Paul Merrill – Australia’s secret PR maestro
In this busy world of social media strategies, communications planning and incessant WIP meetings, Dr Mumbo feels it’s time to step back and salute Australia’s finest, and criminally underrated, evil publicity genius.
Take a bow, Mr Paul Merrill.
The editor of Zoo Weekly – who also has a growing influence on other men’s mags in the ACP portfolio – has been behind some of Australia’s finest column-inch generating stunts in its three year history.
This week’s fun was the plan for Warwick Capper to run in the Queensland election. And subsquent failure to get his candidacy in in time which conveniently avoided all sorts of electoral legal complications. But that’s just the latest in a fine but short history of high impact, low cost PR stunts.
Hey Tim,
I too dips me lid to Mr Merrill. Loved the Kate Ellis stunt they pulled (also a PR Warrior post http://tinyurl.com/aubdzg). Every one of Zoo Weekly’s stunts hits the spot publicity-wise. All a bit of fun and no doubt helps boost sales.
I remember fun!
He’s getting the publicity, there’s no doubt about it. But without meaning to sound like a bitter bitch, it’s no wonder guys can be such pigs these days – this man glorifies being a pig, like it’s a good thing…he crossed the lighthearted fun line a long time ago. By the way, I heard that Max Markson is behind the stunts for Warwick Capper and Pauline Hanson running in the Queensland election.
What do you expect? He’s the editor of a lads’ mag. It’s his job to be laddish.
Did Paul Merrill plant this story too?