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.
Miss Bimbo Ploy
There’s been much talk about a website that has created a game called Miss Bimbo where children as young as nine years old are invited to become the most famous, beautiful, sought after bimbo across the globe. It’s certainly got most of the broadsheets and blogs here frothing at the mouth in their attack on this well already well criticised game. That’s another lot suckered into the familiar trap which has now given PR to the issue. Of course this website wants a generation of outrage, that’s how they attract the kids. It’s far too juicy a story for the…
First the split, then the court fight. What now for Ms Mills?
As her celebrity persona passes into temporary obscurity perhaps its time to stop and take a close look at the Heather Mills phenomenon. Not since the cult of Myra Hindley have we encountered so much vitriol aimed at one woman. Poor Heather has been on a rough ride and taken a long drop into a deep well of resentment. So, what is her crime? To marry a pop royal and then try to convince the world that she was bigger than her Beatle? I have to admit I was part of the smug media cartel that pontificated about her ego,…
The Heather Mills debate on the Jeremy Vine Radio Show on BBC Radio 2
Mark Borkowski offers a POV on how she might rebuild her image.
It’s a very unhappy fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.
It’s a very unhappy fifth anniversary of the Iraq war. I thought it was a good moment to return to the BBC3 documentary entitled Iraq: How the War was Spun. My contribution to the programme was an investigation of the role of PR in promoting the Gulf war, and in controlling our perceptions of the conflict. The ineluctable conclusion was 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
Mucca to the U.S.
As I envisaged, in my blog and on the Jeremy Vine Show, it wouldn’t be long before the former Mrs McCartney would be heading to the U.S. I predicted that Heather would soon be on a PR drive in the land that loves her. Well it took just 52 hours before we were told that she is considering acting as a judge for the Miss U.S.A. pageant.
What Now For Newspapers?
Sky News “Newspapers now are lacking confidence,” publicist Mark Borkowski said. “They really are driving hard for audience and, I’m afraid they will try and get … http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1310041,00.html
Heather pushed off the front pages
The 24 7 news cycle has switched. One moment I was commenting on Heather.. the next I was jabbering about the McCann landmark legal victory on Sky and the BBC. I suspect that Ms Mills is pleased that the focus has shifted.
The Great Jim Moran
It’s so difficult editing my book, the Fame Formula, as the final deadline approaches for the August release date. It all seems so ominous. The main problem is having to leave out all the Jim Moran stunts. During the picture research for my book, Alex, the library ferret, has turned up even more Moran exploits. Moran came up with a device to monitor terror using various scientific devices as part of a stunt to promote a number of horror films he was looking after. Moran shows a great talent for regurgitating the same stunt for maximum column inches. He publicized…
The Masked Celebrity
I have been sent this in the post – an ingenious new device – a paper mask from the cuddly scorpions at Holy Moly. The blurred mask is part of a great campaign from Holy Moly reiterating their distaste for the current climate in celebrity photography. Holy Moly being the first “sleb missive” to announce it will no longer use photos it deems unacceptable of celebs in distress, being hounded by photographers etc. I have sent two of the masks to Noel Edmonds and his partner Liz, whom the paparazzi seem to be hounding on a daily basis. Maybe now…
Heathers spin on the steps of the court
I love the spin – listen to HM pitch
Heather Mills the dawning of a new era
“I’m so glad it’s over,” an emotional Mills told reporters. “It was an incredible result in the end to secure mine and Beatrice’s future and all the charities I plan on helping.” So it’s over; Heather Mills has got £24.3m in the divorce settlement today. Not bad, £6m for every year they were together. I predict that Heather will be on a PR drive providing much needed oxygen for a cash strapped charity. Expect the papers that set about her with such maniacal fervor to be happy to have her on their pages once the dust has settled. I am…
Film PR Job Description
I have just seen the most wonderful description for a modern film PR in a comment feature in Variety. WANTED: Top flack for the film industry. Ideal candidate will maintain inexhaustible ability to spin, wheedle and cajole. Must have strong parenting skills; magician’s training preferred. We offer plenty of responsibility, little power or support and great pay. Burnout guaranteed. Yup it’s a very glamorous job but it has the “the burnout factor and the seven year itch”. “Once upon a time, the studio publicists were the ones with all the information, who had the connections to executives and talent, but recently…
From BAC to Bremner and Sub-Prime Market explained
Interesting day yesterday at the Battersea Arts Centre – I took part in their Inspiration Week and I was supposed to inspire young performance artists. The group proved to be a challenging mob from Search Party (young company from Bristol, studying at Dartington, already making work using sport as an influence), Tassos Stevens (football fan and member of Coney/Rabbit collective), Catherine Walpole (recent graduate from Goldsmiths – did a 13 hour piece at BAC where she danced on stilts to music chosen by audience members), Sally Marie (choreographer), Ben Faulks (Manchester based artist who has started developing work with a…
At the MediaGuardian Awards for Innovation,
I was at the Millennium Dome last night at the first MediaGuardian Awards for Innovation, or Megas, as some funky Guardian person has christened them. The night kicked off with a performance by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius pip “Thou Shalt always Kill” . I think they are better on Youtube The awards, launched to recognize innovation across the media industry, received more than 400 entries from different sectors. I judged the PR campaign of the year that went to Weiner Sandwiches’ execution of a giant 87,500 square foot KFC logo in the Nevada desert – claimed to be the…
Scaremongering Stunts
A “diseased water” publicity stunt has got a few feathers ruffled in New Zealand and has been called irresponsible. Sometimes when spectacular guerilla actions go bad, the global focus creates a sharper focus on the issues. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4428798a10.html The plastic bottle, containing putrid water and live mosquito larvae, listed its contents as “cholera, typhoid, faeces and guinea worm”.
Power to the press
For all the control that Hollywood publicists try to exercise over the press, they pour disdain on the supermarket titles like Weekly World News and The National Enquirer. But when one of these rags breaks a story, there is very little they can do to stop the chaos. Witness the acres of press surrounding Patrick Swayze’s illness. His publicity machine is backed into a corner and a doctor had to be wheeled out to issue a statement. Let’s hope the doctor’s address was valid, otherwise the spin meisters will be outed.
Bad Behaviour Pays
I heard on the BBC news yesterday that the UK was one of countries with the highest cocaine use in the European Union, and that the United Nations drugs watchdog says the UK and other countries respond too leniently to the drug taking escapades of celebrities. President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Philip Emafo, said that celebrity involvement in narcotics is often glamorised and the watchdog says this all goes to give the wrong message to children and young people. The issue here concerns the record company executives and entertainment moguls who need to create traction with the media…
Smoke Screens?
Watching the new BBC 4 drama, The Mad Men, which began last Sunday, I think this brilliant series will do a huge amount to promote cigarette smoking. Every person in every scene, including a gynaecologist, is fagging it . I know it’s the 1960’s and authenticity is important, but I get the feeling that one of the big tobacco companies might have paid for this critically acclaimed series’ development. It’s the holy grail for most of the tobacco business to make smoking hip again, and the mood and subject matter of Mad Men and its prime time smoking is a…
Who takes the blame for the Clinton failure
Its do or die time tonight for Hilary Clinton who must win Ohio and Texas or she’ll have to face throwing in the towel and bow out as the Democratic nominee.Reports suggest that there is a thinning of support – so Who will take the blame for the defeat ? In May, 2007, the Nation magazine ran an insightful article into the relationship between Burson-Marsteller’s top executive world-wide, Mark Penn, and Clinton. Penn is her pollster and chief strategist. Perhaps he might have to take the bullet tonight for the failure. More worrying for Penn is the fall out –…
Prince Harry the Afghan crusader and reluctant PR man
Who would be a Royal Prince? I have been hounded this weekend by various media organizations wanting my comments on the furor surrounding Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan. We know how important Harry is to the national media – putting him on the front page certainly sells newspapers but the majority of callers wanted me to pursue the PR element of this story. Was it great PR or were the Ministry of Defence using the Prince as a PR pawn? When the maelstrom of this debate dies down, I am sure we will look at this situation in…