IRISH NEWS CONSISTENCY REWARDED

It’s stunning news for our local daily press sector but we can hardly claim to be surprised!

Our own Irish News has landed the overall Grand Prix prize at the 2012 Newspaper Awards in London. Trailing behind was industry defining titles such as the Sunday Times and even The Guardian. On the same evening the paper also landed Regional Newspaper of the Year and was described as “fabulously produced…..screams quality”, “a clear winner” with “real authority”.

This follows on from the two other main industry award schemes both of which also adjudged Irish News as Regional Newspaper of the Year – a significant hat trick and meriting a big well done!

However, terrific as these achievements are I would like to highlight something else that I believe is behind this success. It’s consistency. The Irish News has been delivering its current level of output for years. The paper’s commitment and on-going delivery of what it believes in is demonstrated in every edition. Readers know what to expect and they are rarely disappointed. The urge to makes changes for changes sake has been resisted and this at a time when other papers change on a rather too frequent basis.

This would indicate a clear understanding of its readership base and what they need and want each day from their newspaper of choice. That sounds like it might be obvious but the newspaper scene is littered with failed, misdirected initiatives and little consistency.

So yes I would like to say well done on this stream of awards and deserved recognition but not as much as I would like to applaud the commitment and vision delivered over years.

The challenge of course is not just to ensure survival and maintain the position but to draw in growth and reach out further….it will be fascinating to see the Irish News take its success further. A beacon for our local press!

All roads lead to Twickenham, via the Aviva.

All roads lead to Twickenham, via the Aviva. 

42,000.  That’s right 42,000.  That’s how many Ulster fans were in Dublin on Saturday supporting Ulster.  To put this into perspective, Ravenhill holds 12,000 – and only on big matches.  42,000.  Wow.  That’s 2% of the population.  42,000.  2%.  I’m still staggered by this.

Heineken knew this, and helped Ulster fans enjoy the day, by creating a ‘Green Zone’ in Dublin – celebrating their sponsorship of both the Heineken Cup and Ulster Rugby.  They created a handy app, that helped guide Ulster fans to some of the best bars in Dublin to enjoy the big game build up.  This was communicated to fans in the sports pages and across the social media network.  We helped out too – getting Ulster players Andrew Trimble and Paddy McAlister to tell their thousands of followers on twitter about the app.  Hey presto – Retweets. 

It seemed to work.  I was there on Saturday and the ‘Green Zones’ pubs I went too were absolutely jammers, the sun was shining, red and white was everywhere and the talk was only of the game.  All with a Heineken in hand.  Well done them, and well done Ulster.  Twickenham anyone?    

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

we’ve been helping Belfast theatre company BRUISER develop a communications programme for their Summer Theatre Schools. We’ll be featuring more in depth background to this from next week on our website . BRUISER will be operating from The MAC Belfasts newest art centre which opens 24th April. Navigator Blue have designed a wide range of materials to help support this energetic theatre company. The Tee shirts will without doubt be 2012’s hottest collectable so get yours;f along to Bruiser for details or contact t.corr@navigatorblue.com and we will get you connected.

TITANIC TEA LAUNCH

Thompson’s Family Teas have launched their new TITANIC Tea. The packaging looks amazing and the outdoor campaign developed by NavigatorBlue is traffic stompingly good .Next week sees the campaign sponsor two UTV television programmes Tuesday 10th BORN IN BELFAST and Titanic the Missing link which broadcasts 15th. The TV indents can be viewed on our website from Tuesday. 

IRISH NEWS WORKPLACE EMPLOYMENT AWARDS

About to enter into it’s 6th year The Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards 2012 are a must in the business calendar.

Every year they continue to attract more entries and the demand and interest  for sponsorship grows.

The awards are taking place at the new iconic Titanic centre. 

Entry packs are due out very soon and look like becoming a collectors piece in their own right to help mark this memorable year.

2012 is looking like being our year in as much that we are all called upon to take part and deliver the best and in true championship style we aim to compete.

Watch out in the Irish News for launch details and press campaign

Of course it’s the taking part that counts but like any challenge at the end off the day - it’s all about  the winning.

Ulster festival of Art & Design

A full line up of workshops and talks for students, creative professionals and beyond.

Despite the rather bland and poorly considered look of the advertising and graphic design this looks to be a very good event with lots of workshops and talks relating to improving  communication on a variety of subjects from Soundscape to typography. The Sir John Sorrell talk is a real coupe for the organisers. Lets hope it brings out more can do and inspiration for both clients and creatives alike.I’m sure there is a reason for the publicity looking like a reject from post war Britain but it’s lost on me and if it is meant as a reaction to the overworked approach which has become tiresome and favoured by so many college students. 

Helsinki 2012 Design Capital

We’re already 3 months into 2012 and I suppose I’m like a lot of others still locked into 2011. It’s not until the buds of spring start to emerge that you get a sense that i’s time to get out there and at it. 2012 so far is proving to be a big year for design or certainly conferences about design. Lets hope it manifests itself with lots of inspired people who get the point that better design means better results and in turn motivates us and that can only be a good thing. Helsinki is this years design capital and the website is worth investigating . They say Design is where science meets art.

A trip to Helsinki in April is a good place to start proving this theory right.  

http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en

MARCH IS CREATIVITY MONTH

How 2 get your message 2 the Youth Market

Congratulations Terry George

Frank Carson 1926 - 2012

If it hadn’t been for Frank, I wouldn’t have the life I have today. Running his Variety Club Charity Golf events in the 80’s brought me my husband (and later our daughter), some amazing memories and a whole lot of laughter.

Thanks, Frank. RIP.

Mandy

TIT ANIC sign

If you look straight on at the new TIT ANIC sign you’ll see what it means to have a real designer on board. This unfortunate typo is down to not checking things before the heavy work begins. Any decent designer would have checked this and used their judgment and not have relied on computer kerning which is probably the case here. Someone on our team suggested that perhaps this is deliberate and has perhaps come of the ships original stencil. I sincerely hope this isn’t the case as I am often reassured that the Titanic was perfect when it left here in Belfast. I really hope they fix this.  

Carnage a lesson on when to stop and walkaway.

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the evening into chaos.

Director: Roman Polanski

Writers: Yasmina Reza (based on the play by: “Le Dieu du carnage”), Yasmina Reza (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz

Movie Season is everywhere

Man on a Ledge is a good old fashioned fast moving, thrill filled, nail biting Friday night at the flicks film. Loved it and even though it’s far fetched it’s just a real gripper of a movie. New York looks fab as always and Sam Worthingtonheads up a great cast. If you liked The Town or Phone Booth you’ll love this too. Fast moving with a few mild twists which I caught on to a bit too soon , but never mind me. Everyone should like this one. Opens Friday at The MovieHouse.

As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion…

Director: Asger Leth

Writer: Pablo F. Fenjves

Stars: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell

This almost made Mandy cry.

Nav Blue MD. Mandy Dalm. Saw this film and it nearly moved her to tears.

It’s a short film by filmmaker,photographer Jean Roman Seyfried and it shows the Cosby Street  Hotel in NewYorks SoHo district  being built from the ground up.The filming took two and a half years .

Using time lapse filming this very simple and meticulous work is both fascinating and very moving.

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of he things we take for granted and how they came to be.

The music is superb and it’s worth clicking on the link and take 5 minutes to view.

This will warm the heart and also prove that a simple idea can be effective and rewarding. Enjoy.

(Source: firmdale.com)