New communication jobs in Geneva
New communication jobs in Geneva are up on our careers page!
Communications intern, IFRC, Geneva
Corporate communications officer, Geneva
Good luck!
Wikipedia: a new frontier in PR
Wikipedia is one of the World’s most important sources of information online, accounting for 8% of global internet traffic with around 60 million unique visitors a month. As such, it can play an important role in managing a company’s public perception and reputation – but recent research has revealed that firms are failing to actively manage these challenges and capitalise on the available opportunities.
The study by Lundquist, an international strategic communications consultancy, looks at how Italian companies are featured on Wikipedia and forms part of its research series examining how companies are taking advantage of new trends in web communications.
The study found that, despite having dedicated Wikipedia articles, information on most major Italian companies is generally limited, scoring on average just 8.4 out of a possible 18 points for completeness. One reason could be that companies have been scared off engaging with online communities following a variety of scandals involving corporate manipulation of Wikipedia articles.
Effective public relations with online communities has had proven success, however. Fiat, for example, has achieved high viewing figures for its corporate information on Wikipedia as a result of engaging directly with the site’s editors.
“The most important thing for companies is to realise that Wikipedia can boost their international profile,” said Joakim Lundquist, founding partner of Lundquist Srl.
Tips from the report include:
- Respect the Wikipedia community and understand how the site works
- Only edit the verifiable facts in your article, such as no. of employees.
- Make copy-right free images and media available for Wikipedia
- Use discussion pages to interact with Wikipedia editors and express opinions
- Monitor your Wikipedia article for updates and vandalism.
For more about the study and its findings, download the Executive summary >
Melitta
Neglecting Internal Communications is failing employees, says survey
A recent YouGov survey of 524 white-collar workers in the UK, commissioned by financial comms agency Financial Dynamics, found that only 15 per cent of respondents felt that their employer had communicated news about job security “very well”, while 37% said communication had been poor or non-existent.
And the worrying statistics don’t end there.
Less than half (48%) agreed that they had a clear picture of their company’s performance – with the ‘rumour mill’ seen as a more trustworthy source of information than official channels.
And when it comes to leadership communication, only 28% of respondents said they trusted messages from their chief executive more than “a little”, and just one third have regular face-to-face time with their superiors. Yet a significant 81% said that face-to-face contact with their line manager was the most trusted form of communication.
Nadia Kelly, director of PR at Ask Jeeves, warned: ‘Too many companies have turned their attention to protecting their external reputations during the recession at the expense of their internal reputation. But the two need to be absolutely integrated, especially in uncertain times such as these.’
For more information, read the PR Week article >
Melitta
SwissW2 meeting on online marketing- Tuesday 26 May in Geneva (in French)
Stamm – Les stratégies gagnantes du marketing online : Buzz et tendances 2009
Date: Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Location: International University in Geneva (IUG) , dans le batiment de l’ICC
Time: 19h30
Organised by SwissW2
Co-organised with the Geneva Communicators Network
Avec l’essor du web 2.0, la communication est en pleine révolution depuis quelques années. Désormais les stratégies gagnantes de ce nouvel univers se détachent nettement avec des cas d’école particulièrement intéressants des petites aux grandes structures, en B2B comme en B2C. A travers cette intervention, vous pourrez mieux comprendre les outils qui sont désormais indispensables aux marketers et la manière dont les utiliser au mieux. Présentation: Après être passé par une grande école de commerce, Grégory Pouy est passé par différentes entreprises et a connu des expériences diverses en marketing : grandes et petites structures (Noos, Bouygues Telecom ; Goldwell), B2B & 2C. Depuis près de 4 ans il s’intéresse de près au marketing digital et aux media sociaux. C’est d’ailleurs dans ce cadre qu’il a ouvert son blog personnel, aujourd’hui reconnu comme le 1er blog marketing en France. Par ailleurs, il travaille désormais chez Vanksen, agence à 360° spécialisée sur le marketing alternatif (communauté, buzz, viral…), au poste de directeur de la stratégie et de la communication.
Register on the SwissWe site
Companies underperform in CSR, survey says
Half of employees are disappointed by their companies CSR performance according to a new study led by coaching, consulting and training company Krauthammer, the University of Amsterdam and Erasmus University of Rotterdam. One explanation for the split could be that some companies just aren’t communicating their CSR activities to staff well enough.
“CSR is needed, especially during an economic crisis,” said Professor Rob van Tulder from Erasmus University.
“The global economic crisis puts the spotlight on CSR in an almost perverse manner. On one hand everybody acknowledges that the causes of the economic crisis lie with a clear lack of CSR. On the other hand, it’s fiercely disputed whether the solution to the crisis entails stepped-up CSR efforts. In the end, the systematic nature of the crisis demands longer-term approaches involving all relevant actors.”
Four findings from the survey
- Employees are doing it for themselves (PSP) – and are watching.
- Corporate performance is divided. Around 50% are operational or exemplary. The other 50% are perceived to be failing.
- There are serious gaps between the practice employees seek and experience they get when it comes to: People, Planet and Profit.
- What employees really want…
People – Training, with 96% expecting it systematically, with external trainers
Planet – 60% of people want their company to practice the belief that “the economy and ecology are one, taking responsibility”
Profit – 59% want it to practice the credo that “long-term competive advantage depends on the efficient use of resources
For more information, download the Executive Summary or full report >
Melitta
A practical workshop on freelance journalism – saturday 30 May 2009, Geneva
An interesting workshop for all those interested in journalism:
A practical workshop on freelance journalism – saturday 30 May 2009
-Finding markets
-Generating ideas
-Approaching editors
-Constructing news and features articles
-Understanding commission and copyright
-Opportunities to ask questions/air concerns
Venue: Residence Colladon,
Chemin Colladon 5-7, Petit Saconnex, Geneva
(No.3 bus from station, arret Colladon or Migros Parking, La Tourelle
(2 mins away with charge)
Cost: CHF 200 (to include lunch, refreshments and copy of Byliners)
facilitator: Cedric Pulford is a freelance with 20 years’ experience for the Guardian in London, and is one of Britain’s most experienced journalism trainers. To mark the publication of his new book, Byliners, 101 ways to be a freelance journalist, Cedric is running one-day workshops in Geneva and London.
Communicating to boost morale and performance in a downturn
Only 40% of full-time UK employees feel their company has a clear plan to withstand the recession, according to a new study by Threshold Communications, specialists in communication and behaviour change.
These figures are particularly important to business leaders as the research also shows that a link with productivity and morale. Of those who feel strongly that their company has a clear plan to withstand the recession 82% have considerably more enthusiasm in their day-to-day jobs and 86% feel committed to their organizations long-term success.
The research also stresses the importance of good manager/employee communications, stating that: “People don’t leave companies – they leave managers”. Key in this relationship is the managers ability to listen and respond to staff.
Other key findings:
- The extent to which employees beleive their company has a plan to withstand recession, correlates directly with their motivation and long- term commitment.
- Most employees are not confident that their organization has a plan to withstand recession.
- Employees are considerably more likely to trust their direct line managers than senior leaders.
- Only 32% of employees feel that the way in which their line manager communicates with them supports their motivation.
- Where line managers talk through company plans and aims employees are significantly more likely to feel motivated and committed.
- Where line managers genuinely listen and seek input and ideas, employees are significantly more likely to feel motivated and committed.
For more information about the survey and its findings, see the full report >
Melitta
10% discount for GCN members at communications evaluation conference
The first European Summit on Communications/PR Measurement is taking place from 10 to 12 June 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
The Summit will look at evaluation issues for all aspects of communications with speakers from academia and the corporate world. Glenn O’Neil, one of the founders of the Geneva Communicators Network will speak on evaluating human rights campaigns with Victor Fernandez of UN Human Rights.
The Summit organisers are offering a 10% discount to all members of the Geneva Communicators Network – 644 Euro instead of 715 Euro.
More information and registration:
Please note, to receive the GCN discount, on the membership pulldown on the registration form select “guest member”.
The Summit is organised by the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication and the Institute for Public Relations.
E-Business Event in Geneva – 28 May 2009
E-Business Events is organizing the 3rd E-Commerce Geneva edition on May 28, 2009 at the International Conference Center of Geneva (CICG).
– Over 2000 professionals expected
– 50 speakers
– 4 training sessions
– 1,500 sq meters of exhibition space, almost 40 exhibitors
-Business Conventions
For 10 years, E BUSINESS INFO has been creating and organizing several conventions and trade shows each year in the IT industry, thus bringing together 40,000 decision makers, 1,500 speakers and exhibitors all over France, and in various towns of Europe. In a very short time, the E COMMERCE convention has become THE European trade show in the industry.
New jobs in communications
New communication jobs in Geneva are up on our careers page!
Head of Public Relations, IEC, Geneva
Communications Officer (Publications) and Senior Web Editor / Lead Facilitator at The Global Fund
Programme Officer – Advocacy and Communications, GAVI
Good luck!