I'm updating my Sure PR website and one change has been dropping the PR Life tab which brings people to this blog and my Police Box blog.
Apparently this has caused confusion with a couple of diddy readers who don't know how to find my blogs without going through the Sure PR website. Now there could be an argument that their level of diddyishness is such that I don't want them as readers but giving them the benefit of doubt, the blogs can be found at:
http://www.surepr.blogspot.com/
http://police-box.blogspot.com/
You can even bookmark these sites (amazing yes) and there are buttons on each blog which allow you to subscribe so that any time I post you get an email with said post or an RSS feed (probably lost them completely by now).
Anyway, hope that helps the diddies out there.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Press Interviews Easier Said Than Done
Funny old weekend and interesting in that the boot was on the other foot in terms of my relationship with the media.
It all started on Thursday with a phone call from Sunday Herald media corr Peter John Mieklim who had picked up on my new Police Box blog after reading about it on Scott Douglas' Black and White and Read All Over.
He wanted to carry a piece in the SH media pages on 'former crime hack having a go at the polis through new media' type thing. During the subsequent interview I got a real insight in to what it must be like for my PR clients when their business/area of interest is being put under the microscope and I wasn't that comfortable.
I answered Pete's questions as best I could but was left with a number of lingering doubts - I shouldn't have said that, I could have put this better, I should have mentioned that and the $64 million question, is he going to stitch me up? Despite his assurances there was nothing to worry about I've been in his position many times and of course have carried out the stitching better than a career seamstress.
It was arranged the Sunday Herald pic desk would call me on Friday if they wanted to do pics but when I didn't hear anything I assumed they've dropped the story or just simply didn't need an image, which was fine. And then on Saturday lunchtime I got a call saying yes, they wanted pics and could I do them pronto.
I nipped back home, changed in to some decent threads and waited for the arrival of the snapper, who turned out to be none other than Karen Murray of Aberdeen agency FirstPix. A tad ironic in that I use Karen and partner Simon Price for any PR pics I need done in Aberdeen and I am usually calling the shots on what I need but of course it was Karen now doing the bossing about, albeit in a nice way.
About 80 minutes later, Karen had what she needed and again I felt a slight pang of sympathy for certain PR clients who positively bristle if they are asked to stand or pose for anything longer than 10 minutes.
The published piece was fine and Pete gave me a fair crack at the whip, it was pretty balanced with a quote from former Scotsman colleague and new media guru Stewart Kirkpatrick and even a blast from MSP David McLetchie for good measure.
Funniest thing about the whole episode was the feeble efforts of Lothian and Borders Police with their "source" quotes (ie press office boss Elayne Grimes).
The source said "Rafferty was well-known among police officers". Bang on the money because I know some of my most regular readers are not just the top brass but also the L and B press office who check this blog religiously. And if they are lucky enough to get a mention it's discussed upstairs at "morning prayers" when Grymes or her lackeys report daily to the Force executive.
With new arrival Susan Lumsden starting this week as number 2 in the press office on a £45k salary and Grymes own pay cheque tipping in at £70k, plus a legion of little helpers, I estimate the media office salaries must be between £200-£250k a year. For that kind of dosh you really expect a bit more instead of "it sounds like he's got a lot of spare time on his hands".
Really guys, if that's the best you can do, you should be taking a hard look at yourselves. It's embarrassing, I almost feel sorry for you.
ps thanks to Shaun Milne for his generous plug - he's nae bad for a Jambo.
It all started on Thursday with a phone call from Sunday Herald media corr Peter John Mieklim who had picked up on my new Police Box blog after reading about it on Scott Douglas' Black and White and Read All Over.
He wanted to carry a piece in the SH media pages on 'former crime hack having a go at the polis through new media' type thing. During the subsequent interview I got a real insight in to what it must be like for my PR clients when their business/area of interest is being put under the microscope and I wasn't that comfortable.
I answered Pete's questions as best I could but was left with a number of lingering doubts - I shouldn't have said that, I could have put this better, I should have mentioned that and the $64 million question, is he going to stitch me up? Despite his assurances there was nothing to worry about I've been in his position many times and of course have carried out the stitching better than a career seamstress.
It was arranged the Sunday Herald pic desk would call me on Friday if they wanted to do pics but when I didn't hear anything I assumed they've dropped the story or just simply didn't need an image, which was fine. And then on Saturday lunchtime I got a call saying yes, they wanted pics and could I do them pronto.
I nipped back home, changed in to some decent threads and waited for the arrival of the snapper, who turned out to be none other than Karen Murray of Aberdeen agency FirstPix. A tad ironic in that I use Karen and partner Simon Price for any PR pics I need done in Aberdeen and I am usually calling the shots on what I need but of course it was Karen now doing the bossing about, albeit in a nice way.
About 80 minutes later, Karen had what she needed and again I felt a slight pang of sympathy for certain PR clients who positively bristle if they are asked to stand or pose for anything longer than 10 minutes.
The published piece was fine and Pete gave me a fair crack at the whip, it was pretty balanced with a quote from former Scotsman colleague and new media guru Stewart Kirkpatrick and even a blast from MSP David McLetchie for good measure.
Funniest thing about the whole episode was the feeble efforts of Lothian and Borders Police with their "source" quotes (ie press office boss Elayne Grimes).
The source said "Rafferty was well-known among police officers". Bang on the money because I know some of my most regular readers are not just the top brass but also the L and B press office who check this blog religiously. And if they are lucky enough to get a mention it's discussed upstairs at "morning prayers" when Grymes or her lackeys report daily to the Force executive.
With new arrival Susan Lumsden starting this week as number 2 in the press office on a £45k salary and Grymes own pay cheque tipping in at £70k, plus a legion of little helpers, I estimate the media office salaries must be between £200-£250k a year. For that kind of dosh you really expect a bit more instead of "it sounds like he's got a lot of spare time on his hands".
Really guys, if that's the best you can do, you should be taking a hard look at yourselves. It's embarrassing, I almost feel sorry for you.
ps thanks to Shaun Milne for his generous plug - he's nae bad for a Jambo.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Pattullo Recalls Dee-lights of San Siro
The Canny Man's. An Edinburgh institution, the kind of pub you either love or hate. It's a hostelry where the landlord allegedly ups the prices at Christmas and any festive frivolities are positively discouraged.
If the bar staff like the cut of your jib you get a wee dish of mini sausage rolls with your pint or a handful of peanuts and if you are really part of the in-crowd you can reserve a table in the bar for your leisurely quaffing.
So I popped in the other night to meet Daily Record hack Lynn Davidson for an after work swifty. La Davidson used to live round the corner and the Canny's bar takings must have suffered after she moved away.
But it was the other journo in the bar who caught my eye, the affable and urbane Alan Pattullo, sports writer with The Scotsman. I've always liked big Alan because, despite being a Dundee supporter and quite proud to admit it, I've always got the impression he has a soft spot for the Hibs.
We got chatting on his way out and it turns out his follically-challenged and equally urbane drinking partner with the familiar face was Patrick Barclay, the Sunday Telegraph football columnist and fitba telly pundit.
Patrick was visiting Edinburgh for a few days as he runs down his time at the ST before taking up the Chief Football Commentator post at The Times. Being the nosey sort I wondered what the connection was and it turns out Patrick, who earns his crust following the cream of European football, is also a follower of The Dark Blues.
Mr Pattullo explains: "Patrick was born in Dundee, went to Dundee High and like me supports Dundee. Dundee were the only team in town in those days I guess.
It's funny how I got to know him which was because of an article he did for the Independent in 1987. It was headlined "Dundee's street of shared fame" and appeared on the morning of the Dundee United v Gothenburg UEFA Cup final second leg and has pride of place on the first page of my first Dundee scrapbook.
"Basically, in the article he tells United fans to stop crowing, cos our European history was just as illustrious at the time. I liked his style! I then introduced myself to him at an Inter Milan v Manchester United Champions League game at the San Siro in 1999 and that's how we became friends."
Alan could have stopped there but he felt the need to tell me The Dee suffer from almost as bad a Scottish Cup hoodoo as the Cabbage - they last won it in 1910 (us 1902).
And from dreaming of past glories at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, (cap 80,018) Pattullo was brought back down to earth on Wednesday when he took up his position on the press bench - at glorious Glebe Park (cap 3960) for the Brechin City v St Mirren Scottish Cup tie. That'll teach 'im.
If the bar staff like the cut of your jib you get a wee dish of mini sausage rolls with your pint or a handful of peanuts and if you are really part of the in-crowd you can reserve a table in the bar for your leisurely quaffing.
So I popped in the other night to meet Daily Record hack Lynn Davidson for an after work swifty. La Davidson used to live round the corner and the Canny's bar takings must have suffered after she moved away.
But it was the other journo in the bar who caught my eye, the affable and urbane Alan Pattullo, sports writer with The Scotsman. I've always liked big Alan because, despite being a Dundee supporter and quite proud to admit it, I've always got the impression he has a soft spot for the Hibs.
We got chatting on his way out and it turns out his follically-challenged and equally urbane drinking partner with the familiar face was Patrick Barclay, the Sunday Telegraph football columnist and fitba telly pundit.
Patrick was visiting Edinburgh for a few days as he runs down his time at the ST before taking up the Chief Football Commentator post at The Times. Being the nosey sort I wondered what the connection was and it turns out Patrick, who earns his crust following the cream of European football, is also a follower of The Dark Blues.
Mr Pattullo explains: "Patrick was born in Dundee, went to Dundee High and like me supports Dundee. Dundee were the only team in town in those days I guess.
It's funny how I got to know him which was because of an article he did for the Independent in 1987. It was headlined "Dundee's street of shared fame" and appeared on the morning of the Dundee United v Gothenburg UEFA Cup final second leg and has pride of place on the first page of my first Dundee scrapbook.
"Basically, in the article he tells United fans to stop crowing, cos our European history was just as illustrious at the time. I liked his style! I then introduced myself to him at an Inter Milan v Manchester United Champions League game at the San Siro in 1999 and that's how we became friends."
Alan could have stopped there but he felt the need to tell me The Dee suffer from almost as bad a Scottish Cup hoodoo as the Cabbage - they last won it in 1910 (us 1902).
And from dreaming of past glories at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, (cap 80,018) Pattullo was brought back down to earth on Wednesday when he took up his position on the press bench - at glorious Glebe Park (cap 3960) for the Brechin City v St Mirren Scottish Cup tie. That'll teach 'im.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Birthday Boy Hacked Off
What a difference five years makes. This week in 2004 I and other hacks assembled in a hotel for a surprise 40th birthday party for well known journalist pal.
A great night was had by all and included a never to be forgotten Tom Jones-style karaoke performance by a then leading political hack who went on to become a Government spin doctor.
Fast forward five years and said hack is dumbfounded when yesterday his wife and four children forget it’s his birthday. It wasn’t until 8.30pm and only following a tip off from his sister in law that an embarrassed wife and kids were alerted to their faux pais and trooped in with a home made birthday card, a Kit-Kat and bag of Smarties.
Happy Birthday mate – look on the bright side – they’ve got five years to plan your 50th.
A great night was had by all and included a never to be forgotten Tom Jones-style karaoke performance by a then leading political hack who went on to become a Government spin doctor.
Fast forward five years and said hack is dumbfounded when yesterday his wife and four children forget it’s his birthday. It wasn’t until 8.30pm and only following a tip off from his sister in law that an embarrassed wife and kids were alerted to their faux pais and trooped in with a home made birthday card, a Kit-Kat and bag of Smarties.
Happy Birthday mate – look on the bright side – they’ve got five years to plan your 50th.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Fairburn Repels Borders Reivers
One unhappy bunny this morning is former Daily Record colleague Rob Fairburn of Borders Press Agency who was seething over his cornflakes at the actions of certain Scottish newspapers.
It's an old problem and I fully sympathise with Rob and other freelances who find themselves in this position from time to time.
A few weeks back Rob broke the story of 23-year-old Daniel Balfour who was having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl with the approval of the girl's mother. The story went national and was even one of the main talking points on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show.
Naturally Rob was in court yesterday to hear Balfour being sentenced and to report the outcome. He was mildly put out when a Press Association reporter pitched up as they don't often venture in to the hinterlands and would need satnav to find a Borders court room. But it was a minor quibble and Fairburn left the PA reporter in his wake, filing his copy a good two hours before the PA version hit the news desks.
Now for the benefit of those not in the meeja, many national newspaper groups pay PA a retainer for various news and sports services in return for free to use copy. So it was not a huge surprise that some cheapskate titles opted to use PA instead of coughing up to the local freelance who freezes his arse off on Borders sheriff court press benches week in week out when PA staff are safely ensconced in their city centre offices.
But what really got Robbo's goat was the cheek of one title in particular who phoned him up to obtain the sort of personal details and background info in the case which is not in the public domain of a court room (and which PA didn't have) and then chose to run the PA version.
A bit naughty you would have to agree and it fails to take in to account the value of having guys like Fairburn on the ground, building local contacts and unearthing this type of story which often sneaks through the justice system without a wider audience.
Hopefully his memo to news desks might strike a chord and news executives will think twice the next time it comes to bypassing the local freelance in favour of the cheaper option. But I'm not holding my breath.
OPERATIONAL NOTE – RE Duns Sheriff Court 7/1/9
IT is perhaps understandable that in these times of economic uncertainty some newspapers, in an attempt to save a few pounds, would prefer to use the services of the Press Association turning up at a Borders sheriff court for the first time in years rather than an established freelance agency when faced with the choice.
This is despite the fact copy from the above case involving a mother who allowed her daughter aged 14 to sleep with her 22-year-old boyfriend in the family home was filed by Borders Press Agency a couple of hours before the PA version arrived late in the day.
In addition, the story only came into the public domain in the first place due to this agency’s constant monitoring of sheriff courts in the area.
However, I fully accept it is a newspaper’s prerogative to prefer to wait for the PA version if they so desire.
But I take great exception to those newspapers who had every intention of using the PA version to then come onto the Borders Press Agency to ask about specialist knowledge of the case and looking for contact details etc.
This puts myself in an extremely awkward situation as I have always tried to be very helpful and provide a thorough and professional service from the Scottish Borders.
As a result, I am reviewing the service provided from this area to ensure that the newspapers who are loyal to the Borders Press Agency are given the priority they deserve.
The newspapers who thought they scored by saving a few pounds in this instance can spend the next few months playing catch up their rivals when it comes to breaking stories in this area but then again that is their “prerogative”.
Robert Fairburn
Borders Press Agency
It's an old problem and I fully sympathise with Rob and other freelances who find themselves in this position from time to time.
A few weeks back Rob broke the story of 23-year-old Daniel Balfour who was having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl with the approval of the girl's mother. The story went national and was even one of the main talking points on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show.
Naturally Rob was in court yesterday to hear Balfour being sentenced and to report the outcome. He was mildly put out when a Press Association reporter pitched up as they don't often venture in to the hinterlands and would need satnav to find a Borders court room. But it was a minor quibble and Fairburn left the PA reporter in his wake, filing his copy a good two hours before the PA version hit the news desks.
Now for the benefit of those not in the meeja, many national newspaper groups pay PA a retainer for various news and sports services in return for free to use copy. So it was not a huge surprise that some cheapskate titles opted to use PA instead of coughing up to the local freelance who freezes his arse off on Borders sheriff court press benches week in week out when PA staff are safely ensconced in their city centre offices.
But what really got Robbo's goat was the cheek of one title in particular who phoned him up to obtain the sort of personal details and background info in the case which is not in the public domain of a court room (and which PA didn't have) and then chose to run the PA version.
A bit naughty you would have to agree and it fails to take in to account the value of having guys like Fairburn on the ground, building local contacts and unearthing this type of story which often sneaks through the justice system without a wider audience.
Hopefully his memo to news desks might strike a chord and news executives will think twice the next time it comes to bypassing the local freelance in favour of the cheaper option. But I'm not holding my breath.
OPERATIONAL NOTE – RE Duns Sheriff Court 7/1/9
IT is perhaps understandable that in these times of economic uncertainty some newspapers, in an attempt to save a few pounds, would prefer to use the services of the Press Association turning up at a Borders sheriff court for the first time in years rather than an established freelance agency when faced with the choice.
This is despite the fact copy from the above case involving a mother who allowed her daughter aged 14 to sleep with her 22-year-old boyfriend in the family home was filed by Borders Press Agency a couple of hours before the PA version arrived late in the day.
In addition, the story only came into the public domain in the first place due to this agency’s constant monitoring of sheriff courts in the area.
However, I fully accept it is a newspaper’s prerogative to prefer to wait for the PA version if they so desire.
But I take great exception to those newspapers who had every intention of using the PA version to then come onto the Borders Press Agency to ask about specialist knowledge of the case and looking for contact details etc.
This puts myself in an extremely awkward situation as I have always tried to be very helpful and provide a thorough and professional service from the Scottish Borders.
As a result, I am reviewing the service provided from this area to ensure that the newspapers who are loyal to the Borders Press Agency are given the priority they deserve.
The newspapers who thought they scored by saving a few pounds in this instance can spend the next few months playing catch up their rivals when it comes to breaking stories in this area but then again that is their “prerogative”.
Robert Fairburn
Borders Press Agency
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Cop A Load Of This
A Happy New Year to you all. I never keep to New Year resolutions but I have made one which I will do my best to adhere to in 2009.
I've decided I will no longer post items on Lothian and Borders Police on this blog. Let's be honest, last year it was like shooting fish in a barrel and some of it made Grim reading.
This blog was supposed to be about PR, journalism and other stuff which took my fancy but I found so much info was coming my way about L and B that it tended to take over.
Now I know a lot of cops read this blog and never one to cause disappointment I've launched a new blog which will deal with police related news and gossip - and you can visit The Police Box here.
I've decided I will no longer post items on Lothian and Borders Police on this blog. Let's be honest, last year it was like shooting fish in a barrel and some of it made Grim reading.
This blog was supposed to be about PR, journalism and other stuff which took my fancy but I found so much info was coming my way about L and B that it tended to take over.
Now I know a lot of cops read this blog and never one to cause disappointment I've launched a new blog which will deal with police related news and gossip - and you can visit The Police Box here.
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