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27 February 2024

Professional Pest Controller issue 114 (PPC114) out now

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Professional Pest Controller Magazine Issue 114

26 February 2024

Pests in the press: October to December 2023

PPC114 | Pests in the press

BPCA’s ongoing engagement with the media, positioning the organisation as the go-to voice of authority on pest issues and incorporating a focus on broadcast in 2023, all proved to have been successful when bed bugs in Paris hit the headlines in October.

As well as being inundated with enquiries from print journalists, the team also received a huge number of requests for staff and members to talk about bed bugs across the broadcast spectrum from local radio to television shows both at home and abroad.

pests press 202324

Activity in Q4:

Following a speech by Emmanuel Macron which highlighted concerns around bed bugs in Paris at the very start of October, BPCA issued a media update to journalists across the UK, which resulted in a spike in enquiries from major outlets including:

BBC News
Press Association
The Times
The Independent
Mail on Sunday
Bloomberg News
GB News.

We then had further enquiries into November and December from:

CNBC
BBC Radio 4
The Jeremy Vine Show
ITV
Sky News
Channel 5
The Vanessa Feltz Show
TBS – a South Korean TV and Radio station
BBC Newsbeat
The Guardian
Scottish Sun
LBC.

Further swift reaction to the news – a press release raising awareness around rats and flooding issued as Storm Babet hit the UK – secured further coverage in the media.

In October alone, more than 260 news items across print, digital and broadcast featured BPCA.

Further press releases in Q4 included a reminder to check lofts for signs of pests when fetching Christmas decorations, advice on the difference between rats, mice, voles and shrews and a press release highlighting Silverfish as an indicator of potential damp problems in the home.

Work with specific titles catering to associated trades continued in Q4 with articles provided for Cleaning Matters, Food & Drink Manufacturing and Tomorrow’s Cleaning.

In 2024, BPCA will aim to build on the success of 2023 by continuing to focus on broadcast opportunities as well as continuing our work in raising awareness around pest issues and the value of professional pest management.