ContactPoint – do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Rather quietly today ContactPoint, a database of all the children in England, was launched. It will contain names, DOB, addresses, details of school, doctor and contact details for parents/guardians. The data on the 11 million children will be made available to local authorities.

Not only did this cost over 220 million pounds, but its launch was delayed because of security fears!

Apparently it will help prevent children slipping through the system and help deliver better co-ordinated services. I can see that, but with the Government’s data security track record I find the existence of this database alarming. Apparently no one will be able to download the data, so we don’t have to worry about someone leaving the details on a train. But what about ID theft? What about someone who shouldn’t gaining access to the system?

For more information (and a balanced view) see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8052512.stm

Allie

A look back at CES

When the 2009 International CES has closed its doors for this year, my feet for one were pleased to be back in the office (I know I should have remembered to take party feet but I used them all up over Christmas!). Despite the doom and gloom this show had a real buzz around it. PRPR escorted 4 journalists to CES – Nathaniel Lippiett from the Telegraph and ITN, Martin Lynch from Gizmodo, Ryiad Emeran from Trusted Reviews and Jamie Carter editor of HCD and freelancer.

They all had a great time – although one or two first timers did look like rabbits caught in headlights after day one. Was it the exciting technology announcements, too much coffee or maybe it was the free packed lunch given out in the press rooms? I have to say that I steered well clear of the larger stands – although I was quite intrigued by Sony’s 3d TV and made my way around the smaller, but no less interesting UK stands. I saw an MP3 player and earphones that can be used underwater, a great mobile phone come gaming device come keyboard. And the fantastic graphics on mobile phones produced by Imagination Technology plus audio solutions that will make your ears tingle.

The evenings were fun too, although this PRPR girlie doesn’t gamble, there is so much to see and do and of course I got my annual tear jerking visit to the Bellego’s dancing fountains – yes, they do make me cry. Unfortunately neither Brad Pitt or George Clooney were there at the time but hey a girl can dream…

Decaffeinated green tea, mung beans and rocket

Following the Christmas excesses, we at PRPR are on a health kick.

 

Actually, when I say we, I mainly mean me. My colleague Becky is currently living the high life in Las Vegas, escorting the UK Scholarship journalists at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. PRPR looks after the UK PR for the show every year. She tells me CES is really hard work and her feet are killing her (will she never learn to buy party feet??). My heart bleeds, it really does, while I sit here shivering in -8, huddled over my green tea and dreaming of 1 February when my self imposed ban on caffeine, alcohol and any food that really tastes good is over.

 

21 days and counting!

 

Happy New Year everyone.

 

Allie

 

 

 

 

High footfall at E Commerce Expo & sore feet at PRPR in Hemel Hempstead

 

We experienced not only high footfall but high foot pain when running the very successful press office at the recent E Commerce Expo event that was held at Olympia.

 

Next year Party Feet definitely need to be added to the press office supplies bag.    They even seem to be half price here!

 

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=21296&callingViewName=&langId=-1&catalogId=11051

We met lots of interesting exhibitors (you know who you are) and press (you know who you are too) and they all had sore feet. The flaming Sambucas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambuca) on Monday night and the strong coffee the next morning probably helped,  Foxes mints are just not enough!!  Seriously though, we met some great people and in spite of constant talk about toes, we had fun and would like to say thanks to everyone and see you next year.

 

The prpr team’s feet have recovered just enough to kick off the Consumer Electronics Shows (CES) pr programme – the Worlds largest consumer electronics show.  I guess we have till January to before we tread the thousands of meters of carpet of the Las Vegas convention centre and the many other hotels which make up the event (I guess there will be some parties there too!)

 

Note to press and clients alike – in spite of all this hard slog, please don’t worry our feet will be ready for the party season and we are  ready for the invites!

 

Becky, Beth and Madalene

Cobbler’s shoes and new websites

The cobbler’s shoe syndrome is alive and kicking in the 21 century in Hertfordshire. We are quick to provide advice for other company websites but have procrastinated over our own far longer than I am comfortable with. So here it is. An improvement definitely; modest maybe; but above all – it’s our tin and we do what it says on it.

Most of all I am extremely proud of the long list of good things our clients have to say about us. At the end of the PR day we can say what we like, but it’s what our clients say that is the most important. Our philosophy at PRPR has always been to do a good job for our clients first and foremost, so they stay with us. Like our website, we are guilty of not doing enough of our own marketing; but then most of our new business comes from word of mouth, recommendations and people remembering us when they move on.

Take Hendrik Noorderhaven from the Netherlands who we got in the FT for putting Teletext on the Internet. Some two years later he came back to us with his new venture, EUclaim.co.uk to help airline passengers get compensation for cancelled flights. A worthy cause indeed. Not only has EUclaim made the front page of The Times, but Hendrik also starred in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary – along with a string of radio and TV appearances.

Even for a seasoned PR like myself, it’s difficult to put a positive spin on the current credit crunch and we are conscious that budgets will be under pressure. But because at PRPR, we don’t burn unnecessary holes in marketing budgets and because savvy companies know that good PR is more important than ever when times are tougher, we know that we have a vital role to play in supporting our clients. We hope to use this Blog spot to keep you up to date with news from PRPR, our clients and the industry in general. And we welcome any feedback and comments, of course.

Peter Rennison, the PR in PRPR