Purdah presentation pinpoints pitfalls to avoid

Now purdah has started in almost every area where local elections are being held, communicators can expect to deal with various queries relating to what colleagues can and can’t say during the run up to the poll in May.

The video below (courtesy of Simon Wakeman) shows Alex Aiken, Director of Communications and Strategy at Westminster City Council, outlining the key things to consider in relation to purdah over the next few weeks.

The main message that comes through is that as public bodies we are duty bound to communicate with the public about the decisions we make. This remains the case whether purdah is in place or not.

Links I like 10.12.04

Localism can raise the profile of PR’ – PR Week
I have just got back from a week away, so am slow in getting to this blog in PR Week from one of local government’s top communicators, Alex Aitken. In the article, he makes the point that the new Localism Bill could strengthen the role of PR as a tool to engage local leaders. Here’s hoping…

Piers Morgan v Alan Rusbridger – Twitter
Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) has recently caught the Twitter bug and is busy tweeting celebrity contacts and anyone he can get a reaction from.  One exchange with Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger (@arusbridger) about the number of followers he has amassed particularly caught the eye. Rusbridger responded to the post above with the retort: ‘It’s not about the numbers, Piers.’