Eye of the Storm

Since being at ON I’ve worked on several projects and stories for which we’ve secured coverage that can only be described as stratospheric. Since being at ON I’ve worked on several projects and stories for which we’ve secured coverage that can only be described as stratospheric. By this I mean these stories dominated the day’s news agenda across the country and had our phones ringing off the hook with journalists and producers desperate to bag an interview – a fantastic position for any PR to be in.

For me, this has never happened quite so intensely as when I recently found myself at the centre of a huge political story and being the go-to person for an interview with an MP that, by midday, everyone wanted a piece of. Within hours, my well laid-out broadcast schedule went flying out the window and ‘adhoc’ became the name of the game as I stood on College Green taking one media phone call after another.

To be clear, I wasn’t completely unprepared for this. I’d been forewarned of the impending political announcement and its possible impact my schedule earlier that morning and I personally thrive when charged with organising this kind of chaotic success… but let’s say I had perhaps underestimated just how much more popular my story and my MP would suddenly become.

We stepped out of 4 Millbank after a great interview with Sky News… and straight into a waiting crowd of reporters. ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and handful of random press photographers, all pointing their cameras our way, trying to introduce themselves and get their shot. I realised right then that I was really going to regret forgetting my phone charger that day.

I did my best to absorb the media frenzy and turn it into as many coverage opportunities as possible in something that resembled ‘an orderly fashion’. We jumped from one interview to another for hours. It. Was. Crazy. A long day largely fuelled by coffee and adrenaline but not one I’m likely to forget anytime soon!

When I finally had a moment to pause and take stock, I realised I had quite literally been in the eye of the day’s Brexit storm and, amazingly, came out on top if a little mentally exhausted. There was barely a broadcaster in the country that hadn’t taken an interview with my guest – and even less that hadn’t covered my client’s story at all and I am unbelievably pleased with that.

I may never get the chance to be that close to British politics again, but what a dalliance it was. I can proudly say I’ve been there, done that – and my phone battery even managed to survive the day too!

Amy Louise Stone
@amylouisestone