MediaCast

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the PR and Marketing Specialist of Orange Sky

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Orange Sky is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free mobile laundry and shower services, and a space for genuine connection, for people experiencing homelessness and hardship across Australia and New Zealand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire MediaCast to accomplish?

• Secure national media coverage promoting one of our key peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives, The Sudsy Challenge
• Increase brand awareness for Orange Sky and The Sudsy Challenge through wide spread media coverage
• Encourage Sudsy Challenge participant registrations and donations raised through strategic and targeted media relations activity

SOLUTION

How did you find MediaCast?

Online Search

Why did you select MediaCast over others?

• Great culture fit
• Impressive proposal/pitch

How many teammates from MediaCast were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Campaign Objectives: 
  • Increase the number of teams and participants in The Sudsy Challenge.
  • Drive national exposure, understanding, and awareness for Orange Sky Australia, The Sudsy Challenge, and people experiencing homelessness and hardship.
  • Activate community participation in the challenge.

Scope of work and key deliverables of the PR Agency: 

• Campaign Planning/Kick-Off: 
  • Develop media strategy for The Sudsy Challenge campaign
  • Develop a media list and targeted pitch plan
  • Development of spokesperson interview briefing notes 
• Official Sudsy Challenge Launch & Recruitment Drive:
  • Collation of key research for media angles
  • Development of launch media release
  • Targeted outreach to general and trade media publications with campaign launch media materials 
  • Management of campaign launch media call
  • Media management
  • Securing and coordinating interviews, filming, and photoshoots 
• Influencer Research and List Development:
  • Development of potential high school teacher influencers to engage for targeted recruitment drive 
  • National PR Campaign Push Leveraging a Key Moment in Time
• Homelessness Week:
  • Management and coordination of consumer research survey
  • Creative development of survey questions for key data collection points to strengthen media hook
  • Scripting and testing survey
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Development of media release
  • National media outreach and coordination of all media interviews 
  • Development of Audio News 
  • Release interview brief and cue sheet 
  • Recording, editing, and distribution of Audio News 
  • Release to radio networks 
  • Management and scheduling of live and pre-recorded interviews 
• Project Management: 
  • Reporting on campaign metrics
  • Regular team meetings and delivery of ongoing strategic advice and tactics throughout the campaign period to maximize opportunities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Over the course of The Sudsy Challenge campaign, MediaCast secured 689 items of media coverage with a reach of over 63.8 million Australians. Media coverage was secured across TV, print, online, and radio, hitting national, metro, and local news outlets, helping to spread our message and brand far and wide.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

MediaCast is an incredible team to work with. They are creative and strategic thinkers, they are very responsive and flexible to their client's needs, and always deliver items on time.

What was your primary form of communication with MediaCast?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

At Orange Sky, we support some of the most vulnerable members of society. MediaCast was very quick to understand our brand, our values, how we operate, and the challenges we face in providing case studies and stories of the friends we support. 

They were always adapting and pivoting media angles and ideas to suit our needs to ensure we could still get media cut through whilst respecting the people we support. They took the time to really understand who we were as an organization and provide strategic and well-thought-out strategies to not only reach the KPIs but to exceed them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something MediaCast could have done differently?

No, they were brilliant.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Discover the Power of Touch, and I am an Author, Naturopath, Intuitive coach, Kinesiologist, and soft tissue specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast, and what were your goals?

Megan from MediaCast supported and worked with me on launching my poetry book for valentines day, my goal was to increase my reach within Australia and to increase book sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Reading the reviews on how MediaCast works so closely with their clients, with a step-by-step approach, making sure you understand each step while supporting your journey with them made this an easy choice.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

In my initial meeting, we discussed what my book was about how it came into being and who I would like to reach (audience-wise), and the message that came with it. Then Megan came back to me with a cue sheet that outlined my message in a succinct way, with timelines and my interview list. We also discussed any changes that I wanted or anything else I needed to include.

Megan also walked me through each step, practicing what I was going to say and any other possible questions for my radio interviews ensuring I was comfortable at each one, and then we had a debrief at the end of each day. When the campaign came to a completion Megan went through the campaign at each step and showed me the outcomes that had been reached including; executive summary, coverage reached, audience and breakdown of that audience, key objectives and my key message.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Cavill, MediaCast Head of Delivery oversaw my project, And I worked one on one with Megan throughout the entire project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since working with Megan from Mediacast, I had 18 radio interviews a write-up in a magazine, 2 book reviews, one with an online magazine, and the other on live radio. I had an increase in sales both online and through my website, also in communication with 2 podcasts.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Megan was essential in keeping me on track with everything as I was all very rapid, and we had daily meetings via teams and or phone, as well as any further telephone conversations during the day as was needed as more projects came on board, I had an outline of my timeline through their online portal which was extremly benificial.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I found their understanding of my needs and attention to detail to the project far surpassed what I had expected.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There are no areas that could have been done differently, I was extremely happy with their high level of excellent service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Snowdome Foundation is a nonprofit organisation that raises funds to support blood cancer research. Our mission is to accelerate next-generation treatments for Australian blood cancer patients to help them live longer, better lives. I am the strategy and communication manager. I am responsible for all the communication on the web, social media, our newsletters and any PR.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

We hired MediaCast to help us raise awareness on the indiscriminate nature of blood cancer, that it can impact anyone at anytime. We wanted to demonstrate the value of funding blood cancer research to help us find better treatments and hopefully a cure one day. We used the opportunity of September being blood cancer awareness month.

What were your goals for this project?

To raise awareness of blood cancer not discriminating who it affects To raise awareness of the value of genomic testing for blood cancer patients To position Snowdome as the leading philanthropic funder of genomic blood cancer research during the month of September To encourage the nation to wear red and upload a picture to social media with the hashtag #itcouldbeme

SOLUTION

How did you select MediaCast?

Medicast had approached us to conduct some probono work around blood donor month. The campaign was a great success and the team a delight to work with. So we decided to use the team again. They specialise in radio and TV which appealed to our target audience as well.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

To work up a series of key messages, develop a press release centred on the indiscriminate nature of blood cancer and the value of genomic testing. We then selected media spokespeople for us for a variety of roles and developed a VNR.

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with two members of the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The campaign was s success with 469 items of coverage and a reach of 17 million Australians. e had 45 live radio interviews, the ANR reached 22 stations and was syndicated to a further 395 stations. We also had a tv appearance on the Morning Show.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was seamless. I felt the team were engaged, they were really trying their hardest to sell our story in. Nothing was too much trouble and they were fully accessible when i needed them. They used a booking system that was easy to manage and allowed our talent to accept or reject interviews as they needed to fit their schedule.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They really worked hard to get your message across. You could tell they had a good relationship with the TV stations and radio stations. They really were a delight to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Could not fault them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, which exists to promote emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents and to raise awareness of perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA) amongst women and their families, their health providers and the wider community to ensure those in need receive timely, appropriate and supportive care.

PNDA and the difficulties of early parenting affects 20% or 1 in 5 new mothers and 10% or 1 in 10 new fathers who will experience some degree of clinically diagnosable mental health illness in association with pregnancy or early parenthood. This equates to over 100,000 new parents every year.

Over 50% of new parents will experience adjustment disorders. The cost to the workplace, the family and the community is significant and poorly recognised. Suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

As the COVID-19 outbreak began, the Foundation moved all face to face services to Telehealth via our Start Talking Program. We launched a new microsite with a number of resources including information videos, fact sheets and information on our virtual services.

What were your goals for this project?

1. To communicate the increased demand for support from new and expectant parents through the pandemic; and
2. To highlight Gidget Foundation Australia's new online resources and telehealth support services for parents during the COVID- 19 crisis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Trusted referral from someone who had worked with Media Cast historically.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Media Cast arranged an ANR (audio news release) to promote our campaign message of : To highlight that Gidget Foundation Australia's services are accessible quickly, easily, and free-of-charge To communicate the evidence-based ways that new and expectant parents can reduce the emotional impacts of COVID-19

What was the team composition?

We worked with the Account Director to plan the program and the Account Manager who undertook all the liaison and implementation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We received over 138 pieces of media coverage with a an overall reach of 5,164,255 people nationwide. Coverage included major metro radio and TV as well as multiple syndicated radio programs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was incredibly responsive, efficient and effective. I couldn't recommend Media Cast more highly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their Results. Absolutely outstanding results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As a former Director of Communications, I have a lot of experience working with PR Firms. I can honestly say that Media Cast are one of the best I have ever worked with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am from the media and marketing team at Miracle Babies Foundation. Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.

Every year in Australia around 48,000 newborn babies require the help of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN). 27,000 of these babies are born premature and up to 1,000 babies lose their fight for life. For families, the experience of having a baby come into the world not as expected or planned is life changing.

Without support, this overwhelming and traumatic experience can have lifelong effects on the emotional wellbeing of these miracle families. It affects the entire family unit.

Since 2005, Miracle Babies Foundation has been passionate in developing and providing vital programs and resources to support and enhance a family’s experience from a threatened pregnancy, hospital journey with a premature or sick newborn, the transition to home and beyond.

Australia is home to 23 state of the art intensive care units designed to meet the unique and critical needs of our earliest and sickest babies. Working with health professionals on the joint agenda of better outcomes for families, Miracle Babies provides informative education and insight on a family’s experience and funding for equipment, resources and research.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

Our main campaign month is May and MediaCast helped us PR, creating media releases, reaching out to radio, TV and print outlets and booking interviews. Whilst also retaining media clips and stats.

What were your goals for this project?

It was an awareness campaign linked into a call for more donation support for our cause.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Originally, we reached out to several media/PR companies initially to ascertain what their value for money was and if they could do just the one campaign for us. We have been happy with their services and so continued to work with them this year.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We pitched our main campaign message with supporting evidence and documents, with our own media release, and they created one to pitch to media, including questions, bios, stats, and presenter packs for interviewees. The process included several revisions to ensure the message was correct and it was a well polished final product.

What was the team composition?

Our CEO, Co-Founder and myself worked closely with two main PR staff at MediaCast. MediaCast also worked dirctly with our medical experts, ambassadors, and 'family stories', for arranging interviews.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We had over 60 forms of media coverage this campaign, reaching almost 4-million Australians nationwide. The campaign included interviews and features in radio, print and online.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Effective communication and workflow between teams, with prompt replies. They kept us up to date via emails and the client section on their website, allowing us to view and respond to bookings and media.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication and prompt action. They were always working one step ahead and were easy to communicate with in a timely manner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think next campaign we'll engage even earlier with them to allow for an even more polished product and more time to pitch our campaign message.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Public Relations and Communications Specialist at Australian children's charity Act for Kids. For over 30 years we have worked to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect, helping thousands of children and families every year. Last year alone, we supported over 46,000 children, parents and carers. We currently have over 26 centres nationally with a team of over 400 people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

Each year we work with MediaCast to deliver an awareness campaign to coincide with Child Protection Week. We choose to work with MediaCast for the sheer volume of coverage they consistently secure for our campaigns as well as the wide reach.

What were your goals for this project?

For this project, we wanted to raise awareness of Act for Kids and the vital role we play in the protection of children. We were promoting our protective behaviours program ‘Learn to be safe with Emmy and Friends’ and we wanted to position ourselves as experts in the field of protecting children. It was an internal goal that we achieved coverage on morning television for this campaign as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have used MediaCast for over four years now. We trust their professionalism and ability to deliver our campaigns effectively and on time.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We find the most success when we conduct research as part of our campaigns with MediaCast and this campaign was no different. We developed research questions around parents' knowledge of protective behaviours and used our findings to develop important messaging around parents lack of knowledge in this area. The campaign targeted print, radio, tv and digital and secured coverage in all of these areas.

What was the team composition?

We’ve always received excellent campaign management from the team at MediaCast. Creative Director Fran Chalmers is extremely knowledgeable, professional and ensures continuity of communication throughout the entire campaign process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

MediaCast secured 224 pieces of coverage across online, print, radio and TV across Australia reaching an estimated 16 million people across every state and territory. This meant that the campaign achieved an Advertising Equivalent of over $482,429. They were successful in securing Weekend Today and the Sunday Papers (Sunday Mail Brisbane, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Territorian, Sunday Herald Sun and Sunday Adelaide Mail). They were also successful in securing further TV throughout the week, including a second morning TV segment on Today Extra, Channel 7 News Brisbane and WIN News (Queensland). Further coverage highlights include: Fox FM, ABC Radio (all major metros), 2GB, 4BC, KIIS, Kinderling and Rebel FM. News syndication networks included 2SM, Hit, ABC, and National Radio News. In 2019, the campaign was the State Winner for QLD at the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s prestigious Golden Target Awards for the Best Small Budget Campaign.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was excellent! The team was always accessible, even on weekends and made the campaign delivery side on our part incredibly easy! We have lots of spokespeople and lots of different working parts, including many restrictions around case studies and MediaCast just make it work!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

MediaCast consistently deliver impressive and widespread media coverage at a national, regional and local level. They work incredibly hard to make sure that our key messages are conveyed appropriately and that our spokespeople have an excellent experience when dealing with the media. They truly do go above and beyond.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we were very satisfied with the delivery of our Child Protection Week campaign.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

myDNA is a Personalised Wellness business delivering DNA insights to help people make better health and wellness decisions. I am the Head of Brand & Marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

This is just one example of the work MediaCast have completed for myDNA. On this occasion it was to help support the launch of our new Vitamins test, pushing consumers to pharmacies (or online) to purchase during the 2019 flu season.

What were your goals for this project?

Brand Awareness / Consideration Pharmacy Sell through Direct to consumer sales

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have been working with MediaCast for a number of years. They continually out do themselves and are a great partner of ours.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Market Research Case Study selection and development Campaign Narrative development Media/Press outreach and management Analysis

What was the team composition?

Myself and our marketing manager worked directly with the MediaCast team. On their side they had multiple people assigned to our account for each deliverable, while all comms were funneled through a single Account Director/Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

As usual, we were absolutely wrapped with the outcomes of the campaign. We managed to secure a number of interviews across national and metro radio stations, numerous mastheads and a bespoke segment on Studio 10 in which our CEO and chosen case study were interviewed in person in the studio. The collective efforts drove a 5x lift in website traffic and around 2x lift in sales.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

MediaCast's planning leaves little room for error. They've very thorough and great at keeping us on track for delivery.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their understanding of the current climate, ensuring what we take to market is as relevant as possible. The media opportunities they're constantly able to present.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am President of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia. TSAA is a non-profit, self-funded, registered charity run by volunteers — consisting of people with TS, their families, health and education professionals and other interested and concerned people. The association disseminates educational materials in the fields of health care, education and welfare service, provides telephone counselling and operates support groups. We support parent advocacy and other services to help families cope with problems that may occur with TS.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast?

Mediacast was hired to leverage an awareness campaign surrounding the release of a new film titled 'Motherless Brooklyn' featuring a private detective who doesn’t let living with Tourette Syndrome stand in his way.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase understanding of Tourette syndrome. To also highlight how few films represent people with disabilities. Less than 2% of films represent those with a disability Two-thirds of Australians have no empathy for those living with Tourette Syndrome Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia (TSAA) is celebrating the release of a film that is disability-inclusive, TSAA hopes this film will inspire and encourage those with Tourette Syndrome to seek out their dream jobs

Astonishingly, only 1.6% of films represent people with a disability in a positive light and without onscreen representation, those with disabilities can feel at a disadvantage. With research from Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia (TSAA) revealing that a staggering two-thirds (59%) of Australians have no empathy for those with Tourette syndrome. This film helps to prove that people can fulfil their ambitions regardless of their disability, Motherless Brooklyn tells the story of a private detective who doesn’t let living with Tourette Syndrome stand in his way – the film explores the world through the eyes of someone thriving in their career with Tourette Syndrome, portrays the value of a diversified workforce and reinforces the value of acceptance. TSAA hopes that this positive representation of a disability in this star-studded movie will create empathy for those living with

Tourette Syndrome and instil the belief they can still achieve their career ambitions. Workplaces that want to make their environment more inclusive are encouraged to use the team building TAC’TICS app, which educates teams on Tourette Syndrome. For more information visit https://tourette.org.au/

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

TSAA has used Mediacast for a number of years now — they never disappoint and are a great team to work with. They appreciate our limited capacity as volunteers and our limited budget has not deterred their support and creative input.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Raise awareness of the film to Australian audiences to further educate Australians on Tourette Syndrome nationally across Print, TV and radio.

What was the team composition?

Media cast team work well providing a main campaign manager to ensure continuity of communication but include other lead roles.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

MediaCast coverage includes a total reach of 4,030,746 throughout Australia. This was generated through a total of 83 Items of Coverage (IOC) from the media outlets. MediaCast secured 83 items of coverage across all states and territories in Australia, reaching an estimated 4 million Australians. Radio highlights included ABC Overnights with Mandy Maysey which syndicated across the entire ABC network, ABC Life Matters with Robyn Latimer and Evan Goulding which broadcasted nationally and 2SM which syndicates to 20 stations across their network.

Today Extra aired a fantastic segment featuring James Sayers, it mentioned Motherless Brooklyn and tied back to the campaign's call to action. 7News Gold Coast spoke with Conor Maysey for a great segment. MediaCast partnered with Dendy Cinemas to support the release of Motherless Brooklyn which included 8 free tickets to see the movie for TSAA Members. Dendy Canberra and Dendy Newtown supported our campaign messaging with a social post across their Twitter and Facebook pages ahead of the movie’s release. TSAA Members in Sydney and Melbourne enjoyed an exclusive pre-screening of Motherless Brooklyn, courtesy of the film’s distributors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Mediacast are very supportive and accommodating as we are volunteers we need to work around our day jobs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their heart! They put a lot of work into to our campaigns and really strive to get the most of all opportunities for TSAA.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area I have found difficult to manage is the final collation of all media coverage. There is a portal but is does not collect everything. Having all our media links provided at the end in one place would be super helpful as it is difficult to keep track of when we have many spokespeople operating.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of The Pinnacle Foundation. We award educational scholarships and carefully matched mentors to young LGBTIQ+ Australians to realise their full potential and overcome challenges arising from their identity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MediaCast, and what were your goals?

We wanted support to reach students in remote, rural and regional Australia to make them aware of the availability of Pinnacle scholarships.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to Mediacast by our pro bono communication partners at Edelman.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Mediacast developed key messaging, recorded grabs, pitched to media and secured a significant number of media and online print stories across the country.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked mainly with Megan Todd, but there was a wider team behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project was highly successful with over 90 radio stories, coverage on ABC online etc.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Mediacast has been proactiv and well organised and the process was clear. It was a pleasure to deal with Megan.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Mediacast has a can-do, proactive attitude and has been highly responsive. Their approach has inspired confidence with a clear and well organized workflow.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No.