Demo Press Coverage Summary
As a result of the feedback that we have received from our interim review of the Admission: Impossible campaign, we have published a short summary of the press coverage that was generated as a result of the National Demo on Sunday 29 October.
A number of respondents to our evaluation survey rated the demo press coverage we received as poor or very poor, despite our internal evaluation of the media coverage being very positive and exceeding our own expectations.
Our expectations were based on the fact that there was no obvious 'hook' for a story i.e. the demonstration wasn't aimed at influencing a topical activity like a vote or debate in the House of Commons. The last comparable demonstration was held in 2003 - in the middle of the debate around top-up fees when there was still legislation to influence. There was also no new news or announcement around the time of the event to which the demo could be 'attached'. NUS countered this by commissioning an opinion poll that in turn generated additional news.
Prior to the Demo:
Radio 5 Live- approximately 10 mentions throughout our comment on debt from release of first UCAS figures to demo itself
BBC on Monday (news at 10) – in October we were asked to give comment for a report on student’s views on the introduction of the new system. Direct plus of the demo was included.
Education Guardian – Diary piece on the demo 20th September coinciding with Liberal Democrats conference.
Education Guardian - Piece on campaigns launch –7th September
Telegraph podcast on student debt - direct plug for demo- available from mid September on-line.
BBC Breakfast – Sept 15th- interview with Wes Streeting at length.
Education Guardian- ‘Russell Group says rise in fees is inevitable’
Socialist worker – various pieces on-line early October
BBC Radio Merseyside – Interview with sabbatical officers at Liv John Moore’s who gave a direct plug.
ON or immediately after the demo:
WIRES:
PA and PATV
Reuters
AP
Getty images
AFP images
RADIO:
Radio 5 Live: Breakfast, Weekend News (Evening programme)
X-Fm bulletins
BBC London Radio bulletins throughout the day and interview on breakfast
BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat
Radio 4
LBC- Nick Ferrari weekend breakfast show
Various regional BBC and commercial stations
Sky Radio News
IRN
TV:
BBC News 24: Gemma pre conference, Malet St with case studies, 4 interviews in Trafalgar Square throughout rally
Sky News : Breakfast (Pre-record on Friday) Live every hour 1,2, 3,4pm and Evening News programme
London Tonight
ITV
BBC 1 – Lunch time and Evening News
Politics Show- with Brian Duggan (Warwick Uni President)
PRINT:
Observer
Metro
Sun
Guardian- photo and online story from the wires
Independent
Times- paper and on-line
Scotsman
ON-LINE:
BBC News- Education section- 2 pieces
Various local news websites
Gemma comment piece for Times on line
Most broadcast also available to view on-line.
Also several threads continued to debate the funding of higher education.
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