PR and reputation management

Traingate: Corbyn vs. Branson

Will a leading politician ever tweet while taking a Virgin train north again? Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s social media update, insisting that he was experiencing a problem faced “by many passengers every day” is now notorious. The episode polarises opinion – his fans are more convinced than ever that a hostile media...


Leave vs. Remain. The PR battle has just begun.

A lot of people I know were staring at the TV in hope or despair from the 10 o’clock news till that 6am declaration at the end of last week. (Some say they blinked in this time, but I don’t believe them.) It’s for people other than me to handle the...


Putting the boot into your reputation

To enjoy being walked on in high heels is, apparently, a thing – though even among fetishists, I imagine we’re talking about a minority of dedicatees. Certainly accountancy giant PwC didn’t seem to enjoy the experience over the last week. If you missed the extensive coverage, a receptionist working at the firm...


Why I won’t make a home movie with Johnny Depp

Some actors seem willing to appear in almost anything – and may even take a quiet pride in their ability to lift a so-so script or story line. If you have your doubts about this idea, you might seek out the prolific Michael Caine’s performance as ‘uncle Mathew’ in the...


Are naked photos good for your reputation?

Kim Kardashian is one of the most followed, reported and photographed celebrities around... and, as a result of her recent social media posts, soon none of us will be a stranger to any part of Kim Kardashian it seems. You're probably aware of the photo that ‘broke the internet’ in...


Four journalists tell all

Earlier this week saw our second #mdcmeetthemedia event – an evening of Q&A, war stories and reflections on journalism with a panel of four journalists. On the platform were – Robert Verkaik, a freelance justice and security correspondent; David Barrett, the Telegraph’s home affairs correspondent, Bloomberg’s Suzi Ring, and Law Society...


Murdoch & Hall – a match made in media heaven?

Twitter seems to be the bearer of all sorts of news these days. No sooner had we finished trawling the David Bowie posts with a sad heart we were then confronted by the announcement that Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch were engaged. Err what?! You may also have experienced this...


If I was Donald Trump’s PR adviser…

Donald Trump has public relations advisers on tap, but from the outside I’m guessing they must be feeling somewhat out in the cold as he ignores their strategic advice for his speeches, interviews and tweets as he aims for the White House. And yet, by all current measures that matter, Trump...


Want to get in a room with a journalist?

The list of clients and journalists I like is, by now, fairly long and includes good friends from both camps. But is it ever a good idea to put both in the same room with the offer that the client can ask the journalists ANY question they like? Last night I...