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.
Watch out Ms Loos they are behind you!
Top tip I suspect the next few days the life of Rebbeca Loos will make interesting reading. If she did sell the Beckham story to the News of the World then expect the wrath of all the other tabloids who did not get the steamy exclusive. I do hope that Rebbeca does not have any dark secrets to hide? If she does then I suspect the tabloids will be pulling her apart like a flock of hungry vultures feasting on a carcass on the Serengeti.
Poor old David Beckham
The problems of being a celebrity are on show today after the breaking of the Becks scandal this weekend, Here are my thoughts for what they are worth all from Stuntwatch on the mediaguardian � “The problem is you’ve tried to treat him like he’s a normal celebrity. He’s not. He’s famous because he’s not normal.” � There’s never anything simple about celebrities. They’re all stars in their own, self-created soap operas. � Who can they trust when there are so many unscrupulous bounty hunters stalking their lives
Oy Sven, my son! Beyond here be dragons!
Do people truly think that if you’re in the public eye, you can somehow escape scrutiny? Either Sven was naïve (and he continues to express puzzlement at the rules of celebrity culture – viz “It is always difficult to understand that whoever has this job should be a saint, should not earn a lot of money, should not have a private life, and should not listen to other possibilities in life”), or he was a little less than naïve and knew that the long lenses would be trained on Kenyon, which would give the FA a heart attack, which would…
The return of a hero.
Have you noticed how many features in the press have been appearing on Englebert Humperdinck recently. This attention is being driven by his appearance in the John Smith�s beer ad. on UK commercial television. If you have not seen it the plot is simple, Peter Kay delivers a killer blow to EB�s Las Vegas show stopper Release Me. Great fun and clearly demonstrates Humperdinck�s sense of self parody. Let�s not forget that one great TV commercial can reignite a career.
April Fool Watch
Best April Fool was on yesterdays Today programme on Radio 4. The item centred on news that the Archers theme music was being re- engineeried to reflect the 21st century nature of the famous radio soap. Outstanding idea Gaeth?
Cruise and Cruz Split!
Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz have split up. According to the actor�s sister and publicist, Lee Anne DeVette, the couple ended their three-year relationship amicably at the end of January.So it finally happened.. I am sure that avid showbiz watchers saw this approaching. Seasoned PR cynics will be aware of the string pulling in this formidable stars career. Can anybody predict what the next big stunt might be and can it capture our imaginations?
Flying While Muslim
I am always on jargon watch with a view to making press releases and proposals interesting. Feast your eyes on this beauty. Flying while Muslim pp. Searching, questioning, or denying service to an airline passenger for no other reason than the person appears to be a Muslim. Also: FWM. On Sept. 26, 2002, Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen born in Syria, was returning to Montreal from Tunisia when he was taken into custody at New York’s Kennedy Airport. Shackled and interrogated by INS, FBI and other agencies for several days, Arar repeatedly asked for an attorney, but was refused one….
Things stars wish they never said Part 2
Enrique Iglesias has confessed that he has a small manhood. in all the tabloids today. I bet that this celebrity news nib will follow this mans career for next 50 years
Spot the publicity hook
Robbie Williams has banned drink, drugs and sex from his birthday bash.
Scarlett dosn't get it
One minute you can�t get a magazine or newspaper to blink at you, next every journalist is crazy about you. Since the Oscars and Lost in Translation Scarlett Johansson is every scribblers fave babe. The tabloids were salivating over this morsel today. Johansson dressed up in fishnet tights and a leather basque to perform a raunchy routine with erotic dance troupe The Pussycat Dolls at a Hollywood nightclub. The 19-year-old actress stunned onlookers at Johnny Depp�s notorious Viper Room as she gyrated on stage with a host of scantily clad beauties.Scarlett thrilled fans as she pouted and posed in knee-high…
How the war was spun
I have just completed work on a BBC3 documentary entitled Iraq: How the War was Spun My contribution to the programme is an investigation of the role of PR in promoting the Gulf war, and in controlling our perceptions of the conflict. The ineluctable conclusion is that you and I and anyone with an ounce of humanity thinks of war in terms of death, destruction, horror and pain, but some PR companies simply regard it as a lucrative business opportunity.
Selling the Iraq war
Embedded: Simpson could not know the publicists’ sophisticated manipulation of his reports I have just completed work on a BBC3 documentary entitled Iraq: One Year On. My contribution to the programme is an investigation of the role of PR in promoting the Gulf war, and in controlling our perceptions of the conflict. The ineluctable conclusion is that you and I and anyone with an ounce of humanity thinks of war in terms of death, destruction, horror and pain, but some PR companies simply regard it as a lucrative business opportunity.
Rachel on the up curve!
When you are on roll – give journalist a fantastic quote, certainly, but just remember it will always be on the record. Rachel Hunter has revealed the saucy details of her sex life – and confessed she doesn’t need a man to keep her happy. The estranged wife of Rod Stewart admitted she has a vast collection of vibrators and gets turned on by horse riding. The New Zealand-born model said: “It’s not the dark ages … women can satisfy themselves. Mike says he wishes more of them would, then they’d stop hassling him. I think he is deluded.
IRAQ ONE YEAR ON
I’ve just completed work on a BBC 3 documentary entitled “Iraq: One Year On”. In my part it investigates the role of PR in promoting the Gulf War, and in controlling our perceptions of the conflict. The ineluctable conclusion is that you and I, and anyone with an ounce of humanity, think of war in terms of death, destruction, horror and pain: but some PR companies simply regard it as a lucrative business opportunity. In January 2003, I wrote an article about how the US administration set about persuading the American people to back the first Gulf War. I don’t…
Ali al-Bayati: early Saddam warnings ignored
I’ve also been interviewing Ali al-Bayati, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council in Iraq who – it emerges – had been warning the west about Saddam’s true nature since as far back as 1975. Which clearly convinced the west that here was a man we should be doing business with.
What they found in the Dutch Embassy
So, according to Anton Antonavich, there was *iagra in the Iraq Ministry of Information. When the Dutch cleared out of their embassy, journalists picking through the remnants found … huge stashes of porn. This is just by way of anecdotal aside from the front-line of war reporting. The rotting meant which is uncovered in Iraq: One Year On (BBC 3, Thursday 18th) is a little more sinister and unsettling.
John Simpson's birthday saved his life
In Iraq, John Simpson was informed that his mum was on the satphone. He walked across to answer it. She wished him a happy birthday, and they chatted for a while. As they talked, the place where he had been standing before he went to pick up the call was hit by a bomb. Isn’t it good the way mums remember anniversaries?
Iraq: One Year On
War – for the public and people in the firing line – is about death, destruction, terror and violence. For certain sectors of the PR community, it’s a business opportunity. Ask those US PRs who were paid in oil for the counsel they gave Sadaam over the years; or those who constructed the “babies ripped from hospital incubators” fiction that was so crucial in shifting public opinion to back the first Gulf War. Whilst politicians (justifiably) take the flak for their decisions over Iraq, the consultants who sold the show slip into the shadows. I’m currently interviewing journalists and activists…
Another Britney Spears scam
The last PR heist for Britney was the 24 hour wedding that never was in Las Vegas. Britney’s now making a big bid to get back in the spotlight with a “Spears set to act out suicide in sick video shocker” The wires are alive with this sort of thing: The pop princess has been blasted for the controversial storyline of the video for her new song ‘Everytime’, where she will be seen ‘dead’ in the bath after taking an apparent overdose of pills. Critics fear the shocking scenes may encourage troubled young fans to copy Britney’s actions. At least…
Listen to George Michael
In an interview with Britain�s Radio One yesterday I heard George Michael declare that he is quitting his superstar pop career after his current album. The singer claimed he has made enough money over the years and will not be releasing any more commercial records. Instead, he plans to make music available on his website, asking fans to make a donation to his favourite charities when they download it. Fine bit of credible PR. Great radio and ink but let�s wait and see shall we it might return to haunt him