UGC and Dusk from the Office

Two of the team were at the BBC conference #SocialMediaWhatsTrending yesterday. There was much talk of user generated content (UGC) so we were inspired to create a little bit. We have quite a good view over the ship canal here at MediaCityUK. We propped an iPhone on the window ledge and set up the Time Lapse Camera HD app to capture twenty minutes of the vista at dusk. We uploaded the video to a PC and using the free Windows Live Movie Maker we added a title caption, some music and trimmed the video. About 15 minutes work. We shared it here. Stay with it for the full 18 seconds for a couple of boats at the end.

#SocialMedia WhatsTrending at the BBC

One of the many advantages of being in MediaCityUK is our proximity to the media and anchor tenant the BBC. This happy juxtaposition occasionally throws up a real gem of an opportunity and #SocialMediaWhatsTrending was one such, in the form of a one day conference.

It brought together a series of panels and speeches that only a broadcaster of the BBC’s weight and stature could manage. It was also the first time I’ve seen Google Glass in the flesh on the face of New York based Vice Journalist Tim Pool (should that be in the ‘glass and metal’?). There were about 500 people in attendance – perhaps a quarter were BBC employees, most others by invitation. The wealth of expertise gathered on stage was truly extraordinary; BBC Radio 1 Controller Ben Cooper, Matt Cooke from Google+, Newsnight Editor Ian Katz, Football Focus presenter Dan Walker, Anna Dobbs Channel 4 Head of Online, Tim Gatt of ITV News, Luke Lewis BuzzFeed UK Editor, James Everton of Hits Radio, Alex Miller and Tim Pool of Vice. This feels like quite a list but I’ve missed out most of the talent. The full programme is here.

The day opened a window onto the ways in which many media channels and programmes are continuing to evolve in a dramatic fashion through the use of social tools and channels. This was insight from the coal face and the pace and diversity of change is extraordinary. This wasn’t just a catalogue of social strategies from programme makers, the sessions also tackled difficult questions such as the line between content and marketing. The decline in radio listening for example is widely being tackled by radio stations producing video content. So is this still radio? It was fascinating also to hear Philippa Law of The Guardian explaining how the news organisation uses the social network accounts of content suppliers to test the veracity of their stories, photography is also reverse searched to ensure it hasn’t just been grabbed from the net.

The day straddled, music, sport, hard news and more. If anything the event had more content than can be consumed in a day and there were two streams running throughout. Happily the sessions will all be shared online. Check the BBC Academy College of Journalism website, the should be uploaded next week.

Miranda Wade Joins Rule 5

Rule 5 has appointed Miranda Wade as Account Executive. Prior to joining the MediaCityUK agency, Wade worked at Manchester agency PR Agency One, and before that worked as part of the Cornerhouse festival marketing and communications team.

Speaking on her appointment, Rule 5 Director, Julie Wilson, said: “We have found a great hire. Miranda’s experience in the arts, travel and leisure, and B2B sectors combined with her strong knowledge of social media and search engine optimisation, presents a perfect fit with the team and further bolsters the Rule 5 offer. We’re delighted to have her on board.”

Wade will report into Account Director, Carolanne Bamford, and work on the agency’s Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, British Cycling and Renshaw accounts.

Waterford Wedgwood Picks Rule 5 for Social

WWRD, the Stoke-on-Trent based business that has crafted luxurious English ceramics since 1759, has appointed Rule 5 to develop the social media channels for its Wedgwood, Royal Albert, Royal Doulton and Waterford brands.

The agency is working with WWRD to develop a content and community build strategy for each of the brands. Rule 5 will also deliver a bespoke in-house training programme in Social Media for the company’s UK marketing and communications team.

As part of the work, which is already underway, the agency helped to promote Wedgwood’s bespoke invitation for the Mulberry SS14 show at London Fashion Week. The unique invitation, a miniature Mulberry tea cup, topped the online buzz charts published by Salesforce and Media Measurement, which analysed all of the social media conversations about London Fashion Week SS14.

“This is an increasingly important area for firms who realise that there is more to a web presence than just having a website” said Rule 5 Director Julie Wilson. “It’s also critical that the conversations that take place in social media reflect the personality of a business and that’s a crucial element of the work that we are doing with WWRD, defining the tone and approach for each of the brands.”

RULE 5