Infectious ELAS’ swine flu story a worldwide hit
A story about swine flu skivers distributed by Mason Media for client Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) spread quickly around the globe this month.
The tale of how business owners were becoming frustrated with staff using an NHS advice line about the virus in order to get extra days of work ended up in print and on-air from Scotland to Sri Lanka.
The Daily Telegraph was one of a clutch of British national newspapers to use it, deciding to make it their main front page article. It also appeared in The Sun and on BBC News, Sky News, Radio 5 Live, LBC and Talk Sport.
In all, there were 78 pieces of coverage from regional newspapers including the Aberdeen Press & Journal to Eastern Daily Press. Trade titles including HR Review also covered the news. The story even made it as far as the Kuwait Government’s official news website and South Asia News resulting in coverage worth a total of £132k.
O’Connors details big business threat to break brokers
Specialist law firm O’Connors was making the headlines by revealing how major businesses were trying to save cash in the recession by cutting ties with insurance brokers.
Leading trade title Insurance Times penned an exclusive article crediting O’Connors’ partner Nigel Wallis. His comments sparked so much debate in the industry that the publication also wrote a follow-up piece giving feedback from mainland Europe ahead of a major insurance conference.
O’Connors hadn’t had PR support before turning to Mason Media in Spring 2007. Since then, the firm, which works with major blue chip companies and entrepreneurs on bespoke insurance and corporate finance projects, has regularly featured in the likes of the FT, The Lawyer and Post magazines, and picked up an award from North West Business Insider.
O’Connors, which was formed by brothers Paul and Mark O’Connor and Nigel Wallis in 2004, has much more details of its musically and nautically-minded staff at its website www.oconnorsllp.co.uk.
Stars rally to support Anthony Walker Foundation
The cinema premiere of a film directed by comedian, Lenny Henry starring Liverpool actors Neil Fitzmaurice, Cathy Tyson, Louis Emerick and Lynn Francis provided an occasion to engage with media and discuss the reality of racial hatred on behalf of the Anthony Walker Foundation.
‘Colour Blind’ opened to queues of viewers for a screening at Liverpool’s FACT on 5th August driven by media coverage in the Liverpool Echo and an interview on City Talk.
News of the annual Anthony Walker Foundation festival at the Greenbank Sports Academy drove thousands of visitors to the event with Granada TV filming from the festival for a headline piece in the evening news bulletin.
New at Mason Media
August saw the arrival of a new look, new staff and new clients at Mason Media.
The Mason Media website was relaunched in glorious technicolour to give further detail on the agency’s capabilities and expertise.
Jemma Volp-Fletcher arrived as Senior Account Manager to boost the consumer team offering. Jemma brings with her strong experience from retail, leisure and charity and will be working on the agency’s consumer brands.
A selection of new clients also signed to Mason Media in August. The UK’s premier parcel carrier management firm, Global Freight Solutions, boutique jewellery business Accessories Online and Boughey Distribution have sought our expertise in targeting consumer and business audiences.
Mason Media has been appointed to handle consumer PR for accessories portal, Accessories Online (www.accessoriesonline.co.uk).
The Liverpool based company stocks a range of exclusive jewellery from leading designers including Fiona Paxton, Dyrberg/ Kern and Cath Kidston and ships across the globe to customers in the UK, US, Japan and beyond. The brief includes raising awareness for the brand, educating consumers on Accessories Online’s extensive range of designer jewellery, bags, hair accessories and bridal and driving traffic to the site.
Mason Media will help position Accessories Online as the authority on fashion trends by building a relationship with key fashion media and creating a profile for founder, Vicky Hesketh. Through offering a proactive press office sampling service Mason Media aims to drive product placement for the brand which has already been featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Cosmopolitan.
“Working with Accessories Online is a great opportunity for Mason Media to build on its consumer portfolio, we are delighted to be working with a fast growing business to position Vicky as a successful entrepreneur and establish the site as an authority on all things accessories,” says Head of Consumer, Christine Morgan
“Our vast experience in the fashion and retail sector and understanding of the fashion media will help us position Accessories Online as a leading supplier of designer jewellery.”
Following the launch of a new website this summer Accessories Online has seen an increase in turnover of 109% between July 2008 and July 2009. In the last year alone visits to the site have risen by 40%.
Vicky Hesketh, Managing Director of Accessories Online, said: “The growth we have seen in the last year is amazing and customer feedback on our range and service is extremely positive. Through working with Mason Media we aim to drive more traffic to our site to further our success.”