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.
Journo gaffs
I often comment on the stupidity of PRs, but idiocy in media land is not only demonstrated by publicists, but also journalists. I was told two corking tales by a very well placed journalist friend of mine involving two astounding hack faux pas. The first was about none other than Britney Spears; a story was filed which really sent sub editors into a spin. The story claimed that Britney had been involved in a binge drinking session while she was fourteen months pregnant. When the journalist was questioned, she either hadn’t grasped the rudiments of biology, or simply didn’t recognise…
Propaganda and second hand news
Two great opinion pieces in the Guardian today written by Peter Wilby on the subject of Alastair Campbell’s Cudlipp memorial lecture last week – http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/04/media.pressandpublishing – which neatly seg-ways into Nick Davies op ed rant to help push his book Flat Earth News. The opinion feature “Our media have become mass producers of distortion. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2251982,00.html It suggests that the print establishment has become a conduit for propaganda and second hand news”.
Little Cruise Missiles
I notice the Guardian has picked up on my blog over the weekend about Tom Cruise, Scientology and the web community. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/04/news
CRUISING FOR A BRUISING
2008 is a bad PR year for Tom Cruise. “Being a scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it’s not like anyone else when you drive past. You know you have to do something about it because you know you’re the only one that can really help”. http://gawker.com/5002269/the-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientology-tried-to-suppress.
Derek Conway: What were you thinking?
What a mistake that Christmas card was, says Jasper Gerard. Didn’t Derek Conway know that a Tory MP posing with his family meant he had something to hide? The Daily Telegraph 31st January 2008 Reaching for the marmalade, you glance at the photo on the Telegraph’s front page – and you are suddenly consumed by an unfamiliar, yet urgent, need to hurl the jar at someone. Or to be more precise, to hurl it at anyone called Conway: oh boy, what a family portrait. Short of Conway giving the V-sign to his voters, his Christmas card could hardly have been…
Thriller stunt on Youtube via the London Underground
I love this. A bunch of dance students seek fame by performing a stunt on the London Underground and then post it on Youtube. I am reliably informed that these are not a bunch of kids that have made up a dance routine in their living room who thought it would be funny to dance on the tube. They are paid dancers who have just come back from touring in Europe and want some attention. Well more power to you – I hope fame’s fickle finger touches your shoulder.
Martin Amis and his PR slip..
Whoops what a celebrity slip up this morning. The unguarded comments made by Martin Amis appear in the Independent . The flak who policed the interview needs to be shot. The following extract might just cause the author a few problems. “And he has always loved this multiracialism, he says.” At that time, I had a Pakistani girlfriend, I had an Iranian girlfriend, and I had a South African girlfriend, all of whom were Muslim. It’s interesting. The Iranian one – this is 1969 – was into mini skirts and discos because she was not an inhabitant of an Islamic republic but of…
PR Watch
Oh dear, another tale of stupid PR folk. There is a bit of a kerfuffle in the U.S. between Judith Siers-Poisson from the Centre for Media and Democracy and a hapless PR outfit fronted by Jennifer Windrum of the Swanson Russell Associates PR firm. PR watch has never been shy about being critical about the public relations industry. It would seem that Swanson Russell Associates PR should give a second thought before sending out PR material to scribbler’s blogging for the organization. I shudder at the crassness of firms that can’t seem to help themselves. Why bother to tip Spin…
Mob or Gob?
The hearing on the suggested banning of Marion Knight from Compton is being held today. It’s interesting to see how Marion “Suge” Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records, has called his recent involvement in being banned from Compton, “a publicity stunt”. Knight has been included in a request to ban members of the Mob Piru Street gang from congregating in Compton. According to officials, Suge was one of the 200 people that were members of Mob Piru. The order would prevent him from congregating, drinking alcohol in public, carrying guns and staying out past 10pm. Knight was quoted as…
Media Circus
In 1933 on June 1st it was a bad day for Jack Morgan Jnr, head of the Morgan Financial Group, who had been summoned before a Senate Banking Committee. Visibly distressed under such public scrutiny while being badgered by the Banking committee’s chief counsel, Ferdinand Pecora, the proceedings became something a public carnival. But it would be Charles Leef’s escapade that would really distress Morgan. Morgan was the nation’s most powerful banker and to see him being cross examined caused a media frenzy. The court had to request photographers to stop snapping flashbulbs and moving around because nobody could see…
Nicholas Jones blog on Spinwatch
Two of John Birt’s former corporate strategists –who both became political advisers to Tony Blair — are now working on plans to top-slice the BBC’s licence fee as a way of financing other public service broadcasters http://www.spinwatch.org/content/blogcategory/306/85/
In praise of Cloverfield
I love the hype that has surrounded the release of Cloverfield. After all its nearly ten years since the Blair Witch Project stole our attention. We all marveled then at the way the web would reinvent the marketing of movies .
Devil's Own
To those outside the profession, PR has always seemed a cut throat business, and the associated businesses around it are certainly adding to that reputation of ruthlessness. Take for example the recruitment agencies; about 20% of them are decent, the other 80% would shaft their own grandmother, thus adding to the already poor reputation that PR has. A recent example of their sharp practise astounded my company only a few weeks ago when my MD uncovered some very shady goings on. We use a recruitment agency who we discovered had tried to lure one of our account managers to a new…
Knickers
Students of PR, take note. To understand what gets the media’s knickers in a twist, look no further than Jeremy Paxman and the M&S gusset debate. Any good alchemist of spin will sniff the aroma. The well known inquisitor and self effacing presenter of serious political debate, focuses his precious attention on something as banal as M&S underpants and it fuels a public outcry. It’s been talked about in the news, blogs, web and traditional media in a 48 hour frenzy of flailing opinion. Clearly the constituents needed to get a story away are in full view. A noteworthy person,…
"Hello Idiot PR is expanding!
Stupid PR companies don’t you just love them. Great entertainment on a wet afternoon. For the third week running – despite my sarcastic prompts I have been sent a breathless Friday email. – “Hello Idiot PR is expanding! Idiot PR are looking for new fresh talent across various departments. If you are passionate about brands, ambitious and want to be part of an energetic & results driven agency then please view the attached flyer, and get in touch” I do hope they are more strategic in their approach to media relations. This new PR shop are obviously going places with…
Chocolate Facts
It is nice that the Telegraph has reminded the great unwashed about our Easter stunt for Thornton’s last year and the effect that it has had on the recent sales figures. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/ Thornton’s pockets sweet sales While high street consumers have been reluctant to delve into their pockets of late, Thornton’s has proved they still indulge a sweet tooth. The chocolate specialist has reported a 1.2pc rise in like-for-like sales for the 14 weeks to mid-January, compared to the same period last year – and an overall sales growth of 7.6pc.The latest figures cap a welcome turnaround for the former family-owned…
Pro Nuclear Push
I find Andy Rowell’s blog compelling; his recent article on the The Covert Pro-Nuclear Push in Schools is very disturbing. Time to dust down my DVD of Edge of Darkness http://www.spinwatch.org/content/blogcategory/248/30/
Big tobacco in Africa
Family weddings, funerals and birthdays always throw up the black sheep of the family. At a recent shindig a distant relative of my wife turned up in his rather extraordinary chrome penis extension. The guests, like proverbial fish wives, gossiped relentlessly – inebriated by vintage champagne and in hush tones speculated on the source of his wealth. Later that same evening I asked him what he did – he was sheepish but then blurted out that he was selling fags to the Third World. Shamelessly he extolled the virtues of marketing cigarettes and I realise it was clearly a vocation….
Giant among dwarves
I saw a Neval motorbike on the street earlier today, and I had only one thought. My great friend and first freelance client was the crazy Marcel Steiner who ran his Theatre off the side of one twenty years ago. Marcel is a forgotten genius. I found the obituary I penned for the Guardian. He should never be forgotten. Giant among dwarves Guardian, Monday August 2 1999 You’d think I’d be glad to see the back of someone whom the Financial Times once described as “huge, hairy and shamblingly repulsive”. In the case of Marcel Steiner – the one-man theatrical…
2008 The Year of PR – don’t make me laugh
Times are tough in the communications business and it’s going to be a grim 2008 if we believe the statistics. The IPA noted that in the last three months of 2007 there was a large cut back on marketing spend by the major brands. In fact, it was the biggest fall in spending for the last two years. Supposedly, this is great news for the PR business – well that’s what my friends in advertising tell me. The patronizing chat suggests that it’s time for the more effective – economical members of the order to shine their lights. This condescending…