal mechanism to consult with the industry’s most senior practitioners on the issues PR and communications faces, it acts as a think-tank for the industry, informs the PRCA’s strategic priorities and produces helpful commentary, advice, and best-practice guidance for professionals.

Jessica was elected by the 2019 Council members, who were themselves elected in November. She will take on the role in January 2019, at the same time Amanda Coleman, head of corporate communication at Greater Manchester Police, becomes PR and Communications Council chairman. Jessica will then succeed Amanda as chairman of the Council in January 2020.

At WE communications, Jessica is responsible for leading a cross-functional team of marketing specialists across the entire marketing mix: increasing brand awareness, driving demand for WE services and converting demand into business opportunities.

Jessica said: ‘I am thrilled to be elected as vice-chairman at such a pivotal time for the PR industry. There is much to do to help solidify our industry’s stance, particularly around diversity and inclusion, and I’m really looking forward to working with Amanda and the terrific team at PRCA to help make a difference.’

Easy Cheesy vegetarian

Foodie blog spotlight: Amuse Your Bouche

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Amuse Your Bouche began as a hobby but Becca Heyes quickly found success with her food content and recipes and has turned the blog into a huge success. Aside from Becca’s love of cheesy pasta bakes, she shares a great range of useful and tasty vegetarian food content that her readers love. By creating multiple recipes using single products, Becca enjoys showing the versatility of the brands she works with.

How has your blog changed over time?
I started my blog in 2011 after I graduated from uni, to give me something to do while I was searching for a job. It was originally only intended to be a hobby – I never even considered that it could turn into what it has (my full-time job!). At first, I talked about my daily life, and posted whatever I felt like, with no real thought for what my readers would actually find useful. As the blog has evolved, I’ve tried to think a lot more about what my readers will actually want to see, and now I try to make my blog posts as valuable as I can. It’s definitely more of a food resource now, rather than functioning as my personal diary.

Amuse Your BoucheHow much does your audience influence your content?
I always try to think about my readers when I’m creating recipes. I only post recipes that I truly enjoyed, but I do try to produce a wide variety of content that will keep my readers engaged –  otherwise it’d be cheesy pasta bakes day after day! My readers make it possible for me to run my blog as my job, so if they’re not happy, I’m not happy either.

What are the best channels for promoting your content?
It’s getting harder and harder to get noticed on social media, with Facebook’s constantly changing algorithms, and new food blogs being started every minute of the day. At the moment I’m really enjoying my private Facebook group, Easy Vegetarian Dinners. I’ve built a community of over 1,700 people who love interacting every single day – it’s a big community but feels intimate. It’s so nice to get real feedback on the posts I publish there – on my public Facebook page, it sometimes feels like I’m shouting into a black hole!

What’s your favourite ingredient?
I’m known for my love of cheese! I have to consciously rein myself in and publish non-cheesy recipes every now and then, as I know not everyone is as much of a cheese fiend as I am. Most things are improved by cheese!

What’s the best restaurant you’ve ever eaten in?
Honestly, I’m not one for fancy restaurants (especially now I have a toddler; a noisy baby and a posh restaurant aren’t a good mix!). I prefer a casual, family-friendly place with decent food – to me, a relaxed atmosphere and nice meal is much more attractive than going somewhere posher, even if it serves outstanding food.

What’s your favourite dish to make?
Apart from cheesy pasta bakes?! I do love making a good curry, with plenty of veggies – it can be perfectly healthy, but still feels like a real treat. Especially with onion bhajis on the side!

What one thing should PRs and brands know about you?
I LOVE what I do, and I truly care about my blog and my readers. This is more than just a job to me – I love nothing more than truly connecting with my readers and helping them to discover new brands and products that can make their life easier (and tastier!). It genuinely makes my day when a reader messages me to tell me they loved one of my recipes, and discovered a new product because of something I’ve posted.

Amuse Your BoucheDo you like being sent food by PRs and brands?
Who doesn’t love being sent food?! I don’t generally accept free samples of food, as I never used to have the hours in the day to promote everything I was sent, but if I’m working with a brand on some recipe development, it’s always fun to receive a parcel. I love to experiment with a product for a week or so before coming up with a recipe, so I can really think about how it can best be shown off.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I prefer long-term collaborations with brands, where I can show off their products in multiple recipes. It helps to show the versatility of a product, and I’m sure it feels more genuine for my readers to see how I’ve used a product many times, rather than just mentioning it once. This autumn I worked on a three-recipe campaign with St Helen’s Farm, who make gorgeous goat’s milk products, and it was really fun to be able to show off several different ways that their products could be used.

Do bloggers need their own industry association?
Luckily, we bloggers are an awesome bunch, and most of us are always happy to support others if it’s ever needed. Nobody ever feels alone in this industry. I’m sure if there was an official bloggers’ association, though, it could only be a good thing! Blogging is a relatively new industry, but it’s growing quickly, and is finally starting to be viewed as a viable career option – an official association would help to confirm its legitimacy.

What other blogs do you read?
With a toddler to look after and a business to run, I don’t get as much time to relax and read blogs as I used to, but I always try to make time for some of my favourites – especially those written by my good blogging friends. I love Happy Veggie Kitchen, Hungry Healthy Happy, Supergolden Bakes, and Kitchen Sanctuary. Sometimes I just sit and ogle their incredible photos!

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

Best of 2018

Monday PR Club: a year in review

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

As we approach the festive period and the end of 2018, Monday PR Club is delighted to present its most popular posts of the year.

Anyone can sign up for the Monday PR Club (here) to receive weekly tips, inspiration and thought leadership to their inbox at the beginning of each week. What better way to start the new year?

The GDPR: your questions answered, part 1
In the first half of 2018, the GDPR was all anyone could talk about so it’s no surprise this piece tops our list. While the world didn’t end on 25 May (phew!), the GDPR is now in force and has even been used to stop AggregateIQ Data Services (linked to the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal) from processing data.

This post gave expert answers to all your GDPR questions, with our GDPR webinar guest Rowenna Fielding, senior data protection lead at the data protection consultancy Protecture.

7 PR News Year’s resolutions
We come full circle for our second post, which aimed to kick start 2018 with seven simple resolutions to make everyone’s comms year better. Did you make new friends? Lose the flab? Stop being boring?

Find out how many 2018 resolutions you stuck to.

5 pitch tips from Ben Titchmarsh
We spoke to Ben Titchmarsh, head of media and marketing at Propeller Group for our white paper Media Relations in 2018. Ben gave us excellent insights into the perfect pitch from knowing your sector to making it exclusive.

What did Kylie Jenner teach us?
While 2018 gave us many Kylie Jenner lessons, it was her tweet that wiped $1bn off Snap’s market value that caught our attention. The lesson we took away from the global headline news? Twitter rules.

Four tips for true comms integration from Angie Moxham at The Fourth Angel
Angie Moxham told us about the benefits of truly integrated PR campaigns. With four simple tips, Angie reveals how anyone can deliver an integrated campaign and explains why everyone needs to.

Have you updated your Facebook strategy?
Facebook hit the headlines throughout 2018, for a whole host of reasons. Its most popular story in the Monday PR Club followed changes Zuckerberg made in January, to prioritise news posts from trusted sources. While announced back in January, it was the second major Facebook change of 2018 (but by no means the last), after the platform decided to prioritise friends and family’s posts in users’ feeds.

PR lessons from Center Parcs and Richard Littlejohn
Center Parcs pulled its advertising from the Daily Mail after Richard Littlejohn attacked two-father relationships in a column, which followed Tom Daley and his husband Dustin Lance Black’s announcement of their first child together. Find out what should we do as PRs when faced with such controversy.

Monday PR Club is taking a break over the festive period and looks forward to seeing you all in 2019. Merry Christmas everyone!

agency competition

Creative Shootout finalists announced

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Nine agencies will battle it at the next live final of the Creative Shootout, on Thursday 24 January 2019.

The nine agencies submitted 60 seconds worth of ‘creativity’, which was then judged by an industry panel. They will now have the chance to show off their creative clout on stage at BAFTA for a cause that is literally global – plastic pollution – for the Shootout’s cause of the year, A Plastic Planet (APP).

The nine agency finalists span PR, digital and marketing disciplines. They are:

  • 3 Monkeys Zeno, Global creative communications consultancy
  • 72 Point, Content-driven PR agency
  • Brands2Life, Multi-discipline communications agency
  • Fever, PR, social and influencer agency
  • Raw London, Branded content agency
  • Ready10, PR and SEO agency
  • Stein IAS, B2B marketing and advertising agency
  • Talker Tailor Trouble Maker, Creative communications agency
  • Wire, Creative brand, design and digital agency

As with the 2018 Live Final, where reigning champions Raw London triumphed with their ‘Any shape – any size’ campaign for FareShare, teams will be given a real brief from A Plastic Planet on the day – and then have just four hours to turn it into a compelling creative campaign.

Having drawn straws to determine the running order, they then pitch it on stage at BAFTA in just ten minutes to a live audience and the judges. The winner is crowned live on stage in the evening and the winning agency will get to work with APP to see their idea come to life – as Raw London has done this summer with FareShare.

Serious bragging rights as ‘the UK’s most creative agency’ are up for grabs.

Vuelio is delighted to once again be sponsoring the Creative Shootout and supporting creativity in the industry.

Creative Shootout Founder Johnny Pitt said: ‘The quality of entries was off the scale this year and our brave agencies now have the opportunity for creative fame, as well as to make a marked difference to a blight that affects every single one of us.’

The 2019 judging panel includes:

  • Ali Hannan, CEO, Creative Equals
  • Chaka Sobhani, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett
  • Colette Foster, creative director, Full Fat TV
  • James Herring, co-founder, Taylor Herring
  • Nishma Robb, marketing director, Google
  • Johnny Pitt, founder, The Creative Shootout
  • Riyadh Khalaf, Influencer
  • Sian Sutherland, co-founder, A Plastic Planet
PRCA logeion

PRCA signs agreement with Netherlands-based Logeion

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The PRCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for mutual cooperation with Logeion, the Netherlands association for communications professionals.

Logeion has over 4,000 members and provides a platform for all communication professionals in the Netherlands. It is the second oldest professional communications organisation in the world, and has a rich tradition of innovation since its founding 70 years ago.

Founded in 1969, the PRCA operates in 66 countries and represents practitioners across the whole range of the PR and communications industry.

The agreement between the two bodies will include the exchange of knowledge via events and whitepapers; board cooperation; co-promotion of events to the respective members of each organisation; and shared insights on topics such as ethical codes. Logeion has also designated London as the destination of its annual study trip in 2019.

Francis Ingham

Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: ‘We are very pleased to forge this new bilateral relationship with Logeion, an association which plays a hugely important role within the Dutch communications community.

‘Our two associations share many values – including a belief in the huge importance of ethical standards, and the need to raise them all around the world. Working together, we will be able to deliver significant new benefits and links to our respective members.’

Andre Manning

Andre Manning, director of Logeion, said: ‘Working closely together with the PRCA has been high on the wish list of Logeion as it will give our members access to one of the most respected communications organisations in the world. The PRCA is well respected and a proven thought leader on many topics that our relevant for the communications function, such as ethical codes.

‘We are thrilled to share knowledge and best-practices and learn from each other to make sure we continue to further develop the communications profession and the skillset of our members.’