Social Media used to Offend

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17515992

After the Sudden collapse of Fabrice Muamba, many took to Twitter to share their concern, to confort and well wish the player, but some used it in the most outrageous mannor. 

Student, Liam Stacey, used the opportunity to share racist comments and be offensive about the player af those who confronted him. After numerous complaints to the police, Stacey was taken to court and is now to spend in prison.

Social networking used wrongly, there is a price to pay.

Tulisa: Stunt or Not?

Celebrities are commonly questioned about their actions, raising the question of it being a publicity stunt or a bad situation turned in to an opportunity. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Charlie Sheen are examples of public figures who have been able to turn their crisis, (a sex tape and mental breakdown respectively) in to an opportunity for more publicity.
This week former female singer of the group NDubz, and current X Factor judge, Tulisa, has been in the centre of a sex tape scandal. On the 22nd of March a video circulated on the internet of Tulisa sexually involved with an ex partner. Now doubt this would have seriously affected Tulisa and caused her to hide a way from the public eye for a while? WRONG, two days later she releases a video explaining her side regarding the tape, a few days later a saucy new video for her single, 'Young' is also released.
Today her ex was in court, allegedly being sue by Tulisa for releasing the tape, although he claims she asked him to.
Her PR team are most likely to be working hard to maintain Tulisa's image, but some may think that the whole situation is convenient for her and would only boost her career, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Mixed views on the team GB kit

The new Team GB kit was presented today and received a range of critical views. The Stella McCartney designs combines fashion to athletics, but with the amount of negative views about it, I wonder how their PR can turn it all around!

Celebrity PR by Celebrities

Celebrities are becoming more powerful and influential than ever before, they are now at the point of proving that they can handle their PR, without outside help.

Celebrities are more aware of the influence they have on the public and that their actions and words could be very effective especially for branding purposes. Reality TV stars, the Kardashians, have been able to promote their clothing line 'Kardahian Kollection', without the extra help from PR agencies. The Kardashian sisters have expressed that they do not need to spend money on getting outside help when they can their own brand promotion and product placement. Kourtney, Kim and Khloe all cleverly use social networks, Twitter and blogs to spread the word about their line.

Kim Kardashians Blog: http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/

So far this seems to be working for them and have been able to gain publicity on their own as well as other celebrities. It raises the questions, Do celebrities need PR practitioners, or do PR practitioner need them?

Magic FM: The lack of Social Media

Magic FM, London's most listened to radio station, suprisingly has not got much of a social media appearance as other radio stations like Choice FM and Capital FM. I listen to Magic FM almost everyday, as its the only Radio station I play in my car, maybe I'm a bit of an old timer and enjoy a range of music types, but being the biggest radio station in London I would have though that it would have more of a following on their social network accounts.

A few times I have heard their Facebook page being mentioned, so I had a look at it. There is not much to the page and they only have 18, 700 likes. After viewing their page, I realised not once have I listened to Magic FM and their twitter account was mentioned, so I was not surprised that it only had 2009 followers, a very smal amount compared to Choice FM's, 43, 247. Could this be that Choice is more aimed for the younger crowd and they attracted are more to using social media as a way of making contact and staying connected, or that Magic has made no effort to enhance their audience by implementing social networking to their shows. 

I think that Magic FM would need to make some changes and take the opportunity to network with publics of all generations, as they aim more for the maturer listeners. Even though its a little bit different that I choose to listen to the station, the younger generation (my generation), would one day be that 'mature' publics, leaving Magic FM with a networking issue. 

The King and Queen of Hip-Hop Take Matters in to their own Hands

Jay Z and Beyonce do it again, without any PR or publicist, they let the world know what ever they want the world to know. 

Taking matters in to their own hands, they finally release images of their daughter Blue Ivy Carter.This is a perfect example if how celebrities can take control of their own publicity.

Jay Z and Beyonce have been known for being very private, so the surprise of Beyonce's baby bump, which she revealed at last years MTVAwards, shocked the world! Twitter received the highest amount of tweets in a second, about a celebrity.

No PR, No Publicist, they do it on their own accord, in their own way.

Royal Fashion

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton that was, has become the ultimate Fashion Icon over the past year. Everything she wears is captured, noted and more or less consumed immediately.

Fashion PR is one of the fastest growing sectors of the public relations industry and Kate's outstanding influence, is an example of how public relations has merged with marketing and promotion. Product placement is a common public relations tool within PR and especially when it comes to fashion. The simple idea that if a celebrity or public figure is seen wearing a piece by a designer or clothing range, the item is more than likely to sell of the shelves. This idea of 'fashion' product placement has been utilised many times with the Duchess especially since her wedding, April 2011, when she wore the wedding dress made by the fashion house of Alexander McQueen. Ever since then designers have been trying their way through in order for Kate to wear some of their clothing, because in the fashion world the 'princess' could do no wrong!