In line with the United Nation’s Human Rights Universal Periodic Review, 12 journalists selected from the 8 countries under review, will hold a round table discussion at Webster University on new media tools and human rights.

Discussion will be followed by a question and answer period and networking.

Drinks and refreshments will be served.

Wednesday 5 October2011, 18-20h00, Webster University, Geneva

Panelists from: Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Swaziland, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Uganda

Please RSVP to rosso@webster.ch

Getting the Best from your Creative Team

6:00pm – 8:00pm, Wednesday, September 28, 2011

International Media Management:
Getting the Best from your Creative Team

Media production in a culturally diverse creative team can become problematic, yet rewarding. When these teams are charged with producing content that works across cultures the process becomes even more complex.

What cultural considerations are specific to international media production? How can a manager use a team’s diversity to produce effective socially responsible media content that works across cultures?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

18:00-18:30 Registration & refreshments

18:30-20:00 Workshop

20:00 Apéro
Webster University, Commons Room
Route de Collex 15, 1293 Bellevue

A photo project with Synthon is used as the basis for examining production challenges, generating discussion, and developing solid tactics for managing the client-producer relationship from both sides.

Panel members

Ron Banks, Marketing
David Veenhuys, Public relations
Paul Sutin, Media manager
Kristian Skeie, Photojournalist
Keith Strandberg, Videographer
Daniel Deboy, Audi engineer
Tim Young, Media Technician

Register now for limited seating:
wichert @ webster.ch
+41 (0)22 959 8016

An interesting workshop coming up in Geneva:

Creating effective teams — an introduction to Belbin Team Roles

Saturday 24 September 2011, Geneva, 9.00–17.00

Do you feel that you’re not fully using your natural talents at work? Do you ever get frustrated as part of a “team” that doesn’t really function well as a team? Is team spirit sometimes jeopardized by difficult relationships with colleagues?

If yes…then join us for this fun, interactive workshop to learn how the Belbin Team Roles approach can help you to develop your self-management skills, understand the unique contribution you can make within a team and build productive working relationships.

The workshop will be run by Liz Tayfun and Sarah Clark, both Belbin Team Role accredited facilitators.

More information and registration (pdf)>>

An interesting conference coming up in Geneva:

Pulford Media offers a “taster” session of its new one-day Masterclass:

Who speaks for your company?

Well of course ALL your staff do – whether in a formal communication role such as media interviews or face-to-face presentations, or informally through personal social media links, blogs, tweets etc, but: 
– how well do they communicate the right messages both within and outside your company?
–  they make a lot of decisions – how well do they communicate them?
–  how well do they cope with the tough questions that can arise?

Thursday 15th September 2011 – 19.00-20.30
Central Geneva
Cost: CHF 25
Take-aways to put into practice immediately:

Speaker –  Michael Dodd:  journalist, media and presentation trainer, and an associate of Pulford Media, working regularly for both international organisations and government departments teaching media response skills. A lecturer in broadcast journalism for many years with the University of Westminster, he continues his association with the university through delivering media master classes.

To register for this session: liz@pulfordmedia.co.uk/ +41 79 547 5131

View flyer for further information (pdf)

An event from our partners OWIT and the International Unversity in Geneva: 

Networking with purpose and pleasure

“Networking is about creating purposeful and uplifting relationships and how we choose to be in these relationships. A network is a vast web of real people connecting to one another in an environment in which magic can take place. Transforming one’s life, business, and those of others is the usual result.”

Come and join us for a fascinating session with Kristin Engvig, Director and Founder of WIN – Women International Network.You will gain valuable insights about how to do networking more effectively, and successfully.

Tuesday, September 27th, 6.30pm:

Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly Ramada Park Hotel), Avenue Louis-Casaï 75-77, 1216 Genève-Cointrin

Entry fee: 3O CHF for Geneva Communicators Network members (reduced from 40 CHF)

More information and registration>>

The Lac Leman Communications Forum is less than a month away – if you are interested to go – book now as few places remain!

The Lac Leman Communication Forum will bring to bear the latest research and best practices on the following questions:

What does the CEO expect from the corporate communication function?
What does it take to be recognized as a leader in my organization?
How can quantitative and qualitative data support the case for communication?
What are the advantages of different corporate communication departmental structures?
How can corporate communication collaborate with HR and marketing?
What are the challenges of working across different cultures?

Further information and registration >>

The full program:

09:30  Registration
 10:00  Welcome and introduction
 10:10  Keynote
Leadership in times of crisis and change: the role of framing
Joep Cornelissen, Professor of Corporate Communication, VU University Amsterdam, NL
 10:50  Play for fun
SwarmWorks
 11:00
  Keynote
Strategic leadership in corporate communication: aligning image and identity
Rosa Chun, Professor of Corporate Reputation, Ethics and Marketing, IMD, CH
 11:35  Workshop sessions
Choice of several one-hour interactive workshops. The sessions will be repeated in the afternoon so that participants can attend a second workshop.

Culture clash: leading teams across borders
Dr. Thomas Zweifel, CEO, Swiss Consulting Group, CH

Integrating communication: is it about structure or the right culture?
Professor Joep Cornelissen, VU University Amsterdam, NL

Managing an international communication department: moving ahead whilst dealing with dilemma
Alexander Fleischer, Head Marketing & Communication Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, PricewaterhouseCoopers, CH

Putting it into action: leadership in corporate communication
Professor Anne Gregory, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

Surviving leadership: what managers can learn from orchestras
Michael Spencer, Managing Director, Sound Strategies, UK
 
 12:35  Networking lunch
 13:50  Conducting and leadership: learning from the world of music
Be part of a unique interactive musical experience! Conductor Gernot Schulz and communication expert Manfred Harnischfeger will explore the relationship between a conductor and an orchestra as a perfect metaphor for
successful leadership. The audience will be expected to interact with a live orchestra.
 15:00  Workshop sessions 2

Culture clash: leading teams across borders
Dr. Thomas Zweifel, CEO, Swiss Consulting Group, CH
Integrating communication: is it about structure or the right culture?
Professor Joep Cornelissen, VU University Amsterdam, NL

Managing an international communication department: moving ahead whilst dealing with dilemma
Alexander Fleischer, Head Marketing & Communication Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, PricewaterhouseCoopers, CH

Putting it into action: leadership in corporate communication
Professor Anne Gregory, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

Surviving leadership: what managers can learn from orchestras
Michael Spencer, Managing Director, Sound Strategies, UK
 
 16:00  Coffee break
 16:20  Play for fun
SwarmWorks
 16:30  Keynote
The CEO’s view: the role of corporate communication in adding value to the organization
Yves Daccord, Director General, ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross, CH
 17:15  Keynote
The leadership challenge for corporate communication
Anne Gregory, Professor, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
 18:00  Apéro

An upcoming event of interest for communicators:

“Let’s talk about everything except communications”

7th to 9th September 2011, Oxford UK

The Circle of European Communicators will offer an exclusive programme featuring the participation of visionary speakers and presentations on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from politics to science and arts. Through the exchange of innovative and fresh ideas, the event aims to stimulate and inspire thinking in new directions, developing ideas and sharing experiences with top-level communications peers.

Participation in the event is possible by invitation only. For further information, consult the event flyer (pdf)>>

 Webster University Geneva are planning an international media conference on the theme of “New media tools and human rights: more or less human?” for 26-27 March 2012.

They have issued a Concept Paper (pdf) on the conference and persons interested in presenting as part of the conference should send their initial proposal to  lowstedt@webster.edu,  rosso@webster.ch and visconti@webster.ch by 15 October 2011.