BRISTOL MEDIA January 2010 Board Meeting – Chair’s Notes

Board Meeting held on 14th January 2010 at Goldbrick House

Governance and Member Involvement

As Chair, Paul has drafted an outline to governance and this was discussed. It was agreed that there would be an Annual Members Meeting in October at which we would report back on our activity and members could put questions to the Board. There will also be ‘Chair’s Notes’ from the Board Meetings posted on the website. (You are reading the first set!)

It was also agreed that whilst we would not invite Observers to attend Board meetings regularly, we would invite potential collaborators to provide the Board with a briefing on their activities, e.g. Anne Scorer to discuss the BBC Anchor Project.

Financial Update

The accounts to end of December and also a P&L to end of March were presented, based on known activity and estimated income. We’re working on the accounts to end of March 09 for the Inland Revenue when we will be clearer about our Corporation Tax position. This will be payable now that we are trading. CICs are not exempt as we do not have charitable status.

Activity Update

Talent Retention is due to launch on Monday 21st January although the first round table dinner will take place for the PR sector on Tuesday 19th January. A Digital event is booked for 25th January and TV Sector event for 8th February.

Marketing Forum. This has been postponed until late April due to the workload for the Karren Brady Leadership and Management event on 2nd March. We’ll discuss with The Drum the possibility of them partnering with us to deliver the Marketing Forum.

Leadership & Management event. We have secured Karren Brady as the speaker for this first event and are working with Business Link on a set of 3 follow up workshops

Training Survey. Meeting with Oakleigh Wood to discuss the final analysis is booked for 2pm on Friday 5th February at E3

Skillset Multiplatform Courses. Places are slowly being taken up. Shooting for the Web is now fully booked.

Online Showcase. The first 100 companies to sign up to membership are to be included in the Showcase for free. Tech Specs are being sent out and this should go live in the next two weeks. Subsequent companies wishing to feature in the Showcase will be charged.

Top 100. The survey will go live on 25th Feb for six weeks. Production will then follow for six weeks leading up to distribution of the publication at end of May.

Photography Group: The AOP event takes place at Paintworks on Thursday 4th March. Imagist is sponsoring the event and Oakwood are to design an e-invite. This will be sent to all Creative Directors

TV: First Steering Group meeting held at end of 2009. We’re putting together a calendar of events for Spring. It may be necessary to take on someone to manage some of these events.

We can also get involved in a 3 day BBC/Anchor event at end of March. Next Steering Group Meeting to take place on Thursday 21st January.

Animation: We’ve started talking to Encounters Film Festival about re-introducing an Animation element and the Board members who sit on both can feed back. We’re also speaking with Skillset and other bodies to raise sponsorship to allow us to have a presence at the major animation festivals. We should also let the membership know that we are able to lobby on their behalf.

Digital: It was decided that the role of Sub Sector Chair should be opened up to the membership. Mike to draft an Expressions of Interest document, and send out to potentially interested parties.

PR/Publishing/Journalism: This included Bristol Media led initiatives such as a Digital PR Conference in September, a Round Table event for Agency and In House Department Heads (May) and a Careers event in June for those looking to cross over or break into the sector. There’s also potential in collaborative events with trade partners to avoid duplication. Bristol Media should also have a bigger presence at the SW Communicators Conference in October.

AOB : We’re leading a ‘Core Conversation’ at this year’s SXSW Festival in Texas in March and are waiting for confirmation on the other Bristol companies who will present this event with Mike. Also going to SXSW are Rubberductions and Clare Reddington.