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PUBLIC RELATIONS
Monday 1st March 2021

Champions of our times deserve all the best in PR

By James Knight.

Through all the negative PR that we have seen during the pandemic, there have been some glorious winners, people we can respect who deserve every inch of print and media coverage.

I pay tribute to our great NHS that has excelled beyond its means, from doctors, nurses and all staff, they have worked in situations we cannot imagine, no doubt they saved us.

Scientists and Research people have proved how good Britain is with developing the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine in a short period of time, a marvellous achievement.

There have been people who have shown a wonderful spirit of achievement.

Most certainly a very unique man, the late Sir Tom Moore, who deserves a statue for his wonderful fund raising, started off with the target of £1,000 and finishes up with £38.9 million, just remarkable. A man of courage, reliance who captured our hearts, not only in Britain but worldwide, with his daughter Hannah by his side.

Now a man years ahead of his age: Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. With all his football fame he never turned his back on his roots, delivering food parcels, and campaigning to convincing the Government of the benefit of free school meals. A great icon for the young.

Jon Van Tam, known as JVT MBE, somebody who was a sheer inspiration of being able to communicate to the public with his often off the wall examples relating life to medical terminology. He spoke about the vaccines in a way we could understand, and would be a great guy to enjoy a pint with - a breath of fresh air.

Originally, I was not a fan of Chris Whitty. I was proven wrong. A man who could speak with authority through the Covid days who brought expert knowledge of Covid to the masses, alongside politicians who never communicated a clearly.

Another person who I thought was magnificent was Clive Myrie. His coverage for BBC News over five nights of The Royal London Hospital, a hospital with over two-thirds of wards allocated to Covid wards. Myrie showed the public the pressure staff were under how the overwhelmed ICU Covid wards were working, great reporting,

There are many more people who deserve praise from all walks of life who deserve the best of PR, great tribute to all of you.

Professor James Knight is an international businessman, public relations practitioners and academic. He was Fellow of Bournemouth University Public Relations School, guest speaker at Judge Cambridge, Surrey, Bath and Reading, International Mentor for Oxford Brookes on Hospitality. He is a Fellow of CIPR and the Society of Public Relations of America, as well as a fellow of the Institute of Directors. He sat for two years on one of Britain leading Cardiology Committees at Barts and is an Ambassador for Barts.