Author Archives: LF Channel

Remembering Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

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The Olympic Games of London 2012 have recently started, and here we can’t help remembering the ones celebrated in Barcelona, exactly, 20 years ago. At that time, some of those who are currently part of the LF Channel team worked as volunteers to help making possible the games that changed our city forever.

Our Marketing Online Director, Jofre Folch, was one of the more than 30,000 volunteers in the Olympic Games of Barcelona ’92. Here he tells us his experience:

As a volunteer in Barcelona ’92, what did your work consist of?
My volunteering during the Olympic Games of Barcelona ’92 was an experience that I remember with great affection.
My main task was to drive the athletes, mainly from the airport to their destinations, and sometimes I worked as an interpreter too.
We were located in the Industrial School’s facilities at Urgell Street. We were lots of volunteers and army personnel too, so rarely we made more than 2 or 3 transfers per day.
I remember meeting lots of athletes and personnel from the Olympic federations. They were all excited to arrive to our city and start working with their teams and delegations.

Why did you decide to collaborate as a volunteer in the Olympic Games?
As the Olympic Games were approaching, a feeling of solidarity was arousing in those of us who wanted to participate in such a great event and give our time to the organization.

How was the previous preparation for the games? What did the training, workout, rehearsals… consist of?
In my case, after passing some basic driving tests and other psychological exams they organized some training sessions at SEAT’s driving school in the Zona Franca area of Barcelona.
During the training sessions, they provided us with advice on how to face some complicated situations (traffic accidents, attacks, aggressions, etc.).
Driving and, in general, road safety issues had a high importance also.

Do you remember any special anecdote from the Olympic Games in 1992?
Hahaha, I remember that we lost a driver, car included, and he did not come back till the following day. He got lost in Banyoles after transferring the rowing delegation from Zaire. But he did come back with a lot of pins.

What do you highlight from your experience at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona?
The good vibes, the enthusiasm to contribute to the organization as much as we could and, above all, having collaborated in bringing success to the best games ever.
Since then, I have been really active collaborating in other volunteering tasks.

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“Losing the L-Word” by DuetsBlog

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Losing the L-Word



Okay, nobody wants to be a “loser,” unless, of course, you happen to be the biggest one, but that’s beside the point, because that’s not the L-word I’m talking about today.

No, I’m talking about a much more traditionally positive L-word, as in ”leader,” but as I learned earlier this week, at an excellent breakfast seminar hosted at Padilla Speer Beardsley (PSB) headquarters in Minneapolis, entitled “Thinking Local in EMEA: The Next Wave in European Program Execution,” if you’re a U.S. company doing or wanting to do business in the EMEA, and if you want to succeed or have a winning strategy there, you should strongly consider losing the “leader” word in your branding and corporate communications. It just doesn’t sell well there, especially coming from a U.S. company.

Apparently just about everyone purports to be the leader, of at least something. It is apparently perceived as a very over-used and tired term there – one that offers no differentiation, and perhaps, even a bit of alienation of those you might be trying to reach.

It kind of reminds me of Duets GuestBlogger Nancy Friedman’s previous recommendation to avoid the tired and meaningless P-word in branding communications. And, don’t forget to avoid the D-word for entirely another, yet important reason.

Another take away for me from the seminar was the importance of not ignoring or losing a “local” touch, when it comes to refining a U.S. company’s communications in the EMEA.

Probably the most laughter during the seminar came during Patrik Schober’s answer to my question about what pitfalls exist for those in regulated industries who want to use social media in the EMEA, when he revealed that “lawyers are not social!” Corinna Voss confirmed that the legal community is highly regulated and unable to advertise or promote themselves, so they generally avoid the use of social media.

She also offerred that medical device and pharmaceutical companies will typically avoid regulatory problems in using social media by focusing their communications on non-product information of interest to their targets, and she agreed with Matt Kucharski’s comment that they seem to focus on topics that demonstrate ”thought leadership” — presumably on the theory that this kind of leader is accepted there.

Many thanks to Matt Kucharski, Senior Vice President of PSB, who did a very nice job of “leading” and moderating a dynamic panel discussion with Corinna Voss (of Munich-based HBI Helga Bailey GmbH, Imma Folch Lazaro (of Barcelona-based LF Channel S.L.), and Patrik Schober (of Prague-based PRAM Consulting).

Come to think of it, I’m not sure this L-word is any more differentiating in the U.S., with more than 800 live trademark applications and registrations containing the term.

How would you communicate leadership without using the L-word?



This post was provided by DuetsBlog and written by Steve Baird. To see the original article click here

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Well, I’ve Now Been To Spain….

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Well, I’ve Now Been To Spain…

“Well, I’ve never been to Spain
But I kind of like the music…”

- Three Dog Night

Well, I’ve now been to Spain and I really do like the music.  I just got back last Friday from two weeks there where I attended the Worldcom Public Relations Group’s Annual Group Meeting in Madrid, conducted client planning sessions with our Barcelona-based partner and generally ate and drank my way through two dynamic cities. In the same fashion as the tasty small dishes known as tapas, here is a selection of small bites from the journey.

A Different Kind of Multinational

With 107 partner offices in 91 countries spanning six continents not to mention thousands of employees, and many, many millions of dollars of combined revenues, the Worldcom Public Relations Group stacks up very against the world’s largest public relations firms.  The Worldcom advantage, of course, is that clients receive best of breed service from leading agency minds in any given locale as opposed to having to accept less with other solutions.  It was great to see the combined strength of the organization on display at the meeting where we focused on further strengthening service across ever-changing geographical, geopolitical and cultural boundaries.

Continue reading →

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Worldcom PR Group: The Tour 2011

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Worldcom EMEA PR agencies travelled to the US to share information & experiences with American companies on how EMEA markets need to be approached differently and the common mistakes that US companies make when they go global in Europe. The tour was developed together with Worldcom American partners.

Los partners que participaron son:

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Second article published in PRNewser: PR with a “Local Touch”

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On Tuesday we were sharing with you the first article published in PRNewser (US), after the interview done to Imma Folch, General Manager at LF Channel and Marketing Chair of Worldcom PR Group EMEA, Corinna Voss, GM at HBI Helga Bailey GmbH (Munich) and Chair of Worldcom EMEA, and Patrik Schober, New Members Recruitment Chair and Managing Partner at PRAM Consulting (Prague).

Now we’d like to share a new article with you, this time, about the importance of giving a local touch to companies’ European communications. During the interview, Worldcom partners have explained some key cultural aspects of different European countries, and the media trends in specific markets. The economic situation in some European countries has also been mentioned, together with the example of Spain and Germany.

This article is meant to provide some useful information for American companies who are interested in planning a communication strategy in Europe.

 
 

Worldcom Execs: Outreach In Europe Must Have a Local Touch

 

Besides a discussion about the virtues of being part of a network, visiting European Worldcom Public Relations Group executives — Worldcom EMEA chair and MD at Munich-based HBI Helga Bailey GmbH, Corinna Voss; Imma Folch, Worldcom EMEA marketing chair and CEO of Barcelona-based LF Channel S.L.; and Patrik Schober, the network’s member recruitment chair and managing partner at Prague-based PRAM Consulting — also spent a lot of time during our one-on-one discussing the EMEA landscape.

According to Voss, “Africa has a lot of potential,” with countries like Angola, which has a wealth of resources, providing a great deal of opportunity like that seen in the Asia-Pacific region.

And while parts of the EMEA region are untraveled territory for many, there are similarities that will help firms that are new to the region carve out a path.

“We rely personal relationships with media,” said Folch. “In countries in Africa, for example, they might have less media, but the way they work with them will be quite similar to the way we work with them.”

 

 

You can read the complete article here: http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/worldcom-execs-outreach-in-europe-must-have-a-local-touch_b18226

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Building Synergies with Partners Overseas

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Yesterday LF Channel Managing Director Imma Folch, together with Worldcom partners Corinna Voss, MD at HBI Helga Bailey GmbH  and Patrik Schober, managing partner at PRAM Consulting (Prague) participated in a meeting with Dennis Collins, President at the public relations and content development firm TechImage, based in Chicago and also a Worldcom partner. Twelve IT companies attended the event, organized by Dennis Collins. This was a great opportunity for Worldcom partners to explain the differences between European countries regarding media trends and cultural aspects, and advising American companies on specific aspects they should take into consideration when expanding their companies to Europe.

From left to right: Corinna Voss, Patrik Schober, Dennis Collins and Imma Folch.

 

LF Channel’s Managing Director Imma Folch is currently taking part in this special Worldcom EMEA tour through the US together with the two other EMEA partners mentioned above. The tour’s agenda includes meetings with American partners, and also with local journalists and bloggers. The objective is to strengthen bonds with partners overseas and generate new opportunities of working together.

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The Benefits of Working in a Partners Network

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We want to share with you an article published by PRNewser, from the USA, as a result of an interview made to Imma Folch, General Manager of LF Channel and Worldcom PR Group EMEA Marketing Responsible, together with other two members from the Board of Directors of Worldcom EMEA: Corinna Voss, General Manager of the German agency HBI Helga Bailey GmbH and Chair of Worldcom EMEA, and Patrik Schober, the network Recruitment Chair and Managing Partner of PRAM Consulting, based in Prague.

This article highlights the benefits of working in a network with partners around the world, where each agency is independent and can provide a local market overview. To remain part of the network, each agency must meet certain quality standards that are periodically evaluated.
 

Worldcom Execs Discuss The Network Benefits

“…If at any moment in time you feel that Spain becomes attractive, you can say to the lead agency, ‘Can you call your guys in Spain?” says Worldcom EMEA chair Corinna Voss.

As posted this morning on Twitter (if you’re not following us, @PRNewser), I had the chance to meet one-on-one this morning with three visiting execs from the Worldcom Public Relations Group‘s EMEA arm: Imma Folch, Worldcom EMEA marketing chair and CEO of Barcelona-based LF Channel S.L.; Patrik Schober, the network’s member recruitment chair and managing partner at Prague-based PRAM Consulting; and Voss, who is also an MD at HBI Helga Bailey GmbH, based in Munich, Germany.

Worldcom is a network of independent firms with more than 100 offices that span around the world. Voss, Folch, and Schober represent a diverse region that encompasses dozens of languages, cultures, and hundreds of millions of people. (The other two Worldcom regions are Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.) And the number keeps rising. Last year, a firm in Istanbul was added to the mix, and soon a South African firm will be joining.

Many PR firms operate globally, whether it’s a firm that opens up an office overseas, an agency that partners with or takes a stake in a firm based in a geographic location of interest, or a network like Worldcom where each firm is independent. The visiting Worldcom execs discussed why the network path they’ve laid out is best.

Read the complete article here: http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/worldcom-execs-discuss-the-benefit_b18154

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When simple is clever

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One of the benefits of being members of the Worldcom PR Network is the incredbibly talent people you get to meet. David Grossman is the President of Worldcom’s University.  I receive a newsletter with very valuable information for my work in communication and PR. Today I want to share a very simple post, but very very inspiring:

I’m Not Kidding: Three Steps to be a Better Listener

At a recent kid’s story time event at the local bookstore, I overheard its storyteller with directions for the toddlers. “Before we get started, what do we need to do?” she said in her kid-friendly voice, reminding attendees of the rules of story time (complete with helpful gestures perfect for the 2- to 4-year olds and their parents).

Together, they all said:

  1. Open your ears
  2. Close your mouth
  3. Eyes on me

Brilliant, I thought. These three strategies can work for anyone who needs to listen, or who wants to improve their listening skills. It’s amazing that much of what we learn as kids can translate to the workplace, and often how quickly we forget simple but powerful principles that could make life at work a whole lot better.

- David Grossman

I encourage you to read David Grossman’s blog!

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Worldcom commited to the Young

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The network Worldcom has specific programs focused on our young workers, managed by the Worldcom Future Generation Group, giving them an opportunity to exchange experiences and lead initiatives related to 2.0 in their respective agencies. One of the most successful programs is the exchange program between agencies. In this way, the young don’t only receive additional information about communication, they also get to live immersed in other culture helping to expand their international character.

Recently, Eszter Szalkai from the Hungarian agency PROBAKO has visited and worked in HBI, German agency based in Munich. Eszter describes her stay in this way:

 

Dear Partners,

Thanks to the Worldcom Exchange Program I had the opportunity to work together with this fantastic team for two weeks in Munich. I arrived from the Budapest-based agency Probako Communications. This was the first time my agency took part in the staff exchange program, but I have received so much from this opportunity that I am sure we will continue participating.

The program is not only useful for learning from foreign PR specialists, getting an insight into the media landscape they are working in and exchanging ideas with them, but it is also a good opportunity for building a stronger connection with other member agencies.

I can warmly recommend you as well to participate in this program, because it is such a great opportunity for your young PR specialists from which they can profit a lot in the future.
Since the easiest way we can learn from each other is to work together.

I hope one day we can serve as a host for your colleagues. J

Warm regards,
Eszter

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Meet our Team: Susana Jesus

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Name:

Susana Jesus

Position at LF Channel:

Marketing Executive in Lisbon.

How long have you been working in LF Channel?

6 months

Hometown:

Vila Franca de Xila, Portugal.

Where would you take a tourist in your city?

In Lisbon, where I have 30 years living, I would take a tourist to S. Jorge Castle, where  you can have a view of the whole city.

What do you prefer, news on-line or printed format?

Printed format.

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook

Which is your favorite team?

Benfica (Football team from Lisbon).

Favorite food?

Pizza

Favorite book?

Ensaio sobre a Cegueira (Blindness) by José Saramago.

What is your most repeated sentence?

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” (Lewis Carroll).

What is the best part of your job?

To learn new things everyday.

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