Comms Vs

So as ever Comms Vs is eggs-tremely late to the party - blame the fact Ben and Janine have a very strict sign off process (or slightly chaotic lives)

The pair this time take a look at Easter, April fools day and NHS comms around vaccinations and lockdown easing.

Needless to say there's a bit of celebrity, a bit of food chat and some TV recommendations from Radcliffe

Hat tip to Northern Monk Brewery who pulled the ultimate double bluff on us and the rest of their fans and well done to Heck who made a truly delicious sausage.

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak every few weeks and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

Yes, yes.... Comms Vs is like busses you get none and then two come in a week.

BUT this isn't a proper episode it's a quick reaction to well the whopper of a fiasco that was Burger King UK's International Women's Day campaign.

Enjoy
Ben & Janine

PS share your thoughts on it:
Twitter & Instagram - @CommsVS
Email - [email protected]

So as ever Comms Vs is fashionably late to the party - blame the fact Ben and Janine are both oddly busy in the midst of a national lockdown.

The dynamic duo or dullards (depending upon you view) take a look at the adverts that feature in the expensive advertising slots around America's biggest game the Super Bowl.

Needless to say there's a bit of celebrity, a bit of emotion and a few giggles (and possibly a little bit of sexism).

Hat tip to the advertisers including:
Amazon
Jeep
Paramount
Cheetos
General Motos

Aside from this they also share their Lockdown Lessons including some TV pics and a breath taking baking realisation!

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak every few weeks and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

Episode 13: Comms Vs Winterwatch & mental health in lockdown 3

In this episode of Comms Vs., Ben and Janine discuss the importance of prioritising your mental health – particularly during a lockdown in January. They take a light-hearted look at the things that they – and their listeners – have been doing to keep themselves positive, such as limiting their exposure to negative news stories and enjoying the great outdoors. They also share the fun activities they’ve been doing to keep themselves entertained – including Janine’s newfound love of arts and crafts and Ben’s ongoing video game appreciation.

Lockdown lessons

Ben rediscovers his love of a sea shanty courtesy of folk band, The Longest Johns. Janine confesses her growing obsession with birdwatching but shows true dedication to the Comms Vs. podcast by missing the first episode of Winterwatch to record.

Links

•The Happy Newspaper - good news delivered to your door every 3 months: https://thehappynewspaper.com/
•#Walkshire - Welcome to Yorkshire’s campaign to encourage more people to take up walking and enjoy the Yorkshire countryside: https://www.yorkshire.com/walkshire
•Art in a box – Halifax art school providing all the materials you need to do an art class from home: https://www.theartworks.org.uk/home-learning
•Okay Comics – independent book shop based in Leeds and specialising in graphic novels and comics: https://okcomics.co.uk

Shout outs

•Goodable - good news Twitter feed: @Goodable
•Welcome to Yorkshire CEO, James Mason: @JamesMason_78
•The Longest Johns – capella folk band and sea shanty sensations: @TheLongestJohns
•Unstable Unicorns – strategic card game featuring unicorns and destruction – available to buy from Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith etc.

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak every few weeks and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

In this festive episode of Comms Vs., Janine and Ben discuss what makes a good Christmas advert and share their thoughts on this year’s offerings from the major supermarkets (and a few other Christmas advert giants).

They also debate some of the big Christmas questions like ‘is it ever too early to put your decorations up?’ and ‘what do you leave out for Santa?’.

So, grab a Baileys, put your feet up and sit back and listen to what may well be our last episode of 2020. Enjoy – and may your Christmas be merry and bright.

LINKS

Christmas adverts:

•McDonalds – Inner Child:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJntbYytPz8
•Lidl – Big on a Christmas you can believe in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2waeUenMzYY
•John Lewis – Give a little love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUmPzwLNiMk
•Coca-cola – Give something only you can give:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4Mq5EAEzw
•Sainsburys – Gravy song (part 1 of 3):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqtcpLywgRU
•Tesco – No Naughty List:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CfrpexaCwg
•Aldi – Kevin’s out in the cold:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL56Z5StIUY
•Asda – That’s an Asda Price Christmas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_nRBy92oQ
•Morrisons – Making Christmas Special:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KOaqfhnamA

Honourable mentions:

•Disney – From our family to yours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl57Gy5X_Kg
•Ayton Mini Market:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiRIfwygcLg

Other:

•Total Eclipse of the Heart - Literal Video Version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgWUq0fdKk

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak once a week and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Follow us on Twitter: @CommsVs
Follow us on Instagram: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

In this episode of Comms Vs. (which is a bit of a bonus due to both the plucky hosts being a bit distracted of late), Janine puts a whole host of questions from fans, herself and special guest, Matt, to Ben on the topics of PR and journalism - including whether he likes phone pitch and embargoes!

Links

- The NY Times article which explains off the record (or at least how they see it) https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/reader-center/off-the-record-meaning.html

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak once a week and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

In this episode of Comms Vs., Ben and Janine are joined by commercial and brand photographer, Matt Radcliffe, and try their hand at photography with a challenge in honour of World Photography Day. Tasked with emulating their favourite image, they present their inspiration and creations to Matt – and he critiques their work. Take a look @CommsVs on Twitter to see the images described in this episode.

Ben, Janine and Matt also discuss every comms person’s worst nightmare – photography permissions – in particular, the controversial copyright infringement lawsuit filed by photojournalist, Stephanie Sinclair, against the publication Mashable.

Lockdown lessons

Janine talks about her rediscovery of the homebuilding show, Grand Designs, and Matt shares his love of a good walk. Ben waxes lyrical about the joys of a SodaStream and Janine comes up with perhaps the greatest advertising slogan of all time…

Links

•Court Rules Photographer Gave Up Exclusive Licensing Rights by Posting on Instagram: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/court-rules-photographer-gave-up-licensing-rights-by-posting-instagram-1290170

Shoutouts

•Our fantastic guest, Matt Radcliffe – follow him @mattradphoto or visit www.mattradcliffephoto.co.uk

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak once a week and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

In this episode of Comms Vs., Janine and Ben discuss the most wonderful time of the year.....well not really, just Yorkshire Day!

Highlighting the brands that got it right and those that just felt like a miss and in Ben's case made him pretty angry!

It's all a bit of fun and features Sean Bean, a local chippy and some chatter about when it works to join an awareness day and when it feels wrong!

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak once a week and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]

In this bonus episode of CommsVs., Ben and Janine discuss the recent communication from Government around the local lockdowns affecting parts of the North of England.

They give their brutally honest views on everything from the timing of the announcement to the inconsistent and confusing messaging used. They also look at what we can all learn from this situation about how not to communicate in a crisis and give a shoutout to local and regional journalists and local government employees who worked tirelessly throughout the night to get the message out to the most vulnerable members of the community.

In this episode of Comms Vs., Janine and Ben discuss lockdown easing and whether they’ve ventured out to a pub or restaurant since they opened again on 4 July. They also talk about the importance of wearing a face covering in public places and debate the limitations of cancel culture.

Ben and Janine also discuss the most recent advert from Apple, featuring a loveable set of characters called the underdogs as they navigate the challenges of working from home, and highlight some great examples of creativity during lockdown involving the recreation of famous album covers.

Lockdown lessons

Janine talks about the perils of being an adult and homeowner. Ben shares his love of Lancashire cheese - and food in general ;-)

Links

•Mowgli - Indian street food restaurant: https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/
•Apple advert - The whole working-from-home thing: https://youtu.be/6_pru8U2RmM

Shoutouts

•Championing the food and drink industry in Leeds - @LeedsIndieFood (Twitter)
•Awesome album cover recreations - @TiredPelican (Instagram) and Sydmar Lodge Care Home
•Positive news coverage - @thismuchiknow.news (Instagram)

About the hosts

Ben Ormsby is the Yorkshire Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com and a PR practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in both agency and client-side roles. Janine Radcliffe is a communications and marketing specialist and now runs her own business called Radwood Communications. They met each other a number of years ago when they were both working in-house for a large public sector organisation and, despite each going their separate ways, they have remained good friends. Now, they speak once a week and record their ramblings for your listening pleasure.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Twitter: @CommsVs
Email us: [email protected]