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MY FIRST WEEK IN PR
Sunday, 22 June 2008

Seven days after moving to the capital, here I am sat in a dark corner of a small Internet café, sipping a latte, updating my blog and trying out the frustrated writer look. The odd socks and un-ironed t-shirt probably weren’t necessary but I think they add a certain something.

My first week at Rainier PR has been great. I’ve attended lots of meetings and training sessions, and even had a chance to do a bit of proper PR – phoning journalists. Prior to this week I’d never sold a story in to a journalist and truthfully I’d been dreading it a little. However I found it was actually okay and by the time I’d reached the end of my list I was quite enjoying it.

On the first day I was introduced to the staff and given a laptop and smart phone. One of my clients sells mobile advertising so I’ve been trying out the mobile internet since then. I think it’s important I practice what I preach. Also I haven’t had broadband installed yet and a life without facebook isn’t worth living. Some of my other clients include Ntl:Telewest, Dante and Seniqua. As well as this I’ll also be working with one of Rainier’s sister companies, Lighthouse PR, developing their new blog.

I received my exam results and degree classification on the second day. I got a 2:1! I’m very pleased with that and thrilled that I got a 1st on my dissertation, which asked is blogging the future of PR, as well as a 1st for the Opus project. I think I averaged about 67% but every time I try to work it out I get a different figure so it’s lucky I didn’t study mathematics.

Thursday was the 5th birthday of this blog. I started it at 16 as a sort of online diary documenting nights out and silly stuff from school for my friends to read, without the ability to comment. The blog was part of my website, which hosted photos, videos and displayed some information about myself. If only I had known a bit more about web design and thought to make my website into an interactive network I could have had the next Facebook or YouTube on my hands. Alas I was more interested in writing Biggish Sibling, my series of blog posts about a fruit bowl where the fruit got evicted and a mango died from using hoof paste instead of tooth paste. What was I thinking? It seems mad to think I’ve passed my GSCE’s, A-Levels, and driving test, and even gotten a degree since then. Here’s to the next five years!

Friday kicked off with a celebratory champagne breakfast and movie premiere to celebrate some of the team completing the three peaks challenge last weekend. Rather them than me. See the video here.

This weekend I had a look around a few of the sights; Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, China Town and the Topman store on Oxford Street. I remember a few of the places from a school trip to London when I was in primary school. Having never really holidayed in London since then it’s very strange living there now as it half feels like I’m on holiday or doing work experience and going home soon.

Labels: blogging, facebook, formby, london, matthew watson, rainier pr

posted by Matthew Watson at 14:17

2 Comments:

Blogger Eamon said...

'which asked is blogging the future of PR'

- Hi

Would be interested to hear what you wrote on that. Perhaps you write a blog post.

I'm not sure if blogging on its own is the future of PR but I, certainly, think it has an important future.

My background is in advertising (account planning) but since advertising / brand-building / PR are becoming ever more integrated, I thought you might find these reasons for blogging useful:

- Search engine marketing

- Two-way dialogue / interaction

- Telling a brand story

- Helping to create brand personality

- Helping to create brand authenticity

- PR - Crisis / PR brand-building

- As market research tool

- As customer service tool

- As industry networking tool

Certainly, though, blogging, in general, has to be supported with social networking as well (but I don't think that social networking has or will take over from blogging - what do you think?).

Wrote a post, a while back on why people should blog, in case you're interested.

http://www.spotlightideas.co.uk/?p=190

Good luck in job!
Eamon - account planner

Thursday, July 03, 2008 5:46:00 PM  
Blogger Ian Green said...

Hi Matt,

Good blog post. PR, like marketing, is more like a game of chess rather than darts where you are just aiming to hit one target.
In that respect blogs, social networks, mobile media and Web2.0 are all chess pieces on the board. The skill comes in when you plan your strategy and how you deploy the troops available to you.

Good luck with the job!
Ian

Sunday, July 13, 2008 5:01:00 PM  

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Matthew Watson Matthew Watson is a consultant for Rainier PR, a tech pr firm based in London, UK. Matt blogs about his journey into the wonderful world of technology public relations.

Matt's views and opinions are his own and do not represent those of his past, present or future employers.

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