When PR goes too far…

An article in the Guardian last week and blog posted by Ethical Corporation Managing Director Toby Webb makes some very relevant points about the issue of supply chain responsibility for large multinationals who outsource communications services.  Webb writes:  “It will become untenable for big, sustainably-minded companies to continue to employ PR and lobbying firms, even (or particularly) on sustainability, who act for deeply unethical clients.” Supply chain responsibility has become the buzz word for many companies who are trying earnestly to embed their CSR policies.  Retailer Walmart has made colossal inroads in this area: it has developed an extensive and very comprehensive supplier score card that charts the chain status of over 100,000 different suppliers. Meanwhile sportswear brands Nike, Levis and Patagonia are hard at work on their own supply chains and dealing decisively with any inconsistencies. But what are they doing about the PR and advertising agencies they hire to tell their Corporate Responsibility stories and handle their communication needs?

As a communications company, Media Wise is selective about which companies it does business as we feel that their values do not align with ours.  Like Ethical Corporation, we believe the big agencies mentioned in the Guardian as being hands for hire for the world’s dictators with deep pockets should begin to think of their own values and ethics.

We believe there is an ethical line that shouldn’t be crossed by those in the PR/communications field. We should think twice about taking on well-paying clients with dubious and tainted reputations. But how far should we go? Will the ESG criteria trickle down to the service suppliers such as the PR firms? Or is taking on such clients a way of helping them improve by persuading them of better ways?

There are many subjective issues as there are arguments to be made for both sides. Still, in principle there is a line that should not be crossed.  Imagine a large PR agency in one part of the globe is working on behalf of an inhumane dictator to help him polish his image, while another office of that same PR network is helping a multinational with a pristine reputation to continue as a trailblazer in sustainability? Surely taking on one assignment would cancel out the credibility of the agency to do the job right with another client?

Sooner or later we communications professionals  will be forced to look at the provenance of our billing hours and start thinking ethically, just as our clients are. We suggest we all start sooner rather than later.

Investments walk when climate change is not on the policy agenda

In a recent interview with Reuters, Kevin Parker, the Global Head of the Deutsche Asset Management Division of Deutsche Bank, spurned the US for not being able to come up with a climate change policy.  Deutsche Asset Management Division has a hefty $700 billion in funds, of which $7 billion are allotted for green investments.  Now, the US will not be seeing much if any of those badly needed funds.

Parker describes the US policy makers as, “asleep at the wheel on climate change, asleep at the wheel on job growth, asleep at the wheel on this industrial revolution taking place in the energy industry.”  He was very clear about the consequences congress faces by not being able to come up with a climate change bill.

According to Parker, governments in China, Germany, Italy and Spain have made climate change a priority, with national policies and laws that offer investors certainty on the regulatory risks. These are the countries that will see investment funds rise as their governments’ policies provide “transparency, longevity and certainty.”

After the let-down of the Copenhagen summit on climate change, it is not surprising that companies are taking matters into their own hands with regards to trying to curb climate change and spur the renewable energy market. Hopefully other banks will follow suit and maybe then the US policy makers (and other dawdlers) will be forced to seriously address the lack of a policy on climate change.  It is unfortunate that the leaders of the US can only be motivated by dollars or the lack thereof.

“You just throw your hands up and say … we’re going to take our money elsewhere.” Let what Mr. Parker said become a motto to nudge governments into taking action against climate change!

BBC Young Writers & Public Speakers Awards 2010

Background

The Netherlands is an important market for BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm on the UK’s public broadcaster, and one that they continue to invest in. The BBC Young Writers & Public Speaking Awards are part of this investment and form part of the BBC’s corporate responsibility initiatives. The Awards are aimed at secondary school students from 16 to 20 years old who want to showcase their written and spoken English language skills.

Objectives

BBC Worldwide has supported the Awards for eight years and needed a public relations campaign with a fresh perspective to revitalise its profile.

The campaign’s main objective was to generate substantial media coverage, by engaging all the traditional disciplines (i.e. print, broadcast, online). This objective was then broken down as follows:

• To reach out to an extensive regional audience in order to promote BBC Worldwide’s investment in a non-commercial educational initiative to the Dutch programme councils.
• To raise awareness of the BBC Awards, and subsequently, BBC programming, among a young audience.
• To increase interest among existing viewers of the full range of BBC channels on offer in the Netherlands.

Strategy & Plan

The public relations strategy for this campaign was three-fold:

• Media Wise realised from the outset that it was very important to adopt a targeted local approach, because the audience with the greatest interest in the awards would be situated in the provinces. We wanted to communicate directly with the communities and people who would be touched by the success of the young people from their home towns.
• Perhaps the most important audience for this campaign was students aged from 16 to 20 living in the Netherlands. As such it was imperative to build up the on-line presence of the BBC Awards, using relevant sites such as facebook, Hyves and You Tube. Media Wise also instigated and encouraged blogging amongst the competitors, successfully creating a multi-faceted online profile.
• Given that the BBC Awards compete for attention against modern televised formats, such as Idols, Media Wise wanted to enhance its profile by adding another dimension which would further engage the youth audience, while maintaining the Awards’ image as a serious competition which celebrates excellence. Media Wise, therefore, engaged well known Dutch news presenter, Sacha de Boer, who came on board to coach the finalists, sharing her tips and tricks for great presentations and thus creating a fantastic photo opportunity and a very inspiring event for the students.

Results

The BBC Young Writers and Public Speaking Awards 2010 received substantial media attention, achieving over 160 hits in the media, including three television and five radio broadcasts as well extensive hits on online sites.

One of the many highlights of the campaign included a feature on prime time Radio 1 programme Lunch! and news of the Awards made it to the front page of the popular youth newspaper SevenDays.

The campaign achieved great results throughout the Netherlands with 11 out of the 12 regions covering the news. The media chose to focus on the positive human interest angle of the BBC Awards story, looking at the impressive talent young Dutch students possess in being able to communicate in English so eloquently. This resulted in 100% positive tone of coverage.

Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment for Oce

The international printer, copier and scanner company, Océ has asked Media Wise to plan and produce its annual  stakeholder meeting. It will be its third stakeholder meeting and is scheduled to take place in the last quarter of 2010.  Océ is highly commited to eco-efficient and eco-effective document management and printing.

AkzoNobel

Background

Media Wise has been providing the Industrial Chemicals unit of AkzoNobel with crisis communications and media training since 2005. AkzoNobel is the largest global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. AkzoNobel is a multi-national organisation and as such it is imperative that its spokespeople are able to communicate effectively and cross culturally in many different situations.

Media Wise has had the pleasure to devise many and varied training programmes to suit the needs of the executives that AkzoNobel has invested in. Participants have ranged from senior executives and managers of specific businesses to sales executives and high potentials. In addition, trainings to date have also been tailored to take into account the many nationalities of the participants attending: Chinese, Danish, Swedish, German, British and Dutch employees have all benefitted from Media Wise’s bespoke sessions.

Training Method & Objectives

Preparation is the key to success and handling a crisis situation is a task best entrusted to safe spokespersons who are tried and tested. It is essential to AkzoNobel that their executives are given thorough training in this area, so as to equip them with the necessary skills to deal effectively with any situation that might arise and to maintain the company’s reputation as a responsible and transparent organization with impeccable health and safety standards.

For each crisis communications training day Media Wise has devised a bespoke programme based on the requirements of the AkzoNobel executives, aimed at building the skills and confidence needed to handle any crisis well. These bespoke programmes have also tested potential crisis areas and allowed participants to formulate an appropriate communications approach. The Media Wise training sessions have thus been used as a testing ground for existing or potential official spokespersons.

AkzoNobel has also turned to Media Wise for individual and group assistance with their presentations. During our presentation rehearsal sessions we have addressed content and all aspects of non-verbal communications. We record participants’ performances on video and analyse them afterwards, indicating to participants areas for improvement and helping them to make adjustments.

Results

The results of Media Wise’s communications trainings have been far reaching and tangible. Spokespeople who we have trained have gone on to be regular and impressive spokespeople for the company, speaking at external events such as the Big Improvement Day (a high-level, national, business conference) and internal management conferences. Several senior managers who have since given interviews to the trade press have also reported that they felt much more confident and well equipped to deal with the interview thanks to the Media Wise’s training. As Huub Verbeeten, Communication Manager, Industrial Chemicals, Akzo Nobel confirmed:

“What I like about Media Wise is their thorough approach. They understand our business as well as we do and are extremely skilled in training executives to convey this in a simple, informative yet powerful way. This is one of the many reasons why we consistently return to Media Wise. ”

Presenting in English Coaching for Paris-based Professor

Media Wise was asked to assist a French medical professor in polishing his presentation skills in English. Media Wise specialises in English language training for non-native speakers of English and we have  substantial experience in the medical sector. The professor in question is a top expert in his field and as such is frequently called upon to speak at international  medical conferences.

ADHD Media Training in London for European psychiatrists

In early July, Media Wise provided media training on the topic of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to a group of top European psychiatrists, working in Spanish and in English.

What’s all this Twitter about, then?

As I write and you read, millions of football fans around the world are digesting, dissecting, rejoicing and commiserating with each other through Twitter. Three new Tweets per Second (TPS) records were set in the first few days of the World Cup Finals. The service has become a lifeline for fans. In fact, almost any event you can think of can be followed through Twitter. Attendees and often organizations themselves post comments, or “tweets”, on whatever is happening. We can no longer ignore the leviathan that Twitter has become. It seems that everyone and everything is on Twitter, everywhere.

In case you’ve missed the hype – which seems unlikely – Twitter is what many call a “micro-blogging platform” where people can subscribe and update their status in a text message of up to 140 characters, via the internet whenever they want, wherever they want.

The new tool has taken off in past 5 years, with mobile phones at the heart of its success. In the first quarter of 2010, 4 billion tweets were posted. All told, there are an estimated 100 million tweeters out there. So it’s popular and it keeps us up to date. But why would companies or organizations want it, and how should we use it? Isn’t Twitter just a glorified way of staying up to date with sports news and Hollywood gossip? Not by a long shot. Twitter is modern communications tool that can achieve many goals, but whose success depends on the sophistication of the user. The trick is knowing how to use the platform and when. Politicians are using it to diffuse their opinions. News outlets are using tweets as news alerts. News broadcasters are drawing on Twitter as a prominent news source. Businesses are using Twitter to keep in touch with customers.

Here are three reasons why.

1. To engage with stakeholders more intimately than ever before through applications such as twtQpon, CoTweet, Twithawk or bubbletweet.

2. To react spontaneously and emotionally to developments – Twitter is used more than any other media site for discussing the news.

3. To follow your own business gurus and information sources closely and in real time.

We are only beginning to appreciate how useful this tool can be. How are you using it?

Arcadis debates new strategy aboard historic ship

Photo by Emma Robson

Arcadis, the global engineering, water resource management, design and environmental services company, hosted its annual senior management conference in Rotterdam this year, on the SS Rotterdam. This famous cruise ship, part of the Holland America Line,  plied the Atlantic for 38 years, from Rotterdam to New York. Her maiden voyage in 1958 was graced by today’s Dutch Queen Beatrix. Its slogan at the time was: “The ship of tomorrow today!”  The ship, now a hotel, was thus a highly fitting venue for Arcadis’s discussion of its future strategic course. At the end of the two-day event, the 130+ managers engaged in a debate on strategy and implementation, which was moderated by Media Wise managing director Emma Robson.

Green Vacuum Cleaners

About 18 months ago we needed to buy a new vacuum cleaner. We went to the local shop, Blokker, where we seriously considered a Miele model. For some reason my husband reckons this brand lasts longer. But then my eye fell on a bright green compact model made by Philips. What I liked about this one was its small size and light weight. Plus, it cost less than half the Miele. Making it even more attractive was its claim to have the most compatible vacuum cleaner bags. The S-Bag, we were told, was a new standard developed by Philips and a host of other consumer electronics firms. So consumers would never be confronted with the prospect of running out of bags before the gadget ran out of life. How sustainable! We thought. So Philips won. In fact, as our house, like many in Amsterdam, has steep stairs, we decided to buy TWO Philips’ vacuum cleaners instead of one Miele. One for upstairs, one for downstairs. Very practical! However, about three months ago we ran out of S-Bags and went back to Blokker, only to find that the retailer where we bought the machines no longer stocks the bags to go with them. Visits to a number of other household equipment stores brought no luck either. A week or so later I attended the Global Reporting Initiative conference in Amsterdam, where one of the featured speakers was – lo and behold – Henk de Bruin, head of sustainability at Philips! After his speech, I told Mr De Bruin my vacuum cleaner tale of woe, feeling somewhat petty for complaining about a tiny personal inconvenience at a conference addressing such big world issues. I thought he might change the subject. He didn’t. I thought he might tell me to buy one of the new models with washable bags, or even a bagless model. He didn’t. Instead, he asked for my email address and said he’d get back to me. Within 48 hours, Henk sent me an email with the name, address and telephone number of an Amsterdam shop that stocks the S-Bag. I biked over there the next day and found the bags in stock. Philips is consistently ranked as one of the most sustainable companies worldwide. Here’s one reason why. Thanks Henk!

Submitted by Emma Robson. emma@mediawise.eu

Presentation training for Amsterdam University College

On June 10, Media Wise presentation trainers Allison Weiss and Emma Robson once again gave a presentation skills training session to a group of 19 first year students of liberal arts and sciences at Amsterdam University College. Nine months after the first training the students seemed more grown up: more confident, more eloquent and apparently reaping the benefits of the liberal arts approach, which emphasises debating and public speaking, in the American tradition. At Media Wise we provide presentation skills training to select educational institutions on a pro-bono basis as part of our own Corporate Responsibility programme.

Amsterdam Financial Forum 2009

Background

Following the recent global financial crisis the Amsterdam Financial Forum was designed to address topics of critical importance to the long-term stability, effectiveness and efficiency of the financial sector and to promote Amsterdam as a financial centre. The title for the first forum, which took place in November 2009, was Reshaping our view of finance.

Amsterdam Financial Forum was initiated by Holland Financial Centre and Ernst & Young, in cooperation with Capital Amsterdam, City of Amsterdam, De Nederlansche Bank, Ministry of Finance, NYSE Euronext, Stichting VvdE.

Objectives

The key objective of the public relations campaign that supported the Amsterdam Financial Forum was to put Amsterdam on the map as an important financial centre. By generating a big splash in the media based on discussions that arose from the conference and through highlighting the attendance of high level of thought-leaders, politicians and business executives, the campaign sought to reach audiences worldwide.

A secondary objective was to reconfirm and emphasize Ernst & Young’s thought leadership in the financial sector accountancy market.

Results

Media Wise succeeded in generating extensive and prominent media coverage of the inaugural edition of the Amsterdam Financial Forum. Highlights of media coverage included:

• News of the forum reached the front page of Het Financieele Dagblad (the Netherlands top financial broadsheet)
• The forum generated news in over seven countries, including USA, U.K and Germany.
• Excellent pick up of key message: Amsterdam as a financial centre.
• 100% positive tone of coverage.
• Over 30 articles were generated, as well as 2 television broadcasts and 1 radio broadcast, including an extensive interview on CNBC with Ernst & Young Banking & Capital Markets leader for The Netherlands, Marcel van Loo.

As a result the public relations campaign, the Amsterdam Financial Forum successfully raised recognition of Amsterdam as a financial centre and aligned Ernst & Young and Holland Financial Centre and its work to support the long-term stability, effectiveness and efficiency of the financial sector. In addition the forum created the opportunity for Ernst & Young and Holland Financial Centre spokespeople to voice their support of Amsterdam as a financial centre.

Media Wise Official Reporter at Global Reporting Initiative Conference

Media Wise attended this year’s Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency  as official conference reporter, writing summaries of the main points made during the plenary sessions of this important forum. The Global Reporting Initiative, which organised the conference, set 2015 as a target date by which all OECD large and medium-sized companies should be issuing  reports on their environmental, social and governance performance, not just economic performance.  By 2020, all companies should have integrated ESG criteria fully into their philosphy, approach and operations.  More than 1,200 came from far and wide to hear the 200 or so speakers on sustainbility themes.

Media Wise boosts Corporate Responsibility Activities

Amsterdam, 26 May 2010 – Media Wise, the international PR and communications agency based in Amsterdam, has appointed Vicky Valanos as Senior Communications Adviser and Corporate Responsibility Coordinator.

Valanos, a Greek-American former diplomat, financial analyst and journalist, previously advised on corporate responsibility strategy through her own Amsterdam-based company be involved!

At Media Wise Valanos will develop Media Wise’s Corporate Responsibility practice, focusing on developing stakeholder engagement activities, concepts and approaches that marry sustainability to companies’ core values and strategy.

“Vicky has an unusually diverse combination of business, analytical, journalistic and creative skills that enriches our communications assets,” says Emma Robson, Managing Director of Media Wise, adding: “Vicky is brimming with ideas about CSR, and this is an area we were actively looking to develop further, beyond the annual sustainability reports we have produced to date.”

Vicky’s career spans 25 years, spent in Greece and the U.S. and includes stints at the IMF, as an election campaign event manager and as an analyst at the U.S. Department of State, specialising in intelligence and counterterrorism. When in Greece, she worked as a financial analyst for a private equity company, advised the Greek Foreign Minister, spearheading cultural programming and international conferences, established a successful music and video games company and produced television news for U.S., Australian and Middle East-based broadcasters.

Vicky has a degree in international relations and Spanish from Dickinson College, Pennsylvania and a Master’s in international law from the American University in Washington, D.C. She is a native English and Greek speaker and is fluent in Spanish.

Corio NV 2009 Annual Report goes live

Leading European retail property group Corio NV’s 2009 annual report, which Media Wise co-wrote and edited, was published on February 24. Corio, a member of the leading Dutch blue chip AEX share index, owns and manages shopping centres in five European countries.

Corio showed resilience during the recession of 2009 thanks to the quality of its portfolio and the strategic locations of the main centres.

To read more about Corio click here:

www.corio.com

Ons marketing evenement was drie keer beter dankzij de hulp van Media Wise – advocaat

De presentatie training gaf ons meer zelfvertrouwen en de road-show was een groot succes” – CFO

Profit or principle? reducing the blur

SNS Reaal Group’s CFO Mr. Ference Lamp recently announced that the asset management arm of this Dutch financial institution would be pulling out of Greek government bonds, citing the ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) issues as a reason for this decision of choosing principle over profit.   SNS Reaal says it currently has EUR 150 million in Greek bonds, down from EUR 260 million last year, when the Group tightened its investment policy.

The ESG criteria were established in the mid 2000s under the auspices of the United Nations as part of the Principles for Responsible Investment. Simply put, they are guidelines for investing using non-financial criteria.  They cover environmental, ethical, social and governance issues.

In order to create ESG ratings, fund managers make use of all sources of available information, including CSR reports, annual reports, industry publications, broker and independent research, and informal conversations with corporate stakeholders.

The application of ESG criteria will become more commonplace in the future as social investing takes a foothold globally.  Examples of managers who embrace ESG issues can be found in abundance among funds that have a particular thematic focus, such as an environmental, social, or general sustainability focus, where the investment philosophy of the fund revolves around ESG issues. Where there is no thematic fund involved, however, managers appear to be applying ESG factors to investments subjectively.

In fact, according to the UN official authority on this topic, the 2008 Principle for Responsible Investment (PRI) Report on Progress, only 39% of investment managers that are signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment have actually incorporated ESG issues into their decision-making process for developed market equities.

This brings us to the question of how far can an asset manager go in applying the ESG factors to their investment? Does principle rule in one case and profit in another? Can the PRI be unswervingly applied throughout your investments?

We will be addressing this and similar issues in our regular CSR blogs. Stay tuned!

-          Vicky Valanos, Corporate Responsibility Strategist, Media Wise. vicky@mediawise.eu

Financial Brochures for the City of Amsterdam

For the City of Amsterdam Media Wise produced two financial brochures aimed at informing potential businesses and investors about the attractions of the strategically located Dutch capital.

De trainingen waren waarschijnlijk de beste investering die iemand ooit in mij gemaakt heeft” – CEO multinational

BBC Awards PR campaign generates 160+ news items

Media Wise has just wrapped up another successful PR campaign. The BBC Young Writers and Public Speaking Awards 2010, which took place in April this year, received overwhelming media attention, achieving over 160 hits in the media. And it wasn’t just traditional media that picked up on the news: the students competing for the accolade were featured in three television and five radio broadcasts as well a variety of online outlets.

One of the many highlights of the campaign included a feature on prime time Radio 1 programme Lunch!, and news of the awards made it to the front page of the popular youth newspaper SevenDays.

The campaign achieved great results throughout the Netherlands with 11 out of the 12 regions covering the news. The media chose to focus on the positive human interest angle of the BBC Awards story, looking at the impressive skill young Dutch students have in being able to communicate in English so eloquently. This resulted in 100% positive tone of coverage.

Media Wise moderates international medical debate

On April 18, Media Wise Managing Director Emma Robson moderated an international medical debate in Barcelona in the context of the European Association of Urologists. The debate, which aired new findings and shared new insight into the problem of erectile disfunction, drew an audience of approximately 200 doctors. Had it not been for the eruption of Iceland’s volcano a few days earlier, there would have been around 300 in the audience. Had it not been for this eruption, however, Emma would not have moderated this debate at all! She was filling the chair for a doctor who specialises in sexual disfunction who was unable to reach Barcelona from London.

Media Wise provides presentation training to oncologists in Barcelona

On April 15, Media Wise Managing Director Emma Robson was part of a team of medical presentation specialists who provided presentation coaching to doctors, in Barcelona. The objective was to bring practitioners up to date with new insights into the diagnostics and treatment of a particular type of endocrinal cancer that is getting more common as awareness and diagnostics improve. After a briefing from experts in this specialised area of oncology, participants split into groups to practice presenting new data in their own languages. Emma’s group was Italian speaking.

Presenter Sacha de Boer coaches BBC Awards finalists

In the run-up to the Master Class Sacha was interviewed by the Radio 1 programme “Lunch!”, which Media Wise set up. Listen to the interview here: Sacha de Boer on Radio 1

BBC Worldwide’s Simon Cottle speaks to English Breakfast Radio

To promote the upcoming BBC Awards Final on April 10th, Simon Cottle, BBC Worldwide’s distribution and Business Development Director, EMEA, spoke to the English language radio channel Breakfast Radio Amsterdam. Listen to the interview here: Simon Cottle on English Breakfast Radio. Media Wise is handling the public relations for the event.

Astra Zeneca Netherlands CEO argues in favour of GP visits

At a national healthcare debate organised by the Netherlands pharmaceutical industry association Nefarma, Astra Zeneca Netherlands CEO Hans Sijbesma defended doctor visits by pharmaceutical reps. These visits ensure that doctors receive clear, complete and accurate information about existing products and are kept to date about innovations, he said.
View a video report on the debate (in Dutch) here: Nefarma Interview

Media Wise provided communications advice.

BBC Awards speaker interviewed on Rijnmond TV

Semi finalist Emilie Westerouen van Meeteren from Erasmiaans Gymnasium in Rotterdam was interviewed by Rijnmond TV.
Watch the (Dutch) interview on Emilie op RTV Rijnmond.

BBC Awards speaker interviewed on Radio Rijnmond

Emilie Westerouen van Meeteren from Erasmiaans Gymnasium in Rotterdam was interviewed on Rotterdam’s popular Radio Rijnmond on March 10 after making it through to the semi-finals of the BBC-sponsored public speaking awards for Dutch high school students. Emilie, aged 17, aspires to be an international journalist.

Here she is, right, next to contestant Roza Roshaan. Here’s Emilie’s radio interview, which is in English and Dutch: Radio Rijnmond Interview

Emilie Westerouen van Meeteren from Erasmiaans Gymnasium in Rotterdam was interviewed on Rotterdam’s popular Radio Rijnmond on March 10 after making it through to the semi-finals of the BBC-sponsored public speaking awards for Dutch high school students. Emilie, aged 17, aspires to be an international journalist.

Here she is, right, next to contestant Roza Roshaan. Here’s Emilie’s radio interview, which is in English and Dutch: Radio Rijnmond Interview

Media Wise co-facilitates major medical debate in Istanbul

At the end of January, Media Wise co-facilitated a series of break-out debates in various European languages on new developments in the field of hematology.

Dutch publicity for BBC Worldwide BBC Awards initiative

In January 2010, BBC Worldwide hired Media Wise to boost publicity for the BBC Awards – an annual public speaking award and writers award held in the Netherlands and aimed at 16-20-year old school students. The deadline for registrations was January 31 and the finals will be held on April 10.

In January 2010, BBC Worldwide hired Media Wise to boost publicity for the BBC Awards – an annual public speaking award and writers award held in the Netherlands and aimed at 16-20-year old school students. The deadline for registrations was January 31 and the finals will be held on April 10.

Amsterdam Financial Forum hits headlines on 4 continents

The Amsterdam Financial Forum, held on November 28 and 29, generated headlines on four continents, thanks to Media Wise, which handled the public relations.
The event, held at Amsterdam’s Okura Hotel, drew more than 100 delegates and journalists.

Articles on the event appeared in newspapers and websites in the U.S., South Africa, the Middle East and throughout Europe. Speakers at the event included EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes and HSBC Chief Executive Stephen Hester.
The forum reached the front page of Het Financieele Dagblad on Monday November 30. It was covered on two television stations — CNBC and AT5 — and on BNR Nieuwsradio. For press coverage of the event see:
AFF Press Coverage

To replay the CNBC interview: CNBC Interview
To replay the AT5 interview: AT5 interview
To replay the BNR Nieuwsradio interview: BNR Nieuwsradio interview

The Amsterdam Financial Forum, held on November 28 and 29, generated headlines on four continents, thanks to Media Wise, which handled the public relations.
The event, held at Amsterdam’s Okura Hotel, drew more than 100 delegates and journalists.

Articles on the event appeared in newspapers and websites in the U.S., South Africa, the Middle East and throughout Europe. Speakers at the event included EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes and HSBC Chief Executive Stephen Hester.
The forum reached the front page of Het Financieele Dagblad on Monday November 30. It was covered on two television stations — CNBC and AT5 — and on BNR Nieuwsradio. For press coverage of the event see:
AFF Press Coverage

To replay the CNBC interview: CNBC Interview
To replay the AT5 interview: AT5 interview
To replay the BNR Nieuwsradio interview: BNR Nieuwsradio interview

Amsterdam University College students get presenting in English training

Media Wise provided a presenting in English session for first year Amsterdam University College students in November.

Amsterdam University College is a new university that launched this year, following in the successful footsteps of similar colleges in Utrecht, Middelburg and Maastricht. The Amsterdam college offers a similar broad liberal arts degree to students from all over the world, in English, but has a differentiating focus: science.

Media Wise provided a presenting in English session for first year Amsterdam University College students in November.

Amsterdam University College is a new university that launched this year, following in the successful footsteps of similar colleges in Utrecht, Middelburg and Maastricht. The Amsterdam college offers a similar broad liberal arts degree to students from all over the world, in English, but has a differentiating focus: science.

Communicating commercially: Media Wise seminar at Baker & McKenzie event

Media Wise director Emma Robson presented on how to make communications work commercially at the Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam semi-annual corporate retreat on November 20th.

Emma’s assignment was to demonstrate to the audience of 180 lawyers, tax advisers and notaries, ways of using good communications as a tool to become more successful “commercial pragmatists”.

PR for Ernst & Young/Amsterdam Financial Forum

Amsterdam will be hosting a top-level financial forum at the end of November 2009. The event is being developed and coordinated by Ernst & Young and co-organised by the Dutch Ministry of Finance, Dutch Central Bank, City of Amsterdam and Holland Financial Centre. Media Wise is handling the PR.

Confirmed speakers include European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and EC Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. An article announcing the upcoming conference appeared in the Amsterdam daily Het Parool.

How the Dutch Communicate – presentation at De Baak

In October, Media Wise director Emma Robson delivered an analysis of how the Dutch communicate, and how they could do it better, to a group of 150 business men and women at an event organized by the management training centre De Baak in Amsterdam.

The theme of the afternoon was: Who are we? Reflections on Dutch leadership and society. For a TV report featuring quotes from Emma, see: Who are We? Reflections on Dutch Leadership and Society

Media Wise co-produces videos for Rabobank

In August, Media Wise co-produced two videos for Dutch bank Rabobank, through advertising and PR agency BBC Communicatie. The two business cases feature the bank’s relationships with food company FrieslandCampina and fashion, home decor and electronics etailer Wehkamp. View them here:
- Wehkamp
- VION
- Friesland Campina

M&A: acquisition PR for radiation oncology company Nucletron

Nucletron BV hired Media Wise to handle internal and external communications surrounding its acquisition of sector colleague Isodose Control BV. The agreed merger was announced on June 2 and led to articles in Dutch dailies De Telegraaf and Het Financieele Dagblad based on interviews conducted with the two companies’ CEOS.

The Media Wise team consisted of Emma Robson, Jeroen Bruning and Ewold de Bruijne. Jeroen was formerly head of global healthcare communications at Philips Electronics. Ewold has worked in corporate communications for Aegon, Buhrmann, Akzo Nobel and Ziggo.

You Tube videos for RSM Erasmus

In early 2009, Rotterdam School of Management/Erasmus University requested a media training from Media Wise and in the process got video clips to upload to its You Tube site. Watch the results for yourself!
You Tube videos RSM Erasmus

German language media training for SNS, Arcadis

The year 2009 began with two German and English language media trainings, for SNS Reaal Groep and the infrastructure, environmental services and buildings advisers Arcadis.

Media Wise enlisted the support of German media expert and Media Wise “correspondent” Wolfgang Karg, who flew over from Munich.

A record year for Media Wise

The year 2008 was a record for Media Wise in terms of turnover, number of assignments delivered, numbers of people advised and trained, and the number of associates and freelancers involved.

Media Wise worked in 10 countries in 6 European languages, in the process expanding its network of regular communications collaborators to approximately 25.

Eli Lilly media training for European managers

In late 2008, Media Wise provided media and message training for some of the European managers of Eli Lilly.

Rabobank analysts trained by Media Wise

During 2008, Media Wise provided a series of media training for Rabobank food, agriculture and clean tech experts.

The bank’s analysts were much in demand in 2008 for their views on where food prices were heading, given the big spike in commodities prices in the middle of the year. At the same time, energy prices were spiralling higher, strengthening arguments for the more rapid deployment of alternative energy technology.

European issues management for pharma cos.

In 2007 and 2008, Media Wise provided two series of pan-European issues management sessions for two multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Media Wise assists on medicines agency presentation

In 2008, Media Wise advised a pharmaceutical company on how to present effectively to 27 nationalities at once.

The assignment was aimed at garnering approval from the 27-member EU medicines agency (EMEA) for a medical product.

Media Wise facilitates medical debate in 4 languages

In September 2008, Media Wise was subcontracted by London-based Lion’s Den to provide multilingual facilitation support for a medical conference.

Media Wise supplied French, Spanish, Italian and German-speaking communications professionals, who facilitated discussions among medical professionals, in the name of ongoing medical education.

Media Wise studio gets makeover

In the summer of 2008, Media Wise assigned the task of giving the offices and studio a new makeover to Ondersteboven interior design.

The studio was given a new coat of paint, new curtains and studio backdrop, and a new radio section was created for audio recordings and radio broadcasts.

Marketing support for Aegon Asset Management

Media Wise completed various English and Dutch language marketing communications projects.

Law firm Nauta Dutilh gets presentation support

The largest Dutch law firm, Nauta Dutilh, asked Media Wise to provide presentation skills training to its key lawyers.

Sessions were held in Amsterdam and Luxembourg in the second half of the year.

Arcadis enlists Media Wise help for new PR push

Arcadis strengthened its communications department and asked Media Wise to provide assistance with media training linked to company news. Media Wise did the media training for an interview of Piet Dircke on CNBC

Booz & Co. media training

The management consultancy Booz & Co. asked Media Wise to provide media training in English and/or Dutch for its senior consultants.