Between 2011 and 2015, I was in charge of communication for Gulder Ultimate Search, then Nigeria’s biggest reality TV show. The biggest thing the show had going for it was the suspense viewers were subjected to; yet, the greatest challenge the show had was trying to curtail the issue of leaking information about what transpired before episodes were aired. This scenario was compounded by the fact that the crew numbered around 300 people. And we are usually camped in jungles and forests, depending on the location.
Several measures were taken, including limited access to the internet and a ban on mobile phones while on camp.
It was the 2013 edition of Gulder Ultimate Search and everything appeared to go according to plan. The client’s head of communication team had commended us for the good work – something he rarely did.
Since the programme is pre-recorded, the winner of this reality TV show usually emerges several days before the final episode revealing his or her emergence as winner is aired. The story and picture of the winner is then sent to journalists, with the caveat that they can only publish the story only after the winning episode is aired, so as not to ruin the suspense of winners watching on TV.
Few hours before the final episode aired, a past winner of this reality TV show congratulated the new winner, using the winning picture as his BlackBerry Messenger DP. The BlackBerry messenger was still a thing then. I immediately asked him to change his DP, informing him that the final episode revealing the winner was only a few hours away. I heaved a sigh of relief.
The following day, I received a call from the Marketing Manager whose brand ‘owned’ the reality TV show. What I thought was a mundane issue had escalated. One of the journalists I sent the story to, had published it online, hours before the final episode, effectively running the suspense for many of the viewers. From the pictures, they knew who won; and for those that still bothered to watch, they only wanted to know how he emerged winner.
All the hard work I had put in fell like a pack of cards. The Marketing Manager was understandably furious. It was the first time he superintended over the show. The accolades I had earned vanished like vapour, giving way to blame. All the good work I had put in came to naught. I called the journalist, but he denied, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. I blamed myself. At that moment, I felt bitten and battered and I felt this brand would fire my agency. At that moment, I thought of dropping my resignation letter.
The Marketing Manager would later forgive, after I offered a full explanation of what happened. I was still trusted with handling the communication for the next edition of the reality TV show and even other brands which were under the purview of the Marketing Manager.
We all make mistakes, some may lead to a downfall. But just like the popular Japanese saying: “Fall 7 times, get up 8.”
About four years ago, I was in charge of communication for Gulder Ultimate Search. The biggest thing the show had going for it was the suspense viewers were subjected to; yet, the greatest challenge the show had was trying to curtail the issue of leaking information about what transpired before episodes were aired. This scenario was compounded by the fact that the crew numbered around 300 people. And we are usually camped in jungles and forests, depending on the location.
Several measures were taken, including limited access to the internet and a ban on mobile phones while on camp.
It was the 2013 edition of Gulder Ultimate Search and everything appeared to go according to plan. The client’s head of communication team had commended us for the good work – something he rarely did.
Since the programme is pre-recorded, the winner of this reality TV show usually emerges several days before the final episode revealing his or her emergence as winner is aired. The story and picture of the winner is then sent to journalists, with the caveat that they can only publish the story only after the winning episode is aired, so as not to ruin the suspense of winners watching on TV.
Few hours before the final episode aired, a past winner of this reality TV show congratulated the new winner, using the winning picture as his BlackBerry Messenger DP. The BlackBerry messenger was still a thing then. I immediately asked him to change his DP, informing him that the final episode revealing the winner was only a few hours away. I heaved a sigh of relief.
The following day, I received a call from the Marketing Manager whose brand ‘owned’ the reality TV show. What I thought was a mundane issue had escalated. One of the journalists I sent the story to, had published it online, hours before the final episode, effectively running the suspense for many of the viewers. From the pictures, they knew who won; and for those that still bothered to watch, they only wanted to know how he emerged winner.
All the hard work I had put in fell like a pack of cards. The Marketing Manager was understandably furious. It was the first time he superintended over the show. The accolades I had earned vanished like vapour, giving way to blame. All the good work I had put in came to naught. I called the journalist, but he denied, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. I blamed myself. At that moment, I felt bitten and battered and I felt this brand would fire my agency. At that moment, I thought of dropping my resignation letter.
The Marketing Manager would later forgive, after I offered a full explanation of what happened. I was still trusted with handling the communication for the next edition of the reality TV show and even other brands which were under the purview of the Marketing Manager.
We all make mistakes, some may lead to a downfall. But just like the popular Japanese saying: “Fall 7 times, get up 8.”
Two down and 2 to go:
If you have not messed up before put your hands in the air.
No hands.
Thanks for the comment Tosin. Mistakes are good learning points.
No hands.
True Augustus.