Image of an HMC compilation album.

Thoughts on the HMV Glasgow revamp

The HMV on Argyle Street in Glasgow has re-opened after a 6 week refit. As a lifelong passionate music lover I’ve been a regular visitor for as long as I can remember. Anytime I’m in the city centre, I’ll wander in and browse around, especially since it’s one of the few remaining high street stores where you can buy physical music. HMV itself has been through a few ownership changes in the last 15 years Read more…

BBC Question Time audience questions. Title image for blog post.

BBC Question Time and how to identify people when you don’t know their name

It always stuck me as a recipe for disaster that BBC Question Time often relies on the presenter referring to audience members by their perceived gender + an item of clothing/hairstyle so that the sound crew can ensure the question they’re about to ask is picked up by a microphone and that the camera can spin round and zoom in on them. With all the lights and energy of an important current affairs TV show, Read more…

Opening hours for retail businesses, Graphic depicting a shop.

Late night retail – Daunt Books, Belsize Park

What does it take to succeed in retail these days? That’s a complex issue but you’ll often hear discussion around opening hours and whether staying open later in the evening could be part of the answer. When I visit London to deliver media training courses, I often stay in the Haverstock Hill area of Belsize Park. It’s a great place to stay and if I get the chance I always enjoy a wander around and Read more…

Transcription services title image.

Transcriptions for videos and podcasts

Comsteria has launched a fast turnaround, proofread and quality controlled UK based video and podcast transcription service. It’s something our clients have requested for some time and having explored various 3rd party outsourcing solutions, we have put in place a workflow which enables us to deliver this work ourselves. Many of our existing podcast and video clients have already experienced our transcription service as part of that wider piece of work, but now, after further Read more…

Sceptics view of AI in PR and comms

Artificial Intelligence For PR and Comms Professionals

Our clients are demanding we talk about AI as it applies to PR and Comms. I’ll keep this page updated with tips, tricks and resources. Let’s be clear: I’m a sceptic. Perhaps it’s the former journalist in me, or perhaps I just tire quickly of hype. If you’re looking for positive, cutting edge, expert voices on AI I’d strongly recommend my good friend Gary Ennis and another trusted expert I know well, Andrew Bruce Smith. Read more…

Podcast for PR and comms professionals, title image.

Podcast For PR and Comms Professionals Hits 500th Episode

Comsteria’s Powerful Communication podcast recently celebrated its 500th episode. Presented by Colin Kelly, it features news and opinion for everyone working in the sector and will also be of interest to small business owners involved in their own marketing and media relations activities. It’s available on every major podcasting platform and on the Comsteria website. Huge thanks to all our listeners – remember you can subscribe and receive new episodes automatically. We aim to publish Read more…

Media training advice - how to say sorry.

How companies should say ‘sorry’

We hope it’s not something that happens frequently, but there may well be occasions where you, or your organisation has to stand up and say ‘sorry’. At Comsteria, we’d always recommend putting a name and a face to the apology – a real human, fronting up in a video – rather than a text statement attributed to ‘a spokesperson’. Comsteria’s Colin Kelly is one of Scotland’s most in-demand media training and crisis communications specialists and Read more…

Company culture and crisis comms.

How company culture helps with crisis comms

Get it right, and you’re laughing. Recently, Comsteria has been working with some clients on what could be termed ‘crisis management’ issues. Often, this involves keeping an organisation, or a particular issue OUT of the media. This requires extremely careful handling in order to remain open and transparent with staff, while also making sure those same staff don’t take what they know and share it outwith the organisation. Some old fashioned operators try to achieve Read more…