Tune in to Afan FM today (Monday) ... at 11am they plan to be fully back onto the Swansea Bay airwaves. Hear them at http://www.afanfm.co.uk/.
It'll be a welcome return for a valuable community broadcaster ousted from its Afan Lido home by the complex's December fire.
I'm thrilled to report that their future is tremendously bright. A business good-guy has offered them an awesome new studio suite and it offers them a magnificent opportunity to thrive.
They should be the ones to tell you about the premises so I'll keep schtum on the matter now ... but what I must say is that Afan FM's dedicated team provide a warm welcome there.
Hannah Lewis and Hash Piperdy, the station's manager and deputy manager, gave me a guided tour a few days ago.
The move from the Lido has meant a huge amount of work but they and their people have risen to the challenge. Their energy should do nothing but good for the Swansea area's media circuit.
Since the blaze, the station has run in a limited, keep-the-pot-boiling way - but now they're ready to come out fighting once more.
They've been running an informal Facebook poll on what should be the first song at 11am today - I can't wait to hear what it is. Swansea Bay, listen out!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Media folk's Swansea chance to mull over BBC
Media folk are encouraged to pop into Swansea University next week.
February 8 brings a little teatime treat - an open-to-all presentation by one of the UK's most respected broadcasting academics
And Andrew Crisell's ever-topical subject for Swansea will be the BBC and how it may evolve.
The lecturer is professor of broadcasting at Sunderland University. He is the author of three books on broadcasting, editor of another and contributor to many.
Other roles have included editorial board membership of the Radio Journal and the Journal of Media Business Studies.
He arrives in Swansea Bay with the BBC under more scrutiny than ever, with concerns including everything from its local news coverage to its top talent's multi-million pound pay.
So well done to the Uni's Research Institute for Arts and Humanities. It's they who've brought Crisell here and it's they who are promoting this public lecture, entitles Auntie’s looking sickly: the last days of public service broadcasting.
It's in the Wallace Building, the large place to the left of the Uni's main entrance drive.
Admission's free and everyone's welcome. Get there by 5.15 pm to enjoy refreshments.
More
Uni - riah@swansea.ac.uk
Andrew Crisell - http://bit.ly/dcQWPw
February 8 brings a little teatime treat - an open-to-all presentation by one of the UK's most respected broadcasting academics
And Andrew Crisell's ever-topical subject for Swansea will be the BBC and how it may evolve.
The lecturer is professor of broadcasting at Sunderland University. He is the author of three books on broadcasting, editor of another and contributor to many.
Other roles have included editorial board membership of the Radio Journal and the Journal of Media Business Studies.
He arrives in Swansea Bay with the BBC under more scrutiny than ever, with concerns including everything from its local news coverage to its top talent's multi-million pound pay.
So well done to the Uni's Research Institute for Arts and Humanities. It's they who've brought Crisell here and it's they who are promoting this public lecture, entitles Auntie’s looking sickly: the last days of public service broadcasting.
It's in the Wallace Building, the large place to the left of the Uni's main entrance drive.
Admission's free and everyone's welcome. Get there by 5.15 pm to enjoy refreshments.
More
Uni - riah@swansea.ac.uk
Andrew Crisell - http://bit.ly/dcQWPw
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Hope for Haiti from Swansea Bay
Phil England, of community favourite Radio Tircoed, tells me the station will be part of a three-day auction for Haiti from February 2.
As far as I can ascertain, this broadcasting minnow is the only Swansea Bay programmer so far to get involved with Hope for Haiti.
Lots are committed from Simon Cowell, Coronation Street and music giants Sony, Polydor, Mercury and Island.
Radio Tircoed will join a number of other local radio stations across the UK for the online push. All will point listeners to a central auction page.
Station manager Phil says: "100% of the money raised will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee. We're really pleased to be taking part and know our listeners will respond positively to a great cause."
William Rogers, one of the auction's main movers, said: "This is about local radio stations coming together to deliver a locally focused appeal that will raise much needed funds for Haiti and give listeners the chance to bid on prizes that money can’t usually buy.
“We're delighted we've got support from stations such as Radio Tircoed."
Media Master says: Join in! www.radiotircoed.com ... or 106.5FM if you're somewhere between Loughor and Ynysforgan.
As far as I can ascertain, this broadcasting minnow is the only Swansea Bay programmer so far to get involved with Hope for Haiti.
Lots are committed from Simon Cowell, Coronation Street and music giants Sony, Polydor, Mercury and Island.
Radio Tircoed will join a number of other local radio stations across the UK for the online push. All will point listeners to a central auction page.
Station manager Phil says: "100% of the money raised will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee. We're really pleased to be taking part and know our listeners will respond positively to a great cause."
William Rogers, one of the auction's main movers, said: "This is about local radio stations coming together to deliver a locally focused appeal that will raise much needed funds for Haiti and give listeners the chance to bid on prizes that money can’t usually buy.
“We're delighted we've got support from stations such as Radio Tircoed."
Media Master says: Join in! www.radiotircoed.com ... or 106.5FM if you're somewhere between Loughor and Ynysforgan.
The Swansea Bay media scene - full of life
Look out for the first 2010 edition of the ever-chipper Carmarthenshire Life magazine - due out on February 1.
The glossy will have a spring dateline and comes with new hope for a new era.
It's now owned by the Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust - http://www.chrt.org.uk/ - which is also in charge of a multi-million pound project to restore Llanelly House, a Georgian town centre treasure.
In a chat with the journal's Bethan John recently, she told me the team - based at The Foothold Centre, in Llanelli's Stebonheath Terrace - planned features on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and rugby's RBS 6 Nations. A new website was also being planned.
Ad rates are attractive, with a ratecard value of £450 attached to an inside full page.
The magazine's an interesting concept which, so far, has eschewed the modern trend for overly punchy cover lines and loud headlines. Its sobriety is refreshing and helps to set it apart.
Unsurprisingly, its current Carmarthenshire-wide readership of around 5,000 are typically middle-class professionals, aged 40+ - but I think we can expect a pep-up to engage with a younger, broader readership.
Geographically, Carmarthenshire Life targets the whole of its county and communities.
Ex-pats now resident in places such as Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and much further afield should also find it a real treat.
In the meantime, best wishes for all aboard the new Carmarthenshire Life.
The glossy will have a spring dateline and comes with new hope for a new era.
It's now owned by the Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust - http://www.chrt.org.uk/ - which is also in charge of a multi-million pound project to restore Llanelly House, a Georgian town centre treasure.
In a chat with the journal's Bethan John recently, she told me the team - based at The Foothold Centre, in Llanelli's Stebonheath Terrace - planned features on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and rugby's RBS 6 Nations. A new website was also being planned.
Ad rates are attractive, with a ratecard value of £450 attached to an inside full page.
The magazine's an interesting concept which, so far, has eschewed the modern trend for overly punchy cover lines and loud headlines. Its sobriety is refreshing and helps to set it apart.
Unsurprisingly, its current Carmarthenshire-wide readership of around 5,000 are typically middle-class professionals, aged 40+ - but I think we can expect a pep-up to engage with a younger, broader readership.
Geographically, Carmarthenshire Life targets the whole of its county and communities.
Ex-pats now resident in places such as Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and much further afield should also find it a real treat.
In the meantime, best wishes for all aboard the new Carmarthenshire Life.
Cambridgeshire media tips for Swansea Bay
There's much fresh thinking and innovation on the Swansea Bay media circuit these days.
Recession, technology and web evolution are among the most influential factors.
It means we have small fellas such as the Pontardawe-based Community Magazines thriving alongside big players such as BBC Wales.
If you don't know the Swansea area's Community Magazines, by the way, they have local editions for communities as diverse as Brynaman, Glynneath, Taibach and Mumbles and circulate an impressive 113,000.
The industry changes mean that I'll make every effort to clock 440+ miles one Tuesday in May to go to Cambridgeshire and back.
The UK’s first Specialist Media Show - http://www.thespecialistmediashow.com/ - will have conference sessions, an exhibition and workshops for media pro's and others. It'll attract editors, ad pro's and marketing managers plus people from many supply businesses.
Show organisers have also created the Specialist Media Pioneer Awards, recognising innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
They say: "Whilst newspapers and mass media are struggling to find new business models, independent specialist media are applying innovation and entrepreneurial thinking."
Magazine Athletics Weekly, for instance, set the pace by selling digital editions on an iPhone app, Cricket World magazine has a website with more than 1.1 million unique users and live TV webcasting, and http://www.thefrenchpaper.com/ provides a news service for ex-pats in France.
Show figurehead Carolyn Morgan said: "Independents are prepared to innovate and experiment with all the new media channels, and we want to celebrate that and inspire others.
"The challenge for content creators is to deliver in ever more useful and valuable ways, whether through digital, mobile, events or print."
That goes for the Swansea Bay media too. If anybody wishes to join me on a Peterborough adventure, just give me a shout on 07758 745240.
Recession, technology and web evolution are among the most influential factors.
It means we have small fellas such as the Pontardawe-based Community Magazines thriving alongside big players such as BBC Wales.
If you don't know the Swansea area's Community Magazines, by the way, they have local editions for communities as diverse as Brynaman, Glynneath, Taibach and Mumbles and circulate an impressive 113,000.
The industry changes mean that I'll make every effort to clock 440+ miles one Tuesday in May to go to Cambridgeshire and back.
The UK’s first Specialist Media Show - http://www.thespecialistmediashow.com/ - will have conference sessions, an exhibition and workshops for media pro's and others. It'll attract editors, ad pro's and marketing managers plus people from many supply businesses.
Show organisers have also created the Specialist Media Pioneer Awards, recognising innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
They say: "Whilst newspapers and mass media are struggling to find new business models, independent specialist media are applying innovation and entrepreneurial thinking."
Magazine Athletics Weekly, for instance, set the pace by selling digital editions on an iPhone app, Cricket World magazine has a website with more than 1.1 million unique users and live TV webcasting, and http://www.thefrenchpaper.com/ provides a news service for ex-pats in France.
Show figurehead Carolyn Morgan said: "Independents are prepared to innovate and experiment with all the new media channels, and we want to celebrate that and inspire others.
"The challenge for content creators is to deliver in ever more useful and valuable ways, whether through digital, mobile, events or print."
That goes for the Swansea Bay media too. If anybody wishes to join me on a Peterborough adventure, just give me a shout on 07758 745240.
- The Specialist Media Show, Exec, Peterborough, 25 May, contact carolyn@thespecialistmediashow.com
Friday, January 29, 2010
Swansea Bay broadcaster awaits listener figs
There was much energy and activity at Newby House when Swansea Bay Media Master visited this week.
Neath Abbey's very own broadcasting house is home to many of the good folk from Town and Country Broadcasting.
That's the company which brings us stations such as Bay Radio, Scarlet FM, Radio Carmarthenshire and Nation Radio.
Managing director Martin Mumford, one of the Swansea Bay media scene's brightest forward-thinkers, was relishing the prospect of new listener figures about to be released. The relish was spiced with that most traditional of vital ingredients: nervous anticipation.
His staff, meanwhile, were gathering video testimonials from satisfied advertisers. Expect to see them on the company's website soon.
Martin's excited about 2010 and continues to be inspired by the incredible success of guitar-heavy Nation which lures around 130,000 listeners every month.
He's also upbeat about Bay which targets a population of more than 450,000 and is encouraged that the sister local services, although young, are now an established part of the Swansea Bay media mix.
Martin, good luck with the Rajars!
Neath Abbey's very own broadcasting house is home to many of the good folk from Town and Country Broadcasting.
That's the company which brings us stations such as Bay Radio, Scarlet FM, Radio Carmarthenshire and Nation Radio.
Managing director Martin Mumford, one of the Swansea Bay media scene's brightest forward-thinkers, was relishing the prospect of new listener figures about to be released. The relish was spiced with that most traditional of vital ingredients: nervous anticipation.
His staff, meanwhile, were gathering video testimonials from satisfied advertisers. Expect to see them on the company's website soon.
Martin's excited about 2010 and continues to be inspired by the incredible success of guitar-heavy Nation which lures around 130,000 listeners every month.
He's also upbeat about Bay which targets a population of more than 450,000 and is encouraged that the sister local services, although young, are now an established part of the Swansea Bay media mix.
Martin, good luck with the Rajars!
Highlights from today’s Swansea Bay media
...
Broadcast Real Radio
Key local sport - Ospreys officials face European rugby union governing body ERC today in the Heineken Cup 16-man controversy.
Publicity power - Valentine’s Day is already on the minds of Real Radio folk … check out a Q&A with breakfast show presenter Tony Wright at http://bit.ly/bYqYdZ ... Q - If you could choose any Valentine’s date with a celebrity, who would it be? A - My mate John Barrowman; imagine what the papers would say!
You heard it here - Celebrity Big Brother’s latest winner is due to be decided tonight – the favourite is Jordan’s boyfriend.
...
Print Llanelli Star
Lead story - The family of 17-year-old heroin victim Hannah Meredith reveal how they plan to help other families avoid drugs tragedy.
Outreach work - The Wave breakfast show presented Badger is pictured after giving a talk to media studies students at Coleg Sir Gar. He’s invited them back to the station’s Gowerton studios.
Ad power - Nice to see a strong local firm capitalizing on a bright newspaper idea: Atech Signs take out a full page in a supplement celebrating the century’s first decade..
And from further west - After vandal attacks, two schools are to get security fencing – Carmarthen Journal; Pembroke’s Chevron refinery has job cut fears – Western Telegraph; Aberystwyth police blamed for the collapse of a drugs case – Cambrian News.
...
Online http://news.bbc.co.uk
Southwest Wales lead story - A head teacher convicted of nine counts of sexually assaulting girls in his care loses his appeal against conviction – http://bit.ly/9JbwtR
Publicity power - Some bright jobs news for Llanelli car parts plant ThyssenKrupp Tallent - http://bit.ly/cS4Q5M
Recommended - Scarlets boss Nigel Davies says his side will travel to Toulon for their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final confident of claiming victory - http://bit.ly/9jTyMT
Broadcast Real Radio
Key local sport - Ospreys officials face European rugby union governing body ERC today in the Heineken Cup 16-man controversy.
Publicity power - Valentine’s Day is already on the minds of Real Radio folk … check out a Q&A with breakfast show presenter Tony Wright at http://bit.ly/bYqYdZ ... Q - If you could choose any Valentine’s date with a celebrity, who would it be? A - My mate John Barrowman; imagine what the papers would say!
You heard it here - Celebrity Big Brother’s latest winner is due to be decided tonight – the favourite is Jordan’s boyfriend.
...
Print Llanelli Star
Lead story - The family of 17-year-old heroin victim Hannah Meredith reveal how they plan to help other families avoid drugs tragedy.
Outreach work - The Wave breakfast show presented Badger is pictured after giving a talk to media studies students at Coleg Sir Gar. He’s invited them back to the station’s Gowerton studios.
Ad power - Nice to see a strong local firm capitalizing on a bright newspaper idea: Atech Signs take out a full page in a supplement celebrating the century’s first decade..
And from further west - After vandal attacks, two schools are to get security fencing – Carmarthen Journal; Pembroke’s Chevron refinery has job cut fears – Western Telegraph; Aberystwyth police blamed for the collapse of a drugs case – Cambrian News.
...
Online http://news.bbc.co.uk
Southwest Wales lead story - A head teacher convicted of nine counts of sexually assaulting girls in his care loses his appeal against conviction – http://bit.ly/9JbwtR
Publicity power - Some bright jobs news for Llanelli car parts plant ThyssenKrupp Tallent - http://bit.ly/cS4Q5M
Recommended - Scarlets boss Nigel Davies says his side will travel to Toulon for their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final confident of claiming victory - http://bit.ly/9jTyMT
£1.2m win will trigger Swansea Bay media interest
Expect some pretty slick PR some time soon on behalf of Llantrisant's Royal Mint.
The Swansea Bay media - old school and new style - won't be immune when global public relations leader Porter Novelli takes up the baton.
The company's London office has just scooped a £1.2m contract to ensure that reputation of the Mint is spit-and-polished.
The four-year tie-up is specifically aimed at services to support PR activities for commemorative coin releases and corporate. Twelve operators tussled for the brief late last year and the contract award has just been made.
2009 saw PRWeek name Porter Novelli as the agency to watch and honoured them with its Innovation of the Year award.
Founded in Washington DC 38 years ago, their expertise and experience encompasses health care, consumer marketing, corporate affairs, technology, public affairs, digital media and social media.
Their website blurb states: "We have a passion for new and emerging companies and represent some of today’s most exciting and innovative organizations, like South by Southwest and Bluetooth, as well as such leading global brands as PepsiCo, HP, Procter & Gamble and Sony. Timberland, Walmart, McDonald’s, Chevron and British Telecom have benefited from their work.
They have 100 offices in 60 countries.
To begin to comprehend its strength, check out http://www.porternovelli.com/ and look under Portfolio where you'll discover how BMW asked them to handle to 5 Series launch.
Novelli's challenge was to pitch the series to European lifestyle media, present a film as a unique communication platform and to promote BMW through an innovative marketing campaign.
The film starred actress and high-fashion model Nadja Auermann who attracted international press attention.
It was shot in LA - with the press in tow, of course - and received an exclusive screening for international press at Cannes during the International Film Festival.
The Mint, meanwhile, has already raised its game in these super-competitive post-Millennial times. Check out http://www.royalmint.com/.
It's the world's leading export mint, making coins and medals for around 60 countries every year.
Its first responsibility remains to make and distribute UK coins and medals.
Journalists across Swansea Bay can anticipate some innovative ways of engagement ... and you can expect a page lead announcing the Mint-Novelli partnership in the Western Mail rather soon.
The Swansea Bay media - old school and new style - won't be immune when global public relations leader Porter Novelli takes up the baton.
The company's London office has just scooped a £1.2m contract to ensure that reputation of the Mint is spit-and-polished.
The four-year tie-up is specifically aimed at services to support PR activities for commemorative coin releases and corporate. Twelve operators tussled for the brief late last year and the contract award has just been made.
2009 saw PRWeek name Porter Novelli as the agency to watch and honoured them with its Innovation of the Year award.
Founded in Washington DC 38 years ago, their expertise and experience encompasses health care, consumer marketing, corporate affairs, technology, public affairs, digital media and social media.
Their website blurb states: "We have a passion for new and emerging companies and represent some of today’s most exciting and innovative organizations, like South by Southwest and Bluetooth, as well as such leading global brands as PepsiCo, HP, Procter & Gamble and Sony. Timberland, Walmart, McDonald’s, Chevron and British Telecom have benefited from their work.
They have 100 offices in 60 countries.
To begin to comprehend its strength, check out http://www.porternovelli.com/ and look under Portfolio where you'll discover how BMW asked them to handle to 5 Series launch.
Novelli's challenge was to pitch the series to European lifestyle media, present a film as a unique communication platform and to promote BMW through an innovative marketing campaign.
The film starred actress and high-fashion model Nadja Auermann who attracted international press attention.
It was shot in LA - with the press in tow, of course - and received an exclusive screening for international press at Cannes during the International Film Festival.
The Mint, meanwhile, has already raised its game in these super-competitive post-Millennial times. Check out http://www.royalmint.com/.
It's the world's leading export mint, making coins and medals for around 60 countries every year.
Its first responsibility remains to make and distribute UK coins and medals.
Journalists across Swansea Bay can anticipate some innovative ways of engagement ... and you can expect a page lead announcing the Mint-Novelli partnership in the Western Mail rather soon.
Going up! Swansea Bay glossy
News reaches the Media Master from Lesley Williams, the whirlwind force behind glossy lifestyle mag The Swansea Bay.
Her next edition is due out on February 5 – and it'll be in a new, larger format.
To date it has run as an A5 journal, traditional pocket-size. Now The Swansea Bay is gonna be B5, about the same size as a conventional soccer or rugby programme.
New features in the 25,000-circulation free magazine are set to include a Welsh column, written in God's language only, a fitness guide detailing Swansea classes for adults and kids, and a piece on why excellence in the written word is crucial when as business is updating or re-working its website.
Recipe of the month is "cawl with a twist," foodmaster Sam Mullan taking a traditional dish and transforming it for a stylish 2010 Swansea Bay dinner party.
Hot stuff, Lesley!
Incidentally, the ads in this mag are virtual giveaways for as little as £30 - and they're nicely done too. A wise buy, perhaps, if you'd like to drum up a little business in west Swansea.
Her next edition is due out on February 5 – and it'll be in a new, larger format.
To date it has run as an A5 journal, traditional pocket-size. Now The Swansea Bay is gonna be B5, about the same size as a conventional soccer or rugby programme.
New features in the 25,000-circulation free magazine are set to include a Welsh column, written in God's language only, a fitness guide detailing Swansea classes for adults and kids, and a piece on why excellence in the written word is crucial when as business is updating or re-working its website.
Recipe of the month is "cawl with a twist," foodmaster Sam Mullan taking a traditional dish and transforming it for a stylish 2010 Swansea Bay dinner party.
Hot stuff, Lesley!
Incidentally, the ads in this mag are virtual giveaways for as little as £30 - and they're nicely done too. A wise buy, perhaps, if you'd like to drum up a little business in west Swansea.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Swansea Bay election coverage goes tabloid
Joy of General Election joys - Councillor Peter May has delivered another mock news publication.
The Lib-Dem hope is publishing his heart out in his bid to oust Labour from Swansea West.
A few days ago Media Master reported on the former maths teacher's cheeky mag - http://bit.ly/9QwG4M.
Today the Media Master letter box was penetrated by Swansea West News, a red-top tabloid lookalike.
In traditional demographic terms, it has the look which suggests Andy Capp-style left-wing fodder.
It's got a screaming headline - in black and red - which has a dig at Gordon Brown, George W Bush and Tony Blair. Over some incident concerning Iraq.
It's got a front page promo panel claiming that Swansea Bay families would be quids in with Nick Clegg in No 10.
Inside there's a cleverly presented editorial comment column which has a smidgen of Lib-Dem bias.
The back page peters out a little disappointingly, without any element of Premiership football scandal.
However, praise is due to Councillor May for doing a few things rival Swansea West candidates aren't - at least not at this abode ... 1 Communicating, 2 Being light-hearted, 3 Flatteringly using media know-how to deliver a message.
He shows that there's life in the old tabloid yet - even if it is only four pages thick and is printed in the England by a company headed by a dyed-in-the-wool Tory and slashing jobs.
The Lib-Dem hope is publishing his heart out in his bid to oust Labour from Swansea West.
A few days ago Media Master reported on the former maths teacher's cheeky mag - http://bit.ly/9QwG4M.
Today the Media Master letter box was penetrated by Swansea West News, a red-top tabloid lookalike.
In traditional demographic terms, it has the look which suggests Andy Capp-style left-wing fodder.
It's got a screaming headline - in black and red - which has a dig at Gordon Brown, George W Bush and Tony Blair. Over some incident concerning Iraq.
It's got a front page promo panel claiming that Swansea Bay families would be quids in with Nick Clegg in No 10.
Inside there's a cleverly presented editorial comment column which has a smidgen of Lib-Dem bias.
The back page peters out a little disappointingly, without any element of Premiership football scandal.
However, praise is due to Councillor May for doing a few things rival Swansea West candidates aren't - at least not at this abode ... 1 Communicating, 2 Being light-hearted, 3 Flatteringly using media know-how to deliver a message.
He shows that there's life in the old tabloid yet - even if it is only four pages thick and is printed in the England by a company headed by a dyed-in-the-wool Tory and slashing jobs.
New Buzz for Swansea Bay style folk
Fine South Wales lifestyle mag Buzz is offering free digital subscriptions. Go to http://bit.ly/csfwBo.
Well worth it in my book - even though it's a few years since I was down with the youth.
Although the publication's based in Cardiff, it does support the ents and leisure scene in its south Wales hinterlands, Swansea Bay included.
It's hard to believe, but it's be going for 18+ years and does a spiffing job with its coverage of art, theatre, music, clubs, fashion and sport.
Buzz models itself as "the biggest, funkiest and sexiest publication in the region" and they've got a few good reasons to do that.
At the last count, it was circulating around 25,000 copies to outlets such as information centres, hotels, clubs and bars across the capital, Newport, Swansea, the Valleys, Gwent, Neath and Port Talbot.
Well worth it in my book - even though it's a few years since I was down with the youth.
Although the publication's based in Cardiff, it does support the ents and leisure scene in its south Wales hinterlands, Swansea Bay included.
It's hard to believe, but it's be going for 18+ years and does a spiffing job with its coverage of art, theatre, music, clubs, fashion and sport.
Buzz models itself as "the biggest, funkiest and sexiest publication in the region" and they've got a few good reasons to do that.
At the last count, it was circulating around 25,000 copies to outlets such as information centres, hotels, clubs and bars across the capital, Newport, Swansea, the Valleys, Gwent, Neath and Port Talbot.
Swansea Bay media has new ITV correspondent
The Swansea Bay media scene has a new kid on the block - ITV Wales reporter Rob Osborne.
Rob, who replaces Catharine Evan-Williams, has been handed the second-city patch by his broadcasting bosses at Culverhouse Cross.
So it'll now be him - usually - who you see on flagship shows such as Wales Tonight when the limelight falls on Swansea.
You can see Rob on the clip Rail Revamp - http://bit.ly/d4L36V. Advisory - fast forward to 1min 28sec to eyeball him.
Rob's now starting to work his way through a handy little meet-and-greet tour of his new beat, getting to know some of the movers and shakers who'll be able to help him in his Swansea Bay endeavours.
Croeso, Rob!
Rob, who replaces Catharine Evan-Williams, has been handed the second-city patch by his broadcasting bosses at Culverhouse Cross.
So it'll now be him - usually - who you see on flagship shows such as Wales Tonight when the limelight falls on Swansea.
You can see Rob on the clip Rail Revamp - http://bit.ly/d4L36V. Advisory - fast forward to 1min 28sec to eyeball him.
Rob's now starting to work his way through a handy little meet-and-greet tour of his new beat, getting to know some of the movers and shakers who'll be able to help him in his Swansea Bay endeavours.
Croeso, Rob!
Highlights from today’s Swansea Bay media
...
Breaking news - Swansea Sound and The Wave have a new boss. Biog & photo - http://bit.ly/cZGJjY
PR success - A story based on an Andy Pearson press release for the Class Act Theatre Company and Fluellen Theatre appears in today’s South Wales Evening Post – Young actors cut teeth in winning show, Weekend pullout, page 7
...
Online www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
Key local story - Heart patients in Swansea are being forced to travel to England for a pioneering procedure instead of being treated on their doorstep - http://bit.ly/dsokfn.
Publicity power Regional enterprises with website page ads include West Wales Blinds & Shutters and Harris Slate & Stone.
Recommended - A new top 10 supplied by Gamestation, Swansea, a weekly list of the UK’s hottest video games, today topped by Army of Two: The 40th Day. http://bit.ly/aqmT4R
...
Broadcast BBC Radio Wales
Key Welsh story - Discussions are under way to allow motorists to use debit/credit cards at the Severn Bridge toll booths. Harrah!
The environment - Keep Wales Tidy claim that less than 2% of Welsh streets are free from litter.
You heard it here - A former southwest Wales headteacher is to appeal against jail sentence for assaulting pupils.
...
Print South Wales Guardian
Lead story - An expectant mum was inches from death when a 1½-ton steel girder fell from a truck and tore through her car in Ammanford.
Key opinion - It’s time that Carmarthenshire Council improved the paving in Ammanford town centre’s Quay Street following a woman’s fourth fall.
Ad power - An ad feature entitled – optimistically – “What’s hot for summer” features promo’s for a slimming group, sunbed centre and boutiques in Ammanford.
Don’t miss - A report on Brian Harries retiring as manager of the fabulous Brynaman Cinema. He’s been there 44 years. In his honour go and see It’s Complicated (7.15pm, Jan 29-Feb 3 not Sun).
...
Breaking news - Swansea Sound and The Wave have a new boss. Biog & photo - http://bit.ly/cZGJjY
PR success - A story based on an Andy Pearson press release for the Class Act Theatre Company and Fluellen Theatre appears in today’s South Wales Evening Post – Young actors cut teeth in winning show, Weekend pullout, page 7
...
Online www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
Key local story - Heart patients in Swansea are being forced to travel to England for a pioneering procedure instead of being treated on their doorstep - http://bit.ly/dsokfn.
Publicity power Regional enterprises with website page ads include West Wales Blinds & Shutters and Harris Slate & Stone.
Recommended - A new top 10 supplied by Gamestation, Swansea, a weekly list of the UK’s hottest video games, today topped by Army of Two: The 40th Day. http://bit.ly/aqmT4R
...
Broadcast BBC Radio Wales
Key Welsh story - Discussions are under way to allow motorists to use debit/credit cards at the Severn Bridge toll booths. Harrah!
The environment - Keep Wales Tidy claim that less than 2% of Welsh streets are free from litter.
You heard it here - A former southwest Wales headteacher is to appeal against jail sentence for assaulting pupils.
...
Print South Wales Guardian
Lead story - An expectant mum was inches from death when a 1½-ton steel girder fell from a truck and tore through her car in Ammanford.
Key opinion - It’s time that Carmarthenshire Council improved the paving in Ammanford town centre’s Quay Street following a woman’s fourth fall.
Ad power - An ad feature entitled – optimistically – “What’s hot for summer” features promo’s for a slimming group, sunbed centre and boutiques in Ammanford.
Don’t miss - A report on Brian Harries retiring as manager of the fabulous Brynaman Cinema. He’s been there 44 years. In his honour go and see It’s Complicated (7.15pm, Jan 29-Feb 3 not Sun).
...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
New chief for Swansea Bay media team
Sister radio stations Swansea Sound and The Wave have a new head girl.Helen Bowden, right, arrives with strong Swansea credentials and 20 years of radio experience.
Her track record suggests that she'll wish to build wisely on the Swansea Bay community links already enjoyed by the Victoria Road crew.Originally from Swansea, Helen spent her teenage years in Mumbles.
She returned in her 20s before taking up a job with The Children’s Society charity.
Helen began her radio career as a breakfast show co-host with borderland broadcaster Severn Sound.
Most recently she has been at Blackpool's Radio Wave who she joined as programme manager before rising to station director level four years ago.
On the Lancashire coast, she chaired town centre enterprise partnership Blackpool BID, was involved in a business leader group and sat on a body looking after the welfare of children across Blackpool.
She instigated the a local heroes project and a culture and lifestyle awards scheme. Radio Wave was recently named UTV station of the year.
Married with two children, Helen said: "I'm incredibly excited about this new challenge. I love this area and can’t wait to get to know local businesses and work with them.
"I'm Welsh, my parents spent much time in Swansea and I spent the best years of my life here.
"The Wave and Swansea Sound are two very successful stations and I look forward to taking them into the next era.”
She was appointed to Swansea Sound and The Wave by parent group UTV Media to replace Carrie Moseley.
Helen, welcome home!
Veteran Swansea Bay journalist with job tip-off
There was a time when Paul Chambert was one of the Swansea Bay Establishment's most feared hacks.
He was a reporter and editor of great dynamism, skill and energy. When chasing a tale of wrong-doing or shame he was like an angry Scot chasing an Australian Open title.
His Swansea Herald of Wales was a supremely punchy and pugnacious tabloid that delivered great training and wonderful exclusives.
He retired a good few years back but still feeds tip-offs to the South Wales Evening Post newsdesk. "Chambert," as he's known Morrissey style, still enjoys coffee with distinguished former colleagues and derives great pleasure out of his Swansea City season ticket.
Today he called with a kind thought. "Have you seen the Post today ... page 44? There a press office job going in Carmarthen for the fire brigade!"
He wondered if I knew anybody around Swansea who might be interested. Well, I do ... but I'm not naming names.
If they get the job it'll be Chambert they have to thank, not me.
He was a reporter and editor of great dynamism, skill and energy. When chasing a tale of wrong-doing or shame he was like an angry Scot chasing an Australian Open title.
His Swansea Herald of Wales was a supremely punchy and pugnacious tabloid that delivered great training and wonderful exclusives.
He retired a good few years back but still feeds tip-offs to the South Wales Evening Post newsdesk. "Chambert," as he's known Morrissey style, still enjoys coffee with distinguished former colleagues and derives great pleasure out of his Swansea City season ticket.
Today he called with a kind thought. "Have you seen the Post today ... page 44? There a press office job going in Carmarthen for the fire brigade!"
He wondered if I knew anybody around Swansea who might be interested. Well, I do ... but I'm not naming names.
If they get the job it'll be Chambert they have to thank, not me.
A cheap shot for Swansea Bay publicity
A European rugby union disciplinary officer has ticked off the Ospreys and full-back Lee Byrne.
They allowed 16 players over the whitewash during Saturday's tussle with Leicester Tigers. That's about one more than the 15 allowed - or 6.7% if you took A level Sums.
Sounds like simple arithmetic ... but if your business is a provider of maths tuition why not write to Scott Johnson & Co? Offer your services by hosting a "numbers refresher" before April's Heineken Cup quarter-final in Biarritz.
You could even do it in French to take account of the big game's prevailing lingo.
Your pitch may not result in business from the boys in black (in fact, it definitely won't) - but it may humour one or two Swansea Bay journalists into giving you publicity ...
If you'd like to know how, you know where to come.
They allowed 16 players over the whitewash during Saturday's tussle with Leicester Tigers. That's about one more than the 15 allowed - or 6.7% if you took A level Sums.
Sounds like simple arithmetic ... but if your business is a provider of maths tuition why not write to Scott Johnson & Co? Offer your services by hosting a "numbers refresher" before April's Heineken Cup quarter-final in Biarritz.
You could even do it in French to take account of the big game's prevailing lingo.
Your pitch may not result in business from the boys in black (in fact, it definitely won't) - but it may humour one or two Swansea Bay journalists into giving you publicity ...
If you'd like to know how, you know where to come.
Highlights from today’s Swansea Bay media
...
Print South Wales Evening Post
Lead story - More from the Kirsty Grabham murder trial … followed by Asda pledging up to 300 jobs this year at its new Gorseinon store.
Key opinion - There’s no reason to celebrate the end of recession yet as South Wales is likely to suffer job cuts and higher interest rates this year.
Promo power - Schools - increasingly being run along business lines - are becoming more and more aware of the power of press ads. Today we have Olchfa, Oakleigh House and Ffynone.
Don’t miss - A two-page preview of Swansea’s February 27 Get Welsh Show, with some great local food enterprises in the limelight.
...
Broadcast Swansea Sound
Key local story - Up to 500 Swansea Council workers could lose their jobs due to budget cuts.
Publicity power - The silky vocal cords of Moira Stewart continue to advertise HM Revenue’s self-assessment tax campaign.
You heard it here - The station’s website has a 2-minute Sky News TV highlights package – useful for those in a rush.
...
Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
Key local story - Nine wards have been shut in two Swansea hospitals because of an outbreak of norovirus. No new patients are being admitted to the affected wards at Morriston and Hill House.
Publicity power - ClwbCast has a significant home page plugs, seeing WalesOnline and Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach team up to deliver a monthly podcast.
Recommended - Swansea City dropped to fifth place in the Championship after being held to a goalless draw against Chris Coleman's Coventry City. Darren Pratley hit the post.
...
Make every penny count! Andy Pearson can guide your business through the media minefield. Phone 07758 745 240. Email andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk
...
Print South Wales Evening Post
Lead story - More from the Kirsty Grabham murder trial … followed by Asda pledging up to 300 jobs this year at its new Gorseinon store.
Key opinion - There’s no reason to celebrate the end of recession yet as South Wales is likely to suffer job cuts and higher interest rates this year.
Promo power - Schools - increasingly being run along business lines - are becoming more and more aware of the power of press ads. Today we have Olchfa, Oakleigh House and Ffynone.
Don’t miss - A two-page preview of Swansea’s February 27 Get Welsh Show, with some great local food enterprises in the limelight.
...
Broadcast Swansea Sound
Key local story - Up to 500 Swansea Council workers could lose their jobs due to budget cuts.
Publicity power - The silky vocal cords of Moira Stewart continue to advertise HM Revenue’s self-assessment tax campaign.
You heard it here - The station’s website has a 2-minute Sky News TV highlights package – useful for those in a rush.
...
Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
Key local story - Nine wards have been shut in two Swansea hospitals because of an outbreak of norovirus. No new patients are being admitted to the affected wards at Morriston and Hill House.
Publicity power - ClwbCast has a significant home page plugs, seeing WalesOnline and Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach team up to deliver a monthly podcast.
Recommended - Swansea City dropped to fifth place in the Championship after being held to a goalless draw against Chris Coleman's Coventry City. Darren Pratley hit the post.
...
Make every penny count! Andy Pearson can guide your business through the media minefield. Phone 07758 745 240. Email andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk
...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Swansea Bay: Where media advertising works
As a flag-bearer for the whole Swansea Bay media community, I'm pleased to pass on an important message to the area's business movers and shakers.
It's from Amanda Nicol, the very personable telesales manager at the South Wales Evening Post.
She's an experienced operator in the local ads market and, for that reason alone I suggest that her missive has a healthy dose of realism.
Yes, it's clearly from an Evening Post perspective (South West Wales Media is the parent company) but the sentiments will be largely shared across the Swansea Bay media scene.
Amanda says: "We recognise and understand how tough times are for local businesses during these difficult trading months.
"It is proven that those businesses who keep advertising through hard times are more successful than those who don’t.
"With this in mind we have a wide range of cost-effective packages."
In the case of SWWM, this means the possibility of reaching almost 190,000 readers in southwest Wales.
Other media is also effective when used to advertise across Swansea Bay.
I wouldn't recommend any individual platform when speaking generally like this because every business market is unique.
It's horses for courses and my database of more than 40 media outfits with footholds in Swansea Bay reveals what a tangled web the area's marketing people have to deal with.
The unrivalled database is used to plan how every penny of your ad spend is wisely invested. It features ratecard info, demographic data, audience figures and geographical detail. It's the first time such a valuable resource has been collated for this area.
The bottom line, as Amanda points out, is that any size of business can benefit from the media riches out there.
Want to know more? Give me a nudge - 07758 745 240.
It's from Amanda Nicol, the very personable telesales manager at the South Wales Evening Post.
She's an experienced operator in the local ads market and, for that reason alone I suggest that her missive has a healthy dose of realism.
Yes, it's clearly from an Evening Post perspective (South West Wales Media is the parent company) but the sentiments will be largely shared across the Swansea Bay media scene.
Amanda says: "We recognise and understand how tough times are for local businesses during these difficult trading months.
"It is proven that those businesses who keep advertising through hard times are more successful than those who don’t.
"With this in mind we have a wide range of cost-effective packages."
In the case of SWWM, this means the possibility of reaching almost 190,000 readers in southwest Wales.
Other media is also effective when used to advertise across Swansea Bay.
I wouldn't recommend any individual platform when speaking generally like this because every business market is unique.
It's horses for courses and my database of more than 40 media outfits with footholds in Swansea Bay reveals what a tangled web the area's marketing people have to deal with.
The unrivalled database is used to plan how every penny of your ad spend is wisely invested. It features ratecard info, demographic data, audience figures and geographical detail. It's the first time such a valuable resource has been collated for this area.
The bottom line, as Amanda points out, is that any size of business can benefit from the media riches out there.
Want to know more? Give me a nudge - 07758 745 240.
Fire can't dim the Swansea Bay radio spirit
One of Swansea Bay's big news stories of recent weeks was the Aquadome fire in Port Talbot.
The Afan Lido, as it's still often known, was more important to its community than many realise.
The Aquadome was home to Afan FM, a hard-working community radio station.
Afan FM usually broadcasts more than 40 weekly hours of specialist programming. Its key audience across the Neath Port Talbot county borough is aged 11-25.
Sadly, the blaze saw it fall silent. Now a re-launch is being arranged for February 1 and it's a chance for local business to rally round, flash the cash and help give the station a welcome boost.
If such generous enterprises happen to count young people amongst their market then there may even be a little commercial spin-off. Ad rates and programme sponsorship deals are incredibly inexpensive.
You can keep up to date through me or through the Afan FM website and Facebook pages - http://www.afanfm.co.uk/ & http://bit.ly/buOURM.
What's more, you can even submit ideas for what should be the first song they play when back on air.
Swansea Bay Media Master wishes everyone involved a smooth countdown to the big day.
The Afan Lido, as it's still often known, was more important to its community than many realise.
The Aquadome was home to Afan FM, a hard-working community radio station.
Afan FM usually broadcasts more than 40 weekly hours of specialist programming. Its key audience across the Neath Port Talbot county borough is aged 11-25.
Sadly, the blaze saw it fall silent. Now a re-launch is being arranged for February 1 and it's a chance for local business to rally round, flash the cash and help give the station a welcome boost.
If such generous enterprises happen to count young people amongst their market then there may even be a little commercial spin-off. Ad rates and programme sponsorship deals are incredibly inexpensive.
You can keep up to date through me or through the Afan FM website and Facebook pages - http://www.afanfm.co.uk/ & http://bit.ly/buOURM.
What's more, you can even submit ideas for what should be the first song they play when back on air.
Swansea Bay Media Master wishes everyone involved a smooth countdown to the big day.
All aboard with the Swansea Bay bloggers!
Humorous Swansea Bay blog Inside Out - http://bit.ly/5UmWIl - today comments on a recommendation by a Welsh Assembly committee to look at the idea of a £5bn light railway system for Wales.
The scheme was flagged up by an eyecatching although not necessarily representitive page one graphic in yesterday's Western Mail. It depicted towering office blocks shining down on London's light railway rather than brooding Celtic mountains standing guard over a creaking travel network.
The satirical blogspot does well to point out what many Western Mail readers - especially this far west - must have been thinking ... "Is this one committee too many?"
The blog goes on to say: "Presumably the same members making these recommendations were around when Ieuan Wyn-Jones announced that there was not enough cash in government coffers to finance a new M4 distributor road at Newport ... Suggestions that billions of public funding can be diverted into new schemes merely raises the question as to whether Wales can continue to afford a surfeit of committees in Cardiff Bay with far too much time on their hands."
Hear, hear, Inside Out.
The scheme was flagged up by an eyecatching although not necessarily representitive page one graphic in yesterday's Western Mail. It depicted towering office blocks shining down on London's light railway rather than brooding Celtic mountains standing guard over a creaking travel network.
The satirical blogspot does well to point out what many Western Mail readers - especially this far west - must have been thinking ... "Is this one committee too many?"
The blog goes on to say: "Presumably the same members making these recommendations were around when Ieuan Wyn-Jones announced that there was not enough cash in government coffers to finance a new M4 distributor road at Newport ... Suggestions that billions of public funding can be diverted into new schemes merely raises the question as to whether Wales can continue to afford a surfeit of committees in Cardiff Bay with far too much time on their hands."
Hear, hear, Inside Out.
Recession fight aided by Swansea Bay media savvy
With official calculations suggesting that the UK's Recession is over (http://bit.ly/7VwS1m) perhaps Swansea Bay business can look forward to brighter times.
And, if the South Wales Evening Post homes supplement is anything to go by, this hint of optimism may be well founded.
After its traditional festive season lull, Find a Property has bounced back. Today it weighs in at a chunky 60 pages.
The usual suspects are there - Parker Baker, Elan, John Francis, Oakleaf, Barratt, Redrow, Ashley Jones, Peter Alan, Astleys, Rees Richards, Clee, Dawsons, Darlows, Simpsons - and there's the usual range of properties. The cover features a £415k sea-view place in Sketty, inside you'll find more affordable gaffs such as a £40k auction lot in Cefneithin. It's in need of a little toil.
Congratulations go to the Evening Post's property writer Kay Byrne for she has unearthed a beauty in Gower. Parkmill's 150-year-old Green Cwm Cottage has an asking price of over £500k at Astleys; it has bags of land, a woodland setting and the bluest of covered swimming pools.
Kay, a northcountrywoman of great journalistic repute, describes the place as a "gingerbread-style" cottage. Tasty.
Anybody wishing to sell other Swansea Bay gems though the media should phone me for a chat - there are lots of innovative and fun, low-cost ways to publicise your property. I'm on 07758 745 240.
And, if the South Wales Evening Post homes supplement is anything to go by, this hint of optimism may be well founded.
After its traditional festive season lull, Find a Property has bounced back. Today it weighs in at a chunky 60 pages.
The usual suspects are there - Parker Baker, Elan, John Francis, Oakleaf, Barratt, Redrow, Ashley Jones, Peter Alan, Astleys, Rees Richards, Clee, Dawsons, Darlows, Simpsons - and there's the usual range of properties. The cover features a £415k sea-view place in Sketty, inside you'll find more affordable gaffs such as a £40k auction lot in Cefneithin. It's in need of a little toil.
Congratulations go to the Evening Post's property writer Kay Byrne for she has unearthed a beauty in Gower. Parkmill's 150-year-old Green Cwm Cottage has an asking price of over £500k at Astleys; it has bags of land, a woodland setting and the bluest of covered swimming pools.
Kay, a northcountrywoman of great journalistic repute, describes the place as a "gingerbread-style" cottage. Tasty.
Anybody wishing to sell other Swansea Bay gems though the media should phone me for a chat - there are lots of innovative and fun, low-cost ways to publicise your property. I'm on 07758 745 240.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hurlingham hurrah for Swansea Bay media
This Wednesday brings the media launch of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations. It'll see the rugby union media of the Northern Hemisphere gather at London's impeccably presented Hurlingham Club to interview some of thew game's biggest guns.
Wales are due to be represented Thames-side by head coach Warren Gatland and skipper Ryan Jones. What they say will hold few surprises - "all opposition to be feared" ... "tough opener at Twickenham" ... "the competition gets more intense by the year" - but I predict strong coverage in Thursday's Western Mail and South Wales Evening Post.
It's rare you can predict for certain the content of newpapers but this is one of those rare instances. This launch will be fed back by the laptopful from this quintessentially English green setting in Fulham.
So, if you've got rugby-related goods or services to shift, reserve an ad slot on Thursday's Swansea Bay sports pages right now.
And, if you're in any doubt as the to lingering pull rugby has on the South Wales public, hear this: Within days of ad strips going on sale for the forthcoming Evening Post 6 Nations pull-out they were all gone. Sold. Gone.
Sometimes you must pounce like Tommy Bowe chasing a James Hook grubber into a Liberty Stadium corner. Go for it for Thursday ... or, even better, let me do your bidding for you. I'm the man to steer you through the Swansea Bay media minefield.
Wales are due to be represented Thames-side by head coach Warren Gatland and skipper Ryan Jones. What they say will hold few surprises - "all opposition to be feared" ... "tough opener at Twickenham" ... "the competition gets more intense by the year" - but I predict strong coverage in Thursday's Western Mail and South Wales Evening Post.
It's rare you can predict for certain the content of newpapers but this is one of those rare instances. This launch will be fed back by the laptopful from this quintessentially English green setting in Fulham.
So, if you've got rugby-related goods or services to shift, reserve an ad slot on Thursday's Swansea Bay sports pages right now.
And, if you're in any doubt as the to lingering pull rugby has on the South Wales public, hear this: Within days of ad strips going on sale for the forthcoming Evening Post 6 Nations pull-out they were all gone. Sold. Gone.
Sometimes you must pounce like Tommy Bowe chasing a James Hook grubber into a Liberty Stadium corner. Go for it for Thursday ... or, even better, let me do your bidding for you. I'm the man to steer you through the Swansea Bay media minefield.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Scarlets offer Swansea Bay business big chance
Swansea Bay businesses wishing to hit the Llanelli market have a prime chance to do so over the next two or three months - especially if the enterprise has any hint of France.
With the Scarlets clinching a quarter-final place in European rugby union's Amlin Challenge Cup yesterday, it was today revealed that they'll play French outfit Toulon. The match will be in France on the (long) weekend of April 8-11.
So, if you're a French polisher based in or around Swansea, if you specialise in French food or if much of your wine stock is from the land of Ratatouille and Clouseau, make the connection with the Llanelli public by launching a few special offers.
Ads and editorials placed with Swansea Bay local media such as the Llanelli Star and http://www.llanellitown.com/ could pay dividends for modest outlay. If you need guidance, give me a shout on 07758 745 240.
I'd recommend avoiding the Toulon press - furniture polish is more easily available there, they're not too keen on food that's got a touch of the UK ... and their wine's considerably cheaper.
With the Scarlets clinching a quarter-final place in European rugby union's Amlin Challenge Cup yesterday, it was today revealed that they'll play French outfit Toulon. The match will be in France on the (long) weekend of April 8-11.
So, if you're a French polisher based in or around Swansea, if you specialise in French food or if much of your wine stock is from the land of Ratatouille and Clouseau, make the connection with the Llanelli public by launching a few special offers.
Ads and editorials placed with Swansea Bay local media such as the Llanelli Star and http://www.llanellitown.com/ could pay dividends for modest outlay. If you need guidance, give me a shout on 07758 745 240.
I'd recommend avoiding the Toulon press - furniture polish is more easily available there, they're not too keen on food that's got a touch of the UK ... and their wine's considerably cheaper.
Green dream for Swansea Bay media dynamic duo
Spotted today at the National Botanic Garden of Wales: two influential figures on the Swansea Bay media circuit - Llanelli Star editor Bede MacGowan and former Carmarthen Journal editor David Hardy.
Bede was taking advantage of the Garden's January-free-entry scheme with his lively young family. They lunched in the on-site restaurant, with lamb cawl being one of the dishes showing up on their receipt.
A special events promotion in the Garden's main entrance foyer reminded me that the Star and sister title the Carmarthen Journal are running a promotion that's successfully raising the Swansea Bay profile of some decent local businesses.
The token-collect competition will see the winning couple scoop a wedding at Llanelli's Diplomat Hotel - and a considerable saving on their big day.
Other businesses involved through sponsorship include Welsh Chocolate Fountains, Mike Clarke Printing, Fine Wines Direct UK and the Lush Model Agency.
Courtneys Bridal Wear, of St Clears, are there along with Pure Creations Photography, Saul Cass Jewellers and the ever-reliable Dyfed Menswear.
It's a good move by those enterprises because they're guaranteed publicity on a number of levels.
David, incidentally, is now the Botanic Garden's marketing man and was there on the Sabbath to help the extra workload created by the entry offer. He was last spotted taking something that resembled a sudsy J Cloth to a few of the restaurant tables ...
Bede was taking advantage of the Garden's January-free-entry scheme with his lively young family. They lunched in the on-site restaurant, with lamb cawl being one of the dishes showing up on their receipt.
A special events promotion in the Garden's main entrance foyer reminded me that the Star and sister title the Carmarthen Journal are running a promotion that's successfully raising the Swansea Bay profile of some decent local businesses.
The token-collect competition will see the winning couple scoop a wedding at Llanelli's Diplomat Hotel - and a considerable saving on their big day.
Other businesses involved through sponsorship include Welsh Chocolate Fountains, Mike Clarke Printing, Fine Wines Direct UK and the Lush Model Agency.
Courtneys Bridal Wear, of St Clears, are there along with Pure Creations Photography, Saul Cass Jewellers and the ever-reliable Dyfed Menswear.
It's a good move by those enterprises because they're guaranteed publicity on a number of levels.
David, incidentally, is now the Botanic Garden's marketing man and was there on the Sabbath to help the extra workload created by the entry offer. He was last spotted taking something that resembled a sudsy J Cloth to a few of the restaurant tables ...
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Swansea Bay media man's Facebook fillip
Multi-faceted Swansea media guy Kev Johns is embracing social media with increasing warmth. Oh yes, he is.
This weekend, the Swansea Sound breakfast show presenter, author, actor, MC and after-dinner speaker has used his Facebook page (http://bit.ly/6j5Y4h) to send out two plugs for his wireless output and a good luck message to Swansea City.
That's good form, Kev - the web's there to be used for exactly those purposes. It's cheap, easy and incisive.
For the record, the publicity is for an appearance by Welsh Lib-Dem leader Kirsty Williams on his Swansea Sound Sunday Hotline and for a series of competitions on his Monday-Friday show.
The prizes, incidentally, include a six-month membership of local council gyms aka Active Swansea and tickets to a Buddy Holly and the Cricketers show at Swansea's Grand Theatre this week.
And there's a good message for all businesses ... give some product away on a local radio show. These days you'll even find it publicised on Facebook!
This weekend, the Swansea Sound breakfast show presenter, author, actor, MC and after-dinner speaker has used his Facebook page (http://bit.ly/6j5Y4h) to send out two plugs for his wireless output and a good luck message to Swansea City.
That's good form, Kev - the web's there to be used for exactly those purposes. It's cheap, easy and incisive.
For the record, the publicity is for an appearance by Welsh Lib-Dem leader Kirsty Williams on his Swansea Sound Sunday Hotline and for a series of competitions on his Monday-Friday show.
The prizes, incidentally, include a six-month membership of local council gyms aka Active Swansea and tickets to a Buddy Holly and the Cricketers show at Swansea's Grand Theatre this week.
And there's a good message for all businesses ... give some product away on a local radio show. These days you'll even find it publicised on Facebook!
Ospreys boost Swansea rugby & business profiles
The Ospreys beat Leicester Tigers at Swansea's Liberty Stadium this afternoon to qualify for the quarter-finals of rugby union's Heineken Cup.
Well done to them ... and if you run a business and want to get noticed in the Swansea Bay area in the run-up to the early-April last eight game ... get on the ball quickly!
The simple way to do this is to link some forthcoming media activity with this big sports weekend. It's gonna be big - in the South Wales Evening Post especially. Advertising could carry a "Back the Ospreys" message, press releases could be formulated to reveal how the company further plans to support the efforts of Ryan Jones & Co.
If you need confirmation that the Post - Wales' biggest selling newspaper - is interested in rugby just check out this news I've had from Dawn Thomas, one of their most experienced and engaging ad reps.
"It’s that time of year again," she smiles ... "and we're producing a 16-page souvenir special to promote this year’s RBS Six Nations. This is very well read every year we produce it."
By way of change, this year's publication will be inserted into a midweek edition South Wales Evening Post rather than being a stand-alone.
The pull-out is due to appear on February 3, with its editorial content profiling Wales’ national game.
Advertising is already proving popular, with 4cm-deep straps inside the pull-out selling at a highly attractive price.
If anybody fancies a hook-up with the Post on this, give me a shout on 07758 745 240 - I guarantee you a great deal.
Well done to them ... and if you run a business and want to get noticed in the Swansea Bay area in the run-up to the early-April last eight game ... get on the ball quickly!
The simple way to do this is to link some forthcoming media activity with this big sports weekend. It's gonna be big - in the South Wales Evening Post especially. Advertising could carry a "Back the Ospreys" message, press releases could be formulated to reveal how the company further plans to support the efforts of Ryan Jones & Co.
If you need confirmation that the Post - Wales' biggest selling newspaper - is interested in rugby just check out this news I've had from Dawn Thomas, one of their most experienced and engaging ad reps.
"It’s that time of year again," she smiles ... "and we're producing a 16-page souvenir special to promote this year’s RBS Six Nations. This is very well read every year we produce it."
By way of change, this year's publication will be inserted into a midweek edition South Wales Evening Post rather than being a stand-alone.
The pull-out is due to appear on February 3, with its editorial content profiling Wales’ national game.
Advertising is already proving popular, with 4cm-deep straps inside the pull-out selling at a highly attractive price.
If anybody fancies a hook-up with the Post on this, give me a shout on 07758 745 240 - I guarantee you a great deal.
Llanelli Town could hook up with Media Master
Jonathan Williams, of community-based news-and-info platform www.llanellitown.com, noticed that Swansea Bay Media Master had blogged about his site.
"Perhaps we can add a link from our site to you?" he said.
That's a pleasurably open-minded approach. It's one which suggests a shared passion for the newspapers, magazines, broadcast channels and online resources which make up the Swansea Bay media.
More power to your elbow, Jonathan - I look forward to you feeding key info to the Media Master so I can keep all readers up to speed.
Incidentally, if and when Media Master gets a link from www.llanellitown.com, it'll join an eclectic collection of other linkees. Today's home page, for instrance, features buttons for Llanelli Town Council, all-Wales disability information service Capacitate Cymru and the Scarlets.
Other pages have links ranging from Llanelli Market fruit & veg beauty Seward's to unofficial and addictive fans' forum www.scarletfever.org.
It's a cross-fertilisation of information sources such as this which will help the grassroots media perform an increasingly important role in places such as Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli as the years progress.
"Perhaps we can add a link from our site to you?" he said.
That's a pleasurably open-minded approach. It's one which suggests a shared passion for the newspapers, magazines, broadcast channels and online resources which make up the Swansea Bay media.
More power to your elbow, Jonathan - I look forward to you feeding key info to the Media Master so I can keep all readers up to speed.
Incidentally, if and when Media Master gets a link from www.llanellitown.com, it'll join an eclectic collection of other linkees. Today's home page, for instrance, features buttons for Llanelli Town Council, all-Wales disability information service Capacitate Cymru and the Scarlets.
Other pages have links ranging from Llanelli Market fruit & veg beauty Seward's to unofficial and addictive fans' forum www.scarletfever.org.
It's a cross-fertilisation of information sources such as this which will help the grassroots media perform an increasingly important role in places such as Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli as the years progress.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Spirit can help strengthen Swansea Bay morale
The public face of Neath and Port Talbot has been scarred in recent years by high-profile fires to the divine Gwyn Hall and the important Aquadome.
The Gwyn's future looks exciting and the local council has a great chance to make it part of a thriving, traditional town centre.
The future of the sports complex is less clear because fire struck there so recently.
So it'll be fascinating to see how Neath Port Talbot Council's relatively new chief exec uses the first 2010 edition of quarterly door-to-door newspaper Community Spirit to strengthen morale and manage expectation.
Spirit is an interesting tabloid in that, unlike Swansea Council's The Leader, it's a partnership publication. Backers include South Wales Police, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board, the NPT Council for Voluntary Services, Environment Agency Wales, NPT College and NPT Council.
In the winter 2009 edition chief exec Steve Phillips expressed excitement about regeneration projects such as Baglan Energy Park, the Aberavon seafront, the Coed Darcy Urban Village and the proposed Jersey Marine university campus.
I advise him to use the next edition to reassure his public that the council will do all it can to replace - and improve upon - what they had at the Afan Lido.
In the meantime, take a look at a PDF of the latest edition by copy-&-pasting this link - http://bit.ly/5FPGih
The Gwyn's future looks exciting and the local council has a great chance to make it part of a thriving, traditional town centre.
The future of the sports complex is less clear because fire struck there so recently.
So it'll be fascinating to see how Neath Port Talbot Council's relatively new chief exec uses the first 2010 edition of quarterly door-to-door newspaper Community Spirit to strengthen morale and manage expectation.
Spirit is an interesting tabloid in that, unlike Swansea Council's The Leader, it's a partnership publication. Backers include South Wales Police, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board, the NPT Council for Voluntary Services, Environment Agency Wales, NPT College and NPT Council.
In the winter 2009 edition chief exec Steve Phillips expressed excitement about regeneration projects such as Baglan Energy Park, the Aberavon seafront, the Coed Darcy Urban Village and the proposed Jersey Marine university campus.
I advise him to use the next edition to reassure his public that the council will do all it can to replace - and improve upon - what they had at the Afan Lido.
In the meantime, take a look at a PDF of the latest edition by copy-&-pasting this link - http://bit.ly/5FPGih
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Media Master wins more applause
Plaudits continue to arrive for my daily Media Master. The breakfast-time email snapshot of the day's Swansea Bay media goes to around 300 decision-makers and opinion-formers across the area.
The audience includes more than 150 professionals who ply their trade in the local print and broadcast community.
It's good to receive warm feedback from the likes of South Wales Evening Post reporter Nino Williams and from David Hardy, a former editor of the Carmarthen Journal.
Nino, a genuine good egg of the Swansea media scene, said: "It's really helpful - sometimes you can be running about so much that you miss things. The Media Master's a nice little touchstone."
David, a West Ham fan (ouch), said: "Good work, Andy."
This gregarious fella, incidentally, heads the marketing function at Llanarthne's National Botanic Garden of Wales and it's right I mention here that entrance is free all this month to mark 10 years of the treasure. Go see it and see if you can get your hands on one of the garden's member magazines, Yr Ardd. The last time I checked, these good looking glossies were being designed and printed by Media Wales in Cardiff, with words and pictures supplied by David. A good job all round.
The audience includes more than 150 professionals who ply their trade in the local print and broadcast community.
It's good to receive warm feedback from the likes of South Wales Evening Post reporter Nino Williams and from David Hardy, a former editor of the Carmarthen Journal.
Nino, a genuine good egg of the Swansea media scene, said: "It's really helpful - sometimes you can be running about so much that you miss things. The Media Master's a nice little touchstone."
David, a West Ham fan (ouch), said: "Good work, Andy."
This gregarious fella, incidentally, heads the marketing function at Llanarthne's National Botanic Garden of Wales and it's right I mention here that entrance is free all this month to mark 10 years of the treasure. Go see it and see if you can get your hands on one of the garden's member magazines, Yr Ardd. The last time I checked, these good looking glossies were being designed and printed by Media Wales in Cardiff, with words and pictures supplied by David. A good job all round.
Swansea Bay's micro-media merits support
Down Llanelli way there's a spirited attempt being made to provide a community-based online news and information service.
http://www.llanellitown.com/ is a social enterprise founded by enthusiasts who aim to help in the regeneration and continuing development of the Llanelli district by promoting the area in any way they can.
Eunydd Thomas, Jason Lovell and Jonathan Williams say: "We aim to work with local government and agencies to achieve this."
The Llanelli News button flashes through to a busy Scarlets-heavy blog, the Local News tab clicks straight through to the Llanelli Star's http://www.thisiscarmarthenshire.co.uk/ and the What's On button takes the reader through to a nicely presented listings service which will grow with time and support.
Advertising in the Business Directory is £120 for national companies and an encouraging £60 for local businesses. Small local business is offered an ad platform of £1.14/week.
It's got a long way to go, http://www.llanellitown.com/, but pin it on your favourites bar - all these small guys merit support because its they who are rebuilding super-local information supplies across the UK.
http://www.llanellitown.com/ is a social enterprise founded by enthusiasts who aim to help in the regeneration and continuing development of the Llanelli district by promoting the area in any way they can.
Eunydd Thomas, Jason Lovell and Jonathan Williams say: "We aim to work with local government and agencies to achieve this."
The Llanelli News button flashes through to a busy Scarlets-heavy blog, the Local News tab clicks straight through to the Llanelli Star's http://www.thisiscarmarthenshire.co.uk/ and the What's On button takes the reader through to a nicely presented listings service which will grow with time and support.
Advertising in the Business Directory is £120 for national companies and an encouraging £60 for local businesses. Small local business is offered an ad platform of £1.14/week.
It's got a long way to go, http://www.llanellitown.com/, but pin it on your favourites bar - all these small guys merit support because its they who are rebuilding super-local information supplies across the UK.
Stock pic special from Swansea Bay Business Life
Look out for an attention-grabbing cover to the new Swansea Bay Business Life.
It may be a tad fanciful to have a road sign for Wind Street on the same pole as one for Wall Street but that's what editor Wyn Jenkins has had his graphics people knock up.
And, good on 'em, it works well with the main cover line: A Welsh Stock Exchange? It's a tidy way in which to trail a thought-provoking feature by Wyn which suggests that regional stock exchanges could bring great benefits to the local money-go-round.
Quoted in the piece are Swansea business folk Richard Croydon, of stockbrokers Brewin Dolphin, and John Evans, of Pritchard Stockbrokers.
It's certainly food for thought; could the Stock Exchange really go the way of local media and start heading back to its hyperlocal roots?
It may be a tad fanciful to have a road sign for Wind Street on the same pole as one for Wall Street but that's what editor Wyn Jenkins has had his graphics people knock up.
And, good on 'em, it works well with the main cover line: A Welsh Stock Exchange? It's a tidy way in which to trail a thought-provoking feature by Wyn which suggests that regional stock exchanges could bring great benefits to the local money-go-round.
Quoted in the piece are Swansea business folk Richard Croydon, of stockbrokers Brewin Dolphin, and John Evans, of Pritchard Stockbrokers.
It's certainly food for thought; could the Stock Exchange really go the way of local media and start heading back to its hyperlocal roots?
Swansea Bay media's snow flow lingers on
Parts of the Swansea Valley are still served doggedly by the South Wales Guardian under editor Mike Lewis.
Its circulation of around 7,000 means that it also reaches nooks and crannies of the Amman, Gwendraeth and Towy valleys that other newspapers don't.
It revels in its low-tech parochial feel and, with modest journalistic resources, features much content based on contributions from readers.
Its ads are also understated; this week's main front page ad - for Swansea Auctions - is text-only and previews a Neath sale of bankrupt goods ranging from kids' clothes to Avondale caravans.
Picture-wise, the lastest Guardian harks back unapologetically to this month's hefty snowfall. Its main weather-related images include those of a minibus that's slithered into a building, a highway maintenance van up to its wheel arches in the white stuff and a vehicle almost covered in snow.
The headline above the latter reads: "Land Rover found dead in a ditch."
Not a good week for motorists on the Guardian patch ... but a splendid time for those involved in any aspect of road safety to ram home their message through editorial pieces offered to the Guardian.
Those unsure of how to do so should give me a shout.
Happy motoring!
Its circulation of around 7,000 means that it also reaches nooks and crannies of the Amman, Gwendraeth and Towy valleys that other newspapers don't.
It revels in its low-tech parochial feel and, with modest journalistic resources, features much content based on contributions from readers.
Its ads are also understated; this week's main front page ad - for Swansea Auctions - is text-only and previews a Neath sale of bankrupt goods ranging from kids' clothes to Avondale caravans.
Picture-wise, the lastest Guardian harks back unapologetically to this month's hefty snowfall. Its main weather-related images include those of a minibus that's slithered into a building, a highway maintenance van up to its wheel arches in the white stuff and a vehicle almost covered in snow.
The headline above the latter reads: "Land Rover found dead in a ditch."
Not a good week for motorists on the Guardian patch ... but a splendid time for those involved in any aspect of road safety to ram home their message through editorial pieces offered to the Guardian.
Those unsure of how to do so should give me a shout.
Happy motoring!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Swansea Bay success as site hits the top spot
Brilliant news for Swansea Bay website Gower News - http://www.gowernews.co.uk/.
Their Google search ranking for the term "gower news" is number one! Not bad for one of the freshest faces to emerge on the Swansea Bay media circuit.
They also clock top 10 rankings for the terms "gower tourist information," "gower," and "gower peninsula swansea."
A big help here is that the website's linked directly from Mumbles Tourist Information as the centre's main source of Gower-related information.
Average article views on Gower News is 250/day, with a total of 30,500 article views since October.
Top content by topic includes nature, history, beaches, camping, events and what's on.
Success like that, I love!
Their Google search ranking for the term "gower news" is number one! Not bad for one of the freshest faces to emerge on the Swansea Bay media circuit.
They also clock top 10 rankings for the terms "gower tourist information," "gower," and "gower peninsula swansea."
A big help here is that the website's linked directly from Mumbles Tourist Information as the centre's main source of Gower-related information.
Average article views on Gower News is 250/day, with a total of 30,500 article views since October.
Top content by topic includes nature, history, beaches, camping, events and what's on.
Success like that, I love!
Making local media pay - it can work
The media across Swansea Bay is undergoing a quiet revolution.
Where once there was little more than the market leaders - in our case BBC Wales, the Western Mail, the South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Sound - now there's a plethora of alternative sources for information.
As some Swansea Bay big guns have disappeared, the Neath and Port Talbot Guardians for example, the ground has become fertile for much smaller operators.
Afan FM and Radio Tircoed are wonderful community radio stations, there are small magazines such as Community Times and there are micro-local online-only resources cropping up. Additionally, of course, websites such as http://www.swansea.com/ carry news and information as an important part of their package.
But it's not a phenomenon restricted to this area. On Saturday I attended an inspirational conference a stone's throw from Kings Cross Station in London.
Below are some of the key observations made that day - not by me, incidentally - about local news and information provision. They won't be the last talking points on this dynamic issue which is fast affecting how communities of all descriptions are communicating.
Making local media pay (thanks to http://lifeofwylie.com/)
Where once there was little more than the market leaders - in our case BBC Wales, the Western Mail, the South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Sound - now there's a plethora of alternative sources for information.
As some Swansea Bay big guns have disappeared, the Neath and Port Talbot Guardians for example, the ground has become fertile for much smaller operators.
Afan FM and Radio Tircoed are wonderful community radio stations, there are small magazines such as Community Times and there are micro-local online-only resources cropping up. Additionally, of course, websites such as http://www.swansea.com/ carry news and information as an important part of their package.
But it's not a phenomenon restricted to this area. On Saturday I attended an inspirational conference a stone's throw from Kings Cross Station in London.
Below are some of the key observations made that day - not by me, incidentally - about local news and information provision. They won't be the last talking points on this dynamic issue which is fast affecting how communities of all descriptions are communicating.
Making local media pay (thanks to http://lifeofwylie.com/)
- Even despite the slump, good news operators are still getting by.
- It’s so important to look at the market – and whether you’re going to get advertisers.
- Locally-based businesses can survive on small profits which larger owners would not tolerate.
- Web success can be driven by regular emails to followers - and it's useful to be offers-led.
- Online advertising can include the creation of micro sites for clients.
- "It’s all those things about getting into people’s heads and finding out what they want.”
- “I think local newspapers have really destroyed (the market) for themselves. Established local media wouldn’t be in the mess it was now if it hadn’t got rid of experienced staff, leaving cheaper, younger, inexperienced people with no mentors."
Striving and thriving in the Swansea Bay media
Thrive: It's My Time Now is the modest title of today's supplement in the South Wales Evening Post.
The page one strap is: "Your four-page supplement for life after retirement."
This grey market's an important one for all local newspapers; a good number of retired folk have decent cash reserves thanks to good pensions and the late 20th century house-price boom.
It's also valuable because this is a generation with established newspaper-reading habits ... unlike their grandchildren.
So it's a shame the pull-out could only run to four pages. It's winter, it's darned cold and a lot more retailers should have been begging the paper for space. If you flog blankets, hot water bottles, fleece hats, furry house boots, thermal underwear or anything else likely to keep our senior citizens comfortable, you should appear in publications like this. Come to me, I'll tell you how best to go about it!
As it is, the Post has attracted ads for Bishopston's Campion Gardens Retirement Village, the Ocean Living residential home in Mumbles and the Mariners Court retirement complex in SA1.
There are also ads for more homes, a cab firm, window specialist, funeral director, oven cleaner and Age Concern.
Also, unusually, there's a quarter-page plug for a supported accommodation scheme for young people.
Generally, Thrive represents a missed opportunity for Swansea Bay retailers. Give me a shout if you'd like to know when the next edition is out.
The page one strap is: "Your four-page supplement for life after retirement."
This grey market's an important one for all local newspapers; a good number of retired folk have decent cash reserves thanks to good pensions and the late 20th century house-price boom.
It's also valuable because this is a generation with established newspaper-reading habits ... unlike their grandchildren.
So it's a shame the pull-out could only run to four pages. It's winter, it's darned cold and a lot more retailers should have been begging the paper for space. If you flog blankets, hot water bottles, fleece hats, furry house boots, thermal underwear or anything else likely to keep our senior citizens comfortable, you should appear in publications like this. Come to me, I'll tell you how best to go about it!
As it is, the Post has attracted ads for Bishopston's Campion Gardens Retirement Village, the Ocean Living residential home in Mumbles and the Mariners Court retirement complex in SA1.
There are also ads for more homes, a cab firm, window specialist, funeral director, oven cleaner and Age Concern.
Also, unusually, there's a quarter-page plug for a supported accommodation scheme for young people.
Generally, Thrive represents a missed opportunity for Swansea Bay retailers. Give me a shout if you'd like to know when the next edition is out.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Numbers add up for Swansea Bay Media Master
It's only been going three days but the Swansea Bay Media Master's daily email already has more than 300 subscribers.
The bulletin is a brief highlights package of the Swansea area's marvellous media scene - newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the web.
Of our subscribers, around 180 are working in the media industry and have commercial and/or editorial interests in the Swansea Bay area.
The other 130 are business people and public sector managers with a professional anchor in Swansea Bay. There'll be lots more of them to come as the days and weeks progress.
Hopefully, a combination of the email and this blog will help stir discussion and debate about the local media scene and will help bind it together a little more tightly. At present it seems fractured more than it should be due to the naturally competitive nature of the game.
But it's tough out there and it's time the industry took a more dynamic local government-style approach and encourage new partnerships. The Media Master - with its growing fanbase - can help.
The bulletin is a brief highlights package of the Swansea area's marvellous media scene - newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the web.
Of our subscribers, around 180 are working in the media industry and have commercial and/or editorial interests in the Swansea Bay area.
The other 130 are business people and public sector managers with a professional anchor in Swansea Bay. There'll be lots more of them to come as the days and weeks progress.
Hopefully, a combination of the email and this blog will help stir discussion and debate about the local media scene and will help bind it together a little more tightly. At present it seems fractured more than it should be due to the naturally competitive nature of the game.
But it's tough out there and it's time the industry took a more dynamic local government-style approach and encourage new partnerships. The Media Master - with its growing fanbase - can help.
Swansea Bay has a new free magazine!
Full credit to Swansea Council politician Peter May, the media mogul behind the latest glossy mag to hit Swansea Bay.
To boost his General Election campaign for the Swansea West constituency, the Lib-Dem hopeful has created a promo document that will take some beating.
This blog isn't intended to be an ad for Kirsty Williams & Co, but May's effort is a bright, chatty A4 publication that's eyecatching because it mimics best-selling fun-and-gossip mag Take a Break.
The cover of Swansea World is all bright colours, punchy copywriting and photos of humanity (well, Councillor May and Nick Clegg).
It's just popped through the letter box and is datelined Winter 2009. It comes complete with a Welcome from the Editor column, features tagged "Exclusive!" and, wait for it, even a sudoku.
It's an extremely clever piece of marketing, hitting a target audience quite likely to be fatigued by the more traditional electioneering techniques.
Okay, so Swansea World may not be around for long but it does prove that there's still power in print.
Let's hope it prompts his election opponents to raise their own games.
To boost his General Election campaign for the Swansea West constituency, the Lib-Dem hopeful has created a promo document that will take some beating.
This blog isn't intended to be an ad for Kirsty Williams & Co, but May's effort is a bright, chatty A4 publication that's eyecatching because it mimics best-selling fun-and-gossip mag Take a Break.
The cover of Swansea World is all bright colours, punchy copywriting and photos of humanity (well, Councillor May and Nick Clegg).
It's just popped through the letter box and is datelined Winter 2009. It comes complete with a Welcome from the Editor column, features tagged "Exclusive!" and, wait for it, even a sudoku.
It's an extremely clever piece of marketing, hitting a target audience quite likely to be fatigued by the more traditional electioneering techniques.
Okay, so Swansea World may not be around for long but it does prove that there's still power in print.
Let's hope it prompts his election opponents to raise their own games.
Haiti quake eye-opener for Swansea media old boy
ITV News reporter Geraint Vincent, who operated a local BBC TV patch encompassing Swansea Bay a few years ago, is at the frontline in Haiti.
Check him out at http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/2010/01/16/T16011001/
The Media Master's best wishes go to all those caught up in the earthquake aftermath. They can be assured that Geraint, whose little brother Gareth is the Swansea City reporter for the South Wales Evening Post, will view them through sympathetic eyes.
Check him out at http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/2010/01/16/T16011001/
The Media Master's best wishes go to all those caught up in the earthquake aftermath. They can be assured that Geraint, whose little brother Gareth is the Swansea City reporter for the South Wales Evening Post, will view them through sympathetic eyes.
Sporting success for Swansea Bay media friend
Congrats to Nic Doshi who's just been named player of the year for the South Wales Evening Post cricket team.
He's not a media man himself - more of a retailer/phone sales guru - but he's made a huge impression since joining the Swansea Industrial League outfit as an all-action all-rounder.
Well done too to Richard Youle, the Post's environment reporter. He topped the batting averages for the league's rain-hit 2009 season.
This isn't old news, by the way, it's just that the Post's end-of-season dinner was postponed until last Friday. Drinks were taken at the Wig & Pen, opposite Swansea Crown Court, before food was served at the Viceroy. Fielding prize, incidentally, went to fleet-footed teenager Evan Pearson, enjoying his first full campaign as a midweek cricketer.
Roll on summer 2010!
He's not a media man himself - more of a retailer/phone sales guru - but he's made a huge impression since joining the Swansea Industrial League outfit as an all-action all-rounder.
Well done too to Richard Youle, the Post's environment reporter. He topped the batting averages for the league's rain-hit 2009 season.
This isn't old news, by the way, it's just that the Post's end-of-season dinner was postponed until last Friday. Drinks were taken at the Wig & Pen, opposite Swansea Crown Court, before food was served at the Viceroy. Fielding prize, incidentally, went to fleet-footed teenager Evan Pearson, enjoying his first full campaign as a midweek cricketer.
Roll on summer 2010!
New Swansea Bay Media Master out now
The second edition of the Swansea Bay Media Master was emailed out this morning.
It's highlights include news of Cross Hands-based Dreamtime Beds continuing to sponsor the Radio Carmarthenshire weather – not a bad way to introduce radio promos into the marketing mix.
Today's online focus is on the Swansea Council website - www.swansea.gov.uk - where the key local story details the excitement building for the March 1 inaugural Cork-Swansea sailing of the MV Julia.
From the Western Mail comes news of an interview with BBC Wales’ first female horseracing reporter, Aly Rowell – she’s also an international athlete.
There's plenty out there in the Swansea Bay media - get involved!
Also, if you'd like to be added to the Media Master distribution list just let me know.
It's highlights include news of Cross Hands-based Dreamtime Beds continuing to sponsor the Radio Carmarthenshire weather – not a bad way to introduce radio promos into the marketing mix.
Today's online focus is on the Swansea Council website - www.swansea.gov.uk - where the key local story details the excitement building for the March 1 inaugural Cork-Swansea sailing of the MV Julia.
From the Western Mail comes news of an interview with BBC Wales’ first female horseracing reporter, Aly Rowell – she’s also an international athlete.
There's plenty out there in the Swansea Bay media - get involved!
Also, if you'd like to be added to the Media Master distribution list just let me know.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tonight's big question in the Swansea Bay media
There's a tasty Burning Question for listeners of the Swansea area's Bay Radio tonight ... Should butter be banned?
Based on the news that many doctors want to improve the UK's diet and to ban trans-fats, the good people from Neath Abbey's very own broadcasting house ask: "Do you think we should eat less fat? Ban butter?"
Have your say by going to the website - http://www.swanseabayradio.co.uk/ - clicking on The Burning Question button and checking the box next to the answer you think the question deserves.
My own policy? Butter when there's no other dressing on the toast, spread when the topping's gonna be a tangy citrus marmalade.
Perhaps the good doctors of Swansea Bay could let the local media know what they think - and what their crumpet-chomping habits are.
Based on the news that many doctors want to improve the UK's diet and to ban trans-fats, the good people from Neath Abbey's very own broadcasting house ask: "Do you think we should eat less fat? Ban butter?"
Have your say by going to the website - http://www.swanseabayradio.co.uk/ - clicking on The Burning Question button and checking the box next to the answer you think the question deserves.
My own policy? Butter when there's no other dressing on the toast, spread when the topping's gonna be a tangy citrus marmalade.
Perhaps the good doctors of Swansea Bay could let the local media know what they think - and what their crumpet-chomping habits are.
Meeting Matthew of Swansea Bay Business Life
Following the emailing of the first Swansea Bay Media Master daily brief it was good to get a nudge from Matthew Anderson.
He's the key ad sales fella at the splendid Swansea Bay Business Life magazine and I look forward to what he has to say.
The mag was launched a few years ago by independent publisher Avagio, led by the entrepreneurial Laurence Winmill. It was a lively, welcome addition to the Swansea Bay media scene.
Along with sister titles Swansea Life, Llanelli Life, Carmarthenshire Living and others it hit stormy waters as the recession struck.
Last year, the Evening Post bought the titles and has given Swansea Life and the business glossy fresh impetus. Adelaide Street MD Blanche Sainsbury has a genuine passion for the mags, it seems.
If anybody would like me to ask a big question to Matthew on their behalf, just let me know what it is.
Matthew, I look forward to sharing coffee.
He's the key ad sales fella at the splendid Swansea Bay Business Life magazine and I look forward to what he has to say.
The mag was launched a few years ago by independent publisher Avagio, led by the entrepreneurial Laurence Winmill. It was a lively, welcome addition to the Swansea Bay media scene.
Along with sister titles Swansea Life, Llanelli Life, Carmarthenshire Living and others it hit stormy waters as the recession struck.
Last year, the Evening Post bought the titles and has given Swansea Life and the business glossy fresh impetus. Adelaide Street MD Blanche Sainsbury has a genuine passion for the mags, it seems.
If anybody would like me to ask a big question to Matthew on their behalf, just let me know what it is.
Matthew, I look forward to sharing coffee.
Media Master delights Swansea Bay
Good early feedback after today's launch of Swansea Bay Media Master. They include:
Chris Jones, of WelshWalker, FSB Carmarthenshire and Business4Wales.co.uk - "Good luck Andy! Hope it goes well."
Mike Leahy, of Marketing Basics and the Swansea Business Show - "Like the new Swansea Bay Media Master."
Simon Goss, of Sigga Design - "Great idea - well overdue and a great resource."
Wyn Jenkins, editor of Swansea Life and Swansea Bay Business Life - "Nice!"
Thanks to all who've commented.
Chris Jones, of WelshWalker, FSB Carmarthenshire and Business4Wales.co.uk - "Good luck Andy! Hope it goes well."
Mike Leahy, of Marketing Basics and the Swansea Business Show - "Like the new Swansea Bay Media Master."
Simon Goss, of Sigga Design - "Great idea - well overdue and a great resource."
Wyn Jenkins, editor of Swansea Life and Swansea Bay Business Life - "Nice!"
Thanks to all who've commented.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Ad discounts for Swansea Bay mag
Good news from The Bay - Swansea's free lifestyle magazine.
The enterprising people behind this rather divine little glossy are offering 10% off ad rates when the business makes an approach through me.
That's excellent for anybody eager to break into - or strengthen their position - in west Swansea.
Ad rates are as low as £30 and existing adveritisers include Cambrian Flying Club, Sancta Maria Hospital, Black Orchid, Mobile Carpet Showroom, DR Electrics, SP Ironing & Carpet Cleaning Services and Craftwood Carpentry & Design.
The mag has strong focuses in areas such as health, leisure, gardens, weddings, household services, gifts, jewellery, fashion and others.
The next issue will be along soon - in a new size and with 10,000 copies distributed in Swansea and Gower.
If you'd like to take advantage of the Andy Pearson Publicity 10% off booster drop me an email - andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk.
The enterprising people behind this rather divine little glossy are offering 10% off ad rates when the business makes an approach through me.
That's excellent for anybody eager to break into - or strengthen their position - in west Swansea.
Ad rates are as low as £30 and existing adveritisers include Cambrian Flying Club, Sancta Maria Hospital, Black Orchid, Mobile Carpet Showroom, DR Electrics, SP Ironing & Carpet Cleaning Services and Craftwood Carpentry & Design.
The mag has strong focuses in areas such as health, leisure, gardens, weddings, household services, gifts, jewellery, fashion and others.
The next issue will be along soon - in a new size and with 10,000 copies distributed in Swansea and Gower.
If you'd like to take advantage of the Andy Pearson Publicity 10% off booster drop me an email - andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk.
Swansea Bay media scene welcomes web show
Anybody who aims to big up Swansea Bay with a new media idea is to be applauded.
And Mike Leahy falls into that category.
The "Sketty entrepreneur" as the South Wales Evening Post like to call him has launched his own online radio show In Town Today - and it's worth a listen.
Mike himself admits that it's a little rough at the edges at this early stage, but that's no reason to decry his effort and energy.
The broadcasts specialise in promoting local enterprise and that's no bad thing. If you want to talk business, give Mike a shout - he's eager to hear from those keen to appear as guests.
To find out more and the download his shows, go to www.blogtalkradio.com/intowntoday.
And, Mike ... good luck, sir!
And Mike Leahy falls into that category.
The "Sketty entrepreneur" as the South Wales Evening Post like to call him has launched his own online radio show In Town Today - and it's worth a listen.
Mike himself admits that it's a little rough at the edges at this early stage, but that's no reason to decry his effort and energy.
The broadcasts specialise in promoting local enterprise and that's no bad thing. If you want to talk business, give Mike a shout - he's eager to hear from those keen to appear as guests.
To find out more and the download his shows, go to www.blogtalkradio.com/intowntoday.
And, Mike ... good luck, sir!
Gower News is Swansea Bay media's new kid
New things are happening all the time at grassroots level on the Swansea Bay media landscape.
And it's nice to be able to welcome a refreshing-looking website - www.gowernews.co.uk.
This Tuesday, Andy Pearson Publicity is due to meet up with the fella behind it and we're looking forward to hearing about his vision.
The site's in its early stages but is already showing signs of ambition and an indication that it'll be useful to fellow businesses as the months and years pass.
www.gowernews.co.uk has sections for a lot that's handy to all who love the peninsula, including Beaches, Books and Maps, Camping, Castles, Caves,
Churches, Community, Nature Reserves, Tide Times, Walks, Water Sports, What's On and Woodlands.
Pay it a visit ... and contribute if you can.
And it's nice to be able to welcome a refreshing-looking website - www.gowernews.co.uk.
This Tuesday, Andy Pearson Publicity is due to meet up with the fella behind it and we're looking forward to hearing about his vision.
The site's in its early stages but is already showing signs of ambition and an indication that it'll be useful to fellow businesses as the months and years pass.
www.gowernews.co.uk has sections for a lot that's handy to all who love the peninsula, including Beaches, Books and Maps, Camping, Castles, Caves,
Churches, Community, Nature Reserves, Tide Times, Walks, Water Sports, What's On and Woodlands.
Pay it a visit ... and contribute if you can.
Tourists need Swansea Bay media too
Swansea Bay's 2009 tourism guide helped to lure great amounts of increasingly important visitor lucre to this splendid corner of Wales.
The glossy 52-page magazine-style brochure features chatty sections on activities, attractions, the environment, beaches, surfing, food, culture, events, travel and accommodation.
That's all very well - but how about a reflection of the wonderful Swansea Bay media sector when future editions are published?
It's fine telling folk that Swansea, Mumbles, Gower, the Afan Valley and the Vale of Neath are attractive and easy to reach ... but it's also worth reassuring them that when they're here they'll have no end of local information sources.
It doesn't matter whether it's the Kev Johns breakfast show on Swansea Sound, the Evening Post gig guide or the Neath Gnolledge business directory, they all have their place in the tourist's thought process. As do all other publications, broadcast platforms and online resources which do business in Swansea Bay. And they shouldn't be hidden from view when the area's being promoted.
The guide, incidentally, received help from local media people: photographer John Fry took the cover image of Rhossili and the BBC supplied an image of Doctor Who.
To make this point to those who publish the guide, phone 01792 468321.
The glossy 52-page magazine-style brochure features chatty sections on activities, attractions, the environment, beaches, surfing, food, culture, events, travel and accommodation.
That's all very well - but how about a reflection of the wonderful Swansea Bay media sector when future editions are published?
It's fine telling folk that Swansea, Mumbles, Gower, the Afan Valley and the Vale of Neath are attractive and easy to reach ... but it's also worth reassuring them that when they're here they'll have no end of local information sources.
It doesn't matter whether it's the Kev Johns breakfast show on Swansea Sound, the Evening Post gig guide or the Neath Gnolledge business directory, they all have their place in the tourist's thought process. As do all other publications, broadcast platforms and online resources which do business in Swansea Bay. And they shouldn't be hidden from view when the area's being promoted.
The guide, incidentally, received help from local media people: photographer John Fry took the cover image of Rhossili and the BBC supplied an image of Doctor Who.
To make this point to those who publish the guide, phone 01792 468321.
Swansea Bay Media Master launch
The Swansea Bay media master launches tomorrow (January 18). It's a forerunner to my rebranding exercise which'll see my business become Andy Pearson Publicity.
The Swansea Bay media master will take the form of a Monday-to-Friday 8.30am daily email. It'll flag up the highlights of the day's Swansea Bay media.
Targets are those who're interested in - and who work in - the local and regional print, broadcast and online media.
Businesses of all descriptions will be interested because it'll give a crucial overview of what's being covered, advertised and discussed in the ever-fragmenting media scene of Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli.
The Swansea Bay media master will take the form of a Monday-to-Friday 8.30am daily email. It'll flag up the highlights of the day's Swansea Bay media.
Targets are those who're interested in - and who work in - the local and regional print, broadcast and online media.
Businesses of all descriptions will be interested because it'll give a crucial overview of what's being covered, advertised and discussed in the ever-fragmenting media scene of Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)