News

07 November 2004

BBC Panorama Works with Codeworks to Showcase NE Digital Entrepreneurs

The last six months has seen a surge in media interest in the North East and its digital technology and new media industries - particularly in national broadcast and print media.

Codeworks has enjoyed a string of successes in promoting the North East. Over the past three months, a story placed by Codeworks about North East digital companies has appeared in regional, national or online press on average every other working day.  Big wins have included stories in: - The Financial Times, November 2004- The Guardian Newspaper, September 2004- BBC Online, August 2004- New Media Age, July 2004, Europe's Leading Digital Media Journal- Develop, June 2004, Europe's Leading Games Development Journal In November, Codeworks achieved its biggest PR win to date by lobbying the producers of BBC ONE's Panorama documentary programme to use the North East as its showcase region to demonstrate the rise of the knowledge economy in the UK. In the end, Codeworks secured ten minutes of valuable prime-time broadcasting that painted a generous and glowing portrait of the North East and its digital entrepreneurs. Herb Kim, Codeworks CEO, said: "This has been an excellent period of high interest in Codeworks and Connect members from the media. The BBC coverage has been tremendous, however, we also hit the Financial Times last week with the announcement that Andy Allan has been appointed as our new chairman and we have engaged with some of the 'heavyweight' magazines such as The Economist and New Statesman.  "This latest batch of media coverage takes the year's total to more than 120 individual cuttings and mentions generated in all types of media - from traditional newspapers and trade magazines to electronic/broadcast and online - the value of coverage is now pushing the £2.6 million mark and we expect this to go through the £3million mark early in 2005."  "But while it's nice to see our companies and the North East get mentions on TV and in the press, we have to remember the strategic value we are producing. These are all important steps being taken in conjunction with ONE and other regional partners in making sure that people view the North East in a completely new and modern way."

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