Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

'Britain's Obama' To Chair Ethnic Media Panel Discussion

Chuka Umunna, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham who has been described as Britain’s Barack Obama, is to chair the ethnic media panel discussion at the 'Comunicating in Multicultural Britain' seminar that takes place in London on the 2nd September.

The seminar is for public relations (PR) and marketing professionals, as well as business leaders that want to learn more about the business case for engaging with Britain's diverse ethnic groups, which will have an estimated combined spending power of £300 billion by 2010*. Umunna, who is also the editor of TMP an online magazine and forum for the multicultural progressive, is no stranger to the issues surrounding businesses engaging with diverse groups and campaigns regularly about diversity.

The ethnic media panel discussion at the event will provide an opportunity for delegates to gain a real understanding of the different ethnic media channels that are available and sometimes overlooked for advertising and editorial content in favour of mainstream media channels. The ethnic media panelists include representatives from the Polish Express, The Epoch Times, Me Media Ltd, Powerful Media and Choice FM.

Speaking about the seminar Chuka commented: “One of the UK’s strengths is its ethnic diversity, which adds cultural richness and contributes to the economic welfare of the nation. It therefore makes commercial sense for organisations to take the time to recognise and to understand the ethnic market in more detail.”

As well as the ethnic media panel discussion, research agency Starfish will be presenting information on different ethnic groups’ attitudes towards advertising, as well as cultural and social issues and lifestyles. Business in the Community will highlight the benefits of a diverse workforce and best practice case studies will be presented by public relations and marketing professionals from the COI, MoneyGram International Ltd and Bright Star Public Relations.

Bieneosa Ebite, MD of Bright Star Public Relations and organiser of the seminar commented: “The time is ripe for communications professionals and business leaders to embrace the significance and power of the ethnic pound. This seminar is all about fostering a greater understanding so that communicating in multicultural Britain is part of the psyche of marketing and PR professionals.”

- Ends -

Editor's notes:

- Communicating in Multicultural Britain will take place on 2nd September from 8.30a.m. to 12.30p.m. at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in central London. Delegate places can be booked by visiting http://www.brightstarpr.eventbrite.com or by calling 020 3212 2152.

- Bieneosa Ebite is the MD of Bright Star Public Relations, a consultancy which offers a range of communications solutions for diverse clients. Further details about the consultancy can be found at www.brightstarpr.net

- Chuka Umunna is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham in South West London. He has written for the Financial Times, Tribune and the Voice, among other publications. He is also a member of the management committee of political pressure group, Compass, and an employment lawyer by profession.

*IDS HR study 825, July 2006

For more info about the event or to arrange interviews please contact:

Bieneosa Ebite
Bright Star Public Relations
Tel: 020 3212 2152
Mobile: 07958 044 321
Email: bieneosa.ebite@brightstarpr.net