Dubbo is grabbing the headlines for all the right reasons, with the City featuring nationally in a variety of high-profile publications and popular television programs.
Dubbo City Council has facilitated visits by FremantleMedia, Better Homes & Gardens, The Footy Show and A Current Affair whilst also providing information about the City to a variety of national and state media.
Mayor of Dubbo Cr Mathew Dickerson said the City’s ongoing exposure at a national level would help put Dubbo on the map as a place to visit, live or invest.
He said the value of coverage received over the past 18 months in metropolitan newspapers and national current affairs programs, for exposure specifically relating to the attraction of new residents to Dubbo, was estimated at almost $600,000 with a combined audience of 3.6 million people.
“In addition, exposure the City will receive through national television programs – three of which have recently filmed scenes in the City - will help promote a positive image of Dubbo to potential investors, residents or visitors,’’ Cr Dickerson said.
“Dubbo’s community spirit, its cultural and sporting facilities, tourism attractions, lifestyle and opportunities are being showcased to audiences across Australia through a variety of media channels. This can only benefit Dubbo’s image and potential development.’’
Cr Dickerson said ‘proactive and responsive positive exposure in local and external media’ was a key action in Council’s City Promotions Plan, delivered by Council’s Marketing and Communications Services Branch (Marcoms).
“It’s about being proactive and pushing the City’s positive stories out there to be picked up by the media whilst also being responsive to enquires coming in. Council’s Marcoms Branch provides assistance for filming requests, gathering information and images for the media, or just connecting journalists with local stories,’’ he said.
“In some cases, coverage is worked in as part of a broader advertising program but Council is working really hard to gain coverage for Dubbo through national media based on newsworthy story pitches – because we simply don’t have the budget to buy this type of exposure.’’
Stay tuned...
- Dubbo will feature on this week’s “The Footy Show” (9.30pm, Thursday, 7 June on Channel 9). The program will showcase the local community working closely with the Tooheys New Crew to build the Touch Association Clubhouse in just 11 weeks. Celebrity Paul Harrigan was in town for the project.
Council provided financial support and man-power to the Touch Association and the Tooheys New Crew for this project. - Just last week, Dubbo was the first stop on a road trip from Sydney to Alice Springs for Freemantle Media which is filming the Priscilla-inspired TV show “I will survive’’ to be broadcast on Network Ten. The cast and crew of more than 100 people spent the week filming in Dubbo, with the economic injection for the City estimated at some $100,000 – not to mention the exposure Dubbo will receive when the show goes to air later in the year. Whilst in Dubbo, Freemantle Media filmed at various locations, including the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets, Victoria Park Number 1 Oval and Macquarie Street –with celebrity Rachael Taylor making an appearance.
Council assisted Freemantle Media with logistics including sourcing site locations, local personalities and events. - From November, Dubbo will feature in stories being aired on the award-winning “Better Homes and Gardens”, a Seven Network program that consistently rates in the top shows of the week and averages around 1.3 million viewers per episode. Host Joh Griggs and celebrity chef Fast Ed were in Dubbo recently filming scenes for the popular lifestyle program which will feature the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, CBD, Elizabeth Park Regional Botanical Garden and the Dubbo Show.
Council facilitated the visit; pitching story ideas, assisting with site locations for filming and partnered with local airlines and accommodation providers to cover the cost of flights/accommodation for the crew.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dubbo Mayor Cr Mathew Dickerson, phone 0418 639 053.
