News
Festival helps businesses to share their news as focus switches to media’s role
The role of the media was in focus on day seven of the Black Country Business Festival.
The Express & Star, which last week was heavily involved in Local Newspaper Week, has a commitment to supporting business across the area.
The newspaper yesterday hosted Content is Key, a special event aimed at helping businesses to share their news.
It included presentations from Business Editor John Corser, MNA Digital digital sales campaign manager Natalie Coughlan and Star PR agency director Sundeep Sehijpal.
The event offered insights into how businesses of all sizes can get improved coverage in print and digitally.
In total, 15 businesses were represented at the event, held at the Express & Star in Wolverhampton.
The delegates attending included representatives of the Black Country Consortium, KMB Shipping, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Wrekin Housing Trust and Thornes Solicitors.
The event was organised by the marketing team, including group marketing services manager Lee Young and marketing executive Gerda Jonaviciute.
Opening the morning on behalf of MNA Digital, Natalie’s presentation covered advice on how to optimise digital content to meet business objectives.
Covering PR opportunities, Sundeep then explained to delegates how to identify a newsworthy story, how to illustrate it with photos and how to distribute the content.
John then drew upon his 40 years of experience by outlining the kinds of stories which get coverage in the MNA business editorial pages, as well as the best ways of making him aware of news.
The delegates fielded a range of questions to the speakers to get their advice.
As well as offering networking opportunities in the boardroom throughout the morning, the MNA event ended with a tour of the newsroom, led by John Corser.
The guests also had the chance to see the digital operation in action, which was well received by Wrekin Housing Trust Ed Thomas.
Ed tweeted: “Great hearing about video, podcasting and social media all with interaction from sports fans and the public from @njudah_star.
“Thanks @JohnCorser_Star for the tour of the newsroom and the @ExpressandStar digital team for putting up with us disrupting them for 10mins.”
Wolverhampton Racecourse also hosted the business festival race day yesterday afternoon.
The scope of Dudley’s multi-million investment opportunities was profiled at an event held at Dudley College. It was aimed at business leaders, developers and investors.
Alan Lunt, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: “As an authority we are forging a future for Dudley borough and creating a place where businesses thrive and people want to work, live and visit.”
Today sees the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Expo which is taking place at GTG West Midlands in Wednesfield.
Tomorrow there are 15 more events taking place across the Black Country with the racecourse again at the heart of activity as it hosts the Black Country Environment Challenge with the EnTRESS (Environmental Technologies and Resource Efficiency Support Scheme) project at the University of Wolverhampton from 1pm to 4.30pm.
Small and medium-sized businesses will be exhibiting their innovative green solutions to environmental challenges the racecourse has identified.
Walsall Football Club is the venue for the Sovereign Expo.
The festival continues until Friday.
Places are still available at some of the remaining free events at www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com
