The Masked Celebrity
I have been sent this in the post – an ingenious new device – a paper mask from the cuddly scorpions at Holy Moly. The blurred mask is part of a great campaign from Holy Moly reiterating their distaste for the current climate in celebrity photography. Holy Moly being the first “sleb missive” to announce […]
Heather Mills the dawning of a new era
“I’m so glad it’s over,” an emotional Mills told reporters. “It was an incredible result in the end to secure mine and Beatrice’s future and all the charities I plan on helping.” So it’s over; Heather Mills has got £24.3m in the divorce settlement today. Not bad, £6m for every year they were together. I […]
Film PR Job Description
I have just seen the most wonderful description for a modern film PR in a comment feature in Variety. WANTED: Top flack for the film industry. Ideal candidate will maintain inexhaustible ability to spin, wheedle and cajole. Must have strong parenting skills; magician’s training preferred. We offer plenty of responsibility, little power or support and great […]
From BAC to Bremner and Sub-Prime Market explained
Interesting day yesterday at the Battersea Arts Centre – I took part in their Inspiration Week and I was supposed to inspire young performance artists. The group proved to be a challenging mob from Search Party (young company from Bristol, studying at Dartington, already making work using sport as an influence), Tassos Stevens (football fan […]
At the MediaGuardian Awards for Innovation,
I was at the Millennium Dome last night at the first MediaGuardian Awards for Innovation, or Megas, as some funky Guardian person has christened them. The night kicked off with a performance by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius pip “Thou Shalt always Kill” . I think they are better on Youtube The awards, launched to […]
Scaremongering Stunts
A “diseased water” publicity stunt has got a few feathers ruffled in New Zealand and has been called irresponsible. Sometimes when spectacular guerilla actions go bad, the global focus creates a sharper focus on the issues. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4428798a10.html The plastic bottle, containing putrid water and live mosquito larvae, listed its contents as “cholera, typhoid, faeces and […]
Power to the press
For all the control that Hollywood publicists try to exercise over the press, they pour disdain on the supermarket titles like Weekly World News and The National Enquirer. But when one of these rags breaks a story, there is very little they can do to stop the chaos. Witness the acres of press surrounding Patrick […]
Bad Behaviour Pays
I heard on the BBC news yesterday that the UK was one of countries with the highest cocaine use in the European Union, and that the United Nations drugs watchdog says the UK and other countries respond too leniently to the drug taking escapades of celebrities. President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Philip Emafo, […]
Smoke Screens?
Watching the new BBC 4 drama, The Mad Men, which began last Sunday, I think this brilliant series will do a huge amount to promote cigarette smoking. Every person in every scene, including a gynaecologist, is fagging it . I know it’s the 1960’s and authenticity is important, but I get the feeling that one […]
Who takes the blame for the Clinton failure
Its do or die time tonight for Hilary Clinton who must win Ohio and Texas or she’ll have to face throwing in the towel and bow out as the Democratic nominee.Reports suggest that there is a thinning of support – so Who will take the blame for the defeat ? In May, 2007, the Nation […]
Prince Harry the Afghan crusader and reluctant PR man
Who would be a Royal Prince? I have been hounded this weekend by various media organizations wanting my comments on the furor surrounding Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan. We know how important Harry is to the national media – putting him on the front page certainly sells newspapers but the majority of callers […]
The growth of PR is threatening the integrity of the press
Great invite in my inbox from Trevor Morris DEBATE! Wednesday 9th April, 6.30pm, Old Cinema, University of Westminster Regent Campus, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW University of Westminster in conjunction with the Media Standards Trust) The motion: The growth of PR is threatening the integrity of the press For: Nick Davies, journalist and author […]
Revealed: The sly PR ruse that made Rambo PC
Hollywood has had publicists as long as it’s had movies. But getting audience bums on seats to see an ageing Sly Stallone is evidence of creative genius writes Mark Borkowski The old silent movie publicist and space grabber, Maynard Nottage, oncewrote that it is essential to think about the after effects of a photo opportunity. […]
Who spilled the beans on Prince Harry's tour of duty
Poor MOD PR folk what do you do? Alas the news has broken that Prince Harry has been doing his duty for this Grandmother and shooting at the Taliban on the front line in Afghanistan. A huge pat on the back – the young man is certainly courageous. Supposedly, Matt Drudge has broken the media blackout. The head […]
Risqué for Life
It’s often difficult to get publicity for charities but Nell McAndrew’s participation in Race for life 2008 saw to it that Britain’s largest women-only fundraising event in aid of cancer research had the paparazzi snapping. The photocall in Regents Park saw participants including McAndrew running in just thongs, with risqué body parts covered by body […]
Geek feast and the Art Academy of 21st Century.
In 1999 I was invited to speak at the Art Academy of 21st Century. It was a gathering of artists, producers and arts and media folk. Everybody from Laurie Anderson to Timothy Garton Ash and was there. The initiative was created by the Dutch government for thinkers, writers, historians, cultural critics, scientists, economists and dramatists […]
6 steps to revive your career
She’s just another chav with a cheating boyfriend so I shouldn’t really give a **** but I find Cheryl Cole’s situation astounding. Her ritual humiliation at finding out her partner Cashley Cole, had ended up with an old Premier Football team groupie has led her to lose lots of weight, go to Thailand, get a […]
Pap Publicity
It has been a surreal day. It started on the BBC Breakfast sofa where I rabbited on about Holy Moly’s decision not to accept intrusive paparazzi pictures on their site. It’s an interesting debate but I think the gesture is more of a heroic publicity stunt to garner more notoriety for Holy Moly, than taking […]
The ski lift pooch
After the huge interest in the Chalford Donkey I am now drawn to this story about a dog on the BBC web site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7251195.stm This pet dog is turning heads on the snow-covered slopes – by using a ski-lift. Guinness, a four-year-old collie, leaps into the air and grabs hold of the lift with his […]