Month: August 2014

NE Comms conversation #14 “I was growing tired of standing outside burning factories at midnight”

imagesQ2AVWBUM

As the transfer deadline day window gets ready to slam shut, I’m delighted to be able to announce our first big money, foreign (to Tyneside anyway) Premier league, star signing to NE comms conversation FC.

Word of our North East comms conversation has spread beyond the region and reached some of the champions league big boys. In true David Craig style I’m delighted to be able to boisterously introduce one of my favourite bloggers Dan Slee from Comms2point0.

For those who don’t know http://www.comms2point0.co.uk is the go to website for thought leadership around communications in the public sector. For me it’s the must-read source of information and learning for the sector I work in.

To stretch the local football metaphore even further he’s even able to boast some local Geordie credentials having spent his uni years in the toon.

Could he be the next messiah? Lets see….. Continue reading →

NE Comms conversation #13 “That’s probably why I went grey at about 30”

untitled

I really hope you’ve enjoyed all the blogs so far and I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed to a great conversation about our industry in the North East.

Because I would never ask people to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, I’ve had a go at answering some of the questions that I’ve been pestering everyone else with.

I’ve strapped myself down, adopted an aggressive tone, turned on the interrogation lamp (normal weekend stuff really) and tried to add my ten pence worth to the debate.

Continue reading →

NE comms conversation #12 “creating a meaningful dialogue”

Rachel McBryde is the Business Development Director at Gardiner Richardson.

It’s great to get the views of someone so senior at one of the region’s top PR agencies and add more to this conversation about communications in the North East. There are some fantastic tips here for people looking to break into the industry as well as some great commentary on how PR is changing.

Continue reading →

NE Comms conversation #8 “Last had a night’s sleep in 2005”

Stuart Mackintosh spent nine years in journalism, including a spell as Chief Reporter at The Northern Echo, before moving into communications in 2006.

He has had two spells in North-East local government comms – either side of two years as a consultant – and is a former winner of the CIPR North-East Outstanding Young Communicator award.

Stuart is currently Communications Manager at pensions administrator RPMI, in Darlington

I’ve admired his work (and excellent blogging) for a long time and now he has his say on the North East comms scene….

Continue reading →

NE Comms conversation #7 “I wish I hadn’t took that so personally”

When I started asking people to take part in this conversation about PR in the North East, Jill Farmer was someone I really wanted to take part.

Having studied and worked alongside Jill I knew that she’d have a great perspective on what’s what.

She’s analytical and focused on detail in a way that Shames me so I knew she’d offer some good insight on the business.

Continue reading →

NE Comms conversation #5 “We worry we’ll get it right because we care”

northumberland-embroidered-flag-patch-style-07_-1038-p

Some say PR and media stalwart, others say Mr Northumberland.

Either way when Gordon Arnott talks, people listen.

A former journalist and senior communicator at One North East Gordon is also a multiple CIPR North East Pride award winner. He’s taken some time out to offer some words of wisdom on the state of the sector in the North East and it makes some fascinating reading…

Continue reading →