Over the last few months we have been working with Capital One on their Credit Made Clearer initiative. Working with Professor Geoff Beattie of Manchester University (aka the Big Brother psychologist) research out this week has revealed that Monday 26th September to Sunday 2nd October is the worst week of the year for money worries.

The study revealed that the biggest factors that make this week the worst week for money are: the bills coming in for our summer fun, the cost of kids going back to school and university, preparing for colder weather and, not least, the realisation that the great Christmas spending spree is nearly upon us.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – the worst week for money was also a great week for coverage, with the story being picked up by the Daily Star, I, The Times online, Daily Express online and Guardian online to name just a few. So far, we have achieved 330 pieces of coverage with more to come so watch this space!

Ryan Giggs has had a busy couple of months. As if battling salacious reports of bedroom shenanigans with Z-list reality TV ‘stars’ and his sister-in-law wasn’t enough, the Manchester United veteran has become an unwitting poster-boy for the growing movement of discontent surrounding the super-injunctions.

By suing Twitter, he’s also been at the forefront of the debate on what constitutes libel in the social media age, and has even been mentioned in Parliament. Not bad for someone whose sole goal in life thus far has been to hurtle down Man U’s left wing and deliver perfectly weighted crosses to the incredibly wide forehead of Wayne Rooney.

Now Giggsy appears to have been awarded one of the UK press’ highest accolades: the most consecutive front pages for an individual EVER. No doubt fired up by the chance to expose the injustices of the super-injunction system, the Daily Star has run 14 consecutive Ryan Giggs-related front pages. That’s not just mentions on the front page (as he got on day 15 when he was ‘relegated’ to the sidebar by Ashley Cole – the shame), but actual splashes.

The only let-up between the 6^th and 21^st of June was from the Daily Star Sunday, which cut Giggsy some slack by replacing him with P-Middy (that’s the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister to you and me).

To put this into context, the Daily Express – for whom Princess Diana is pretty much its raison d’etre – only published 11 consecutive front pages following her death in 1997 according to The Media Blog.

Quite why the Daily Star appears to have been caught up in this incredible rut is unclear. The affairs of global sports megastars David Beckham and Tiger Woods have not received nearly the scrutiny awarded to Giggs who, until now, has held next to no interest for anyone aside from fans of Manchester Untied (and occasionally, Wales).

Giggs has always been pitched as a ‘model professional’, dull to his core and of no ‘use’ to the tabloids. Now the illusion appears to have been shattered, perhaps the Star felt it needed to get its money’s worth? Or perhaps by turning the screw so relentlessly, the Star is sending a stark warning to anyone in the public eye who refuses to ‘play the game’ that they will face a terrible vengeance should they ever slip up?

Whatever the reason, the exercise in Giggs-mania has surely pushed the ‘public interest’ argument to its limit in more ways than one.

Hi, I’m Holly, a new Account Manager at Launch Group. I’ve just come to the end of my first week and thought I’d share what I’ve been up to as the newest ‘Launcher’…

 

Monday

 

Surprisingly, no first day nerves, just a sense of excitement at joining a PR Week ‘Best Place to Work’ accredited agency. The team is very welcoming and I have a day of inductions planned to get me up to speed. It’s nice to be back in Soho too!

 

Tea Received: 2

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: Telegraph

 

Tuesday

 

Getting to know Launch processes and relieved to find everyone is as media savvy as campaign results show! The Butlins team secures a great hit for their ‘Fine but Fun Wine List’ from top drinks writer Anthony Rose. 

 

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: Guardian

 

Wednesday

 

Briefed on an upcoming launch event for premium Vodka brand Black Moth. I also get to taste the delicious cocktails which is a bonus! Keep an eye out for Black Moth from July; it is a must have for any Vodka connoisseur.

 

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: The Sun

 

Thursday

 

Briefed on two more interesting campaigns – The Discovery Channel premiere of James Cracknell’s ‘Toughest Race on Earth’ and Yell.com’s ShopView programme which is revolutionising the way SME businesses promote themselves.

 

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 1 (for me)

Paper Read: Daily Mail

 

 

Friday

 

Talk through the Butlins 75^th birthday project (particularly excited as my childhood ambition was to be a Red Coat!). I fill in my timesheet then it’s off to the Friday afternoon ritual of end of week catch up over some beers and wine. My first week has flown by and I had loved every minute!

 

Tea Received: 0

Tea Made: 2 (1 x me 1 x Account Director)

Wine: 2

Paper Read: Daily Star