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.
Is Channel 4's Christmas message really alternative?
Stuntwatch: Over the years, Channel 4 has generated hype with its ‘alternative’ Christmas message. Does it really have anything new to say this year? By Mark Borkowski http://blogs.guardian.co.uk
Tory leader pledges 'real grit' in the face of lower poll ratings
Tory leader pledges ‘real grit’ in the face of lower poll ratings By Andrew Grice, Political Editor Independent 06 December 2006 David Cameron’s honeymoon is over. His personal ratings are falling as the euphoria over his election as Tory leader a year ago today fades, and his party’s showing in the opinion poll is no higher than it was then. A lot has been achieved in his first year. Cabinet ministers admit he is proving the greatest threat to Labour since it came to power in 1997. The Tory brand is no longer contaminated in the voters’ eyes. Mark Borkowski,…
Hangman's Tale
I left the office last night to see an advance screening of Christopher Guest’s movie For Your Consideration at a private screening room in Soho. I really wanted to see his new movie, billed as a parody of the pretentious Hollywood award ceremonies. I took my seat as,Tim Spall, introduced the screening, which seemed odd as I didn’t recall him being in the film. I have not met up with Spall since a strange encounter in a rehearsal room with Stephen Poliakoff back in 1995, but that’s another story for another time. I thought, ‘funny he is not in Guest’s…
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER POP BAND
“Just when we thought we’d waved goodbye to the denim-clad ghost of the 1990s boyband phenomenon, Take That have begun their second ascent to pop stardom… But comebacks are not always so smooth. Ask All Saints. Just a few weeks in, the reunion of the whinging foursome is already being talked about as a flop: their first album in six years, Studio 1, entered the charts at No 41 last weekend.” Independent on Sunday, December 3rd 2006 Another day, another pop band crawling from the woodwork eager for a second slice of fame. Another day, another pop band oblivious to…
Take That: Rock'n'Roll Stars Reborn
From the Independent on Sunday 03 December 2006 … The publicist Mark Borkowski knows all about engineering a successful second chance; he’s the man behind Noel Edmond’s renaissance. … When Take That split up in 1996 a generation of pre-pubescent girls went into shock. Now the not-so-fresh-faced four are reunited. Sarah Harris explores the secrets of a successful second coming http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article2035115.ece
Borkowski & word of mouth
Interesting feed back to the Word of Mouth thing from some folk that were there Simonsays – Simon Wakeman – Greenbanana – Still feel crap that I could not stay on. Oh well.
Man flu strikes publicist
Despite a debilitating bout of man flu, yours truly struggled across London to take part in Maestro Andy Green’s conference on Word of Mouth, billed as “The ultimate conference on winning the battle for word-of-mouth communications”. I was worried that the pints of Lemsip. I had supped would knock me unconscious. It wasn’t the finest delivery, thanks to a flawed presentation mechanic, and fluffing my opening gags. “Proof positive that Word of Mouth doesn’t work. I recognise at least ten people in the audience who have friends who’ve heard me speak before – and they’ve still shown up”. Boom boom…
CAMEO & SUPERCAMEO
Elton John has lost out on a part in the next Superman movie after being outbid at an auction. The singer’s offer of £40,000 was topped by British business tycoon Sir Philip Green – the owner of high-street fashion giant TopShop – who paid £50,000 for the cameo role for his wife Tina. The allure of celluloid still holds sway for the rich and eager prepared to pay through nose and ears for a cameo part in a blockbuster film that’s far from art but iconic enough to last a while. Just long enough to make great-grandkids smile when they…
Who ate all the pies?
What a surreal day for a humble publicist To kick off the winter season at Wookey Hole we staged the first extreme eating competition to be held in the United Kingdom a media event that had all the usual Borkie DNA. I watched Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas a small American weighing only 7st 7lbs eat her way through 48 mince pies in five minutes. The room was packed with TV crews and snappers I felt like it was a stunt pulled from the mind of David Lynch. Sonya proved she’s the giant of the world eating scene. Extreme eating…
Universal Bullshit Detector Watch™
I am very pleased to announce that we have become the UK distributor of the Universal Bullshit Detector Watch™ which is a must for any frustrated PR exec. The owner of the watch can now comment with humour at any time during a meeting or presentation when a client or a fellow professional starts to froth at the mouth. The watch flashes, moos, poops and also tells time! The Universal Bullshit Detector Watch™ is the invention of Joey Skaggs He is one of my all time heroes; in a nutshell Joey is America’s most notorious socio-political satirist, media activist, culture…
IN HELL
“In hell, nothing you have done will not be watched.” From Household Gods by Anne Stevenson. In hell, your every indiscretion will be picked over endlessly on freeze frame repeat and your life will be condensed into daily half hour slots of pain. In hell you will live forever and learn how to attract flies. In hell, each blinkered and unworthy thought each curse, each brief display of hate will be broadcast at high volume to anyone who cares to listen with running commentary from smug demons who’ll pull at their sharp suits and smile inscrutably, while you scream into…
The unspoken conspiracy
Google’s Blog search facility corroborates Emily Bell’s notion in the Media Guardian today, that the Blog world needs to be conscious of the inner tosser that exists in all of us who feel the need to “opinionate”. The thousand of PR blogs that proliferate daily, suggest that the wave of opinion does not have the cut through yet. I am never surprised at the continual level of sideswipes made at me or Max Clifford. After all, we put our views forward so we should hear the opposing comments. But the rise in PR blogs suggests that this counter comment…
One night in Manchester
Jackie McQuillan Branson uber PR, puts up with the exuberant publicist at the after show party. I cheekily suggest an upgrade on my next flight to LA on Virgin Atlantic Mark declares his love of Coronation Street to Nickie Sanderson and her agent. I celebrate the fantastc TV coverage and now time for bed Zebedee
Utter crap in the Daily Mirror
Before I wind up for the weekend one last thought. Great bit of utter bollocks about Noel Edmonds in today’s Daily Mirror. I hope the Mirror isn’t wasting money on tipsters. Sounds like Benjy the Binman is back in action. NOEL’S CELEBRITY ‘NO’ Mirror.co.uk – London,UK By Nicola Methven, Tv Editor. NOEL Edmonds has threatened to quit his Deal or No Deal hit TV show if bosses demand a celebrity version. …
Borat the public relations fight back
Jagshemash!!!! I must be careful how I say this but could there be a Borat backlash. Already the media are reporting various legal actions being threatened by some of the more humourless victims of the fictitious foreigner’s pranks in “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” Perhaps it’s no surprise that those who were ridiculed in the movie have chosen to act so ridiculously. The US of A is litigation heaven and film companies are seen as good targets, with oodles of cash to plunder, despite the intrinsic irony in a couple of college students…
Wisdom amongst the discarded ice cream tubs, wet tissues and Kleenex wrappers – or never diss a theatre cleaner
If you can be bothered to part with £175 + VAT pop down to the Southbank and hear me and a bunch of uglies blabbering on about word of mouth. Billed as the ultimate conference on winning the battle for word-of-mouth communications, I shall be opening the proceedings. The venue is, wait for it, The Dental Institute, Guys Campus, St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RT that’s next Friday 1st December 9.30am – 4.20pm. The happening has been put together by my old pal Andy Green, who I met twenty years ago in a toilet in the Dorchester Hotel. We were…
ONE MORE TIME
“The new Britney Spears soap opera, centered on her marital problems, seems to be holding its own against the real news agenda… such was the perfection of the strike against Spears’ wayward spouse Kevin Federline, it managed to generate ink even when the global news agenda had more momentous things to consider.” Mark Borkowski, Stuntwatch, November 13 Britney Spears once more endears herself with the worldwide press as a slimmed down, sussed up superstar who can fit back in a dress. Now it’s no more punch drunk lover’s tiffs and no more sportswear hell and she’s toe to toe with…
The charming face of public relations
Speed-reading the daily papers this morning, I noticed that an old quote I’d made about the Paul McCartney v Heather Mills divorce battle was resurrected as a nib inThe Times. I originally made the comment on BBC Radio Five News and Sky News when the media was feverishly speculating about the leaked court papers.Considering my angst about quotes being filleted and then used at a later date by l those who want to take me down a peg or two, (OK, so I deserve it on occasions), I thought I would reiterate the point. Weeks ago I came out to…
Branson loves Wii
Launching the VirginMegastore’s new uber-stellar space in Manchester on Wednesday, I was overwhelmed by Richard Branson. I have long been a big fan of his flair as a publicist and I scribbled a feature in Campaign some time ago eulogising his brio. Watching him at close quarters, tirelessly working his butt off, never showing any signs of flagging, I wondered how many chairmen of corporations would have met their responsibilities with the same amount of good humour and vigour. I watched him spend his day giving interviews and charming the pants off some rather cynical business hacks. It’s never easy…
The Cuban Pillow Crisis
The Ulster Linen Co., Inc. of New York was noted for being the most reliable source of Fine European Linens in the U.S. The company enlisted Jim Moran to publicise their linens further afield in the Mid and Western States of the U.S. In true Moran style, he organised the world’s biggest ever pillow fight, pre the Guinness book of records which was a great shame as its genius has been lost to time. But Moran staged regional challenges in each capital city of each State and got all the finalists together for the grand fight in Washington. The regional…