Ali al-Bayati: early Saddam warnings ignored
I’ve also been interviewing Ali al-Bayati, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council in Iraq who – it emerges – had been warning the west about Saddam’s true nature since as far back as 1975. Which clearly convinced the west that here was a man we should be doing business with.
What they found in the Dutch Embassy
So, according to Anton Antonavich, there was *iagra in the Iraq Ministry of Information. When the Dutch cleared out of their embassy, journalists picking through the remnants found … huge stashes of porn. This is just by way of anecdotal aside from the front-line of war reporting. The rotting meant which is uncovered in Iraq: […]
John Simpson's birthday saved his life
In Iraq, John Simpson was informed that his mum was on the satphone. He walked across to answer it. She wished him a happy birthday, and they chatted for a while. As they talked, the place where he had been standing before he went to pick up the call was hit by a bomb. Isn’t […]
Iraq: One Year On
War – for the public and people in the firing line – is about death, destruction, terror and violence. For certain sectors of the PR community, it’s a business opportunity. Ask those US PRs who were paid in oil for the counsel they gave Sadaam over the years; or those who constructed the “babies ripped […]
Another Britney Spears scam
The last PR heist for Britney was the 24 hour wedding that never was in Las Vegas. Britney’s now making a big bid to get back in the spotlight with a “Spears set to act out suicide in sick video shocker” The wires are alive with this sort of thing: The pop princess has been […]
Listen to George Michael
In an interview with Britain�s Radio One yesterday I heard George Michael declare that he is quitting his superstar pop career after his current album. The singer claimed he has made enough money over the years and will not be releasing any more commercial records. Instead, he plans to make music available on his website, […]
Bedford strikes back
Fantastic story on the front page of the Times today. Dressed in full running gear David Bedford (the 70’s running icon) dashed down the Strand to hijack an event the 118 118 company were staging. Fab bit of guerrilla action. Sue them Dave, sue them. It’s obvious to anybody who remembers the great runner that […]
Biodegradable underwear
If you are looking for a PR grab to help get some ink for a forthcoming tour take a leaf out Missy Elliott’s book. A thousand supermarket titles will love this line. Reportedly Missy Elliott will wear biodegradable underwear on her upcoming tour. The hip hop queen has placed an order with eco-friendly company 2(x)ist, […]
Beyond Coincidence
My old friend Martin Plimmer launches his book Beyond Coincidence on Thursday and has sent this email: It was a story all the papers covered: 10-year-old Laura Buxton released a balloon with her name attached from her grandfather’s garden in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The balloon travelled 140 miles and landed in a garden in Pewsey, Wiltshire, […]
Today programme spoofed
As a seasoned media watcher I like spotting a publicity wheeze on a hard news programme. The most satisfying hit in the UK must be the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. Spoof stories posing as hard news when outed must be so frustrating for the show that gave the world Andrew Gilligan. This morning […]
Internet on the road to recover
My old pal Rhonda Palmer emailed me this link today http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8858230%255E7582,00.html It’s a feature from the Australian newspaper. “Internet recovers from dotcom crash” it boldly proclaims. I’m so pleased the internet is making a comeback. Borkowski had a ball with all those crazy dot com tycoons rolling up to our offices with bulging wallets hiring […]
What is situ-commercial?
PR Watch http://www.prwatch.org pointed out that Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal reports on a new Advertising trend: “The most obvious alternative to TV clutter, placing products Within shows, is generating some backlash among viewers. Marketers and media buyers see the ‘situ-mercial’ as a promising alternative.” What is a situ-mercial? It’s a commercial designed to look, sound […]
The PR disaster that never was
Benicio Del Toro has confessed he used to steal cars. The Oscar-nominated actor has revealed how he went off the rails after his mother died of hepatitis when he was just nine. The Puerto Rican star admitted: “I would get into trouble. Good healthy trouble – like stealing your neighbour’s car and then getting caught, […]