The inaugural How-Do Awards are now open for entries and table bookings. This unique event, to be held on 24 April 2008, will bring together for the first time ever the very best that the North West offers, with 14 awards spanning the region’s rapidly converging media and creative sectors.
The dinner, which will be compered by Jim Hancock, with after dinner entertainment provided by Jason Manford, is anticipated to attract several hundred of the region’s leading media and creative folk. A number of table reservations have already been received from companies in TV, radio, advertising, publishing and PR.
Prior to launching these awards, we canvassed opinions from over 20 respected industry figures and their views were remarkably similar: the idea was sound – the refrain typically was ‘why has no one does this before?’ – but avoid a black tie dinner, keep the entry process as simple as possible and ideally free (well, they would say that!), keep the number of awards as low as possible and ensure above all else that the judges are of the highest possible calibre.
We believe we have delivered on all of these counts.
The dinner at MUFC on Thursday 24 April is lounge suit, the entry forms are straightforward (and it is free to enter) and the judging panel we have drawn together is probably the strongest media panel of its type yet seen in the North West.
The judges will be looking for examples of companies or organisations who can clearly demonstrate transparent success in 2007: growth of the company or reversing decline, managing and overcoming adversities, job creation, financial performance, industry accolades, innovation, staff development, leadership etc. This is your chance to let over 20,000 of the North West’s leading media folk know how successful your company was in 2007 – and indeed going forward into 2008.
The judges are looking for literate, justifiable and compelling entries written to a maximum of 500 words. The submitting company or organisation must be headquartered or have an operational base within the North West and the entry must relate to its 2007 activities.
Entries should be submitted by company personnel – not by their representatives.
The deadline for entries is Friday 7 March 2008. Entries arriving after this date or not adhering to the entry criteria will be disqualified.
There are 14 award categories and – where appropriate and applicable - there is no limit on the number of categories that can be entered by a single company, i.e. – a newspaper group with print and digital interests can enter the newspaper, magazine and web site categories or an advertising agency can enter the advertising/media agency, digital or design categories where they believe their output in those categories merits submissions.
Awards categories
The categories are:
1. Advertising/media agency 2. Daily newspaper 3. Design consultancy 4. Digital agency 5. Independent TV/radio production company 6. Magazine 7. Media sales team 8. Most Innovative media platform or product 9. PR agency 10. Radio station 11. TV programme 12. Web site 13. Weekly newspaper 14. Personality
If you have any queries re the entries, please contact either the editor Alan Johnstone at alan@how-do.co.uk or the publisher Nick Jaspan at nick@how-do.co.uk .
We are delighted that the NWDA – Northwest Regional Development Agency – has agreed to be the Awards headline partner.
Mearns
Peter Mearns, executive director of marketing at the NWDA, said: “Creative and digital is one of the fastest growing sectors in the North West and is outpacing UK trends, with growth rates standing at 10% above the national average.
“How-Do is fast becoming the source to turn to for news about this exciting sector and we are delighted to be supporting their inaugural awards.”
The How-Do Awards will complement the existing and highly successful sector specific dinners such as the Big Chip Awards, the RTS North West Awards, the Roses and the Pride Awards. However there is presently no other single event which brings together and acknowledges the totality of the region’s finest talent encompassing broadcasting, publishing, advertising and communications. And one which recognises that convergence is the most powerful force in the media industry today.
The judging panel of acclaimed media figures comprises:
Morrison
Alice Morrison, former BBC journalist and presently chief executive Northwest Vision and Media. Alice started her career on an entertainment magazine in Dubai and subsequently helped launch BBC News24 before plumping for a change of career with a switch to a leading Lancashire ISP, prior to joining NWVM.
Hastings
Alison Hastings, former editor and currently an adviser to the PCC and Camelot and the BBC Trustee responsible for England. Edited the Newcastle Evening Chronicle from 1996 to 2002 before relocating to Liverpool. Former columnist on UK Press Gazette and can be frequently heard and seen as a media pundit on radio and TV. A member of the Society of Editors and an adviser to the Press Complaints Commission.
Taylor
Anthony Taylor, head of external communications at £2bn turnover Littlewoods Shop Direct and former head of media at the General Medical Council. Began his career at a PR agency in Manchester and subsequently worked in London and the Turks and Caicos Islands before moving back to his native North West.
Hopkins
Carl Hopkins, former chairman of JDA, the largest regionally-based direct marketing agency. Carl joined JDA in West Yorkshire 1984 as a junior designer and rose through the ranks to take over the business in 2000 as managing director and took the role of chairman in 2005 until the sale of the business in 2007. He has a growing range of other media interests.
Burns
Gordon Burns. TV presenter. There’s more than the Krypton Factor and North West Tonight to Belfast-born Burns. Began his career as a print journalist before moving into broadcasting as a news presenter on Ulster TV. Presented the Krypton Factor for 18 years until 1995 and the anchorman on the BBC’s North West Tonight since 1997.
Bennett
Iain is the sector leader for digital and creative industries at the NWDA where he is responsible for strategy and development of Europe’s second largest cluster of creative and digital companies. He was previously a theatrical agent and subsequently a founder of a new media design agency. In 2002 he joined London Metropolitan University as managing director of its new media training company.
Hancock
Jim Hancock, journalist, presenter and political commentator for over 30 years. He has interviewed every Prime Minister from Harold Wilson to Gordon Brown and has been a lobby correspondent for the BBC and IRN. He was Granada TV’s political correspondent from 1987 to 1994 and political editor of the BBC North West 1998 to 2006. Can also be found chairing conferences for bodies such as the NWDA, CBI and the IoD.
Gee
Karen Gee, sales and marketing director at Wigan-based Shearings Leisure. Since graduating in International Marketing, Karen has specialised in the travel and leisure industry, working for companies such as Airtours, First Choice, Flying Colours, Rail Europe, Universal Studios Florida, eDreams.com and Sky Travel. At Shearings she is responsible for consumer marketing, travel trade commercial relations, call centre operations and Shearings own chain of high street travel agents.
Anderson
Martin Anderson, chairman of TBWA\Manchester until last year and one of the most prominent figures in the region’s advertising community over recent years. Spent most of his career at what was BDH where he became creative director in 1978. Moved across to account management in 1988 and became MD in 1992 and chairman in 1996. Was chairman of IPA regions 1994 to 1996 and served on the IPA council in London for 15 years.
Graf
Philip Graf CBE, former chief executive of Trinity Mirror and currently deputy chairman of Ofcom and a NED with Archant. A Cambridge law graduate, Graf joined the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo in 1983 and became chief executive of what was then Trinity in 1993. Led the acquisition of the Mirror Group in 1999 and subsequently became the chief executive of the enlarged company. In 2003 he was asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to carry out a review of the BBC's online activities.
Sykes
Sally Sykes, head of communications, AstraZeneca. 68,000 staff worldwide with a comms team of 28 specifically reporting to her. Previous roles with Ciba-Geigy, Scottish & Newcastle, Littlewoods and Manchester Airport. Sally is on the national executive and board of the CIPR and was rated by “PR Week” in 2006 as one of the 50 most influential UK PR practitioners.
Fensom
Shaun Fensom, chief executive of Manchester Digital and chairman of the Community Broadband Network. Has been working in the online industry since the 1980s in various roles and with a number of ISPs.
Conflicts of interest
The judges have agreed that should a possible conflict of interest ever arise, the individual judge will not vote on that particular category.
Good luck to all the entrants and we look forward to you joining us at Old Trafford on 24/4/08 for what should prove to be a unique and entertaining celebration of North West creative and media talent.
For available sponsorship opportunities please contact Nick Jaspan at nick@how-do.co.uk
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The How-Do Awards – celebrating the best work of the North West’s leading broadcasting, publishing and communications companies, are now open for entries and table reservations for the dinner on 24 AprilREAD
The North West’s media folk who wield the greatest combination of influence, power and employment, primarily in the region but also, in many cases, well beyond.
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