John Stonborough F.C.I.P.R.

Days of Miracle and Wonder in Korean

Just Communicating ..

God-daughter Domenica is 13 and has Downs Syndrome. 
She emails; Brilliantly!
We swop jokes and notes.
She is chatty and very funny.
We have a real relationship at last.
Staccato signals of constant information
…..These are the days of miracle and wonder

Online, looking up a timetable for a trip. It’s in Cyrillic. 
No problem.
Click Translate This Page.
Bingo, there it is in English.
Staccato signals of constant information
…..These are the days of miracle and wonder

I like this translation tool. 
I have added a button. Try it.
Now you can read me in Korean. 
Staccato signals of constant information
…..These are the days of miracle and wonder

(song by Paul Simon - Boy in a Bubble)

Send your thoughts - and they’ll ignore them for you

I met Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells in Parkstone Dorset. He collared me when I was recording something for the BBC. Parkstone, in case you haven’t lived, is Haute Petit Bourgeois Poole; classy but not like Canford Cliffs where WAG mamas and papas go to die.
This bloke had been harbouring something to be disgusted about since the Sixties. At last there was a beebish person on whom to pounce.
‘You know that Richard Baker*? he said. ‘Well,’ he paused for what seemed like a minute, savouring his License given opportunity to unburden himself all over me. ‘Well,’  he repeated, arranging his false teeth with his tongue, ‘ that Richard Baker said ‘comprises of‘. There was fury in his pinched vowels. ‘You’d expect a BBC man of his learning,’ he was spitting, ‘to know the difference between a transitive and intransitive verb. Now wouldn’t you?’ Not a question, a declaration of war.
I sobbed, I begged forgiveness, said I was just a boy at the time, explained Baker was only obeying orders, accepted there is collective guilt for abusing a prepositional phrase, promised to direct his objection to the highest in the land and fled.
Over time opportunities for Disgusteds to vent and fumarole have improved. Newspapers, particularly the Guardian began to correct mistakes through the Readers’ Editor in the mid nineties. Others were slow to follow. Radio 4 broadcasts snippets of listeners with a beef and serves up their letters and emails with inappropriate actors’ voices. Probably some secretary.
Now newspapers Online are here and with them ReAction Direct; readers’ comment boxes - limited to 300 characters but space enough for consummate beefers. The DM Online even has a coy challenge. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts? its asks. Oh the thrill of it. Yes please. But, I am about to reveal a naughty secret here, when I have submitted a pithy rant or five - purely professionally of course, strictly on behalf of clients etc etc - nothing happens. It sinks into the ether without trace.
I tried it with the Times Online again yesterday. There was something in the paper I objected to, so I subbed, I squeezed, I chopped, snipped and elided, checked it for institutionlised racism and homophobia, I punched submit like a wrestler - nothing happened. It is not the first time. In fact I has me doubts about the system.
How many readers intensely held opinions, never see the light, never feel the breeze on their prejudices? Lots and lots if my experience is anything to go by.
Luckily strings are there to be yanked so I resorted to pal-eolithic PR. I rang a mate. Bob’s your uncle, my rant’s there now for all the world to see forever. Thanks G, I’ll not forget the favour. But most Disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells don’t have mates on the Times, or perhaps any at all, not even on the Daily Telegraph. 

*Richard Baker presented the first BBC TV news at 7.30pm on 5 July 1954.

20% Off in Jan

Contact Air Supremacy about 20% Discounts in January and for a free work-sheet on handling Doorstep interviews and Fly on the Wall documentaries. Happy New Year. 

Air Supremacy is a research based media training company. We see media training (TV, Radio, Internet and Print) as a seamless service of expert media relations advice, key message preparation, rehearsal and media management before during and after the interview.
We know Media Training is about helping you formulate and deliver key messages to audiences, at a sensible price. Please look at the section on costs. You will see we are competitive but not necessarily the cheapest.
We operate both single and double trainer courses. Air Supremacy recommend using 2 trainers to ensure the optimum use of the time available. We work with PR executives to tailor courses for individuals working at the highest level. We research our stories, we identify potential issues. We film and record relevant interviews in various styles and locations. We play-back offering constructive critique and advice on how best to present yourself .You learn what to expect from interviews, how to focus on key messages without being daunted by difficult questions in a bewildering broadcasting environment.
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