POPULARITY
Russland ist nach wie vor ernsthaft besorgt über die Forschungen an pathogenen Erregern, welche in der Ukraine durchgeführt wurden, und möglicherweise auch noch fortgeführt werden. In diesem Zusammenhang fallen Namen wie Metabiota, Burisma, Rosemont Seneca Partners, Bell Pottinger, Hunter und Joe Biden, das Pentagon und viele mehr. Die folgende Abhandlung möchte innerhalb der Reihe „US-ukrainische Geschichten“ ein weiteres Licht auf das Geflecht vielfältiger Beziehungen und Interessen werfen, die alles Mögliche im Sinne haben, nur Eines nicht: die Geschicke der Ukraine und ihrer Menschen.Ein Standpunkt von Peter Frey.Die Ukraine erscheint ausgewählten westlichen Konzernvertretern und Politikern als ideales, geradezu nach Belieben bearbeitbares Geschäftsfeld. Was die Konzernvertreter angeht, ist inzwischen ein Trend unübersehbar, dass diese sich bei Regierungen im Stile offizieller Diplomaten die Klinke in die Hand geben.Am 1. Juni 2024 reiste Alex Karp nach Kiew, um im Bunker des dortigen Präsidentenpalastes auf den ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj zu treffen. Karp ist Chef des Technologieunternehmens Palantir, einem Geschöpf der CIA und des Hedgefonds-Milliardärs Peter Thiel. Palantir wurde mit der Aufgabe ins Leben gerufen, Schnüffelsoftware zu entwickeln (1). Es dürfte klar sein, dass Karps Besuch bei Selenskyj mit der US-Administration abgestimmt war (2).Palantir agiert keineswegs isoliert in der Ukraine. Sie sind dort mit weiteren global agierenden Technologiekonzernen wie Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Clearview und Starlink vernetzt und stellen dem ukrainischen Militär aufbereitete Daten zur Kriegsführung zur Verfügung. Während sie gleichzeitig Daten sammeln und ihre Produkte zur Datenerfassung und Auswertung vor Ort und unter Kriegsbedingungen weiterentwickeln (2i).Für diese Konzerne ist die Ukraine ein ideales Testgelände, um Mittel und Methoden zur Kontrolle und Steuerung zu erproben. Dabei kann man auf einen Pool von in Europa konkurrenzlos billigen IT-Fachleuten zurückgreifen. Ungeachtet dessen tummeln sich unter der Obhut der CIA geschaffene Konstrukte wie Palantir (3, 4) nicht nur in der Ukraine, sondern auch in weiteren EU-Staaten. In Deutschland verdient das US-Unternehmen beim Ausbau der Überwachung der dortigen Bürger und bekommt „nebenbei“ Zugriff auf interne Daten, um die verkaufte Schnüffel- und Analysesoftware zu betreiben. Das sind hochoffizielle, durch staatliche Behörden legitimierte Cyberangriffe auf kritische Infrastruktur in Deutschland (5). Das steht im Gegensatz zu den herbeifantasierten „hybriden russischen Cyberangriffen“, welche angeblich politische Entscheidungen in den westlichen Staaten manipuliert hätten (6)....hier weiterlesen: https://apolut.net/us-ukrainische-geschichten-von-peter-frey/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Check out Lorna's LinkedIn here: https://bit.ly/3YkbToR Episode Guest Meet Lorna Cobbett, Founder at Blue John. Lorna founded Blue John, a reputation management consultancy, in 2024 following a 12-year career in strategic communications. A former investment banker, she started her career in 2001 in London and spent eight years working for Citi and Goldman Sachs. Lorna's career in strategic communications included being a Partner at Bell Pottinger, Managing Director at Hawthorn Advisors, and UK CEO at Citigate Dewe Rogerson. Lorna is a senior, trusted advisor for companies and leaders across a range of sectors and works with public companies, private companies, and start-ups. She has extensive experience in reputation management, transactions, crisis and change management. Outside of work, Lorna is married with 8-year-old triplets (Roman, Essie and Eva). Essie was life limited and will be forever 18 months old. Lorna and her family support Chestnut Tree House, the children's hospice that Essie went to, and she also is a parent ambassador for Together for Short Lives. She is a passionate social mobility champion and a founder member of The 93% Professionals. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Personal Philosophy 03:01 Career Journey: From McDonald's to Tesco 05:54 The Importance of Learning and Adaptability 09:12 Entrepreneurial Spirit and Corporate Challenges 12:04 Navigating New Work Environments 15:08 The Impact of Labels and Societal Expectations 17:55 Transitioning from Investment Banking to Entrepreneurship 21:01 The Birth of Blue John and Its Mission 23:51 Personal Loss and Its Influence on Life Perspective 26:46 Empathy and Support for Others 30:10 Life Lessons and Career Reflections 33:11 Essie's Legacy and Motivation 35:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Episode Partner Blue John is a reputation management consultancy for companies and leaders facing growth or change. They advise brands to ‘start with your truth' and deliver reputation management consultancy through advisory, strategic communications, transaction support or change management. Often it is a combination of all these areas, as Blue John recognise that each company (or leader) is on their own journey, and it is rarely linear. Blue John is there to stand alongside brands, however and whenever they need them. Everything for reputation, for reputation is everything. www.wearebluejohn.com Support Links: https://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/
Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in September.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, make sure you get your tickets quick for our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum . It's on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London.“Honestly, I had one of the most fascinating and useful days of my career. I can't think of anything that needed improvement. The quality of the speakers was phenomenal. Thank you!”PR Agency, director “The best day I've spent at work for ages!”PR Agency, director “What an incredible line-up of speakers!”PR agency, founder 1 min This month's rundown of the biggest PR pitch wins Reed Employment – Soho Communications. Corporate and consumer brief, Soho was founded by James Henderson the former CEO of Bell Pottinger in 2018. NHS - £500M framework – will run to 2028 – for consultancy and advisory services for health. Divided into 10 lots one of which is for ‘communications, engagement and research”. 27 firms were selected. The potential of £45M value. Include agencies such as Engage Communicate Facilitate (ECF), Freshwater UK, and Lynne Group. Mars Pet Foods – Brands 2 Life will lead social across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Including influencer and paid. Kellanova (the new name for Kellogs, who own Pringles, Pop Tarts, etc.) appointed Tin Man for the US brand Cheez-It UK launch. Bassetts Vitamins – Tin Man – consumer PR brief for leading vitamins brand. Earned first, creative, press office and influencer. Motorway – Romans – Consumer PR brief. Fight or Flight handles corporate comms. Nationwide – Romans: consumer PR brief to raise awareness of the financial services brand with younger audiences and families. Greggs – Here Be Dragons: Project basis on consumer activations. Zurich Insurance – Boldspace: Corporate press office. Handled two projects earlier in the year, now retained. Gordon Ramsey Restaurants– H/Advisors Maitland– global corp comms. The plan is to build out the restaurant groups' corporate profile and engage with key audiences. World Travel & Tourism Council – Finn Partners – global comms for the launch of the ‘Together in Travel' comms campaign. Currys – Red – Press office and creative. Increase awareness of expertise, range and relatable playful brand tone ahead of Black Fri and Xmas. Hitachi Zero Carbon – Brands 2 Life – EMEA, APAC and N America. The brief is to increase brand awareness for this division of Hitachi, which is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon world largely by converting public transport and commercial fleets to electric vehicles.Ellen McArthur Foundation – Kindred – Kindred will support the charity's media and comms team to develop and amplify stories across the UK, US and EU with particular focus on food and plastics projects.Kidney Cancer UK – PHA Group – The brief is to support the charity's press office and long term awareness raising mission.20 mins This month's rund
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, UK-based consultants were placed in the national spotlight for ties to Russian entities. The press focused on how consultants in the law and PR for example, had made millions, on the ‘Caviar Express' through ties to Russian oligarchs. For many years the PR industry has been accused of having a grubbier side, looking to unduly profit by reputation washing those less than savoury characters with large wallets. An easy target now, but Bell Pottinger was very much of that ilk, operating at the very edge and all too often crossing the line, resulting in its demise. And yet, if people, and firms deserve their day in court, to put across their version of events, then so too do they in the court of public opinion. And just as they need their legal experts, so they need communications advisors. Surely that is the sign of a fair and well-functioning democracy? The Little Questions podcast is presented by Matt Young and Andrew Brown. We'd love to hear what you think. Get in touch on social media or email podcast@apellaadvisors.com Matt Young is an Apella founder partner with 25 years of experience in corporate affairs. He was Corporate Affairs Director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA. Apella partner Andrew Brown is a former Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Ageas Insurance. He has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors, developing considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc. This podcast was produced by The Podcast Coach
Bell Pottinger 2.0 - Post-looting disinformation: Quraysha Ismail Sooliman by Radio Islam
Today on the PR Wine Down, hosts April and Laura welcome special guests Diana Neille and Richard Poplak, directors of the industry-exposé documentary film, "INFLUENCE: the Rise and Fall of the World's Most Dangerous Public Relations Company." Together, the award-winning investigative journalists take our hosts behind the scenes to discuss the creation of the film, which premiered at Sundance last year and traced the rise and fall of the notorious British multinational PR firm, Bell Pottinger. They also discuss advancements in weaponized communication, analyze the forces shaping the geopolitical landscape today and assess the state of the PR industry on a global scale. April and Laura also deliver some practical advice for pitching to potential clients, read an Anonymous PR Horror Story about a Zoom call gone very wrong, and react to the recent news that The New York Times has retired the term "op-ed." INFLUENCE is available to watch in the U.S. today, on all streaming platforms. Find it on iTunes here: https://apple.co/3eMI9ue Learn more about INFLUENCE here: https://www.influence.film Read the PR News of the Week here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/opinion/nyt-opinion-oped-redesign.html Connect with Trust Relations on our website at https://www.trustrelations.agency/ Have an anonymous PR horror story to share or questions you want to hear answered on the show? Email us at contact@prwinedown.com. Follow us on social media, too! https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustrelations/ https://twitter.com/trustPRelations https://www.facebook.com/trustrelations https://www.instagram.com/trustrelations/?hl=en Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/prwinedown/message
Former Sky corporate comms director and Bell Pottinger partner Gavin Davis set up reputation and communications agency Nepean in 2019. He joins EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how business leaders can effectively express their "corporate body language" to stakeholders, particularly as the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) grows.
On this week's show, I'm chatting to Francis Ingham, Director General of the PRCA about what the PRCA describes as “an ethical divide (that) has emerged between those willing to embrace ethics and professional standards, and those unwilling to adopt such values.”A PRCA spokesperson has said “almost half (of lobbyists) are happy to be unregulated and unaccountable. And within this group are some enormously influential companies.”To put this spat into more context The PRCA’s analysis of lobbying company entries published by the Government’s Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) showed that the number declaring that they followed no code of conduct increased by 28 per cent between 2019 and 2020.Of the 166 entries by agencies on the ORCL register 51 per cent adhered to the PRCA’s Public Affairs Code, 39 per cent followed no code; seven per cent followed the CIPR’s code, and two per cent adhered to their own code.Here’s a summary of what Francis and I discussed:2 mins Why have some very large companies made the decision not to adhere to any lobbying code of conduct?4 mins What is ORCL and why did the government establish it?5 mins Why ORCL is a register to create transparency in lobbying, on its own it is not a code of conduct.6 mins Why has the number of agencies declaring no code increased in the last 12 months?7 mins By signing up to the Public Affairs Code - what are agencies signing up to?7.30 mins Can lobbying firms join the PRCA’s Public Affairs Code without being members of the PRCA? 9 mins How the majority of consultancies not signed up The Public Affairs Code are not PR firms - they are lawyers, accountancies and management consultants.11 mins What needs to happen for all lobbying firms to join a self-regulatory code of conduct?15 mins Is the PRCA suffering from a Bell Pottinger hangover here? Are some of these firms not joining the PRCA because they saw what happened with Bell Pottinger and they don’t want to take the risk? 16 mins Why are in-house lobbyists not regulated, only their agency peers?19 mins What needs to happen to maintain transparency and accountability in the lobbying sector.
Joining me this week on the Docs & More podcast, are two film makers, chronicling an extra-ordinary story. Diana Neille and Richard Poplak’s debut documentary, Influence, charts the world of advertising and PR, Bell Pottinger and the late Sir Timothy Bell. He’s probably best known as Margaret Thatcher’s, the former British Prime Minister, favourite spin doctor who relied on him to bring in results. The film looks at the man and the firm and what they did and how it all fell apart. Don't forget to subscribe to the show! Music by Mixolydian Studios Sydney (Michiya Nagai and Benjamin Samuels). If you enjoyed this podcast you can support us with a coffee https://ko-fi.com/docsmore.
This week we're talking about whether PR has an ethics problem. Are PR ethics absolute? Are they relative? Or are they personal to all of us?If you were an outside observer of the Twitter chat of various PR thought leaders you’d have thought that bad ethics is a real and present danger to the business of public relations. But is it? How much bad practice is there? And what does that poor practice look like? On the show to discuss this issue are the co-authors of Public Relations Ethics Trevor Morris and Simon Goldsworthy.Thanks so much as ever to the podcast sponsors, the PRCA.And if you haven't taken a look yet, all the categories for the PRmoment Awards 2021 are on the awards microsite www.prmomentawards.com 02.00 mins Does PR have an ethics problem?03.00 mins Has the PR sector become obsessed with ethics in the shadow of the Bell Pottinger scandal?04.55 mins Is there more evidence of bad ethics in banking, accountancy or law than there is in public relations?05.45 mins “PR doesn't have much of a public face. The nature of the PR/journalist relationship means journalists always have the last word. That impacts the public impression of PR.”08.00 mins “There are acceptable lies...and there are unacceptable lies”.10.00 mins The public’s perception of who it is acceptable to work for is changing - this has implications for lawyers, PR firms, meat producers and fossil fuel producers.11.30 mins Because PR is not a profession, there are very few punishments for unethical behaviour - you can’t be struck off like accountants, lawyers or doctors because you’ve never qualified!12.20 mins “It’s understandable that lots of people want PR to be a profession...because it’s about controlling entry and one of the grips of the PR industry has been about relatively low fees compared to established professions.”14.00 mins Some examples of why ethics in PR are subjective18.00 mins Why regulation of lying in PR is almost impossible19.00 mins “If someone keeps telling me they’re honest, I check my wallet”.20.00 mins “Anyone who tells you they’ve never told a lie is a liar”20.00 mins A PR code of ethics checklist21.00 mins “The do as you would be done by” principle24.00 mins “There are things people are doing today that will be seen as unethical in 5 years time.”32.00 mins Trevor and Simon talk about their work on the Global PR Ethics Council33.00 mins How much unethical practice is there currently in public relations?35.00 mins A discussion around the implications of fake news for public relations ethics37.00 mins Why lobbying is the most controversial element of PR ethics39.00 mins Is lobbying ahead of the rest of the public relations sector when it comes to the regulation of ethics?45.00 mins Where is the unethical line? Buying lunch, a nice lunch, corporate hospitality, a free week's holiday…50.00 mins “PR must be aware of its ethical issues otherwise it will lose the trust of the public.”51.00 mins “There are issues around how PR professionals make their case that are real and live, especially as very often these no longer go through the filter of journalism.”
Our guest in this episode is outspoken economist Chris Hart, a former science teacher who did a B Comm because he thought it would help when he was became a headmaster role. Instead, it was the ticket to a bank’s dealing room where he helped traders make a packet when contrarian forecasts that often beat the economic consensus. But the real story about the free spirited, independently minded Chris Hart is in how he was targeted by political interests ahead of South Africa’s fractious 2016 Municipal elections. The gentle giant refused to be bowed by a social media mugging fuelled by London's unlamented PR shop Bell Pottinger. But his employer blinked. And just three months after being headhunted because of an independent mindset, his corporate career was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. It’s a fascinating story of a life punctuated with series of testing personal challenges, including the murder of his identical twin brother. Yet he remains in service of his less fortunate fellows. And an inspiration to the rest of us.
Our guest in this episode is outspoken economist Chris Hart, a former science teacher who did a B Comm because he thought it would help when he was became a headmaster role. Instead, it was the ticket to a bank’s dealing room where he helped traders make a packet when contrarian forecasts that often beat the economic consensus. But the real story about the free spirited, independently minded Chris Hart is in how he was targeted by political interests ahead of South Africa’s fractious 2016 Municipal elections. The gentle giant refused to be bowed by a social media mugging fuelled by London's unlamented PR shop Bell Pottinger. But his employer blinked. And just three months after being headhunted because of an independent mindset, his corporate career was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. It’s a fascinating story of a life punctuated with series of testing personal challenges, including the murder of his identical twin brother. Yet he remains in service of his less fortunate fellows. And an inspiration to the rest of us.
Our guest in this episode is outspoken economist Chris Hart, a former science teacher who did a B Comm because he thought it would help when he was became a headmaster role. Instead, it was the ticket to a bank's dealing room where he helped traders make a packet when contrarian forecasts that often beat the economic consensus. But the real story about the free spirited, independently minded Chris Hart is in how he was targeted by political interests ahead of South Africa's fractious 2016 Municipal elections. The gentle giant refused to be bowed by a social media mugging fuelled by London's unlamented PR shop Bell Pottinger. But his employer blinked. And just three months after being headhunted because of an independent mindset, his corporate career was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. It's a fascinating story of a life punctuated with series of testing personal challenges, including the murder of his identical twin brother. Yet he remains in service of his less fortunate fellows. And an inspiration to the rest of us.
Our guest in this episode is outspoken economist Chris Hart, a former science teacher who did a B Comm because he thought it would help when he was became a headmaster role. Instead, it was the ticket to a bank’s dealing room where he helped traders make a packet when contrarian forecasts that often beat the economic consensus. But the real story about the free spirited, independently minded Chris Hart is in how he was targeted by political interests ahead of South Africa’s fractious 2016 Municipal elections. The gentle giant refused to be bowed by a social media mugging fuelled by London's unlamented PR shop Bell Pottinger. But his employer blinked. And just three months after being headhunted because of an independent mindset, his corporate career was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. It’s a fascinating story of a life punctuated with series of testing personal challenges, including the murder of his identical twin brother. Yet he remains in service of his less fortunate fellows. And an inspiration to the rest of us.
Our guest in this episode is outspoken economist Chris Hart, a former science teacher who did a B Comm because he thought it would help when he was became a headmaster role. Instead, it was the ticket to a bank’s dealing room where he helped traders make a packet when contrarian forecasts that often beat the economic consensus. But the real story about the free spirited, independently minded Chris Hart is in how he was targeted by political interests ahead of South Africa’s fractious 2016 Municipal elections. The gentle giant refused to be bowed by a social media mugging fuelled by London's unlamented PR shop Bell Pottinger. But his employer blinked. And just three months after being headhunted because of an independent mindset, his corporate career was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. It’s a fascinating story of a life punctuated with series of testing personal challenges, including the murder of his identical twin brother. Yet he remains in service of his less fortunate fellows. And an inspiration to the rest of us.
Welcome to the latest PRmoment Podcast. This week we’re turning the tables and PRmoment founder Ben Smith is interviewed by Third City’s Chris Blackwood.Just a reminder that PRmoment Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first month off Propel Software here.Here’s a summary of what Chris and I discussed:3.30 mins How Ben’s career has been split over two phases8.30 mins Why empathy is a crucial skill in publishing9.30 mins How PRmoment was started in the midst of the financial crisis in 2008.10.40 mins Chris and I reminisce about Hacked Off Flack16.30 mins How the lockdown has been a tough period for B2B publishers24 mins PR buzzwords that should be banned26 mins Does the public relations sector waste too much time critiquing itself?26.45 mins “Other than Bell Pottinger is there much evidence that there are a huge number of unethical PR people around?... Compare it (PR) to the accountancy scandals or the banking scandals.”27.30 mins Why the "Is PR a profession debate” frustrates Ben29 mins What’s the most annoying thing PR agency CEOs do?33 mins “If you’ve lost your job recently, in the near or medium-term, you’ve got a much better chance of getting a new one if you work in PR than in a lot of other sectors.”33.15 mins Why Ben never wants to set up his own PR agency!34 mins Ben identifies his interview with Lord Bell, post the Bell Pottinger, OakBay Capital Scandal as the most difficult interview he’s done.36 mins Ben’s attempts to identify his top 3 PR dinner party guests38 mins If Ben could choose one job in PR - what would it be?41 mins Why Ben doesn’t see PRmoment as a challenger brand44 mins Ben and Chris have a chat about the number of PR awards53 mins “Lockdown is one word but it’s a journey...all of us will have different periods of crisis. It’s up and down, pretty relentless and the vast majority of it has to be done in isolation”56 mins Why Ben is Zoomed out: “You can have a far more engaging telephone call than a Zoom Call, all this stuff about video (calls being) brilliant, I don’t get it...you can even make yourself a cup of coffee on a phone call. The technology works, it’s been around a long time!”
Save Meduza!https://support.meduza.io/enAbout a decade ago, after a temporary falling out with Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko tried to pivot his country to the West. In this endeavor, he had help from a British PR firm called “Bell Pottinger” that once employed some of the most influential spin-doctors in the world. The campaign was a complete failure: the consultants left empty-handed and Lukashenko became an international pariah once again. In August 2020, after workers at state television and radio broadcasters in Belarus started walking off the job in protest as the police brutally dispersed opposition demonstrations, a handful of independent journalists and activists reported that whole brigades of “strikebreakers” from Russia arrived to replace these employees. Meduza investigative editor Alexey Kovalev researched both of these stories, discovering that the oligarch Boris Berezovsky bankrolled Lukashenko's attempt to win over the West, and that Russian journalists now in Minsk aren't so much replacing Belarusian journalists as they are reshaping the local media's approach to propaganda. Meduza also spoke to Alex Kokcharov, a country risk analyst who focuses on Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, and the Caucasus, to learn more about younger Belarusians' media diets. “The Naked Pravda” comes out on Fridays (or sometimes Saturdays). Catch every new episode by subscribing at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or other platforms. If you have a question or comment about the show, please write to Kevin Rothrock at kevin@meduza.io with the subject line: “The Naked Pravda.”
After our short summer break I'm pleased to say the podcast is back and what a guest we have to kick us off for the autumn. Today's guest is James Callander, Managing Director of Freshminds, the leading resourcing and research firm for the consulting industry. As you'll hear in today's interview, freshminds have a long history in our industry and were actually one of the very first search firm that I signed up for when I was looking to make the move in to consulting almost a decade ago. I still remember scouring their weekly newsletter for potential roles and it was great to get a chance to catch up with one of the people behind it all and find out about James story with Freshminds over his almost 18 year career with the firm. Unlike many of my guests, James's career actually started while he was still in school, running various business ventures from the school printing press to leading sales for the school magazine. Deciding he wanted to move to London following university James began his formal career with two extended internships, firstly at the strategy consultancy Roland Berger, then followed by another at the then leading public relationships firm Bell Pottinger. It was these early experiences that led James to take the bold step and become a freelance researcher for the, at the time, small start-up research consultancy Freshminds. The rest as they say is history and over the last almost 18 years James's career has grown alongside the business, which he now runs as Managing Director. Leading a team of over 140 people to reshape the future of resourcing and consulting. Given James's wealth of experience there was so much for us to cover and we discuss some really interesting topics in this conversation including: - James entrepreneurial start, how his teenage business ventures shaped his career, and how the skills he learnt from that period have helped him get to where he is today. - His almost 18-year career with Freshminds, how he was able to climb from a freelance researcher to Managing Director of the firm and his advice for anyone looking to emulate his success. - And his career advice for those of you looking to take the next step in your career, be that moving to another consulting firm or jumping out and becoming an independent contractor. I really enjoyed this conversation with James. As his story shows you don't have to follow a structured consulting career path to reach the top in our industry and that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Whether you're at the start of your career and looking to break in to consulting or you're an experienced consultant looking at what the best next step is for you, I know you're going to get so much from what James has to say. So, with the intro done and dusted, sit back, relax and enjoy my interview with James Callander. To get in touch with James find him either through LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescallander/ Or through Email - jc@freshminds.co.uk You can find out more about Freshminds at - https://www.freshminds.co.uk/ James' book recommendations: Too Big to Fail: Inside the Battle to Save Wall Street - https://amzn.to/32EHSDo Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - https://amzn.to/35G7q53
The MR Crew presents Michael Brooks's interview with Ed Caesar (@edcaesar) of The New Yorker to discuss his piece, "The Reputation-Laundering Firm That Ruined Its Own Reputation," on how a renowned British PR firm, Bell Pottinger, worked with dictators and oligarchs and deliberately inflamed racial tensions in South Africa—and destroyed itself in the process. On the fun half: Trump tells Laura Ingraham a Biden presidency won't calm riots. Trump repeats report of thugs and looters on a plane. Asked about Trump's theory of thugs on a plane, Barr says he's received multiple reports, asked for specifics, says Trump is speaking in general terms. CNN field report on evictions in Houston, Texas. Michael Knowles of The Daily Caller rails against statistics. Nancy Pelosi says she was set up by salon owner, Pelosi says owner actually owes her an apology. Plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member of the Majority Report at www.JoinTheMajorityReport.com Check out the Brand New Majority Report Merch Shop https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ (Merch issues and concerns can be addressed here: majorityreportstore@mirrorimage.com) The AM Quickie is now on YouTube Subscribe to the AM Quickie at https://fans.fm/amquickie Make the AMQ part of your Alexa Flash Briefing too! You can now watch the livestream on Twitch Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.substack.com/ Subscribe to AM Quickie writer Corey Pein’s newsletter at theend.substack.com Check out The Nomiki Show at patreon.com/thenomikishow Subscribe to Matt Binder's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/mattbinder Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes. Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or at twitch.tv/theantifada Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @MattLech @jamie_elizabeth @BF1nn
The documentary film Influence lifts the lid on how one of the world's biggest PR companies - Bell Pottinger - destroyed itself when its unethical conduct in South Africa was exposed. Mediawatch asks the film's makers what we should learn about modern political communications.
The documentary film Influence lifts the lid on how one of the world’s biggest PR companies - Bell Pottinger - destroyed itself when its unethical conduct in South Africa was exposed. Mediawatch asks the film’s makers what we should learn about modern political communications.
Support us at canadalandshow.com/join Lord Tim Bell worked for a rogues' gallery of international clients, and co-founded one of the most powerful PR companies in history. But it all came crashing down when leaked emails exposed Bell Pottinger’s role in fomenting unrest in South Africa to distract from the Zuma government’s corruption. Richard Poplak and Diana Neille were on the team of journalists who obtained those leaks. Their documentary Influence chronicles the rise of weaponized advertising, and the fall of a controversial PR man. This episode is brought to you by Hover and Article. Additional music by Audio Network.
Richard, Dianne and Face2Face host David Peck talk about Influence, fake news, lies and untruth, oppression and power, information overload, moral arcs and the politics of spectacle.TrailerGet tickets at Hot Docs online.And learn more about the film here.Synopsis:Influence is a profile of the morally slippery British reputation manager, Lord Timothy Bell. Born into a modest working class family, Bell climbed his way to the heights of global power, first spinning Margaret Thatcher into the “Iron Lady”, then working for the successors of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet; later branching out into France, Africa, Russia, the Middle East and elsewhere.In 1998, Bell co-founded the legendary PR firm Bell Pottinger, which quickly earned a reputation for representing even the most unsavory characters, regardless of the circumstances. In tracking the particulars of Bell’s extraordinary life, the film examines the politicization of modern communication over the last 40 years—the winding journey from advertising to algorithms; television to Twitter.Influence examines how Bell and his associates shaped and co-opted the very institutions on which our governance systems are premised, quietly entrenching one of the most sophisticated—and successful—business ventures of recent times: the weaponization of democracy.About the Directors:Richard Poplak is an award-winning author, journalist, and filmmaker. He has become one of the most widely read and controversial political journalists in South Africa, editing at large for Daily Maverick.Poplak has reported from over 30 developing countries for news outlets across the world, and he was part of a team that won the prestigious Global Shining Light Award for investigative journalism.Diana Neille is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker from Johannesburg, South Africa. A 2011 alumna of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Neille has subsequently co-founded two media startups with the intention of fostering long-form investigative storytelling and documentary filmmaking at a time when journalism is facing unprecedented challenges globally.Image Copyright and Credit: StoryScope Productions and Richard Poplak and Dianne Neille. Used with permission.F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.With thanks to Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, "Influence" takes us into the world of marketing and manipulation within our most foundational public institutions. It’s grounded in the story of Lord TImothy Bell, the firm Bell Pottinger and a politically-charged South Africa, but the questions posed and the realities revealed should be important to all of us. A great conversation about deep journalism, following the money and media literacy.
Norm Murray spoke with Director, Richard Poplak, about his new Documentary Film, "Influence". He co-wrote and co-directed with Diana Neille. The film introduces us to arguably the most controversial man the advertising industry ever produced, the late Lord Tim Bell. His PR firm, Bell Pottinger was infamously known for reputation-management of the most unsavory characters including, but not limited to, dictators, despots and arms dealers. "Influence" made it's World Broadcast Premiere on CBC and CBC Gem on May 21st and makes it's Canadian Festival Premiere at Hot Docs Festival Online, beginning May 28th.
In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Diana Nielle and Richard Poplak, writers and directors of the new film Influence, which looks at the influential Bell Pottinger PR firm and the rise of misinformation. They talk about the film’s origins, the extent of Bell Pottinger’s international operations, and how things came to […]
In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Diana Nielle and Richard Poplak, writers and directors of the new film Influence, which looks at the influential Bell Pottinger PR firm and the rise of misinformation. They talk about the film’s origins, the extent of Bell Pottinger’s international operations, and how things came to […]
This episode of #TheNewAbnormal is a masterclass in retail c/o a renowned specialist. Ian McGarrigle, an ex-senior retail journalist and Parter at Bell Pottinger, is Chairman of the World Retail Congress, the major annual event that attracts personnel from throughout the retail sector, on a truly global basis. (The 2020 event has been rescheduled to run later in the year...) In this interview, Ian discusses the key issue impacting retail, namely the game-changing macro issue of the global pandemic. But he also explains more specific ones such as why the theme of 'High-Velocity' was chosen as the title for this year's congress, alongside subjects such as trust, relevance, experience, NextGen technology, sustainability, purpose, and design. Finally, he talks in detail about the need for reinvention in these extraordinarily difficult times.
Cinematic Sound Radio - Soundtracks, Film, TV and Video Game Music
On today’s show, Jason Drury interviews composer Florencia Di Concilio Born in the midst of a South American dictatorship, Florencia Di Concilio grew up in a home full of dusty Italian opera records, hanging out at a young age in nightclubs and cabarets where her father used to play jazz and tango, and making her stage debuts in the underground scene as a punk rock bass player. Defying boundaries, she went on to become an accomplished classical pianist, earning degrees from the New England Conservatory in Boston, winning international competitions and performing internationally as a concert pianist. Through a mastery of classical musical language, and of electronic composition, Florencia Di Concilio has developed a trademark style that can be best described as an orchestration of everyday life. She uses real everyday noises and, through her personal sound processing technique, turns them into musical instruments, and orchestrates them into organic, complex, and architecturally imposing pieces of music. Her music is humanist: it uses a language to which we can immediately relate and which brings us back to what is artistically essential. Recent soundtracks include AVA, prizewinner at the 2017 Cannes Critics’ Fortnight; PUSH, winner of the Audience Award at the 2019 CPHdox and River Phoenix’s posthumous opus DARK BLOOD, and Heddy Honigmann’s latest feature, BUDDY. She was awarded the Grand Prize for Best Original Score at the 2019 Aubagne International Film Festival for her score for the short feature BULLES D’AIR, which was screened at last year’s Director’s Fortnight, in Cannes. Di Concilio has written major symphonic works as a composer-in-residence with the Miami Symphony Orchestra, and two piano concertos that have been performed by both South American and North American symphony orchestras. She has created music for groundbreaking visual artists like Camille Henrot, in a commission from the Jeu de Paume National Gallery in Paris, and for contemporary dance companies such as the CobosMika Dance Company in Barcelona. In March 2020, for Cinematic Sound Radio, Jason talked to Florencia Di Concilio via skype at her home in Paris The main part of the interview was about her recent project, INFLUENCE, a feature documentary that follows the rise and fall of the world’s most notorious public relations and reputation management firm; Bell Pottinger. With only two weeks to create the music for INFLUENCE, Florencia Di Concilio took advantage of the tight deadline to do her favourite thing; compose the film chronologically. Florencia’s conception of an original score is not only a collection of nice tunes but one long, well-structured piece. Because of the limited timeframe, Florencia was discovering the film as she was scoring it, which provides almost like an organic “first impression” sound within the music. Also, since the subject matter is so disturbing, the directors and Florencia decided to bring a subtle sarcasm throughout the music of the film, sometimes caricaturing, but also sometimes very blunt. With no time to go to a studio and record, her mixed score is electronic yet “classical.” Also, during the interview, Florencia also talks about her scoring techniques, how she came to work on the River Phoenix film Dark Blood, her love of organic sampling and highlight her immense enthusiasm for her work. We will also be playing music from Florencia’s acclaimed score for INFLUENCE, as well as samples from the composer’s varied musical palette, from electronics to pure orchestral delight. Enjoy! —— Cinematic Sound Radio Web: http://www.cinematicsound.net Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cinsoundradio Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cinematicsound Cinematic Sound Radio Fanfare and Theme by David Coscina https://soundcloud.com/user-970634922 Bumper voice artist: Tim Burden http://www.timburden.com
This story of influence and weaponized communication centers on the infamous Lord Tim Bell and his associates, known for their controversial geopolitical spin-doctoring. Bell, who started his career in advertising, had an affinity for difficult briefs and “people with problems,” as he liked to call them. He designed campaigns for unpopular politicians, dictators, disgraced companies, and celebrities the same way he put together product branding—by being concise and brutal. In 1987 he cofounded Bell Pottinger, which quickly became one of the most influential reputation-management companies in the world—until one of those campaigns incited racial division in South Africa and ruined BP's reputation to a degree beyond spinning. Its cause of death was shrewdly described by the New York Times as “acute embarrassment.”Using a fascinating blend of archival footage and interviews with Bell and the people who worked with, for, or against him, filmmakers Diana Neille and Richard Poplak conduct an impressively thorough investigation into the politicization of modern communication. Influence is terrifyingly relevant in our current era of alternative facts and theatrical politics.
Richard is better know to South Africans as journalist at large for the Daily Maverick where he writes under nom de plume Trainspotter. He is recognized for his acerbic wit, biting satire and razor sharp observations that have infuriated and amazed in equal measure over the last ten years. I pitched the discussion as a look at the year ahead and what 2020 night hold for South Africa and its people. Turns out quite a lot. And according to Richard there is not a lot to look forward to. At least in the short term. He says South Africa is facing multiple existential threats. We chatted about a number of things including the civil war racking the ANC, the parlous state of the main opposition parties, and the collapse of Eskom the state-owned power utility. Our discussion did place South Africa in a global context of a post-truth, late-stage capitalism reality where norms of political behavior and activism are being re-written every day. Richard also give some background to the documentary film he has directed together with Dianne Neille, Influence, which takes an in depth look at the rise and fall of PR firm Bell Pottinger. The film will premiere at the Sundance film Festival on January 23. Read Richard on Helen Zille and the DA here (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-25-get-out-a-gutted-da-stumbles-into-the-past/) .
Kelly and Mary Beth welcome back PRCA's Director General Francis Ingham, as he joins Ms. InterPReted from London for Part 2 of "Public Relations: Leading from the Front." In this segment, Francis provides an overview of the world-renowned Bell Pottinger case study ... one of the most high-profile examples of a public relations firm being held to account for ethical misconduct, in the history of the profession. PRCA's (and Francis's) bold stance on ethics in the Bell Pottinger case represents a ground-breaking moment of both courage and commitment in PR leadership that all professionals, academicians and students should consider, going forward. This PRCA case stands in stark contrast with the U.S.-based PR association's ethics code (an "inspiration"-only model of practice that includes no accountability mandate or credible adjudication process for firms or practitioners breaking rules of professional conduct) -- an ongoing compliance failure that Kelly and Mary Beth speak out against. Francis explains why ethical compliance and accountability matter -- and must be taken with utmost seriousness -- if the profession is to advance globally and achieve respect.
In Episode 9 (Part 1 of this two-part interview), Kelly Fletcher, MPRCA, and Mary Beth West, MPRCA, welcome Francis Ingham, MPRCA – global leader of PRCA and Chief Executive of ICCO – who explains many issues of critical importance to the global public relations profession... like the importance of non-partisanship in professional associations, ethics in strategic communications, mental well-being among professionals working in high-pressure PR jobs, diversity & inclusion (and how D&I must factor into meaningful workforce development strategies to go beyond mere lip service in the PR field). Watch for Part 2 of this interview in the next episode of #MsInterPReted, when Francis delves into the topic of ethics and PRCA's most world-renowned case study of accountability standards for ethical compliance -- the expulsion of Bell-Pottinger.
This episode hosts Shimon Cohen - Chairman at The PR Office - talking about his days as CEO at Bell Pottinger, the future of PR, and his tips and suggestions for someone starting out in the industry. Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @benjudah.
The BBC’s Radio Four is known among the British as the nation’s cerebral option. This well deserved reputation comes from decades of delivering consistently high quality content. What follows is an excellent example of this high standard. Since 2013, historian Peter Hennessy has picked four of his country’s highest profile politicians for in-depth interviews that explore their formative influences, experiences and impressions of people they had known. The final interview of the Seventh Series’ of Reflections with Peter Hennessy featured South African-raised anti-apartheid icon Lord Peter Hain. Aired last month, the interview provides unique insights into Hain, whose family were ejected from their homeland because of their political activism. Although best known for leading the sports boycott against white South Africa, Hain also became British MP for 24 years, served in the cabinets of two Prime Ministers and was knighted after his retirement in 2015. The peerage opened the door for Hain’s participation in the House of Lords, where his contribution to his former homeland has been immense through exposing the Guptas, Bell Pottinger and multinational companies which participated in the pillage of State Capture. Here, with kind permission of the BBC, are the two Peters – Hennessy and Hain……
This week on the PRmoment Podcast, in the latest of our life stories series, I interviewed chairman of The PR Office Shimon Cohen.The PR Office was founded in 2004, has a fee income of about £2.5m and about 15 employees.The business has clients across a broad range of sectors and Shimon has some interesting views on how he sees the scope of public relations.Here is a summary of what Shimon and I discussed:[00:01:05] How Shimon used to be executive director to the Chief Rabbi but ended up in PR.[00:04:32] Shimon talks us through his “job interview” with Sir Tim Bell. [00:06:49] Shimon describes what it was like working at Bell Pottinger in its heyday (Shimon left 14 years before the scandal that bought it down.) [00:07:16] Why good public relations essentially comes down to three things: Where are you now, where do you want to be and how do you get there. [00:09:46] How, Bell Pott Gate aside, Shimon believes that Sir Tim Bell's clarity of thought and wisdom was the most important factor in the development of public relations as a serious boardroom discipline. [00:12:14] Why Shimon believes that in many large companies you get really really good at doing something and you get promoted into a job that you don't know anything about! [00:12:45] Why Shimon didn't like being CEO of Bell Pottinger and resigned. [00:14:23] Why Shimon "adores" PR. [00:15:06] Why Shimon believes the PR sector hasn't really changed at all in the last 10 years. [00:17:34] Why PR people need to sell something that somebody wants to buy![00:18:23] How the communications triangle between government and organisations and the public has been inverted.[00:21:14] Why at The PR Office Shimon "outsources as much as possible". [00:23:19] Why everyone who works for The PR Office is a fee earner.[00:25:16] Why all of the PR Office's employees work from home on Fridays.[00:27:06] Why Shimon believes we may see professional managers with no PR experience being appointed as the CEOs of PR firms - just like what happens in law firms. [00:31:05] How the PR Office have maintained credentials across a broad range of work and not specialised in specific sectors. [00:31:025] Why Shimon believes PR people should not specialise in a specific vertical sector but retain a broader knowledge of business.
Echo Chamber editors Arun Sudhaman, Maja Pawinska Sims and Paul Holmes review some of the key news stories from the past few weeks, including the mergers of Text100/Bite and Kekst CNC, new leadership at H+K Strategies, Nike's Colin Kaepernick campaign, the one-year anniversary of Bell Pottinger's closure and much more, while also previewing next week's PRovoke18 Global PR Summit.
Mmusi Maimane and the DA show a little panic around the leadership of the Western Cape, which again highlights how the party lacks the necessary leadership to make a big difference in South Africa. Didi Mabuza doesn't seem too bothered about the recession, Enoch Godongwana and the State Capture Inquiry, and what we still need to know about Bell Pottinger. Brought to you by Nando's. Nando's
JOHANNESBURG — It was just over a year ago, on 5 September 2017, that I interviewed Francis Ingham, the Director General of the PRCA. At that time, the PRCA had made the extraordinary decision to expel Bell Pottinger from the organisation amid the dodgy work it did for the Guptas. What followed thereafter was the complete collapse of Bell Pottinger, which lost clients at a blistering pace and which ultimately was put into administration. In many ways, the fall of Bell Pottinger was a bellwether for things to come as the Guptas' empire would come to crumble in SA while Jacob Zuma would ultimately be forced to resign as President. Now we have a Commission of Inquiry into State Capture - unthinkable just a year ago. It was therefore interesting to catch up again with Ingham on how the PRCA's decision impacted the UK PR industry and the backstory to personal threats that he received during what was a dramatic time. Take a listen. - Gareth van Zyl
'n Jaar gelede is die Britse openbare betrekkinge maatskappy, Bell Pottinger, onder administrasie geplaas na 'n skandaal as gevolg van sy verbintenis met die Gupta-familie en sy aktiwiteite in Suid Afrika. De maatskappy bestaan nie meer nie. Maar die gevolge van Bell Pottinger se aktiwiteite - oftewel sy nalatenskap van skade - duur ongelukkig nog voort. Gillian de Gouveia doen verslag…
South African PR industry veteran Keri-Ann Stanton joins the Echo Chamber following the Holmes Report's third African Innovation Summit in Johannesburg last week. Stanton discusses her decision to depart Engage Joe Public for the African-owned M&N Brands holding group and, in conversation with Arun Sudhaman, explores how the market is changing, particularly in terms of black economic empowerment. The duo also talk about the Bell Pottinger scandal and South Africa's global reputation following the Zuma era.
In episode 1 of Smoke Signal we speak with Editor-in-Chief and CEO of the Holmes Report, Arun Sudhaman. “Bell Pottinger is probably the biggest story that I will cover in my career,” reveals Arun in episode one of Smoke Signal. The demise of the venerable Bell Pottinger brand was not only the biggest story in the last 12 months but of his whole career, a big call for a journalist who has been covering the PR sector for over a decade. As well as giving an inside view into the collapse of Bell Pottinger, Arun shares his views on some of the key themes that he's seeing as major influences impacting the practice of PR globally - the emergence of purpose as a key driver for brands; the increased role of data and analytics in creating and measuring campaigns; and the impact technology now plays in everything we do in PR today. While the quality of PR campaigns across the globe has never been higher, as seen in awards winners being given globally, Arun believes there still a breadth of work that is "relatively average" that continues to plague the industry. The cricket loving Arun (he hosts a podcast on this too), also shares his views on the increased presence of creativity; the role of awards in the PR sector; and the rise and rise of crisis management as an important facet in the PR toolkit. In this episode we also take a look 'inside the news' at one of the more bizarre stories of recent times with ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, telling a group of communications professionals that he "hates journalists and is over mainstream media". Enjoy episode one of Smoke Signal.
This week on the PRmoment Podcast we’ve got Lord Tim Bell. Lord Bell started his career as a runner in an advertising firm and ended up becoming the one of the most high profile PR people in the world. Synonymous with The Conservative Party of the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher and the now defunct Bell Pottinger - it’s been quite a career. Here are the highlights of what we discuss: Lord Bell’s perspective on the demise of Bell Pottinger How Bell Pottinger might have survived the Oakbay Capital/Gupta scandal How he feels about the PR firm he founded 25 years earlier going into administration How he came to make the move from advertising to PR The insider's perspective on his role advising the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher. How government communications has changed since the 1980s What was behind the growth of Bell Pottinger in 1988 to a £27m business in 2016 What was the rationale behind taking Bell Pottinger out of the wider Chime Group? As a big beast of British public relations – looking back on his career what does Lord Bell believe his legacy will be? Has the Bell Pottinger Oakbay Capital scandal affected Lord Bell’s legacy? Why Lord Bell believes the PR industry is “always taking the wrong path” What happened in the factory of Bell Pottinger - the Bell Pottinger London office How many cigarettes Lord Bell has a day
In the wake of the US Civil War, the Republican Party had won itself a lot of political goodwill. The Party of Lincoln, as it was called, could, in the eyes of many, do no wrong. Not only had it brought the country together but it had ended the great national shame of slavery. It was in this environment where the party could do no wrong that corruption flourished. This same pattern has played out in post-Apartheid South Africa. Roman Cabanac and Jonathan Witt are the co-hosts of The Renegade Report, one of the most popular podcasts based in South Africa. They join us on the show to tell us all about how Jacob Zuma in conjunction with a family known as The Guptas hired international PR firm Bell Pottinger to deliberately incite racial tensions as a way to distract from widescale corruption. In an Attention Economy, people will do anything to either bring attention to themselves or move it away from things they don’t want the public to pay attention to. This is the world we live in. The ability to bring humanity’s collective attention to bear on a problem is the challenge of our age. If we can just focus, we can solve our problems. There are people for whom that is the last thing that they want. You can find The Renegade Report on all major podcast feeds and find them on Twitter at @Renegade_Report.
Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss the retirements of two giants of the in-house communications sector — IBM's Jon Iwata and GE's Beth Comstock amid considerable evolution of the corporate communications role. Elsewhere, Holmes and Arun Sudhaman also discuss the PR industry's ongoing efforts to improve ethical standards after the Bell Pottinger scandal, including Richard Edelman's call for improved policies and enforcement.
Henley Intelligence — During this interesting address, Lord Peter Hain, talks directly and candidly about state capture, corruption, collusion, and cronyism, having devoted a great deal of his career to defeating it, much like he did as a key player in the downfall of Bell Pottinger. Lord Hain is a former Leader of the British House of Commons, author of 21 books, politician and activist, having also served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown for twelve years. As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, he negotiated an end to the conflict, and as a staunch anti-apartheid leader, Peter was instrumental in stopping all-white South African sports tours from 1969 onwards. Don't miss this insightful and important address.
Former Edelman APACMEA CEO David Brain joins the Echo Chamber to discuss Bell Pottinger's demise and what this means for broader perceptons of the public relations industry. In a wide-ranging conversation with Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes, Brain also explores his vision for the PR agency of the future, a few months after stepping down from his lengthy career as one of Edelman's top global leaders.
In a not unexpected move, the The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) announced last week that it had imposed its most serious sanction on Bell Pottinger, following its investigation into Bell Pottinger's work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa. The investigation followed a complaint from South Africa's Democratic Alliance. Bell Pottinger will not be eligible to reapply for corporate membership of the PRCA for a minimum period of five years. On the face of it, the PRCA had little choice but to expel Bell Pottinger; if they had not, its own credibility would have been on the line. But the PRCA has been criticised over its handling over a number of issues resulting from Bell Pott Gate and here Francis Ingham covers these. We discuss: Whether the PRCA feels guilty about the impact of the PRCA's decision to expel Bell Pottinger on the large number of potentially innocent staff, who this week, could be concerned about their jobs. Bearing in mind that the PRCA is not a regulatory body, and has approximately 20,000 members in an industry of about 80,000 professionals, by making a push for regulation is the PRCA trying to be something it is not? Whether Francis Ingham regrets that the PRCA sent a promotional email which used the Bell Pottinger scandal to promote the benefits its membership offer. Thanks to Shout! Communications for helping us to produce this podcast
Russell Goldsmith was joined by the PRCA's Director General, Francis Ingham, Mark Borkowksi, CEO of Borkowski and Claire Walker, CEO of Firefly Communications to discsuss the fallout of the PRCA's decision to expel Bell Pottinger from its membership and the news that the agency has been put into administration. With thanks to markettiers for hosting and recording this episode and to global media intelligence provider www.CARMA.com for supporting the show.
Die etiese dilemma vir ouditeursfirmas en bestuurskonsultasie maatskappye soos KPMG en McKinsey is in die kollig, nadat Corruption Watch SA gesê het hy gaan die Amerikaanse owerhede vra om McKinsey te ondersoek. Dit gaan oor sy optrede by die Gupta-beheerde Oakbay maatskappy in transaksies met Eskom. Intussen het Save SA ander besighede versoek om hulle bande met KPMG te verbreek. Die versoek volg nadat Bell Pottinger 'n kommunikasie-veldtog vir die Guptas bestuur het, wat rasse-spanning in Suid-Afrika verhoog het. Na die bevinding van die Britse reguleerder is Bell Pottinger vir vyf jaar geskors uit die liggaam, terwyl die firma se tak in Asië weggebreek het. Die Britse afdeling van die reklamemaatskappy, Bell Pottinger, is intussen onder administrasie geplaas ná die maatskappy ernstige finansiële verliese gelei het weens sy veldtog in Suid-Afrika. Monitor praat met die Direkteur van die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit Stellenbosch, professor Piet Naude.
Never miss your #MediaSnack - subscribe for updates every Friday On this week's #MediaSnack we look at the Q2 results published by the marketing services groups over the summer and consider the causes and implications. Is this downturn a blip or the new normal? Are the days of holding company dominance and stellar growth rates over? Probably, but we have some ideas how things might play out. On this week's Good Week Bad Week we celebrate the launch of GroupM's new agency, the merger of MEC and Maxus, called WaveMaker. It's a bad week for the "crappy media supply chain" as P&G's Marc Pritchard gives an update on his 5 point media transparency action plan and heads to DMExco next week to share the progress they've made and to issue a rallying cry to the stragglers to shape up or miss out on P&G's vast media investment. Oh, and Bell Pottinger, once one of the world's most powerful PR forces has ruined its own reputation and faces meltdown this week. A very bad week indeed. Further reading: http://adage.com/article/agency-news/invisible-hand-wpp-wednesday-transparency-takes-toll/310217/ http://www.moreaboutadvertising.com/2017/08/heres-a-turn-up-is-publicis-on-the-right-track-while-wpp-has-lost-its-way/ http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/omnicom-continues-organic-growth-lead-rivals/1443022 https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/306145/wpp-reports-organic-decline-shares-tumble.html Good Week: http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/wpp-unveils-wavemaker-name-merged-mec-maxus-agency/1443769 Bad Week: http://www.adweek.com/digital/digital-advertising-is-facing-its-ultimate-moment-of-truth-and-billions-of-dollars-are-at-stake/ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/sep/07/bell-pottinger-could-go-under-within-days-sources-claim Question of the Week: What do you think about the new #MediaSnack? Worse, Better, Whatever.... Please vote. Check back for the results next Friday.
Die werk wat die internasionale skakelmaatskappy Bell Pottinger vir die Gupta-familie se Oakbay firma in Suid Afrika gedoen het, het 'n opskudding veroorsaak in die skakelwese professie. Die professie ondersoek nou of 'n Etiese Kode nodig is. Die Internasionale regsfirma, Herbert Smith Freehills, het bevind dat Bell Pottinger se optrede Suid-Afrika potensieel langs rasselyne kon verdeel. Bell Pottinger is vir 5 jaar uit die Britse Openbare betrekkinge en Kommunikasie Vereniging (PRCA) geskors, terwyl die uitvoerende hoof, James Henderson bedank het. Daar is verlede week berig dat Bell Pottinger moontlik vandeesweek onder administrasie geplaas kan word. Instussen het Bell Pottinger se firma in Asië Vrydag aangekondig dat hy gaan wegbreek van die moedermaatskappy. Die departement van Strategiese Kommunikasie by die Universiteit Johannesburg het navorsing gedoen oor Bell Pottinger se optrede in die Oakbay-kontrak, en by ons in die ateljee is Clarissa Muir, 'n dosent wat deel was van die navorsing...
Bell Pottinger's stunning demise since it was expelled from the PRCA has rocked the PR world. In a special podcast with Arun Sudhaman, PRCA director-general Francis Ingham explains why the trade association decided to impose its harshest-ever sanction on the UK PR firm, following Bell Pottinger's work for South Africa's controversial Gupta family.
The PRCA's ruling on Bell Pottinger, OFCOM and European Communication Monitor reports, the CIPR election, social media platform updates, and Twitter's application as a customer service tool are all among the topics discussed on the latest #FuturePRoof podcast.
Die Britse Vereniging vir Skakelwese en Kommunikasie, die PRCA, se skorsing van die Britse skakelmaatskappy, Bell Pottinger is die eerste van sy soort in die Vereniging se geskiedenis. Bell Pottinger se lidmaatskap is vir vyf jaar opgehef. Die hoof van etieke prosesse by die PRCA, Nichloas Dunn-McAfee sê Bell Pottinger se optrede kan beteken dat maatskappy sy deure sluit.
JOHANNESBURG — UK public relations firm Bell Pott…
A delayed drunk driving case, Bell Pottinger's CEO quits, dating site secrets revealed, the 'era of the smeara' and more...
A delayed drunk driving case, Bell Pottinger's CEO quits, dating site secrets revealed, the 'era of the smeara' and more...
The Democratic Alliance wants Public Relations Company Bell Pottinger to make a full disclosure of its contracts with the Gupta family. This comes after the British -based PR Company was found guilty by the U.K's Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) for breaching its code over work done for the Gupta family. The DA had complained to the Association about Bell Pottinger's campaign that allegedly fanned racial tensions in South Africa. SABC's Tshepo Mongoai reports…
Die DA sê die Britse Skakelmaatskappy, Bell Pottinger sal vyf dae tyd hê om te appelleer teen die Britse Openbare Skakelliggaam se beslissing wat betref sy veldtog vir die Guptafamilie. Die DA het by die Verenigde Koningryk se Openbare Skakelvereniging gekla dat Bell Pottinger rassespanning in Suid-Afrika aangeblaas het terwyl hy die belange van die Guptas, Duduzane Zuma en ander bevorder het. 'n Mediakenner, Chris Vick het in reaksie op die DA se aankondiging aan Dianke Nel gesê die Britse Openbare Skakelliggaam se besluit is beslis 'n stap in die regte rigting.
UK Public Relations firm, Bell Pottinger has been found guilty of breaching the code of conduct of the Public Relations and Communications Association. Professional Practices Committee (PPC) has concluded that Bell Pottinger, one of the largest UK-based public relations consultancy breached the trade body's code of conduct in its work for Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments. The DA had complained to the Association about Bell Pottinger's campaign that allegedly fanned racial tensions in South Africa. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to DA National spokesperson, Phumzile Van Damme
What is the aim of public relations (PR) agencies, and why is it such a booming industry in the Middle East? The team discusses the PR industry, and the role it plays in the media in 2017. We look at how the PR industry is shaping the news, and how the news is shaping PR. We talk about the recent scandal that hit PR agency Bell Pottinger in South Africa, where they are accused of instigating racial tensions and generating fake news. We are joined for this conversation by special guest Alex Malouf, a senior corporate communications executive, board member of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) and recently named by the Holmes Report as the first communications innovator in the Middle East and Africa.
LONDON — Here's the fascinating story of how a st…
Die Gupta-gesin bevraagteken die egtheid van die sogenaamde Gupta Leaks e-posse. In 'n onderhoud met BBC Radio 4 het een van die Gupta broers, Atul, ook beweer die konsep van witmonopoliekapitaal was deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke klimaat lank voor die Britse skakelmaatskappy, Bell Pottinger, se betrokkenheid met die Gupta-gesin. Joan-Marie Verhoef berig dat Atul Gupta tydens die onderhoud, Bell Potinger, wat aangekla word van rasse-verdeling in Suid-Afrika, verdedig het.
It is 23 years since the birth of South Africa's Rainbow Nation and it stands at a watershed. Its President, Jacob Zuma, is facing a vote of no confidence in parliament next week, which could see him kicked out of office in a country increasingly angry at his conspicuous enrichment, while the poorest get poorer. At issue is the President's relationship with one of South Africa's richest families, the Gupta brothers. In the second of her four part investigative series, Manveen Rana, looks into the allegation that the British PR firm, Bell Pottinger, was hired, in part, to inflame racial tensions on behalf of the Guptas, in order to distract from a massive financial scandal at the heart of Government - an allegation that Bell Pottinger deny.
The PR firm Bell Pottinger has often courted controversy with its choice of clients; they represented the Paralympian Oscar Pistorius after he was charged with murder, Asma al-Assad the Syrian first lady, and the Pinochet Foundation, whilst the former Chilean dictator was being detained in Britain. But the latest crisis the company faces could be the most challenging yet - they stand charged of fomenting racial tensions in the tinderbox of post-apartheid South Africa. In his first broadcast interview following the scandal, the CEO of Bell Pottinger is adamant that this was never their intention. Manveen Rana has the first of four special investigative reports across the week. (Photo: Demonstrators protesting against the South African president. Credit: Getty Images)
Die Openbare Beskermer, Nelson Mandela-dag en natuurlik Donald Trump, was die week van die gewildste onderwerpe wat op sosiale media bespreek is. Die bestuurshoof van ROi Africa, Tonya Khoury het aan Dianke Nel gesê dat Bell Pottinger ook 'n groot nuusmaker was.
South Africans have rejected Bell Pottinger's apo…
Bell Pottinger, losing weight and racism. Finding the good stuff in all our current news!
The group, Save South Africa and the Democratic Alliance have called on British public relations firm, Bell Pottinger to disclose all dealings with the Guptas and President Jacob Zuma. The British company issued an apology to anyone impacted by the work it did for the Gupta family and its Oakbay company. The firm stopped working for the Guptas three months ago, as pressure mounted over allegations of state capturElvis Presslin spoke to Ralph Mathekga, Head of Political Economy at Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection about this call ...
Die Britse openbare skakelgroep Bell Pottinger het 'n senior vennoot afgedank en drie ander werknemers geskors na beskuldigings dat die groep 'n veldtog ondersteun het wat rasseverdeling in Suid-Afrika aangeblaas het. Dit hou verband met hulle hantering van die mynmaatskappy Oakbay se rekening. Oakbay behoort aan die Gupta-familie. Bell Pottinger het ook 'n internasionale regsfirma, Herbert Smith Freehills, aangestel om die Oakbay-rekening te ondersoek. Hendrik Martin het meer besonderhede.
Just as the protestors on Hamburg's streets have varied demands, so too do the leaders of the G20. The US, for example, wants more trade tariffs (especially on steel imports) - a policy that not all members agree with. We get the latest on the summit from our correspondent in Hamburg, Amir Paivar. London-based PR firm Bell Pottinger apologises after its social media campaigns caused offence in South Africa. Nikita Ramkissoon from the Save South Africa campaign tells us her objections to it. Plus, we meet the astronomer turned entrepreneur Dr Kim Nilson, whose company Pivigo matches data scientists with firms who need them. Susannah Streeter is joined throughout the programme by Peter Ryan, senior business correspondent for ABC in Sydney. (Picture credit Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
Market Analyst, Nerina Visser of ETF South Africa looks at South African markets on this good news on this Friday, net exporter of maize, after two years of imports due the droughts and UK-based PR firm Bell Pottinger has been at the centre of a social media storm for their alleged role in the stirring up racial tension in South Africa, who yesterday issued a full, unequivocal and absolute apology to anyone impacted
CliffCentral.com — Creative souls previously with one of SA's biggest production houses, Velocity, have come together to create an advertising Voltron of sorts. Mpho Twala and Sabelo Mahlangu are in the studio and we talk about The Rudeboy Collective, Rob Malpage, Cat Lindsay, Anthony Bila, Monareng Mokwetla, collaborating with people outside of advertising, Bell Pottinger, how to stop complaining about change and then some. And we laugh. I mean, come on!
Nathan, Mike, and Mahler talk about abortions, nuclear nonproliferation, Aleppo, the Oromo people, FARC, Bell Pottinger, smiling in France, the Trump Tax, Dakota Access, Yahoo, exotic dancers, and more.
Anne McElvoy presents the programme this week.Jonathan Miller is back from Syria, where he's been reporting for ITN and working on a documentary for Channel 4, "Syria's Torture Machine". Following on from his experience in the making of "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields", the new documentary includes images taken from mobile phone videos, allegedly showing abuse and torture. He tells Anne what it is like to work openly as a foreign reporter in Syria and what happened when he tried to talk to people who had not been approved by his minders. The documentary will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday 19th December at 11.10pm.Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP has been flagging up his intention to prosecute journalists who threaten to prejudice or impede trials, with a handful of convictions already since he took office 18 months ago. He is trying to stem the flow of stories about people who have been arrested with new emphasis on the risk of discouraging witnesses from coming forward if the suspect's name has been tarnished. Will he fine journalists in future, or go further and jail them? And The Independent's had two front page stories this week which have made the news more widely, on lobbyists Bell Pottinger, based on secret filming of their staff when bidding for new business. Bell Pottinger say they are complaining to the PCC and have instructed lawyers. Iain Overton worked on the story for the Bureau of Investigation - is this story really in the public interest, when it arguably shows little more than lobbyists boasting to attract new clients? And how does The Times' Danny Finkelstein respond to the lobbyists claims that he is worth targeting to place ideas in his columns? The producer is Simon Tillotson.