News

PRIA to Launch Breakfast Series with The Best Job in the World Campaign

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:49:22 +1000

Upon the wrap up of the 'The Best Job in the World' on 31 December 2009, Danielle Koopman, General Manager of Corporate and Government Relations of Tourism Queensland will present a thorough case-study of the campaign in Sydney on 18 March 2010 as part of the 2010 Leadership Series of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA).

Widely considered as the most successful tourism campaign in the world, the campaign for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef catapulted global tourism marketing into a whole new realm. It has already spawned a host of copycat campaigns and netted several national and international awards including 8 awards in the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Relying almost solely on public relations and social networking, the campaign rapidly turned around low industry and consumer awareness of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef using an array of innovative communication channels to capture the public's imagination and draw them into the campaign narrative.

Alison Barnard, PRIA NSW State President said this first presentation in the 2010 PRIA Leadership Series was not just for PR practitioners, but for anyone interested in understanding the strategies behind some of the industry's biggest campaigns, 'There will be something for everyone in these Leadership Series, from understanding the creative concept; expecting the unexpected; crisis management; social media triumphs and pitfalls; measurement, evaluation and media engagement.'

The breakfast will be held at 7:30am on Thursday 18 March 2010 at L'Aqua in Darling Harbour.

Registrations can be reserved on the PRIA website, www.pria.com.au/events

New PR partnership to ignite awareness for SIDS and Kids QLD

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:30:46 +1000

SIDS and Kids Queensland plan to increase public support in 2010 thanks to a new partnership established with Brisbane-based integrated communications agency Ignite PR & Marketing.

Formerly LapePhelan Marketing Communications, Ignite PR will donate over $5000 in time to help promote key events for the not-for-profit organisation.

Ignite PR & Marketing Managing Director Trina McColl said the agency was determined to increase donations through its support.

"We are very proud to be involved with this organisation and our public relation efforts will work to increase the number of people attending SIDS and Kids fundraising events," Trina said. "It's also a wonderful feeling to know we are giving back to the community."

Heather Kolar Events and Community Relations Manager for SIDS and Kids Queensland said the support from Ignite would be invaluable.

"Trina and the team from Ignite helped us double the funds raised at our final event last year and we are so grateful and excited they will be helping us to promote our fundraising business breakfasts and ball this year," she said.

SIDS and Kids Queensland is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and to supporting bereaved families. They deliver on their vision through world class research, evidence based education, bereavement support and advocacy.

For more information visit www.sidsandkids.org/qld

For more information on Ignite PR & Marketing visit www.ignitepr.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Trina McColl or Lani Pauli
Ignite PR & Marketing
E: trina@ignitepr.com.au or lani@ignitepr.com.au
P: 07 3368 1650

Golden World Awards 2010 Call for Entries

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:42:17 +1000

Entry Deadline: 12 April 2010

The 2010 IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence offer world-wide recognition and acclaim to world-class public relations programmes. The 2010 competition, conducted by the International Public Relations Association, is open to local, regional, national or international public relations programmes carried out or completed in 2009/2010.

Go here for more information and to apply

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Trish Nicol Agency Announces New Fashion Client Blue Illusion

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:47 +1000

The Trish Nicol Agency is happy to announce their new client BLUE ILLUSION, the Australian-owned fashion manufacturer and retailer with over twenty years experience in the fashion business. TNA will be implementing PR for the brand, promoting the 60 Blue Illusion stores nationally and helping build brand awareness with the media and consumers.

BLUE ILLUSION opened their first retail store in Victoria in 1998 and has grown to encompass a national retail presence with fashion, homewares, accessories and jewellery. BLUE ILLUSION has a strong commitment to the local and global community. Each store sponsors a World Vision child, with other funds continually being raised for additional worthwhile causes such as the Starlight Childrens Foundation.

Trish Nicol, Director says, "Blue Illusion joins our Australian fashion division, alongside the likes of Alannah Hill, Toni Maticevski, and Nobody. The brand has shown phenomenal growth over the last 5 years, now with over 60 retail stores across the country, so we are excited about developing their below the line strategy further in the marketplace."

For further information, please contact Trish Nicol on 02 9256 2711 or trish@trishnicolagency.com.au
www.trishnicolagency.com.au

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Public City appoints Lloyd Grosse as Communication Development Manager

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:51:33 +1000

Sydney, February 1st, 2010 - Public City has appointed former National Information Officer for the Public Relations Institute of Australia, Lloyd Grosse, as Communication Development Manager, responsible for the ongoing development of communication services.

Lloyd will be responsible for the ongoing development of Public City's communication methodologies and measurement systems across traditional, digital and social channels.

Marie Najjar, Managing Director, Public City said:

"Public City is committed to using a spectrum of interactional communication to help clients meet their outcomes. As communication specialists, we understand and have advised clients on how new communication channels impact brand, profile, reputation and even the news cycle when it comes to media relations.

"The team has an enormous amount of passion for and belief in media. We found in Lloyd a communication professional who has the same amount of passion for the social and digital space. His experience in social media from a public relations perspective will add incredible value to the team and clients".

Over the last five years with the PRIA, Lloyd has researched, promoted and educated PR practitioners on new industry developments and best practice. This included the development of the PRIA's social media policy, engagement and evaluation strategy. He has owned and run a health and cause related PR agency for six years, during which he worked with Roche Pharmaceuticals to launch its HIV therapy and diagnostic portfolio. Lloyd created an AIDS media guide which assisted journalists with the critical role of language when reporting on the illness to better inform people about the risk of HIV transmission and to minimise stigmatisation. This culminated in the AIDS Media Awards, recognising excellence in HIV reporting.

Lloyd Grosse, Communication Development Manager, Public City said:

"I've been lucky enough to have a diverse PR career that has spanned consulting, business management, industry development and the introduction of two major communication technologies - the internet and now web 2.0. I'm thrilled to be joining Public City and look forward to helping this energetic consultancy develop new communication services offerings of the highest industry standards".

Among his many professional achievements, Lloyd was also among the first to be awarded the "World AIDS Day Medal" for his long commitment in fighting AIDS. In 2009, he received the PRIA's first "Certificate of Appreciation" for his commitment to the profession and the Institute.
Lloyd turned another passion into a profession and has been a well known underground DJ for nearly thirty years.

"When your passion is your profession, you have a stubborn commitment to getting and seeing results. Not because you want to impress the client or the team, but because you constantly have to impress yourself! Lloyd is a very welcome member of Public City for this very reason - he has even offered to scratch mix our hold music for God's sake!" Marie concluded.

Lloyd can be reached at Public City on 02 9281 7272 | lloyd@publiccity.com | twitter @lloydgrosse.

For more information, images or interviews please contact

Linda Moussa | Public City | 02 9281 7272 | 0410 179 383 | linda@publiccity.com

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Tourism New Zealand appoints Hill & Knowlton to lead PR efforts in Australia

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:57:12 +1000

Sydney, 29 January 2010 - Leading communications consultancy, Hill & Knowlton (H&K), today announced its appointment as Tourism New Zealand's PR agency in Australia. The partnership follows a competitive pitch between five short-listed agencies.

Tourism New Zealand's Regional Manager, Australia, Barry Eddington said, "The team at H&K completely understood our brand and provided us with excellent strategic and creative thinking that will really help us take our public relations, experiential and social media initiatives to the next level".

Tourism New Zealand is responsible for the successful marketing campaign '100% Pure New Zealand'. This has evolved over the past 10 years, building New Zealand into one of the world's most recognised tourism brands.

H&K General Manager, Consumer and Brand, Fergus Kibble said, "It was a real pleasure to take up the challenge of building ideas through the pitch process for a brand that is so widely recognised for its smart, innovative communications around the world.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen by Tourism New Zealand to help build the 100% Pure New Zealand brand even further in Australia. This is an exceptionally exciting time as all eyes will be on New Zealand as hosts of the Rugby World Cup, and we are looking forward to encouraging Australians, now more than ever, to visit New Zealand."

More than one million travellers made the journey across the Tasman last year, cementing Australia's position as New Zealand's biggest tourism market. This year will see significant increase in marketing and PR activities in Australia and other markets in preparation for the Rugby World Cup to be held and hosted in New Zealand in 2011.

- ENDS -

About Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is based in New York, with 78 offices in 43 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups.

About Tourism New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand is responsible for internationally marketing New Zealand as a holiday experience. The organisation is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism who is also the Prime Minister of New Zealand. With a team of approximately 120 staff globally they are now the oldest tourism marketing department in the world.

CONTACT: Fergus Kibble (02) 9268 0242

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Weber Shandwick Promotes Lisa Popplewell and Alex Kelly to New Leadership Roles

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:26:19 +1000

Sydney, 28 January 2010, Weber Shandwick has announced two key senior promotions in Sydney. Lisa Popplewell has been promoted to general manager of the Australian business and Alex Kelly has been promoted to senior vice president and head of client services in Australia, with an additional remit for growing the firm's regional food and beverage business across all Asia Pacific markets.

Both executives will continue to report directly to the managing director, Emma-Jane (E-J) Granleese, and will support her in driving the strategic direction of the business in Australia.

Granleese commented on the promotions, "Under Lisa's leadership, our technology practice has gone from strength-to-strength with client wins such as VHA (Vodafone Hutchison), SAS and Samsung. Alex has also done an outstanding job in growing our consumer offer three-fold over the last four years and has driven award winning work for clients such as Unilever Singapore Airlines, Nestle and Johnson & Johnson. They both have outstanding attributes to take on a broader management role within the business. These are hugely deserved promotions, setting us up for another great year in 2010." said Granleese.

Weber Shandwick is the current AdNews 'Agency of the Year' and most recently won the Asia Pacific PR Award for best healthcare ethical campaign of the year.

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Fleishman-Hillard and McGregors Team to Join Forces

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:17:20 +1000

Teams from two Sydney public relations firms come together to bolster capabilities.

Sydney, 27 January 2010 - Fleishman-Hillard today announced it would join forces with the team from McGregors International in a move that will bolster the firm's capabilities in Sydney and expand its Australian presence.

The McGregors team will operate with Fleishman-Hillard as of February 1, 2010. Meredith Lill, who founded McGregors in 1997, becomes senior vice president of Fleishman-Hillard's healthcare practice in Australia.

Walter Jennings, general manager of Fleishman-Hillard Sydney, said the focus during the McGregors team's integration with Fleishman-Hillard would be to ensure that the interests of clients were placed foremost.

"This is a move that adds depth to our existing offering and bolsters the capabilities of our Sydney office in healthcare, consumer marketing, corporate/financial services and technology," Jennings said. "Our clients will benefit from an expanded team and strengthened capabilities. During the transition our main focus will be to ensure our clients and McGregors' clients continue to receive the highest level of service.

"Fleishman-Hillard has a long-term commitment to its Australian business, and the coming together of the McGregors team and Fleishman-Hillard marks a significant milestone in the firm's growth."

Lill said the move presented a new level of opportunity for the McGregors team and offered strong advantages to clients.

"This is an exciting development for our team and our clients," Lill said. "Our existing clients will benefit from the wealth of resources of a global agency, and the McGregors team members are very excited to be joining the Fleishman-Hillard network. We have compatible cultures within our firms; both companies share a strong work ethic and similar approach to client, media and stakeholder relations."

About Fleishman-Hillard
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world's leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. Fleishman-Hillard was named "Asia Pacific Network of the Year" in 2004 and again in 2008 in the Asian PR Awards, held by Haymarket, publishers of MEDIA and PRWeek magazines. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard website at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About McGregors International

McGregors International is a full service marketing communications consultancy, specialising in strategy development, public relations, corporate communications, business to business and stakeholder management across a number of industries, these primarily being: information technology, professional services, consumer technology, consumer products and healthcare.

Contact: Jaya Myler, 0422 202 881

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Weighted Media Cost instead of AVEs?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:06:21 +1000

The Institute of Public Relations' Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation (based in the USA) publishes new paper highlighting recent studies showing that using the cost of media space and time provides a very useful evaluation of the news medium itself in which a story resides, similar to the way the cost of real estate impacts the overall value of a house.

A New Paradigm for Media Analysis: Weighted Media Cost
An Addendum to: "Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE)"
By Angela Jeffrey, APR, Bruce Jeffries-Fox, and Brad L. Rawlins, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT: Over the past two decades, Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE) has been correctly denounced as a measurement technique. The many shortcomings of this old methodology will be described at length within this paper. However, recent studies yield evidence that using the cost of media space and time provides a very useful evaluation of the news medium itself in which a story resides, similar to the way the cost of real estate impacts the overall value of a house. The cost of media space and time appears to improve correlations between media coverage and business outcomes demonstrably over other popular quantitative methods, such as story counts and audience impressions. This paper provides four case studies exploring this concept; calls for a new name for this valuable data, "Weighted Media Cost," and provides a completely new paradigm for its proper and effective use.

Download full paper at the Institute for Public Relations Website HERE.

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H&K engaged by RTA

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:27:15 +1000

Sydney, 14 January 2010 - Hill & Knowlton (H&K) today announced its official appointment by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to leverage the RTA's sponsorship of the NSW Cricket team - the RTA Speedblitz Blues.

H&K has been engaged by the RTA following a competitive pitch between fourteen agencies to design and implement a campaign using cricketers to drive education and awareness of the consequences of speeding.

H&K won the account with a campaign called the 'Slow Down Pledge' (www.slowdownpledge.com.au) - an initiative to engage young people to change driver behaviour by asking them to take a pledge not to speed.

Speeding is the biggest contributor to fatal crashes in NSW with more than 100 young people aged between 17 and 26 dying on the roads last year alone.

The Slow Down Pledge moves the RTA into a new and innovative space through the utilisation of social media networks, Facebook and Twitter, to urge young people to take responsibility on the roads.

"We're absolutely delighted the RTA has appointed us and has chosen a PR-led idea to follow up on the hugely successful "Pinky" campaign," Hill & Knowlton's General Manager for Consumer and Brand, Fergus Kibble said.

"The Slow Down Pledge is an integrated campaign that uses social marketing, PR, sponsorship leveraging and events management.

"We believe the idea demonstrates the role that PR can play in driving not only consumer awareness for the RTA's messages but also active engagement," continued Kibble.

Tracey Arthur, General Manager Corporate Communications at the RTA, said, "We are thrilled to be working with H&K - the quality of their strategic thinking and creative ideas, along with the passion of the team, really stood out for us."

Prominent cricket players Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Phillip Hughes, Stuart Clark, David Warner and Steve Smith have been active in communicating safe driving messages by making their own personal pledges. So far, the campaign has received an outstanding response, with more than 1,400 young drivers taking the slow down pledge.

RTA and H&K have entered into a long-term contract for an ongoing campaign to reduce speeding in NSW.

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