Expert Advice

UNFORTUNATE...

The death of the title?

I had a meeting recently with someone in a major agency. The title on his business card sparked a lengthy conversation about how hard it is to describe what people do in communications these days, particularly if they do anything to do with the internet.

His title was Head of Digital, and he wasn't happy with it. Remember Head of New Media? That language seems to have disappeared since it isn't new any more. Other attempts include Head of Engagement, and Head of (Branded) Content.

What comes next? Head of Online? Head of Communities? Head of Stuff? We need a new vocabulary to describe the online revolution.

Jobs for the Girls

I am brazenly on the hunt for employment for my two daughters, and would welcome any suggestions you may have.

Rosanna Duncan, 21, Publishing

She finishes an English and Philosophy degree at Bristol University this summer and wants to go into publishing. Not as a journalist, but on the commercial side. She is currently national Editor of a student newspaper and website called The Sanctuary, and has secured placement work at IPC, Elle, Grazia and Mediaedge: CIA at Easter. She has 10 A*s at GCSE, AAB at A level in English, Latin and Maths, and earned a scholarship. She needs a full-time job at somewhere like IPC or Conde Nast starting in September.

Shaunagh Duncan, 18, Geologist

She finishes her A levels this summer and is taking a gap year before taking a Geology degree. After 11 A*s at GCSE, she also gained a scholarship and is taking Geography, Geology, Chemistry and English at A level with top grade predictions. She wants to be a geologist and is looking for gap year work from September to December in a relevant environmental or energy company such as BP or Shell.

You never know if you don't ask, so if anyone has any suggestions for either of them I would be incredibly grateful to hear.

 

 

 

Drawing a Citiblank

I received a letter out of the blue yesterday from Citibank, informing me that they had reduced the credit limit on my Mastercard by half, to under £1,500.

I called the customer services line to ask why, and pointed out that my credit record was exemplary. There had been no payment default ever, particularly since my account is paid in full every month by direct debit.

Oh, said the unapologetic rep, the credit review is non-negotiable. So today I walked into Lloyds TSB, was briefly subjected to all the normal credit check facilities, and was immediately granted a new Mastercard with a £4,000 credit limit.

As soon as it arrives I'll rip up the Citibank one, and they will have lost a loyal customer of 15 years. Am I missing something, or are they?

SNOW BIG DEAL

Okay, so we’ve had some snow. But as the country bellyaches its way into 2010, spare a thought for those who live in countries where this is the norm. Canada, Russia, China, Scandinavia – they deal with it all the time. By their standards, we’ve barely had a drop of the stuff.

 

In Norway in the sixties, it wasn’t uncommon to have six foot of it. If you didn’t clear your roof it would cave in, and it was easy to walk from the ground onto the top of your house because it was so deep.

 

Take the time to enjoy it, because it will only be a few weeks before everyone is complaining that it’s too hot.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Bullshit!

Well, I was on the radio again the other day talking about…yes, my favourite subject, bullshit. This time it was Chelmsford Council, and Radio Essex were having a lot of fun with their consultation document for outdoor spaces.

I was particularly tickled by their “creation of a wayfinding system to encourage legibility within the town centre,” “holistic approach of a space, in terms of long term thinking,” and the frankly supreme “tables and chairs coordination guidance framework.” How would we navigate a town centre without their help?

If you want hear me ranting about it, click here.

IF THIS DOESN'T MOVE YOU, NOTHING WILL

My old mate Charlie has just done something rather amazing. He has produced a bunch of schoolkids singing and playing Bowie's Changes to promote www.newschoolthinking.com

 

Click and weep - it's absolutely fantastic. All together now: Turn and face the strain, ch-ch-changes...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNVmOa5Pd4

 

 

 

The £4 Pint

Yesterday was an historic moment.

After a long hot day in the city I bought myself a well-earned pint, and was relieved of £4 for the privilege. When I started drinking in 1973 (admittedly some time before I legally should have done), my first pint cost me 26p. So in 36 years, the price of a simple pleasure has risen 15 times. That was a pint of Courage Best in the Batchworth Arms in the leafy suburb of Rickmansworth. Last night was in Westminster and was Peroni.

I blame the Italians.