Several PR consultants at PHA -- Media were caught up in the anti BNP demonstrations outside the BBC last night as they were due to attend Piers Morgan's latest show ‘Life Stories'.
Protestors had gathered in large numbers to express their anger that the BBC were allowing Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time -- effectively giving him a national platform to expound his party's right wing views.
About 300 police officers were deployed as numbers swelled with many people shouting ‘The BNP is the Nazi party -- smash the BNP'. TV crews from all the major TV news channels were presents and the choppers circled above trying to get shots of Nick Griffin leaving Television Centre.
PHA's media team of trained journalists managed to speak to a number of protestors, many of whom were students, about the demonstration. One lady who was too afraid to give her name said ‘One of the reasons I'm concerned is that Nick Griffin is being given an opportunity to hide the uglier side of his party and come across as plausible and persuasive. If the programme results in a surge of support for the BNP the panel will have blood on their hands"
As the protest intensified it soon became clear that it was going to be impossible to see Piers Morgan's show. Thankfully the PHA team weren't caught up in any violence and left White City without any major incident.
Conversely the protest itself generated a huge amount of publicity for the BNP, with images being picked up by most of the national newspapers and TV news channels.
PHA PR Consultant David Brookes said ‘It's difficult to know what impact this event will have on the support of the BNP and it will very much depends on Nick Griffin's performance tonight. What is clear though is that for the next few days this is going to be a huge talking point.... I hope the BBC have a solid crisis management team on standby'.

Keywords: PR consultants

About the Author
Katie Matthews, London W1D 3TH United Kingdom
phamedia@gmail.com
Learn more about PR consultants
Katie Matthews is working in a public relations company in UK and recommends you to visit http://www.pha-media.com/ for more information on reputation management.

This article has been viewed 8 time(s).