Not yet!  In a society where the rise of the Internet and digital media are rapidly growing, it could be easily suggested that traditional media is out-dated and no longer relevant.

Digital media take up in the UK is constantly rising with the number of hours spent online per week increasing at a rapid pace. Consumer demands dictate how news and information is delivered. Consumers are frequently using the Internet to watch TV, catch up with the latest news and visit social media platforms.

However, the degree of trust consumers place on traditional media is still high and even the main players in the industry are using print media to refresh their business model to increase credibility, when no other media can reach this solution. Print is a great way of gaining extra marketing attention and building up a community.

Here at Up North Communications, we acknowledge the importance of print media and still to this day, create many successful and engaging print publications for our clients, helping them to raise their profile and communicate with their target audiences. Just ask our client, Byker Community Trust. In 2017, we were awarded gold at the CIPR Excellence Awards for ‘Best External Publication’, one of the top accolades within our industry. The award was for the development of their quarterly tenants’ newsletter, Byker News, which we manage and co-ordinate full production from planning, copywriting and graphic design to print management, fulfilment and distribution.

We can help you create engaging content, target specific markets and build up trust with your customers/audience/key influencers. If you prefer content in print or pixels then we can help you to integrate your digital media to create a successful, consistent campaign.

So, if you’re business needs a new publication or your existing marketing literature just needs a refresh and new look – why not get in touch.

To find out how we can help your business, please get in touch. Call us on 0191 300 0810 or send us an email.

A press release is a great public relations tool, especially for a start-up or a growing business. A press release can publicise important and useful information about an upcoming event, new product launch or announce a service.

In today’s landscape, press releases are becoming increasingly more important because they can:

• improve brand image
• have higher levels of credibility
• assist an organisation to reach a larger audience

Both large and small companies in every industry are now using social media as an integral tool in their public relations strategy, so much so that social media and public relations are synonymous.

With the integration of social media and public relations, alternative publishing options are becoming much more viable, with some businesses self-publishing online. Releasing an online press release allows you to directly communicate to a large audience or target specific groups.

Remember, incorporating key words into your press release will also strengthen your SEO strategy – a press release is a powerful tool for your organisation!

Need help getting noticed? Here at Up North Communications, we’re experienced in creating successful and engaging press releases. To find out how we can help your business, please get in touch. Call us on 0191 300 0810 or send us an email.

We were out celebrating at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide North East awards on Friday evening.

Shortlisted in two categories, Up North Communications won silver in the Not-For-Profit Campaign in recognition for our PR work in helping Ouseburn Farm to raise much needed funds to keep its doors open.

Our successful PR campaign achieved regional and national coverage and attracted creative-agency, Drummond Central to part-fund 50% of the Farm’s deficit over three years. By working in collaboration with Drummond Central, we then launched a highly successful crowdfunder campaign, which raised £34,000, smashing its original target of £20,000.

The PR campaign and additional funding has helped the Farm to bridge its annual financial deficit and continue to support vulnerable and disadvantaged adults and children who rely on the Farm as a place of refuge and to gain the vital skills they so desperately need.

The ‘Support Ouseburn Farm, Support Your Community’ Crowdfunder campaign was also shortlisted in the Low Budget campaign category.

 

We’re thrilled to make the shortlist in two categories at this year’s Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide North East Awards for the delivery of PR on behalf of our client Tyne Housing Association.

We have been shortlisted in the Not-for-Profit Campaign and Low Budget Campaign categories for the delivery of PR for Tyne Housing’s Crowdfunder campaign to raise funds for Ouseburn Farm in Byker.

The Crowdfunder campaign aimed to raise £20,000 to fund the running costs of the Farm. After a successful 28-day period, the campaign raised £34,000 and attracted 830 supporters, including celebrity Dame Barbara Windsor DBE!

Up North Communications is one of eight companies shortlisted across both categories and the regional final will be held on 8 December at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle.

Up North Communications won the ‘Best External Publication’ category at the CIPR Excellence 2017 Awards in London last night.

The award is in recognition for the production of our client, Byker Community Trust’s tenants’ quarterly newsletter, Byker News.

This is the second award that the newsletter has been recognised for after winning gold for ‘Best Publication’ at the CIPR PRide North East Awards in December.

The newsletter, which is delivered to over 1,800 households on the iconic Grade II* listed Byker Estate, aims to raise awareness of the progress that BCT is making, advise of projects and services that the organisation is delivering on the Estate, promotes forthcoming activities and community events, encourages community engagement and participation and improves communication between tenants, stakeholders and the organisation.

The awards, which recognise the creative work that is produced within the PR industry, are the most rigorously judged in the public relations profession and the winners are carefully selected by a panel of industry experts. The publication saw off competition from companies such as Macmillan Cancer Support, the Police Federation of England and Wales, University of Derby and Writtle University College who were all worthy winners.

The judges said:

“This wasn’t a one way broadcast; the publishers clearly demonstrated how Byker News was used to engage, inform and involve its readers.

“They presented how the magazine had evolved since its inception four years ago – an evolution which was led by its readers. Byker News demonstrates that an effective publication is more than a glossy production and met its objectives on a low budget with high engagement with the community.”

Craig Downs, Managing Director of Up North Communications, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement not only for Up North but also our client. To deliver a publication that is not only a regional but national CIPR award winner is credit to everyone involved, helping to deliver our clients’ brief and a publication they can be proud of.

“The publication is constantly improving – it’s thinking about the end user and what they want to read.  We truly believe that there is no point in producing a newsletter if no-one will read it – for this particular publication, it’s about involving tenants in the production of each issue to make them feel valued and engaged.  We listen to their feedback, views and ideas and try and incorporate these into each issue.

“By engaging tenants during the production of each issue, ensures we achieve our objectives and it’s about getting the right balance of ‘corporate’ information and softer ‘community-based’ information.”

Jill Haley, Chief Executive of BCT, said:

“To win a national award for our newsletter communication is a truly magnificent achievement.  Winning the regional finals was a fantastic accolade, not only for BCT but also our tenants who are actively involved in the production of each edition of this newsletter and now to go on and win against such tough competition and bring this coveted national award back to the North East is incredible.

“The purpose of producing this newsletter is to keep tenants informed and updated of the progress which we are making in relation to key projects and services that we are delivering.  Engaging with tenants and getting their feedback, enables us to improve the quality of the publication with each issue.”

To view the latest issue, please visit the Byker Community Trust website.

To find out how we could help you develop your publication(s), why not call us on 0191 300 0810 or send us an email.

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