A plea to my many friends in the media

OK, so I’m on my high horse again. This time, it’s aimed at members of the media – journalists, sub-editors, editors and managing editors. Maybe teachers and headteachers too.

I cannot pick up a newspaper or magazine, or look on-line or on screen at media websites without there being a plethora of typos and grammatical errors. And before anyone comments, yes I have been guilty of these myself even in this age of the on-line spell check.

But the media (in any guise) should, at the very least, take special care to be accurate, not only in content but in spelling and grammar. After all, adults and children look to the media to set a good example.

Sub-editors are paid to check copy and headlines. I appreciate there have been cuts in resources in recent years, but come on! Do your jobs properly and be paragons of virtue.

Here’s a great example spotted recently:

What hope do we have for the younger generation if the BBC (not guilty in the case above, by the way, but certainly on its websites and on some of the sub-titling on its websites) and its many media colleagues can’t get things right – or simply can’t be bothered?

Young journalists these days come straight out of schools and colleges where spelling and grammar seem to be old-fashioned and unnecessary; but I still feel we should hang on to some semblance of standards in a world where text-speak is in danger of taking over and some of the most peculiar street words are finding themselves in new versions of dictionaries.

So my plea today is for editors and advocates to get to grips with this phenomenon for lack of education, laziness and inaccuracy before standards drop any further.

Is it really important? To me, yes it is.

If you agree, do let me know.

Not even the media get it right all the time!

We all make typographical mistakes, maybe when we’re in a hurry or haven’t used our spell checkers. I know I do. But it irks me when I see typos in newspapers, magazines and on TV (sorry, Argus, I’m not picking you out specifically!).

I expect the mighty BBC to get things right but I often see appalling spelling errors in on-screen text which make me despair.

Sub-editors, usually in-house on newspapers, magazines or websites, are often outsourced these days. Arguably their main role is to check written text before it is published and they’re responsible for ensuring correct grammar, spelling, house style and tone.

I see more and more typos in newspapers and magazines, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s through lack of education or lack of care. After all, it doesn’t take long to use a spell checker. Are editors actually reading their publications and accepting the errors; are they equally slapdash or don’t they know correct spelling and grammar either?

It isn’t just local newspapers which are falling foul of correct spelling and grammar. I’ve seen it in the nationals and high class magazines too. One small apostrophe missing here, a split infinitive there – it’s a slippery slurp. Oops, sorry, slope!

There was much debate when one local authority proposed taking out an apostrophe in a street name; something reasonably irrelevant unless you happen to live in the street. But it just doesn’t look right. Small mistakes can, however, have more impact and change the whole meaning of a sentence, notice or warning.

I’ve found several blogs and a lovely Pinterest page devoted to spelling errors in the media. Some make me howl with laughter but others are simply very sad, especially when it emanates from educational establishments, for example the American high school which greeted students with “Welcome back hope you had a good brake”.

As for social media, I have no problem with short forms of words now used in the vernacular because space is at a premium but there is still no excuse for lazy, bad spelling. This brings me back to lack of education and care for the English language.

Some may say there are more important things to worry about and maybe that’s true. I still try to stand by the theory that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability.

I think I’ve now earned my place as a Grumpy Old Woman!

Originally published in The Argus on 26.11.13

The link between a good Americano and the internet

My second office is fast becoming a coffee shop in town. It’s become a place where I can go for a change of scenery, a meeting place, a decent Americano, a quiet catch-up on the news, a sanctuary and a creative haven. It’s a neutral zone where I can meet contacts, suppliers, contractors and maybe a client over a coffee. Yet one thing disturbs me and it disturbs me greatly... it still has no internet access available despite months of promises.

“Quite right” some of you will say, “there’s far too much technology these days. Give it a break!” to which it pains me to respond “You’re right, but I must have access to keep up with things.”

And so it has come to this. How many of us sit in front of the television with our smartphones or other mobile devices, tapping away, thinking how great it is to be multi-tasking, part listening to and part looking at a film while checking emails, watching ebay or messaging a friend? Who’s going to own up to texting or emailing someone sitting only feet away, instead of talking? Or maybe that’s too much like a sketch in a comedy show.

Much has been written about the effects of too much technology on young people and not enough focus on human interaction and communication skills. Recruiters have highlighted a growing inability in candidates to speak or write properly. Good old-fashioned grammar and care are, in the main, getting forgotten along with mathematical skills which disappeared with the advent of calculators. This does not bode well for businesses in the future.

For the growing band of similarly-minded business people flocking to coffee shops, willing to spend money on cappuccinos and a bite to eat, internet access is not just desirable, it’s essential, otherwise we might just as well stay in the office.

Love it or hate it, the era of mobile devices is here to stay. The majority of people already use them to search for products or services and reviews. Whatever you want, there’s an app for it. Now there’s Google Glass and a million and one new innovations for our delight and delectation.

Don’t even think about fighting it. Jump on board, keep up or get left behind. I say embrace new technology and change because actually it can be good fun and theoretically it’s supposed to make our working lives easier. Until the internet goes down or there’s a power cut.

Now, where did I put that Americano?!

Originally published in The Argus on 23.4.13

Ten years ago today I started my company, public relations and marketing consultancy Chimera Communications. Ten years which have seen governments come and go, the colour of local politics change, the worst recession in living history, the birth of social media, Olympic frenzy, a different James Bond, several different faces of Dr Who, the strange popularity of reality shows (or should that be unreality shows?), freak weather, Jeremy Kyle, America's first black President and now the first papal resignation for nearly 600 years.

The price of petrol in 2003 was around 78p a litre, a onesie was what a baby wore, twitter was something the birds did first thing in the morning and we'd never heard of Justin Beiber. Happy days!

Well, petrol now costs around 139p a litre and despite clients' budget restraints, rapidly changing technology, ridiculous parking prices, the hell of automated phone systems, frustrating customer care via overseas call centres, with the grace of whichever god in which you believe and a prevailing wind, Chimera Communications has survived and flourished.

Key elements which contribute to that fact, I believe, are experience, planning, organisation, self-belief, dogged determination, value for money, flexibility and caring for my clients' businesses as if they were my own. The company is run on the basis of low costs and a friendly and approachable, effective service. There’s no fancy office, ‘Ab Fab’ style champagne lunches or glossy brochures. All my business over the years has come through word of mouth and the testimonials speak for themselves. We work with award-winning clients, businesses of all sizes as well as not-for-profits and charities, all of whom are treated exactly the same.

Of course there have been tough times, like any business. I've learned the hard way that there are occasions when I have to say 'no', that there are clients with whom it's best not to work, that there are never enough hours in the day, and that working all night is really not a good idea. I love working with such a wide variety of businesses and learning just enough about what they do to enable me to do my job. I was invited to become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations more years ago than I care to remember, and that always stands me in good stead as we have to sign up to a code of conduct which ensures we act responsibly and ethically.

Looking back, as one is prone to do at times like this, my best decisions in recent years were to join Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce, BNI (Business Networking International) and a select range of other professional and networking groups. Networking is certainly the way to go these days for building great contacts and useful, trustworthy and lasting business relationships.

It can certainly be argued there are already more than enough networking groups in the area, and this is where targeting is crucial. You could spend all day, every day going to different events and every week, there are new groups jumping on the bandwagon. The really effective ones are those which monitor business passed, or are proactive in fostering links between relevant members. There is a place for those which meet on a more informal basis, but it’s important for me to be able to justify and quantify the results of precious time and money spent.

I’ve built up really good business relationships with people I can trust, knowing I’m going to be sitting across a table each week or each month when they’ll be accountable for every piece of work done, whether for me or for those to whom I refer them. These include not only professional suppliers like printers, designers, accountants, photographers and lawyers, but electricians, plumbers and lettings agents, even a chiropractor. Much work has come through networking, as well as some introductions to my own associate consultants.

So my advice, should you need it, is to think carefully about who it is you need to target and why. Whether it’s specific professions, ages, gender, business size or location, there are plenty from which to choose. It’s important to remember it’s not only about who is at the networking event, but who those people know and in turn, who their contacts know. And of course, it’s equally important you’re comfortable giving an ‘elevator pitch’ to promote your business or whether you prefer to eat, drink and mingle. Networking can help build confidence and presenting experience, but don’t forget to ask for specific business or contacts you’d like – you need to focus or networking can become a bit of a jolly and a waste of time.

On the whole, the last ten years have been a blast. Huge thanks to all my clients, media contacts, suppliers, networking colleagues, business partners and my merry band of Chimera associate consultants over the years. 

Here's to the next decade!

pla·gia·rism/ˈplājəˌrizəm/ Noun: The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.

I'm interested in your views.

I've had my website copied (images and content), my LinkedIn connections systematically trawled through and used, and my clients contacted.

Now I know this is the real world. Stuff happens. And I've been known to look through the web for inspiration myself. Yes, LinkedIn is all about connecting to new people via connections but what about netiquette, doesn't that count or is that being a tad naive?

Here's the thing (in the words of that truly ground-breaking PR from the telly, Siobhan Sharpe, Head of Brand at Perfect Curve - "2012", BBC): should I get irritated by this flagrant copying, should I be flattered, should I be saddened that such people have no original ideas themselves nor ways to get their own clients, or should I grin knowingly, shrug my shoulders and get on with something more important?

One thing I've noticed though - the perpetrators have all been women. Come on sisters, shouldn't you be doing it for yourselves?

You know who you are. Actually, and please note, so do I.

Other folk out there in social media land - what do you think?