Media Master makes public sector breakthrough

A breakthrough on the contracts front: Neath Port Talbot Council have just placed me on their approved tenderers list for one element of their communications and marketing framework.
It's only a small part of the overall picture but just to get through the public sector tendering process was a delight.
Success follows a number of failures ... and a lot of graft to overcome the burdonsome paperwork.
It's not a guarantee of work, just assurance that I'm on any relevant shortlist for the next two or three years, but it's a step in the right direction.
The list has a number of big names and it's pleasant to be in good company.
They include Cardiff's Golley Slater, Quadrant Media and Freshwater UK, and London's Ridler Webster.
For the record, other successful operators included: Beaufort Research, Port Talbot's Get Yourself Noticed
Greenfield Media of Cardiff,  Newport's Icon Creative Design,  Mosaic Publicity of Essex, York-based Product Development Corporation, Barry's Push4, Cardiff firm Semaphore 
Coventry's Bridge Group and Manchester's Vision Twentyone.

Nigel's Gnolledge worth harnessing

Nigel Dudley is out and about with photographer Andrew Jenkins today as the new editions of Neath Gnolledge and Valley View are put together.
However, that didn't stop Nigel giving Media Master a progress report this morning.
His message was simple: Media advertising can work wonders.
He's very excited about the call-tracker facility he offers advertisers - it allows them to gauge the response rate to ads in the two Neath Port Talbot glossies.
Nigel told me: "The two titles have created 318 phone inquiries in the past three weeks - more than six hours of inbound calls.
"More than 100 phone leads are being generated every week for local businesses."
Of course, inquiries are also generated through websites and walk-ins.
Hypnotherapist Sue Preston said: "I've already had two bookings as a direct result of the feature/advert in the latest Neath Gnolledge.
"Most clients book an average of six sessions with me, as well as recommendations to friends and family, so my feature/advert paid for itself in the first week."
Next issues due out: 3 May. The May/June Neath Gnolledge will feature Peter Morgan Estate Agents on the cover and inside. They are about to celebrate their 30th anniversary of business in Neath.

March 16's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

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For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Broadcast Bay Radio Click
Editorial – A £4m ship-breaking business could be on the way to Swansea Docks, bringing more than 80 jobs.
Commercial – Typical ad break: Department of Work and Pensions, Kia servicing at Stadium Auto, Skewen, British Gas, Tile & Bath Co, Carbon Trust, Ikea.
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Print Western Mail Click
Editorial – Political leaders celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s announcement that it’s bringing 200 call centre jobs to Swansea.
Opinion – It’s crucial that the foundation stage for Wales’ schools goes ahead despite the national spending squeeze.
Commercial – Well done to the sponsors of this year’s IWA Inspire Wales Awards: Western Mail, Active Music Services, Wrap Cymru, LMW, Wales & West Utilities, South Wales Shredding, Cad Centre, ISG Pearce.
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Online Neath Port Talbot Council Click
Editorial – Improving air quality in Neath Port Talbot is top of the agenda for a new project team set up by the Local Service Board. Click
Recommended – The 2010 Neath Port Talbot Environment Awards, which salute the work done to improve the environment, are open for nominations. Click
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Community Radio Tircoed Click
News - RenewableUK has welcomed the launch of the WAG Energy Policy Statement and the ambitious plan to make Wales energy self-sufficient within a generation.
Jobs - Almost 300 transport jobs are being created in Swansea by two companies.
Events - Details of a confidence-building workshop on March 25 in Llwynhendy.
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Links  Twitter | Website
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Photo success for Swansea Bay media trio

Well done to three respected members of the Swansea Bay media community on securing a contractual tie-up with Neath Port Talbot Council.

John Fry, Huw John and Liz Barry have all been around for a good number of years and will provide a fine service for the authority.
They're among a clutch of snappers chosen under a tendering process for the supply of photographic services. The council called for "suitably qualified and experienced photographers/firms." The successful professionals have been appointed as part of an arrangement in which the authority will place orders and contract on a call-off basis.
They will be required to attend specified engagements, in particularly covering the mayoralty, the leader’s office, communications, media and marketing, landscapes, corporate publications and tourism.
The Swansea trio are well qualified - John Fry (Killay) has been a big part of Neath Port Talbot Council's photo output in recent years, Huw John (Clydach) was Swansea Council's photographer for many years and Liz Barry (Townhill) is a well-travelled, talented and thoroughly professional freelance.

Greetings to a new Swansea Bay editor

It was a pleasure to sit down with the Swansea Bay media's newest editor this week.
Harry Mottram may not be a name too recognisable to many of us in this area - but such unfamiliarity shouldn't last long.
He's in charge of a magazine due to launch across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire this year.
It's called Primary Times and is already franchised to other areas of the UK. These include three titles of which Harry is already in charge - Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
It hits an interesting niche market - that of primary schools. Harry's team aim to ensure that it carries material of interest to pupils, parents and teachers. Its positive outlook means it'll probably be welcomed by the Swansea Bay education sector. Harry's hope is that it'll be made available in primary schools and libraries across the region.
It has a projected print run of around 70,000 and is being run by an arm of the Northcliffe media empire, known hereabouts for its helming of the South Wales Evening Post, Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal, Swansea Life, Swansea Bay Business Life and Swansea Herald of Wales.
Flicking through a sample Avon edition that Harry brought down, it's clearly a confident publication that sees value in itself and its readership.
Nicely designed, it's got an editorial content of around 50%, including a strong listings section. The advertisers include some very decent attractions - Bristol's Blue Reef Aquarium, St John Ambulance, Bath Council, Bristol Zoo and the city's Old Vic Theatre.
There's a lot of paid-for promotion too for schools from the public and private sectors, a soccer school and the National Museum Cardiff.
Primary Times, under different proprietorship, tried to break the Swansea Bay market several years ago but was a tad unattractive in design and content terms. This time it's different and I predict success.
Launch date? My money's on autumn.
Those interested in advertising or aiming editorial at the new magazine should give me a call on 07758 745240.

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