Special guest in this week’s podcast is reinsurance sectors PR specialist, Mairi Mallon.
As MD at rein4ce Ltd and director at Breen Media, Mairi has shown the effectiveness of working hard at at a specific niche using social media.
On the show she shares her main tips on how she used blogging and LinkedIn to huge effect to build an impressive reputation (and client list) in the reinsurance sector.
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mairi-mallon/10/7a4/b0a
THIS WEEK IN PR ….
Toyoto apology really is car-crash telly
http://www.prweek.com/news/rss/982012/Toyota-video-strikes-right-tone-response-may-late-experts-say/
Car giants Toyota remain in crisis despite turning to social media in a bid to win back hearts and minds, while Media House director Jack Irvine warns it could put back the cause of eco cars in general.
Government PR launch is busted
http://thedrum.co.uk/blogs/gordonmacintyrekemp/2010/02/04/directgov-government-services-and-gay-porn-all-in-one-place/
New campaign for kids forced to change after Gordon MacIntyre Kemp reveals on Twitter that it is using gay porn handle.
THIS WEEK IN JOURNALISM …
Sir Harold Evans
“Don’t blame the web for lazy journalism …”
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-video-harry-evans-on-future-of-journalism-newspapers-and-his-love-for-m/
Harry Evans on how the web has created exciting opportunities for journalism, how it has helped make it easier to be a journalist, and high praise for Rupert Murdoch.
Robert Niles, web editor and reporter, tells the Online Journalism Review that writing skills are no longer enough to be a journalist.
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/
“There’s no longer any use in merely teaching people to write to a formula and conform to a specific stylebook. While those skills had enough value a generation ago for an individual to build a career, the new, hyperliterate media marketplace has rendered those skills – in isolation – as practically worthless.”
THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL MEDIA …
Facebook has quietly become the fourth largest distributor of news content on the web as people spend more time on social networking websites.
Last year Facebook overtook Google News rising from just over 1% in January 2009 to 3.5% last week. Facebook has also recently been encouraging users to create personalised news channels on the social networking site.
French speaking journalists ask ‘What if your only news sources were Facebook and Twitter?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/feb/05/facebook-twitter
Five undergo experiment by locking themselves away in a farmhouse for a week and discover social media is great for breaking news fast, but also for fostering uncorroborated speculation.
THIS WEEK IN TECHNOLOGY …
According to wired, Sony wants to clone the iPad:
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-02/05/sony-wants-to-build-an-ipad-clone.asp
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
The global Twestival has announced it will take place on March 25 this year and has launched a rip snorting new website to help promote it.
Among those quick to get involved are Victoria Raimes from the Evening News and PR favouriite Kate Trussler with Hilary Jane Gray who are staging the Edinburgh event which will raise funds for Concern Worldwide.
And if you’ve not tuned in yet, I commend you to watch the Virtual Revolution from the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n4j0r
Next Scottish Social Media Dinner organized by Craig McGill at Contently Managed will take place on February 17 2010, at Mother India in Glasgow with tickets – costing £25 – on sale now.