The managing director of Outwrite PR has provided industry insight into the social media success of Newcastle United’s high-profile owners.
Regional news site NewcastleWorld approached the North Wales-based agency for comment on how football club owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi and James Reuben utilise online channels to build trust with fans.
The article titled “How Newcastle United co-owners make unprecedented use of Twitter to shine ‘positive spotlight’ on ownership” saw journalist Toby Bryant take a deep dive into how the duo have ‘broken the mould’ with their ‘unusually active’ internet presence.
Reflecting on the opportunity to comment, agency director Anthony Bullick, said: “As a company with a focus on sports PR, we welcomed the chance to offer our perspective on how platforms like Facebook and Twitter have played a part in strengthening trust in the Newcastle United owners.
“It’s no secret that football clubs are often a hub for communities, and with that in mind, how they are managed is often put under a microscope – it’s always interesting to see how that plays out from a PR standpoint.
“As an avid sports fan myself, I was thrilled to get involved with the analysis of Ghodoussi and Reuben’s tweets, as you can see in real time the positive responses from supporters, much like with Wrexham AFC’s celebrity owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.”
As part of the article, NewcastleWorld also asked Anthony if Ghoudoussi and Reuben are sportswashing, which is a term used to describe the practice of using sports to bolster reputations tarnished by poor environmental or social practices.
Anthony added: “That was a great question from the journalist, and of course in the social media age, it can be hard to know what someone’s intentions are, but the owners’ authenticity is further demonstrated by donations to the likes of Newcastle United Fans Food Bank.
“Ultimately, online platforms are powerful tools for building relationships and engaging with stakeholders, providing an opportunity to control the narrative, instead of the press.”
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