Archive for May, 2010

‘Silly Season’ is upon us once again, that time of year when everything slows down as Parliament goes on holiday, schools close and real news seems much thinner on the ground. At this time the media world, still hungry for 24 hr news coverage, can often open the door to stranger and wackier stories to fill the void left behind.

There is no doubt that the newsrooms will still be covering stories on the recent coalition Government and there’s still the chance that the ever looming volcanic ash cloud will be haunting the news agenda. However, throughout the long summer months the media will be desperately crying out for content which offers those in PR the opportunity to secure that all important media exposure.

This does not mean we have to abandon the rules of respected journalism, more that we can take a look at upcoming campaigns and activities from a more light hearted point of view. Are there potential news worthy stories that may be a little on the quirky side? With the recession keeping us firmly grounded, the chance to make light of any situation will always be welcomed by editors.

This is unique time in the UK’s media calendar when it’s possible to effectively communicate about a campaign that, at any other time of year, would have to really fight to secure coverage. A simple quote or a by-lined article in a national newspaper does not automatically translate into sales but positive media coverage whether it be across radio, TV, print or the online media, can greatly strengthen the value and position of a brand or service.

Post by Suzy Richards (Head of Marketing for TNR Communications)

Share

…TNR cruise to help rescue 2,000 stranded British tourists. Those familiar with TNR, will probably tell you that the department of nine at the Press Association has a bit of a reputation for drama in its day-to-day work activities, but the activities of the past week took that to a whole new level.

Siren PR and their client, Celebrity Cruises, had commissioned TNR to provide broadcast and online PR support for the initial UK launch celebrations of new cruise ship, Celebrity Eclipse, on Tuesday 20th April. That was, until the media agenda became engulfed by the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland.

Suddenly, the opportunity for coverage became a very different challenge and, on the recommendations of both TNR and Siren PR, Celebrity Cruises worked through the night to arrange for the 122,000 tonne, £500 million ship to set sail for Bilbao in Spain within hours of arriving in the UK. The mission?  To pick up more than 2,000 British tourists stranded by the travel chaos and bring them back to the UK in five star style.

Our crew were in Southampton with the intention of filming the ship’s arrival to the UK and heading home.  But before TNR Producer, Tessa Parry-Wingfield and her camera crew had time to say ‘Ahoy there,’ they were boarding Celebrity Eclipse and heading out to sea for a four day round trip. Celebrity Eclipse’s maiden voyage had turned into a full-scale rescue operation, and TNR was there to film every moment.

 “It was one of the most bizarre and exciting shoots of my life. With barely a moment to buy underwear, my crew and I were suddenly setting sail for Spain. And to top it off we were travelling on a beautiful (and enormous) cruise ship! It wasn’t without its professional hurdles though. With intermittent internet connection out at sea, feeding shots back to the hungry UK media was certainly a challenge. But in the end it was a rip-roaring success for TNR, with a fantastic range of news coverage. A success too for Celebrity Eclipse, who seamlessly transported 2,000 grateful Brits back home in such luxury.”

Back in the UK, TNR’s MD Claire Southeard was liaising with the crew on the ship and their constantly failing signal and coordinating requests from eager broadcasters who wanted the latest footage from this evolving story.  In all, TNR delivered seven lots of video material to the UK media via satellite feed or, when occasion demanded it, via a shaky internet connection in the middle of the Mediterranean.

All the major broadcasters including BBC, SKY and ITN picked up TNR’s footage. Online editorials used TNR’s A-Roll and D-Roll, which included the arrival of the ship into Bilbao, bird’s eye views of the enormous luxury liner and reactions of the stranded holidaymakers enjoying the pools, grass lawn area and the ship’s many restaurants, offering a welcome bit of luxury after the chaos of the last week.


 
News Coverage

Post by Penny Joyner (Marketing Executive for TNR Communications)

 

Share