Coventry profile skyrockets after Culture win

Coventry’s victory in the bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021 has seen the city’s profile sky rocket.

The decision, announced live on BBC TV’s The One Show, was beamed around the UK on all mainstream channels – with almost 3,500 articles mentioning the win and the city in the 72 hours after the decision was made.

News outlets from Scotland to the Channel Islands ran the story while ITV and BBC based themselves in the city for outside broadcasts.

The interest has taken the value of the media achieved since the city declared its intention to bid to £19.3 million, while 2,000 more people have started following the @coventry2021 account since Thursday.

Laura McMillan, Manager of the Coventry City of Culture Trust and part of the team who led the pitch to the judges in Hull on Wednesday, said the interest had been incredible.

“We have been blown away by the level of interest from all across the UK,” she said. “From the moment we were revealed as the successful candidate, it has been incredible.

“There were a lot of national press who were up in Hull for the decision and we were thrilled to be the subject of their pieces. That included titles such as The Guardian and The Times, as well as The Independent on line.

 “Down in Coventry there were 13 media outlets at the Belgrade Theatre to watch the decision live. All the national news bulletins carried the scenes of jubilation, while BBC and ITV main national news bulletins carried interviews with key Coventry stakeholders.

“That carried on the following morning when BBC Breakfast broadcast from the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum all through their show, which was great exposure.

“BBC Midlands Today and ITV News Central broadcast live from the city, while we had guests on BBC Radio 4 and Talk Radio.”

The weekend saw no let-up in the interest.

McMillan added: “Our reports show that there were 3,384 articles or media mentions of the fact that we have won the competition, and the variety is amazing. BBC Radio Orkney and BBC Radio Jersey both ran the story, which also appeared in the Ballymoney Times and the Westmorland Gazette, neither of which can be described as local!

“We have always said that if we were successful, it would be a game-changer for the image of the city and certainly the interest is there.

“We had some very favourable reviews from national press, who had carried details of our campaign throughout the last two years, and we now have to ensure that we maintain that interest and produce a programme which will allow us to build on such a great start.”

Coventry City Council, The University of Warwick, and Coventry University are Principal Partners of the bid and have provided significant support. The Ricoh Arena is Bid Sponsor while Jaguar Land Rover, Adient, Friargate, Coventry Building Society, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Airport, PET-Xi, SCC, Pertemps, and CEF (City Electrical Factors) are also Bid Development Sponsors. Positive Youth Foundation is an Honorary Partner.

To find out more, go to @Coventry2021 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.coventry2021.co.uk

Pictured: Minister John Glen, Laura McMillan (Bid Manager) and Phil Redmond (chair of the judges)

There are a couple of scenes from when the decision was announced in Coventry.