Media Borne
Public Relations
Marriott Communications was appointed to support Media Borne at a pivotal moment in its growth: following the securing of a six-figure Innovate UK fund to develop a new Virtual Production Hub in the North East.
The objective was not simply to announce funding, but to strategically reposition Media Borne - elevating the studio from a regional production house to a high-growth creative-tech agency with national relevance and investor appeal.
With experience spanning purpose-led PR, founder positioning and growth-stage communications, Marriott Communications was brought in to shape the narrative, control perception, and build third-party validation across business, tech and creative media.
Background
Media Borne is a Gateshead-based creative production studio operating at the intersection of film, entertainment and emerging technology. With a growing portfolio, the studio had ambitions to scale - investing in virtual production workflows powered by Unreal Engine and real-time technology.
Securing Innovate UK funding marked a significant milestone, but also presented a communications challenge: how to translate technical innovation and public funding into a clear, compelling growth story that resonated with investors, industry peers and regional stakeholders alike.
The risk was that the announcement could be perceived as local or transactional, rather than a signal of long-term ambition and national relevance.
The Brief
Marriott Communications was tasked with developing and executing a PR strategy that would:
Position Media Borne as a future-facing creative-tech studio, not just a production company
Leverage Innovate UK backing as a trust and credibility anchor
Elevate the North East as a serious hub for creative and digital innovation
Build third-party validation to support investor conversations and long-term growth
Establish a narrative platform for ongoing visibility beyond a single announcement
The campaign needed to balance innovation, regional impact and commercial ambition - without over-hyping or exposing risk.
The Actions
Marriott Communications developed and delivered a multi-layered communications strategy focused on narrative control, credibility and momentum.
Strategic Narrative Development
We shaped a clear messaging framework built around four core pillars:
Media Borne’s investment in future-facing virtual production technology
The North East as an emerging creative-tech powerhouse
Unreal Engine and real-time workflows as central to the studio’s growth strategy
Founder-led leadership and long-term IP ambition
Targeted Media Strategy
Rather than mass distribution, we prioritised outlets trusted by:
Investors and funders
Creative, media and tech industry peers
Regional economic decision-makers
Key angles included:
Innovation Spotlight: inside the new Virtual Production Hub
Regional Growth Story: Innovate UK funding and economic impact
Founder-led vision: creative-tech leadership and future ambition
Press Office & Coverage Management
Marriott Communications handled:
Press release development and refinement
Media pitching and follow-up
Syndicated distribution to extend reach
Narrative consistency across all coverage
Sentiment & Risk Management
Messaging was carefully calibrated to ensure:
Credibility over hype
Delivery-led language
Strong emphasis on infrastructure, skills and long-term value
The Impact
The campaign delivered a strong wave of positive, credibility-building coverage across business, tech, creative and investor-facing media.
Coverage Secured
Bdaily North East – regional business and investor audience
Prolific North – national creative, media and tech trade
UK Tech News – innovation and technology ecosystem
Invest North East – regional economic development and investor networks
Combined Reach:
120,000+ publication views
Perception & Sentiment
100% positive or neutral-positive coverage
Consistent language around innovation, growth and confidence
Innovate UK funding positioned as a trust and validation marker
Media Borne framed as “early but credible” - a key signal for investors
Strategic Outcomes
Elevated Media Borne beyond a “regional studio” narrative
Created reusable social proof for investor decks and outreach
Strengthened founder credibility and leadership positioning
Reinforced Media Borne and the wider North East’s role in the UK’s creative-tech future
The Conclusion
This project demonstrates how strategic PR - when rooted in narrative control and commercial understanding 0 can do far more than generate headlines.
By aligning Media Borne’s funding announcement with a broader growth and innovation story, Marriott Communications helped position the studio as a serious, future-focused creative-tech agency with national relevance and long-term ambition.
The campaign laid the foundations for continued visibility, investor engagement and industry leadership - proving that world-class creative innovation doesn’t have to be confined to London or global media hubs.
Chris Thompson, Managing Director
“Our team worked with Sam directly, we had some substantial news we wanted to push and we leveraged local media to do this. Sam advised us throughout the whole process and we got some great placements!”