A Truly Record Breaking Achievement



A taste of Africa comes to Surrey to launch Chessington World of Adventures' African restaurant Zafari, with 260 local schoolchildren, er, beating the Guinness World Record for the world's largest drumming lesson

 

Louisa Jarvis, Junior Account Director, Clarion Communications

As the old adage goes – and as every PR in their right mind knows – you should never work with children or animals.

The Power of the Picture Story

Tim Hayhurst, Senior Account Executive, Clarion Communications

 “I see drawings and pictures in the poorest of huts and the dirtiest of corners” – Vincent Van Gough

 Whether we’re talking inflatable pigs over Battersea Power Station or celebrities on top of Christmas trees – like our very own Lakeside stunt with Chantelle Houghton last Christmas (above) - like it or not there’s nothing that makes an impact quite like a brilliant picture story.

Will Sundays Ever Be The Same Again?

Cat Cambridge, Senior Account Executive, Clarion Communications

THANK YOU & GOODBYE – that was the final and poignant splash from the News of the World on its last ever edition earlier this month.

The end of an era?  Good riddance?  Wherever you stand on this celebrated and now infamous tabloid, there’s no doubt that events leading up to Sunday 10 July will be etched in the memory of journalists, media professionals and PRs for many years to come.

Murals, Motorbikes and Christmas in July – it’s all in a day’s work

By Niall Hughes, Account Manager, Clarion Communications

There aren’t many workplaces I can think of where you can sit at your desk, having spoken with a TT Motorcycle racer about his upcoming documentary film, and then find yourself opening a package containing a SpongeBob SquarePants designer wall mural…while being surrounded by Christmas decorations in July.  But then I’m sure there aren’t many desks quite like mine.

An Irish PR in London

By Alison Crowley, Senior Account Executive, Clarion Communications

Dia dhaoibh.  Or ‘hello’.

Understanding the language, interests and what makes people tick in the market you’re selling to has to be the fundamental cornerstone to every good PR campaign.  And that’s been my challenge for the past six months since moving to London from Ireland to work at Clarion as the new and only ‘paddy’ on the team.

PR's Greatest Hits – 1986-2011

By Howard Bowden, Head of News, Clarion Communications

Later this year, Clarion celebrates its 25^th  anniversary – so to commemorate our birthday, here are 25 things from the past quarter of a century which have helped shape PR as we know and love it…

1. Bizarre in The Sun  

The Beatles’ break-up didn’t make a single National splash – and it was only when The Sun introduced the first daily newspaper pop page in the mid-80s that the media’s modern day love affair with Celeb Culture began.

Game, Set and Match: Branding

By Lucy Meadmore, Account Manager, Clarion Communications
 
At some point over the next two weeks, my friends and I will be packing our picnic rugs and heading off to Wimbledon, home of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, ready to set up camp on Henman Hill – I refuse to call it Murray Mount – while eating strawberries and drinking Pimm’s in the quintessential English fashion.

Top 5 How To Avoid A PR Howler

By Shelley Wyatt, Board Director, Clarion Communications

Earlier this week, it was reported that an American PR firm had been sacked by their biggest client because of angry Twitter comments – the tweet came from the agency’s founder, no less.

At exactly the same time on this side of the Atlantic, every PR professional felt a chill run up and down his or her spine while muttering something along the lines of ‘There but for the grace of God…’ under their breath.

Wake Up (Very Early) And Smell The Coffee

Barbara Normile, Senior Account Manager, Clarion Communications

Any PR will tell you no two days are ever the same.  So when Clarion floated the idea to our client De’Longhi to get involved with the first ever UK Coffee Week by taking freshly brewed coffee to radio DJs across London, I thought nothing of it.

The Apprentice

By James Regal, Account Manager, Clarion Communications

Dum di dum di dum di dum di dum di dum di DUM DUM…

That’s right, The Apprentice is back.  The first three episodes certainly haven’t disappointed, packed with the usual nonsensical and self-affirming hyperbole that has viewers dropping jaws and reaching for smartphones to share in the collective, online horror.

A Royal Wedding

By Lucy Meadmore, Account Manager, Clarion Communications

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months, there’s a Royal Wedding happening this year.  Actually there’s more than one, as two of the Queen’s grandchildren are getting married within a few months of each other – and while the second one, between Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, has slipped by relatively unnoticed, the first one, the important one, has become a major headline grabbing, money spinning, international news phenomenon.