School Toilets

In a long line of bizarre ideas in the media this week - number one, the milk to stop obesity, number two, smokers being paid by employers to attend clinics (that's a whole other blog...) comes number three, blurred glass on school toilet doors to stop bullying.

This is just another idea that doesn't recognise the root of the problem. I understand that toilets can be problem areas for many schools, but forcing a child to go to the toilet while the whole room can see their silhouette isn't the right answer.

Surely it would be better if toilets were supervised during break times? During lesson time, if bullies are in the toilets then blurred glass isn't going to help, it's a whole other problem - why aren't they in lessons?

Schools should be working with their pupils and parents to stop bullying, not leaving it to toilet doors.

Helen

Size 0 versus Obesity

Another day, another ridiculous notion- If it isn’t size zero its obesity. Today’s headlines about adding leptin to formula milk as a tool to reduce obesity in children was certainly a topic of conversation in the office today…our verdict: Ridiculous!

This is merely covering up the problem rather than offering a solution to the rising numbers of obese folk. Surely a better solution would be re-educating the lifestyle of the families who suffer with obesity. Rather than adding this chemical to our already over-processed food why not teach the art of cooking, eating healthily and doing a bit of exercise to the fast food generation.

It is simple mathematics, if there are as many calories going in as going out, a healthy weight will be maintained. But when I hear stories of children being allowed to eat 6000 calories a day, I feel very sorry for them indeed-they don’t stand a chance. By teaching children healthy eating habits at an early age, and teaching them to cook and enjoy healthy meals rather than a 3 minute microwave meal are surely better tactics than drugging babes in arms. Responsibility lies with parents not scientists!

There is plenty of information freely available about healthy eating, and cooking, more funding for this than the science we say!


Ruth

Will & Kate

I can't say I was surprised to hear about Prince William and Kate Middleton's break up. I think a lot of people had lost sight of the fact that William, despite being the oldest son and heir to the throne, is still only in his mid-twenties. About the same age as me in fact, and I'm certainly not thinking of getting married...

I think the most important thing now is how they handle it. I imagine William has plenty of people around to advise him what to say / what not to say so it will be Kate Middleton's reaction that the press will be waiting for.

If she has any sense, which I think she has, there's no way she'll sell her story. If she does she will ruin the relationship she has with the Royals and totally destroy any chance (if there is one) of getting back together with William in the future.

So far she has been nothing but dignified and I hope she stays that way and doesn't give in to public and press demand for a story.

Helen

Hostage Crisis

There has been much debate over the last few days surrounding the handling of the Iranian hostage crisis and I, like many others think that it is appalling that they were allowed to profit from their ordeal. Even though Des Brown has now said that in hindsight he would have handled the situation differently, I find it unbelievable that he could not possibly have envisaged the outrage that this would cause.

It was a terrible thing for them to go through; something that I think the majority of us could not imagine and I feel that it is important for their stories to be heard. However hard it was though, at the end of the day it is a risk that comes along with the job, a risk that they would be well aware of.

The best that can be done now is to try and salvage some respect from this PR disaster, such as donating all the profit made from this to a forces benevolent charity, although I am unsure as to how effective this would be now. Even though there is now a ban in place top stop this kind of thing happening again, I think that in this instance it could be a case of too little too late. The damage has already been done.

PR Work Experience

Following on from our top five tips below, I thought I'd go into a bit more detail about PR work experience.

I recently gave a talk to Media & Communications students at the University of Leicester and tried to stress, along with the other speakers, how vital work experience is.

A degree really doesn't prepare you; you need to be proactive, get out into the industry and get some practical experience - even if it means giving up all your holidays for the next year!!

If you've decided on a career change, it doesn't matter what degree / past jobs you've had if you've got some good work experience.

Unfortunately, because there are just four of us here, we don't have the resources to take on people for work experience. But I spent most of my uni holidays working for free, and that's what got me my first job.

Here are some tips on finding PR / communications work experience that can help you get your foot on the career-ladder;

•Get out and meet people – ask them if they know of any opportunities
•Try all communications companies – design, advertising, marketing, events, PR etc
•Unpaid placements – be flexible with days, times etc
•Informal chat & shadowing – helps to gain contacts & recommendations
•Freelance work for charities, local clubs & societies – good for experience and shows initiative
•Events – hold your own event or offer to help others
•Build a portfolio – this is vital! Take it to interviews and talk through it

Searching for PR work experience;

•Websites; for in-house try the ‘news’ or ‘press’ sections
•Yellow Pages / Yell.com – send letters and follow-up with a phone call
•University notice board & your Student Union
•CIPR website - www.cipr.co.uk
•PRCA - www.prca.org.uk
•Agencies such as Reed, JFL Recruitment, Blue Skies, Kelso Jones, Hot Prospects. For more agencies try www.rec.uk.com
•Media Guardian
•Local papers – jobs & business pages

Although we don't take people for work experience, it's worth sending your CV in because we do keep them on file - dianneallen@geminiprmarketing.com

Helen