Since the whole 10p tax band withdrawal and the local elections fall out, Labour truly is in the unenviable position that most parties at the end of their term find themselves in. Gordon Brown is a man ill at ease with the modern process of PR and engaging with the media cycle. He is not a man of sound bites, more of substance. The media is picking away at his eyes like a rabid vulture and his response is to hit back with packages to bewitch the electorate. Today he has offered to help family finances as he outlined his legislative programme for next year. Beleaguered Brown pledged more help for first-time buyers, a savings scheme for eight million low earners and more flexible working rights for parents. But in truth, if Labour is going to use the next two years to try to regain their popularity, then they need to find a new leader to connect with the public.
Today's speech was overshadowed by headlines about Gordon Brown possibly a judge on an Apprentice style programme. Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, unwittingly let it slip that producers have approached the PM to act as a judge on the proposed programme provisionally entitled “Junior PM”, claiming that Gordon Brown could become more popular than Alan Sugar. Come on guys, make your mind up, are you going to play the role of straight dispatch box politician, passionately inspiring the nation, or represent cheap PR tricks that run against Brown's core values?
I am told that this wake was put together by Gina Trapani, editor of Lifehacker.com, but somehow I don't think this will stem the flow. Trust me, idiots who take the corporate buck will always attempt to push their luck, sometimes with disastrous ends. Beware, as it can be a tearful reality.
A big thank you to my cuddly diarist pal Madame Arcati who has pointed out a Will Self rant on Tony Parsons - his claim that Parsons "focus-groups" his plots before he turns them into novels - a diatribe against targeting one's audience in the art process - http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/2008/05/will-self-tony-parsons-focus-groups-his.html.
It proves how important a media aphrodisiac is to many scribblers, especially before they set out on the epic quest of writing a book. It's sad to report that without a hook, an author can be condemned to the frustrating reality of a mammoth amount of work counting for relatively nothing.
Posted by Mark Borkowski on May 12
BRAIN FOOD
I smell an ambitious new brand, hungry for attention - step forward FpsBrain. A number of blogs have noticed with a mix of amusement and depression that this brand will do anything to get noticed. Great stunts should never be seen and the slight of hand is crucial when trying to use this form of publicity to leverage attention.
The wheezing PR campaign for FpsBrain rams it up the arse with claims that firstly, the drink can increase your mental powers for gaming performance, and now, that it's actually supporting Tibet by not being produced in China.
Come on people, you are trying too hard. It’s a competitive market - do something more creative. Perhaps after seeing Derren Brown's brilliant show at the Garrick last night, the German drink peddlers should pay him to endorse their mixture. I like him. I defended his gun stunt in the Guardian a few years back. http://www.markborkowski.com/?p=6249
I believe Brown could persuade anybody to chuck the drink down throats. I mused at the after show piss up to a producer pal that Derren Brown could be the one showman right now to storm the US. But it seems that he wants to be a big fish in a small pond. I have not seen such outstanding showmanship on stage for years. He makes Blaine and Copperfield look like Gordon Brown at the dispatch box. Unlike Blaine, I suspect he does not have the killer instinct and appetite for this sort of intrusive infamy that comes from global fame.
