Okay I know it's easy and I know it's sooo obvious but I need my own form of closure and I promise to be brief.
Michael Jackson - the media aftermath of his death was probably the most spectacular for any celebrity death to date. And it’s not over yet! The bandwagon will rumble on for some time as reporters - professional and amateur - look for new lines and rumour to fuel the still smouldering fires.
The reason Michael Jackson’s death was the biggest news event - ever - was because it was the most high profile we have had since the dawn of serious internet social networking and the explosion of news content online and on TV.
Having digested about as much of this as I can take over recent days I have to ask the question, as I’m sure many others will be doing, ‘have we completely lost our sense of proportion?’
As a young journalist I was told never to use the word ‘disaster’ unless at least 50 people had lost their lives, and ‘tragedy’ should be reserved for much higher body count.
Some of the crazy copy we have seen being used to describe Michael Jackson and his passing leaves little in reserve for more worthy recipients when they slip away. At this rate we are going to need to invent some new words. I mean, what happens when Cliff Richard dies?
Jez
Monday, 29 June 2009
Monday, 22 June 2009
Many moons ago we had a dream...
Have you ever felt cheated by a grand expectation that never quite developed? I’ve nursed an intermittently painful pang of injustice since 1969 - in fact I was pleased to see, the other day, that this year is being officially marked as the 40th anniversary of my injustice - also known as the first moon landing. But despite this acknowledgement I sense that my lifetime disappointment is not about to end anytime soon.
We have just been told that ‘Nasa has successfully launched two spacecraft to the Moon on missions that will pave the way for a return to the lunar surface by US astronauts’. Well if you don’t mind me saying - about time too!
I grew up at the height of space race fever - it was a constant theme of both back garden kids’ games and adult conversations. And all the speculation was being backed up by real action with Apollos being fired out of Cape Canaveral every other day.
But then there was nothing... a big black void as wide and deep as space itself! As the real life action slowly but surely got scaled down, so the conversation in playgrounds and supermarkets turned to more mundane topics. At roughly the time we had been informed we be holidaying on the shores of the Sea of Tranquility the whole space thing had all but disappeared off the agenda entirely.
Hearing this latest news, that the moon is back on the radar, makes me wonder what went wrong. During a time when technology innovation continued to accelerate, with IT advances in particular leading the way, we appeared to leave the cosmos to its own devices. But why?
I understand that there was less cash to splash and that Cold War relations with Russia were beginning to thaw, but does that really account for the apparent shutdown on mission ‘Reach for the Stars’?
Another explanation could of course be that they never made it there in the first place! I know such conspiracy theory cases have been made over the years. Possibly you could have got away with an elaborate scam in those days of scratchy black and white TV and grainy newspaper pictures - mass communications mediums were still sufficiently sparse and fuzzy to fool the masses... possibly?
However, as communications became more sophisticated the opportunities to pull wool over eyes diminished, and maybe, just maybe, a moon landing and proper exploration were still beyond us.
However, as a child of hope in the ‘anything is possible’ 60s I prefer not to dwell on such theories and instead applaud the latest news from Nasa. I only hope that today’s generation of impressionable wide-eyed youngsters get more return on their dreams than I have so far had.
Jez
We have just been told that ‘Nasa has successfully launched two spacecraft to the Moon on missions that will pave the way for a return to the lunar surface by US astronauts’. Well if you don’t mind me saying - about time too!
I grew up at the height of space race fever - it was a constant theme of both back garden kids’ games and adult conversations. And all the speculation was being backed up by real action with Apollos being fired out of Cape Canaveral every other day.
But then there was nothing... a big black void as wide and deep as space itself! As the real life action slowly but surely got scaled down, so the conversation in playgrounds and supermarkets turned to more mundane topics. At roughly the time we had been informed we be holidaying on the shores of the Sea of Tranquility the whole space thing had all but disappeared off the agenda entirely.
Hearing this latest news, that the moon is back on the radar, makes me wonder what went wrong. During a time when technology innovation continued to accelerate, with IT advances in particular leading the way, we appeared to leave the cosmos to its own devices. But why?
I understand that there was less cash to splash and that Cold War relations with Russia were beginning to thaw, but does that really account for the apparent shutdown on mission ‘Reach for the Stars’?
Another explanation could of course be that they never made it there in the first place! I know such conspiracy theory cases have been made over the years. Possibly you could have got away with an elaborate scam in those days of scratchy black and white TV and grainy newspaper pictures - mass communications mediums were still sufficiently sparse and fuzzy to fool the masses... possibly?
However, as communications became more sophisticated the opportunities to pull wool over eyes diminished, and maybe, just maybe, a moon landing and proper exploration were still beyond us.
However, as a child of hope in the ‘anything is possible’ 60s I prefer not to dwell on such theories and instead applaud the latest news from Nasa. I only hope that today’s generation of impressionable wide-eyed youngsters get more return on their dreams than I have so far had.
Jez
Monday, 8 June 2009
Papering over the economic cracks
A quick word, if you can spare a minute, before you begin another week of making ends meet in these credit crunching times.
I would like to draw your attention to the rallying call of a campaign that has been splashed liberally across the pages of our excellent local paper - the Mansfield Chad - in recent weeks. I’m not just highlighting the ‘Keep It Local’ clarion call because SHOUT!PR just so happened to be featured in last week’s installment - although if you missed it first time around, check out http://twitpic.com/6iulj - I would like to get it on your radar, especially if you are Mansfield-based, because I firmly believe its a great initiative.
At a time when local newspapers are being battered by the downturn as hard as anyone, and when they have finished being clobbered on that front they will doubtless get another good slapping from the mixed blessing that is online news content - The Chad is still doing its bit to promote the area and its businesses.
The Chad’s ‘Keep it Local’ Campaign - which is designed to highlight the range of business experience and expertise resident in the area and encourage more inter-trading - is a classic example of the role local newspapers should be playing above and beyond delivering the usual news, announcements and advertising.
Mansfield has had a tough time economically in recent years, with the decline of its traditional industries, and so, maybe its time at the school of hard knocks, will mean it is better equipped than many other areas to weather the current icy blast. Let’s hope the Chad’s campaign does at least a little bit to aid the recovery process, and at the same time sells a few more copies into the bargain.
Jez
I would like to draw your attention to the rallying call of a campaign that has been splashed liberally across the pages of our excellent local paper - the Mansfield Chad - in recent weeks. I’m not just highlighting the ‘Keep It Local’ clarion call because SHOUT!PR just so happened to be featured in last week’s installment - although if you missed it first time around, check out http://twitpic.com/6iulj - I would like to get it on your radar, especially if you are Mansfield-based, because I firmly believe its a great initiative.
At a time when local newspapers are being battered by the downturn as hard as anyone, and when they have finished being clobbered on that front they will doubtless get another good slapping from the mixed blessing that is online news content - The Chad is still doing its bit to promote the area and its businesses.
The Chad’s ‘Keep it Local’ Campaign - which is designed to highlight the range of business experience and expertise resident in the area and encourage more inter-trading - is a classic example of the role local newspapers should be playing above and beyond delivering the usual news, announcements and advertising.
Mansfield has had a tough time economically in recent years, with the decline of its traditional industries, and so, maybe its time at the school of hard knocks, will mean it is better equipped than many other areas to weather the current icy blast. Let’s hope the Chad’s campaign does at least a little bit to aid the recovery process, and at the same time sells a few more copies into the bargain.
Jez
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Business Park with a Difference
For the past couple of weeks we have been absorbing the sights, sounds and unique atmosphere of Ransom Woods - a truly atmospheric business park on the outskirts of Mansfield. The reason we have been immersing ourselves in the woodland setting is to get a good feel of the location’s unique selling points while we work on a new brand for both the business park and its superb restaurant, cafe & conference facility - Forever Green.
Our ‘reconnaissance’ has included pleasant woodland walks and more than one very agreeable afternoon immersed in the relaxed ambience of Forever Green. (I would like to think we would show such devotion to duty if we were to land a contract for Severn Trent’s sewage division!)
The first stage of work is complete - new identities for both Ransom Wood and Forever Green - to be rolled out across a range of signage, promotional material and website in the coming weeks.
Oh, and if you fancy a little respite from work in the Mansfield area, we’d recommend a stop off at Forever Green. It re-opens on 15th June, in the midst of a major extension and refurbishment, with the completed new-look venue to be unveiled in the late summer.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Quiet please - it's the law!
Every day I get home at the moment my letterbox is choking with political leaflets - all smiley faces and snappy manifestos.
The most recent infestation of election literature led me to re-visit a favourite little game I play from time to time - it’s called ‘If I was in charge, what new laws would I impose on my subjects?’ I’ve designed many new laws over the years - all carefully considered and so practical I’m always left wondering why no one else has ever had the foresight to push through such common sense legislation.
My file marked ‘Still to become law’ is chocka with reasoned theory and white paper first drafts. Among my greatest moments have been... instant extradition for motorists who drive too close to cyclists, a complete ban on all reality TV shows and a re-structure of the alcohol taxation system whereby beer, lager and Australian red wine would be zero rated and Sherry and Lambrusco drinkers would make up the revenue shortfall.
This weekend another document has been added to the file, concerning the use of high-pitched electrical garden machinery. During the months May to September no irritating electrical devices like strimmers, hedge cutters, silly little excuses for mowers and those ridiculous leaf blowing devices, can be used - at all!
Anyone found contravening this new legislation would be shown no leniency and community weeding sentences imposed with immediate effect. Seeing as I thought of the law the first offenders would start on my garden...quietly!
The most recent infestation of election literature led me to re-visit a favourite little game I play from time to time - it’s called ‘If I was in charge, what new laws would I impose on my subjects?’ I’ve designed many new laws over the years - all carefully considered and so practical I’m always left wondering why no one else has ever had the foresight to push through such common sense legislation.
My file marked ‘Still to become law’ is chocka with reasoned theory and white paper first drafts. Among my greatest moments have been... instant extradition for motorists who drive too close to cyclists, a complete ban on all reality TV shows and a re-structure of the alcohol taxation system whereby beer, lager and Australian red wine would be zero rated and Sherry and Lambrusco drinkers would make up the revenue shortfall.
This weekend another document has been added to the file, concerning the use of high-pitched electrical garden machinery. During the months May to September no irritating electrical devices like strimmers, hedge cutters, silly little excuses for mowers and those ridiculous leaf blowing devices, can be used - at all!
Anyone found contravening this new legislation would be shown no leniency and community weeding sentences imposed with immediate effect. Seeing as I thought of the law the first offenders would start on my garden...quietly!
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