Different types of story
When organisations and individuals are approached by the media it is generally because of an involvement in a story or an expertise in the subject matter. When dealing with the media in any way it is imperative to know how the story will be catagorised as this will change the approach needed. Typically, business stories will fall into one of the following ten categories:
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Corporate death, crisis or restructuringBlackBerry’s blackout woes When BlackBerry users across the world experienced problems receiving messages, it took owner Research In Motion 36 hours to give customers an explanation. The delayed communication and failure to keep users informed has embarrassed a company built on its reputation for effective messaging. Click here to read the full story... |
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M&AAT&T’s T-Mobile takeover challenged American telecoms firm AT&T’s attempts to take over T-Mobile USA hit the rocks after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a legal challenge against the merger. AT&T’s proposed $39 billion deal would substantially reduce competition in the market, resulting in higher prices, worse service and fewer products, according to the DoJ. Click here to read the full story... |
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Boardroom bust-up/ management changesWhat’s going on at HP? Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman’s appointment as chief of troubled Hewlett Packard raises eyebrows. Is Whitman the latest in a line of bad CEO choices by HP’s board? And why hasn’t non-executive chairman Ray Lane taken the helm? Click here to read the full story... |
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Pay, rewards and moneyWPP chief defends 70% pay rise Following a report that UK chief executives received, on average, a 49% pay rise in the last year, WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell goes on Radio 4’s Today Programme to defend his own 70% salary hike. Click here to read the full story... |
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ResultsMorgan Stanley surprises the markets Morgan Stanley sees its biggest jump in shares for more than two years after reporting a 17% rise in second quarter revenues, beating market expectations. The US investment bank also reported lower than expected losses, calming investor fears. Shares jumped by around 9.1%. Click here to read the full story... |
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Economics or state of the market storiesEurope’s growth outlook under pressure Consumer and corporate confidence about the future is increasingly at risk in the euro zone as member states find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and austerity measures. Commentators call for urgent measures to kick start growth if the euro zone, and Europe, is to find its way out of the crisis. Click here to read the full story... |
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Product launchesApple delivers iPhone update The launch of the latest edition in the iPhone series - the iPhone 4S - is set to confirm Apple's place as the world's largest phone maker by revenue. The souped-up version of last year's iPhone 4 boasts a new voice assistant facility, an iCloud system and an A5 processing chip, making it significantly faster than its predecessors. Click here to read the full story... |
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Major contract wins
Serco announces second multi-million dollar contract within days Serco, the UK facilities management company, wins a A$1.3bn contract to provide non-clinical support services to the new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, western Australia, over the next 10 years. The news comes days after Serco secures a A$100m five-year contract to manage and operate the new 300-bed high-security South Queensland Correctional Centre. Click here to read the full story... |
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Theme analysis of sector/geographyEnergy companies clash with regulator Energy suppliers criticise their regulator, Ofgem, for a report showing their profitability has soared. Suppliers claim the report is misleading, blaming the rising cost of wholesale energy and the unrealistic picture of annual revenues that the report paints. Tim Yeo MP, chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, describes the increase in profit margins as “evidence of absolutely crass behaviour by the energy companies”. Click here to read the full story... |
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Personality profileA hands-on guy The Financial Times’ Lucy Kellaway talks to Guy Hands, chairman of Terra Firma, about his education, family, moving to Guernsey as a tax exile, and losing £1.75 billion of investors’ money when he lost control of EMI. Click here to read the full story... |
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Diary storyBrothers in arms? The Reverend Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, made it into The Telegraph’s City Diary following his recent high-profile resignation in support of anti-capitalist protestors camped outside the cathedral. Could the Reverend Fraser find alternative work with his brother Rupert, who is head of sales at brokerage Evolution? Probably not, the Diary muses, as Rupert does believe in bonuses. Click here to read the full story... |
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