O’Conall Street

O’Conall Street is going back to its roots and heading for Europe tonight. Venice is the destination and the excuse are the SABRE Awards, Europe’s PR Oscars, which Weber Shandwick is the only Irish agency shortlisted for. All will be revealed on Thursday night.

Elsewhere the turkey is for the oven. Dustin is out of Europe. His talent rejected at the first hurdle. That is the end of that one. Tonight the island of Ireland will unite in its rejection of Chelsea Football Club. From the Ballymoney to Bantry Bay the red army is our army.

Alex Ferguson has a selection dilemma. With all 24 players fit and ready for the game of the year he will have a job picking not just his first team but also his substitutes.Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Brown, Neville, O’Shea, Silvestre, Pique, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher, Park, Nani, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, Welbeck are the current inheritors of the great red shirts. This is their night to make history.

Paul Scholes has already been promised a place in the starting line-up after missing the 1999 European Cup victory through suspension while Ryan Giggs is poised to overtake Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances for the club.

According to SportingLife.com, Diego Maradona is backing United tonight. Maradona will support Manchester United in Wednesday’s Champions League final against Chelsea because of Carlos Tevez.

The former Argentina great admitted he will turn into a United fan for one day because he wants Tevez to win the Champions League in Moscow.

Speaking in Cannes, where Maradona is promoting the film ‘Maradona’ by the Bosnian director Emir Kusturica, he said: “I think Manchester will beat Chelsea. My friend Carlitos (Tevez) plays there.

“I think Manchester win tomorrow, even though I have quite a lot of friends in several teams.”

With the hand of God on our side we can’t go wrong. Do us proud lads.

I’ll wake in Venice and let you know what I think.

Over 100 international business leaders are tucking into the Ulster Fry this morning preparing for the big investment conference. The day got off to a good start in Weber Shandwick with two of our global clients’ CEOs leading the Good Morning Ulster interviews. Nortel and All State are examples of companies which invested in the North some time ago and are happy to stay on.

Of course as economy Minister, Nigel Dodds, said the elephant in the room remains the uncompetitive rate of corporation tax in NI versus the Republic. It would help greatly if the British government acknowledged this by granting a preferential rate to NI. In the meantime there is plenty the North can offer in terms of economic advantage.

There is an interesting report in today’s Belfast Telegraph on the relative cost of living in Belfast and Dublin. Mercer Consulting in their annual survey of major cities found that Belfast is 40% cheaper than Dublin which is rapidly becoming  very, very expensive place to live. This is something potential investors will note and could well mitigate the tax differentials between the two jurisdictions.

Watched the Apprentice last night. I hope our VIP visitors gave it a miss. All those qualifications and not an ounce of intelligence between them. Maybe I’m getting old and cranky but you would expect a bunch of super dooper graduates to know what kosher chicken was. Me thinks a little less time in front of the mirror and little more with their face in a book would be a good start.

Great to see Brian Lenihan promoted to Finance Minister. He is a class act and deserving of promotion. It will be interesting to watch this legal eagle with serious government pedigree navigate his way through a very challenge brief.

Off to do some work now.  

It’s Irish News day again. This month I am focusing on internal communications and its influence over staff morale.

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Employee retention – particularly related to high-performing individuals – is an increasing challenge for organisations on these islands. Turnover takes a toll on the morale of existing staff, on business continuity and productivity. Ultimately, the loss of talent hits a company’s bottom line. There is a strategy for countering attrition: the practice of effective employee communication. And we know it works, by the company it keeps among those best-in-class organisations in Europe, Asia and North America.

The traditional Achilles’ heel for employee communications practitioners has been their struggle to link effective internal communication with performance and retention. Insidedge, surveyed 600 employees North and South to try and understand better the impact of communications on their attitudes.

The results were startling. In Northern Ireland 38 percent and in Republic of Ireland 32 percent of those surveyed expected to leave their current employment in the foreseeable future, while an overwhelming 74 percent of all Northern Ireland and 80 percent of RoI interviewees indicated that an improvement in communications would positively influence them to remain with their employers.

The findings also reinforce a commonly held belief: Employees trust face-to-face communication the most. The most trusted sources of information for Irish employees are their immediate day-to-day supervisors, immediate colleagues and senior employees who can mentor and advise them, regardless of title. Each of these has greater influence on behaviour and commitment than more common sources such as newsletters, email and intranets.

Unfortunately, all too many companies rely on non-personal forms of communication, instead of equipping and expecting their managers to communicate. Sensing a void of information, employees turn to each other to interpret company decisions and actions, and misinformation based on opinion becomes ‘fact’ to employees thanks to the legendary bush telegraph.

The survey indicated that the top-three most useful and effective ways to communicate with employees in Ireland are small workgroup or departmental meetings, led by division heads and/or immediate supervisors; open-door policies, suggestion boxes and other ways employees can take initiative to communicate with management; and informal get-togethers where employees can talk and exchange ideas.

Improving how you communicate is one part of the battle. Equally important is what and when you communicate. Ensuring that the information you share is accurate, timely, truthful and complete – and that employees have the opportunity to participate in an open dialogue – is the other half.

So, as you think about your plans for employee communications, keep a few things in mind. Listen to your employees. Regular research – whether through staff surveys, periodic and targeted focus groups or even event-specific feedback forms – provides an insight into what people care most about. By knowing what your employees believe you are better equipped to address their concerns, and in turn, build their trust. Just as external research guides the decisions you make in marketing to customers and consumers, employee research should guide your plans for internal communication.

Build a manager-as-supervisor culture. Study after study shows that managers and supervisors are vital communicators. Yet, so many companies fail to take advantage. It’s not enough to give your supervisors information.

Put your people first. How often has your company launched a new product, broadcast or published a new marketing campaign, or announced a new strategic direction without telling your employees who are the people who have to sell your products, represent your brand and execute your strategies? Have a plan to share important information with your employees first, so that they are ready to respond when customers call. Don’t let your people hear about new initiatives on the radio, TV or in the newspaper before they hear it from you!

Give it to them straight. Most companies are more than eager to share good news with their people, and to celebrate in success. People also want to hear the bad news, no matter how difficult it might be to take. Sooner or later, the word is going to get out. Wouldn’t you prefer that your employees hear it straight from you, than through the grapevine? Have a plan to share all of your news with your people. They will trust you more if you are willing to share not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly with them.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has honoured Northern Ireland’s leading journalists at this year’s Coca Cola-sponsored Press and Broadcast Awards.

A total of 19 awards were presented at Friday’s gala ceremony compèred by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan at the Hastings Europa Hotel, Belfast.

The event’s top award - the Coca Cola CIPR Northern Ireland Journalist of the Year – went to David McKittrick, Ireland correspondent of The Independent. The Daily Newspaper of the Year award was won by the Irish News while the County Down Spectator picked up the Weekly Newspaper of the Year title.

Other top winners included Martin Breen for Scoop of the Year and Print News Journalist of the Year and the Belfast Telegraph’s Chrissie Russell who was named Newcomer of the Year title and winner of the Martin O’Hagan Memorial Bursary.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Malcolm Brodie who held the position of sports editor of the Belfast Telegraph for more than 40 years until he retired from full time work at the paper in 1991.

In addition to the coveted title of Journalist of the Year, David McKittrick was also named Feature Journalist of the Year. The judging panel described him as:

“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. David is a journalist with insight and superb style that you are compelled to read to the last paragraph.” 

The panel also paid tribute to the Newspaper of the Year, the Irish News which it described as an elegant, serious newspaper that is required reading. The citation read:

“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.”

Meanwhile, in a close-run contest, The County Down Spectator took the Weekly Newspaper of the Year category because, the judging panel said, “it is 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.”

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Maire Campbell, public affairs and communications manager of main sponsor, Coca Cola Bottlers (Ulster) Ltd, congratulated all those who had taken part.

“As a global brand operating locally, genuine community investment is a strategic priority for us, and we are honored to pledge our support to the CIPR Press and Broadcast Awards 2008/9.

“We are pleased to pay tribute to the many talented individuals from the world of press and broadcast in Northern Ireland,” added Maire.

Conall McDevitt, chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) NI thanked Coca Cola for sponsoring the awards along with the event’s associate sponsors Belleek Living, Bombardier, Harrison Photography, MCI Belfast, Musgrave Retail Partners NI, Phoenix Natural Gas, SBD Events, S Hill and Company, Smarts and Spar. 
 
Conall commented: “I thank each and every member of the media who entered the press and broadcast awards which are the only ones anywhere in these islands to be organised by the public relations profession
 
“Your determination to compete and your desire to excel has characterised this occasion since its inception 15 years ago.
 
“Thank you for making this night a special one. And most of all, for filling our lives with news and gossip and something to argue about,” added Conall.

2007/08 COCA COLA CIPR PRESS AND BROADCAST AWARD WINNERS

Coca Cola CIPR Lifetime achievement award.
Winner - Malcolm Brodie

Coca Cola CIPR Journalist of the Year (sponsor: Coca Cola).
Winner David McKittrick - The Independent

Coca Cola CIPR Newspaper of the Year (sponsor: Coca Cola)
Winner - Irish News 
Sunday newspaper of the Year - Sunday World 
Daily newspaper of the Year - Irish News

Coca Cola CIPR Weekly newspaper of the Year (sponsor: Musgrave Retail Partners NI) 
Winner - County Down Spectator

Coca Cola CIPR Scoop of the Year (sponsor: SBD Events)   
Winner - Martin Breen*, News of the World

Coca Cola CIPR Print news journalist of the Year (sponsor: CIPR)   
Winner - Martin Breen*, News of the World
Daily print news journalist - David Gordon, Belfast Telegraph
Sunday print news journalist - Martin Breen*, News of the World

Coca Cola CIPR News website of the Year (sponsor: CIPR)   
Winner - Commmunity Telegraph

Coca Cola CIPR Weekly newspaper journalist of the Year (sponsor: Phoenix Natural Gas)  
Winner - Mark McKelvey, Ulster Herald

Coca Cola CIPR Business journalist of the Year (sponsor: S Hill and Company)
Winner - James Stinson, Irish News
Broadcast business journalist - Yvette Shapiro, BBC
Print business journalist - James Stinson, Irish News

Coca Cola CIPR Sports journalist of the Year (sponsor: CIPR)   
Winner - Denise Watson, BBC
Broadcast sports journalist - Denise Watson, BBC
Print sports journalist - Jim Gracey, Sunday Life

Coca Cola CIPR Current affairs/news broadcaster of the Year (sponsor: MCI Belfast)
Winner - Stephen Nolan, BBC
Radio current affairs broadcaster - Stephen Nolan, BBC
TV current affairs broadcaster - Kevin Magee, BBC

Coca Cola CIPR Magazine or supplement of the Year (sponsor: Bombardier)
Winner - 24/7 section, Belfast Telegraph
Magazine - Ulster Tatler Interiors, Ulster Journals 
Supplement - 24/7 section, Belfast Telegraph

Coca Cola CIPR Feature journalist of the Year (sponsor: Spar)
Winner - David McKittrick, The Independent
Broadcast feature journalist - Chris Page, BBC
Print feature journalist - David McKittrick, The Independent

Coca Cola CIPR Specialist journalist of the Year (sponsor: Belleek Living)
Winner - Paula Mackin, Sunday World
Broadcast specialist journalist - Dot Kirby, BBC
Print specialist journalist - Paula Mackin, Sunday World

Coca Cola CIPR Production journalist of the Year (sponsor: Harrison Photography)
Winner - Jeremy Kirker, Irish News

* Martin Breen is now employed by Sunday Life
Coca Cola CIPR Current affairs programme of the Year (sponsor: CIPR)
Winner - The Pit Bull Sting, Spotlight, BBC

Coca Cola CIPR Cameran/crew of the Year (sponsor: CIPR)
Winner - John Vernard, UTV

Coca Cola CIPR Photographer of the Year (sponsor: Smarts)  
Winner - William Cherry, Press Eye

Coca Cola CIPR Martin O’Hagan Memorial Bursary Newcomer of the Year
Winner - Chrissie Russell, Belfast Telegraph
Broadcast newcomer - Barry Weir, Citybeat
Print newcomer - Chrissie Russell, Belfast Telegraph
 

Mick Fealty, aka Slugger O’Toole, dropped by O’Conall Street (Weber Shandwick’s Belfast Office) for a chat and a coffee last week. We thought we would record a short conversation with him about Irish blogging, the future of online newspapers and the emergence of the ‘author’ brand. We also pressed him on whether Slugger will fill the void for quality political blogging south of the border.

It was a spur of the moment thing so sorry about the audio and the slightly disjointed questioning. Mick’s incisive analysis make up for that though.  

Meanwhile Brian Cowen is in the North today to announce IFSC jobs for Belfast. Varney gave us nothing. At least Dublin is trying to bend the rules to get some quality investment North. They won’t be HQ jobs but will be very welcome none the less. All this only strengthens further the case for a harmonised corporation tax rate on the island of Ireland.

Eight of the UK and Ireland’s most talented young chefs cooked up a storm this week as the final of the Robbie Millar Scholarship took place at the South West Regional College in Dungannon. 

At an action-packed cook-off, Ben Arnold who studies at Westminster Kingsway College, London impressed an expert judging panel, including Paul Rankin and Noel McMeel, to become part of a very exclusive club ? the Robbie Millar Scholars.

Set up in memory of the late Robbie Millar, the Scholarship called on the best young culinary talent across the UK and Ireland, offering a series of life changing prizes and experiences for the winner. 

In addition to receiving the Scholarship Sculpture crafted by Ross Wilson, Ben Arnold has won stages with the very best in the world of food and wine, including:
• The River Café (one-Michelin Star)
• Valrhona Chocolate in Tain L’Hermitage
• Illy Coffee, Triesle, Italy

Ben Arnold also takes home a magnum of Billecart-Salmon NV from James Nicholson Wine Merchant and a set of Victrinox knives from Henderson Food Service, among other prizes.

Robbie’s wife Shirley presented Ben Arnold with his prize and said she was delighted to see Robbie’s name honoured with such a fine performance from all the finalists, and obviously my congratulations go first and foremost to Ben he has created dishes which Robbie would have been proud of and which illustrate the quality and ambition of this competition.
 
“Robbie was dedicated to seeing young talent develop and felt it was only fair that they should be given the chance to demonstrate their ability and realise their potential. The finalists in this competition are among the very best in the UK and Ireland. I hope they carry the experience and ethos of this scholarship throughout their promising careers.”

On the day the finalists had to think on their feet as they cooked a three course menu from a basket of mystery ingredients. Award-winning wine merchant James Nicholson was one of the judges on the day and identified what the panel were looking for.

“The mystery basket provided a challenge for our finalists, inviting them to think both fast and creatively and to concentrate on the strengths of each ingredient. 
Robbie always had an exceptional eye for detail.  Only the best was good enough for him and this determination for excellence was a quality we were keen to see. ”

The exceptional standard of the contestants ensured that the judges had a very difficult task in choosing a winner. Ben and all the contestants should be tremendously proud of what they have achieved in this competition.  I’m sure we will be seeing a lot more of them as they build their careers in Britain and Ireland’s finest restaurants.”

Now in its second year, the scholarship has become a significant benchmark for young talent working or studying in the catering industry. 

In 2007, Chris McClurg took the honour of becoming the first ever Robbie Millar Scholarship and has since gone on to work with some of Europe’s top chefs and wine experts.  A four part BBC television series documenting Chris’ experiences from winning the competition is due to air in 2008.

Spent the other night following my beloved Manchester united’s march on Europe.

It’s not often we get to play on a European stage in Ireland. In fact in footballing terms it’s never been more than a first round trip to some frozen clime. Maybe Bertie Ahern will change all this when he emerges as the favoured candidate for President of Europe, then maybe not.

You can imagine the excitement in Weber Shandwick when we heard we had made a European final of our own and that we were the only ones from Ireland, north or south, in the running for the most coveted prize in European PR, a SABRE Award. Our public affairs campaign for IKEA is in the final and we are on our way to Venice.

I have the job of every European manager now. Got to pick the right team for the night and hope those left on the bench understand only so many can take to the field but that it was the full squad that got us there. I love having Alex Ferguson like problems.

I was able to listen to RTE on FM outside my front door in South Belfast for the first time ever last night. The national broadcaster’s climb down after a campaign by this blog, the Irish News, other bloggers and many letter writers across the North was a great example of advocacyin action. An Oireachtas Committee intervention increased the pressure on the Donnybrook team as did the support from the SDLP, SF, FG and the Labour Party.

Full marks for the switch to 87.8FM after closing down the MW signal yesterday. Next step must be a proper TV signal and availability of TV and radio on the Freeview platform.

I’ll be tuning in. Life is only full when you can enjoy the full tapestry of opinion across the island and the outputs from Dublin and Belfast.

I am no longer alone as a business blogger in Northern Ireland. Late last month UTV’s Business Editor, Jamie Delargy joined the fray with a blog hosted on the U.TV site.

O’Conall St is looking forward to Jamie’s insightful take on the affairs of our local economy.

Paddy Corrigan who run’s Amnesty International here is also back in the blogosphere with a new look Amnesty blog called Belfast and Beyond. Look forward to following it also.

Have to run out the door to lecture some District Policing Partnership Managers on marketing now. Before I go I wanted to express an official protest at a poor budget for Northern Ireland.

No incentives, in fact only significant relief for business will be on capital gains which has the perverse effect of benefiting those who invest for a living rather then those who create jobs or produce something. Great news if you are a developer or a hedge fund manager but pretty crap if you are just about anyone else. That’s the thing with Mr Darling’s approach. It’s designed to keep the home counties happy and frankly stuff the rest of the UK.

Rant over. Was involved in a lively debate about the future of communications last night with Queens University Students here in Belfast. There was a lot of discussion about the impact of social and digital media.

The racing post says the greatest two days in racing history start today. After yesterday’s abandonment, 65,000  can be expected at Cheltenham for the serious business of world class national hunt racing. Chris is off to the bookies with our kitty. I hope he remembers there is a thing called an each way bet.

Finally I watched Austin O’Callaghan’s lovely documentary about the Irish Cricket team’s journey to the Super Eight stage of the World Cup last summer on the BBC last night. Big Weber Shandwick connection. Our Ali’s fiance Iain Knox is the team physio and made a number of notable contributions to the documentary. Check it out on IPlayer.