In the Hotseat's blog | Latest story Tough Love

posted by Sam Cottle, January 14th, 2011

Next week Channel 4 will air Mary Portas’ new series, Secret Shopper. Portas made her name on TV by making-over and transforming the premises of struggling businesses . Her job was to make them more appealing to their target market and therefore helping the business achieve commercial success. Renowned for her sharp tongued nature, Portas has succeeded in turning around businesses with some much needed tough love which is something, as a business development manager, I can really relate to.

Tags: business turnaround, disillusion, distance, enthusiasm, fresh eyes, Gordon Ramsey, Mary Portas, tough love

Protest culture: why the French love burning cars and the British do not

posted by ayessaloutfi, December 9th, 2010

Strikes are part of the French culture. Furthermore, I think that the French are addicted to riots and demonstrations. In 1789 during the French Revolution, the guillotine beckoned the arrival of public beheadings of the Aristocrats and since then, we have never stopped defending our rights and demonstrating our anger at the government.

In October of this year in France, the whole country was totally shaken by the demonstrations, which took place in response to the pension reforms. In comparison, the English seem to be reasonably calm; for example when the government announced cuts of 500,000 public sector jobs and trebled tuition fees for students.

Tags: Bastille Day, France, guillotine, May 1968, national interest, pension reforms, politics, Revolution, strikes, tuition fees

When politics mixes with gossip

posted by ayessaloutfi, December 6th, 2010

I’m currently studying political sciences at Sciences Po Lille, and have come to Right Angles on my internship from France. In my time here, I’ve found the comparison between the UK and French media very interesting, particularly when looking at key figures in society and how the media are increasingly portraying them with a celebrity status.

Wikileaks. This is the main scandal of these past 5 days. Among the millions of publications from the website, I read an unflattering portrait of my President Nicolas Sarkozy who has been described by US diplomats as a “thin-skinned, erratic, tyrannical and hyperactive person”. Furthermore, Wikileaks also revealed that a senior official in the Commonwealth had doubts over Prince Charles‘s suitability to succeed his mother. Poor politicians, they seem to be put in a very awkward situation and that amuses me.

continue reading »

Tags: France, life politics, newspapers, over-mediatization, politicians, press, Sarko, Wikileaks

This time next year we’ll be millionaires

posted by Sam Cottle, December 3rd, 2010

In recent news, Fiji Water – the drink of choice for the 2009 Oscars and Barack Obama’s election night in 2008, was left with no choice but to close its plant last week due to an increased tax levy imposed by the Fijian government. The levy was introduced in an increasing unstable situation by the military occupied Pacific island Hundreds of jobs could have potentially been lost, but after two days the plant reopened again, agreeing to comply with the tax levy. Fiji Water is a major exporter and income generator for the country and therefore significant boost for the unstable economy. But within those couple of days, it got us all debating – would Fiji Water still be Fiji Water if it no longer came from Fiji?

Tags: audience, bad pr, branding, broad appeal, coverage, ethos, philosophy, profile, water

Compassion in World Farming

posted by Claire Fry, November 26th, 2010

We are the media advisors to Philip Lymbery; the CEO of Compassion in World Farming and at the moment things are getting really exciting. Compassion in World Farming is a major animal welfare organisation whose main aim is to completely abolish factory farming by the year 2050. Compassion as an institution is really busy right now with the re-application of the Nocton Mega Dairy proposal which is getting us some great interview opportunities for Philip.

Tags: blog, CEO PR, compassion in world farming, podcast, twitter

Cinderella of Bucklebury

posted by Sam Cottle, November 24th, 2010

Following the exciting news of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement, the couple has been a magnet for media attention. While William has grown up in the lime light, is comfortable around the cameras and has been taught how to deal with the press appropriately, it is all new Kate and those flashing lights must enough for anyone to think twice about entering into a relationship with a royal which comes with the commitment to the notorious paparazzi.

Tags: audience, bad pr, kate middleton, media magnet, newspapers, on side, personality, press, professionalism, style, training

Women in business

posted by Sam Cottle, November 11th, 2010

Earlier this week the Women of the Future Awards took place in London, announcing 11 winners across a range of different sectors from entrepreneurs to science and technology. I think it is fantastic to highlight the successes of women in business. Each of them have their own story which are admirable and inspiring. However, does it not also endorse the double standard that exists between women and men and the proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ which holds women back from seniority in business? If there was a ‘Men of the Future’ awards, would women have an opinion on this or would it be hypocritical to complain?

Tags: awards, being amazing, confidence, media training, success, women

Inadequate, pimpled and single

posted by Sam Cottle, November 10th, 2010

BBC journalist, Andrew Marr, last week attacked bloggers calling them ‘inadequate, pimpled and single.’ This is my first blog and I’m now very conscious that I fall into that category, counting amongst my friends Cat Bin Lady and Susan Boyle. As you might imagine Andrew Marr has seen a fair amount of backlash off this and it’s now a hot topic of conversation – is he right?

Tags: andrew marr, audience, blog, blogging, criticism, good pr, hobby, newspapers, opinion, social media