The Gorkana Weekly Industry News Brief: 13 February to 19 February 2016
Pitch Wins
Visitor attraction The View from The Shard has appointed Diffusion as its retained PR agency, following a competitive pitch.
Alliance Trust PLC, one of the largest generalist investment trusts in the UK, by market value, is now working with financial PR agency Tulchan following a competitive pitch process.
W has won PR briefs from Trouva, an online store that sells products from independent boutiques across the UK, and luxury yachting publisher Boat International Media.
Lexis has been called in by The Open University to support its ‘Life-changing Learning’ campaign, which aims to promote the impact of studying with the OU and to motivate “people of every age to begin their own learning journey”.
Woodthorpe Comms have been appointed to handle PR activity for Serenity & Grace, a new beauty business.
People News
Bowel cancer research charity Bowel Cancer UK has brought in Gus Baldwin from Leonard Cheshire Disability as director of external affairs.
Chris Blackhurst, a former editor of The Independent, is to join election strategist Lynton Crosby’s political consultancy Crosby Textor Fullbrook (CTF) full-time as a senior executive.
Citigate’s Maria Darby-Walker
Citigate Dewe Rogerson has brought in former FCA head of comms, Maria Darby-Walker, as senior director within its financial team.
Lansons has appointed James Dowling to a newly-created head of public policy role, to strengthen the consultancy’s capability in the public affairs, policy and government relations space.
Candriam Investors Group, the European asset manager with some €91bn (£71bn) in AUM, has hired Marion Leblanc-Wohrer as global head of corporate comms.
Deal News
Golin buys Brooklyn Brothers
Interpublic Group agency Golin has acquired transatlantic creative agency The Brooklyn Brothers.
Charli Morgan and Matt Glass, directors of London PR agency The Cult PR have launched a new virtual reality company, Cultural Reality Co., to offer consultancy to journalists, media, PR and marketing businesses.
Comms agency ICG has launched a strategic media offering called Media Task Force. Led by former Metro political editor John Higginson, the team is made up of ex-Daily Mail health editor Jenny Hope and former Independent on Sunday business editor Maggie Pagano.
The Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) has launched PRCA MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) to represent consultancies, in-house teams and individuals across the region.
ReputationInc, an international reputation management consultancy headquartered in London, has opened an office in Norway.
News Analysis
Mobile World Congress helps brands stand out
Mobile World Congress (MWC), which will be held in Barcelona next week (22-25 February), is the biggest mobile and tech conference in the world. How do PRs ensure their clients make the most of the opportunity, asks Kaltrina Bylykbashi.
Journalist News
Trinity Mirror will be launch a new national paper called New Day. Priced at 20p or 25p, the title’s expected launch date is 29 February.
Stig Abell, formerly managing editor of The Sun, has been appointed as editor/publisher of The Times Literary Supplement, the weekly literary journal published by News UK.
Becky Lucas, previously online managing editor at Conde Nast Traveller, is now engagement editor at GQ (UK).
The Sunday Times Magazine relaunched with a new look and new features content. Eleanor Mills is editor of the magazine.
Michael Holmes has been appointed head of content & product development at Centaur Home Interest Media Portfolio, including Real Homes, Period Living and Homebuilding & Renovating.
Features
Gorkana meets…Stuff editor Will Dunn
In an exclusive breakfast briefing with Gorkana this week, Stuff editor Will Dunn told PRs how to pitch ideas that fit the tech magazine’s tone of voice, why exclusivity is so important, and, less seriously, when PRs should ignore their bosses’ instructions.
Gorkana meets…International Investment
International Investment‘s editor Helen Burggraf (pictured) and editorial director Jonathan Boyd, and deputy editor James Fernyhough, tell us about the “resurrection” of the title under Open Door Media, their symbiotic relationship with PRs and how they cover the issues that matter to the global expat community.
Case Study: Stick Tennis Tour Launch
When readers of The Sun opened the paper last Friday, they were met with a challenge to take on games editor Lee Price in a game of Stick Tennis Tour 2.0 that day. Behind the scenes, Stick Sports had briefed PR and marketing agency Dimoso to publicise the launch of its newest game by partnering up with a major press partner. The results? A 666% increase in iOS downloads on the day and 78% of users beat Lee Price at the game.
Behind the Headlines with Telegraph Hill’s Barry Pilling
Barry Pilling, founder and creative director at Telegraph Hill, on why he was once known as ‘Lightning’, having to dress up for a pitch and why the new way of doing things may not fit with traditional PR.
