Mark My Words Blog
Welcome to ‘Mark My Words,’ the digital sanctuary where insight meets intrigue, and commentary sparks contemplation.
Delve into the dynamic world of PR maverick Mark Borkowski as he unravels the threads of media, culture, and communication. Mark’s blog is a treasure trove of industry wisdom, offering a backstage pass to the inner workings of publicity and the ever-evolving landscape of modern media.
Barbie needs a PR facelift
So Barbie’s sales are down despite the spectacular Valentine’s Day publicity, the one where she split from Ken. If Barbie is to survive she must make the news more regularly. She’s one of the most famous women in the world and should be acting like one. Most stars who crave the adrenalin of column inches would be coming down hard on their sluggish management. Matel should be working frantically, like any hungry Hollywood publicist, tirelessly attempting to make headline news. She is, after all, their best asset by far. It’s time Barbie sacked her current publicity minders and got a…
Kevin Spacey and the dog in the night-time
Max and Mark disagree over the Kevin Spacey mugging in today’s Guardian. What do you think? http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1195583,00.html
Never ever get too cocky
One rule of PR is never ever to get too cocky when you think you’re on a roll, because there’s always the nasty interview which will bite your butt. Watching Richard and Judy Finnegan expose the shallows of Rebecca Loos clearly demonstrated their loathing for her. The TV make-up dept. couldn’t cover up the perspiration under her nose while R & J took her apart. The confident manner and girlie giggles only served to expose her as a gold-digger supreme. I suspect this brush with the sharp side of the sword of Damocles will give her a few nightmares.
The Sleazy Senorita talks and we all listen
Watching the interview with Rebecca Loos last night, on Sky, I realized it disclosed her true motives. It was her Big Brother moment. OK, she might have made a 6 figure sum, said to be around �125’000. Yes it was compelling TV, as the 26-year-old pitched her story in an attempt to substantiate her claim of bedding the millionaire soccer star. But what did we really discover about what this woman? Well, quite a polished, confident media performer, at ease with the camera overshadowing the lacklustre Sky One presenter Kay Burley. I suspect that Kay will wish she hadn’t taken…
The Battle for Hearts and Minds
Its always worth a trip to Spin watch for interesting stuff like this “Impartial information is increasingly hard to come by in Iraq,” reports Fiona O’Brien. “As fighting has intensified on the ground, U.S. authorities have stepped up a separate battle for public opinion, tightly controlling the flow of information to journalists whose ability to move freely in Iraq has been limited by increasing danger.” Although U.S. military officials refuse to discuss Iraqi civilian casualties, other reports suggest that hundreds have died in the past week in Fallujah alone. Reuters footage shows “dead children, old men and women lying wounded…
In the Indie today
CHEQUEBOOK TV: Sky strikes �150,000 deal with woman in Beckham … Independent – London,England,UK … Mark Borkowski, a public relations expert, said last night that newspapers and broadcasters were sometimes willing to work together to increase their buying …
Usher and Posh
On the showbiz wires is a news nib that Usher wants to work with Victoria Beckham. Yes folks there is always someone out there ready take advantage of another persons PR misery to benifit their own career. This sort of speculation just keeps the pot boiling but who does it really help.
WHERE NOW IN BECKHAMGATE?
That the drawn-out crucifixion of the Beckhams’ public image should coincide with Holy Week and the Easter holidays has certainly helped enhance the story’s poignancy. It has also highlighted how very removed from normality this extraordinary couple really are. Just think: if you or I were facing such a crisis in our marriage, whether anyone had ever heard of us or not, the overriding priority would surely be to find somewhere – anywhere – where we could get to the bottom of the facts, and then review our subsequent feelings in private. However hurt, shocked, or embarrassed, and whether ‘guilty’…
Not a good Friday for David and Victoria
Not a good Friday for poor old David Beckham. Svenis the England manager offers some marital advice. His wife takes advantage of the crisis and rushes out a new record and a pack of Spanish models claim they had flings with Becks. I am being asked what his advisers might be trying to do to counter the tabloids this morning. I am sure they will be telling him to keep up a cool detached front. Instructing the couple under siege to project calm and not let the red tops get a vibe that the lurid headlines and innuendo is having…
The Hand of Max Clifford
The Guardian has the following story on its site today. I posited this theory on Tuesday’s Steve Wright Show on BBC Radio 2. Catch up guys. Max Clifford held discussions with David Beckham’s former personal assistant Rebecca Loos as long ago as January with a view to selling her story, OnMediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal. The PR consultant has consistently denied any official involvement in Ms Loos’ �300,000 deal with the News of the World, which last weekend published a series of text messages purportedly sent between Beckham and his former employee. In fact, sources say Mr Clifford received �60,000 for his…
Who's winning the PR battle? My old pal Val low adds to the Posh and Becks debate with this think piece in Evening Standard
Who’s winning the PR battle? By Valentine Low, Evening Standard 6 April 2004 The battle lines were drawn up today – with David Beckham stuck in the middle. As the England football captain struggled to save his marriage, a PR battle was being waged through the media. On the one side was Victoria Beckham, desperate to prove there was nothing in current claims by the News Of The World. On the other was Rebecca Loos, 26, the former personal assistant who is said to have had a four-month affair with Beckham late last year. Victoria, with the biggest resources at…
Great feature by Andrew Neil in todays Scotsman
ANDREW NEIL ON MEDIA The sensational – if probably predictable story that David Beckham had been playing away with a woman not his wife (allegedly, as the lawyers always insist at this stage) unsurprisingly broke in last Sunday�s News of the World, where such stories tend to break. It was also no surprise that the Monday tabloids all piled in with great gusto to produce extensive follow-ups. But scandal stories present a conundrum for the broad-sheets and compact quality press. They profess to be driven by a higher news agenda than mere tittle-tattle, even if the tit-and-tat involves the England…
Mamma Mia
What a night last night turned out to be we organised the press for Mamma Mia’s fifth anniversary bash. It was fantastic to be conducting the post show photo ops on stage. The event also marked 30 years since ABBA began their career by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo .Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad attended the gala event at Prince Edward, Agnetha Faltskog opted not to attend. I really thought she might come at the last moment. Her seat remained empty all night. She has lived as a recluse in Sweden since ABBA split in 1983,…
Yes I got it wrong
It is interesting to note that the Beckham saga registers no interest on my blog. Is this because all my pals in North America can�t give a flying expletive for this European marital nonsense. So much for the boys global brand presence. There seems to be more interest in Pammy and JLo! Thank you to all those pedants who pointed out that I got the ex SFX pr girls christian name wrong. For the record the chic in the middle of Posh and Becks saga is Rebecca and not Rachel Loos. Suppose I can�t call her the Loos woman.
Beckham the storm gathers
Casting a gimlet eye over the newspapers this morning I spy trouble ahead for Posh and Beck�s. My observation yesterday that they had won the battle of terrible Tuesday with the beautifully crafted photo opportunity in the snow might be overshadowed by a gathering gloom. The alleged infidelity saga is set for a tricky turn or two this Easter weekend that could see a modern crucifixion of the perfect pair? The red tops seed today the idea that the fragrant Rebbeca Loos is set to spill the beans this weekend with her side of alleged affair. I am confident that…
Pammy returns
Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee are set to remarry, sources have claimed. The pair were also spotted at an animal rights party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where a source said: �They certainly seemed like more than just friends. They were holding hands and it looked very cosy.� When your bank balance needs a lift seed a news story and then do a deal with a high profile tabloid and get re-hitched.
Kurt Cobain shrine action!
We created a Kurt Cobain shrine as publicity opportunity for Virgin Megastores to mark the anniversary of his death, Since the media coverage we have some interesting graffiti.
Beckhams fight back
Congratulations to the Beckham PR team the coverage across the media today is exceptional, but be warned its going to be a long haul. On day two of the crisis we have seen some text book damaged limitation. She tried to trap him.. there was no affair screams the Mirror. The doubts are seeded as Beck�s and Victoria frolic in the snow for their chosen photographer Jason (I have made millions from the Beckhams) Fraser to syndicate. The rest of the coverage is dedicated to picking apart Rebbeca Loos and her torrid private life. We even learn that Greg Rusedski�s…
Checking
There is something deeply and mysteriously wrong with the programme that I am using to upload this material. Hence this entry, which may resolve a minor crisis.
J Lo and the great pie escape
We all look for ballyhoo that will generate global media coverage. Someone came up with a stunt to make the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards make the news this year. The idea was to pie J Lo as a killer photo moment. Media were primed the PR person was probably measuring the coverage in his/her sleep.. Looks as if they might have forgotten the old PR proverb; never count your column inches until the picture is taken. Here is the sad wire copy . Jennifer Lopez was saved from the embarrassment of being gunged at Saturday night’s (03.04.04) Nickelodeon Kids Choice…