communication – Page 2 – Geneva Communicators Network

Have you Made Your Resolutions Yet?

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on where you are now versus where you want to be by the end of the year, and to start making plans to achieve everything you want.

What are you going to achieve this year?

Stuck for Ideas?

If you are not sure where to start with your new year resolutions, then check out these 12 ideas for resolutions that will help make you more productive or these 16 resolutions to achieve better health.

If you are looking for a new career, to build your network or improve your communication skills, then you are in the right place!

Why not resolve to attend more of our lunchtime presentations and other events? As well as learning some new skills and being inspired, you’ll get to network with other communicators in the region. You’ll find details of the latest events on this site and, if you are a registered member (membership is free!), you’ll be notified by email too.

Tips for Making Resolutions You Can Stick To

Be sure to make resolutions that matter to you so you are motivated to achieve them
Make them Specific, Measurable, Accountable Realistic and Time-based
Involve other people – we only do two things in life: what we enjoy and what we’re being watched on, by involving other people you make yourself more accountable.
Making your resolutions public is another way to encourage accountability
Link them to your longer-term plans
Make them fun!

Happy New Year everyone – we look forward to seeing you soon!

By GenevaCom| January 3rd, 2018|News|0 Comments

Senior Communications Officer – International AIDS Society (IAS) Geneva

Founded in 1988, the International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world’s largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more than 180 countries.

IAS members work on all fronts of the global response to AIDS, and include researchers, clinicians, policy and programme planners and public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic.

Details of Employment:

The Senior Communications Officer position will be based in Geneva, Switzerland and report to the Senior Manager, Communications. The position is full-time and open-ended to start as soon as possible.

Purpose of the Position:

The incumbent will play a senior role in the communications team, leading the strategy, writing and content production for the organization. We are looking for a savvy, seasoned, strategic communicator with a strong understanding of the scientific and political field of the HIV/AIDS and/or global health space.

Main Responsibilities:

Lead development of IAS content, including op-eds, blogs, speeches, press releases and publications
Generate compelling content that can be used across all channels and platforms to highlight IAS’ membership work and perspectives
Provide leadership guidance, policy analysis, briefs, and strategic guidance to advance the IAS programme and advocacy portfolio
Guide and execute communications strategies that support and advance the work of IAS
Stay up to date on relevant political and research shifts in the field to navigate and position the IAS appropriately
Manage editorial planning and prioritization across all IAS departments, including all IAS programmes and conferences
Translate highly scientific materials to be easily understood across audiences, including development of key messaging
Write, edit and manage internal approvals of communications content, including press releases, statements, emails, blog posts and publications
Manage media monitoring and reporting to identify opportunities, track communications impact, and support overall brand management of IAS
Manage relationships and agreements with external partners and suppliers while maintaining timelines
Develop and manage external relationships and partnerships for strategic communications and marketing activities
Oversee all media logistics for IAS conferences, including media registrations, press conferences, media briefings, speaker outreach and on-site management
Support media relations, contacts management, outreach lists and media materials
Support social media content development in collaboration with the IAS Digital Producer.

Academic Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in communications, journalism, public policy, public health or related field or a first-level university degree in combination with communications experience.

Work Experience:

Advanced experience working on communications, policy and/or advocacy in HIV/AIDS research or global health more broadly
Background working on scientific research issues
Experience leading communications efforts for high-level events
Demonstrated experience working in an international context.

Skills/Competencies:

Must have a firm understanding of the HIV/AIDS and/or the global health landscape
Technical and scientific knowledge of HIV/AIDS is a strong plus
Comfortable presenting to leadership and public audiences about the communications work of the IAS
Excellent written and verbal communications skills; a demonstrated ability to create persuasive and clear communications in all forms, for a variety of audiences
Strong organizational skills, coordination skills and ability to multi-task
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with meticulous attention to detail and tight deadlines
Knowledge of relevant international and domestic broadcast media, a keen sense of what makes and shapes the news, and the ability to make well-informed decisions in targeting appropriate media outlets and reporters
Stress tolerance and resilience, ability to work under pressure with multiple and shifting priorities
High-energy self-starter who can operate with minimal supervision but also knows when to ask for counsel
Ability to work well as a team member, as well as work independently.

Languages:

Native English or full professional proficiency is a requirement
Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

How to apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and a cover letter, in English and by email only, to recruitment@iasociety.org. The applications will be selected on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IAS employees are evidence-based, human rights-focused, inclusive and accountable partners in the HIV response. Candidates should display genuine commitment to IAS values (learn more here).

The IAS is committed to recruiting and sustaining a skilled, effective, diverse and gender-balanced secretariat, and to the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) in all aspects of its work.

People living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.

By GenevaCom| November 22nd, 2017|Careers|0 Comments

Communications Internship – The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) Geneva

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is recruiting for a full-time 6-month internship, starting in January 2018, under the guidance of the Head of our Communications Department.

The Communications Intern will provide support to the Communications Department across their various project streams ranging from publications, media relations, events and research.

Responsibilities will include:

– Provide support for the development of communications material for the Global Report on Internal Displacement

– Provide support to evaluate media coverage and develop media contacts

– Provide support on the development of materials for IDMC’s 20th anniversary

– Do research and drafting of content for IDMC materials and website as required

– Provide logistics support for launch events

– Provide support for our social media platforms – developing draft entries etc.

– Coordinate IDMC global calendar up to date by liaising with departments

– Disseminate IDMC research and reports as required

– Do research to add new information to IDMC‘s comms partner database

– Provide administrative support and process invoices to the head of department

– Take notes as required at meetings as agreed with the head of department

See the full advert at http://internal-displacement.org/about-us/vacancies/

Closing date; November 30, 2017

By GenevaCom| November 22nd, 2017|Careers|1 Comment

Are you leaving money on the table because you’re not using LinkedIn to get new clients?

Ten years ago I followed a LinkedIN Challenge to understand how to get more from the platform.

I loved the challenge and after the ten days my profile views went from around 2 a month, to more than 20 a day!

Better still, in the month after the challenge, I attracted three new clients who over the course of the next 12 months brought me more than chf 50,000 in income (and they stayed clients for a lot longer than that too!).

So I’m delighted to announce that my friend Sarah Santacroce, an independent LinkedIn Specialist, will be running her annual LinkedIn Challenge again on 10th November, which will be bigger and better than ever – and until the 7th you can get a special Early Bird price!

You can save your place at the 2017 LinkedIn Challenge here!

The 2017 Challenge will be Bigger and Better than ever!
Over the last decade Sarah has helped more than 1800 professionals (and me!) get more from LinkedIn and this year, her 11th edition, will be bigger than better than ever!

What I love about this particular challenge is that besides all the valuable LinkedIn & Online Presence strategies you get, is that it’s a team effort.

Every year, Sarah gathers a world-wide group of leading LinkedIn experts to participate and share their best LinkedIn strategy. And this year, she’s expanded the field and included a Personal Branding, a Storytelling, a Livestreaming and a Online Image Expert.

Click the link below for the registration details & to save your spot NOW! Sarah offers an Early Bird Price until November 7th

2017 LinkedIn Challenge – Save your place here!

Did you know this about LinkedIn users?

They are NOT all job seekers! Most are fellow businesses looking to grow their business
They have a HIGHER average income than Facebook users
They are in work mode when browsing LinkedIn

This is why you should be using LinkedIn to get clients. Because they’re on there already. If you’re not active on LinkedIn, you’re handing a percentage of them over to someone else who is!

During the 10-day LinkedIN Challenge you will:

Learn why you absolutely need to use LinkedIn to get clients (how discover how!)
Find out that your LinkedIn Profile is boring – and how to improve it 😉
Grow your network significantly
Learn how to proactively identify, search for and connect with your ideal customers!
Learn how to be more visible on LinkedIn & get clients to contact you!

Plus much more!

I will definitely join Sarah’s challenge again this year. See you there!

2017 LinkedIn Challenge – Save your place here!

By GenevaCom| November 3rd, 2017|Other events, Professional development|0 Comments

Social Media Strategy Masterclass – Impact Hub

3 hour workshop & 1 hour follow-up consultation with your trainer, Kathleen Holmlund (sign up here!)

Need to create a social media strategy but don’t know where to start?
Every action you take on your social networks should be a part of an overall communications and marketing strategy for your business or organisation. It may sound daunting, but every post, like and comment you make should be aligned with your organisational values and goals. By taking the time to create and implement a social media strategy you will find that your social efforts and skills will start to blossom naturally.

What is a social media strategy?
Quite simply, it is a summary and action plan for everything you plan to do and hope to accomplish for your business or organisation using social networks. It follows three main stages:

An audit of your social media presence to establish your starting point
Goal setting for how you would like it to look in the future
Selecting the resources and tools you will need to reach those goals

What you will learn
During the workshop, I will take you through the whole process of creating a social media strategy. You will learn how to:

Conduct a social media audit
Create your social media goals & objectives
Create & improve your social profile
Get inspiration from industry leaders, peers, competitors, clients, etc
Create a content plan and editorial calendar
Experiment, track, reflect and adjust your plan

Who should attend?

SME business owners
Startups
Nonprofits & NGOs
Marketers & PR practitioners
Creative professionals
Anyone wishing to start their own business
Employees who have to manage social media channels

Pre-Course homework and post-course support

Before coming to the workshop, you will be invited to complete a set of tasks to get the most out of the training. Following the workshop, you will have a 1 hour one-on-one consultation either in person or over Skype. You can use this to review your progress, set some goals or get further clarity on specific areas of social media.

Your trainer & coach: Kathleen Holmlund

Kathleen has worked in the communications field across various corporate and nonprofit sectors for over 18 years. These include consumer electronics, automotive electronics, human rights, climate, business ethics, health and food. She has been developing and executing social media plans for over 10 years and loves being kept on her toes with this fast moving industry. She joined Impact Hub Geneva as a collaborator in Spring 2015, and has since focused her efforts on working with social entrepreneurs, startups and nonprofits who are purpose-driven in making a positive impact in our world. Check out her LinkedIn profile for more information.

Social Media Strategy Masterclass

By GenevaCom| June 14th, 2017|Other events, Professional development|0 Comments

Follow the four Golden Rules for impactful communication.

By Melitta Campbell

Of all the slides in my communication skills workshops, there is one slide that is my absolute favourite.

It’s one that comes right at the start of the day and, even when training experienced professional communicators, I can almost see all the lightbulbs turning on above people’s heads when I share it.

It’s the slide where I share my four Golden Rules for effective and impactful communication. It features in all of my workshops, regardless of the theme, as I believe that if you get these four things right in your messages, presentations, brochures…any of your communications…then you are guaranteed to grab attention and hit the mark every time!

It took a while to whittle all of communication best practice down to just four essential ingredients – and arguably, there could be just one that encompasses all four – but after working in communications for more than 20 years, I know that these four elements are essential for success, everything else is merely a part of these ‘heavy hitters’.

Okay, I can hear you yelling at the screen “What are they already?!!!” so here they are, my four Golden Rules for Communication:

Be clear about your purpose

I’m shocked at how often people don’t think about this. But here’s the thing, if you don’t know what you’re talking about, then you can’t expect anyone else to!

Know your audience

If you don’t know who you are talking to, then how do you share something interesting with them? This is absolutely key, yet most people fail to think deeply enough about who they want to reach out to and what will attract them

Be clear and concise

A confused mind doesn’t buy or buy-into anything. Make sure you strip out everything that is not relevant to your audience and give your message the chance to shine.

Plan!

Bring all the above together in a clear, simple plan. It needs to be something that your entire team can understand, communicate and put into action. And this plan must include some feedback elements that track the success of your communications so you can continually improve and grow with your audience.

So that’s it, all you need to know to be effective and impactful in your communications, whatever media you are using.

If you’d like to know more about how to develop your communications around these four areas – along with gaining lots of additional information, tips, tools and insights – then don’t miss the full-day ‘Communicating with Impact’ workshop taking place at the Impact Hub in Geneva on 3 March delivered by myself and digital media expert, Kathleen Holmlund.

See more and register for the ‘Communicating with Impact’ workshop via the Geneva Impact Hub Website

By GenevaCom| February 24th, 2017|Guest posts|0 Comments

Sorry, I can’t hear you. How to get a louder voice. Speak louder.

By Maria Wilhelmsson, Vox Impact

Many of those who come to me for voice coaching want to learn to speak louder.

Tired of having to repeat themselves or seeing people lean forward and frown every time they speak, they want to know how they can make themselves heard.

It may sound like a trivial thing to do, just to turn up the volume knob a bit. In reality, it can be quite challenging to change your default speaking volume, and to keep it at the new, louder level. Your speaking habits have been formed since the early years of your life, and are coloured by your experiences, belief systems, culture, psychology and how you inhabit your body.

If you are struggling to pump up the volume, ask yourself if any of the following may be true for you:

In your books, loud is bad

Human beings are quick to adapt to the norm in families and society at large, and to judge those who do not conform to the social rules. Did you grow up in a family or a culture of soft speakers, where being loud equaled bad manners, lack of respect, or showing off? Were you frequently asked to be quiet and let others speak? Or were you the one to take on the quiet role in an otherwise loud family to balance it out?

A shy personality is another factor that gets in the way of loudness. If you are not comfortable being the center of attention, your voice will try to protect you from that attention by going soft. So hand on heart, do you really want to be heard?

Your ears are fooling you

When you think you are being really loud, are people still asking you to speak up? Your voice sounds louder inside your head than it does to other people. The reason is that the sound that you hear is amplified through the bone-conduction in your head, while other people only can hear the sound that is carried through the air in the space around you.

Now, if you want to communicate with other people, you will be better off trusting their ears rather than your own. To get an idea of the size of this perception gap, ask a friend – or several – for help. Speak a few sentences and ask your friend to indicate the loudness on a scale from 1-10. Compare it with the loudness level you were aiming for. If your friend gives you a 4 when you think you were at a 7, you can start to re-calibrate your ears and vocal effort accordingly.

Also remember that a larger room and a larger audience will require more volume than a face-t0-face conversation. Ask for feedback and keep adjusting your loudness to different settings.

Your mind is not clear

“That which is dimly said, was dimly thought.” (E. Tegnér)

You know how easy it is to speak up when you are certain of the facts and clear about your intention. The words flow and your strong conviction brings your voice to life. You know what you want to achieve and you want the world to hear your opinion. And then there are all the other times. The times when you wing it, when you didn’t have the time to prepare, or when you are simply not that engaged. Your voice will sense it and tactfully lower the volume, pull the sound back into your throat and relax the enunciation to minimize the potential public embarrassment.

Do you know what you are saying, why you are saying it, and do you stand for it?

You are a talking head

Does your voice get strained and tired when you have been speaking loudly for a while?
You may be doing all the speaking effort from your throat. Instead, think of your voice as a violin, with the strings being your vocal folds, the wooden body being your torso and your head, and the bow representing your breath.

All the parts are needed in order to bring out a powerful voice. Without the bow (breath) applied with the right pressure, the strings (vocal folds) will not vibrate in the way required to produce a rich sound. Without the body providing a strong frame and a resonance chamber, there will be no amplification of the sound.

You will find tips on how to engage your body and breath in my articles 4 ways to bring out the good vibes in your voice read and Breathe life into your presence.

And if your resolutions for 2017 involve getting your voice to work for you, only reading won’t do the job.
Join one of Maria’s acclaimed public workshops. The next one is in Lausanne on 7 March: ‘Showing up and Speaking with Confidence’.

By GenevaCom| February 21st, 2017|Guest posts|0 Comments

Communications & Advocacy Programme Coordinator (Maternity Cover), ECLT Foundation, Geneva

Communications & Advocacy Programme Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

Reports to: Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer

About the Position: The Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation (ECLT Foundation) seeks a skilled, strategic, and proactive Communications & Advocacy Programme Coordinator to implement communications strategies and activities that engage global, national and local stakeholders – in order to build a deeper understanding of the root causes of child labour in tobacco growing and agriculture, and to help inform public discourse on good practices which are having a positive impact in the fight against child labour.

This position is a maternity leave cover and will be from 16 January for approximately 7 months.

About the ECLT Foundation: Founded in 2001, the ECLT Foundation is a global leader in preventing and addressing child labour in tobacco agriculture with the primary purpose(s) of protecting and improving the lives of children and eliminating child labour in tobacco-growing areas. We work to strengthen communities, improve policies, and advance research so that tobacco-growing communities can benefit from agriculture while ensuring that their children are healthy, educated, and safe. Our Board includes representatives of the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) and the major multi-national tobacco companies. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Save the Children Switzerland are advisors to the ECLT Foundation’s Board.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The Communications & Advocacy Programme Coordinator will work under the direction of the Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer to:
• Coordinate communications and outreach across multiple messaging platforms including
print, web, social media, and events in order to increase awareness of ECLT’s efforts and
• effectively communicate to ECLT’s audiences and internal/external stakeholders
• Develop, edit, and coordinate content across all strategic/programme areas, distributing and
maintaining ECLT’s communications including, but not limited to, the website (e.g. blog,
images, and other content), e-newsletter, social media, videos, and print publications including
the 2016 annual report.
• Serve as the lead staff person on overseeing the ECLT website and social media platforms—
implement and participate in updating the ECLT Foundation’s Web Maintenance and Social
Media Plan to ensure that new and consistent information is developed and posted on schedule
and according to relevant best practices
• Partner with programme staff and/or partners on how to think how to creatively package
knowledge in interesting and engaging ways
• Enhance interaction/communications with field activities of ECLT’s constituency
• Utilize monitoring & evaluation tools, baseline surveys, and project reports as advocacy tools
• Provide communications support under Media Protocols – as directed
General Tasks of the Position
• Coordinate work with outside vendors and communications consultants and provide administrative/budgetary management of assigned vendor contracts
• Write and edit content for various communications, specifically to maintain and improve the website, internet presence, newsletter, briefings, background documents and annual report
• Assist in preparation, planning, and participation in work related meetings and development of meeting minutes
• Contribute to staff reports (i.e. ED Quarterly Report), field mission reports, etc.
• Support in administrative tasks and/or other tasks, as assigned

Qualifications and experience required:

Education:
A university degree in a relevant subject is required; Graduate studies in communications, international development, child rights/ labour, are preferred
Other studies or degrees in advocacy, sustainability, or international development are desirable

Experience:
• A minimum of 5 years of work in communications-related work at national/international environments
• Demonstrated experience in writing, developing (and or assisting in the development of)
communications across various of platforms, including web and social media
• Demonstrated experience in implementing outreach/communication strategies
• Experience in global/international development settings strongly desired
Competencies:
• Applying a consistent approach to communication and maintaining professional and ethical standards
• Ability to develop effective relationships at all levels, internally/externally
• Using and developing the right mix of practical communication abilities to hold the confidence of peers and colleagues
• Good written and oral communication skills for various audiences in English
• Proven experience in the design, editing and production of electronic and print materials.
• Excellent computer skills; familiarity with WordPress, Constant Contact, HootSuit and Sharepoint, strongly desired
• Able to work on own initiative and make sound judgments
• Able to meet deadlines and targets
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team

Values:
Embodies Humanitarian Values, Trust, Respect, Loyalty, Transparency, Integrity

Languages:
• Native-level or equivalent in written and spoken English and proven drafting skills required
• Proficiency in French and ability to communicate with local vendors and partners desired
• A knowledge of other languages, particularly those spoken in countries where ECLT Foundation operates is an advantage.

Due to current regulations, only Swiss and eligible EU citizens, or those with a valid work permit for Switzerland can be considered.

How to apply:
Applications will include:
• A cover letter, which describes your interest, qualifications, and experiences, maximum 1 page
• Resume / CV
• Submit link to LinkedIn Profile
• Upon Request- Submission of written work

Please send your application to eclt-jobs@eclt.org by 1 December 2017

Phone interviews will be held within one week from application deadline
Final on-site interviews will be held from 12 to 16 December.

By GenevaCom| November 18th, 2016|Careers|0 Comments

Next GCN lunchtime seminar – Tuesday 22 September 2015

Lunchtime seminar – Communicating through images

This presentation will focus on visual communication, specifically the role of images in communication. Francesco Arese Visconti, an experienced professional photographer, will explore the power of images.

Every time we take a photograph, we are actually cropping reality, we are choosing what message we want to deliver. Today, on social media, some half a million images are being uploaded every minute. But what is the value of the image? What are we communicating? Visual communication can be very powerful in a positive way but it can also be ambiguous, misleading or even offensive. Sometimes images are even more culture dependent than words. By considering some basic theories, analyzing images and through an interactive exercise, professionals in the communications field will be helped to reflect on the value of the image as part the communication toolkit and strategy, how images can be manipulated and published, but also how they can be a valuable support in your communication.

Date: Tuesday 22 September 2015
Time: 12h30 to 14h00
Location: The Swiss Press Club, Route de Ferney 106, La Pastorale, 1202 Geneva.
Fee: CHF 25.- per person includes drinks and snacks – please register online>>
(In order to facilitate the registration process we ask you to pay in advance through our online registration system. If you are unable to do so, please contact us).

Places are limited due to the venue size, so please register early for the event.

About the speaker:

Francesco Arese Visconti: an experienced and published freelance photographer, he has worked for important museums and public institutions. Member of the Union Suisse des Photographes Professionnels (USPP), he is the Deputy Head of the Media Communications department and Coordinator of the Photography Program at Webster University Geneva. As Part-time member of the research faculty at Webster, Francesco focuses his work on the migration processes in Switzerland and in Italy. His latest work is about the current flux of Italian migration in the Swiss Confederation. This work has been recently exhibited at the EXPO in Milan. He is the co-founder of Urbino Art Village, a centre for art and Italian workshops in Italy. Further information: www.aresevisconti.com.

We look forward to seeing you again!!

By GenevaCom| September 1st, 2015|GCN lunch events|0 Comments

The Lift conference – coming up next week 4-6 February

The annual Lift Conference is coming up next week. Don’t miss out on the special 10th anniversary event. Lift15 will be offering an exclusive program, full of super-rich, rather intimate sessions in an interactive break-out format. Participants from over thirty countries will enjoy taking a break from the all-day plenary preaching format and explore the future of innovation, out of the conference room. Recognised amongst the top 5 innovation and entrepreneurship events in Europe, Lift15 will take place in Geneva on Feb 4-6 2015. Join an international and diverse community for 3 days of talks, masterclasses, workshops, creative events and social gatherings.

Visit the Website
Discover the Program
Meet the Speakers
Get Tickets
Facebook Event
Participants Twitter List
Speakers Twitter List

Latest Confirmed Speakers

Alexander Rose, executive director of the Long Now foundation, designer of the 10’000-year clock, will help us see the future (and past) in a new perspective. After his talk, Alexander will be joined on stage by Jobst Wagner, owner of a vast European family business, for a debate on “Switzerland in the Long Term”.

@zander

Sophia Lin, founder of Shanghai-based Make+ art and technology program, advocating for crossover collaborations between artists, designers, engineers and scientists. At Lift15 Sophia will run the masterclass on makers in China, supported by swissnex Shanghai.

Xavier Damman, co-founder of Storify.com, the largest social media curation platform used by top publishers, brands and organizations around the world and acquired by Livefyre in 2013

@xdamman

Joining speakers like Frederic Jacobs, co-founder Open Whisper Systems who just made the news by partnering up with Whatsapp for encrypting all their messages by default and Adrian Hon, author of “A History of the Future in 100 Objects”

By GenevaCom| January 30th, 2015|Other events|0 Comments

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