We love anything that makes us giggle during the morning paper reading at Synergy. And April Fools is that classic day of the year when you know at least 5% of the stories are fabricated (as opposed to any other day, when it is probably closer to 4.5%).
There was some confusion this morning over which were real, which were April Fools and which just your average crazy tabloid fodder. Is Cheryl Cole really going into Big Brother? Is it possible to be arrested for marshmallow assault? And how can gorillas learn from an iPad without breaking it? Err…
So, for your delight and amusement, we have chosen our favourites for today’s papers highlights. Enjoy (and don’t take too seriously).
Guardian: by royal appointment, launching Royal Wedding minute-by-minute blog coverage
This gets our top Award for effort today. Leading in paper (p2 & p36), The Guardian have, ‘in a historic step, shaking off years of mean-spirited republicanism’, launched a dedicated blog offering minute-by-minute coverage of the big event. Best of all, the blog does exist. And it’s hilarious. Prince Harry’s speech notes and Lego Royal Wedding are our favourite, but a must-read for today. (At the time of writing, the Lego mock-up had just been vandalised. Appalling).
New! magazine: Marmite partners with Vaseline
Marmite loves a good branded merchandise story and frequently hits the headlines around April 1st. This year, they’ve worked with Vaseline to deliver news of what is possibly the most revolting lip-balm flavour ever to be produced (or not, as the case may be…). Love it or hate it, it gets PR.
BMW Royal Edition advertising
Does anyone remember the completely brilliant BMW April Fools around the Election? When we were all offered the opportunity to change our roundel into red, yellow or blue, to proudly display our political allegiance? Well those clever bods at BMW have come up trumps again this year with the special Royal Edition BMW M3 Coupé, displaying the ‘Will’ marque. A must-have for every Royalist.
Telegraph: Wasps flying the flag of St. George on Twickenham rugby pitch
A combined April Fools story from Wasps, the RFU and Premiership sponsor Aviva, showed the entire Twickenham pitch painted in a giant cross of St. George in celebration of the upcoming fixture against Bath on 23rd April (St. George’s Day, obviously). A nice sponsor mention included the line that the game would be played with a special yellow ball – insurer Aviva’s striking brand colour. All rubbish of course. Here’s hoping that Twickenham Head Groundsman Keith Kent isn’t a Telegraph reader – or else that he has a sense of humour…
Sport magazine: Arsenal Mascot sent off
It is one thing to have the Mascot running into goal during training, but quite another to have him talking to the press about stepping into goal for real. That is, assuming that giant soft-toy dinosaurs can now hold press-conferences and, well, talk. The tell-tale Fools sign? ‘Pilar Lofo’ was the man inside the suit. Go figure.
By Synergy on April 1st, 2011
Tags: Advertising, Aviva, Brand marketing, Communications, Media, Public relations, Rugby, Sponsorship, Sport, Synergy Papers
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