Rugby bloggers predict a Blues blast

Magners League rugby returns this weekend. The Ospreys visit Ulster on Friday, the Dragons, Blues and Scarlets kick off on Saturday against Connacht (a), Edinburgh (h) and Treviso (a) respectively.
There'll be much build-up in mainstream media such as the Western Mail and South Wales Evening Post but it's increasingly worth checking out online coverage.
The Rugby Blog is a case in point. It's run by forward-thinking company Front5 and is fast gaining credibility in oval-ball circles.
Its Magners club-by-club guide is already online, penned by Matt Kellett and predicting a final table of: 1 Leinster, 2 Blues, 3 Ospreys, 4 Munster, 5 Glasgow, 6 Edinburgh, 7 Ulster, 8 Dragons, 9 Scarlets, 10 Connacht, 11 Treviso, 12 Aironi.
Choice comments include:
Blues Dan Parks, from Glasgow, could prove to be the best signing of the summer.
Dragons Wing Aled Brew needs to be a key player if the Dragons are to finally push for a top-half finish.
Ospreys If they can navigate their way through the long season to the top four, they’ll have what it takes to claim back-to-back titles.
Scarlets Centre Regan King has become one of the best players in the league and is the heartbeat of this team. Can he lift the team into the top half?
Whether you use traditional media or the online variety - or both - enjoy the ride!

July 29'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
03.47am - colliderfrosty: a cool video interview with Michael Sheen for TRON: LEGACY in the End of Line Club at Comic-Con http://bit.ly/aF2wcj
10.49pm - VitalSwansea: Pintado's Goal vs Haalandia http://bit.ly/bsO9ga
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Broadcast The Wave Click
News - Plans to cut traffic congestion in Swansea, with plans which include a European-style boulevard close to the seafront, are due to be discussed by councillors today.
Sport - Swansea City's pre-season preparation continued in Holland last night with a 4-1 win over Haalandia.
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Online Llanelli Town Click...
News - Llanelli Historical Society is hosting the Llanelli Festival, designed to promote the positive aspects of the town and celebrate the society’s 10th anniversary, on August 21. More than 70 organisations are due to take part. Click
Sport – The Scarlets' 2010/2011 Heineken Cup campaign first four games: Oct 9, Perpignan, 3.45pm, Parc y Scarlets; Oct 17, Leicester, 3pm, Welford Road;  Dec 11, Benetton Treviso, 3pm, Parc y Scarlets; Dec 18, Benetton Treviso, 2.35pm (local), Stadio Communale de Monigo. Click
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July 9'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
06.00am - DaveTencin RT @WAFC_headlines: Jones staying with Wigan despite Swansea rumours - Wigan http://aggbot.com/docs/link.php?id=10031569&r=tw&c=54
02.36am - MAILfootball Coleman set for Swansea, Coventry eye King and Doncaster want Keogh http://bit.ly/9EuRuY
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Broadcast Scarlet FM 97.5fm Click
News - A new bowling alley could soon be built in Carmarthen thanks to an £800,000 funding boost agreed by the Big Lottery Fund and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Morning Show - Presenter Tommo greets Scarlets commercial chief Rupert Moon looking forward to the region's week ahead and to the July 19 season tickets launch.
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Online Western Mail Click
News - Hundreds of temporary jobs within the Assembly Government and quangos are being axed to save money in the current financial year, we can reveal. Click
Sport - Journalists Jon Doel, Simon Roberts and Andy Howell debate which Welsh players need a big season to make the World Cup. Chat about Gavin Henson, Dwayne Peel, Tom Shanklin. Click
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June 25's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

... For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Print South Wales Evening Post Click
News - A court has banned a Swansea man from mentioning his assault victim and a witness on Facebook.
Commercial - Key advertisers in this week's Motors supplement include: FRF Vauxhall, Morriston; Bassetts Honda, Swansea; Stadium Cars, Skewen; Gravells, Kidwelly.
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Broadcast Scarlet FM 97.5fm Click
News - The Prince of Wales is in Ammanford today and will tour Corgi Hosiery. He will also see other locations around Carmarthenshire.
Events - Burry Port Male Choir annual concert, tomorrow (June 26); Classic and vintage vehicle show, Llanelli Festival Fields, July 11; D10 Dance Festival with more than 500 professional dancers and groups, Festival Fields, July 17.
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Online Western Mail Click
News - Paul Sergeant yesterday announced he is quitting as chief executive of the Scarlets. Click
Sport - Check out a fine photo slideshow from yesterday's England-Australia one-day cricket international at Cardiff's Swalec Stadium. Spotted at the stadium by Media Master: parties from the Swansea-based St Helen's Balconiers and Peter Lynn and Partners.  Click
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May 5's Swansea Bay Media Highlights – Midweek Online Special

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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 – A man who smashed into three parked cars in Ammanford before fleeing has avoided jail and a driving ban — because of his work in the Royal Navy. Click
Commercial – Booking.com is mining the rich summer hols seam with a home page ad. Welsh tourism businesses should look at how they can match such services. Click
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Swansea Sound Click
Editorial - The Big Apple reopened in Mumbles yesterday. The unique fruit-shaped kiosk has been a feature of the headland for 80 years but was badly damaged by a car last year and amassed 27,000 Facebook fans. Click
Commercial – The home page is refreshingly uncluttered with ads these days ... and there's this handy advice on how to advertise your business on air. Click
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BBC Wales Click
News - Organisers of a controversial  student beach festival planned for Pembrey County Park next month have defended their licensing, policing and health and safety record. Click
Sport - Scarlets outside half Stephen Jones could become the highest points scorer in the team's history in the Magners League game against Glasgow on Friday. Click
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Community Radio Tircoed Click
News - The national Sky update at 8am, 9am and 10am is followed by regional news from around Wales
Music - Today's breakfast show kicked off with a tune from TV smash Glee.
Typical ad break - Homestore, Brinjal, West End Carpets, Matchmaker.

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April 9's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

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For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Online BBC Cymru Wales Click
Local top story - Five men and two women have been arrested following a nine-month police surveillance operation targeting drugs in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Click
Euro rugby - Video of Wales and Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones answering questions about his future and his big game this weekend against Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon. Click
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Broadcast The Wave Click
Editorial - Neath Port Talbot councillors have given the ok to the construction of a Scottish & Southern Energy gas-fired power station in Baglan Bay. Hundreds of construction jobs should follow.
General Election - Excellent snapshot of the runners and riders named so far for Swansea Bay constituencies. Click
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Print Western Mail Click
Editorial - An image of Shirley Bassey's glittering appearance - wellington boots an' all - at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival is to go on display at London's National Portrait Gallery. It was taken by photographer Venetia Dearden.
Commercial - It's always good to enter professional awards contests as there can be a decent PR spin-off. Today, Riba (the Royal Institute of British Architects) praise work on projects such as Port Talbot's Margam Discovery Centre (Loyn & Co), Langland's Idle Rocks and Gower's Pennard House (both by Hyde + Hyde).
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March 3's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

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For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Print South Wales Evening Post Click
Lead story – A Swansea police constable dived into the River Tawe to arrest an on-the-run crook.
Key opinion – To meet the ongoing economic challenge South Wales needs more homegrown national and global entrepreneurs.
Don’t miss – News on a new partnership agreement between two wonderful South Wales arts enterprises – Class Act Theatre School and acting agency REACT-Europe.
Promo power – Modestly-priced ads available now in this Saturday’s popular St David’s Day photo special; worth looking at if you run a family-oriented enterprise. For independent local advertising advice phone Andy Pearson – 07758 745 240.
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Broadcast Swansea Sound Click
Key Welsh story – A CBI survey reveals that firms in Wales are optimistic about 2010 despite the recession.
Typical ad break – Morriston’s Castle Bingo, Swansea Road Safety Team, Volvo, Llansamlet motor garage TWK Thomas, Swansea City Centre Partnership’s Love Your City.
You heard it here – Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies is frustrated that the region’s entertaining rugby isn’t being matched by results.
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Online Western Mail Click
Publicity power – Good to see Wales’s traditional door-to-door milkman getting some advertising support from Dairy Crest. Click
Key story - Preparations are beginning in earnest for Britain's first televised general election leaders' debates. Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will face one another in three 90-minute debates on ITV1, Sky News and BBC1 in the weeks before polling day, expected to be May 6. Click
Buggygate – Rugby’s Andy Powell told police “I am an idiot” when he was arrested for driving a golf buggy whilst unfit through drink. He was banned from driving for 15 months for driving the buggy on the M4. Click
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See you there! Recent newspaper ads have been plugging a promising trade show at the Liberty Stadium next Wednesday, March 10. Hosted by WAG’s supplier development service, it’s free and runs from 9.30am-3pm.
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Make every penny count! Andy Pearson can guide your business through the media minefield. Phone 07758 745 240. Email andy@andypearsonpublicity.co.uk
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What’s missing? Tell us what you’d like to see in these bulletins - email moreplease@andypearsonpublicity.co.uk
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Former Swansea Bay editor makes his garden grow

David Hardy left his post as Carmarthen Journal editor around four years ago. But his influence on the Swansea Bay media scene lives on.

Today he’s the avuncular head of marketing and communications at Llanarthne’s National Botanic Garden of Wales.
One duty is to oversee production of the Garden’s regular magazine Yr Ardd. And very colourful it is too.
The spring issue’s just out (pictured) and features the usual mix of news, background features and publicity for forthcoming events.
Two elements in particular display how the Garden genuinely wishes to embrace the Swansea Bay community – and suggest that there’s plenty of room for other commercial partners and associates.
The first is a full-page ad for the Severn Link, the “flying cat” service due to plough a Swansea-Ilfracombe furrow from this spring. It reveals a marketing tie-up between the two enterprises. I hope it works well for both – and I urge other tourism-related organisations to hop aboard both the ferry and the garden.
The second is a glossy A4 flier insert from the Scarlets. It advertises four imminent home games which have publicity tie-ins with the likes of Princes Gate water, Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone Resort and Llanelli’s Stradey Park Hotel. The flier offers 10% off matchday ticket prices to Garden visitors. In these days of cluttered promotional markets, this is a fine effort by the Garden and the rugby region.
To discuss other creative routes to publicity, give me a call on 07758 745 240.

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!

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.

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.