Pop Up Shoreditch

Living in East London I've realised that it has become a hub of PR stunts and events. Around Brick Lane there are so many pop-up shops appearing, attempting to give brands credibility, by hiring a DJ to play to an empty shop that has one pair of 'edgy' trainers on display. The shops are not  intending to make any sales but are used as living advertisements to raise brand profiles. The latest is Boxpark which describes itself at 'the world's first pop-up mall' and claims to be a 'retail revolution.' I have to say I disagree, I popped in on my way to Brick Lane yesterday to give it a chance and it just looks like a cheap and quick way of building another shopping centre, the box's were filled with designers ranging from Nike to Calvin Klein. I at least thought it would  be used as a way for small businesses to be able to afford premises in a central location.

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Professor Green and Puma

So I've got a bit of a soft spot for Pro Green anyway and a few months ago he came down to my work and did a shoot for Puma on one of the days I was working (okay so I specifically requested I could work that day). He asked me where the toilet was and I nearly wee'd myself, he probably did too because it took me so long to respond.

The shoot is for their new campaign 'the after-hours athelete' putting emphasis on social sports such as ping-pong and bowling. Here he is sat at the bar...



and below is an article about the campaign from PR week...


http://prweek.com/uk/news/1090192/Canoe-snaps-Puma-UK-lifestyle-account-EdenCancan/

Unplanned PR

I read an article in the metro on my way to work this week about the photo below being banned by the Advertising Standards Agency as the model 'looks anorexic'. I was surprised to hear the name of the company as Drop Dead clothing, a company that I thought was relatively unheard of making the headlines is quite a feat even if it's for the wrong reasons. 

Drop Dead responded saying that the model is a size 8 and that it was actually offensive to call her too skinny, so everyone is offended. I don't know who's side I'm on really but here's the photo below.

Has climate change left British birds on the brink of extinction?

Here is my first ever press release. Taken from a rather boring article about a bird survey, I've sexed it up a bit to make it a more exciting story to cover...

PRESS RELEASE                 

Has climate change left British birds on the brink of extinction?

A huge new survey is being carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology to see how the UK’s birds are coping with the damaging changes to our climate and their habitats. Willow Tits and Hawfinch may have even become completely extinct in some areas of Britain. Some birds have even been spreading further north as a result of climate change.

An army of 50,000 strong are set to take part in largest ever survey in Britain, equipped with binoculars and notebooks ready to check on over 250 different species, over half of which are already of conservational concern, 40 of these may have even become extinct already.

“Our aim is to cover every ten-kilometre square in the UK” says Pauline Simpson from the British Trust for Ornithology.

The BTO want to get everyone involved in the historic event, even beginners can join in by reporting on the birds that visit their gardens. The study will provide a barometer of how the natural world is coping with pressures from climate and habitat changes.

Date: Friday 14^th October 2011

Contact: J / 07987654321 / JJ@pressrelease.com

Life is short. Have an affair

This billboard has appeared in Camden, for the extra-marital affair match-making website http://www.ashleymadison.com/, their tagline is "Life is short. Have an affair." Boris is thinking of suing the company for using him as their unofficial spokesperson on the advert, Boris himself has had well-documented affairs in the past.

This is a really good way to get people talking, all the company have had to pay for is a billboard for 2 weeks, yet the PR they have received from this, including getting themselves into national newspapers is priceless. I think it would be smart for Boris to just ignore the poster and not sue, by banning the advert he's only going to make people talk more, which is a great thing for Ashleymadison.com but not necessarily for his easy-going reputation.

Contort Yourself

So as part of my PR degree course I have been asked to keep a blog about all things PR. I have always wanted to start a blog but it one of those things that I've never actually done, mainly because I didn't have much to talk about apart from moaning about the person in Subway putting too much sauce in my sub, this probably won't change. So after having an exciting journey home, walking through Stratford with my skirt tucked into my pants for an unspecified amount of time, I've decided to stay in on a Friday night and start it right now! I'm going to use the blog to talk about my opinion of what I've been learning on my course and also current issues in PR that I have an opinion on. I will probably give you insight into the debauchery and douchebaggery of my life also.


After a really interesting lecture today we were ask to compile a list of playlist songs that would represent a radio station, playlists A, B and C. A being songs that are often played on the radio, mainstream, radio-friendly songs, B being more specialist songs that wouldn't be played so often, maybe as part as a specific show and C being songs that probably would never be played on radio. I found thinking of songs for the C list very easy, and the A list a bit more difficult, I'm sure radio DJs would much prefer to play only C list songs but that's not the way it works.



Playlist A
Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ISLeHByD-I
Dusty Springfield - Spooky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fola80rQop4
Dee Edwards -  Why Can't There Be Love? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgHO7W1III
Donovan - Sunshine Superman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4P7kqaeUM
Morrissey - Suedehead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AvuweztG4Q&ob=av2n

Playlist B
The Cure - Fire In Cairo (I would put some Cure songs in list A but this is a less well-known song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeG1sUh911o
Richard Berry - Louie Louie (The original and best version of a very covered song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2CKsaq5r8
The The - This Is The Day (This is one of my favourite songs of all time) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-32AAp418V4
Zapp -  More Bounce To The Ounce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkFpiZQm8xQ


Playlist C

NWA - I Ain't Tha One (I can't imagine this has ever been played on radio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwUO_NHAjQA
Blurt - The Fish Needs A Bike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je30JqJCW0o
James Chance - Contort Yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCI24Lt9aNQ
The Cramps - Let's Get Fucked Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwX_aKGjMg0


That's all for now, but I have a feeling I will probably change this a few times over the course of the term.
My next post will be more PR related, I promise...