Packages & Investment
PR Packages and Pricing Mackay
Every package is built around one principle: reducing your reputational risk. Hype Machine is led by a former journalist with hands-on PR experience, based in Mackay inside the Bowen Basin, with a direct understanding of the media, stakeholders and community dynamics your operation faces. These are not marketing costs. This is insurance against the incidents that can shut down projects, trigger regulatory action or destroy stakeholder confidence overnight.
Monthly Retainer Packages
Ongoing reputation protection, scaled to match your risk profile and operational exposure.
Crisis Ready
For contractors, SME mining suppliers and small operations who want baseline protection in place before something goes wrong.
- Media and reputation monitoring
- ORM baseline audit and setup
- Crisis communications plan on file
- Basic incident response framework (first 24-hour messaging)
Active Reputation
For mid-size operators, project developers and Tier 2/3 contractors with regular community, media or regulatory exposure.
Everything in Crisis Ready, plus:
- Proactive online reputation management
- Quarterly media training session
- Crisis communications on retainer
- Stakeholder and community communications support
Reputation Partner
For listed companies, major project operators and high-exposure businesses where reputational risk is a board-level concern. Scoped and priced to your organisation.
Everything in Active Reputation, plus:
- Dedicated crisis response availability
- Executive and spokesperson media coaching
- Community and landholder communications
- Issues management and ongoing strategic counsel
One-Off Projects
Targeted engagements for organisations that need a specific piece of work done right.
ORM Audit & Strategy
A full review of your current online reputation, including search results, review profiles and digital footprint, with a clear strategy to strengthen or repair it.
Crisis Communications Plan
A documented crisis response framework covering risk identification, escalation procedures, pre-approved messaging and spokesperson protocols, tailored to your organisation.
Media Training Workshop
Practical, hands-on media training for your leaders and spokespeople, covering interview technique, message discipline and handling difficult questions on camera.
Executive Media Coaching
One-on-one coaching for senior leaders who need to front the media with confidence, whether for a planned opportunity or an emerging situation.
Crisis Activation
When a crisis breaks, active 24/7 crisis management is a different level of engagement to a standing retainer. Crisis activation covers immediate deployment, around-the-clock availability and sustained hands-on response for the duration of the incident. Day rates apply for extended engagements.
This Is Not a Marketing Cost
For mining and resources businesses operating in the Bowen Basin and across Queensland, reputational incidents carry real financial consequences. A poorly handled media story, an unmanaged online review or a botched crisis response can stall approvals, erode community trust and put contracts at risk.
These packages exist to make sure you are prepared before that happens. Every service is built around risk reduction and reputation protection, not publicity or exposure. You are investing in the infrastructure that keeps your operation's name clean and your stakeholders confident.
Hype Machine is led by founder Jordan Cullen, a former print journalist with hands-on PR experience, based in Mackay at the centre of the Bowen Basin. That matters. We understand your media landscape, your community stakeholders and your regulatory environment because we work inside it. When something goes wrong, you are not briefing someone in a CBD office who has never been on site. You are talking to someone who has spent years in newsrooms watching exactly how these stories develop and knows how to get ahead of them.
Pricing Questions
What PR, crisis communications and reputation management cost with Hype Machine.
How much does crisis communications support cost in Australia?
At Hype Machine, a documented Crisis Communications Plan starts from $15,000. If a crisis is already underway, Crisis Activation starts from a $15,000 activation fee, covering immediate deployment and around-the-clock response, with day rates for extended engagements. For ongoing protection, the Crisis Ready retainer starts from $7,500 per month and keeps a crisis plan and first-24-hour response framework on file.
How much does a reputation management program cost?
A one-off ORM Audit & Strategy starts from $5,000 and reviews your search results, review profiles and digital footprint. Ongoing programs start with the Crisis Ready retainer from $7,500 per month, which includes media and reputation monitoring and an ORM baseline audit. The Active Reputation retainer, from $13,500 per month, adds proactive online reputation management. Larger organisations are scoped and priced individually.
What should a crisis communications retainer include?
A good retainer covers you before, during and after an incident. Hype Machine retainers include media and reputation monitoring, a crisis communications plan on file and an incident response framework for the first 24 hours. Higher tiers add crisis communications on retainer, quarterly media training, stakeholder and community communications support, dedicated crisis response availability and executive media coaching.
How much does media training cost?
A half-day Media Training Workshop for your leaders and spokespeople starts from $10,000. One-on-one Executive Media Coaching starts from $3,500 per session. Quarterly media training is also included in the Active Reputation retainer.
Do you work with organisations outside Mackay?
Yes. Hype Machine is based in Mackay, Central Queensland, and works with organisations across Queensland and Australia. Media training, crisis planning, reputation management and strategic communications can be delivered remotely or on-site.
Ready to Protect Your Reputation?
Get in touch for a confidential discussion about which package or project is the right fit for your organisation.