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Gareth Harding
Gareth Harding
November 28, 2017

November Newsletter 2017

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MAKE YOUR QUOTES QUOTABLE 

There are two quotes in the tweets above and both are terrible. Why? Because they are crammed with jargon (#EuropeanSemester, #PillarOfSocialRights), obsessed with process (#EURoad2Sibiu) and full of stuffy technocratic language like ‘social dimension’ and ‘country specific recommendations’.
So how do you craft a cracking quote?
  • Use colourful, vivid language that paints a picture.
  • Voice strong opinions rather than bore people with facts, context and process.
  • Make use of rhetorical devices like contrast and repetition.
  • Cut all jargon, process and acronyms. Use clear, simple language.
You can find more tips on how to write sticky soundbites in Gareth Harding’s article here. Or sign up for his masterclass on Working with Journalists on December 12.

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Steffen Thejll-Moller
Steffen Thejll-Moller
November 23, 2017

The myth of influencer marketing in Brussels

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The notion of ‘influencers’ has been all the rage in Brussels recently. Understandably. In the real world, influencer marketing – the practice of teaming up with influential people to help promote an organisation or product – can be highly effective.

The principle of influencer marketing is not new. We’ve all sniggered at grainy ads from the 50s featuring doctors flogging cigarettes that do wonders for a niggly sore throat. And in public affairs, we’ve also been at it for years – think pharma and patient groups, or agrochemicals companies and farmers – but calling it stuff like key opinion leader mobilisation (or whatever).

But in the social media age, the concept of influencer marketing has moved on a notch:

· It is far easier to build a public platform, so there are simply more people who are       influential (as well as plenty more who think they may be, but patently are not)

· Similarly, it is easier to get an influencer in front of those one is seeking to influence online than it is offline

· Higher levels of mistrust in entities like industry and media makes credibility harder to attain, and influencers can help

Cue: lots of people, including public affairs practitioners, with high hopes for online influencer marketing.

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Gareth Harding
Gareth Harding
November 22, 2017

How to make your quotes quotable

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2017 is not over yet but there are already two strong contenders for Clear Europe’s ‘worst quote of the year’ prize. And they both come from the same person.

The unquotable quotes above were cobbled together for European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and tweeted within minutes of each other at a summit of EU leaders in Gothenburg on November 17.

So why are these soundbites so terrible? Because:

  • They are crammed with incomprehensible EU jargon – #EuropeanSemester sounds like a study abroad programme, while #PillarOfSocialRights has to be one of the weirdest, wonkiest hashtags in history.
  • They are obsessed with the tedious process of EU decision-making – #EURoad2Sibiu sounds like an EU-sponsored Romanian motorway rather than the latest plan for reforming the Union.
  • They are full of stuffy technocratic language like ‘social dimension’ and ‘country specific recommendations.’

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Pelin Sena İskurt
October 31, 2017

Can You Write A Good Press Release?

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Are you a PR guru? Take the test and see the results!

Always send press releases as attachments to emails.

Correct! Wrong!

Opening attachments takes time. Always send press releases in the body of the email.

Quotes in press releases should contain opinions, not facts.

Correct! Wrong!

Quotes should be quotable. Strong opinions in colourful language please.

Jargon in press releases shows you are an expert in the field.

Correct! Wrong!

Avoid jargon because your audience may not know and care about the issue as much as you do. #curseofknowledge

Can you write a good press release?
Woops...

You may want to improve your knowledge by joining our Perfecting Press Releases course on November 7. Book now via the Eventbrite link below.
Fairly well...

You can still learn more with our Perfecting Press Releases course on November 7. Book now via the Eventbrite link below.
Bravo!

Congratulations! Join our Perfecting Press Releases course on November 7 to get a deeper insight. Book now via the Eventbrite link below.

Share your Results:

Gareth Harding
Gareth Harding
October 30, 2017

October Newsletter 2017

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IMPRESSING WITH PRESS RELEASES

Press releases are still a major source of news for journalists. However, as Brussels-based correspondent James Crisp points out, many press releases contain no news whatsoever. And even when there is news, it is often buried, the quotes are unquotable and the text stuffed with technocratic jargon.

On November 7, our MD Gareth Harding will offer his tips and tricks on how to write sparkling press releases drawn from over 25 years as a journalist, political communicator and media coach. Among them:

  • Only send press releases if you have real news for journalists.
  • Trumpet your news in the headline or first sentence. Don’t bury it at the bottom.
  • Craft quotes that voice strong opinions in vivid language.
  • Axe all jargon, make your messages punchy and provide plenty of context.
We have a limited number of places left for this course so sign up today!

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Gareth Harding
Gareth Harding
September 25, 2017

September Newsletter 2017

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SKILL UP THIS AUTUMN

“What we have here is failure to communicate.” Remember that famous line from Cool Hand Luke? We think about it all the time at Clear Europe because so often we see organisations failing to communicate clearly and concisely. So this autumn we are offering 10 media and communication masterclasses that are open to everyone, affordably priced and taught by our experienced comms pros. We still have some places for our October courses, so book a place now:

                          October 5                    How to Write Clearly 

                          October 10                  Effective Public Speaking 

                          October 19                  Mastering Media Interviews 

                          October 25                  Social Media Campaigning 

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Aurelie Vo Thi
Aurelie Vo Thi
September 18, 2017

July Newsletter

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SKILL UP THIS AUTUMN

Over the past year we’ve had a lot of enquiries from people looking to join open training courses as opposed to the tailor-made ones we usually provide. So we have decided to lay on 10 media and communication courses in the autumn, which are open to everyone, affordably priced and taught by experienced practitioners.

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Aurelie Vo Thi
Aurelie Vo Thi
September 12, 2017

Trainer Profile: Steffen Thejll-Moller

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A dual Danish and Italian citizen, Steffen Thejll-Moller is a graduate of Oxford University. He has for the past decade advised organisations and individuals in London, Brussels and beyond on how best to use digital and social media in corporate, internal, and political communications, public affairs and campaigning.

At agencies large and small, he has worked across an array of industries, including pharma, tech, food, transport and energy, and has advised and trained international organisations, politicians and government officials.

Steffen appreciates that the internet is a game-changer, but he remembers the analogue age, is allergic to shiny new toy syndrome, and loathes being termed a guru (or ninja). He advocates a sensible use of digital and social media to help communicators understand, reach, and influence target audiences, built on solid (non-digital) foundations, like genuine audience understanding, and integrated and measurable communications strategies.