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Regional publisher launches own PR firm

A regional publisher has launched its own public relations company.

The Midland News Association, which owns titles including dailies the Shropshire Star and Wolverhampton’s Express & Star, has announced the launch of Star Public Relations based at its Telford print centre.

The firm will offer a full range of PR services to local businesses and national clients, including strategic consultancy work, media relations, crisis management and event planning.

The agency is being run by director Kate Bodoano, who has more than 20 years’ experience running PR agencies and securing high profile coverage for clients.

The Star PR team

The Star PR team

She said: “Star Public Relations is a fresh and forward thinking PR agency with a difference.

“We are an independent PR agency, sitting under the MNA umbrella, benefitting from its 140 years of history and business, as well as its digital, web and design teams.

“It’s great to be part of a business group with a strong heritage in news and messaging. The priority of the group as a whole is to understand how to engage with target audiences through compelling content.”

Celebrity contacts of the agency include actresses Joanna Lumley, Penelope Wilton and Amanda Redman.

Graeme Clifford, MNA print managing director, said: “Star Public Relations will complement our exciting print and digital services. It follows the successful launch of our Star Employment Services in 2013 and their recent expansion with a second branch being opened.

“Businesses trust our brand and we are delighted to be able to offer additional services to enhance our portfolio.”

10 comments

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  • August 1, 2016 at 9:17 am
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    Good God, I genuinely feel sick. It really is all over isn’t it?

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  • August 1, 2016 at 9:25 am
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    A good way for the business to diversify into new revenue opportunities using exisitng skills and staff as opposed to many other groups who are trying to reinvent the wheel with revamps,cosmetic makeovers,bandwagon jumping pop ups and old content.

    Good wishes to all concerned for the success of this venture

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  • August 1, 2016 at 10:17 am
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    @Jeff Jones: Yes, it really is all over. Frankly, I’m just waiting for the coup de gras.

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  • August 1, 2016 at 11:14 am
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    I agree with Employee X. Publishers are going to have to diversify to survive. This at least makes use of existing skills and keeps people in employment.
    It is vital that the two arms of the business are kept entirely distinct, however, and that it is very clear to all concerned that being a client of the PR firm does not buy freedom from scrutiny or accountability.

    I’ve dealt with some truly appalling, clueless PR firms in my time. Perhaps this new company will help improve the standard.

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  • August 1, 2016 at 12:44 pm
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    It does make sense to use what resources you already have and what skills are in the business rather than facing staff redundnacies in an effort to cut overheads or make cost savings.
    Whilst it might seem alien to many ( including me to some extent) it is a better option than shedding staff and one that doesnt or shouldnt compromise the companys longer term health. hopefully they will remain impartial and not use any old PR puff just to fill their papers.
    i too wish them well and will be interested to see how this all pans out in terms of attracting revenue to the business

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  • August 1, 2016 at 1:10 pm
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    ‘Hi, is that the Star? It’s the Star here, how are you? Hope you’re well, lovely to speak to you etc etc. I’ve got a story about a car dealership that’s giving away free pencils, is that something you could use?’

    ‘No’

    ‘Excuse me?’

    ‘I mean yes’.

    Great venture my backside, where’s the magic beans??

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  • August 1, 2016 at 1:37 pm
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    Dear Employee X

    If you cant see the ethical dilemma of a supposedly independent and unbiased newspaper morphing into a PR company – whose stock in trade is putting positive spin on organisations and public figures – then I am wasting my time talking to you.

    I bid you good day.

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  • August 1, 2016 at 4:12 pm
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    Bluestringer

    This is the end game, an entirely corporatised ‘content generating’ operation. They’ll all go that way, sponsored content agogo.

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  • August 1, 2016 at 9:23 pm
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    Blue stringer
    So what’s the alternative then if diversity within the business using people and skills already in place isn’t an option?
    Hope people suddenly start buying dying papers again?
    Hope someone finds the key to unlock untold wealth via online news sites by monetising digital at last thus securing futures for all ?
    Or just offloading more and more staff until the bottom line numbers add up as most of the regionals seem to be doing?

    No ones talking about turning the ‘newspaper’ into a PR vehicke, read the piece,they are talking of making it a wholly separate part of the business and treating it as an independent division presumably with a separate cost base unconnected to the main core of the business and offering journalistic and marketing services to outside companies ,then to my way of thinking its better to diversify than to sit back and do nothing but watch the industry and more jobs go

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