MacLaurin Media http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/ en arthur@skylarkcreative.co.uk Copyright MacLaurin Media 2012 Sat, 18 May 2013 08:26:01 +0000 http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/images/rss-logo.gif MacLaurin Media http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/ 144 42 Jingle Bell Ball fever begins by Ruth Cole http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/jingle_bell_ball_fever_begins_by_ruth_cole/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/jingle_bell_ball_fever_begins_by_ruth_cole/#When:11:17:18Z As the accreditation list opens for the 5th annual 95-106 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball, it marks the beginning of a very busy and fun filled couple of months in the MacLaurin Media calendar!

I for one am excited to see Girls Aloud mark their 10 year anniversary comeback having been a big fan of theirs in their early days. Not to mention seeing Example and Rita Ora perform live…all in a day’s work!
Two and a half years ago when I joined the team as PA /Office Manager, I was told no day was the same – how right they were! During my time here I’ve been lucky enough to work the red carpets and do a bit of celeb spotting at the National TV and National Movie Awards (walking JLS down the red carpet being a particular highlight!), hang out backstage with One Direction at the Jingle Bell Ball, rub shoulders with J-Lo at the Summertime Ball and even found myself starring in a client’s advertising campaign!  Of course not every day is quite a glamorous as this…badgering the team for their expenses each month and the mammoth task of redecorating the reception area springs to mind!

But no matter how busy and deadline pressured we all are, there’s always time for a bit off office banter (when the boss is out of course!)

by Ruth Cole

]]> Events 2012-11-16T11:17:18+00:00 We’ve all got our TV favourites, but now it’s time for you to vote for yours! http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/weve_all_got_our_tv_favourites_but_now_its_time_for_you_to_vote_for_yours_b/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/weve_all_got_our_tv_favourites_but_now_its_time_for_you_to_vote_for_yours_b/#When:09:37:10Z image

It¹s been all systems go here at MacLaurin HQ, as we¹ve been gearing up to reveal the contenders for the 13th National Television Awards… And as you can see from the photo, Rania and I thought we’d pay tribute to one our personal favourites, Downton! (Actually a photo from our last Christmas party but thought it fitted well!)

If any of you TV, showbiz or entertainment addicts out there happened to grab a copy of the The Sun, Daily Telegraph, Daily Star or Daily Express on Saturday, you¹re more than likely to have cast your eyes on some pieces about the 2013 National Television Awards. Let me tell you something…. it¹s shaping up to be a hotter contest than ever before!

But as always, it’s the public who decide who takes home the silverware! In an exciting new addition to the show, The National Television Awards will present a Landmark Award to key members of London 2012 in order to honour our greatest Olympic and Paralympic teams in over 100 years. To accompany the presentation, the show’s organisers are calling on the public to select their favourite Olympic and Paralympic moments and submit them via the NTA website. We all loved watching the magnificent Mo Farah, and the unbelievably determined Ellie Simmonds triumph in their races. But was it an athletic moment that shone for you, or something a little more comical such as Her Majesty The Queen sky diving into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony that really stuck in your mind? Either way, we’d urge you to share your memories via the NTA website - http://www.nationaltvawards.com/landmark.

On to the battles within the categories, and this year is fierce to say the least! The highly contentious Talent Show category sees Strictly Come Dancing fight it out with The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent Show, and first time nominee The Voice. It’s the nation’s favourite period drama Downton Abbey up against the likes of Dallas, Parade’s End and detective dramas Scott & Bailey and Lewis in the Drama category. Chat show kings Jonathan Ross, Graham Norton and Piers Morgan are all nominated in the Entertainment category, but will the drama of the The Only Way Is Essex or tension of The Million Pound Drop win the viewers votes? And there’s no doubt that the Tyneside twosome Ant and Dec have got their eyes on the Entertainment Presenter prize again, but will they manage to scoop the gong for a twelfth year running? All the glitz and glamour of the show will be presented by the fabulous Dermot O¹Leary, from London’s O2 arena on 23rd January and will be broadcast live on ITV1 in prime time.

So in light of all this exciting news, don¹t forget you need to choose your winners! VOTE NOW free online at http://www.nationaltvawards.com OR call 0844 646 2060 for a voting form.  Calls cost no more than 5p from BTlandlines, other networks may be higher and mobiles considerably more.

Voting closes at a minute to midnight on October 11th 2012. We’ll be keeping you up to speed with all the exciting NTA news as wecountdown to January’s show, so keep your eyes peeled for more TV tidbitsby following us on Twitter - @Maclaurinmedia!

By Katie Lassman

]]> News 2012-09-25T09:37:10+00:00 NextGen Series http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/nextgen_series/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/nextgen_series/#When:08:41:26Z We started working on the NextGen Series a little over a year ago, and for someone whose life revolves around football, it has been an amazing project to be involved in. Starting with 16 of Europe’s finest clubs, the tournament captured the imagination of the fans and the media almost immediately and game by game, NextGen grew to become one of the most exciting competitions to grace the 2011/12 season. With MacLaurin colleagues I travelled Europe, following the games, getting a chance to see the behind the scenes action, and meeting some of the best football writers from the continent.

I genuinely believe youth football as a whole was scarcely written about before the NextGen Series and its arrival last season excited fans and journalists alike by giving them the chance to follow some of football’s rising stars. You could see people’s faces light up when they spotted the players that showed outstanding individual talent, and it got everyone debating who would make it as the “next Messi”.

After a hugely successful inaugural season, 9 new clubs, including Chelsea, Juventus, Arsenal and Dortmund, have signed up for next season’s tournament which is set to start again in mid-August. We are all very excited about the coming season, and I know the clubs and their players are eager to get onto the pitch and show the continent what they are made of!

]]> News 2012-07-25T08:41:26+00:00 Seal the deal with an app by Anna Nalborczyk http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/seal_the_deal_with_an_app_by_anna_nalborczyk/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/seal_the_deal_with_an_app_by_anna_nalborczyk/#When:16:22:00Z Last week saw the launch of the Close My Deal web app by international negotiator Clive Rich.

This was a clever move by the 52-year-old trained barrister who has secured more than £10billion worth of deals for multinational companies such as Sony, Yahoo and Napster, over the last 25 years.

Despite his strong credentials it can be tricky to know how to promote the Clive Rich brand. Negotiation isn’t tangible. It can’t be touched or tasted. And because it’s a skill, it is a hard concept for consumers and journalists to understand.

The dilemma is identifying how to raise awareness of the brand – and the answer it seems is through modern technology.

Latest statistics show that 82% of the UK population has access to the internet via a combination of PCs, laptops, mobile phones and tablets such as the iPad.  Close My Deal is a web app which means that it is available as a website, but is optimised for all mobile devices, making it a convenient tool for users.

In the app, Clive is able to offer tangible examples of how negotiation can be applied to everyday life – both at home and in the workplace. He also offers step-by-step guides and feedback and tips, which gives users a greater understanding of what negotiation is and raises awareness of his brand.

From a PR perspective the examples of various scenarios from buying or selling a car to negotiating a pay rise at work, offer targeted coverage opportunities in a variety of publications from national newspapers to women’s weeklies using different news angles and hooks.

And to increase his customer reach and improve brand loyalty, the app allows consumers to access Clive’s Twitter and Facebook accounts or his website for more information.

Being the first and the only one to offer a niche web app, is a deal-maker for Clive Rich.

]]> News 2012-07-16T16:22:00+00:00 A Perfect Match by Firas Waez http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/a_perfect_match_by_firas_waez/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/a_perfect_match_by_firas_waez/#When:11:24:10Z Sunday saw cause for celebration as sprinter James Ellington made it into the fray for Team GB for London’s 2012 Olympic games having won the Aviva 200 metre final in Birmingham.

It’s not been an easy journey for the London boy who had to resort to putting himself on eBay to raise the cash required to dedicate the necessary attention and focus to his Olympic training.

The winning eBay bid turned out to be a hoax and James Ellington was left without the financial backing he so badly needed.  That was until Will King of King of Shaves stepped in to save the day and give James the money he badly needed so he could focus on Olympic success.

Fast forward to June 2012 and James Ellington is now a bona fide member of the Great British team hoping to achieve Olympic gold in just a few weeks.

But this isn’t the first time that Will King has demonstrated an eye for talent. Way back in 2006 he sponsored John Terry, a time before he rose to prominence as England Captain.

The partnership lasted just over 2 years, at a time when Terry was still perfecting his craft and skills that would take him to Champions League success with Chelsea.

It’s clear that it can be a clever move for brands to support grass roots talent and align themselves with people they think they could have a fruitful partnership with.

As with James Ellington, he’s gone from struggling with the pressures of life to being able to focus all of his efforts on his training which has naturally led to an improvement in his performances. What’s more, as James grows, so does the feeling of unity and mutual admiration between brand and star and in this my friends we have a match made in heaven and one that brands are wise to open up to.

Here’s to Will King’s next find. 

]]> News 2012-06-26T11:24:10+00:00 King of Shaves Sponsors Olympic Hopeful http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/king_of_shaves_sponsors_olympic_hopeful/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/king_of_shaves_sponsors_olympic_hopeful/#When:12:43:24Z For Olympic sprinter James Ellington, 2012 is set to be the biggest year of his career.

James has managed to start 2012 in the best shape ever, despite no lottery support, kit deal or any kind of endorsement.  In December, James took to eBay in a desperate attempt to secure funding, having had several injuries over the past few years that had put off any potential sponsors.

Today we can confirm that our client, King of Shaves has swooped in to ‘shave’ James’ Olympic hopes!  This will allow him to focus solely on his training and look to produce what could be one very special fairytale - fighting against a certain Mr. Usain Bolt for an Olympic Medal!

We have a very exciting summer to look forward to, and it is great to see UK brands giving our Olympic athletes the opportunity to represent their country, in what will be the biggest sporting event of 2012.

As a massive sports fan myself I can’t wait….. I know who I’ll be supporting this summer!

]]> News 2012-01-18T12:43:24+00:00 LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE! FINAL NOMINEES REVEALED FOR TV’S BIGGEST NIGHT http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/let_the_battle_commence/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/let_the_battle_commence/#When:12:59:08Z What better way to kick off 2012, than with the announcement of the nominee shortlist for one of the biggest events of the showbiz calendar? The final round of voting has now opened for the 2012 National Television Awards and the star-studded ceremony is just around the corner!
       
Over the past few weeks we’ve been busy announcing the shortlist to media, securing coverage across a range of titles and broadcast media.  Now we’ve got an action packed month ahead as we prepare for the awards, that take place on Wednesday 25th January at The O2 Arena.

The shortlist is hotter than ever, with some truly exciting and controversial contenders up for awards.  Looking at the Talent Show category, there’s a battle between favourites The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing on Ice and Britain’s Got Talent – which have all seen fierce ratings wars and endless contestant controversy over the past year - but we’re wondering who’ll take away the coveted title on the night.

We’ve also seen an NTA debut for hit ITV series Downton Abbey, nominated in the Drama category alongside Doctor Who, Merlin and last year’s winner Waterloo Road. Will Downton’s ever-growing popularity lead it to its first NTA victory?

My personal favourite is the newly added Reality Programme category. Fighting it out for the award are Essex boy Mark Wright who’ll go up against… himself, as the almighty The Only Way Is Essex and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! are both nominated. However, also in the running is Come Dine With Me and Lord Alan Sugar’s The Apprentice.

We’re all really excited about this year’s NTAs and there’s a buzz in the office as we start finalising details for the night.

It’s the only TV award ceremony voted for entirely by the public, so make sure you vote for your favourites at http://www.nationaltvawards.com.  We’ll also be Tweeting all the action from The O2 Arena on Wednesday 25th January 2012, revealing all the winners as they are announced, as well as some hot backstage gossip – so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!

Katie Lassman

]]> News 2012-01-04T12:59:08+00:00 NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS NOMINEES REVEALED http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/national_television_awards_nominees_revealed/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/national_television_awards_nominees_revealed/#When:15:49:42Z It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost one month since I started my first job in PR! Time has flown and work at MacLaurin Media has been busy from day one! I’m loving the freshness of a new challenge - after graduating I worked in retail management while I scoured London for the perfect PR job. I’m also really enjoying being part of a lively team and getting involved in all the various projects we work on here. 

Right now, I’m working on the National TV Awards. The longlist for the 2012 awards has been announced today and voting is officially open. There is plenty of tough competition and some brand new categories. The Only Way is Essex and Made In Chelsea are new additions to the Reality Programme category and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top – especially considering the nation’s obsession with reality TV!

Most Popular Talk Show will undoubtedly be one of the most contentious categories this year.  Following Jonathan Ross’ controversial switch to ITV, and Graham Norton taking his place at the BBC, we see the two top talk show hosts go head-to-head, along with other favourites, Alan Carr (Alan Carr: Chatty Man) and Rob Brydon (The Rob Brydon Show).

Of course, it’s set to be another great night for the nation’s favourite Tyneside duo, Ant & Dec, who have received an incredible five nominations!

I’m looking forward to seeing if my personal favourite, the X Factor, can storm to the top of the Talent Show category against the hugely popular Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing.

I hope to be adding more exciting news to the MacLaurin Media blog soon!

Alex Sutton

]]> News 2011-09-27T15:49:42+00:00 NextGen Series Kicks off! http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/nextgen_series_kicks_off/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/nextgen_series_kicks_off/#When:09:07:30Z image

After months of preparation and hard work, the NextGen Series opener was upon us. We travelled up to Anfield for the first fixture of the tournament – Liverpool FC vs. Sporting Clube de Portugal and had big expectations for the evening ahead.

For those of you who are not aware of Sporting’s credentials in world football – you only have to look at some of their recent academy graduates – Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Luis Figo to realise that their youth system is up there as one of the best in the world.

The game kicked off at 7pm in front of a packed Kop stand, and we were treated to some fantastic football throughout the game. Sporting CP came through comfortable 3-0 winners, and set the bar very high for the other teams in the competition.

It was fantastic to see Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher at the game supporting the youngsters and to have Kenny Dalgleish casting his eye on the talent at Anfield was a testament to how highly regarded the NextGen Series has become.

Next stop is Celtic Park on the 31st of August for Celtic’s game vs. FC Barcelona which is set to be another classic.

http://www.nextgenseries.com
http://www.twitter.com/nextgenseries

]]> News 2011-08-24T09:07:30+00:00 Rajar results are in! http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/rajar_results_are_in/ http://www.maclaurinmedia.com/blog/rajar_results_are_in/#When:10:54:04Z Quarterly radio listening figures have been published today and it’s an interesting time for Global Radio – as they surpass the 20 million listener barrier for the first time.  That means that just over 20 million people from around the UK are tuning in to a Global station like Heart, Capital, XFM or Classic every single week!

This set of results has importantly seen the consolidation of the Heart and Capital networks, which is a significant step for Global as their “national networks, delivered locally” campaigns show success around the country.


It’s also amazing to see that 91.7% of the UK population tune in to radio every week – this is the highest figure since records began in 1999.  In the modern world of TV, Internet and social media that’s a massive number of people that are still using radio on a regular basis.  These people are also tuning in for longer with radio listening hours increasing year on year to 1,076 million hours per week or 22.6 hours per listener – great news for the radio industry overall.

]]> News 2011-08-04T10:54:04+00:00