Blog

Picture of a Dacia Duster car beside a bicycle in an area of woods.

Scouts and Dacia – an ideal partnership

We really like this partnership between car giant Dacia and the Scout Association which aims to encourage young people to try new activities outdoors. It’s absolutely core to what the Scout movement is about and cleverly builds on Dacia’s reputation as a vehicle you would associate with exploring and adventure. Dacia is sponsoring a new ‘Adventure Challenge Award’ badge, which requires Scouts to complete 4 outdoor adventure related activities, 2 of which must be new Read more

By Colin Kelly, ago
Image of Dominic Cummings giving evidence at the UK COVID Inquiry.

Media trainer reacts to Dominic Cummings at the UK Covid Inquiry – presentation skills critique

We’re watching the live stream of the UK COVID Inquiry. If you’re interested in the good, the bad and the ugly of #powerfulcommunication it’s worth a watch. You’ll see the full range on display. Comsteria’s director and media relations and presentation skills trainer Colin Kelly put together this quick critique of Mr Cumming’s performance and what you can learn from it.

By Colin Kelly, ago
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

By Colin Kelly, ago
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

By Colin Kelly, ago
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

By Colin Kelly, ago
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

By Colin Kelly, ago
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

By Colin Kelly, ago