Blog
Contact Us
Resources
Search:
01904 610077
Home
About us
Jobs
Office to let
Privacy statement
Community
Terms of business
Our team
Our services
Partners Pathfinder
PR services
Marketing services
Digital services
Crisis communications
International PR
Workshops
Social Media Essentials
What is News?
Services A to Z
Our sectors
Business sales & acquisitions
Food and drink
Hotel and leisure
Legal
Manufacturing
Professional services
Property and construction
Regional B2B PR
Our work
BTTG centenary celebrations
JM Glendinning Group
Dynamic Networks Group
Morley Glass & Glazing
Glassolutions
ROCOL
Caddick Construction
Saint-Gobain Glass
Select Bag Sealers
The York Dungeon
The Technology Group
York Business Week 2018
York Cares
York Mind
York St John University
FERA
Park Inn York
Florit Brooke
Collaborative Family Law Week
Dynamic Group website
Pro-Development
NewlyWeds Foods
S Harrison Group
CMS Window Systems
RHS Eco Learning Centre
York Investors LLP
Venturefest
Jorvik Viking Festival
Bishy Brew
New Home Finder launch
Pearce Bottomley
Vivid Sydney
VS-1 Glassolutions
News
News
Blog
Newsletters
Contact Us
Lessons in reputation from Boaty McBoatface:
Has sidelining the public vote done NERC more harm than good?
What's in a name?
Earlier this month, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) announced its decision not to name its newest polar research ship Boaty McBoatface, despite the name being a runaway winner with almost 125,000 votes in a public poll. Instead, the £200million vessel, which is due to become operational in 2019, will be named RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Has sidelining the public vote done NERC more harm than good?
From the moment former BBC Radio Jersey broadcaster James Hand flippantly threw the name into the ring, Boaty McBoatface grabbed the public imagination. Other brands were quick to jump on the bandwagon, with South West Trains’ Trainy McTrainface and Aer Lingus getting in on the action with a Planey McPlaneface media stunt. When racehorse Horsey McHorseface arrived on the scene, there was no doubt things had reached fever pitch.
When voting closed, Boaty McBoatface was the clear winner. And yet NERC chose not to go with the majority when they named the new research vessel, saying instead that they wanted a name that “captures the spirit of scientific endeavour”. Was this a mistake, or was the organisation right to select a more ‘sensible’ option?
Looking at social networks, today’s widely accepted barometer of public opinion, the story received a mixed response. Many were keen to see the vessel named Boaty McBoatface; others believed it would undermine NERC’s credibility. Some were confident the name would never make the cut whatever the poll result; with others getting in on the joke initially, but subsequently feeling ‘enough’s enough now; let’s get serious’ – a view NERC ultimately appears to have shared.
By choosing not to go with the poll, NERC risks losing the goodwill and continued engagement of those who voted – plus many more besides who took an interest in the story and would more than likely have continued to follow Boaty McBoatface’s progress. Will RRS Sir David Attenborough sustain public interest? We’ll see.
Whilst some in the scientific community seem to view Boaty McBoatface as a PR disaster, there’s no doubt the exercise put NERC firmly on the map and got the nation talking about a polar research ship. NERC may have missed an opportunity to build on that initial surge of goodwill – the decision to give the poll winning name to a remotely operated vehicle aboard RRS David Attenborough will be seen by many as a token gesture – but the fun and humour generated by the Name our Ship campaign is likely to endure.
Tweet
Back to blog
The Partners Group
The Partners Group
Subscribe to our blog
Register your email address to receive our latest blog updates direct to your inbox
Recent posts
Give yourself the gift of confidence in 2021
How a robust PR strategy can support future growth
LinkedIn rolls out major redesign
Time to evolve your communications approach?
Lessons from our first virtual exhibition
Blog Categories
All Posts
Advertising(4)
Content marketing(44)
Copywriting(8)
Corporate Social Responsibility(8)
Crisis communications(19)
E-marketing(9)
Internal communications(7)
Marketing(77)
Media relations(47)
PR(93)
SEO(32)
Social media(50)
Sponsorship(3)
Websites(38)
Blog RSS Feed
RSS
Comments
Blog post currently doesn't have any comments.
Leave comment
Name:
E-mail:
Comments:
Contact
105 The Mount, York YO24 1GY
+44 1904 610077
Calls to our company, including any of our representatives whether on landline or mobile may be recorded for security, training and monitoring purposes.
Twitter:
@PartnersYork
LinkedIn:
Partners-PR-Ltd
Facebook:
PartnersYork
Partners PR Ltd Registration No: 2245362 England
by pixelbuilders.com |
Digital Agency