'Who would have thought you'd win a BAFTA for just being posh?' Francis Boulle

'Who would have thought you'd win a BAFTA for just being posh?' Made In Chelsea’s Francis Boulle announces as he receives the BAFTA award for Best Reality and Constructed Factual Show.

 The winner’s announcement was met with gasps from the audience, jibes from Graham Norton and even disapproval from the nicest men in TV, Ant and Dec. Queue immediate shock and outrage across the Twitter/media sphere, although given that the majority of the shows plots on driven by antagonism and drama, this seems only fitting.

But MIC’s popularity is no surprise. Its currently on its 5th series with a bigger cast, more ridiculous plots and higher viewing figures than ever. And brands have long been savvy to the popularity of MIC and its personalities. Whether heroes or villains of the show, brands have been quick to snap up these socialites to feature in campaigns, including St Tropez, Cadbury’s and Walkers Crisps and the media have similarly recognised their appeal, giving the stars of the show columns, blogs and guest editor spots. Even the ‘set’ has become a prime spot for brand exposure and product placement; exclusive gyms, London department stores, bars, clubs, home ware, turkey curving lessons, you name it, its been ‘placed’. And with this new endorsement as Britain’s Best Reality and Constructed Factual Show, it seems the nation’s obsession and brands association with MIC will continue for some time to come.

And with this weekend seeing the launch of the long awaited Great Gatsby film, it’s a reminder that, especially in these tough economic times, there is something incredibly entertaining about indulging in the dramas and lavish parties of rich, beautiful socialites…..oh, and that’s the sound of F. Scott Fitzgerald turning in his grave having now hinted that MIC is the modern day Great Gatsby – one of the most celebrated pieces of American literature of all time. Sorry Fitzgerald, but I’m sure Graham Norton and Ant and Dec will have your back.

*Written by someone who absolutely never indulges in reality TV rubbish….apart from at 10pm on Mondays on E4, naturally. 

Becky East

@beastofpr

Why the nation needs to invest in training the tweeters of the future

Twitter currently has in the region of 500 million registered users – that is an astounding figure and in my opinion, a figure that concerns me. Firstly, I am not a technophobe and I am certainly not a twitter-hater but I am a realist. I am pretty sure that the large majority of tweeters do not consider the implications of their tweets before pressing send button. Why should you? Although it seems ludicrous, it is becoming more regular that people are being arrested for their tweets due to their 140 characters breaking the law.

For example, Paul Chambers, 28 years old was fined £1000 for saying he was going to blow up Sheffield airport for their bad service. I am sure that when he sent this he probably didn’t see himself being known across the nation for his tweet. Quite simply, people do not think about what they are tweeting. It is just a platform for people to let off steam and have a rant with the unfortunate downfall of being seen by the world and eternally documented (even after you’ve deleted it!)

I am 19 and have always been strongly opinionated. However, I am very careful on Twitter as I can’t afford a colossal fine! But I have a lack of faith in how many other people there are my age whose thoughts are in line with mine. Even by looking at my 15 year old sister, I sometimes have to give her a gentle nudge with a ‘Do you really think that is appropriate – the whole world can see that you know?’ but I shouldn’t have to do that and it is about time the government stepped up and did something about it.

If young people were given some training on how the justice system works with regards to libel and defamation; I am sure there would be a significant drop in abusive tweets. With Twitter just being something that kids grow up with nowadays, how are they to know the rights and wrong of the system? Twitter has given young people access to celebrities in a way that has never been seen before – it gives people the option to openly abuse to an audience which encourages responses and spurs things on.

I believe a simple training session could be the answer – why leave the tweeters of tomorrow in the dark about the consequences of their tweets. Surely it is about time society stepped up and provided young people with the information they need to ensure they don’t break the law – drugs and sex education is provided so why is something as topical as social media ignored?

By Jessica Kirby

PR Apprentice 

@jesslouisekirby

Cirkle - Good Mojo

This week we launched our new website, a new look and a new strapline: Cirkle – good mojo.

Instinctively people’s initial reactions have been extremely positive but the almost immediate question from a few has been – why good mojo?

Disappointingly for some, the answer doesn’t involve Austin Powers, Jim Morrison or have anything to do with Haitian voodoo; rather, it neatly sums up who we are and what we do as an agency.

In terms of who we are… Cirkle is the brainchild of Caroline Kinsey, one of the industry’s most energetic and entrepreneurial leaders of the last ten years. Anyone who has ever met Caroline will know she is the living embodiment of relentlessly good mojo and the agency she has created is, in many ways, a reflection of this.

We have pulled together a bunch of talented people who constantly and consistently display purposefulness, positivity, passion, persuasiveness, endurance and flexibility. People who achieve for themselves and for clients. People who believe in treating suppliers as we like to be treated. People with humility and confidence. People who set out to deliver spellbinding creative as often as possible. People who look for a laugh at the darkest hour.

And while we-would-say-that-wouldn’t-we, we have our own pretty powerful endorsement in the shape of The Holmes Report’s EMEA Award for Employee Engagement Award 2012. An award built on people with good mojo – happy people having influential ideas, doing brilliant work, and persuading all sorts of people to do all sorts of things for clients.

And in terms of what we do? Marshall Goldmsith, renowned US management thinker and author of the book Mojo defines it as having four core pillars, all of which are every bit as easily associated to a brand as to a person.

Identity – knowing who you are and what your role in the world is; achievement – what have you achieved lately?  Have you ‘just’ sold lots of product, or have you given something too?; reputation – who do other people think you are, what do they think you’ve done lately – you can’t have total control of this, but you can maintain or improve it; and acceptance – trying to change or improve things they can realistically change, not stretching themselves too thinly or seeing themselves as bigger than they are.

This is a brilliant summation of what successful contemporary brands and organisations do; and what PR is brilliantly placed to help with. It’s about big challenges and big solutions, having vision and the cojones to succeed.

We have lots of examples of where we’ve helped brands with their mojo, whether the audience is consumer or within the retail environment and we’re committed to doing lots more, some big, some small and some just perfectly-sized.

We’re all about building campaigns based on strong thinking, ingenious creative and impressive, commercial results. Campaigns which achieve something. Which add to our clients’ mojo in some way.

So, that’s why ‘good mojo’ – who we are and what we do.  Hopefully your mojo has risen a little reading this and that maybe you’re thinking we’re an agency you’d like to hire, or to work for, or supply to. If it does, give us a call and maybe we can float each other’s boats.

Nick Woods
Deputy MD
@nickwoods01