Three of the North West’s best known journalists have set up a new PR company, including former BBC North West Tonight anchor and Krypton Factor host Gordon Burns.
He is joined by former Manchester Evening News editor Paul Horrocks and ex BBC North West chief Martin Brooks, and between them the trio boast more than a century of journalism experience.
Their new venture is called The Gordon Burns Partnership and will focus on ‘business communications, reputation management and behaviour-change campaigns in the public and private sector”.
Burns is a well-known figure in the North West following his 15-year stint at the BBC, when he picked up five Royal Television Society awards for best regional presenter along with the BBC Ruby Award for best regional presenter in the UK.
He began his career as a newspaper reporter in his home city with the Belfast Telegraph and later went on to work for Granada Television’s regional news and political programmes for 15 years.
“We each have a lifetime’s experience across television, print, radio and media management – and we know what the media requires and how to deliver.
“Our main objective is to provide campaigns and reputation protection. We also give advice on how to engage with the media.’
In a 30-year BBC career Martin Brooks headed two of their biggest regions – BBC North and BBC North West, and was part of the small development team that planned the moves of five key BBC departments and 1,500 staff from London to Salford.
He said: “MediaCity UK will generate many opportunities over the coming years and we can help companies to join that revolution and show them how to make the most of new challenges.”
Horrocks has been a journalist at the Manchester Evening News for more than 34 years, including 12 as editor-in-chief.
He is a former president of the UK Society of Editors and was also member of the Press Complaints Commission for four years.
Horrocks set up his own Bury-based PR firm Essential Communications after leaving the MEN.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
