Media analysis firm PressWatch has launched a service which
measures positive and negative coverage of financial companies and their
products each month.
The report will analyse and rank more than 500 financial services
companies, and the range of products they offer.
The September report lists Legal and General at number one, with an
overall score of 457 and 116 mentions, while Equitable Life is last at
518th place, with minus 103 points from 116 mentions.
Products measured include individual savings accounts, insurance,
pensions mortgages and medical insurance, plus open-ended investment
companies - a pooled investment to spread risk.
The main table ranks the best companies overall, with a section for each
product offered, as well as a breakdown of mentions according to
newspaper and pundit.
A marking system gives a score of up to 15 for positive mentions, down
to minus 15 for very negative coverage.
PressWatch managing director Richard Saunders said the service was aimed
at both PR agencies and their clients.
The guide is available for an annual subscription of pounds 2,950.