Malcolm Tucker: My PR Hero

(from left: Glenn Cullen, Terri, Nicola Murray, Malcolm Tucker and Ollie Reeder in character from 'The Thick of It')

Quite possibly the most outspoken, rude and no-holds-barred man on UK television, apart form Gene Hunt (another fav. hero), Malcolm is a true PR hero for me.

I'm sure academics, fellow students and possibly my own mother would argue that that simply cannot be. Here we have a man that uses dirty tricks, fairly blue language and sandpaper insults to move MPs and civil servants into line.

We also have a man that is committed to doing his job. Albeit a fairly sleaze ridden one, he does seek to keep the government in power, whatever the cost.

This is what a PR should be. Dedicated to his agency/department, no matter how bad the times get. The interesting dilemma comes when a PR has to search morally for answers to questions which just 'aren't cricket'.

The most recent Thick of It, broadcast on 12/12/09, saw two of Malcolm's colleagues talking about a report into one of the men's conduct. The other man was the chair of the report. For the context of this you'll need to see the rest of the previous episode. Suffice to say, Malcolm needed revenge.

What does he do? He tips off a photographer that they would be meeting. The saying 'A picture tells a thousand words' comes to mind, and the papers make a meal out of the pair of them.

Ethical? Probably not. Was it justified? If a little over the top, possibly. Was the intention of good PR there? I would argue yes. To save his job was Malcolm's first priority, as well as getting even with his colleagues. However, he also knew that this report could be damaging to the government and his 'company's' reputation would be on the line.

Malcolm doesn't necessarily show he can cope under pressure, but he can handle any crises that come up.

Would I encourage people to be like him? Definitely not. What I would say is take a page out of his book. Don't be put off by crises and look after your company or clients.

Three top insults soon to go into 'The Rutland Correspondent recommends...'

'Oh f***, here comes the beige power ranger'

'What's the story, f***-a-nory'

'He's so dense that light bends around him'

A response to Simply Jack....

My colleague Simply Jack and I talked yesterday over my lack of blogging. In fact, I was grateful for his call.

A busy time at work, coupled with a busy time at home has meant I have had to spend time away from the blog. I told Jack this, to have the reply: 'But Ollie, you haven't posted in over a month. Come on!'

This posed a very serious question: Did I have anything to blog about?. The answer: probably not. I could talk to you about the recent work I have done with two funeral service trade magazines. This involved a couple of press releases highlighting the new Hearse Covers the company I work for now sell. This could be conceived as interesting, in an odd kind of way, albeit slightly tedious.

I could also talk to you about the pigs at home. We've had another lot slaughtered, and the sausages are fantastic. We've just started to think about what breed we'll be going for for the Uppingham Fat Stock show. More, of course, to follow.

For a political/PR/Rutland blog, it doesn't seem particularly relevant. Then again, there are aspects of all 3 in my points of interest. Hearse Covers: okay, not overtly political, but a definite PR challenge, and based around Rutland. Pigs: Definitely political (don't get me started on DEFRA), major PR issues for farming and most definitely bred in Rutland.

Talk to me: If you'd like to know more, I will be happy to post more. I should hope to blog a little more at University, particularly as I won't be over at home, enjoying peace & quiet in Redoak's grounds.

Just to please the old RSS Feeds and Blogger feeds, I'll even include a picture of the awesome Hearse Covers!!

Rockingham Track Day

Thanks to the good people at MTP, I managed to get along to the Ferrari Track day at Rockingham Raceway. Here's a selection of photos from the day. I'll hopefully be posting some videos on here soon; I'm making them on the subject of car detailing. Enjoy!

(P.S I promise to resume normal service soon, it's been a busy time at work/home)

B & G's first foray onto the media

Feel free to visit the website here for an article detailing Rutland & Stamford NFU's new partner, Nicola Goodall.

The article is part of an increasing campaign of awareness for the offices.

Long may Sheep Market's finest continue to provide support to the local farming and non-farming community.

Adblogging

In our Social Media class today we sat around and brainstormed the idea of advocacy blogging.

An unusually dry topic from the Rutland Correspondent, I struggled to think of a suitable topic to bring a crescendo. I looked to my previous posts, and found that the 'Lambing With LEDs' is adblogging in practice.

By creating a funny viral video, posting it to a couple of FWI blogs, critical to it's target audience, Samsung will be maximising audiences, reach, potential sales etc.

But, from FWI's perspective, is it right to be blogging about products favourably? Perhaps if its a Klass or Massey tractor, yes, but Samsung? Probably not.

Online product reviews could already be seen as adblogging. Portmanteau aside, it is an online publication, containing opinion, that can be favourable (yet also show some negatives). Take a look at this HAWX review for the PS3. Whilst the reviewer is highlighting its negative sides, he does recommend it to users at the end.

For a different perspective on adblogging, check out The Real Student Voice, an honorary Raddlemen

From Clacton to Manhattan, on Social Media Airways' Business Class

Whilst sitting in my Social Media class at university, we came across the story of Kimberley Swann, a 16 year old Essex girl who was asked to leave her employer. Her dismissal was down to her posting as her Facebook status that she was 'Bored at Work'.

Whilst the saying goes 'all publicity is good publicity', the firm at the center of the row, Ivell Marketing & Logistics, has seen a huge rise in groups opposing her dismissal. Just searching for the company on Facebook displays an array of groups that seek to show their near hatred for the company.

As a class, we were asked to pick a firm we know to have a web presence, and do a communications audit on them. Simply put, this is a review of what they say, what we say, and whether its good or bad, on several different platforms. The stipulation: Our only source of information was the internet.

Two of my passions in life are food and the USA. Where better to review than one of my favourite restaurants, the Comfort Diner in Manhattan, NY. Famed for good quality food, and featured in the Rutland Correspondent Recommends listing, it seemed the perfect choice.

Like Spandau Ballet, 'To cut a long story short', I didn't quite lose my mind; I instead found some fairly interesting stuff. 

Having searched Youtube, Facebook, Amazon, Google, Wikipedia, Google Maps, Flickr and Review sites, one great feature was clear: It was nearly all very positive user-generated content. The good people at the Comfort Diner have a website, and very little else which they themselves control. A fanbase internet-wide has formed, without the Comfort Diner doing very much. On being asked 'What would you do if you were the Comms. Dept for Comfort Diner?', I had a typical Raddlemen's answer: Multum In Parvo.

By not publishing as much, and having user generated content, Comfort Diner should have a fantastic press. Much press from little input. Though there would be a lot to be said for not publishing very much either. How do I tell my diners about new menus? How do I tell them about the new Staten Island Diner? Without using some self-publicising, I wouldn't be able to tell them.

While it's good to have great reviews and a huge fanbase appreciating what you do, be it food or clothes, insurance or wealth management, you need to give back to them. Don't be afraid to publish yourself or your product, even if you have a strong and loyal fans.

Perhaps all publicity is good publicity. Like a good pancakes and syrup, pour some publicity over that large mountain of fans.