Bristol Agency Makes National Headlines With Afghan Charity Launch

Oct. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- Bristol-based public relations agency, Empica was chosen for the national media launch of Afghan Heroes, which provides support for families of British troops who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Afghan Heroes was launched at Redwood Lodge, Failand, Bristol with seven mothers, whose sons died in July, facing the national media. The event was live on BBC News 24 and was covered on television, radio and in every national newspaper.

Martin Powell, managing director of Empica, said: “With such a topical subject we felt it was right to launch with a press conference. It is rare these days for press calls of that type to be held, except in a crisis situation.

“Of course the national media questioned why it was being held in Bristol rather than London but it was better for the mums involved to gather at a hotel in the countryside near Bristol. Bristol is a major media centre as demonstrated by the fact that we had six television crews and representatives of all the national media, as well as the regional press.”

Empica, based in Long Ashton, has a team experienced in dealing with the media for clients, who range from national names to local businesses. Last year Empica was called in by the Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare to handle the worldwide media interest following the devastating fire.

Coverage of the launch included a centre spread article in The Sun, and was followed up by live interviews into Radio 4’s Today Programme and key media, such as British Forces Broadcasting Service programmes.

Empica received enquiries from Brazil and Finland following the launch and a regional campaign was successfully implemented in each of the home areas of the mothers who have formed the charity.


Said Martin Powell: “We are a non-specialist agency making headlines every day for clients as diverse as restaurants to commercial property agents. We have two other national charities – British Wireless for the Blind Fund and LAM – that we also act for.  We take just as much care and pride and use the same techniques in promoting a small local business as we do in the major stories.”

Empica, formerly Martin Powell Communications, has its head office at Long Ashton, Bristol with a satellite office in London.

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Empica delivers measurable publicity using straight-forward and effective PR methods with creativity and professional insight. http://www.empica.co.uk