New agency launched by industry stalwarts

The Cape Town partnership - with Jacki McEwen and Tina Meier - gives Press Office the added advantage of being able to service clients with interests in South Africa's two leading cities. Furthermore, the three partners all have extensive background experience in three major aspects of the communication spectrum:
public relations, marketing and journalism.

"Our combined experience gives us the edge in an environment where there is a growing demand for a comprehensive, fully integrated communications strategy, developed within the context of an established marketing and advertising strategy," says Mackenzie.

"We focus on developing a clear understanding of our clients' businesses and the industry they operate in to ensure that we bring valuable ideas and input to the table and so doing, not only contribute to heightened awareness and increased exposure, but to the company's business strategy and therefore its bottom line," she continues.

Press Office focuses specifically on publicity, media promotions, developing communication material, launch events and crisis management. To this end, the company strives to build strong relationships with key media and other industry partners to ensure longevity and an integrated approach.

"As a journalist for just over 10 years, I responded well to agencies (and individuals within those agencies) who did their homework in terms of a publication's editorial policies, style, focus and needs, who delivered on promises, met deadlines and maintained relationships, " emphasizes Mackenzie. She says, that ethos is reflected in Press Office's approach to the media and other relationships.

Mackenzie's experience as editor of Southern African Tourism Update - part of the Now Media stable and winner of the Magazine Publishing Association of South Africa's Business to Business SAPPI Pica Award 2003 in the Travel, Hospitality and Tourism category - has resulted in an intimate knowledge of the issues facing, and developments within, the region's international tourism industry. Subsequently, Press Office has focused its attention on that industry, but not to the exclusion of other industries.