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Awards are great, but the proof is in the outcomes  We’re chuffed this afternoon here at DTW towers. We’ve been shortlisted for 3 CIPR Pride awards for our work (we find out in December if we have actually won). One shortlist for media relations work with local authorities across the north east region on a road safety campaign, one for social media work for an Easter campaign with the Law Society (England and Wales), and one for the very grand title of Outstanding Consultancy, which is particularly nice as it really recognises everyone’s contribution.  Awards are great – when you

The LGA and the CIPR’s Local Public Services Group put on a cracking event looking at devolution and communications in Newcastle today

That depends. How proactive have you been in identifying and engaging with the people and communities who care about the area where you are looking to developing new infrastructure. Most people and communities lack the opportunity, time, energy and enthusiasm to engage in a lot of debate – and low levels of participation and engagement inhibit the growth of knowledge and understanding in this area. Ultimately, that does you little favour, whether you are building energy from waste facilities, proposing new wind turbines or upgrading transport infrastructure. Reaching the quiet and busy majority can be vital – because objectors will

Energy. Yep – we all need it. Green energy. Even better. Energy infrastructure in the filed behind your back garden? Oh, hang on, most people not so keen. OK then, you must be up for paying higher bills to cover the increasing costs it would mean to replace pylons with underground pipes etc.? Er, what – my gas bill is too high already – I need the cost to come down not go up. That’s it in a nutshell really. We all want cheaper energy, we’d quite like to save the planet, but we don’t want to spoil our view.

Last week we had the pleasure of Rachel Frost – a third year PR student at the University of Sunderland – joining us for a week of work experience. Here’s a newby perspective of week one at DTW – thanks Rachel! My first day at DTW started a lot like I anticipated, with one of my first jobs being to write a news release. However, the release was a lot different to the ones I had tackled in the past, as it involved very confusing road works. To make it worse, road works within Liverpool, a city I have yet