Wales holiday business on the PR hunt

PR and the media will be very much on the agenda when tourism professionals gather in Swansea on September 28.

And I'm delighted to report that I'll be there, hosting an informal - but highly informative - Q&A session with Rupert Hall, the South Wales Evening Post's very engaging business reporter.

He's agreed to reveal to visitors at the Tourism Swansea Bay Marketing Mix Roadshow how to make their businesses essential to editors.

The big question, no doubt, will be: "How can I tempt a journalist to write a great story about my business?"

Spotlight

We hatched the plan over tea and coffee in Morgans Hotel and are both looking forward to our half-hour in the spotlight at the nearby LC.

It goes without saying that successful PR involves developing good relationships with the journalists you may have to deal with in future months and years.

The writers and broadcasters themselves seek to build a great contacts list - so get yourself along to the show and add a few more crucial names and numbers to your Windows Contacts.

Other speakers include Visit Wales head of campaigns and digital marketing Gillian Berntsen, South West Wales Media advertisement director Lisa Cameron and The Wave and Swansea Sound station director Helen Bowden.

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!