Mickord.com Ltd

19/04/2025

Earlier this week on Tuesday 15th April, the Hillsborough disaster was commemorated on Merseyside and beyond as it has been every year in one form or another since the tragedy in the city of Liverpool and the surrounding area.

Here's an article I wrote in 2013 when I was working for the BBC in Salford, a year after leaving Radio Merseyside where I'd worked for more than 20 years, starting off as a reporter in the 80's and later becoming manager.

It was a real privilege to work at the station particularly during that tragic time when so many people's lives were devastated and yet real justice wasn't, and many would argue, including me, still hasn't been achieved.

I didn't want to republish this on the anniversary of the disaster as I feel the thoughts and feelings of the bereaved and those still fighting for justice should take precedence.

But looking back at this article I couldn't help but wonder how the media - particularly local media (what's left of it) - would respond to a similar tragedy nowadays?

Having thought about this quite a bit over the past few days, I'm still not sure and let's hope we don't have to find out.

Once thing for sure, parts of social media would become a toxic cesspit, as indeed sections of the press were back in the day.

Back in 1989, local media - newspapers, radio, regional tv - played a huge and positive role that was taken for granted by audiences and quite rightly so ; it was why we were there - to give ordinary people a voice.

For many people of faith this time of year is a time of reflection so it feels appropriate to look at the role of the media then - it might help us to navigate what's happening now and in the future.

The article's title is "Hillsborough - A View from 1989".

https://www.mickord.com/hillsborough-a-view-from-1989/

01/04/2025

Whenever April 1st comes around, I always think back to a famous incident which happened at BBC Radio Merseyside in the seventies - long before I joined - which made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

On the 1st of April 1977, popular radio presenter Billy Butler – a lifelong Everton fan – decided to announce live on air that 15 fire engines were fighting a massive blaze at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium.

The Liverpool Echo reported that “the emergency services were in panic, the Radio Merseyside switchboard was jammed and thousands of people were jumping in their cars and heading to Anfield.”

The station received complaints from Liverpool FC and Merseyside Fire Brigade, and Billy was “rapped over the knuckles”, according to the Echo.

"We only did that for two records before I rescinded it and said it wasn't the ground, it was footballer Tommy Smith's shorts, but it looked like the ground was on fire.

"Anyway, we found out all the fire engines and hundreds of people went to Anfield. The ECHO's headline was "What a Silly Billy!"

It doesn’t even bear thinking about what would happen to Billy in 2025 but suffice to say the impact would be far greater than a few knuckles getting “rapped”.

The American investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett (net worth $164.2 billion – Forbes) famously said “It takes years to build a reputation and five minutes to destroy it.

If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

As for Billy, he's certainly no fool.

He survived the prank and went to have cracking career in radio and is still broadcasting to an appreciative audience today.

But if you don’t want your organisation to end up a fool in April or any month just have a think about the last time your senior team or CEO had some crisis communications and media training and if you think we might be able to help you, give us a shout.

22/01/2025

In media training and crisis communications in particular, staying calm under pressure is essential to managing narratives and protecting reputations. The ability to remain composed during high-stakes situations ensures clear messaging, credibility, and the opportunity to control the story.

Remaining authoritative during high-stakes situations ensures clear messaging, credibility and the opportunity to control the story.

Click here to read my Six Top Tips to achieve calmness when the pressure is on - https://www.mickord.com/media-training-keeping-calm-under-pressure/

10/12/2024

“Turn poison into medicine.
Take whatever situation you have and make something constructive happen with it.
That’s what I learned from that situation with Miles.”

Quote by jazz musician Herbie Hancock on working with the legendary Miles Davis.

It's a comment that resonates with media training.

A well-placed misstep or a poorly handled comment can send even the most carefully crafted reputation into a tailspin as Gregg Wallace discovered when he made that ill-considered remark about ” a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” complaining about his alleged inappropriate comments and behaviour while filming “Celebrity Masterchef”.

Click below to read the rest of the blog.

https://www.mickord.com/poison-into-medicine-the-power-of-crisis-communications-training/

27/09/2024

Episode 53 of the Baltic Triangle podcast features the global logistics company Publiship. Their HQ is in Liverpool and they're responsible for importing 60% of the UK's books...who knew?

We've also been meeting William Dixon from My Licenced Breeder who are championing ethical practices among the breeder community and puppy buyers using education and technology.

The Baltic Triangle podcast with Mark Reeson and Mick Ord -- hearing from the REAL movers & shakers in the Liverpool City Region.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5QzkGpqbN26r5PmWOVTZ3n?si=5c854df6597c4f34

02/08/2024

Media training with Black Swans?

We'll put you through your paces with our intensive but supportive media training workshops.

Whether your a blue chip company, a housing association, a local authority or a small business.

Our workshops are certainly challenging but great fun.

(Just watch out for the Black Swans.)

https://www.mickord.com/media-training-with-black-swans/

17/07/2024

In episode 52 of the Baltic Triangle podcast we hear from two inspirational service-providers in the Liverpool City Region.

We visit the Bootle Tool Shed, a community workshop that brings men together to work on DIY projects from woodworking to cycle repair and helps to tackle the problem of loneliness and isolation among males into the bargain.

The project, led by Eddy Flynn, is 100% staffed by volunteers and it's part of a global network that more of us should know about.

EdenFiftyOne is the brainchild of Liverpool-based former teacher Tom Reynolds.

It's a multi-award winning edtech platform that encapsulates his unique approach to the teaching of English to improve reading, writing and listening skills - raising standards and outcomes for children and teachers alike.

You can hear from the REAL movers and shakers in our region like Tom and Eddy every month in the Baltic Triangle podcast.

Enjoy.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/16bA5OvERXqQelksFCU7qt?si=2d2f09a807914aef

07/07/2024

Most of my work involves creating Media Training workshops for companies, housing associations or local authorities focusing on Crisis Communications training.

But more recently I've been working with bioscience PhD students from Liverpool John Moores University on our Introduction to Podcasting course.

They came out with a cracking idea for a podcast (watch this space) and also the media training workshop with flying colours.

Initially, nobody likes the sound of their own voice or how they look on camera but once people get over the initial reticence they inevitably improve and gain more confidence which they can carry on into public speaking as well as media work.

27/06/2024

The increasing wealth divide in the UK and the extent of deep poverty have not really figured much in the current election campaign, so I was particularly keen to chair this Religion Media Centre briefing to try to redress the balance.

Speakers representing faith charities describe the “deep poverty” in society, with many families unable to find enough support to even afford the essentials.

There is some blue-sky thinking too, as some speakers argue that the current model of state support with charities picking up the pieces showed the system really had failed.

They say there is a need for a root-and-branch approach to social inequality.

It's a complex issue which defies simple solutions but unless it's tackled head-on, speakers feel things are unlikely to improve.

The cost of living is a top election issue, yet the increasing wealth divide and extent of poverty haven't really figured in election debates

19/05/2024

Albie Donnelly from Supercharge is our guest in the latest episode of the Misadventures in Music podcast with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord.

Albie's tales of music and madness are wonderful in a career that spanned six decades...and he's still going strong.

Enjoy.

Albie Donnelly, the maestro behind the sensational Supercharge, joins Ian Prowse and Mick Ord on the latest episode of Misadventures in Music

16/02/2024

The tables will be turned on me by none other than author and broadcaster Spencer Leigh in a fortnight at in Liverpool.

Tales from 20 yrs at the helm of BBC Radio Merseyside- the good, the bad & the horrific😂

Tickets here -see you there.
Bowl of too !





https://merseymade.uk/events/spencer-leigh-mick-ord-local-radio-talk/

06/02/2024

There is not a person reading this who hasn’t had a fashion disaster at some time.

Here’s one from my collection – by no means the worst.

Note the eighties curly perm, skinny neckie, horribly tight-fitting elasticated leggings and of course the black ‘Chinese slippers’.

All for a week’s walking holiday in Cornwall.

So what's this got to do with media training?

Click on the link below to read the rest of my blog on why media training for companies ISN'T going out of fashion.

Despite appearances to the contrary.

https://www.mickord.com/is-media-training-the-new-fashion/