O’Conall Street

Varney II is out. On a preliminary skim over the executive summary I am far from overwhelmed. He endorses all the good bits of existing Executive policy and calls for its implementation, something nobody will disagree with, and then adds a few of his own favourites just for completeness. The best one is the call for the privatisation of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency, hardly the magic bullet to solve our competitiveness issues but in the report none the less. 

Sir David was asked to look in a considered way at the structural issues impacting on the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland Economy. He wrote and academic analysis, 90% call for implementation of existing policy 10% recycling of existing GB programmes.

 The lobby groups are reflecting this in their initial responses. The Institute of Charted Accountants in Ireland has said:

“Sir David Varney’s findings are in marked contrast to his disappointing review of Northern Ireland tax policy published late last year.  On that occasion, he seemed to find that nothing was wrong with the Northern Ireland economy, and in particular that no changes to tax policy were required, a position which ICAI strongly contests.

While on this occasion he has supported review and reform, the issue of taxation, a key component in assessing Northern Ireland’s competitiveness, has again failed to feature, and this remains a significant shortcoming.  This is particularly so in that the role of tax in offering a competitive edge is gaining widespread currency, not just in the context of the Northern Ireland economic debate.”

In a week when the Treasury is under siege from big business moving to the Republic he has failed to really recognise the North’s potential as an FDI location or a potential special region within the UK. This report, like it’s predecessor will disappear onto the shelf quickly. Our local Minister’s will put on a brave face and claim the better bits. This is not their report and not their analysis and it would be very unfair to hold them responsible for it. We have very many talented economists on this island in the public and private sectors. Next time we need some advice I think we should ask one of them.

Sir David Varney’s second report will be published at 2.00pm. More to follow. 

Matrin Sorrell’s advertising group, WPP, are the latest major British company to say it is actively considering a relocation  for tax reasons outside the UK. Even Astra Zenica are refusing to rule out a move.

Alastair Darling has said he is now reviewing UK tax policy.  He could save a lot of time by getting Sir David Varney to recommend a lower rate for Northern Ireland. With speculation that his report may be published today, the British Government has never had a better opportunity to pilot a low corporation tax zone within the UK which would also provide this region with a much needed economic boost.

United Business Media is the latest UK firm to announce it is moving to Ireland for tax reasons. Last week Shire said they would also relocate their profit centre to this small island.

I am not one to promote tax dodging in big business but on the other hand we all need to accept the realities of global markets and the mobility of internal capital.

Varney II is still awaited here in Northern Ireland. I will eat my hat if he sees the obvious opportunity to plug the exodus of British business by allowing them the possibility to stay in the UK in a lower tax NI. We all live in hope.

A website has gone live which at last addresses the needs for the 23,000 people a day who cross the border in Ireland to work, study or retire. The site is a ‘one-stop shop’ for people who commute across the border providing a wealth of information and an online advice service. www.borderpeople.info, part financed by the European Union Peace and Reconciliation Programme,  will advise the cross border citizen on everything from taxation, social security and job seeking to health, banking, housing and telecommunications.

Anyone crossing the border on a frequent basis should log on to www.borderpeople.infoto find out what entitlements and services they can take advantage of. This website aims to provide information for people crossing the border to live, work, study or retire. 

Did you know that 14 million cars cross the border between Dundalk and Newry every year? That at least 18,000 workers and 5,200 students cross the border every day to work or study? That 1.7 million people cross the border by bus or train every year for short-term visits? * These statistics, along with all the other information, required to ensure simplified cross-border mobility are contained in www.borderpeople.info.

To heighten awareness of the website’s capabilities, the Centre for Cross Border Studies is hosting a series of information events to encourage people to log on to find out what they are entitled to and answer queries on cross border issues. 

The Border People website is structured around the four concepts of “Commute”, “Work”, “Live”, and “Study.”  It will give access to high quality information that will help people find answers to questions associated with moving across the border in either direction to live, work, study or retire.  It will include information on issues such as taxation, social security, recruitment, health care, social services, childcare, transport, telecoms, insurance, housing, banking and education.   It is aimed at lowering cross border mobility obstacles and providing accurate up to date data about the extent of cross border mobility.

That was a mad week.

Spent the later part if last week with the rest of Weber Shandwick’s UK and Ireland Leadership Team. We had a great get together the highlight of which was undoubted me getting a fly fishing hook stuck in my eyelid, ouch! All sorted now thanks to the nifty hands of our Scottish Deputy MD - Moray MCDonald, Chief Executive - Colin Byrne and a local doctor.

Anyway never mind my troubles poor old Hillary Clinton really is in a  quagmire. After her good performance in the last primary it is now dawning on her campaign that she mathematically cannot win the popular vote for the nomination leaving her fate entirely in the hands of the super-delegates. Not a good place to be and fueling rumours that she is now only staying in the race to spoil Obama’s chances of winning in November.

On the home front our Education Minister’s problems are deepening. No doubt about it she is loosing the Assembly and rapidly loosing parents.

On the upside young Oisin turned eight and we had a great party. Princess Clara is four today. New week, new dawn!

The education minister, Catriona Ruane has another front to contend with this morning in her battle against selection. Today thirty grammer schools are announcing they will introduce their own selection tests.

Ms Ruane has not handled her Stakeholder relations well to date. A change in tone and an acknowledgement that there is no political consensus is needed from the minister. I am one of over ten thousend parents living in uncertainty and concerned about what system our children will be part of. I have to say I am begining to wonder if this minister is capable of delivering my son a good educational future.

According to the Media Guardian Google is the world’s top brand.  The report explains:

Google has topped a list of the world’s most powerful brands, with new research estimating its value to be $86bn (£43bn).

WPP-owned research company Millward Brown puts Google at number one in its annual top 100 global brand power list for the second year in a row with a 30% year-on-year increase in its value.

Google beat General Electric to the top spot, with the NBC Universal owner’s brand value estimated at $71.4bn.

The next most valuable brands are Microsoft at $70.89bn, Coca-Cola at $58.2bn and China Mobile at $57.2bn, according to Millward Brown.

“Google’s rank has been driven by fantastic financial performance and equity value,” said Peter Walshe, the global account director at Millward Brown.

The top five remained unchanged year-on-year, with each company recording an increase in brand valuation by between 15% and 39% compared with 2007.

However, Millward Brown’s annual BrandZ research, which takes into account the financial performance of a company combined with a measure of brand equity determined by a 100,000-strong global consumer survey, produced a number of changes in the ranking of the brands that make up the remainder of the top 10.

IBM’s brand value increased by 65% year-on-year to $55.3bn, moving the technology company up three places in the BrandZ list to sixth spot.

Apple was the biggest mover in the top 10, and a new entry, moving up nine places to rank seventh, with a massive 123% increase in brand value to $55.2bn.

“Apple’s 123% rise has proved to be from a mix of a slue of innovative products such as the iTouch, iPhone, Leopard and computers for which consumers have given the brand a lot of credit,” said Walshe.

Fast food giant McDonald’s brand value grew by 49% - in eighth at $49.49bn, while Nokia was up 39% and in ninth at $43.9bn.

Cigarette giant Marlboro was the only marque to drop in the top 10, down four spots to 10th, with a 5% drop in brand value to $37.3bn.

“You have to remember that these are global valuations,” said Walshe, explaining why in an anti-smoking era the tobacco company still did so well in the ratings.

“The business is expanding in markets including Asia and South America. It is only in the west that we see decline. Its brand contribution [to the brand valuation] is also extremely high.”

Mobile operator Vodafone was the top-ranked British brand, up 12 places on the back of a 75% increase in value to $36.9bn (£18.5bn).

Millward Brown tracks 50,000 brands globally, which are whittled down for its annual BrandZ top 100 list.

Tom Kelly OBE has an interesting article in today’s Irish News (subs needed) on the SDLP - Fianna Fail relationship. Tom is a long term and consistent advocate of a merger between the two parties and not surprisingly he uses the column to argue the case.

Fortnight Magazine has asked me to pen a considered piece on the SDLP and I will post it up here when it is published. One thing that does occur to me is that the vast majority of SDLP members do not define themselves in relation to a southern party. I have to say with the exception of those who are strongly advocating an early FF merger, I have never heard anyone say to me they are SDLP-FF, SDLP-FG or SDLP-Labour for that matter.  The vast majority of SDLP people define themselves as just that - SDLP.  It will be critically important that their views are reflected in future discussions with any other party.

Another significant consideration in all of this is the SDLP’s membership of the Party of European Socialists. If it were to leave the PES for any reason there is a near certainty Sinn Fein would apply for membership. A move which is likely to be very unpopular amongst SDLP voters.

Lots more to come.

These are the judges comments from last night’s Coca Cola CIPR Press and Broadcasy Awards. Congratulations to everyone named. We had a great night and it was an honour to be able to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary Malcolm Brodie.

COMMENTS FROM JUDGES

1 COCA-COLA CIPR MARTIN O’HAGAN MEMORIAL BURSARY/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + Print Newcomer: Chrissie Russell, Belfast Telegraph
Chrissie has the ability and confidence to handle a wide range of  subjects with sympathy, maturity and humour. She is a talented young journalist who can touch the hearts of readers with some stories and make them smile with others.

Broadcast Newcomer: Barry Weir, Citybeat
Barry handles the pressure of a busy news agenda to produce compelling content.
2 BUSINESS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + Print Business Journalist: James Stinson, Irish News
In a strong field, James Stinson’s entry shone brightest for the quality of his exclusives, the sharpness of his analysis and the fluency of his writing. In the end, readers and viewers want to learn something they did not know and have the significance clearly explained: all three of James’s exclusives met those criteria and could have found a place in any media outlet in the country.

This entry comprised three scoops that any business journalist would be proud to file – and all about issues that revealed interesting aspects of doing business in Northern Ireland. Each was well-written and developed clearly to reveal the wider significance of the story with authority.

Broadcast business journalist: Yvette Shapiro, BBC NI
A confident performer on top of her subject material, yet able to communicate business issues visually in an accessible way. Her three entries all reflected business consequences of the peace dividend in a manner that was both compelling and enlightening.
3 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (DAILIES, SUNDAYS)

Overall winner + Print News Journalist (Sundays):Martin Breen, News of the World (now Sunday Life)
In a vintage year of great exclusives the winner was a shinning star in the especially tough Northern Ireland Sunday market place.

News Journalist of the Year (Dailies): David Gordon, Belfast Telegraph
Any one of the galaxy of entries from the Belfast Telegraph could have made the shortlist in a hugely competitive and massively impressive category. The winner did what journalists are supposed to do - annoy the establishment. The criticism he earned from politicians is rightly matched by the applause of his colleagues for a job well done.

Highly commended
Jill Beaty, Daily Mirror and William Allen, Belfast Telegraph

4 COCA-COLA CIPR SPECIALIST JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + winner of specialist journalist (print media) Paula Mackin, Sunday World
In the great tradition of campaigning journalists, Paula Mackin goes after some of the most dangerous in society, giving voice to those who would be otherwise too scared to speak up. Her exposés of criminal drug gangs in Belfast are everything great stories should be.

This is a reporter full of guts. Her tenacious pursuit of the worst in society is matched by her empathy with the victims and their families. This is journalism with a purpose, getting its hands dirty to expose wrongs without fear.

Broadcast Specialist Journalist of the Year: Dot Kirby, BBC NI
Dot Kirby’s investigations into the health service have hard-working journalism at their core. Her exposure of the scandal at Muckamore Abbey hospital, where some patients with learning difficulties were trapped there even though their treatment had finished, was powerful, moving and gave voice to some of the most vulnerable in society. A worthy winner.

5 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWS/CURRENT AFFAIRS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + radio news/current affairs broadcaster: Stephen Nolan, BBC
Stephen Nolan handles a range of issues with aplomb. He holds the guilty to account, exposes hypocrisy and gives the vunerable and victimized a voice.
Superbly produced, Stephen Nolan is full-on, aggressive and unrelenting….a refreshing antidote to the culture of comfort-zone journalism, in a era of spin.
 
TV News/current affairs broadcaster: Kevin Magee, BBC NI
Kevin Magee’s forensic approach goes to the heart of the matter. His topics are unfailingly significant. His stories garnished with appealing production.
6 COCA-COLA CIPR SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + Broadcast Sports Journalist of the Year: Denise Watson, BBC
Interview with Oisin McConville a truly powerful piece of exclusive journalism; interview with ‘bad boy’ Mickey Collins brilliantly opportunistic, interesting and penetrating; piece with rally driver Marcus Gronholm offbeat and of the like I’ve never seen before in this field.

This entry, particularly the McConville piece on a GAA star with a gambling addiction, is outstanding. Denise Watson clearly has the ability to empathise with her interviewees, help them relax and pour out their thoughts, all of which are edited in sympathetic style. The stories are about the subject, with the interviewer taking a secondary role.

Print Sports Journalist of the Year: Jim Gracey, Sunday Life
Topped, by a narrow margin, a shortlist of four excellent entries. All three of Gracey’s pieces informed, thought-provoking, keenly argued and, above all, a cracking good read.

7 COCA-COLA CIPR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Mark McKelvey, Ulster Herald
In a strong field, the winner did what all good weekly newspaper journalists do – he found an important and fascinating human story which spoke to the paper’s community; he told that story; and then he built a campaign around it in which all could participate. He handled it with sensitivity but passion, and helped make the life of one boy, and that of his parents, so much better. And you know that Mark did all this, not because it was a great story, but for the family involved, and because the community cares.

For campaigning on behalf of terminally ill Omagh toddler Billy Caldwell, the winner of weekly newspaper journalist of the year is Mark McKelvey of the Ulster Herald.

8 COCA-COLA CIPR FEATURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + Print Feature Journalist of the Year: David McKittrick, The Independent

David McKittrick is an exceptional writer.  His excellent pieces on the post-Troubles agenda are insightful and superbly put together.

Broadcast Feature Journalist of the Year: Chris Page, BBC NI
Chris’s reporting captures you in the first minute, inviting you to continue listening to his stories which are pitched at just the right level. His reports tell us something new about issues we have a general understanding of. He uses the medium of radio to maximum effect, mixing voice and ambient sound superbly and his deft touch enables his subjects to tell the story in a captivating way.
9 COCA-COLA CIPR MAGAZINE/SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR

Overall winner + Supplement of the Year 24/7, Belfast Telegraph
24/7 is the overall winner because of for its vigorous design and enthusiastic approach.

Entertainment supplements are a hugely competitive sector of the modern newspaper business. 24/7 is a model of how to present a wide variety of entertainment, even cultural, subjects while maintaining the feel of an integrated package within an original and consistent design theme.

Magazine of the Year: Ulster Tatler Interiors
The magazine takes the universal – and therefore often hackneyed - subject matter of interiors and produces a bright, readable, attractive package; interesting and exciting enough even for readers who have no intention of doing anything to their interiors

10 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jeremy Kirker, Irish News
In an impressive and competitive field, Jeremy Kirker’s production journalism stood out for its quality and impact. His entry shone because of the boldness and imagination he brought to big stories and the skilled treatment of pictures which helped him construct memorable front pages.
11 COCA-COLA CIPR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Winner: William Cherry, Press Eye
The standard was much higher this year, with three portfolios in the running for top spot.

William’s portfolio had a great range which clearly displayed his ability to compose and image. The portrait of the Rev Ian Paisley was strong, as was his image of the rugby player.

Both Hugh Russell (CIPR PB08/49) and Malcachy McCann (CIPR PB08/152) were very close runners up and worthy of mention.

From all the entries you could tell that the Rev Ian Paisley has touched the lives of many if not all the photographers who work in Northern Ireland including myself when I worked in the province as a young photographer.

This was reflected in the sheer number of images submitted of Dr Paisley. However one stood out from the others, Peter Morrison’s picture of Him giving a ‘last salute’ captured the story of his departure in a single image.

It is my view when judging a portfolio the entries need to show images from a variety of assignments. However as a picture editor I was struck by the portfolio of Will Craig (CIPR PB08/04 which is worthy of special mention). This photographer produced an excellent set of images from an ‘embed’ in Afghanistan. If he had been working for the Daily Telegrah I would have been delighted with his efforts.
12 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWS WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

Winner:  The CT website (The Community Telegraph)
This category attracted excellent, and very different, entries and everyone involved should be commended for the websites they have produced and now run.

The winner – The CT – particularly fulfilled very well its function as a news website serving its community, with lively, topical coverage using a range of media, all delivered within an easily understood and usable format.
13 COCA-COLA CIPR CAMERMAN/CREW OF THE YEAR

Winner: John Vernard, UTV
This was a close one but John’s talents stood out above the others.

Special commendation:
Blane Scott, Alan Mackey (UTV) for their high quality work.
 
14 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWS/CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR

The Pit Bull Sting, Spotlight, BBC NI
Skilful editing, courageous reporting and persistence in following the story made this programme memorable.    The Pit Bull Sting combined the best of public service broadcasting values with a pacey production and script to make it irresistible television despite some shocking images.   It also demonstrated an ability by the programme team to look beyond traditional Northern Ireland material for a subject.
15 COCA-COLA CIPR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

In a close contest from a host of terrific entries one had to win and the judges finally chose a traditional local newspaper that is brilliantly executed. Retaining solid local newspaper values and easy to read, it has all the news the community could want and displays an ability and agility to respond to breaking news on deadline. It is well-designed, full of life and thoroughly engaging.

The winner is the County Down Spectator.
16 COCA-COLA CIPR NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

a) Sunday Newspaper of the Year
An impressive paper that knows its market and goes straight to the heart of it with scoops that really matter in every edition. It is in-your- face and fearless with probing news section of local material and great exposés. It campaigns in the great tradition and stands comparison with its peers across the UK.

The winner is Sunday World.

b) Daily – and overall newspaper of the year
An elegant, serious newspaper that is required reading. It continues to evolve as society changes, providing a comprehensive package of news, features and special sections that reflects the new Northern Ireland community. Tabloid in format, it retains its serious values as it broadens its scope.  It is a paper of record with serious interest and a good news sense. It is the one for the others to beat – and they didn’t this year!

The winner is the Irish News.

17 COCA-COLA CIPR SCOOP OF THE YEAR
A genuine jaw dropping, bombshell scoop of serious public interest that everyone had to chase.

The winner is News of the World for its revelations concerning the private life of PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde.
 

18 COCA-COLA CIPR JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
A brilliant commentator on Northern Ireland’s rapidly changing history, who finds new ways to reflect life in the Province to a wider audience. He has moved with the times to shine his journalistic light into unexpected corners. A journalist with insight and superb style that you are compelled to read to the last paragraph.  The winner is a class act and an inspiring example for all journalists.

The winner is David McKittrick of the Independent.