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.

July 22's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

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For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Social Media Twitter Swansea
6.45am - KevJohnscymru: The UK's favourite pick and mix sweets are revealed in a poll this morning http://www.swanseasound.co.uk/blog?id=7955
8.15pm - VitalSwansea: Swansea manager Rodgers 'Very Impressed' So Far http://bit.ly/9vq50J
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Print Western Mail Click
News 1 - Parts of Swansea and Neath were caught unawares by torrential rain as floods inflicted damage on Wales after summer storms.
News 2 – Rugby great Gareth Edwards has been appointed honorary president of Carmarthenshire's National Botanic Garden of Wales.
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Broadcast The Wave Click
News 1 - Leading Swansea policeman Mark Mathias says the South Wales force is working hard with young people to keep them from committing crime. Measures include taking them fishing.
News 2 - Last night saw the launch of The Wave/Swansea Sound Culture and Lifestyle Awards, with a chance for the business community to mix with celebrity and glamour. Click
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Online Radio Tircoed 106.5fm Click
Volunteers wanted- Radio Tircoed Needs You! Anybody who has ever wanted to become a radio presenter is inviting enthusiasts to train as cover presenters - Welsh speakers a bonus. Email mailto:feedback@radiotircoed.com
On sale now! – Community station Radio Tircoed is now offering its own branded merchandise for sale ... beginning with a fine drinking vessel: "This is a great mug to drink out of, perfect for your morning cup of coffee or your late cup of chocolate."
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Links Twitter | Website
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May 19's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

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For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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South Wales Evening Post Click
Editorial – Most commented stories: Six men rescued from drifting cruiser by Swansea Coastguard - Click; What do you think of the new coalition government? - Click; Jail and ban for man who killed pedestrian while driving without licence or insurance - Click.
Commercial – Did you know? The average issue readership of the Evening Post is 134,069. Click
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Swansea Sound Click
Editorial - Lots of photos from heat two of Swansea Sound's Search For a Star competition at Swansea's Norton House Hotel. Presenters Kev Johns and Claire Scott feature with big smiles. Click
Community – Swansea Sound - with Corus and Fusion Fitness - gives strong backing to this summer's Cancer Research Race for Life. Click
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BBC Wales Click
Editorial - You can keep your Premiership soccer riches ... this is where football's really at. Swansea's Dylan Thomas Centre is hosting a superb new exhibition of soccer-related photos by city snapper Beth Mitchell.  Click
Recommended - Vincent Kane, hippies, mini-skirts and a legend: a look back to the times of Richard Burton and Sir Geraint Evans with veteran broadcaster Kane. Click
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Links Twitter | Website
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Swansea media man Kev takes to blogging

Kev Johns continues to expand his portfolio. The radio presenter, after-dinner speaker, Swans announcer, panto dame, author and much more is now the writer of a weekly blog.
This Week with Kev appears on the Swansea Sound website, the latest edition being accessed right here.
It aims to sum up the week as he's lived it.
Hence, this week we hear of on-the-road communication with song star and charity walker Paul Potts as he trudged towards the Royal Albert Hall,  a live on-air chat with actress Dani Harmer (BBC TV's Jacqueline Wilson-inspired Tracy Beaker) who's touring Wizard of Oz with Joe Pasquale.
Todd Carty is another actor to get a mention, along with shows Grange Hill, Tucker's Luck, Eastenders and Dancing on Ice.
There are also namechecks for Swansea's Pentrepoeth Primary School, Bishop Gore School, Swansea City's Albert Serran and Guillem Bauza ... and a fella called The Scary Guy who lectures on bullying, name calling and prejudice.
Keep blogging, Kev!

Twitter king Kev tweets up Swansea

Congratulations to Kev Johns, breakfast show presenter on Swansea Sound.
Not because he's won an award but because he's fast understanding the forces that are Facebook and Twitter - http://twitter.com/KevJohnscymru.
In fact, he's astonishingly gregarious on these most 2010 of social media platforms.
In the next few hours - as it's now Saturday - look out for him plugging his popular Sunday phone-in ... unless he's taking a bit of time off for his wedding anniversary, of course.
A lot of Swansea area businesses, including those in the media, can take a leaf from this presenter's book: get hooked on social media because it's a fabulous bolt-on to your traditional publicity activity.
Kev's tweets yesterday numbered 10 and included plugs for Swansea Sound, Swansea City, American's Top Model, Katherine Jenkins and TV show Dragons Eye.
Keep it up, Kev.
A few of his Gowerton colleagues, meanwhile, are owed a belated congrats from this blog because they have won awards in the past few weeks.
Steve Barnes, programme controller at The Wave and Swansea Sound, has been named programmer of the year in the annual media awards programme of parent group UTV.
Steve, who joined the station as a presenter 23 years ago told me he was honoured to receive the accolade. And so he should be - UTV's a biggish player in the UK and Ireland radio market with 23 stations. See http://www.utvradio.com/.
The same awards, incidentally, saw the Wave and Swansea Sound named as runners up in the station of the year category. Wave breakfast buddies Badger and Emma, and the advertising team's Alison Gibbard were finalists.
Well done, all - all glory for Swansea Bay is worth cheering.

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!

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.