London College of Communication blog

Blottr Media Debate: The panel

The people powered news service, Blottr, were at LCC last night [25 October] to talk to PR and Journalism students about new media and the rise of citizen journalism.

Blottr founder, Adam Baker, formed part of a five-strong panel that included LCC’s Russell Merryman, Bright One’s Ben Matthews, the BBC College of Journalism’s Ramaa Sharma and Sky News reporter Mark Stone.

Chaired by columnist Milo Yiannopoulus, panelists were given five minutes each to give their insight on how new media and citizen journalism has affected or contributed to the news industry. After giving their own slant on the subject, nearly all were in agreement that social media, text messages and emails from the general public have brought a valuable additional aspect to journalism.

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The LCC course BA Public Relations has been recognised by one of the most respected PR institutions in the UK: the Chartered Institute Public Relations (CIPR). At the same time the Public Relations Consultants’ Association (PRCA) has appointed LCC as one of their partner universities. Both organisations have strict criteria for selecting partner organisations for accredited status.

Course Director Adrian Crookes said: “We feel privileged and proud that both organisations chose us to establish a professional relationship with. It proves that our BA PR course is a well designed course that offers high value to our students and the PR community after graduating“.

The CIPR is a respected partner to the broader communications community and a body that plays a major role in leading the PR profession in the UK. The PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams and PR freelancers.

LCC also offers a fully recognised MA PR course by the CIPR and the PRCA.

It started with business nous and a passion for film, and ended with 3,000 well-heeled film industry buffs gathered to watch the very best mainstream and independent Chinese cinema.

To explain, this weekend saw the labour of Xiangxi Kong come into fruition with a flourish as his China Image Film Festival closed. The seven day event in London rather impressively enjoyed a record turnout and attendance from some of the biggest names in the field.

Kong is Executive Chairman of the festival, having founded it with a friend in 2009. Shrewd market research and a finite knowledge of his native cinema means the festival is now the biggest of its kind in Europe. Not bad for a third year BA Public Relations student.

Kong’s concept was to not only screen an eclectic mix of films in cinemas across the capital, but also create a judging panel to select a shortlist of outstanding contributions for a China Image Award.

Sophie's Revenge

After drawing up his blueprint, he returned to China to secure a sponsor. Using his PR prowess, he presented his masterplan to several businesses and organisations, eventually receiving support and funding from the British Council, the British Film Institute, the Administration of Radio, Film and Television of China (SARFT) and the Cultural Office of the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

Funding in place and joint organisation between China Image Ltd and China Film Promotion International, Kong then ran the debut event in October last year, which was received with rapturous response from film fans and professionals alike. This weekend saw the end of this year’s event, which ran from 3^rd - 10^th October.

Kong describes the festival in his own words: “The festival showcases the best mainstream and independent Chinese movies. The film’s main activities include film awards, film screening, media transmission and broadcasting of the UK and China Forums.”

He says he is thrilled with the huge uptake of such a niche film festival: “Of the 3,000 attendees, more than 10% are from the film industry and we had six UK cinemas support us, including the Odeon Covent Garden and the BAFTA Princess Cinema.

A Singing Fairy

“We have shown 356 short films including features, art house and documentaries, and we awarded 16 of the short film makers with a China Image Award.”

For those who missed out, sadly it’s another year before you’ll get such a hotbed of Chinese film talent celebrated in one place. In the interim, check out the China Image website.

Kong and Co. are busy laying the foundations for the 2011 event. The judging panel welcomes all Chinese language films to participate, and in particular young film makers. You have 12 whole months, so if you’d like to get involved in any way, contact Kong via the website.

If you feel like sourcing out the films for yourself, below are those films featured in the festival:

Founding of a Republic, A Singing Fairy, The Floating Shadow, Walking to School, The Equation of Love and Death, Red River, Sophie’s Revenge, Welcome to Sha-Ma  Town, Old Fish, Set Off, The Robbers, Lost on Journey.

Words: Natalie Hardwick

PR Futures hosted a talk between PR gurus Max Clifford and Mark Borkowski, chaired by the Editor of the Daily Telegraph, Andrew Pierce on the 5 May. During the debate, which was centred around the nature of fame – past and present (and future), they discussed everything from a secrect gay premier League football player, to the rise and fall of Jade Goodey and how talent isn’t as important as it once was in the fame game. PR Futures is a series of monthly guest lectures which provide extra-curricular activity to the BA and MA degrees in Public Relations.

Images by Georgia Arena (BA Photography Year 2)