This article really is worth reading, pass it by at your peril
How often have you picked up a magazine, or other printed media, flicked through and not really read anything? Or put it down meaning to pick up later but never doing so? It is likely that the answer is yes and with a growing frequency.
Allegedly, as individuals we are now exposed to more information in one year than Albert Einstein had in his life time. Even Einstein, we would imagine, would find it a tall order to process such a bombardment of information. However, we seem to be in a world of instant news and information, with the digital age providing real time reporting and the sharing of stories.
Individuals are also able to create their own communication channels and news forums with the use of new technology. Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this was Donald Trump’s use of social media activity which created his powerful communication/news feed channel, bolstered by his distain and lack of engagement with the traditional media.
Politics aside, the information age creates a new set of challenges for businesses and organisations looking to communicate with their various stakeholders; customers, prospects and influencers alike. Grabbing the interest of the reader or person you a looking to engage with, let alone getting the information digested is increasingly tough. There is a growing frequency around communications being totally overlooked with none of the intended audience actually engaging with it.
What is the solution?
For most of us it must be to recognise the changing world – if we are still relying on the more traditional means of communication then perhaps it is time to change. Certainly there is a need to know and understand the channels of communication being used by those we are looking to communicate with.
It is also important to take on board that it is likely our audiences will be using more than one channel of communication. As such those channels used are likely to cut across our business and social life. Perhaps the other key aspect to look at is content, including the format and length of the communication.
Whilst content is now seen by marketers as key, keeping it short, relevant and attention grabbing is paramount. There is a need to not only publish such stories but also broadcast them with a mix of multi-channel marketing. Remarketing news and stories with message repetition can help to achieve engagement, as can encouraging followers to share information with their own networks.
Overall whilst the opportunity to share information has never been as great as it is now, the challenge of how to achieve effective communication and how to capitalise on the new information age still remains.
James Pinchbeck is Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 UK accountancy practice. James, as a specialist in marketing professional services, is responsible for the development and implementation of the firm's strategic marketing as well as its engagement in the community it which it works and serves. His role allows him to capitalise on his broad interest in the national and local economy as well as his passion for enterprise. As part of his wider interest in enterprise, marketing and education, James is a board member of NBV – the East Midlands Enterprise Agency, an FE College Governor and a board member of the University of Lincoln’s Business School. He is also an Institute of Director’s past Branch Chairman.
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Can you help us identify the woman in these CCTV images?
We are appealing for help to identify the woman shown in these CCTV images following a theft that occurred on Wednesday 22 June in Grimsby.
A 92-year-old woman was walking through Freshney Place Shopping centre, Grimsby when it is believed that her purse was taken from her shopping trolley.
The woman in these images we believe may be able to assist with our investigations and we would ask anyone who believes they recognise her to please contact us on our non-emergency 101 line quoting log 246 of 23 June.
A retired fire engine that used to operate in Grimsby was used in Ukraine to help combat a missile attack on a shopping centre, which the G7 has described as a ‘war crime’ by Russia.
On Monday, footage emerged of a missile striking a shopping centre in the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky claiming is is evidence of a deliberate attack by Russia.
At least 20 people were killed and around 56 were injured following the incident, with G7 leaders saying the attack is considered a war crime. More than 1,000 people were inside the building when it was hit by the missile.
A familiar looking fire engine can be seen in video footage of the blaze shared across news outlets and social media platforms, in the form of an old Humberside Fire & Rescue vehicle.
Large shopping mall in Kremenchuk with hundreds of civilians inside has been hit by a Russian strike. Russia is a disgrace to humanity and it must face consequences. The response should be more heavy arms for Ukraine, more sanctions on Russia, and more businesses leaving Russia. pic.twitter.com/Uvi6fbyShK
The fire engine used to operate here in North East Lincolnshire, covering Grimsby and Immingham, and it is one of many vehicles sent out by Humberside Fire & Rescue to various countries across Europe in recent years.
Fire Aid recently sent a convoy of around 75 vehicles, equipment and clothing to Ukraine to help provide resources for recovery.
At least 20 people were killed in the incident. | Photo: BBC Look North
Area manager Matthew Sutcliffe told BBC Look North: “We’ve sent a number of fire engines since 2015 over there. These are end of life fire engines for us in Humberside, so we share them across Eastern Europe where we can.
“It’s an absolute tragedy what we saw yesterday. Firefighters there were using one of our old fire engines to protect the property but also save lives.”
"Absolute terrorism" – says @ZelenskyyUa and publishes a video of a deliberate missile strike on the Kremenchuk shopping center with people inside. Russian propaganda always lies: there is no coincidence, it is a deliberate blow to intimidate the population and mass victims. pic.twitter.com/Gx1f90cMta
During a regular nightly address to the nation on Monday, president Zelensky said: “The Russian missile hit this very object, purposefully. Obviously, that was the order. It is obvious that Russian assassins received such coordinates for this missile.
“They wanted to kill as many people as possible in a peaceful city, in a regular shopping mall.”