What is the role of the UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)? [CIPRtv]

CIPR TV - PR News

CIPR TV reviews the role of the UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC) as the deadline for lobbyists to sign up to the UKPAC register approaches. UKPAC chairman Elizabeth France CBE and UKPAC and CIPR board member Keith Johnston joined CIPR TV studio to discuss the role of UKPAC and lobbying in the UK.

UKPAC was established in July 2010 with the aim of promoting effective self-regulation of the public affairs sector through the quarterly publication of a voluntary register of lobbyists and the promotion of enforceable codes of practice. Registration closes on 31 January 2011.

Elizabeth is Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints, a member of the British Transport Police Authority and Vice President of Aberystwyth University. Her career has been mainly in the public sector, in the Home Office, as Information Commissioner and more recently as Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Ombudsman Service, which provides the Telecommunications Ombudsman Service (Otelo), the Energy Ombudsman Service and the Surveyors Ombudsman Service.

Keith is the Director of Policy and Communications at the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He lobbies international institutions and national governments on legal, tax and regulatory matters affecting professional private client advisors.

 (Via CIPRtv)

Social Media Relations and Politics: 'Ask The PM' [case study]

In 2008 Gordon Brown launched a YouTube version of Prime Minister's Questions in an attempt to connect with younger voters and dispel opposition jibes that he is not in tune with the digital age.

YouTube preview

During his YouTube clip, Brown invites questions on subjects such as globalisation, climate change, the health service, jobs and housing. "I am here to answer your questions," he says.

Video questions can be submitted on any subject in an "Ask the PM" section on Downing Street's YouTube website. Brown will answer the questions which receive the most votes at the end of June, but the plan is to run the initiative on a regular basis via the video-sharing site.

"Politicians get a chance in prime minister's question time and other question times -- I think it's time the public had a chance," he says.

The move follows Brown's pledge to listen and learn after voters gave the Labour Party a drubbing in local elections earlier this month. Conservative leader David Cameron, who has appeared on live Webcam broadcasts from his breakfast table, has criticised Brown in the past for being an "analogue politician in a digital age".

Unfortunately for Brown, the first question posted was "Why is it on every single video and on your main page that you don't allow comments?"

Brown attempted to burnish his online credentials further when he later spoke at Google's Zeitgeist conference in London, where he said "technological change is transforming the delivery of public services and changing the nature of the relationship between individuals and government". "My aim is to ensure we utilise all the innovation at our disposal to improve public services in this country and to give more power to those who use them," he added.

"Across government and the public services we must present and distribute the information we hold in a way that enables it to be re-used by online communities, potentially reaching many millions more people and helping make Britain a country of technology pioneers."

(via Reuters)

Watch YouTube video below:

BMW JOY 3D: Asia's 1st Interactive 3D Building Projection

How to play with symbols ... the outdoor campaign of BMW JOY 3D!

Watch how  the busy office buildings in Singapore are transformed from a symbol of work into a symbol of Joy. Witness Joy coming alive at Suntec City, Towers 2 & 3.