First day back to Wordville and the village has cleared out the Christmas decorations, recycled the old papers and prepared our New Year’s resolutions.

I have that back-to-school ‘new pencil case’ feeling, where anything is possible and feel motivated for what we can achieve for the company and for our clients in 2012. There’s a whole year of opportunity out there – a million press stories that can be nurtured, referenced, responded to.

In 2012, Wordville’s is instating a 'Word of the Month' – a professional mantra that can apply to everything we do. To kick-off January and a new year, this month it’s pounce.

It’s a good time of year to get in quickly before everyone’s woken up, before the plans are solidified and while everyone is in that ‘how are we going to get this done?’ frame of mind.

Better get going – time will move fast this year, and I’ve got pouncing to do. ...Click here to read more

Wordville is hiring and has a range of roles to fill – Account Director, Account Manager and Assistant Account Executive – working on a range of consumer and B2B accounts.

We are a small energetic PR agency with an emphasis on work/life balance – we are looking for people with the right personalities to gel with our team.

What do we want?

- Someone hungry, but not so hungry they’d eat their mother to get on top
- High energy yet smooth as silk
- A real team player, friendly to colleagues and clients
- Able to relate to our diverse range of clients – cutting edge creatives, IT geeks, petrol heads, floral designers and leading business CEOs, we deal with them all
- Someone with a consumer background preferred
- A good writer and good at pitching
- Fluent in other languages would be a big plus

To apply, send a cover letter outlining which position you are applying for, what you have to offer Wordville, and your CV to info@wordville.net ...Click here to read more

PR Crises occur around us all the time. There are the big ones that come to mind immediately, for example, when BP’s former Chief Executive declared: ‘I want my life back’ at the height of the Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe last year. BP has since spent millions trying to repair its reputation.

Another more recent example, which is far from over, is the infamous ‘Hackgate’ – the scandal which embroiled Rupert Murdoch’s media empire when news broke that journalists at his flagship UK Sunday tabloid had been hacking phones for stories. News Corporation has been in PR crisis mode ever since, even dedicating all advertising space in the final edition of the now-defunct newspaper to charities. Many charities were so disgusted by the actions of the newspaper that they even refused free space in what was Britain’s highest selling Sunday newspaper. That’s bad news if I’ve ever seen it.

The riots and looting in London and the UK this week have seen many different PR crises erupt. Blackberry came under fire after it emerged that many perpetrators of the riots spread the word about targets using its BBM messaging service. London’s Metropolitan Police was forced to defend its ability to manage public disorder just a year away from the Olympics at a time when the world will be watching the capital. Even British PM David Cameron faced criticism for a sluggish response to the unfolding hysteria, as he decided whether to return from Tuscany where he was holidaying with his wife. The same went for Home Secretary Theresa May, George Osborne and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who were all holidaying abroad at the time.

So when bad news threatens to taint your brand, or a brand you’re responsible for, what should you do? Do you have a plan in place?

Of course each situation is different and should be approached with an individual strategy, but being prepared to communicate in a crisis is more important than ever, as organisations and individuals are under increasing levels of scrutiny. Companies and brands need to have processes in place to manage and respond to media interest in times of high stress. It’s a matter of anticipating what could go wrong, and having a plan of action and a ‘tool kit’ ready, so you can tackle the problem head on.

To make sure that you’re fully prepared to handle a crisis why not attend our course on ‘Reputation Management During a Crisis'? Click here for more details
...Click here to read more

By David Anthony

In what seems like a blink of an eye, my first month at Wordville has already come and gone. It’s been a hectic few weeks, familiarising myself with a variety of clients and throwing myself into some fantastic projects.

I can't believe that almost three months have passed since I first met the team – I guess it’s true what they say, time flies when you’re having fun.

Back in early May, as part of the interview process, I was afforded the opportunity to meet my would-be colleagues over a cup of coffee. This served not only as an informal introduction, but a chance for all involved (myself included) to gauge whether or not I was in fact the right man for the job.

We traded numerous questions, shared past experiences, talked through day to day activities and spoke about the future of the agency. Much was discussed, but for me, one topic in particular really stood out. ‘Above all else, what one thing are you looking for from a prospective colleague?’ I asked. The answer came in almost perfect unison, ‘ideas’.

Before joining the team here, I plied my trade at D&AD – a not-for-profit organisation that represents the international design, advertising and creative communities.

D&AD exists to promote the importance of creativity, innovation and ideas, while their annual awards are to the creative community, what the Oscars are to those in the film industry.

Needless to say, I would find myself immersed in creativity on an almost daily basis, surrounded by the best advertising and design the world has to offer. D&AD is a truly inspiring place to work, and not least because it provides proof, if ever proof was needed, that a good idea can go an awful long way.

There’s a lot more to PR than merely churning out media kits and press releases. Creative thinking is at the very core of what we do.

Brainstorming, thrashing out ideas – ideas that evolve to form the backbone of a story, and a good story at that – is a truly creative process.

Finding the all important hook that will catch a journalist’s eye and ultimately generate press is of course no mean feat. From the sublime to the ridiculous, where ideas are concerned, no stone should be left unturned. Having a team of creative minds, with the ability to bounce ideas off one another is of utmost importance and key to the success of any business.

Thinking back to that day in early May, coffee in hand, sat in front of an expectant audience, it’s clear to see why I chose Wordville, and more importantly, why Wordville chose me. We value the importance of an idea.

Creative thinking isn’t just a mindset here, it’s a way of life. And I for one am extremely proud to be a part of it. ...Click here to read more

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