Welcome to the weekly Wrap from How-Do - media news for the North West.

The Wrap's guest editor this week is Rob McLoughlin.

 It’s time for a whole new line in little black numbers and stylish waistcoats as we prepare for a year when the Golden Globes ceremony (it was a power point presentation, wasn’t it?) will be easily overshadowed by our own versions of Hollywood on the Irwell and     'Music’ on the Mersey.
 
MTV Music Awards;  XFM’s Music Awards; Royal Television Society Awards; umpteen others and now a new ‘night of nights’ as How-Do attempts to attract the media glitterati to a dazzling set of glittering prizes aimed just at the North West.

As Paul Newman stated last week ; this is an exciting time for media in the region with two new commercial radio stations about to launch in Liverpool and Manchester and of course, with the BBC heading to Media City – the focus of this week’s ‘Nations and Regions’ conference in Salford.

So let’s celebrate and then let’s pause for thought.

The car industry in the Midlands must have seemed exciting and permanent in the 1960’s and early 1970’s – but it disappeared.

When the BBC switches on in 2011 from Salford - we’ll be half way through the current licence fee settlement and probably starting a new one in a new digital age which Jeremy Paxman said last August will see the BBC ‘struggle’ to justify that fee – especially in front of a newly elected Parliament.

By then, Channel Four may also want serious money from the public purse and ITV may need support if it is to maintain its Public Service content in a very competitive age.

What do we need? A plan for media in the North West and a big one – bigger than the one currently envisaged – and one which will take in the opportunities and examine how best to protect them, how best to argue their corner and how best to attract the new ‘broadcasters’ who will be very different from those around today.

We need a STRONG set of voices – influential ones.

That’s the challenge or else the party dresses could be short and short lived.

Trevor Lorains

I hope the celebrations will pay tribute to a man who brought great integrity and creativity to his chosen art. His sad and premature death, like that of others such as Ken Gosling, Robert Johnstone and Ray Sale, steals a real beacon from the advertising sector - but leaves behind a perfect ‘example’ of how to effectively conduct business in a competitive arena with polish and style – a lesson which many should learn and follow.

Rob McLoughlin is a TV and radio presenter and co-founded Unique Communications and Hasgrove plc

Other stories on How-Do this week:

• Silver Films to produce series of short films for Lexus Europe 
• ghd awards TBWA\Manchester its digital business
• Think Publicity appoints Paul Hauffe
• Journalist Claire Lane joins IPB Communications
• BBC commissions Apparitions from Lime for longer series
  
• October North wins BBC3 and Sky One commissions
• Production work for 08 launch earns national aclaim
• Jewish Film Festival expands its  programme  in Manchester and Liverpool 
• Mediaburst launches Kellogg's mobile marketing campaign
  
• Manchester's website voted local govt website in the UK
  
• Karen Gee made redundant as Shearings streamlines board
• MEN appoints Adlink to sell across its 23 websites
• Rick Houghton jumps from Rock FM to Juice FM
• Anisha Shah launches Asian show for BBC Stoke
• O'Brien's tirade forms basis of CityTalk launch ad campaign
• Clear Channel sells  outdoor benefits of Liverpool 08 
• 02 to 2ergo
  
• Dreamscape to give CTC treatment online
• Fluid recruits Davies and flows into new offices
• Euro RSG Riley wins £350k pa Barnsley MBC task
• Steve Bruce to phone 10,000 Wigan fans
• Funnel blasts off with Futuretrack viral
• Two join Momentum to handle Cereal Partners contract
  
• Porter resolute on 'no discount' Crain's advertising stance
• Big Spark targets millionaire Merseysiders with new title Waterfront 
• BBC's Thompson committed to regions going forward
  
• Regional Attraction Fund grant deadline approaches
• Further awards honour Tony Wilson's memory
• Duncalf moves up at Cosgrove Hall
• Murch moves from Granada to Blakeway North
• Latitude takes on Remuzzi to stay 'front of mind'
• Uniform releases first phase of new Everyman Theatre campaign
• IF grows with Whiteley and Davies
• YoYo picks up funding and kudos from NVM
• Brian Paige turns new leaf at UTV Radio
• Xfm looks to prompt Cloverfield exodus
• UCLan to open £15m media factory
• Monarch Airlines lands on Tower Skyscraper 
• ScreenFX stays mum on 10 year contract
  
• Buchanan first woman on Manchester Digital board
• Halewood appoints Agency Called England to promote Tsingtao beer
  
• Co-op tasks Generate with sponsorship review
• Love founder Simpson launches Music design consultancy
• Fahy appointed deputy editor at Crain's
• Innes joins the Echo and Kelly the Chorley Guardian
• Ofcom awards three new regional community radio licences
• Roary the Racing Car wins second major series commissions
  
• Liverpool 08 guide sells out
• ReBlackpool launches its 'media darkroom'
  
• ACME celebrates 10 years with a party in Liverpool
• Rippleffect sees off international agencies to secure ColorMatrix website
  

Please address all comments and news to news@how-do.co.uk and events news/listings to diary@how-do.co.uk

Did you enjoy this article? Please share it!