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

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.

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

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.

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.

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
World's 50 Best Restaurants

Case study: Relevance International and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Relevance International is celebrating the recent success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants after increasing its media coverage, social engagement and global footprint.  

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the worldwide ranking scheme for high-quality dining, wanted to expand the amount of positive coverage – and the spread of coverage across the world – for its 16th annual awards ceremony, held in Bilbao, Spain in June 2018.

Relevance International was instructed to handle PR for the 2018 awards, and the agency created media interest in the lead up to the big event through a number of strategic initiatives.

Building excitement
Every fortnight from April onwards, individual winners of special awards were announced, which created a pipeline of content in the lead up to the awards ceremony. Categories included BBVA Scholarship, Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award, Miele One to Watch, and elit Vodka Best Female Chef.

The Best Female Chef was launched with a targeted international media lunch held at winner Clare Smyth’s Core restaurant in central London. This location was kept secret to build anticipation and journalists from key markets, both relevant to Clare’s background as well as from target countries, were invited.

The campaign achieved 1,972 pieces of coverage, predominately within two weeks, fuelled by a debate over the merits of such an award.

Further interest in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants was generated one week before the main event with the announcement of the 51-100 list, leading to speculation – in traditional media and on social platforms – about who would make the top 50.

World's 50 best social carpet

Other activities organised around the awards included #50BestTalks, featuring top chefs discussing industry issues and trends; a ‘meet the chefs’ speed dating-style media event; an official press conference; a food-meets-art event; and several press moments with previously announced individual chef winners for one-to-one meetings.

On recommendation of the agency, the launch of a Female Advisory Board saw seven of the world’s best female chefs come together for an open discussion around industry issues and brand initiatives.

Global coverage
New for 2018 were the 21 broadcast stations – international, national and local – secured to attend and cover the main event. Mirroring the approach of The Oscars, and to open the event up to general consumers, people were able to follow the main ceremony on TV and via a Reuters live stream. Other stations that covered the event included RAI 1, France 2, BBC World and Channel 5 Asia.

World's 50 best filming

Relevance International planned the media management of the 2018 event programme, overseeing more than 300 media attendees during the awards week, with 59,601 pieces of coverage over five months – a 24% increase on 2017 (47,879). Coverage was in 51 languages, a 6.25% on 2017, and 127 countries, a 9.5% increase on 2017.

In four key markets alone, there were 125 pieces of broadcast coverage over one week (radio: 84, TV: 41). The number of social media posts featuring The World’s 50 Best grew from 33,797 in the five months in 2017 to 53,717 across the same period in 2018. It was aided by a surge in social media activity during the live stream, as well as the attendance of influencer-ambassadors at the ceremony.

Overall, 99% of coverage was positive, despite the controversy over the Best Female Chef category.

Retained global agency
Following the campaign, Relevance International became the brand’s first retained global agency of record.

Hélène Pietrini, director of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said, ‘During Relevance’s time working with us in our initial engagement, the firm achieved greater media exposure than ever received in the brand’s 16-year history.’

Suzanne Rosnowski, CEO and founder of Relevance International, said: ‘Our work with The World’s 50 Best Restaurants showcases our strength as an agency with a boutique offering and global sensibilities.

British Journalism Awards

The Financial Times wins four awards at the British Journalism Awards

/0 Comments/in , , /by

It was a great evening for the FT at the British Journalism Awards, which scooped the top award, News Provider of the Year, alongside three other awards – the most for any newspaper.

The outlet also achieved the Innovation award, while journalist Laura Hughes took the Political Journalist prize, and Matthew Garrahan won for Arts and Entertainment.

Other big winners on the night include Journalist of the Year, Amelia Gentleman of The Guardian, and Carole Cadwalladr who won both the Technology Journalism and Investigation of the Year awards.

The Times and Sunday Times also won big this year, achieving a total of five awards across the publications.

More than 400 entries were submitted over the 22 categories this year, and a total of 50 independent judges examined the entries.

The full list of winners from the night:

Technology Journalism: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer
Features Journalism: Duncan Leatherdale, BBC News
Innovation of the Year: Financial Times
Arts and Entertainment: Matthew Garrahan, Financial Times
Business, Finance and Economics Journalism: Jeff Prestridge, Mail on Sunday
Politics Journalism: Laura Hughes, Financial Times
Comment Journalism: Janice Turner, The Times
Campaign of the Year: Larisa Brown, Daily Mail
Photojournalism: Paula Bronstein, The Sunday Time
Science and Health Journalism: Helen McArdle, The Herald
Sports Journalism: Jonathan Calvert and George Arbunthnott, The Sunday Times
Popular Journalism: Ian Birrell, Mail on Sunday
Foreign Affairs Journalism: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, Reuters
Local Heroes: Stephen Noland and David Thomson, BBC Radio Ulster
New Journalist of the Year: Richard Holmes, Buzzfeed UK
Specialist Journalism: Patrick Strudwick, Buzzfeed UK
Scoop of the Year: Sean O’Neill, The Times
Investigation of the Year (Global): Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
Investigation of the Year: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer
Marie Colvin Award: Louise Callaghan, The Sunday Times
Journalist of the Year 2018: Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian
News Provider of the Year 2018: Financial Times

Rachel Spencer the paw post

Pet blog spotlight: Rachel Spencer, The Paw Post

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

Rachel Spencer started The Paw Post in 2017 to talk about everything pet related with her dog Daisy. Sadly, Daisy passed away earlier this year. Here, Rachel has opened up about the loss of her beloved pet, how the blogging community supported her and how The Paw Post has carried on in Daisy’s memory and also now features Patch.

Rachel spencer with DaisyCould you tell us how things have changed recently?
We lost our dog Daisy [pictured with Rachel, right] in April this year. She was a senior dog at 13 but was always so young. In October last year she had pancreatitis and was very poorly but recovered. Then in December we started noticing changes in her. She lost her depth perception, became restless at night and started growling at sudden movements. It was out of character and she had a few accidents in the house.

When we learned she had dementia, it really hit home she was getting old. But I did lots of research and had amazing support from her vets, and we were positive about the future.

But after a few months she deteriorated, becoming anxious and started vocalising, one of the advanced dementia symptoms. We became worried about her vision as she couldn’t see her favourite blue ball and kept walking into things.

The vet checked her visual field and confirmed our fears. She suspected a tumour was pressing on her optic nerve. We took some time to consider having an MRI scan to see what was there but she went downhill so quickly and we knew around the corner would be a seizure or haemorrhage which would have been terrifying and painful. We wanted her to go peacefully and in April we made the decision to put her to sleep.

What’s it like having to deal with a loss so publicly?
I didn’t tell anyone apart from people we knew in real life or who had grown close to on social media and in the pet world for the first couple of weeks. But I knew I had to publicly share it and it took a lot of strength to write the post saying goodbye.

Although she was old, it was a shock. Daisy was so young at heart and was still chasing sheep and squirrels just a few weeks before we lost her. Like all dog owners, I expect them to live forever.

Things escalated really quickly – she went from playing with her ball on the beach to being scared of the outside world because she could no longer see and was in pain in the space of a week.

What happened afterwards was amazing. People were so lovely and supportive and sent cards, flowers and gifts. It completely blew me away and it totally opened my eyes to the lovely community the pet blogging world is. I felt really grateful because had I not done the blog I never would have had that.

What did you think you’d do with the blog after Daisy died?
I didn’t know what to do with myself at the time but after the lovely response I had, I decided to carry it on in her memory. She is still on my profile on all our social media channels – I can’t bring myself to change it yet. And I decided that I’d continue to write about the things that affected Daisy, how to cope with a senior dog and how to cope with loss. I’ve tried to use our experience to help others.

What advice would you give anyone who loses a pet?
Nothing can prepare you for how you feel but the main thing is to give yourself time and be kind to yourself. It’s ok to grieve for a pet and I even spoke to a bereavement counsellor to find out the best ways to cope, how to handle telling my partner Tommy’s young daughters and things like that. I know some people might feel like it sounds a little over the top but it helped me.

Can you tell us about getting Patch?
We knew we wanted to adopt another dog rather than get a puppy. I felt we were in a situation where we could adopt – we didn’t have small children and were fairly experienced with having had Daisy – so that’s what we did.

We found Patch on a rehoming page for Patterdale Terriers on Facebook. I knew straight away he was the one. His family were rehoming him as his owner had died. We stay in touch with them and we’re so glad to have found such a lovely dog.

The Paw Post Patch

Are you conscious of Patch filling in on the blog where Daisy did before?
Yes, he’s a different dog, he’s only two whereas Daisy was a senior dog, so I write about him and try to put his personality across. He’s in training so we’re doing his training diaries, and we’re looking forward to writing about his holidays, new things he’s tried out and what life is like with a young dog.

But I also still write about issues affecting dogs of all ages, like anxiety and the importance of dogs being trained and well mannered. I feature Daisy whenever I can too.

Do you still work with PRs/brands in the same way?
Yes, I have a lot of PRs who come to me as a journalist first then that leads to content for my blog.

Because I have a younger dog, I can do things like ‘running for dogs’ and other activities that might not have been possible or appropriate for a senior dog.

I ensure my posts are well researched, produce informative posts that aim to be helpful to my readers and always meet deadlines.

I would love more PRs to approach me as a blogger – I only write about things I (or someone I know well and trust) have tried and tested and I don’t use guest posts but other than that, I’m open to all kinds of ideas.

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

6 tips from the top

Working with bloggers: 6 tips from the top

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

The Vuelio Blog Awards annually recognise the best bloggers in the UK, but how do these champions work with PRs and brands?

This year’s winners have all appeared in one of our renowned Top 10 Blog Rankings and many have taking part in interviews. We know how they like to work with PRs and brands because they’ve shared best practice advice for collaborations.

Here’s top advice from six 2018 winners, including the Best UK Blog and Women’s Fashion Blog, Inthefrow [pictured]; Best Travel Blog, Hand Luggage Only; Best Interior Design Blog, Mad About The House; Best Mummy Blog, Slummy Single Mummy; Best Daddy Blog, The DADventurer; and Best Pet Blog, Steph and the Spaniels.

VBA 2018 Inthefrow

Victoria Magrath, Inthefrow
I like to be straightforward wherever possible. It’s great to get a friendly introductory email where you can discover a new agency, brand or designer but there’s nothing that stands out more to me, than someone who is professional and forthcoming with how they can see us working together and what the both of us can gain from partnering. That way, as a team, we can instantly work out if our brands are well suited and if working together successfully is a possibility for all parties. Efficiency is a big priority for me, and most important with everyone’s schedules being so hectic.

Lloyd and Yaya, Hand Luggage Only
I guess that we are pretty openminded and always flexible in how we work with people. No two destinations or brands are exactly the same, no two people are and so it would be unrealistic to expect two projects to be. We always see collaborations as a two-way conversation (not just one party telling the other what to do or not do), which always helps when working with brands.

Kate Watson-Smyth, Mad About The House
I like them to get my name right – the emails addressed to ‘Mad’ tend not to get opened! There are so many blogs now that I really appreciate when a PR has taken the time to read the blog and work out if I really am the right person for their idea. These days I think it’s much more about focused collaboration and I tend not to work on huge campaigns that everyone else is doing if at all possible.

Jo Middleton, Slummy Single Mummy
I’m pretty open to any kind of approach as long as it’s well researched, friendly and honest. I’m not saying I end up working with everyone who gets in touch, but I try to read most things. I like it best when I’m given plenty of rein creatively, but with clear goals too – I want the brand to be able to measure whether or not they’ve got what they want from working with me, so they come back!

Dave Hornby, The DADventurer
My blog is a business and that this is my job. Blogging as a career is still pretty new and some brands/PRs haven’t fully grasped that this means it should be viewed as business-to-business. On the whole, the majority of brands I work with get this and value what a blogger brings to the table – some are still learning though. They wouldn’t be happy having to continually chase late payments, having briefs changed with no warning or being asked to work for free – neither should bloggers.

Stephanie Walton, Steph and the Spaniels
In many ways, we really love campaigns with substance and that can really get us creating fun and interesting content. We love being able to collaborate with pet brands, as well as lifestyle brands that we can bring a dog aspect into, as it shows how important pets really are to everyone.

Want to work with bloggers? Need to improve your influencer outreach? Find out how Vuelio can help. 

Vuelio Blog Awards 2018 #

#Trending: Vuelio Blog Awards 2018

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

The Vuelio Blog Awards 2018 took place on Friday night and were once again a huge success, trending on Twitter and reaching tens of millions across social media.

Huge stars were recognised with the top prizes – including Victoria Magrath of Inthefrow [pictured] who scooped Best Women’s Fashion Blog and the overall Best UK Blog.

Victoria Magrath

The Best UK Blog is awarded to one outstanding award-winner whose work transcends their own blog, inspiring the wider community. Victoria was considered by the judges to be a consummate professional who has, for some time now, been at the top of her game, and following the publication of her recent fashion bible ‘The New Fashion Rules’, she has shown how she can impact the whole fashion industry both inside and outside of the blogosphere.

Alongside the winners, the Vuelio Blog Awards celebrates all the finalists AND bloggers, vloggers and content creators who join us for a good time. It’s also a chance to bring together both sides of the commercial relationship, with PR and brand guests also deserving a mention for their collaborative work with the UK’s brightest and best.

We’ve put together a Vuelio Canvas of highlights from the event, including top social posts and official photos. Click here or on the image below to see the full Canvas.

Canvas is a simple way to present content, whether its campaign coverage, news stories, galleries, company information or social media activity. Everything appears on one page, making repetitive slides a thing of the past. Each Canvas takes just minutes to create and can be shared with a simple link.

Find out more about Canvas, and how easy it is to make your own, by clicking here.

Becky Bowden

Blog spotlight: Becky Bowden, LifeStyleLinked

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

LifeStyleLinked is the fashion, travel, food, beauty and lifestyle blog that author Becky Bowden started 16 years ago. With everything from product reviews and tasting notes to car-buying advice and interiors tips, LifeStyleLinked is a one-stop-shop for lifestyle content. Becky spoke to us about Christmas, planning content, getting creative with brands and the joy of homecooking.

Why did you start your blog?
I started my blog when my (now 16-year-old) daughter was born. My Dad actually suggested it and even paid for my very first theme and registered the domain name. I have always loved writing and it felt like a great way to share my thoughts and meet other likeminded people online. I knew nothing about the ability to earn from a blog at that stage or how to work with brands and PRs so it really always has been a labour of love!

How has your blog changed over time?
I think as with all bloggers mine has gone through a number of different changes. I found that I wanted to cover many more topics than I initially planned and as the years went by there were so many amazing WordPress themes available that it made designing the blog itself so much easier and effective to navigate.

How do you plan content around such a broad topic base?
I spend a lot of time researching the different trends in all areas that LifeStyleLinked covers. I’ve been lucky enough to build up some amazing contacts with brands and PRs over the years and I do find that it really helps to be on their radar when it comes to new launches and news. These will very often spark an idea for a feature series or a product review that I think my readers would like. I also keep a pretty tight editorial calendar on my PC and a huge notebook of ideas, schedules and daily to-do lists. I’m a bit of a workaholic deep down but I think that comes when you are really passionate about your industry!

What’s your favourite restaurant?
I’m a bit of a home-bird so I love to cook or order in and curl up with the family. If we go for day trips I love finding sweet little country pubs with a cosy vibe. Or just point me in the direction of anywhere that sells amazing pizza and pasta and I’m happy!

How important is Christmas to your blog?
Christmas is such an exciting time of the year for me. I absolutely love planning our yearly gift guides and readers really seem to enjoy those along with all of the festive features. I think there’s such scope at this time of the year to really get creative with your content and write everything from personal blogs about how you celebrate, to image-driven features and gift guides with inspiration and shoppable links.

How do your social channels feed into your blog? Which one is the most important?
I think social obviously still plays a big part in how we promote content and it is great for keeping that line of communication open with everyone. I know Instagram has its ups and downs but I do think it’s still my favourite social platform. I love how interactive the ‘stories’ aspect of Instagram allow me to be and although I don’t shoot the beautifully edited ‘selfie’ type shots that seem to get the big hits on Instagram these days, I do still love giving sneak peeks of products and features that are going out and putting my own spin on things.

What’s going to be the big topic for you in 2019?
Home decor, for sure! We have just bought our first family home here in Somerset and we’re really excited about renovating it. I’m a huge fan of home decor blogs myself so I’m really excited to create blog content around any work that we do to the house over the next few years as well as how we eventually style it. It is such a beautiful Victorian house that there’s going to be some real scope to get creative.

What one thing should PRs and brands know about you?
That I’m always open to new and exciting ways to create content online. I really want to push boundaries with blog content going forward and think that online editorial and exciting copy is still such a solid way to share our passions.

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

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I absolutely loved working with Thatchers cider in the summer. Not just because I got to sample a lot of cider-based drinks (honest!) but because they let me be so creative with the campaign. I came up with a summer cocktail using Thatchers and the brand loved my finished drink so much that they ended up taking it one step further and commissioning it for their official website! I really enjoyed styling and shooting the imagery for this one too.

Tesco Jersey Royals was an amazing campaign to work on and once again really allowed me to get creative. I was cooking, shooting and styling content to show some delicious ways to use the potatoes in your summer meals.

I also love beauty and fragrance collaborations. One recent campaign that was really fun to work on was with Nivea. I was challenged to shoot and style an Instagram post for a shower gel release and I really enjoyed using Instagram stories alongside this to explain a bit about why I chose a specific family photo alongside this and what the inspiration behind the finished image really was.

Essentially, I just really love when brands communicate to you the basic elements of what they want from the campaign but allow you that creativity to really put your own spin on the finished coverage.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of renovation blogs at the moment for obvious reasons and I’m loving seeing what other people have done to their homes. I’ll also always have a love of beauty blogs and lifestyle blogs as there’s always something exciting to read about in these topics!

Vuelio blog Awards 2018 winners

Vuelio Blog Awards 2018: The Winners

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

The Winners have been revealed at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018. The fourth annual event, the Vuelio Blog Awards are firmly established as the most respected accolades available to bloggers and annually recognise the best of the best.

Check the winners of our most recent awards, the Online Influence Awards 2019 here.

Tonight’s event brought together hundreds of bloggers, vloggers, Instagrammers and content creators where winners were chosen across 15 categories.

We are delighted to reveal to full list of winners, which for 2018 is as follows:

Beauty – Caroline Hirons

Daddy – The DADventurer

Food & Drink – Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary

Health & Fitness – Carly Rowena

Interior Design – Mad About The House

London Lifestyle – Poppy Loves

Men’s Fashion – Ape to Gentleman

Mummy – Slummy Single Mummy

Pet – Steph and the Spaniels

Political – Guido Fawkes

PR & Comms – PR Examples

Travel & Leisure – Hand Luggage Only

Wedding – Love My Dress

Women’s Fashion – Inthefrow

We are also delighted to announced that this year’s winner of the Best UK Blog is Inthefrow.

Victoria Magrath was chosen by judges not only for her outstanding blog, incredible visuals and recent redesign, but also due to her ability to set trends, publish industry tomes and embody everything an inspiration is and should be – not just in the fashion, but in the whole blogosphere.

Looking to work with bloggers, vloggers, instagrammers, podcasters and influencers? You need the Vuelio Influencer Database. 

Local News journalism

Local news for local people

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

There are more than 1,000 local media titles in the UK read by 42 million adults. Trust in these publications is high – according to a YouGov study, they’re the most trusted source for local news and information, making them a vital part of the UK’s media landscape.

But stories of local newspapers closing down are all too common – at least 228 since 2005 – and industry cuts continue to create a challenging environment for local journalists.

With less time and money but more people and stories to cover – how can these local journalists continue to create quality, trusted content?

Luckily, there are some tools to help:

The Bureau Local
A collaborative investigative network connecting the dots at both local and national level. Allows local newsrooms to access broader and deeper levels of information. The network works across roles – from reporters to designers – and industry lines. While outlets may usually be competitors, The Bureau Local is all about collaboration to unveil the truth.

Find out more.

RADAR from the Press Association
Standing for ‘Reporters And DAta Robots’, the RADAR news service uses – you guessed it – both reporters and robots to produce stories tailored for individual areas. The stories are eight or nine paragraphs long and cover every local area included in specific data sets. The service produces 300-400 versions of each story that can be used by journalists either as is, or as a base for their own content.

Find out more.

Journalist Enquiry Service
The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service allows journalists to send free enquiries to PR professionals and businesses asking for expert comment, interviews, case studies and materials. Local journalists can save hours of research and sourcing quotes by sending one enquiry asking for assistance. The PRs and organisations benefit from coverage in their targeted location, and journalists get the material they need to complete their stories.

Find out more here.

Work in PR? Thanks to our recent acquisition of ResponseSource, we can now offer you the chance to receive requests from the Journalist Enquiry Service.