by Lisa Devaney | 5 Aug, 2014 | News
The summer holidays are among us, and if you’re looking for a super-cool technology exhibition interesting for parents and kids – Barbican’s Digital Revolution is the one!
Located inside the Barbican Centre, Digital Revolution is a must-see technology exhibit that celebrates past, present and future gadgets.
Upon entering you’re greeted with a blast from the past of all things electronic, anything from Nintendo’s First Generation Gameboy to the first Apple computer.
As visitors continue to move through the exhibition, they are sent on a journey through time and advanced technology.
Barbican’s Digital Revolution is an interactive exhibit, and promises to keep you entertained. Visitors can play PacMan, Playstation’s 1st Generation, and use their bodies to form shadow-computer generated imagery.
Hai Media Group’s personal favourite has to be Will.i.am’s music installation #pyramidi. Pyramidi is described as the ‘future of music’.
The Projection Mapping Visual Art Show is made up of three robotic pyramids that listens to a piece of music, and plays it back in unison. Will chose “Dreaming Of The Future” – a song that he produced – to showcase Pyramidi’s best features.
Another project that featured in Barbican’s Digital Revolution is Will.i.am’s i.am.Angel Foundation showcase (a charity that specialises in supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds). Students presented gadgets which they created as part of the programme.
If you’d like to attend Digital Revolution, you’ve got to be quick as it concludes on 14th September
RATING: 5*
PRICES: £12.50 (standard), £8.75 (yellow membership), £8.50 (students), £10.50 (unemployed), £10.50 (senior), £5.00 (child 5-12y/o), £8.50 (young person 12-17y/o)
– Miamii Mansour
by Lisa Devaney | 30 Jul, 2014 | News
As fans of all things DIY PR, when we came we came across an amazing DIY PR story from Taiwan, we decided to share it with you here.
We’ve gotten to know Dan Bloom who is an American climate activist and journalist living in Taiwan. He’s best known as being the inventor of a new literary genre called cli-fi, a kind of sub-genre of sci-fi that defines literature and film that includes climate change in the storyline.
Dan Bloom
The self-confessed “envisionary futurist” graduated from Tufts University in 1971, where he went on to serve as the acting editor of the non-profit Polar Cities Research Institute. He has no formal training in PR, nor does he claim to be any kind of PR genius, but somehow he is making the world pay attention to cli-fi.
Even though Dan has no computer in his home, he has managed to win headline’s in the world’s leading media outlets about cli-fi. A guest article he did was recently featured in the Washington Post. Cli-fi has also been featured in US Wired, NPR, The Guardian, The Huffington Post and many more outlets since Dan first coined the phrase cli-fi back in 2007. Just this week he was included in a story about cli-fi in The New York Times.
So how does he do it? Well, we caught up with Dan by email, where he was writing to us from a smoke-filled café in Taiwan. Here’s our conversation with him:
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Firstly, for those who don’t know, what is cli-fi, and how did it come about?
DB: Cli-fi is a new literary genre term first of all, and secondly a new literary genre, too. So it is both a term and a genre. It came about after I spent many months trying to find a way to get past the daily political debates about climate change and global warming, all statistics and scientists and leftwing rightwing people screaming at each other. I thought that maybe a better way to convey the dangers future generations will face in terms of the coming Climapocalyopse — not now but in 500 years or so — would be to create a platform for writers and screenwriters to use for novels and movies. So I set it up.
You were featured in an article published in Washington Post, that’s a pretty big deal! How did that happen?
DB: I read that the Post had a new section online called PostEverything where writers could submit commentaries on just about anything, so I queried the editors there and they said I could send my piece in on spec. And they used it.
You’ve also secured coverage for cli-fi in Wired US, NPR, The Huffington Post and many other outlets. These are amazing wins for any PR professional, what are tips you can share with those doing their own PR?
DB: Just as in retail the key to success lies in three words “location, location, location” so too does PR have an important rule which is this: “never give up, never give up, never give up.” And don’t take no for an answer.
Every genius has a strategy, what’s yours?
DB: I am not a genius. I am not even a professional PR person. I practice what I call guerrilla PR, street PR, sidewalk PR, never give up PR. I also had Lady Luck in my corner. Without Lady Luck egging me on, we wouldn’t be talking here. I owe everything to three things on this cli-fi PR campaign: Lady Luck, friends in the right places and an Internet that connects us all. In the old world pre-internet, I would still be at the starting line. The Internet made this possible.
Can you tell us more about your DIY PR tactics and strategy and how you are making this all happen with no computer, and just working out of a smoke filled café in Taiwan?
DB: I don’t really have an office or a game plan. I just wake up every morning and start emailing anyone I think might be able to help cli-fi find the right media placement. And I get up the next day and repeat the process. Because this work is important to me and for future generations, I have been doing this PR work daily Monday to Sunday, without one day off in 8 years. No vacations or anything. I just feel strongly about the emergence of the cli-fi genre, and this is not “work“ for me. This daily crusade is my vacation. It is relaxing and rewarding beyond words or payment. I don’t get paid for this. That is another reason I have been successful. This has never been about me or fame or money. This is about the most crucial existential time period we humans have ever faced. I am just a foot soldier in a large army of climate fighters. I feel honored to be part of something much larger than myself, and much bigger than a mere brand or product placement campaign. This is the fight of our lives now, and for our descendants in the future, if there are to be any.
Aside from creating literary genres, what other jobs do you do?
DB: This is all I do now, 24/7/365. I wake up every morning energized and ready to go. I am never tired. I have not taken one day off in 8 years. There is nothing else I want to do.
Is there anything more you’d like to share with us about cli-fi, DIY PR, life in Taiwan, the future of our planet Earth, or anything else that readers of this piece might find of interest?
DB: Fighting climate change problems and global warming impact events is now the job of every human being on Earth. But I am not a preacher, and everyone has to find his or her own way to joining the fight, either in small ways or large ways. And the last thing I’d like to add is this: the word Earth should have a capital E every tine it appears in a British or American newspaper or website. Many news outlets still write it in lowercase as “earth” but it is our Earth and it is home planet and deserves a capital E, even in The Guardian and New York Times. I recently asked Diane Ackerman the nature writer in New York about this and she emailed me in reply: Yes, we should always capitalize Earth in our newspapers and magazines.”
Are you working on any new PR campaigns connected to your cli-fi work?
DB: Yes, I am currently setting up a YouTube campaign called “Tell Your Climate Fears at #CLIFI YouTube hashtag videos.” I am asking teens and college students and of course adults worldwide, both cli-fi writers and cli-fi readers and also just young people who are concerned about the climate issues we face to post a short 1 to 3 minute video with the #CLIFI hashtag in the title of the video and to post it on YouTube or send it to me for me to post on my channel ”MrDanBloom’‘..and to tell their personal feelings about the possible Climapocalypse we face in the future, not now, but in the coming next 30 generations or so. So this is a chance for young people to make their feelings and voices heard about climate issues even if they never heard of cli-fi before.
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Thanks Dan, and yes we love our Earth! And if you want to follow the conversation about cli-fi look for the hashtag #clifi.
By: Miamii Mansour and Lisa Devaney
by Lisa Devaney | 3 Jul, 2014 | London Technology Week
We rocked up to The Start-Up Europe Roadshow on Google Campus during London Technology Week (16-20 June 2014) to check out a few of the amazing tech startups and entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses.
Kicking off with a presentation by Lord Graffham, who’s worked tirelessly with the government to create more jobs for young-people, we heard about his ‘FIVER’ initiative to give children aged 6-8 a £5 note to help start up a business.
Although this sounds crazy, it’s a very clever idea. ‘FIVER’ teaches children about the business industry, whereby they’ll obtain the skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs of the future.
Lord Graffham’s initiative went down well with the audience, who said that they felt “inspired” by it. During his speech, Lord Graffham also reminded the audience that ‘attitude is key’. He told the crowd:
“Only you can help you, if you don’t have the right attitude, we can’t help you,” he said. He also shared some of the Government’s visions for 2020, including: ‘to see 200,000 people self-employed’.
“There’s never been a better time to work for yourself than now. With all these technologies, we can do anything,” he concluded.
During the roadshow, 12 entrepreneurs and founders of tech-startup companies took to the stage to talk about their project, and we picked three to tell you about.
1) Calypso Harland & The Developer Lab
Calypso Harland told us about The Developer Lab, the second largest open device lab in England, founded in September 2013.
DevLab is a firm that provides access to the latest devices and intelligent testing solutions. It works in partnership with UCL DECIDE (a user-experience and user-testing initiative) by University College London (UCL), one of the top 5 Universities in the world. Situated at IDEALondon, Shoreditch – DevLab is about to launch a device leasing programme so you can get the devices you need delivered to your door.
Calypso began by mentioning the growth in technology and how DevLab has embraced it: “when DevLab started, we just provided mobiles and tablets, but now we’ve expanded, providing access to beacons and wearable technology too.”
2) Valerie Mocker of NESTA
Valerie Mocker told us about NESTA (an innovation charity) and shared three of the organization’s most successful case studies.
She mentioned Chris Thorpe, former CTO of Mind Candy (Moshi Monsters), and founder of ‘I Can Make’ as a great case study.
‘I Can Make’ is an upcoming firm that will provide children and adults with ‘fun and educational’ 3D printing kits.
Mocker mentioned that although the firm has yet to launch, she’s certain that Thorpe will maintain his successful business streak, bringing together all that he’s learned from working at Mind Candy.
She finished by praising Chris on his ability to form a great team, and said: “the secret to a great company is the team behind it.”
3) Ian Clifford, the founder of YouRock.jobs
Clifford told us about his successful social-network, yourock.jobs.. His social-network (job-site) aims to get young people into jobs based on their skills as opposed to experience.
YouRock.jobs works with employers across Europe, and doesn’t create a language barrier. So, if a someone uploads their CV in English, it can then be translated and read by a French employer.
Clifford said that young people are easily disheartened when they enter into the vicious work cycle that is: ‘in order to get a job you need experience, in order to get experience you need a job’.
Since he began crowdfunding in September 2013, his website has gained more than £12,000.
Of his social-network he said: “I want young people to look in the mirror and say – ‘I ROCK!’”
-This post is by Hai Media Group’s 2014 Summer Intern Miamii Mansour.
by Lisa Devaney | 25 Jun, 2014 | News
Hi there, I’m Miamii Mansour, the new summer 2014 intern for Hai Media Group!
Miamii Mansour
I’m a broadcast journalism graduate with a passion for all things technology. You might think it’s funny that I studied ‘broadcast’ journalism, and am now working in public relations, but I want to experience all aspects of career opportunities in media. I think you’ve got to test it all out to see what suits you.
Aside from studying, I’ve also interned at some well-known publications, including Closer and T3. Two completely different magazines! One specialises in celebrity gossip, while the other focuses on tech.
When I’m not interning at awesome publications, I’m writing relentlessly for my own blog (www.lifechangingtechnology.co.uk). Yes, the URL is long – but that’s because it started as an assignment for university, and has since turned into a blog that brings 250 unique users per day.
Don’t worry; I’ve also got some marketing experience. I volunteer at the Princess Diana Award (a charity that helps young people deal with bullying). My job there entails calling schools, and media corporations to promote their Anti-Bullying Training Programme.
I dedicate my first post to Lisa Devaney. Thank you for choosing me as the final candidate, and it’s an absolute honour to work for Hai Media Group!
Working at Hai Media Group is a big stepping-stone for me. During my summer here I look forward to meeting new people, working alongside some first-class clients as well as gaining some pretty amazing skills from Lisa.
I’m really looking forward to this internship!
And, by the way, you can connect with me on Twitter: @_Miamii_
You can also find me on G+ here.
-MM
by Lisa Devaney | 27 May, 2014 | News
We are looking for an intern to work alongside Hai Media Group’s founder and Director Lisa Devaney this summer.
Hai Media GroupDevaney this summer.
Our intern will get stuck in with the world of PR for tech startups in London’s Tech City. With Devaney’s tutoring, our intern will gain insight to setting up and running campaigns, using social media for B2B, conducting media relations, and more.
Let Summer 2014 ROCK for your career and get in touch. Previous interns have gone on to secure excellent positions in the field of public relations and social media.
Please send a CV, or link to your video CV to: lisa@haimediagroup.com
What are we looking for?
INTEREST
- Interest in public relations and social media. Desire to pursue a career in this field.
- Interest in creative agency work where you will need to juggle a variety of clients and projects.
- Interest in the tech startup industry of London’s Tech City.
EXPERIENCE
- You have basic knowledge and are using social and online media appropriately, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube, Quora, Tumblr…and more!
- You know how to blog, and how to use WordPress.
- You have a good sense of the media landscape for technology outlets and you know the top trends happening in technology.
- You will have interest in books, ebooks and the process of self-publishing.
REQUIREMENTS
- This is a part-time/flex role looking for you to work remotely from 1-3 hours each weekday.
- You will need access to your own laptop and phone.
- There will be occasional networking events to attend in London.
This internship will be very hands-on and you will not just be answering phones or making coffee. You will leave this internship with the experience and references you need to seek out a fulltime role.
