View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 16, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 6:16pm

Maximum Impact 17.02.06

By Press Gazette

ACCORDING to the Met Police women are increasingly at risk when using unlicensed mini cabs. Seemingly there are greater numbers of such drivers and — in the London area alone — literally hundreds of women have been raped, sexually assaulted or attacked in the last year.

During the past year MCA together with Kerry Katona have helped two Warrington ladies, Andrea Winders and Tina Dutton, develop and establish their wonderful idea for an all-women taxi service — titled Pink Ladies — to help combat this ever growing problem.

The initial scheme, piloted in Warrington last summer, has quickly become a huge success with more than 5,000 members regularly using the service.

The local media played a tremendous part in the successful launch of Pink Ladies. The Warrington Guardian and local radio stations, including Century FM, quickly got things moving, to be followed by the Manchester Evening News, stating: "It’s all about peace of mind and safety," which itself then led to national women’s magazines highlighting the horrific statistics and real-life cases of bogus mini-cab driver incidents, while applauding the services provided by Pink Ladies.

Considering that not a single penny was spent on advertising, the coverage by the local media, aided and abetted by a vigorous PR campaign headed by local PR agency SKV, was truly phenomenal.

Pink Ladies launch in central London today, so you might well see one of their 15 bright pink taxis as of next week, and next on the list is Manchester, which will be going pink within the next two months.

TWO of the stories I hinted at in last week’s column came to fruition in the weekend papers.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

First there is the story of 18-year-old Corrie-Anne Holt; she was raped on holiday in Thailand and showed true bravery by waiving her anonymity to warn other travellers of the real dangers in Thailand.

We arranged interviews with the Mail on Sunday and GMTV showing that the police turned a blind eye and were more interested in shielding Thailand’s tourist image than catching the perpetrators of this horrendous crime.

Then there was the story of stunning Virgin air hostess Lauren Alcorn. She appeared in the Sunday Mirror revealing her five-year affair with Rio Ferdinand (below).

During the affair, said Lauren, he incessantly pursued her, had a penchant for spitting during sex, repeatedly called for phone sex prior to a game and snuck her into the England team hotels for passion, all of which might explain his apparent "laziness" on the pitch from time to time.

As the affair is now thankfully over, Rio should have an abundance of energy for the World Cup.

The final straw for Lauren? Rio — chivalrous as ever — after announcing his other girlfriend was pregnant then suggested Lauren should be happy to continue their relationship — which he did in the lewdest way imaginable.

Lauren politely declined the romantic offer leaving Rio standing there with his Ben Sherman pants around his ankles. Mills and Boon it ain’t but a fitting anti-climax to this affair.

The fee for this column is donated to the Rhys Daniels Trust

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network