IBP has made great strides in 2011/2012 – cementing its status as a true knowledge hub for journalists and communications professionals working in the built environment sector.
Following former president Denise Chevin’s review of IBP we have introduced a number of new ideas. We have also injected new blood into the main IBP board and to the judging panels for our flagship Annual National Journalism Awards.
Our IBP Twitter feed is generating strong interest, and is a powerful information resource for anyone following architecture, construction, engineering, housing and commercial property news.
We were delighted that the Futures Group staged a workshop on designing for the iPad last autumn, showing that the built environment is at the cutting edge of this particular innovation in the publishing world. A webcam of the main presentations is available to view on the IBP website. Plans are well advanced to hold another Futures Group interview, with a leading web editor, Richard Fletcher, Editor, Telegraph.co.uk, which is scheduled for Tuesday September 18th – full details will be circulated nearer the date.
And in true IBP tradition we hosted our first speed-dating ‘Face to Face for 10’ event, where public relations executives met senior journalists, including Claer Barrett (Financial Times), Rebecca Evans (Construction News), Martin Hilditch (Inside Housing), Deirdre Hipwell (Times), Elaine Knutt (Construction Manager), Christine Murray (Architects’ Journal), Sarah Richardson (Building), and myself, for 10 minute bursts in a rapid-fire event which proved to be a learning curve for both editors and PR’s. Similar sessions are in development for 2012/13.
I am delighted to welcome Stuart Macdonald of Inside Housing, Rebecca Evans from Construction News, Christine Murray of Architects’ Journal, Donal McCabe of Land Securities and Jonny Popper of London Communications Agency on to the IBP board; it is this new breed of journalists and communications experts that will provide the ideas which will continue to take IBP forward.
IBP is also launching, in association with Gorkana, the media database and portal for PR’s and journalists, a ‘new’ PR and Communications Awards scheme for the built environment sector in September 2012. The call for entries and the judging, by leading editors and senior communications executives, will take place in the New Year with an Awards presentation event taking place in the late spring.
The Annual Welbeck Strategic Land Debate is due to take place on Monday September 24th, hosted again by Hogan Lovells and IBP, with the working title: “Why will future generations remain in the countryside – where will you live, where will you work?” The speaker panel is in development and full details will be circulated nearer the date.
And we also look forward this year to returning to the spiritual home of the IBP Journalism Awards – the Four Seasons hotel on Park Lane – for the end of year ceremony which will be bigger and better then ever before.
New Award categories are in development and new judges, including: Lee Baker, Director, aop, Pip Clothier, journalist and broadcaster, Mark Collins, Executive Director, CBRE, Jerry Gosney, Digital Publishing Consultant, PPA, Steve Hale, MD, Crofton, Liz Peace, Chief Executive, BPF, Stephen Thornton, UK Head External Affairs, RICS and John Waples, former Sunday Times business editor, Senior MD, FTI Consulting, join our panels this year; but the same commitment to quality and impartiality for which the IBP Awards have stood for, for nearly 40 years, will again be our watchword in 2012.
Finally my thanks to the rest of the IBP board, to outgoing chairman, Alan Smith (Kier Group) and incoming chairman Harriett Hindmarsh (AECOM) and, of course, to our tireless chief executive Gerald Bowey.
If you would like to suggest an IBP event, or become involved with our organization in any way, please contact me at giles.barrie@ubm.com To keep in touch with IBP events and updates please go to www.ibp.org.ujk
Giles Barrie
Editor in Chief, Property Week
President IBP
IBP’s Face to Face event at The Building Centre proved a spectacular success, with a number of In house and consultant PR’s enjoying unique access to some of the most influential editors and journalists in the sector.
The brainchild of IBP CEO Gerald Bowey and Willmott Dixon director of communications Andy Geldard, Face to Face gave PR’s the chance to book 10 minute ‘one to one’ slots with editors on a first come basis.
The fact that all slots were booked up within 48 hours of Face to Face being launched showed just how popular the format was, providing a chance for PR’s to have quality time with journalists without interruptions or deadline pressures getting in the way! The PR’s taking part also made individual donations to the Journalists’ Charity, raising £250.
The stellar cast of journalists taking part included: Giles Barrie, Property Week editor in chief, Claer Barrett, news editor London desk at the FT, Rebecca Evans, Construction News editor, Martin Hilditch, Inside Housing deputy editor, Deirdre Hipwell, property writer at The Times, Elaine Knutt, Construction Manager editor, Christine Murray, AJ editor and Sarah Richardson, Building deputy editor.
In house communication managers from Mott MacDonald, Shepherd Construction, Nightingale Associates, Purcell Miller Tritton architects were joined by PR consultant executives from ING Media, Ash Communications, Aylwin Communications, Edelman, London Communications and TTA amongst others
Gerald said, “It was fantastic that the journalists were able to commit time to meet so many companies and give them a level of access that they have not had before; the PR professionals that thought out of the box and committed to this ‘new’ IBP initiative were able to see instant benefits in their exchange with the journalists. It was a good way to exchange ideas and provided in the space of a few hours the type of networking with our sector journalists that it can take years to build up. This sort of event is exactly what IBP is all about, bringing together the PR industry with journalists’. You will see more of this type of event from IBP in the future, but they will only be available to members that react quickly to these innovative exchanges and can see the real benefits.”
In the past we have presented a report of the last year’s activities. We have consigned looking back to the waste bin and intend to concentrate on the future and how IBP is shaping-up to the task of delivering ‘insights’ into our industry sector; how journalism and the constantly changing way in which we all deliver the news and break the next story.
During my Presidency I am going to build on the findings of the IBP Futures Group, chaired by the FT’s Claer Barrett and the recent Review of IBP carried out by the previous President, Denise Chevin. Fundamentally we will be focusing on issues that will assist both journalists and communications professionals to do their jobs more effectively and deliver a better ‘product’. So education, continued professional development, technology and other key subjects will be delivered with a mixture of fun events, interesting speakers and audience participation.
The Futures Group, which is not targeted at any section or age group within IBP, has already proved that this approach works. We have had an evening with John Waples, an interactive Q & A with a panel of legal experts on litigation, an insightful session with Mira Bar Hillel and in September we will have a session with a panel of experts on the iPad, apps and their potential to bring the news quicker and to a bigger audience.
We are embarking on a major international recruitment drive to develop the overseas journalist membership, aligned to an International Journalist of the Year Awards scheme, amongst other benefits.
We have in development the IBP Communications Awards, due to be launched next spring, which, like its sibling the long established National Journalism Awards, will recognize and reward good communications and communicators, with a panel of senior editors initially judging on line entries and then interviewing finalists in several categories. All this will be delivered at the newly formatted annual IBP Summer Party.
Our key annual event, the National Journalism Awards, has been refreshed and new category guidance notes and a hints and tips section have been added to this years “Call for Entries”. This year we are a fixture at Chelsea Football Club; for 2012 we return to our former regular home the Four Seasons Hotel, in Park Lane, which has had its 2012 make over for the Olympics – IBP is due to take over the venue on the 22nd November, when we hope to deliver our own Olympian Awards and hand out the prizes for the best in journalism.
I hope I can count on your support, whether an editor, journalist or communications professional, to drive these new initiatives forward and help deliver a programme of events that really makes a difference.
Please email me on: giles.barrie@ubm.com if you would like to get involved with any of these initiatives or if you have an interesting idea you would like to see develop as part of the IBP programme.
Nearly 200 IBP Members and guests played at home at Chelsea Football Club last night to hear who had won the twelve Journalism Award categories and the coveted IBP Journalist of the Year Award.
Max McGhan receives the IBP Man of the Match trophyThe trophy presentation
Second successive victory for journalists at annual cricket match with PRs
– but a close run game with good sportsmanship and plucky resolve from both teams.
The journalists notched up a second successive victory in the annual IBP hacks v PRs cricket encounter, sponsored by stone specialists Szerelmey, at Thames Ditton.. But it was a high-scoring, closely fought affair which owed as much to the PRs’ good sportsmanship as it did to the journos’ plucky resolve.
On account of a few last minute drop-outs, illnesses and other excuses, the journalists’ team arrived at the ground in pleasant, sunny conditions unsure of how many names they could attach to the team sheet, never mind in what order. But as it turned out, PR skipper Andrew Geldard kindly offered two players to level the sides, both of whom made significant contributions with bat and ball – and in one case, gloves.
The skippers strode out to the middle for the toss – Taylor armed with local knowledge supplied by a Thames Ditton ‘ringer’ bowler that the greenish track had a tendency to keep low. That was enough to convince him to ask the PRs to bat once the coin came down heads, but the hacks began to wonder if this was the right policy as the classy PR openers Max McGhan and Andrew Lewin plundered runs from alarmingly difficult-to-fill holes in the field placings.
Helmeted McGhan went on to make 31 untroubled, stylish runs before having to retire (such are the rules) for a return at a later date. Lewin likewise kept the scoreboard – if there had been one – ticking along nicely with much élan, until he likewise had to witdraw, to more applause. Two other retirees making 30 – Mark Tant and free-hitting Mazar Masud, really tightened the screw. Ben Roskrow turned a little of the tide back in favour of the hacks with a tricky spell of economical bowling which returned two wickets, and, in a significant moment, a fiendishly quick (ahem) ball from Taylor reared up and split Andy Cassie’s finger.
There would be no spin from this particular spinner, nor a batting performance from the now-grimacing Cassie. James Dilleigh, Stuart Hamilton and Tim Collins also turned their arms over to good effect. At half time, however, it was the PRs team which bounded into the dressing room with a confident smile on its collective face; the journalists slightly quaking at the prospect of chasing 181 off 30 overs. Gulp.
Tea was as ever a splendid affair, sponsored by Szerelmey, enriched by highly fattening delicacies plus a bowl full of fresh pineapple. A classy touch.
With the sun still making an appearance, journo openers David Nicholson and Taylor took to the challenge with gusto, finding the outfield perhaps even quicker than it had been earlier. Dilleigh got into the action with an assured 30, Taylor joined him in the retirement home, and Tim Collins punched a useful, combative 27 before holing out. Roskrow lent some comedy to proceedings by requiring a runner when his hamstring pinged, and no one quite know what was going on.
Stuart Hamilton knocked the ball around freely, but wickets were now falling ominously, mostly due to the expert contribution of Max McGhan, who returned figures of 2 for 25. By this late stage, after almost 60 overs of tense, high quality cricket, fingernails were being bitten on both sides. All that remained was the denouement. One wicket for the PRs to get, two overs for the hacks to scramble the remaining 7 or so runs. As it was, Dilleigh greeted a rising ball from eventual man of the match McGhan in the penultimate over, guiding it with the full face of his bat down to the late cut boundary. The hacks were home and dry.
Following photos and presentations of trophies including the Alan Hughes memorial trophy for McGhan’s man of the match performance, many remarked that this had been perhaps the most enjoyable and certainly one of the highest scoring encounters between the two sides in the history of the fixture. Thanks as ever to IBP ‘Don’ Gerald Bowey, David Helsen and all at Thames Ditton Cricket Club, and sponsors Szerelmey. It’s now 8-5 to the journalists in the all-time IBP standings, but cricket was the real winner. Bring on next year!
In common with our sector IBP has had a mixture of good and bad news to deal with. Nevertheless in 2009 we continued to provide members with the key events that set IBP apart from other communications groups, celebrated our 40th Anniversary and set-up the first Futures Group.
One of the partnerships to suffer was with The All Party Parliamentary Built Environment Group with which we had planned to co-host another Housing debate in the light of the Bill being adopted (given Royal Assent early 2010) and the run-up to the next general election. With the dire state of the housing market and politicians of all shades running for cover, under the general excuse of being in purdah, this initiative fell by the wayside.
Last June’s IBP Journalists v PR’s cricket match, sponsored by restoration and stone specialists Szerelmey, produced another PR winning side, with team captains, Dave Rogers (Construction News, now running his own media company) and Andy Walker (in his last act before leaving ACE for the charity sector) giving their all – both in taking the field and shouting encouragement to their teams.
The Annual Summer Dinner held at the RAC was a truly International affair not only kicking-off the IBP 40th celebrations but also marking the CIOB’s 175th Anniversary with their President Li Shirong delivering a keynote speech, to over 70 members, on the opportunities available from the continuing emerging markets in China.
Professor Li also presented the first of the 2009 crop of Awards the Subscription and In-House Magazine of the Year – with the chairman of the judges Giles Barrie, editor of Property Week, providing his usual running commentary on the judge’s final choices.
Commenting, Giles said: “We had a lively and invigorating final judging session in both categories and were most impressed with the variety on offer and the different approaches taken”. In acknowledging the judges deliberations he particularly thanked architectural author and journalist Ruth Slavid, former editor of AJ Online, “for her forensic analysis of the entries”.
Giles praised the Willmott Dixon and Costain entries two polished publications, “the Judges relished the openness with which Willmott Dixon described some big corporate changes, while Costain clearly demonstrated communications flair in the packed issues of Blueprint submitted” he said.
Announcing Mott Macdonald’s m2 the winner, in the In-House category, Giles commented: “This is a publication for its time, concise, colourful yet cost effective, with a lot of personality, information and projects and an overall warm feel to the presentation of the contents”.
In the Subscription category Giles announced a Highly Commended Award for Construction Manager, a former winner, “this magazine has improved again under the editorship of Elaine Knutt, with a marked stronger editorial voice on behalf of the membership of the CIOB” he said.
But the winner in this category was ‘A’ from RIBA North West. “We were truly wowed by this title. It looks and feels great but does not limit itself to highly specialized or pretentious architectural fare” he said. Indeed the issue that impressed the judges the most was the issue that focused on the recession “far more enjoyable” he said “than the Le Corbusier issue at the same time there was a great North West spirit flowing throughout” he concluded.
In July we held a unique concert of two parts to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the founding of IBP; starting at the spiritual home of journalism, St Bride’s Church Fleet Street, the magnificent choir took us through a programme of four decades of contemporary music and song. This was followed in The Press House by supper and live music with Clarence King and the Regents, fronted by Bob Kidby and including guest spots by Claer Barrett and Jack Russell. The whole evening was made possible because of the generous support of Bob Kidby and the sponsorship of Lovells, now Hogan Lovells.
Last October unfortunately saw another casualty of the credit crunch, after four seasons, the IBP Regional Journalism Awards were stood down because of lack of sponsorship support from the North West property sector. The IBP board will review the situation in 2010.
But October also saw a full turnout of all the judges sitting on the National Journalism Awards panels; some twenty four journalists and construction industry professionals came together for the final judging session, again hosted by The Building Centre in Store Street, to make their final selections. This follows the assessment of over three hundred articles and twenty magazines. A daunting task delivered with great care and professionalism by the judges.
To close the 40th Anniversary programme a capacity audience attended the IBP Annual National Journalism Awards in the Members’ Dining Room at the House of Commons, preceded by a reception, supported by BDP, in the Strangers’ Dining Room.
The individual categories, (with the exception of the Housing Journalist Award), continued to be well supported by sponsors with the evening event also being sponsored by Resolution Property. Entries in most categories remained high with a range of positive news and feature stories as well as analytical pieces on the credit crunch grabbing the headlines and the Awards please see the Awards’09 Bulletin report on the IBP website homepage for full results.
We were most fortunate to have as our Guest Speaker Roy Greenslade, Media Analysis, Evening Standard and Professor of Journalism at City University London who gave us his ‘take’ on the battle between print and online news gathering and delivery to the reader (a full transcript of Roy’s speech can be viewed on the homepage); while Peter Murray, Director of NLA, guided us through the Award categories with his usual insightful links.
Your executive board (please see full listing attached to the AGM papers) continues to oversee the events and ‘new’ initiatives that IBP takes forward on an annual basis they should all be congratulated on the very positive way in which they work together and contribute to the meetings, often after putting in a full days work.
Having reached our 40th Anniversary the board has set-up a number of Futures Groups to look at the interests and needs of young journalists and communicators. In addition, with sponsors, we are looking at the development of the National Awards scheme and the online role provided by members in delivering the news. Claer Barrett, associate editor of Investors Chronicle has kindly agreed to chair the Young Futures Group and reported to the board in February 2010. By the time you read this report I hope you will already see positive additions to the IBP programme.
Of course the events mentioned above and other IBP initiatives are regularly reported and archived on the website for your further interest. Do take a look.
IBP will only prosper if we share the issues that interest us. Journalists need to engage and set the agenda with communications professionals both in-house and in consultancies; PR’s need to talk to journalists before they target their news stories. How often have we heard the clarion call know your media? Well use the IBP network to help build your relationship with journalists.
IBP has and can continue to contribute to the wider on-going debates constantly taking place in our sector, in this context I encourage you to get involved and to make a difference, we now have future groups that can help facilitate your input – please do not hesitate to contact IBP.
Multiple IBP Journalism Award Winner Claer Barrett, writing for Investors Chronicle, demonstrated yet again her passion for the subject of her articles and received two top Awards at the IBP Awards presentations co-hosted with Resolution Property at the House of Commons.
Multiple IBP Journalism Award Winner Claer Barrett, writing for Investors Chronicle, demonstrated yet again her passion for the subject of her articles and received two top Awards at the IBP Awards presentations co-hosted with Resolution Property at the House of Commons.
Her writing in the Feature Writer of the Year category covered an array of highly topical subjects, and her style demonstrated a passion for the subject, Barrett is “an outstanding and deserving winner, her entries demonstrated a strong determination, she gets quickly to the point and fully covers all the angles,” the judges enthused.
In the IBP Journalist of the Year Category the judges compare the winners of each individual Award, and are thus faced with the dilemma of comparing the excellent with the brilliant. “Although the articles covered a wide range of styles, content and publications they together illustrated the strength of architecture, property and construction journalism in today’s media and the ingenuity and resources employed by the best writers in a sector which is more in the news, and warranting critical analysis, than it has been for many years? the judges said.
The judges praised Barrett’s outstanding article on the pitfalls of buy-to-let. “Claer showed her depth of knowledge and understanding of the subject and has clearly made herself an expert,” the judges commented. They praised her on the ground research and visits to seminars that provided her with the tools to write such a colourful and informative article. The judges were unanimous in declaring Claer the overall winner of the IBP 2009 Journalist of the Year Award.
Discussed the changing role of journalism in a multi-media world…
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the changing role of journalism in a multi-media world, to look at threats to and opportunities for high quality work, and to discuss IBP’s stance. We also looked at the IBP annual awards and the judging criteria. Present were editors, news editors and online editors from leading publications in the construction and property markets. There were also observers from the NUJ and the CIOJ.
Bright prospects
Generally the mood was optimistic. Journalists were having fun, learning new skills. Journalists are not confined to their offices since they can file stories from their Blackberries. They love the immediacy. Skills acquired increase opportunities for future careers in national newspapers or even television.
Horses for courses
For some audiences, interactivity and video were seen as the goal. thers were more interested in data. For other, especially web-only, operations, the essential was to sift the large amount of material available, and present what was most valuable.
Paying for it
There seemed to be general consensus that where publishing houses had gone wrong was in their embracing the concept of ‘free content’, of giving everything away. That the future for specialist publishing would be in presenting a complete package for subscribers, offering online and offline content. Many sponsors and advertisers see online as an essential part of the service they are offered. Many of the most ambitious online offerings are only made possible by sponsorship. There was a clear belief that this was not affecting editorial integrity – and confidence that this dependency on sponsorship was just part of the economic climate, and not a cause for concern.
Doing less
What did journalists do less of, to find time for this new activity? Certain long features were being cut back in recognition of readers’ decreasing desire to read long pieces. Double working was eliminated – stories being written once for the web and once for print.
Working harder?
The overall feeling was that journalists were working hard, but not too hard. Slack days after press day had disappeared, early starts were common. But this is after all ‘the best job in theworld’ and working hard was seen as reasonable. There was warning however from the NUJ representative that in regional newspapers demands were often unreasonably high and that there were not the resources for proper journalism.
Role of the web editor
There was some concern that this role was in some cases ill defined and often unrewarding. Web editors too often were seen as having responsibility without power – sometimes finding it difficult to exercise authority over staff who did not report to them directly. Also in some
cases the role of web editor was seen as being made too technical and insufficiently creative.
IBP AWARDS
This meeting moved into a discussion of IBP Awards. There were two concerns.
1. The nature and standing of web award
2. The desire for a multi-media award.
Web award
There was some concern, although not universal, that this is seen too much as a reward for the technology and design, and not for the quality of the journalism. It is vital that this award is judged on all criteria, as is the print journalism award, and that there is an appreciation of the different aspirations of different sites – they should be judged by how they fulfil their users’ requirements, and not as a beauty parade.
Multi-media award
There is a hunger for this award, which would recognise specifically the efforts of journalist working across a range of platforms.
CONCLUSIONS
It was encouraging that the general feeling was so positive. Generally the press is embracing opportunities. Areas of concern: It would be wise to keep an eye on the role of web editors, on workloads, and on the pressures of sponsorship.
A meeting was held on the evening of 25th January 2010 at the FT’s office to informally discuss:
• How the IBP can better serve (and attract) younger journalist and PR members
• How it might seek to achieve this
• What kind of networking events would appeal
The following individuals were present:
Claer Barrett, Investors Chronicle (chair)
Sarah Richardson, Building
Hardeep Sandher, Property Week
David Doyle, Property Week
Lydia Stockdale, Inside Housing
Mike Phillips, Estates Gazette
Alasdair Reisner, CECA
James Carnegie, Aylwin Comms
Naomi Galt, FD
Claudia Robinson, FD
Sarah Keltie, FD
Gemma Shah, Jones Lang LaSalle
Sam Kidby, London Communications Agency
Niki May Young, World Architecture
Michael Webster, Gorkana
Polly Roberts, Gorkana
All are happy to meet again to discuss further, or organise an event
Conclusions of discussion:
• There is strong support for IBP events aimed at young people
• The IBP Futures group would be happy to organise these
• Evening is the best time, with drinks (which could be sponsored)
• The venue does not need to be “posh” – a central London pub is fine
• There has to be a theme – it should not just be a piss up
• Initial focus should be journalistic skills; a “big name” talking about how they made it
• How to get on the nationals is the hot topic (sorry editors!)
• Trade journalists want to network with those on the nationals
• PRs are happy to come to gain access to journalists, regardless of event content
• PRs present expressed interest in sponsoring events
• Having people from industry there is less important, but could come later
• Being introduced to people at events would really help (maybe by board members?)
• The events should not be too large (40-60 people max)
• Entry should be controlled (names on a list)
• In principle, people would be happy to buy a membership / ticket for these events
• Editors cannot be relied on to spread the word. Each magazine needs a young IBP contact who can tell colleagues about the event (everyone in the room put themselves forward)
Additionally…
• With the cache of IBP Awards, we have more to offer than competing networking groups
• To attract younger members, the IBP needs to be better at its own PR
• The website needs to offer better information for new prospects
• PRs who were members of IBP found application process difficult
• Gorkana would be interested in JV / link up in some way
• All future IBP events can be advertised (for free) on Gorkana
• There was strong support to Ruth Slavid’s suggestion that we should reach out to young journalists and PRs made redundant / job seeking / freelancing, and advertising events on Gorkana is probably the best way to reach these groups.
Discussion points of interest:
Current perceptions of the IBP were rather mixed. Several
were members as a result of having been entered for awards. However, few had
been to an IBP event other than the awards. Those who came to the summer party
really enjoyed it. There was awareness of IBP events that had been e-mailed
to members, but were considered “expensive”. How will the news be
delivered was mentioned as something that sounded good, for example, but only
one person had attended. Those who had attended events described them as “old
school” with people talking to people they already knew. In conclusion,
a lot of young members / potential members feel IBP events are “not for
them”.
The cache of the IBP awards is our greatest weapon. I was
surprised to hear about the large number of networking groups targeting young
journalists, and from within the built environment sector. They don’t have an
awards ceremony, but we do – and there lies our USP. The IBP has the potential,
and the membership database, to offer something unique. As an aside, several
people mentioned that “What the IBP Awards judges are looking for”
could be a good basis for an event. Having links to award winning articles on
IBP website was also viewed as desirable. People know winning an award boost
your career – and even more so in tough times!
Suitable “big names” in journalism for an event were discussed.
The obvious candidates are Andrew Marr, Robert Peston or Nick Robinson – newspaper
journalists who have made it on TV. Getting someone like this for the first
event would be a real coup – but we shouldn’t limit ourselves to media stars.
Dominic O’Connell, the new business editor of The Times, and Richard Fletcher
were mentioned, to general murmurs of approval.
Understanding “What’s in it for me?” is the key to getting
a good response. For trade journalists, how to get a job on a national – and
how others have done so – is an obsession. This may be hard for editors to stomach,
but if we are running a networking event then we need to be aware of this. In
general, career development is the thing most journalists AND PRs are most bothered
about.
The format – most preferred a Q&A format, with “two chairs on a stage”
with someone like Giles Barrie asking the questions. Then, there would be questions
from the floor. This way, the guest speaker does not navel gaze too much, and
attendees also get to observe interview technique.
Gorkana events team believed said “big names” would do it for free, if approached
by a young person, as they would want to “give something back”. They offered
to help recruit. However, people felt the IBP website should
be given some attention before we start pitching to people, as it doesn’t yet
reflect the “young” ethos, or have an easy-to-find “about us” section. The first
thing “big names” will do is put IBP into Google, so we need to look our best.
The idea of having a “big name” from the property or construction industry
appealed less – it was seen as too specific to a publication and not the wider
group. Also, you are surrounded by competing journalists, so unlikely to be
of any use as a story (I was surprised by this!)
A good point made – in a recession, in-house training budgets
are non-existent. Some of the basics of reporting are not properly covered nowadays. Legal issues, what you can get sued for, and what you can get
away with, could be a very popular event. “Not having the confidence to tackle
legally challenging stories will lead to weaker journalism in the long run”. Investigative techniques, as taught by Peter Gilman, were also
favoured.
Editors are not considered to be the best way of conveying information about
IBP events. It was proposed that each publication (there aren’t many) should
have a “young” point of contact to receive info about IBP events and circulate.
Everyone present nominated themselves.
Other networking groups / events we should be aware of:
Gorkana does breakfast events for PRs (where an editor speaks
about deadlines, what stories they want, scope of their publication etc) These
are quite formal and businesslike, but work. They have also held panel discussion
format events with several journalists They tried a quiz night format with journalists
and PRs, but it descended into a piss up and people “found it hard to make meaningful
connections”. Ditto cocktail making – fun, but just a “piss up”. Deputy chief
executive Michael (name) – who looks in his early thirties – is very keen to
discuss a potential joint venture with the IBP on these events.
Profile (which is an EG spin off) follows a similar PR breakfast
format. Both charge hefty subscriptions, and pay journalists for participating.
Only of use to PRs.
European Young Professionals (EYP)
Free to subscribe, this organisation is for all professionals and holds a monthly
London event which some of the panel had attended. It costs £5 entry but is
“very corporate” and “hit and miss” what industry professionals you might meet.
Schmooze and Booze
Organised by a young sub-editor on the Daily Mail, this is a new networking
event for all PRs and journalists in London – but with more of a consumer than
business focus. You have to pay for your own drinks. Comment from someone who
went to one: “It was quite big, but difficult to find useful people, and there
were all sorts there.”
Property4Media
Spun out from the website, they organise quarterly drinks events in fairly
swanky London venues. It is invite only, to selected group chosen by them. Sponsors
pay for drinks, but in return you must sit through dreary speech and presentation
(often about building or interiors products).
Young Entrepreneurs in Property (YEP)
We think, now defunct, but in its heyday was getting 200+ to its events. Problems
arose when membership became too open (“It was open to everybody, so you would
end up talking to people who made floor filters and did glazing”). Similar to
the “curse of the BCO” which suffers same problem with industry people being
preyed upon by sales teams from lift companies!
City University
Have a big name journalist come in every Monday night for journalists to interview,
they submit questions beforehand. People come and speak for free, which is encouraging.
Linda Christmas would be a good person to get onside for our events.
Other event ideas:
Wine tasting is good – but very expensive.
“Speed networking” – like speed dating but with journalists / PRs/ industry
contacts was suggested, but would have to be very well organised to work.
How to use Twitter as a journalist
Blog night / talk from famous bloggers
Consider running an event online, instead of in an actual venue – a webinar
What the PRs want from an event:
“A relaxed atmosphere to meet journalists and get to know them – certainly
not to push stories, but to find out more about them and what they cover.”
“I can tell my boss I’m going to this to meet journalists and really impress
them”
“A small charge would be fine – at any rate, it’s much cheaper than a lunch
and you will meet more people.”
Both groups agree – you have to feel you’re getting something out of the event
personally, in terms of career development / opportunities, as you are leaving
work to go to an event.Of our group of 16, four were returning to the office
/ taking work home with them after the meeting finished. Long hours are part
of the job more than ever in a recession.
“You have got to be able to justify two hours at an event”
Notes on the website:
There is no obvious “about us” section, people said they could not find it
quickly
“It is really hard to work out how to become a member on the website. It took
me over 15 minutes”
“The most valuable thing the IBP has is its members. As a member, I should be
able to log in to the website, and search for other members and their contact
details, just like I can on other networking sites.”
“There should be pointers and tips on how to enter the IBP awards”
Other comments:
Disappointment over dropping of Housing category.
Frustration that web journalists are not recognised in awards when so much of
content is now digital / video / interactive. Should the IBP move with the times
a bit here?
More young members would be generated by the awards entries for these categories!
Ditto, awards for blogs. They are a part of journalistic life now, so why not
recognise them?
