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Meeting new neighbours can be a daunting experience but on the other hand, having someone around the corner you can trust and who can help you out with all those things you cannot manage by yourself can be of real benefit.

Patzer PR,  a communication agency specializing in healthcare and pharmaceutical communications are, however, a very close neighbour to GlobalCom Germany with its office location in Ismaning near Munich. Patzer PR became a member of the network last month.

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We are happy to welcome the New York based company HealthStar Public Relations (HSPR) to our growing healthcare group. HSPR is a full service, independent agency dedicated solely to healthcare industry communications. Founded in 2003, HSPR employs more than 50 full-time client-service executives in Consumer Health, Rx and Device and Diagnostics. “A cooperation with an international PR network was definitely on our agenda when we were approached by GlobalCom”, says HSPR President and Chief Executive Officer Helene Ellison. “We will be happy to share our experience and contacts with our new international partners and thus contribute to the network’s success.”    (more…)

The full service agency offers to its clients tailor-made communication solutions resulting in the successful implementation of their marketing goals. “Our service offers range from dynamic marketing strategies to individual solutions for special products”, explains Hanna Kleber. In doing so, the main focus lies in planning and organizing press campaigns, media co-operations and promotions. (more…)

No premiere, but still exciting: GlobalCom PR-Network was represented with its own booth at ITB Berlin, the biggest tourism trade fair worldwide! Four participating agencies went to see the world: Claudia Wittwer from GlobalCom PR-Network (Germany), Luc Malcorps from Outsource Marketing and Communications (Belgium), Daniel Chardon from Chardon Communications (Switzerland) and Velibor Zolak from amc communications (Montenegro), all members of the tourism task force within the network, presented GlobalCom to airlines, hotel chains and destinations.

Little obstacles put in our way – the public transport was on strike and there was heavy snowfall right on the first day of ITB – did not keep us away from making about 50 meetings with companies and organizations like Kempinski Hotels, Regione Piemonte, National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro, Abu Dhabi National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels and many more. The follow-up of these meetings is still in progress, but some of the meetings were quite promising. (more…)

Healthcare specialist Medicom Group has signed up to the GlobalCom PR Network to drive its expansion into the international healthcare market. “GlobalCom is not a loose network of agencies. It is a formal business with partners paying for the marketing and administration of the global organisation,’ said Medicom Group chairman Martin Ellis.

“We are very pleased to welcome Medicom Group to GlobalCom PR Network,” said Ralf Hartmann, co-founder and Chairman of GCPR. “The healthcare industry is a growing market with a strong demand in specialized PR expertise which we can now provide in the UK as well as in other regions.” Claudia Wittwer, responsible for international business development and network development at GlobalCom PR-Network N.V., will continue to integrate more healthcare communication agencies in core markets into the network and build the network’s international and European healthcare practice with the support of the Medicom Group. (more…)

It is the 17 th of February and you are in a ballot booth ready to register your vote. In the heat of the moment your subconscious dispatches a stream of chaotic images of political posters and advertising spots. They flicker before you, like visions in near death experiences. A blur of candidates wrestling for your attention, grappling to pocket your vote.

That instant filtering in your mind’s eye – especially if you are in the all precious undecided group - is precisely what brand and media consultants have been working on over the last few long months. It is possible that somewhere in that visual stream
you will see a Ioannis Kasoulides close-up standing in front of an immaculate green valley more reminiscent of Microsoft-land than any region of Cyprus ….

Political brand building is the science of shaping the image of political personalities to affect the public’s perception of them. Selling politicians as brands is a challenging task, in particular when long established personalities dominate the political scene. In the past, election campaigns were traditionally dominated by the issue of the Cyprus settlement. Being a member of the European Union and the eurozone, new priorities arise and gain importance in political campaigns.

Nicholas Karides, director of ampersand and newswatch media monitoring - GlobalCom PR Network Partner Cyprus - reflects about the challenges in political brand building arising from new political circumstances and the increasing importance of the media.

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California based bio energy expert Primafuel, starts European PR in conjunction to their attendance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Bio energy specialist Primafuel situated in Signal Hill (California, USA) presents a new and innovative approach to the production of zero-carbon fuels. Primafuel develops technology for the biofuel industry, reducing the carbon output along every step of the fuel supply-chain. Their innovative concept includes waste-stream recycling, scalable and modular refineries, carbon-monitoring infrastructure and the use of next-generation feedstock, such as algae.

In November Primafuel was named a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF awards companies which have developed ground-breaking technologies in the categories Energy, Biotechnology, Health Care and IT.

The company, currently attending the UN Climate Change Conference, saw the worldwide interest in the conference and the upcoming World Economic Forum as an incentive to expand their PR activities. GlobalCom PR Network will coordinate the first steps of the European PR launch from their German offices in Munich and cooperate with the GlobalCom Network partners for future activities.

GlobalCom Team Munich

You might know some of us already or might come across some of us at international accounts in 2008…

All the best from the Munich team

“No comment” destroys any form of constructive coverage of a crisis. It opens the door for journalists to comment instead and really go at it, leaving you naked and without defense. When errors are made and damage is done, you must be careful. But not silent. “No comment” conveys only negative vibes, not even a hint of responsibility, credibility, or vision is shared. 

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Also in PR. Be prepared. Be concise. Be honest as well. When you cannot comment, make sure you indicate that you want to examine the facts and that you will then give your view on them. Then make sure you really do so, in a way the audience (and the journalists) not only understand but appreciate.

See crisis as an opportunity. State the positive things your organization believes in. Share your strong points and your beliefs in the future. Show regret, when necessary, and mean it! It makes you human and dignified. When you are confronted with facts, kindly give yours in return. Be brief and clear and adapt to the medium you’re talking to, in size and style. This makes you look to the point and in control, and it radiates trust for the people you represent. 
And if you can swing in a constructive solution or even a beginning of one, you’ll look even smart and ahead of the game.

Mediatraining and crisis communications should be part of every companies’ daily survival kit.
“Be prepared” is the motto of the 100-year-old scouting movement.
It should be the motto of all communication managers, often truly "scouts" in rocky and difficult terrain.

Luc Malcorps