Poacher turned gamekeeper?

Anyone who has been around the hyperlocal scene in the past 5 years or so will know that I have had a healthy disregard for press officers in local government. I’ve had many a good battle with with the more enlightened ones like the legendary Dan Slee, who has now escaped local government to work full time on Comms2point0. I’ve also had battles with the less enlightened press officers who think that their sole role within the council was to produce a nicely spun press release for the local paper. I guess this is why so many ex journalists were employed by local councils.

Anyway I digress.

After years of telling press officers that they should be embracing hyperlocal websites and working with them only to be told, but they are not the press, and then getting angry with them, I’ve done something.

I’ve changed sides,  I’ve become one of those people I used to argue with at unconferences.

I’ve become a press officer, albeit in a voluntary role, but a press officer non the less.

I’m actually proud to say that I’m the Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Macduff. It’s early days yet, I’m on probation, as all RNLI volunteers are, but I’m actually enjoying doing something a bit different with my web & social media skills. I’m a bit uncomfortable being on the other side of the fence but hey, you have to try different things in life.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen me posting a few pictures on there as I start to get the other volunteers used to the idea that we can photograph and post stuff as we go.

I’ve not spoken to any of the local press yet but I have made contact with local community groups & websites and I’ll be working with them to help promote the station.

If you are on Facebook then you can see the new station page here https://www.facebook.com/MacduffLifeboat, I’ll be exploring other social media channels over the coming months and hopefully doing some good with them.