Here’s my personal pick of media related happenings from the past seven days.
1. Interesting to see city-based PR division of Amaze tasked to work alongside a university in-house communications team to highlight the opening of Salford University’s digital learning, teaching and research space. This report from The Drum says the space will be opening at MediaCityUK next Autumn and will be home to more than 1,500 students.
2. The MEN is reportedly looking to move into the space left by Crain’s demise in the city with a new business offering. HowDo carries details of the advertisement for a new position, “head of business”. to take on this task but has been unable to elicit any further information about the new publication(s) from owners Trinity Mirror.
3. Independent media sites for Greater Manchester became hypervisible last week with live blogs covering the Irlam gas blast (InsidetheM60), the Phil Woolas verdict (SaddleworthNews) and campaigning activity for Hope maternity hospital (Salford Star). Even a police press officer has blogged on the gear shift.
4. In true Sir Alan style, Democracy PR is looking to appoint an apprentice. Founder and MD Jennifer O’Grady explains more about the job on the company’s blog and promises ” to provide a lively working environment where you will make the best use of your strengths in our rapidly growing agency”.
5. The second birthday for Manchester’s Social Media Cafe took place at the BBC Club and there’s a full write up of the night from Jon Clements on the Staniforth PR blog.
6. Changes at the top of MEN Media as Trinity Mirror restructures its digital divisions which sees Dave Raywood, currently marketing director at MEN Media, take the role of digital commercial director of the company’s regional division with a brief to “accelerate delivery of the division’s digital plans”.
7. The How Do Public Services Communications Awards 2010 short list was announced ahead of next week’s judging. I was particularly interested to see those up for the Most Innovative use of New Media which I’ve pasted below. Good luck to all!
- Marketing Manchester and Creative Concern/Manchester’s Digital Map
- NHS Sefton/Looking Local: interactive health services by TV and mobile phone
- Our Life, Smokefree Northwest (SFNW), Vivid, Integral Productions and PHD North/Smoke & Mirrors – See through the illusion
- Portfolio/Rebrand of Manchester Jazz Festival
- Sandwell Council/Recycle with the Savewells
- SKV Communications/Pure Genius – cracking the davinci code
- The University of Nottingham/Election 2010 blog
- Wrexham Community Safety Team and Gencia Media/Sexual Violence Awareness Campaign
