Next week, the O2 in Dublin sees another collaboration for Knopfler who partners with Bob Dylan in the first of a serious of European dates for the legendary pair. I hope Dylan provides a better acquittal of himself than at his last disappointing 02 outing, but I am looking forward to the gig and I hope to be proved wrong in my expectation.

While on the subject of legends, a more interesting and promising spectre is a mooted reunification of David Gilmour and Roger Waters with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, as hinted at by the latter in an excellent Irish Times interview by Brian Boyd this Saturday (24^th September 2011) about the making of Dark Side of the Moon http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0924/1224304647430.html. Waters has been touring The Wall to hugh acclaim and in a recent London gig was joined onstage by Gilmour for the vocal on Comfortably Numb, with Nick Mason on tambourine. This follows the amazing Live 8 outing for Pink Floyd in 2005:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wtiNzci1Wc. If a coming together is to take place, I just hope it is sooner rather than later.

Knopfler, Waters, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Dylan or Gilmore; there is plenty of life in those old dogs yet and long may they keep barking.

The weekend of the All-Ireland Hurling Final and since, you could not have missed Largo Foods’ advertisements for its crisp brand strewn across most of our national print titles. While it is a buyer’s market at present, the cost of the media purchased must be well into a six-figure sum.

The marketeers had simple objectives: to upset as many people as possible, to create controversy; initiate a debate about the rights or wrongs of this type of advertising. The overarching aim, to maximise brand recognition and value.

The ruler is out and the column inches, headlines, photos and brand-mentions are being measured. Using the advertising rate-card for each publication a fiscal value is being applied to the editorial coverage and multiplied. Negative, neutral and positive comments are being analysed.

The marketeers and agencies are giving themselves a massive pat-on-the-back for the value of editorial coverage achieved. They are absolutely comfortable in the “all publicity is good publicity” school. They join Paddy Power Bookmakers, Ryanair and Benetton in this view.

Consider the satisfaction around a press advert achieving a lot of national radio airtime, and columnists in those titles where the original adverts appeared writing damning critical pieces about the ads, and doing exactly what the brand owner had hoped and expected they would.

Remember the mileage accruing to the brand in 2010 when the IRFU decided to have its legal advisers look at the campaign by the Largo Foods. Happy brand owners. The Union played straight into their hands. The GAA is being somewhat more clever.

As you would expect, there has been a deluge of related activity on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/search/hunky%20dory

Irrespective of the rights or wrongs of the campaign, the objective has been achieved, not least because of unwitting and naïve journalists and media commentators.

From a technical viewpoint, the campaign is a good example of advertising being used as part of a wider public relations strategy.

Newspaper licensing is regulation familiar to most public relations consultants and many of our clients. In Ireland, licensing is carried out on behalf of Irish media interests by Newspaper Licensing Ireland (NLI) and the UK’s Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA) which in general oversees UK titles sold in Ireland. In my opinion this licensing unfairly penalises organisations without whom there would be any great degree of news.

Effectively newspaper licensing covers the use of press clippings and the area of copyright. Press clippings are used for numerous reasons: capturing references to an organisation in the press; references to competitors; issues relevant to an organisation, or for the purposes of research. In some cases newspaper coverage is used in part as a measurement of the effectiveness of a particular public relations initiative.

Press clippings come by way of PDF file, other times via a web-link. Sometimes, as if accessing some sort of secret file, a password is required. There are licensing limitations on the number of people that can view a clipping. The more viewers the larger the cost. The licensing agencies are making it more prohibitive to easily access or distribute press clippings. It has become time-consuming and more inefficient.

PR consultants and our clients rightly have issues with this imposed regulation. The cost, as a standard is accepted by client companies. In any case, the cost is not prohibitive and is not really an issue.

But there are reasons why I believe newspaper licensing is a nonsense. The primary reason is that on a daily basis, a very significant amount of media content is driven by our clients, on whose behalf we channel news and information to newspapers and journalists. We spend a good degree of our time in the arena of media communication; we facilitate newspapers in providing the news that their readers expect. Indeed, a good part of the news that is subject to copyright, is originated via the public relations sector.

Furthermore, NLI and NLA are penalising those companies and organisations who by supporting newspapers through advertising are the lifeblood of the published news sector.

Public relations companies in Ireland and other larger companies purchase newspapers in large quantities. This firm (www.hpr.ie) as is the case with many others, takes delivery each morning of a number of newspapers. If an analysis were to take place, the result might demonstrate a very significant level of custom for newspaper sector.

Because of the powerful media lobby and historical political reluctance to stand up to this lobby and carefully scrutinise newspaper licensing, it is now written in law. The Irish public relations sector has not responded with an effective challenge in providing the scrutiny that newspaper licensing merited and still does.

In this age of regulation and regulators, it is questionable that the enforcers of the law are a private-sector consultancy company. I am open to challenge on this, but I can’t readily think of a similar example in any other area of licensing and regulation in Ireland. As far as I am aware there is a direct state involvement across all areas of licensing. This is an area that merits examination.

Another area that might be looked at, is the broadcast media’s liberal use of newspapers in current affairs and other programmes. RTE Morning Ireland’s “What It Says In The Papers” and the front page preview on TV3’s Tonight With Vincent Brown spring to mind. Are they legally exempt from newspaper licensing? They certainly derive a commercial benefit from the use of newspapers there are numerous such examples on a daily basis across the broadcast media.

What about Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and other digital uses of newspaper articles? How are these classified in terms of the dissemination of published newspaper articles?

As a minimum, I believe the constraints imposed by newspaper licensing should be relaxed. However, as the migration towards digital media platforms continues apace, newspaper licensing should be withdrawn. In time it will become irrelevant and obsolete. For me, newspaper licensing should go now.

In professional terms it has been an unusual start to the year and in differing ways, a sad one. Early on 30th December, I received a call from the Guinness family regarding the death, in the early hours of that morning, of their mother Countess Miranda Iveagh. Miranda’s passing had been expected for some time, but for those of us who have experienced it, there is no preparation for the most final of outcomes.

Wisely, the family anticipated interest from the media because of the historic and contemporary Guinness links with Ireland, and particularly because of Miranda’s own contribution through social, trade and charitable activities. They decided to take a measured pro-active approach with relevant media, to ensure factual reporting around Miranda’s life.

I met Miranda a number of times and was always struck by her deep integrity, sense of humour and generosity of spirit. She was also a determined woman who knew her mind and what she wanted.

Be it a phone conversation or a meeting, you were always left with the feeling of having a pleasant experience. Nice memories to have.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1231/1224286546026.html

Later on 30th December, I received a phonecall from Ivan Yates, former TD, broadcaster, and owner of Celtic ‘Bookmakers’. My first instinct was that the call related to the Newstalk Breakfast Show, but I was soon set straight on Ivan’s requirement.

I met Ivan, whom I have known for a number of years, and his wife Deidre a couple of days later.

The press statement announcing the receivership of Celtic Bookmakers was issued on Tuesday 4th January. It could almost be said, that the rest is history.

Over the years in his career I have met many people in a range of circumstances, but rarely have I encountered the likes of Ivan and Deidre Yates in the circumstances they faced on the 4th of January. It is difficult to comprehend the emotions they were both undergoing, but you could throw in the shame, bereavement, fear, insecurity and no-doubt more.

The courageous approach adopted by the Yates was something to witness at close hand. It was inspirational.

They have for now failed, but I have come away from the task with a deep sense of wanting them both to succeed in future, I believe they will.

Let us know what you think?

Happy Reading….Louise.

First …
The Island:

It was real. Everything that happened on the island that we saw throughout the 6 seasons was real. Forget the final image of the plane crash, it was put in purposely to f*&k with people’s heads and show how far the show had come. They really crashed. They really survived. They really discovered Dharma and the Others. The Island keeps the balance of good and evil in the world. It always has and always will perform that role. And the Island will always need a “Protector”. Jacob wasn’t the first, Hurley won’t be the last. However, Jacob had to deal with a malevolent force (MIB) that his mother, nor Hurley had to deal with. He created the devil and had to find a way to kill him — even though the rules prevented him from actually doing so.

Thus began Jacob’s plan to bring candidates to the Island to do the one thing he couldn’t do. Kill the MIB. He had a huge list of candidates that spanned generations. Yet everytime he brought people there, the MIB corrupted them and caused them to kill one another. That was until Richard came along and helped Jacob understand that if he didn’t take a more active role, then his plan would never work.

Enter Dharma — which I’m not sure why John is having such a hard time grasping. Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by “corrupting” Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben’s “off-island” activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the “Others” killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that’s what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn’t do for himself.

Dharma was originally brought in to be good. But was turned bad by MIB’s corruption and eventually destroyed by his pawn Ben. Now, was Dharma only brought there to help Jack and the other Canditates on their overall quest to kill Smokey? Or did Jacob have another list of Canidates from the Dharma group that we were never aware of? That’s a question that is purposley not answered because whatever answer the writers came up with would be worse than the one you come up with for yourself. Still … Dharma’s purpose is not “pointless” or even vague. Hell, it’s pretty blantent.

Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his “candidates” (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of “candidates” through the decades and letting them “choose” which one would actually do the job in the end. Maybe he knew Jack would be the one to kill Flocke and that Hurley would be the protector in the end. Maybe he didn’t. But that was always the key question of the show: Fate vs Free-will. Science vs Faith. Personally I think Jacob knew from the beginning what was going to happen and that everyone played a part over 6 seasons in helping Jack get to the point where he needed to be to kill Smokey and make Hurley the protector — I know that’s how a lot of the writers viewed it. But again, they won’t answer that (nor should they) because that ruins the fun.

In the end, Jack got to do what he always wanted to do from the very first episode of the show: Save his fellow Lostaways. He got Kate and Sawyer off the island and he gave Hurley the purpose in life he’d always been missing. And, in Sideways world (which we’ll get to next) he in fact saved everyone by helping them all move on …

Now…

Sideways World:

Sideways world is where it gets really cool in terms of theology and metaphysical discussion (for me at least — because I love history/religion theories and loved all the talks in the writer’s room about it). Basically what the show is proposing is that we’re all linked to certain people during our lives. Call them soulmates (though it’s not exactly the best word). But these people we’re linked to are with us duing “the most important moments of our lives” as Christian said. These are the people we move through the universe with from lifetime to lifetime. It’s loosely based in Hinduisim with large doses of western religion thrown into the mix.

The conceit that the writers created, basing it off these religious philosophies, was that as a group, the Lostaways subconsciously created this “sideways” world where they exist in purgatory until they are “awakened” and find one another. Once they all find one another, they can then move on and move forward. In essence, this is the show’s concept of the afterlife. According to the show, everyone creates their own “Sideways” purgatory with their “soulmates” throughout their lives and exist there until they all move on together. That’s a beautiful notion. Even if you aren’t religious or even spirtual, the idea that we live AND die together is deeply profound and moving.

It’s a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events — not JUST because of Jacob. But because that’s what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen. The show was always about science vs faith — and it ultimately came down on the side of faith. It answered THE core question of the series. The one question that has been at the root of every island mystery, every character backstory, every plot twist. That, by itself, is quite an accomplishment.

How much you want to extrapolate from that is up to you as the viewer. Think about season 1 when we first found the Hatch. Everyone thought that’s THE answer! Whatever is down there is the answer! Then, as we discovered it was just one station of many. One link in a very long chain that kept revealing more, and more of a larger mosiac.

But the writer’s took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways “purgatory” with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn’t allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed. They made it into Sideways world when they died — some before Jack, some years later. In Hurley’s case, maybe centuries later. They exist in this sideways world until they are “awakened” and they can only move on TOGETHER because they are linked. They are destined to be together for eternity. That was their destiny.

They were NOT linked to Anna Lucia, Daniel, Roussou, Alex, Miles, Lupidis, (and all the rest who weren’t in the chuch — basically everyone who wasn’t in season 1). Yet those people exist in Sideways world. Why? Well again, here’s where they leave it up to you to decide. The way I like to think about it, is that those people who were left behind in Sideways world have to find their own soulmates before they can wake up. It’s possible that those links aren’t people from the island but from their other life (Anna’s parnter, the guy she shot — Roussou’s husband, etc etc).

A lot of people have been talking about Ben and why he didn’t go into the Church. And if you think of Sideways world in this way, then it gives you the answer to that very question. Ben can’t move on yet because he hasn’t connected with the people he needs to. It’s going to be his job to awaken Roussou, Alex, Anna Lucia (maybe), Ethan, Goodspeed, his father and the rest. He has to attone for his sins more than he did by being Hurley’s number two. He has to do what Hurley and Desmond did for our Lostaways with his own people. He has to help them connect. And he can only move on when all the links in his chain are ready to. Same can be said for Faraday, Charlotte, Whidmore, Hawkins etc. It’s really a neat, and cool concept. At least to me.

But, from a more “behind the scenes” note: the reason Ben’s not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn’t believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It’s pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church — but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church … and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder — the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ’s ending. And they kept it.

For me the ending of this show means a lot. Not only because I worked on it, but because as a writer it inspired me in a way the medium had never done before. I’ve been inspired to write by great films. Maybe too many to count. And there have been amazing TV shows that I’ve loved (X-Files, 24, Sopranos, countless 1/2 hour shows). But none did what LOST did for me. None showed me that you could take huge risks (writing a show about faith for network TV) and stick to your creative guns and STILL please the audience. I learned a lot from the show as a writer. I learned even more from being around the incredible writers, producers, PAs, interns and everyone else who slaved on the show for 6 years.

In the end, for me, LOST was a touchstone show that dealt with faith, the afterlife, and all these big, spirtual questions that most shows don’t touch. And to me, they never once waivered from their core story — even with all the sci-fi elements they mixed in. To walk that long and daunting of a creative tightrope and survive is simply astounding.

Following an engaging and robust campaign culminating in polling on Thursday (6th May 2010) and a compelling overnight count into Friday, it is likely that political stability of sorts will in the next day or so return to the UK, probably with a David Cameron led Conservative involving direct (coalition) or indirect support from the Liberal Democrats.  There has been a clamour throughout the weekend to get things sorted out quickly for ‘The Markets’.  But surely ‘The Markets’ would be better served in the long-term by a carefully constructed Government as opposed to a quickly cobbled together arrangement.  

Much of the post-election focus has been on the electoral system and the fact that a hung parliament, the first in 36 years, is not the best outcome.

Maybe proportional representation (PR) is the answer, we are told. I may be missing something, but to me this demonstrates a remarkable lack of understanding in the UK, particularly in the British media, about PR.  The introduction of PR would almost certainly mean the end of single party Government and the apparent ‘stability’ that brings.  In this election, the Liberals on 23% of the vote achieved just nine per cent of parliament seats.  Under PR, they would likely command, a seats tally closer to their vote percentage, and could well do better, as they could receive high preferences from both Labour and the Conservatives in tactical voting.  From a position of self-interest it is reasonable that the Conservatives resist such change, while it is completely right for the Liberal Democrats to make electoral reform a central negotiation point. They have much to gain as PR does produce a fairer outcome. 

I sometimes wonder if some elements of the UK media would be capable of explaining PR to the viewing and voting masses. In the unlikely case of PR being introduced, they should come to Dublin (as should advisors from all British political parties) for our next general election count as a learning exercise.  It would stand to them. 

What is it about elections that keeps (some of) us from our beds well into the small hours. Aside from the obvious elections at home, it happened to me a number of times during the US presidential election conventions and election night, and again last Thursday. Maybe it is to witness human nature at its barest. A person seeking popularity among his or her peers and then facing the fact that they have been accepted or rejected. Aside from that, the statistics, the politics, the combat, the winning, the losing, the media debate and general colour. Thursday night and Friday morning did not disappoint.

In Northern Ireland, the stunning loss in East Belfast by Peter Robinson, First Minister, of the seat he held for 31 years was by a distance the highlight. Incredible early-hour viewing when the three major London TV networks cut across to Belfast for this breaking news. Trivial in the overall picture, but noticible to me, was the fact that most of the counts in NI were completed well ahead of those in Britain, an indication of the level of political interest and expertise on this island. 

Then the incredible blundering on the part of a sizeable number of Local Councils with many voters disenfranchsed throughout what is regarded as one of the world’s model democracies.  Amongst other things, running out of ballot papers!!!!  I can’t contemplate a response to something like that happening in Ireland.  We get a few things wrong in Ireland, but (other than the failed and brief experiment in electronic voting) that does not include elections   Nonetheless, events across the water might act as a pointer to stress-test the excellent polling systems we have in place here.

The highlight of the night for me was a heated interview with Alistair Campbell by Sky’s political editor and election anchorman Adam Bolton.  Their discussion at about 2.30am on emerging trends from the election counts evolved into a broader chat about media coverage where Campbell commented on what he regarded as the poor treatment of Gordon Brown by the media.  He went a step further and said Brown also was badly treated by TV and when Campbell further singled Sky News out, Bolton became defensive and challenged Campbell to produce the evidence.  A brief row ensued and you sensed momentarily if they were in the same room the jackets would have been off – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85RXPnXDkrc

I channel-hopped throughout the night; no surprise that RTE and BBC NI provided authority on the Northern elections, but of the three main UK news networks Sky News won the night for me, in terms of the simplicity of its presentation and quality delivery of results and images onto the screen.  I confess I even dipped into Twitter throughtout the count where RTE’s Gareth O’Connor provided excellent updates. 

I decided to call it a night at 4am and could have easily stayed up for longer, but a busy Friday beckoned. Bring on the next one.

The past fortnight has been spent mostly abroad. On Wednesday week last, 7th April, I went to Madrid for a two-day conference hosted by global public relations company Burson Marsteller (BM) (www.burson-marsteller.com).  Heneghan PR (www.hpr.ie) is the Irish affiliate of BM.   It was a very good event with plenty of information and professional insights in the areas of digital, positioning, energy & environment, change management, public affairs and new business development. 

There were 150 delegates from about 30 EMEA region markets, most of them direct BM managers, but a good representation of affiliates including Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Poland and South Africa.   This is the third such event I have attended and it is great to get the opportunity to learn, to renew acquaintances and make new contacts.

Once I discovered that Real Madrid was at home to Barcelona in the Santigo Neucamp Stadium last Saturday week, there was only one option – get a ticket.  About three weeks ahead of the conference the ticket came through (through the good offices of the CEO of BM in Spain) so I extended my trip to Madrid to stay for weekend. The match was the undoubted highlight of the trip, two of Europe’s most famous clubs, with an incredible legacy of success currently tied at the top of La Liga.  It was a relatively poor match, with Barcelona gaining the priceless three points with their 2-0 away win, Lionel Messi scoring the first goal.  It was however great to experience the colour and atmosphere around the match. The stadium is one of the most impressive I have experienced. And while the rivalry between the two clubs is well established, there was no crowd trouble or any sign of that menacing atmosphere frequently experienced in the UK. 

The remainder of my visit to Madrid, included a visit to the three classical art museums in the centre of Madrid – the Queen Sofia; the Thyssen–Bornemisza; and the Prado.  My knowledge of art is limited, but when you look at the works of some of the artists and try and understand the circumstances of those works it brings them more to life.  I left each of the museums with a promise to myself that I would return.  If you are or are not interested in art, I thoroughly recommend a visit. If I was to select one ahead of the rest, it would be the Thyssen. (www.museothyssen.org).

The other thing about Madrid is the city itself.  Just to walk around the centre and enjoy the sun, the parks, the local architecture, relaxed atmosphere, window boxes, people… go if you can.

Back to Dublin on Monday and then London on Wednesday for an overnight which then became three nights.  An interesting couple of weeks, but great to be home. 

- Nigel Heneghan

Unless a client requirement dictated otherwise, I managed to safely navigate my way through the noughties in blissful ignorance of Boards and Blogs and other such offerings. And as far as I was concerned, social networking was meeting someone after work on a Friday.  Like most people, I am a consumer of online media.  National news, business sites and big picture global news such as Reuters regularly feature on my desktop. As public relations professionals, much of the content generated by this office has regularly filled the screens of the online news media. All good stuff.

But apparently not good enough in terms of the promised personal and professional benefits accruing from online networking.  Therefore, in the past year, I have become a latter-day convert to various online offerings, to which I am told if I do not subscribe, I will be doomed to the oblivion of reality.  So it started with LinkedIn where my relationship was slow to take off, and remains slow in terms of progress.  I have in the past few months been availing of it more in terms of renewing old contacts and responding to contact requests, but I think LinkedIn is badly designed and is not conducive to assisting someone who is either short on time or more likely in this day and age impatient. But it is an interesting networking tool.

In the middle of last year I buckled and joined Twitter.  I still have to get it.   I am told if I start blogging I can post a link on my Twitter page, so at least that will be something. Or I might be in some remote part of the planet without access to BBC Radio 5 Live and I’ll get the latest Leeds United score.  Let me quickly add that that is not my reason to start Tweeting.

My favourite is Facebook, for numerous reasons. I have been contacted by people from my distant past I had almost forgotten existed; it is more colourful and visual then LinkedIn or Twitter; and is certainly easier to navigate then the former.  It is there to dip into now and again, but you are not obliged to keep checking it every 10 minutes. You can create various categories of contact for example family, friends, work, international etc… and importantly and I suppose this is across all of the networking sites, you can decline a contact or an invitation.  Also, you can choose to control the level of information you wish to impart.  I have noticed one deficit with Facebook that needs a small bit of work. That is to try and migrate some of the professional contacts towards the company Facebook page and likewise, there might be one or two friends on the company page that might instead be part of my personal page.  

I have to say Facebook is a positive tool when it comes to work and we see the Heneghan PR page as being of potential benefit to our both clients and to ourselves.

I need to confess here that Bebo and MySpace have passed me by.  But as it stands, I text, I email (business and personal addresses), I am on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. So if someone is trying to find me they will.  And now I can do all of this stuff on the move because of iPhone.  

Other then the above I am not going to use my blog to converse about all things online, funky and technical. I will leave that to the people who know what they are talking about.  I have done it now and it is out of my system.  I just may revisit Twitter at some point, to either confirm that I have mastered it, or to salute its high-profile but short-lived existence in cyber-land.   

Moving forward, I hope to talk about things I have an opinion on, be they personal or professional.  If you have made it this far, thank you for reading my first blog and feel free to comment.

Nigel Heneghan