blog

• From Accent To Exit: Cheryl Cole

  

  It all seemed to be going so well, yet just a few weeks into her US adventure Cheryl Cole has been axed from the X Factor. Cole, who had been keen to launch a career in the US, has been left considering her options after being axed from the hit show, apparently because the US audience couldn’t understand her Geordie accent. Cheryl owes much of her star status in the UK to the show, which has...  View This »

  
  

• Dream hit for Weight Watchers

  Weight Watchers PR team must have been hi-fiving each other in the office last week after receiving wide spread publicity when a medical study concluded their programme was more effective than doctor’s advice at shifting the pounds. The Daily Mail’s intro to the story read like a free advert: “Weight Watchers really does work – and it’s better and cheaper than diet advice from your GP,...  View This »

  
  

• Dove In Hot Water Over New Advert

  

  Dove, promoters of beauty amongst all women, is in trouble after their most recent advert was accused of being racist. The advert which features a black, Latino and white woman all posing in front of a ‘before’ and ‘after’ skin chart is said to have caused offence as the ‘after’ skin tone is lighter than the ‘before’. The caption which accompanies the ad reads, 'Visibly more beautiful skin...  View This »

  
  

• Giggs legal case could become career defining

  

  Ryan Giggs attempt to gag the press over his alleged affair has backfired spectacularly and rather than suppressing the story his actions have amplified and magnified it – causing huge damage to his reputation. Giggs has been at the top for an incredible 20 years and has won every honour under the sun during his career with Manchester United yet his actions over this alleged affair could...  View This »

  
  

• Good grief, I'm in the PR Power Book!

  

  My inclusion in this year's PR Week Power Book was a real surprise. I had an email a few week's ago from the magazine's editor Danny Rogers telling me I'd been selected for the list - which details the most influential players in the UK PR world. I couldn't quite believe I had been chosen and decided to take the same view as I usually take when journalists promise me a huge spread for a...  View This »

  
  

• Super Injunction Out Of Control

  The super injunction story took another turn this weekend and looks set to take an interesting twist later today.  Rumour is that The Sun is applying for the ban to be lifted this afternoon so the cat may well and truly be out of the bag.   Over the weekend, the footballer who can’t be named, took out yet another gagging order – this time against Twitter.  The married player issued legal...  View This »

  
  

• Stunts We Like: Durex

  

  Today I’m writing about business cards – not the most interesting start to an article I admit, but stick with me.   The business cards I’m talking about are part of a great PR stunt by SSL-International, the parent company of Durex. So what’s different about them? I hear you ask. Are they made of rubber or latex? Are they flavoured? No, they’re filled with ‘semen.’ Notice how I use the word...  View This »

  
  

• Feeling sorry for Wayne Rooney

  

  Poor old Wayne Rooney. His talent with a football has made him the Premiership’s best paid player and one of the richest people under 30 in the UK (according to The Sunday Times Rich List) but despite his wealth and success on the pitch it seems he can’t stop offending people. I don’t know if Wayne retains a PR but his image could certainly do with a bit of a makeover. First there were the...  View This »

  
  

• Making A Bad Job Of A Dream Job Stunt

  

  Who likes beer? Who would like to be paid an obscene amount just to drink beer? Sounds appealing? I also forgot to mention that you’d be doing this at a host of music festivals in the summer sun. This type of job should see a queue a line of men and women which stretches the length of the UK and it would, if it were real. InBev UK, the firm behind brands such as Budweiser are said to be...  View This »

  
  

• Big Mac addict helps McDonalds brand rehab

  

  Some of the best PR for businesses comes from their loyal customers. So McDonalds bosses must love retired prison guard Dan Gorske. Mr Gorske, 57, helped the fast food giant score masses of free editorial coverage this week when it was reported he had eaten 25,000 Big Macs. It’s taken Mr Gorske 39 years of serious McDonalds munching to reach this incredible milestone, which was celebrated by...  View This »