New client, ABode Chester, the boutique hotel which opens in Chester in April 2010, started the new year by being named as one of the top hotels for 2010 by The Times.

The 85 room hotel, backed by Michelin-starred chef, Michael Caines, started its launch PR programme with high profile exposure and is followed with national and regional interview opportunities.

 ELAS advises on Harry Redknapp’s troubles

 As Harry Redknapp landed in hot water at the start of the year, Mason Media ensured that Employment Law specialists, the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS), grabbed their share of the media spotlight. 

A rapid response to news that the Tottenham Hotspur manager had attended Bishopsgate Police Station charged with £40,000 tax evasion saw ELAS quoted on the sport pages of the Daily Express advising that should Harry be found guilty, Spurs would have no choice to give him the red card.

North West Cancer Research Fund p p p pick up a penguin

Regional cancer charity, North West Cancer Research Fund (NWCRF) piggy-backed a penguin this month with guerilla activity to highlight the dangers of UV rays and causes of skin cancer.

A photocall kitting out a selection of the Go Penguin installations with protective T-shirts and sunglasses created great talkability throughout NWCRF’s social media networks and also created a colourful picture led story with the Liverpool Echo.

Cherrygood helps send consumers to sleep

This month, Mason Media caught the attention of consumers with the news that Cherrygood, the UK’s only ready to drink cherry juice, can help send them to sleep.  News on how the tart cherry juice contains high amounts of Melatonin, a natural sleep aid, made news across national consumer magazines, Essentials and Women’s Health as well as the health pages of the Express.co.uk.

Immediate results were seen at the till point with an increase in sales resulting directly from the wide editorial coverage.

i-paye appoints Mason Media

 Mason Media has signed up i-paye, one of the region’s fastest growing businesses, as a new client.

 I-paye, which was recently ranked seventh in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and number one in the Liverpool Daily Post’s Business Hot 100, is an umbrella company providing payroll services to self-employed contractors and recruitment agencies.  Mason Media will work with Directors Gaynor McGrail, Shaun McGrail and Paul Hughes implementing a comprehensive marketing and PR strategy, further raising profile and helping i-paye break into a number of new sectors.

Kirwans Solicitors made widespread national news this month with news of a legal first after working on a case to represent three-year-old Jay Jones who won the right to sue after being attacked with a car jack, by another boy of three.

 Once alerted of the unique case Mason Media swung into action, interviewing the victim’s mother to establish the full facts around the incident before devising a media strategy to maximise publicity for Kirwans.

 Within 24 hours the law firm had been quoted in most national newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mail and online sites for The Times, Independent, Guardian and Express.

 That same day Kirwans made headline news on the BBC Lunchtime and Six O’clock News as well as ITN Lunchtime and Six O’clock news bulletins. Channel Four Lunchtime News, Sky News and Channel Five also included comments from both senior partner, David Kirwan and Head of PI, Simon Gibson.

 Simon also appeared on BBC Five Live Breakfast, Five Live Victoria Derbyshire Show, BBC Radio Four Today Programme, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show plus Granada Lunchtime and Evening News reports.

 David went on to appear live on BBC North West Tonight, BBC World Service, the BBC News Channel and numerous local radio stations.

 Setanta Insurance Keeps Drama Off The Roads

This month Mason Media team was in the driving seat to deliver publicity for Setanta Insurance through launching a national anti drug driving campaign in Ireland entitled, Keep Drama Off The Roads.

 Targeting 15-25 year olds, the campaign encourages young people to create a short film demonstrating the devastating impact of drug driving.  Launch of the initiative and support from celebrity actor and presenter, Baz Ashmawy has so far secured coverage in The Sun, News of the World, TV Now, Cork Independent, Galway Independent, Limerick Leader, Killarney Advertiser, Leitrim Observer and 13 radio stations.

Mason Media makes good news of Boughey results

Boughey Distribution hit the headlines with a raft of good news this month.  The company’s announcement of a record £39.2 million turnover was reported in the key trade titles, including Food Manufacture, and target regional publications.  Managing Director, Keith Forster, was also interviewed by North West Tonight about ‘The Box’, a year long project following a container and its contents around the world.

In a further boost to its profile, and a fitting end to a successful year, Boughey fought off strong competition to win the title of Large Business of the Year at the glittering Cheshire Business Awards.

PR delivers sales uplift 

Benefits of PR on the bottom line were evident this week for clients Cherrygood and GFS with increased sales following press coverage.

For a two week period following coverage for Cherrygood in national newspapers, Daily Mail and The Express, a sales uplift of 13-25% was experienced across all supermarket retailers. 

A piece of coverage in the Argus Online’s business section for GFS delivered an increase in web traffic of 30% and resulting in sales enquiries.

New team members

A recent addition to the Mason Media team comes in the guise of Rachel Mealing, Head of Professional Services.  Bringing a wealth of experience in handling PR for business to business clients, working both agency and client side, Rachel has worked for Bell Pottinger North, Golley Slater, Addleshaw Goddard and Baker Tilly.  Rachel joins Mason Media’s corporate team looking after clients including Kirwans, Boughey and GFS.

News of national postal strikes dominated the nation’s headlines this month largely detailing disruption to the public and business.  Mason Media hijacked the news agenda as an opportunity for client, Parcel2go.com delivering a surge of new business.

 In one week, Fil Adams-Mercer, CEO of the online parcel delivery service, was interviewed on five national media outlets positioning Parcel2Go as an alternative to beat the strike. BBC News 24 featured a live interview with Fil on the effects of the strikes, ITN filmed at the Bolton-based firm’s depot and featured a piece on Channel 4 News. Fil also appeared on Sky News talking about the boost in traffic to his business following the strike as well as conducting a five minute discussion on BBC Radio Five Live’s Drive.

 The following week Fil was guest of the day on BBC 2’s business programme, Working Lunch, again discussing the impact of the strikes on SMEs.  Print and internet media also ran with stories on the firm with features in the Daily Mail, Guardian Online and Internet Retailer.

 As a result Parcel2Go has seen an increase of 10,000 parcels delivered with, at one point 400 users processing deliveries online at the same time.

Strike delivers profits and profile for GFS

Another of Mason Media’s newest clients took advantage of the postal strike to make its breakthrough with national media this month.  Global Freight Solutions (GFS), the UK’s largest parcel and carrier management company, reported that the threat of strike action had helped contribute to a 30 per cent growth in half-year turnover.

 The story attracted the attention of The Guardian and Financial Times as well as securing covering with key trade magazines and regional print and broadcast media around the company’s headquarters in Billingshurst, West Sussex.

Cherrygood news for Cherrygood

Mason Media delivered some Cherrygood news for its new fruit juice client this month.  Within two weeks of working with the drinks brand, Mason Media secured two national health stories on the benefits of cherryjuice to position it as the new natural sports drink.

Coverage in the Daily Express and Daily Mail appeared in consecutive weeks with additional pieces secured in OK!, Essentials and Prima.

 Fashionistas take a shine to Accessories Online

Accessories Online has proved a hit with fashionistas following Mason Media’s PR activity to raise the profile of the brand with high-end fashion media.  Within three months the team has secured a host of coverage for the online site’s collection of jewellery with influential titles; Grazia, You magazine, Coutts, More, Cosmopolitan, New!, OK!, ShinyStyle as well as establishing a following with bloggers including Coco’s blog and FashionBite.

Mason Media Turns Up The Heatons with new client win

This month Mason Media also secured a new client win in Heatons – the complete office solutions experts.

The Wirral-based firm supplies office stationery, print needs, including everything from business cards to Christmas cards, and office furniture for companies across the region and beyond.

 With Mason Media’s expert help Heatons expects to raise its profile in key local media including the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, Wirral Globe and relevant trade press profiling the company and its clients and its social responsibility work which has raised over £60,000 for various charities since it began trading more than 20 years ago.

When the news broke that Chelsea has been banned from entering the transfer market until January 2011, after being found guilty of illegally inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta, Mason Media proved they were on the ball.   Within minutes a statement was distributed on behalf of client Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) and quickly taken-up by the national media.  Talk Sport booked ELAS’s Peter Mooney to appear on that evening’s discussion programme, hosted by Danny Kelly and Neil Ashton.

 In a lively debate Peter insisted Chelsea had no chance of wining an appeal against the decision. And there was even a little mention of Mason Media live on air, thanks to a rather confused Danny Kelly!  The next morning ELAS was also quoted in the sports pages of the Daily Express, on the same issue.

 ELAS also made national and international headlines following a story distributed by Mason Media on the increase of social media in the workplace.  Research by ELAS revealed that many employers are considering introducing ‘Facebook breaks’ for workers in a bid to clampdown on the use of sits such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo in the office.  The Daily Telegraph, Scottish Daily Record, Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Daily Post are just a number of the print publications who used the story.

 News was also picked up by numerous business-related websites including Personnel Today and Fresh Business Thinking. And the article traveled around the globe, being used extensively in India and America.

 North West Cancer Research Keeps the Fundraising Ball Rolling

Mason Media helped North West Cancer Research Fund raise a staggering £12,000 to provide fundamental research into the causes of the disease through securing sponsorship and awareness for the annual Butterfly Ball.

 Teaming the charity up with successful North West businesses, Smart Storage and Armstrong’s solicitors, Mason Media helped the charity secure funds to sponsor the event and generated coverage to support the event in LDP Business as well as pre-publicity to drive ticket sales in Cheshire Life, Manchester Evening News.  Further coverage in regional consumer magazines is also in the pipeline.

  Parcel2Go delivers news amid the postal strike

Parcel2Go, the Bolton-based delivery service captured the headlines amid news of the Royal Mail strike this month.  Leading a story on how alternative delivery services are winning new customers as businesses seek to circumnavigate the disruption to ‘snail mail’ saw the company namechecked in the Financial Times.

 The company also saw hits this month with the announcement of a service in Ireland on Business World Online, RTE Business.   The company was also listed in Business XL’s Top 50 Rising Stars.

 Kirwans comments on Jack Straw pardon   

Fast growing Merseyside law firm Kirwans Solicitors made the headlines in the Sunday Times and Financial Times in the space of a week.

Senior Partner David Kirwan, who is also standing as an Independent Candidate at the General Election, was interviewed about the legal and political ramifications of Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s decision to grant the Liverpool fan a pardon.

David made it clear that he felt Straw’s decision was “politically expedient” and an attempt to help preserve the seats of Labour MPs in marginal constituencies.

 On Your Marks… 

September saw the arrival of former national newspaper journalist, Gary Quinn joining the Mason Media team.  Gary, who has held former positions including Features Editor on The Mirror and various features roles at IPC magazines joined the team to work on business to business clients.

 Anna Asamoah got her running shoes on this month completing the Great North Run to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  Anna completed the course in just under 2 hours 30 minutes raising £403.00.

 Welcome to Gary and well done to Anna!

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 5^th 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.

 www.justshoutgfs.com

The Mason Media team is working with Setanta Insurance, one of Ireland’s fastest growing companies in that sector.

Setanta Insurance has just launched a new look brand together with the bold strapline “insurance changed for good” as it seeks to build on the success of its first 18 months in business.

The creative campaign was put together by our strategic partner, Wilmslow-based Driven.

The PR programme aims to build dialogue with brokers and launch cost competitive products to market.

P2G Pips Post Office To The Post

Mason Media turned bad news for Post Office customers to good news for delivery service Parcel2Go with a story that the Bolton-based business was set to benefit from a £60,000 increase in revenue as London and Scotland postal workers walked out on strike.

Coverage was secured in media ranging from the Financial Times to Manchester Evening News, helping to further position Parcel2Go as a modern, customer-focused, efficient alternative to the Post Office.

Front Page Headlines for Cancer Charity

The North West Cancer Research Fund relies heavily on fundraising to support essential research into the fundamental causes of cancer.

When Managing Director of Wirral-based business, Connection 365, Steve Murcell announced his mission to cycle across the Pyrenees we threw our efforts behind raising awareness of the challenge to raise funds for the charity.

The gruelling cycle stretched for 720 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean right across to the Mediterranean Sea, climbing over 11,000 metres in less than 100 hours! Our liaison with regional media secured a front page article in the Ellesmere Port Standard and a business news article in the Ellesmere Port Pioneer – helping Steve on the way to raising almost £1,000 for NWCRF.

Stepping In To Protect Reputations

Mason Media’s specialist Reputations Matter unit continues to provide clients in need with critical support. Whether it is putting in place strategies to deal with potential negative media coverage or stepping in when a crisis breaks, our team of experts is always on hand. During recent times we have worked with clients across sectors as diverse as retail, property, financial services and charity.

Welcome Anna!

The Mason Media team continues to grow with the arrival of Anna Asamoah who joins the team to help on consumer and corporate accounts.  Anna brings with her a strong grounding in PR, with previous experience working for a PR agency in Paris.  Her past clients include Magnum ice creams, Passionata Lingerie and Club Med Gym.  Anna is fluent in both French and Spanish, which just leaves us to say “Bienvenue/ Bienvenido a Mason Media!”

Mason Media secured headline coverage for Kirwans Solicitors Senior Partner, David Kirwan on his announcement to stand as the first anti-sleaze Independent candidate at the next General Election

 Since working with the leading North West law firm, Kirwans Solicitors, six years ago Mason Media has secured high profile national and regional coverage to raise the profile of Senior Partner David Kirwan and his other lawyers.

 Within hours of David’s decision to take on Conservative Esther McVey and incumbent Labour MP in the knife-edge Wirral West constituency, Mason Media had organised a press conference attended by Sky News, BBC radio, Liverpool Daily Post and the Press Association among others.

 A modern, dynamic website was managed and advertising to support the announcement booked with key local media. The campaign brought together our core skills of national and regional media relations and project managing the complete integrated marketing strategy www.davidkirwan.co.uk

 Howzat!  Cricketing Legends Run Up Support for North West Cancer Research Fund

Over the past years we have helped Liverpool-based North West Cancer Research Fund raise awareness to support its crucial research into the causes of cancer.  Our work has included facilitating corporate relationships and raising funds and coverage for events such as abseils and the London Marathon.

 This year we are bowling in with a fundraiser which sees an Old England XI play a charity cricket match with a Neston Cricket Club XI, Parkgate. Among those taking part are legends Derek Randall, John Lever and Monte Lynch with a Sporting Lunch preceding the match. Anyone wanting to book a table or find out further information, should contact the charity’s chief executive Anne Jackson on 0151 709 2919.www.nwcrf.co.uk

Katie and Peter Split Means Hits for Pannone

The split between glamour model Jordan and her pop singer husband, Peter Andre, sparked a frenzy of activity on newsdesks and among Britain’s law firms too.

Mason Media secured the first broadcast interview on the subject only minutes after news of the couple’s impending divorce broke.

Andrew Newbury, a partner with Manchester-based law firm Pannone, was interviewed by a host of BBC outlets including Radio Five Live’s ‘Drive’ programme.

In the year since they started working with Mason Media, Andrew and his colleagues have provided comment for numerous BBC radio and TV shows, Sky News and a host of national and international newspapers.

S.O.S call from PDSA

An S.O.S call to ‘Stock Our Shops’ secured national coverage for veterinary charity, PDSA this month.  Details of diminishing stock donations due to the economic downturn equating to an estimated drop in funds of £800,000 for the charity were issued as the charity faced with a 10% increase in the number pets presented for treatment. 

The ‘donation-distress’ call resulted in coverage for the charity on Sky News, Classic FM, Rock FM and was picked up by the Press Association delivering regional coverage including The Grantham Journal and Fenland Citizen.  The story was tweeted by Sky to its 17,156 followers.

Mason Media’s Got Talent

Additions to the Mason Media team include Senior Media Consultant, Sarah Park and Associate Media Consultant, Jane Batchelor. Sarah brings nine years journalism and PR experience to the agency with experience from both corporate and consumer clients.  Jane brings seven years travel and leisure experience to the team.  Mason Media is delighted to continue to expand its talented team!

We secured a feature for ViaPost, the alternative mail service which offers businesses a greener, more cost efficient method to send its post in the Daily Telegraph’s Business section. 

Through pitching a story on how businesses can cut costs and carbon emissions we secured a piece in the ‘Disrupters’ section explaining how ViaPost enables businesses to issue mail shots electronically to a hub near to the final postal address.  Focusing on both its green time and cost efficiencies, ViaPost was positioned as revolutionising the postal service.

Fund raising through profile raising

April saw Mason Media help secure funding and awareness for charity, Sophie’s Legacy, an organisation set up by Rob Drury, whose wife Sophie, died of ovarian cancer in April 2008 to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Prospect Hospice in Swindon.

Ahead of 50 friends and family, including founder, Rob taking part in the Rome marathon we secured coverage on BBC Radio Wiltshire and the Swindon Advertiser.

A post marathon sell-in yielded a front page splash on the Newbury Weekly News profiling the success of the runners and pushing for last minute donations to the cause.

The media coverage gave a strong push towards the target fundraising of £100,000, with new supporters making donations to take the running total to £90,000!

Mason Media is multiplying! 

Spring has seen two new arrivals to the Mason Media team.  Former journalist and national magazine editor, Christina Hamilton-Stirling joins with a wealth of PR experience in B2B, financial and public sector PR. Past clients include Marks & Spencer Financial Services, the Co-operative Bank, Central Manchester & Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Borough Council.

Christine Morgan, former Consumer Director at Bell Pottinger’s Good Relations also joins the team bringing over 12 years consumer PR experience.  Her experience spans across Food, Beauty, Retail, Charity, Leisure and Consumer Technology with a previous clients that include Aunt Bessie’s, Meat and Livestock Commission, Boden, Gossard, Clarks shoes, National Osteoporosis Society, Daily Mail Ideal Home Show and eBay to name a few!

We are part of the Twitterati!

MasonMediaPR is all-a-twitter!  Embracing the latest form of social media is all part of creating dialogue with your key audience.  Keep updated on what the Mason Media team are up to or drop us a line to learn more about how digital communications should be an important part of your comm’s mix