Media coverage of UK (and Irish) Zoos

Andy B said:
I’m glad we agree on modern communication; I’ll look forward to seeing what use zoos of all sizes make of it.
I also agree that mainstream media will ‘usually’ & naturally head for the ‘big players’ as you put it, but not always. If my memory serves me correctly wasn’t there a 5 weeks series, hour long episodes based from YWP (I’m not sure if you’d class them as ‘big players’ or not; a place I’ve never visited but hopefully will), that featured numerous smaller collections each week?
The only reason I responded to your post initially was because it was factually incorrect & you seemed to have another agenda which you attempted to back up with outrage from the license fee payer (I’m not sure but this could fall into modern day society’s “fake news” category). Anyway back on topic being a begrudging license fee payer I duly responded; as I’d rather when the evidence is put forward & good reason is given to abolish the fee altogether, would like it to be correct :)
Now back to the initial topic -
“The Choice to pay for parking at Chester Zoo”.
I’ll choose not to as previously stated.
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There is about to be another series from YWP, so far as I can see - unless of course I am 'factually incorrect' yet again.. and you could probably class them as quite a 'big player'... but I don't recall mentioning license fees at all, although I maybe wrong yet again...
Anyhow, I'm so much better informed now; so that's good.
 
Andrew Swales said:
My post certainly seems to have provoked a variety of responses! It is not just a long running series, but many, many repeats too - even though other responders cant find any coverage at all apparently! I had been told that other series being aired and previous ones about Chester were on the BBC; but I do apologise if I am wrong - and the comment about Chester doing as well before the coverage started, I just disagree with. It remains my opinion that the level of positive media coverage must have an influence on footfall - and that further than this, it lifts the positive profile and thus attendance of all zoos - just as it did in the days of Brumas and Pipaluk. The comment about pitching is somewhat simplistic and naive, as the media and its production companies will always stay with a trusted formula and go back to the same source. Smaller collections cannot get a foothold. I can give you an example - we received the entire collection of animals (save the armadillos) when the Zoological Trust of Guernsey closed Guernsey Zoo in 1990 by a specially chartered plane into Cambridge airport. The arrival was featured on Anglia TV who came here to film. Since that day, and despite some quite interesting and important arrivals and departures, no TV station has ever opened one of our press releases....
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Not sure what arguement you are trying to make anymore.

Chester was a thriving zoo before the Channel 4 series, has the TV series boosted visitor numbers, yes offcourse it has and I don't think anyone is disagreeing with that.

But Chester Zoo is not featured relentlessly on the BBC that honour goes to Longleat that currently thrusting koalas down our throats repeatedly.

I don't know what zoo you work for, but if its a smaller privately owned collection then you are unlikely to get national press coverage compared to the best zoo in the country.
 
Andrew Swales said:
My post certainly seems to have provoked a variety of responses! It is not just a long running series, but many, many repeats too - even though other responders cant find any coverage at all apparently! I had been told that other series being aired and previous ones about Chester were on the BBC; but I do apologise if I am wrong - and the comment about Chester doing as well before the coverage started, I just disagree with. It remains my opinion that the level of positive media coverage must have an influence on footfall - and that further than this, it lifts the positive profile and thus attendance of all zoos - just as it did in the days of Brumas and Pipaluk. The comment about pitching is somewhat simplistic and naive, as the media and its production companies will always stay with a trusted formula and go back to the same source. Smaller collections cannot get a foothold. I can give you an example - we received the entire collection of animals (save the armadillos) when the Zoological Trust of Guernsey closed Guernsey Zoo in 1990 by a specially chartered plane into Cambridge airport. The arrival was featured on Anglia TV who came here to film. Since that day, and despite some quite interesting and important arrivals and departures, no TV station has ever opened one of our press releases....
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Up here in the North West regional TV coverage is mainly about Chester (since it's where more things happen) but they also cover Blackpool, Knowsley and Martin Mere to my knowledge.

If your press releases aren't being "opened" (by e-mail?) perhaps you need to do them differently?
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
If your press releases aren't being "opened" (by e-mail?) perhaps you need to do them differently?
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As mentioned above, electronic communication by its various means, be that email, text or via social media is the modern way of communication. Some details of other means would be most welcome to back up the suggestion, even if they risk being further off topic.
 
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Andrew Swales said:
I'm not sure if the continued comments are expecting a reply, especially given the remarks that they are not on the topic of car-parks. I guess the moderators will close this down if they deem appropriate; but as mentioned above, electronic communication by its various means, be that email, text or via social media is the modern way of communication. Some details of other means would be most welcome to back up the suggestion, even if they risk being further off topic.
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I always found hard copy worked well.

(I shall start a separate thread on the interesting subject of media coverage of UK zoos.)
 
There was a great BBC series in the early 1980’s called Zoo 2000 looking at the history and future of zoo’s. I have the book but haven’t seen the series itself in 30 years.

I also remember the Channel Five series on Chester Zoo from about ten years ago.
 
Don't forget David Attenborough's Zoo Quest series and James Fisher's News from the Zoos.
 
The BBC's Animal Park from Longleat was staple viewing when I was a student, though I really can't get into it these days, having been there myself now. Wasn't there something from the Yorkshire Wildlife Park on last year?

There's Monkey Life from Monkey World deep into the plethora of digital channels. I think that was on Channel 5 briefly a few years ago before being relegated to an obscure digital channel.
 
There was a very good BBC series about Paignton Zoo in the '90s - 'Zookeepers' I think? And Channel 5's 'Zoo Days' covered Chester and Colchester in different series.

London Zoo has also had at least one documentary series about it in the fairly recent past.
 
Sand Cat said:
There was a very good BBC series about Paignton Zoo in the '90s - 'Zookeepers' I think?
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Yes, that one was particularly good - I think it was just (The?) Zookeepers and narrated by Richard Wilson. It made a bit more of the individual keepers' personalities than some of them do.

I also remember quite a good London one not too long after.
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
I always found hard copy worked well.
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Back to the post it is then - we'll have to check how you buy stamps these days, maybe over eBay now they've closed the post offices?
Carrier pigeons are another possibility? - or maybe, as we are very close to the A1, a stage-coach...?
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
I always found hard copy worked well.
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Back to the post it is then - we'll have to check how you buy stamps these days, maybe over eBay now they've closed the post offices?
Carrier pigeons are another possibility? - or maybe, as we are very close to the A1, a stage-coach...?
 
There was a tv series about Bristol Zoo which I think was called "The Zoo"
 
Tim May said:
And there was Molly Dineen's The Ark about London Zoo's Closure Crisis.
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Apparently the original intention was to make some other type of programme about the Zoo, but when the producers discovered the underyling unrest, internal politics and possible threat of closure, they decided this would make a much better storyline to focus on. I think they were right.
 
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Ned said:
There was a tv series about Bristol Zoo which I think was called "The Zoo"
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Its almost easier to list the major Zoos that haven't benefited from at least one TV series or programme about them;

Dudley.
Whipsnade?( I think I may be wrong here, they featured in something hosted by Rolf Harris.)
Marwell
Noah's Ark.
West Mids, Woburn and Knowlsey Safari Parks
Howletts and PL. -but what was Aspinall's Animals?
Belfast?
Edinburgh?
YWP.
Blackpool.
Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Banham and AA.
South Lakes- but they had a I hour programme focusing on the 'rescue'.

Others might like to amend this list...
 
I had a quick hunt about YWP as I thought there was something set there last year and bingo: Big Week at the Zoo, and there's going to be a one off special later this year, too. (Edit to add: I don't think the one off special is going to be televised, just an event at the zoo.)
 
redstarsmith said:
There was a great BBC series in the early 1980’s called Zoo 2000 looking at the history and future of zoo’s. I have the book but haven’t seen the series itself in 30 years.

I also remember the Channel Five series on Chester Zoo from about ten years ago.
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Was that Vets to the Rescue ? (With vets Brash and Mostue.)
 
Andrew Swales said:
Back to the post it is then - we'll have to check how you buy stamps these days, maybe over eBay now they've closed the post offices?
Carrier pigeons are another possibility? - or maybe, as we are very close to the A1, a stage-coach...?
Click to expand...

Sarcasm aside, if something isn't working then try a different approach.
 
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