Eight issues in and it’s gradually becoming part of the landscape.
Glossy magazine Swansea Eye, edited by Keely Portway, launched early this year and increasingly looks like it’s here to stay.
That can only be good news for the Swansea Bay media scene: the more variety the more we have to choose from as readers, advertisers and marketing folk.
The October edition of Swansea Eye features a decent number of advertisers from the city, along with some city-based columnists.
Lazy Frog
The latter include Gorseinon’s Old Mill Health Store and Uplands’ Lazy Frog Floatation centre.
Those with prominent ads include the Gowerton Golf Range, Mariners Court Retirement Apartments, ADS Lettings and Antur Insurance.
Swansea’s Village Hotel is another to make good use of the Eye’s close focus on city readers.
Christmas offerings are one angle of attack from the Village, including [arty nights, festive lunches and new year's eve celebrations, and the leisure club is another.
Push
The latter is particularly interesting because the facility’s manager Abigail Hobson has a concerted push on the over-55s market.
Monthly membership is being offered at the very reasonable £25; a free trial can be arranged.
Attractions include a 25m pool, more than 70 pieces of hi-tech gym apparatus, a sauna/steam room, a whirlpool, classes, activities and hotel discounts.
If the Eye can help boost gym membership at the Village then I’m sure there’ll be repeat business.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Video PR blog: Swansea networking
Members of Swansea’s vibrant Waterfront BNI chapter meet every Wednesday at the city’s Village Hotel.
Effective Communication play their part – and here I discover why three regulars see it as an essential part of their business’s marketing mix.
Here’s the short video – http://bit.ly/9kfGPA
Effective Communication play their part – and here I discover why three regulars see it as an essential part of their business’s marketing mix.
Here’s the short video – http://bit.ly/9kfGPA
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Welsh mag marks landmark year
Editor David Hardy has just produced the latest edition of Yr Ardd.
The A4 glossy is the magazine of the National Botanic Garden of Wales and this season celebrates the attraction’s 10th birthday.
Its features include a welcome from Garden director Rosie Plummer, arguing strongly for extended Assembly funding, news that rugby’s Gareth Edwards is now honorary president and a piece on a 10th birthday cake created by volunteer Alison Howell.
Favourite
My favourite items, however, remain the forthcoming events and activities.
As always, they’re a fragrant propagation of niche interest, super-popular and splendid curiosity.
Amongst the entries in the niche category flutters a lifelong learning course in January: Painting Leaves in Watercolour. Students will tackle the mixing of greens, will paint vein structure and wil capture a variety of surface textures.
Water lilies
On October 30, they can attend Painting Autumn Leaves and Berries; on November 13 it’s Painting Fruit and Vegetables. There’s more through the spring but I’ll be waiting for the water lilies course – apparently there’s money in them.
The most popular events in the coming weeks are likely to be Christmas-themed temptations such as a tree decorating competition for schools, Santa’s grotto and a December 11-12 craft and food fair.
One of the year’s most enchanting occasions at Llanarthne comes a week and a bit before December 25 when it’s Carols at the Garden evening.
Oddball
More oddball will be lifelong learning programme’s Doorstops to Die For sessions, with designs featuringchickens, turkeys and rabbits. Even the blurb describes it wonderfully as “something dfferent and a little silly.”
Failing that, there’s always improvers classes for beekeepers, quilting and cushion making for those “petrified” of patchwork and plenty of woodturning advice.
Now if that’s not worth Assembly funding, what is?
The A4 glossy is the magazine of the National Botanic Garden of Wales and this season celebrates the attraction’s 10th birthday.
Its features include a welcome from Garden director Rosie Plummer, arguing strongly for extended Assembly funding, news that rugby’s Gareth Edwards is now honorary president and a piece on a 10th birthday cake created by volunteer Alison Howell.
Favourite
My favourite items, however, remain the forthcoming events and activities.
As always, they’re a fragrant propagation of niche interest, super-popular and splendid curiosity.
Amongst the entries in the niche category flutters a lifelong learning course in January: Painting Leaves in Watercolour. Students will tackle the mixing of greens, will paint vein structure and wil capture a variety of surface textures.
Water lilies
On October 30, they can attend Painting Autumn Leaves and Berries; on November 13 it’s Painting Fruit and Vegetables. There’s more through the spring but I’ll be waiting for the water lilies course – apparently there’s money in them.
The most popular events in the coming weeks are likely to be Christmas-themed temptations such as a tree decorating competition for schools, Santa’s grotto and a December 11-12 craft and food fair.
One of the year’s most enchanting occasions at Llanarthne comes a week and a bit before December 25 when it’s Carols at the Garden evening.
Oddball
More oddball will be lifelong learning programme’s Doorstops to Die For sessions, with designs featuringchickens, turkeys and rabbits. Even the blurb describes it wonderfully as “something dfferent and a little silly.”
Failing that, there’s always improvers classes for beekeepers, quilting and cushion making for those “petrified” of patchwork and plenty of woodturning advice.
Now if that’s not worth Assembly funding, what is?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Welcome to a Swansea Bay website
It’s always good to welcome a new Swansea Bay website – even more so when its subject matter is as iconic as Mumbles Pier.
This month’s devastating blaze at Hastings Pier illustrated how fragile the UK’s grip on our complex social history can be.
So web users should be encouraged to take the charabanc on a glorious day trip to http://www.mumblespierdevelopment.com/. Well, bookmark it at least.
Redevelopment
The Mumbles Pier and Foreshore development is a £39m privately-funded redevelopment project conceived by pier owners Ameco.
Plans include a hotel, apartments, restaurants, leisure complex and the Victorian pier’s restoration complete with new lifeboat house.
Difficult times need private enterprise solutions to boost tourism and economic regeneration – and this fits the bill nicely.
Insight
The website aims to deliver an insight into plans to restore the pier.
Its creators write: “We hope you share our passion for this iconic part of Swansea’s heritage. More importantly, we want to tell you about the vision of how this famous landmark can be the key factor in creating a modern regional visitor and tourist destination.
“As well as providing you with news and background, we hope to answer your questions about the restoration project, how it is to be funded through a redevelopment scheme and how it will benefit Swansea, Mumbles and Gower.
“There’s no question that the pier holds a special place for many generations of residents and visitors.
“It’s full of memories and a little bit of magic that stays with us from childhood. It’s somewhere that you can sit and never tire of the sweeping views of Swansea Bay. It’s a piece of our past that deserves a future.”
This month’s devastating blaze at Hastings Pier illustrated how fragile the UK’s grip on our complex social history can be.
So web users should be encouraged to take the charabanc on a glorious day trip to http://www.mumblespierdevelopment.com/. Well, bookmark it at least.
Redevelopment
The Mumbles Pier and Foreshore development is a £39m privately-funded redevelopment project conceived by pier owners Ameco.
Plans include a hotel, apartments, restaurants, leisure complex and the Victorian pier’s restoration complete with new lifeboat house.
Difficult times need private enterprise solutions to boost tourism and economic regeneration – and this fits the bill nicely.
Insight
The website aims to deliver an insight into plans to restore the pier.
Its creators write: “We hope you share our passion for this iconic part of Swansea’s heritage. More importantly, we want to tell you about the vision of how this famous landmark can be the key factor in creating a modern regional visitor and tourist destination.
“As well as providing you with news and background, we hope to answer your questions about the restoration project, how it is to be funded through a redevelopment scheme and how it will benefit Swansea, Mumbles and Gower.
“There’s no question that the pier holds a special place for many generations of residents and visitors.
“It’s full of memories and a little bit of magic that stays with us from childhood. It’s somewhere that you can sit and never tire of the sweeping views of Swansea Bay. It’s a piece of our past that deserves a future.”
Monday, October 18, 2010
Video blog: Ospreys, Heineken Cup
Emily Hunt always has her eye on good PR – and rugby union’s Heineken Cup fitted the bill for her on Friday, October 15.
The sales manager of Swansea’s Village Hotel handed two corporate hospitality tickets to a contact from electronic systems company Thales – and a great time was had.
The Ospreys beat London Irish in a high quality clash, there was a healthy 13,000+ crowd, the food and drink was excellent and the taxis didn’t arrive til midnight or thereabouts.
There was a spare ticket and Emily offered that to me. Here’s a brief taste of the night – http://bit.ly/b7bfoP
The sales manager of Swansea’s Village Hotel handed two corporate hospitality tickets to a contact from electronic systems company Thales – and a great time was had.
The Ospreys beat London Irish in a high quality clash, there was a healthy 13,000+ crowd, the food and drink was excellent and the taxis didn’t arrive til midnight or thereabouts.
There was a spare ticket and Emily offered that to me. Here’s a brief taste of the night – http://bit.ly/b7bfoP
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Video blog: Village Hotel, Swansea
Today, I'm trialing a new Flip Mino camcorder by producing a video blog on a tasty PR coup for my client, the Village Hotel, Swansea.
The video’s a little rough at the edges but I reckon that lessons learnt here will stand me in good stead for future productions.
Coming to a Sunday carvery near you soon … http://bit.ly/b9aRS4
The video’s a little rough at the edges but I reckon that lessons learnt here will stand me in good stead for future productions.
Coming to a Sunday carvery near you soon … http://bit.ly/b9aRS4
The autumn edition of Mumbles Community Times is the latest publication to publish some professional guidance from South Wales lawyer Peter Lynn.
The senior partner in Swansea firm Peter Lynn & Partners uses the chunky little glossy to focus on preventing legal problems in the marriages of busy professional couples.
Advice and guidance given through the media in this way carries great weight in the eyes of the readership. It’s good PR for the business.
Here’s the CT feature.
Matrimonial Matters Mumbles Community Times
Hard-working professionals often find their home lives under strain. Here, Swansea solicitor Peter Lynn explains why early action and expert advice are crucial in any relationship breakdown.
The pressures of modern life, from our beauty-obsessed mainstream media to the random nature of alcohol-fuelled nights on the tiles, mean many pressure points every day.
Who hasn’t argued over the ironing duties, the amount spent on a sports tour or the need for dad to spend more time with the kids and less time at work?
The niggles can build up and can eventually lead to an irreparable falling-out.
Bickering
The result – even in an “amicable” split – is often bickering over family assets such as the house and cars, quibbles over complex pension issues (especially in the uniformed services) and concerns about the children’s future.
At Peter Lynn and Partners we have a fabulous team of lawyers who specialise in matrimonial matters and they regularly deal with cases of difficulty amongst those working in fields such as the military, 999 services, medicine, accountancy, law and finance.
We encourage mediation and communication at the earliest possible stage of a major marital dispute.
Services
Don’t delay – get in touch. We’re here to prevent legal problems.
For more information on the difficult issue of divorce and separation, or to find out more about the range of services available at Peter Lynn and Partners, phone us on 01792 450010 or log on to http://www.peterlynnandpartners.co.uk/.
The senior partner in Swansea firm Peter Lynn & Partners uses the chunky little glossy to focus on preventing legal problems in the marriages of busy professional couples.
Advice and guidance given through the media in this way carries great weight in the eyes of the readership. It’s good PR for the business.
Here’s the CT feature.
Matrimonial Matters Mumbles Community Times
Hard-working professionals often find their home lives under strain. Here, Swansea solicitor Peter Lynn explains why early action and expert advice are crucial in any relationship breakdown.
The pressures of modern life, from our beauty-obsessed mainstream media to the random nature of alcohol-fuelled nights on the tiles, mean many pressure points every day.
Who hasn’t argued over the ironing duties, the amount spent on a sports tour or the need for dad to spend more time with the kids and less time at work?
The niggles can build up and can eventually lead to an irreparable falling-out.
Bickering
The result – even in an “amicable” split – is often bickering over family assets such as the house and cars, quibbles over complex pension issues (especially in the uniformed services) and concerns about the children’s future.
At Peter Lynn and Partners we have a fabulous team of lawyers who specialise in matrimonial matters and they regularly deal with cases of difficulty amongst those working in fields such as the military, 999 services, medicine, accountancy, law and finance.
We encourage mediation and communication at the earliest possible stage of a major marital dispute.
Services
Don’t delay – get in touch. We’re here to prevent legal problems.
For more information on the difficult issue of divorce and separation, or to find out more about the range of services available at Peter Lynn and Partners, phone us on 01792 450010 or log on to http://www.peterlynnandpartners.co.uk/.
New focus for Wales media scene
The Welsh media comes in many forms – and the latest addition provides a signpost to the future.
The Swansea Economic Focus aims to provide information on current and planned regen activities across the city.
There’s a lot more too. Indeed, the first edition runs to 19 tightly scripted pages of news, stats and data.
It’s unlikely to challenge the South Wales Evening Post as the city’s most popular written media – but it will be well viewed around boardroom tables.
Together
Its publisher – the Swansea Economic Regeneration Partnership (SERP) – brings together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the city’s economic regeneration strategy – Swansea 2020.
Edition one includes articles on tackling economic inactivity, regenerating Swansea city centre through the Waterfront City project and promoting enterprise education.
One article looks at the impending public sector expenditure cuts, and the implications of these cuts for Swansea.
It states: “To counteract job losses it will be important to drive private sector jobs growth.
Exploit
“Swansea 2020 is seeking to exploit opportunities in six key sectors, to create new businesses and employment.
“These sectors are creative industries, information and communication technologies (ICT), life sciences, marine industries, professional business services and tourism.
“There are a number of existing and proposed developments to stimulate the growth of these sectors, including the Swansea Metropolitan University/Coastal Housing proposed Creative Industries Cluster in the Urban Village development, Swansea University’s Institute of Life Sciences and Swansea University’s proposed Bay Science & Innovation Campus.”
The Swansea Economic Focus aims to provide information on current and planned regen activities across the city.
There’s a lot more too. Indeed, the first edition runs to 19 tightly scripted pages of news, stats and data.
It’s unlikely to challenge the South Wales Evening Post as the city’s most popular written media – but it will be well viewed around boardroom tables.
Together
Its publisher – the Swansea Economic Regeneration Partnership (SERP) – brings together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the city’s economic regeneration strategy – Swansea 2020.
Edition one includes articles on tackling economic inactivity, regenerating Swansea city centre through the Waterfront City project and promoting enterprise education.
One article looks at the impending public sector expenditure cuts, and the implications of these cuts for Swansea.
It states: “To counteract job losses it will be important to drive private sector jobs growth.
Exploit
“Swansea 2020 is seeking to exploit opportunities in six key sectors, to create new businesses and employment.
“These sectors are creative industries, information and communication technologies (ICT), life sciences, marine industries, professional business services and tourism.
“There are a number of existing and proposed developments to stimulate the growth of these sectors, including the Swansea Metropolitan University/Coastal Housing proposed Creative Industries Cluster in the Urban Village development, Swansea University’s Institute of Life Sciences and Swansea University’s proposed Bay Science & Innovation Campus.”
Welsh media’s Christmas call
Don’t look now but the South Wales media is after a seasonal slice of your marketing budget.
Most print titles and commercial broadcasters who service the Swansea Bay area have launched their seasonal sales campaigns.
Two cases in point are Real Radio and the South Wales Evening Post.
Real sponsorship guy Alessandro Galea was first off the blocks with his call for a backer for the Win a Dream Christmas promotion.
Profile raiser
This is a high-profile feature that runs through November and has been a profile raiser in the past for businesses such as Barratt Homes.
Real’s Win a Dream Christmas 2010 will see a string of listeners winning £100 and one scooping a £3,000 prize package including goodies such as a 42” plasma TV, a digital camera, a coffee machine, Nintendo Wii … and a 6ft Christmas tree.
As well as bags of on-air mentions, the main sponsor gets a strong presence on the promotion micro website.
Unveiled
The Evening Post, meanwhile, has just unveiled its festive rate card.
It covers the Post, Llanelli Star, Carmarthen Journal, Swansea Herald and free weekly insert the Neath Port Talbot Courier.
It reveals an onslaught of Christmas-themed ad features from now until the end of December.
The theme is The Magic of Christmas and feature titles include Here’s My Card, Looking Good, Winter Warmth and At Home.
There are healthy discounts for multiple advertisers and I’d be happy to talk through the deals with any interested business.
Most print titles and commercial broadcasters who service the Swansea Bay area have launched their seasonal sales campaigns.
Two cases in point are Real Radio and the South Wales Evening Post.
Real sponsorship guy Alessandro Galea was first off the blocks with his call for a backer for the Win a Dream Christmas promotion.
Profile raiser
This is a high-profile feature that runs through November and has been a profile raiser in the past for businesses such as Barratt Homes.
Real’s Win a Dream Christmas 2010 will see a string of listeners winning £100 and one scooping a £3,000 prize package including goodies such as a 42” plasma TV, a digital camera, a coffee machine, Nintendo Wii … and a 6ft Christmas tree.
As well as bags of on-air mentions, the main sponsor gets a strong presence on the promotion micro website.
Unveiled
The Evening Post, meanwhile, has just unveiled its festive rate card.
It covers the Post, Llanelli Star, Carmarthen Journal, Swansea Herald and free weekly insert the Neath Port Talbot Courier.
It reveals an onslaught of Christmas-themed ad features from now until the end of December.
The theme is The Magic of Christmas and feature titles include Here’s My Card, Looking Good, Winter Warmth and At Home.
There are healthy discounts for multiple advertisers and I’d be happy to talk through the deals with any interested business.
S4C director’s call to Welsh business
S4C non-executive director Clive Jones gave a rallying call to South Wales business on Friday, October 8.
He gave a compelling argument as to why the Welsh should give their wholehearted backing to the country’s creative industries.
His key points to more than 100 members and guests of Swansea Business Club included:
He gave a compelling argument as to why the Welsh should give their wholehearted backing to the country’s creative industries.
His key points to more than 100 members and guests of Swansea Business Club included:
- Local newspapers are a cornerstone of our communities and key to democracy
- TV programme makers now look to Wales for skills rather than the Welsh looking elsewhere
- S4C gets healthy viewing figures considering the small nation it covers and is pivotal to the Welsh language’s resurgence
Clive was warmly applauded by his audience.
They were won over with points such as how the multi-million pound benefit brought to Stratford-upon-Avon by the RSC could be mirrored in some way by Welsh towns and cities.
Clive’s talk will have opened the eyes of many in the room to the major role creative skills and employment can play as we batten down the hatches for the spending review.
Valleys-born Clive, incidentally, is an ex-boss of GMTV, formerly Britain’s most popular breakfast TV station, and is a fellow of the Royal Television Society.
Award
He holds the society’s highest award and holds a CBE for services to broadcasting.
In a time of enormous change for commercial broadcasters, he has been chief executive of ITV News and Regions, managing director of the ITV Network, CEO of Carlton Television, managing director of Central Television, and managing director of the London News Network.
Swansea Business Club members met him at the city’s Village Hotel.
Impressive
It was the first meeting of the club’s new season and the turn-out was impressive … as were the chocolate bars offered to each guest by Effective Communication.
Each carried a slogan explaining why it’d be a good idea for business to contact Effective to discuss their PR and marketing needs.
Celebrate Swansea’s grassroots!
The latest magazine to grace the Swansea Bay media scene will be officially launched soon – and you’re all invited.
Nigel Dudley, the man behind The Eye on Gorseinon, has issued a general invitation to the event at Celtic Mitsubishi, Gorseinon, from 6-8pm on October 21.
He promises light refreshments – it’s teatime, Nigel, so I hope there’s a mountain of them – and a valuable networking opportunity.
Advertisers in his first issue, being distributed free door to door as I write, include Swansea law firm Peter Lynn and Partners, Jenkins Photography and Bartlett Carpentry and Joinery.
Great
Nigel tells me: “It’d be great to have as many people there as possible.
“I’ve given out hundreds of invitations to local businesses and expect between 50 and 100 guests.
“It’ll be a good way of meeting new business contacts and will include a fascinating talk by Marianne Pettifor who’s one of Swansea’s leading lights in sales and customer service.”
Nigel, incidentally, is also the driving force behind Swansea Valley mag Valley View and sister title Neath Gnolledge.
They’re mainly advertorial-based glossies and Nigel likes to prove their worth to his clients by offering a service which tracks response rate via unique phone numbers.
Nigel Dudley, the man behind The Eye on Gorseinon, has issued a general invitation to the event at Celtic Mitsubishi, Gorseinon, from 6-8pm on October 21.
He promises light refreshments – it’s teatime, Nigel, so I hope there’s a mountain of them – and a valuable networking opportunity.
Advertisers in his first issue, being distributed free door to door as I write, include Swansea law firm Peter Lynn and Partners, Jenkins Photography and Bartlett Carpentry and Joinery.
Great
Nigel tells me: “It’d be great to have as many people there as possible.
“I’ve given out hundreds of invitations to local businesses and expect between 50 and 100 guests.
“It’ll be a good way of meeting new business contacts and will include a fascinating talk by Marianne Pettifor who’s one of Swansea’s leading lights in sales and customer service.”
Nigel, incidentally, is also the driving force behind Swansea Valley mag Valley View and sister title Neath Gnolledge.
They’re mainly advertorial-based glossies and Nigel likes to prove their worth to his clients by offering a service which tracks response rate via unique phone numbers.
Celebs rally for good causes
Big names from around South Wales helped drive ticket sales for last week’s EuroMillions draw.
They understand that good causes around the UK benefit from sales – and it was good to see them doing their bit in the media and PR drive.
The October 8 EuroMillions draw had an incredible £112m jackpot.
And celebrities asked to detail how they’d use such a life-changing windfall came forward with their thoughts.
The media used some of them.
Lifeboat
They range from buying a new Mumbles lifeboat (The Wave radio presenter Badger) to creating a world-class Tour of Wales cycle race (Swansea-born Olympic and world champion Nicole Cooke).
Swansea panto star Kev Johns would buy everybody a copy of Big Issue; Port Talbot charity fundraiser Captain Beany would help the environment.
Haverfordwest-born Jamie Owen, the BBC Wales newsreader, said: “I’d share the money with my brothers to keep the peace.
“I’d buy some mountain land to save it for the nation; I’d buy land in towns and cities to turn into parks for people to enjoy and to encourage the natural world to prosper. Wide open spaces are good for everyone’s health.”
The jackpot was the fourth largest ever available in the UK.
Celebrity dreams – How would you spend a £112m jackpot?
Captain Beany Charity fundraiser and campaigner, Port Talbot Simple. I’d divide the entire £112m equally between charitable fundraising efforts, local community-based projects and environmental and ecological organizations.
Badger Breakfast presenter on The Wave It sounds bizarre but I have a list for such eventualities – and have had for a few years! I’d buy mum and dad a house closer to ours and there’d be lots of charitable causes I’d help anonymously, Of course, I’d give the RNLI £2.7m for a new Mumbles lifeboat; it’s been a tough job for all the fundraisers to hit that target in these difficult times.
Kev Johns Actor and broadcaster, Swansea Wow! £112m … with that sort of money you could do some good and spoil yourself! I’d buy four houses … a dream home in Swansea and one of those lovely seaside homes in Tenby. Next would be a mews home in London and an apartment overlooking the Hudson River in New York! I’d set up a foundation to support young people training for a career in the arts and I’d buy a Big Issue for everyone.
Nicole Cooke Olympic and World Champion cyclist, born in Swansea The bulk of the money would be spent on charities and medical research. I think cycling could be involved as a way of helping children and people in need to enjoy the fun and freedom of cycling – using tandems, tricycles or electric bikes as part of therapy or care. I’d also like to set up the best international race in the women’s cycling here in Wales – something like a Tour of Wales that brings international stars to all parts of our beautiful country and also create a women’s cycling team that trains hard, races hard and plays hard! Finally, I’d like to put something aside towards my Mum and Dad’s retirement.
Jamie Owen BBC Wales newsreader, born in Haverfordwest If I won, I would share the money with my brothers to keep the peace. I would buy some mountain land to save it for the nation, and buy land in towns and cities to turn into parks as breathing spaces for people to enjoy and to encourage the natural world to prosper. Wide open spaces are good for everyone’s health young and old.
They understand that good causes around the UK benefit from sales – and it was good to see them doing their bit in the media and PR drive.
The October 8 EuroMillions draw had an incredible £112m jackpot.
And celebrities asked to detail how they’d use such a life-changing windfall came forward with their thoughts.
The media used some of them.
Lifeboat
They range from buying a new Mumbles lifeboat (The Wave radio presenter Badger) to creating a world-class Tour of Wales cycle race (Swansea-born Olympic and world champion Nicole Cooke).
Swansea panto star Kev Johns would buy everybody a copy of Big Issue; Port Talbot charity fundraiser Captain Beany would help the environment.
Haverfordwest-born Jamie Owen, the BBC Wales newsreader, said: “I’d share the money with my brothers to keep the peace.
“I’d buy some mountain land to save it for the nation; I’d buy land in towns and cities to turn into parks for people to enjoy and to encourage the natural world to prosper. Wide open spaces are good for everyone’s health.”
The jackpot was the fourth largest ever available in the UK.
Celebrity dreams – How would you spend a £112m jackpot?
Captain Beany Charity fundraiser and campaigner, Port Talbot Simple. I’d divide the entire £112m equally between charitable fundraising efforts, local community-based projects and environmental and ecological organizations.
Badger Breakfast presenter on The Wave It sounds bizarre but I have a list for such eventualities – and have had for a few years! I’d buy mum and dad a house closer to ours and there’d be lots of charitable causes I’d help anonymously, Of course, I’d give the RNLI £2.7m for a new Mumbles lifeboat; it’s been a tough job for all the fundraisers to hit that target in these difficult times.
Kev Johns Actor and broadcaster, Swansea Wow! £112m … with that sort of money you could do some good and spoil yourself! I’d buy four houses … a dream home in Swansea and one of those lovely seaside homes in Tenby. Next would be a mews home in London and an apartment overlooking the Hudson River in New York! I’d set up a foundation to support young people training for a career in the arts and I’d buy a Big Issue for everyone.
Nicole Cooke Olympic and World Champion cyclist, born in Swansea The bulk of the money would be spent on charities and medical research. I think cycling could be involved as a way of helping children and people in need to enjoy the fun and freedom of cycling – using tandems, tricycles or electric bikes as part of therapy or care. I’d also like to set up the best international race in the women’s cycling here in Wales – something like a Tour of Wales that brings international stars to all parts of our beautiful country and also create a women’s cycling team that trains hard, races hard and plays hard! Finally, I’d like to put something aside towards my Mum and Dad’s retirement.
Jamie Owen BBC Wales newsreader, born in Haverfordwest If I won, I would share the money with my brothers to keep the peace. I would buy some mountain land to save it for the nation, and buy land in towns and cities to turn into parks as breathing spaces for people to enjoy and to encourage the natural world to prosper. Wide open spaces are good for everyone’s health young and old.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Welsh press guided through complex hearing
Media training and advice worked well for Swansea professional Sandra McAlister yesterday.
Sandra is founder of Wales-based insolvency practitioners McAlister & Co tasked with the emotional proceedings for one of Swansea's most respected businessmen.
Roy Thomas got into enormous difficulties when his bank devalued his multi-million pound property portfolio.
Sandra knew there'd be great media interest - and she wasn't wrong.
Training
She asked Effective Communication to manage the press interest and used her interview training by Effective's Alastair Milburn when she was quizzed by BBC Radio Wales' Tom Singleton.
The result has been a smooth flow of accurate and timely information to the South Wales media, a complex issue presented calmly and with sobriety by the media - and an enhanced profile for Sandra and her company.
Today you'll find yesterday's creditors' meeting covered by the Western Mail, The South Wales Evening Post and BBC Wales online.
It attracted around 25 creditors' representatives, tough lines of questioning and an atmosphere that could have been hard to handle by an individual less on the ball than Sandra.
Writer
The meeting lasted two hours and one attendee, on behalf of creditor Northcliffe Newspapers was South Wales Evening Post business writer Rupert Hall.
He asked for a technical clarification or two in the hours after the gathering - and the McAlister team were prepared to answer them.
Hats off to all at McAlister.
Sandra is founder of Wales-based insolvency practitioners McAlister & Co tasked with the emotional proceedings for one of Swansea's most respected businessmen.
Roy Thomas got into enormous difficulties when his bank devalued his multi-million pound property portfolio.
Sandra knew there'd be great media interest - and she wasn't wrong.
Training
She asked Effective Communication to manage the press interest and used her interview training by Effective's Alastair Milburn when she was quizzed by BBC Radio Wales' Tom Singleton.
The result has been a smooth flow of accurate and timely information to the South Wales media, a complex issue presented calmly and with sobriety by the media - and an enhanced profile for Sandra and her company.
Today you'll find yesterday's creditors' meeting covered by the Western Mail, The South Wales Evening Post and BBC Wales online.
It attracted around 25 creditors' representatives, tough lines of questioning and an atmosphere that could have been hard to handle by an individual less on the ball than Sandra.
Writer
The meeting lasted two hours and one attendee, on behalf of creditor Northcliffe Newspapers was South Wales Evening Post business writer Rupert Hall.
He asked for a technical clarification or two in the hours after the gathering - and the McAlister team were prepared to answer them.
Hats off to all at McAlister.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Here come the Welsh media big-hitters
Alan Edmunds and Clive Jones are Welsh media professionals with much on their plates.
And this week both are due to talk to gatherings of business bosses in South Wales.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, October 6) Edmunds will leave his Media Wales HQ to address the IoD in Cardiff; on Friday Jones will tell Swansea Business Club about his high-profile roles in organisations such as S4C, GMTV and ITV.
Edmunds is expected to have much to say about the evolving roles of newspaper operations.
Flagship
His own flagship title, the Western Mail, has seen circulation decline markedly over the past decade in line with most regional papers. Yet his online user numbers continue to rise healthily.
He and his colleagues must tackle with the great problem of meeting customer demand in news delivery whilst maintaining a commercial powerbase through traditional advertising and new forms of revenue generation.
All you need do to understand his conundrum is observe the opposites of how the Guardian and News International are meeting the challenge.
The Guardian is offering all content as free online whilst building new incomes through channels such as its club-style readership scheme; Rupert Murdoch, meanwhile, is charging for much online material from titles such as The Times.
Grassroots
Throw in the recession, the forthcoming austerity measures and the growth in low-cost grassroots media and you begin to see further into reasons for why Edmunds may suffer sleepless nights.
On the other hand, of course, great events such as the Ryder Cup and developments such as devolution and the growth of Cardiff Bay illustrate how exciting it can be to be helming titles such as the South Wales Echo and Wales on Sunday.
Edmunds, publishing director of Media Wales, is due to talk to Wales-based members of the Institute of Directors at the Park House Club, Cardiff, from 5.30-7.15pm tomorrow.
Clive Jones approaches the media world with a different perspective. He's the ex-boss of GMTV, formerly Britain’s most popular breakfast TV station, and is the sole non-executive director of S4C.
Award
A fellow of the Royal Television Society, he holds the society's highest award and holds a CBE for services to broadcasting.
In a time of enormous change for commercial broadcasters, he has been chief executive of ITV News and Regions, managing director of the ITV Network, CEO of Carlton Television, managing director of Central Television, and managing director of the London News Network.
Swansea Business Club members meet him at the city’s Village Hotel on Friday and are likely to learn a lot about modern broadcasting.
To find out how you can attend the events, give me a call on 07890 953 402.
And this week both are due to talk to gatherings of business bosses in South Wales.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, October 6) Edmunds will leave his Media Wales HQ to address the IoD in Cardiff; on Friday Jones will tell Swansea Business Club about his high-profile roles in organisations such as S4C, GMTV and ITV.
Edmunds is expected to have much to say about the evolving roles of newspaper operations.
Flagship
His own flagship title, the Western Mail, has seen circulation decline markedly over the past decade in line with most regional papers. Yet his online user numbers continue to rise healthily.
He and his colleagues must tackle with the great problem of meeting customer demand in news delivery whilst maintaining a commercial powerbase through traditional advertising and new forms of revenue generation.
All you need do to understand his conundrum is observe the opposites of how the Guardian and News International are meeting the challenge.
The Guardian is offering all content as free online whilst building new incomes through channels such as its club-style readership scheme; Rupert Murdoch, meanwhile, is charging for much online material from titles such as The Times.
Grassroots
Throw in the recession, the forthcoming austerity measures and the growth in low-cost grassroots media and you begin to see further into reasons for why Edmunds may suffer sleepless nights.
On the other hand, of course, great events such as the Ryder Cup and developments such as devolution and the growth of Cardiff Bay illustrate how exciting it can be to be helming titles such as the South Wales Echo and Wales on Sunday.
Edmunds, publishing director of Media Wales, is due to talk to Wales-based members of the Institute of Directors at the Park House Club, Cardiff, from 5.30-7.15pm tomorrow.
Clive Jones approaches the media world with a different perspective. He's the ex-boss of GMTV, formerly Britain’s most popular breakfast TV station, and is the sole non-executive director of S4C.
Award
A fellow of the Royal Television Society, he holds the society's highest award and holds a CBE for services to broadcasting.
In a time of enormous change for commercial broadcasters, he has been chief executive of ITV News and Regions, managing director of the ITV Network, CEO of Carlton Television, managing director of Central Television, and managing director of the London News Network.
Swansea Business Club members meet him at the city’s Village Hotel on Friday and are likely to learn a lot about modern broadcasting.
To find out how you can attend the events, give me a call on 07890 953 402.
Monday, October 4, 2010
South Wales Sundays brighten up
A new head chef at one of Swansea's favourite Sunday lunch venues is capturing the attention of the local media.
Danny Illingworth arrived at the Village Hotel last month via a colourful career in catering.
Brought up in South Africa, he latterly ran his own place in Wales' English borderland - now the diners of Swansea are warming to his skills.
He's 6ft 5in, powerfully built and determined to build on the Village's good reputation for food.
Personality
And on Saturday he became the latest personality to be featured in the South Wales Evening Post's Holiday Heaven and Hell column.
Features editor Peter Slee - with the help of Effective Communication - tracked him down having heard of Danny's arrival.
The column provides a lively platform for a new public face or rising star to be introduced in a human way to Post readers.
Danny's key holiday answers
Best Kruger National Park
Worst New Forest
Daftest purchase Painting, stormy Cardigan Bay
Best memory Lions, Kruger
Danny Illingworth arrived at the Village Hotel last month via a colourful career in catering.
Brought up in South Africa, he latterly ran his own place in Wales' English borderland - now the diners of Swansea are warming to his skills.
He's 6ft 5in, powerfully built and determined to build on the Village's good reputation for food.
Personality
And on Saturday he became the latest personality to be featured in the South Wales Evening Post's Holiday Heaven and Hell column.
Features editor Peter Slee - with the help of Effective Communication - tracked him down having heard of Danny's arrival.
The column provides a lively platform for a new public face or rising star to be introduced in a human way to Post readers.
Danny's key holiday answers
Best Kruger National Park
Worst New Forest
Daftest purchase Painting, stormy Cardigan Bay
Best memory Lions, Kruger
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wales' council papers face double hit
Council newspapers across Wales will come under closer scrutiny than ever this month.
The Comprehensive Spending Review will shine a spotlight on all such none-frontline publicly funded services.
It could mean the end - or radical changes at least - to Swansea Council's The Leader, Neath Port Talbot partnership freesheet Community Spirit and Carmarthenshire Council's Community News.
In a pincer movement, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is determined to stop taxpayers' money being spent on "frivolous town hall propaganda papers" at a time when many local papers are struggling to survive.
Banned
Under proposed new Government rules, councils will be banned from publishing newspapers in direct competition to local press.
News trade magazine Press Gazette has this week's best coverage of the issue.
It quotes Pickles as saying: "An independent local press is an essential part of our open democracy, helping local people scrutinise and hold elected councillors to account.
"The rules around council publicity have been too weak for too long allowing public money to be spent on frivolous town hall propaganda papers that have left many local newspapers looking over the abyss - weakening our free press - or to use 'hired-gun' lobbyists that operate in the shadows to bulldoze special interests through.
Focus
"The proposals I am publishing will close off these inappropriate practices and make sure that councils focus taxpayers' money on where it should be spent - protecting frontline services."
The Local Government Association argues that local authority newsletters are intended to keep residents informed about what their council was doing.
For contrasting views on the issue, read media commentator Dan Sabbagh and traditional local paper the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle.
The Comprehensive Spending Review will shine a spotlight on all such none-frontline publicly funded services.
It could mean the end - or radical changes at least - to Swansea Council's The Leader, Neath Port Talbot partnership freesheet Community Spirit and Carmarthenshire Council's Community News.
In a pincer movement, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is determined to stop taxpayers' money being spent on "frivolous town hall propaganda papers" at a time when many local papers are struggling to survive.
Banned
Under proposed new Government rules, councils will be banned from publishing newspapers in direct competition to local press.
News trade magazine Press Gazette has this week's best coverage of the issue.
It quotes Pickles as saying: "An independent local press is an essential part of our open democracy, helping local people scrutinise and hold elected councillors to account.
"The rules around council publicity have been too weak for too long allowing public money to be spent on frivolous town hall propaganda papers that have left many local newspapers looking over the abyss - weakening our free press - or to use 'hired-gun' lobbyists that operate in the shadows to bulldoze special interests through.
Focus
"The proposals I am publishing will close off these inappropriate practices and make sure that councils focus taxpayers' money on where it should be spent - protecting frontline services."
The Local Government Association argues that local authority newsletters are intended to keep residents informed about what their council was doing.
For contrasting views on the issue, read media commentator Dan Sabbagh and traditional local paper the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle.
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