Archive
Opinions
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Why is research important in a communications campaign?
July 9, 2018
Conducting research is key to fully understand how to gain the attention of an audience when building a communications campaign. The last thing people want with a communications campaign is to find themselves screaming out into the void, because they’ve failed to engage or interest people. In this video, David explains three different forms of research tools that we use to better understand audiences: Search Analysis: This analysis helps to collect data from web searches...
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How can your messages reach a communications sweet spot?
June 26, 2018
Continuing the DSC video series comes a short piece from Louise, giving us advice on how to hit the communications sweet spot when building a communications campaign. You’ll have to watch the video for the full rundown of what to do, but our main takeaway is to find your unique voice or perspective. In a society where millions of actors are constantly fighting for attention, the best way you can carve out a space for...
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Why should people care about what happens in Brussels?
June 25, 2018
Sometimes organisations and associations are sceptical as to how much effort they should make to influence EU decision making. Many believe it is either irrelevant or unnecessary action – expensive and time consuming on their part for not enough reward. Brett Kobie walks us through exactly why Brussels matters. How can the EU impact you and vice versa? Brett explains that if you understand the machine of the EU and how it ticks, you can...
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How can the EU communicate better in a year of change?
June 12, 2018
How can the EU communicate better? That age-old question that we'll never stop asking (and shouldn't). My take in a few points: The EU needs to meet people "where they are" and drop the "Brussels knows best" mentality - EVEN if this feels weird to do. Anything that smacks of elitism just plays as condescension. The EU needs to admit that it doesn't have everything right and needs to improve (see Macron agenda!). Anything less...
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Countdown to the 2019 European elections – the outlook so far
June 5, 2018
The next European elections are set to take place in just under twelve months’ time. Currently, the EU is having to prove its value to many of its members and assert its importance to its neighbours. The European project always seems to feel under threat to some extent and probably more so now than ever. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves what this uncertainty means for citizens, businesses and clients and how will it be represented...
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Working with Social Influencers to Tell Your Organisation’s Story
June 5, 2018
Obviously, you've already heard of social influencers. Not just because I wrote about them here - though I'd feel blessed to think so - but because they've gathered a lot of attention in the marketing world in the past 4-5 years. From our experience, this trend goes beyond companies and their need to sell products. For us at FH, these trusted "experts" with a large online following represent a clear opportunity for organisations to spark conversations and shape minds in the public...
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The GDPR and 25 May 2018: The finishing-line or starting pistol for data protection compliance?
May 24, 2018
25 May 2018. A date that has been evangelised by the Commission for the last 2 years, etched into the minds of all privacy activists, and overflowed your inbox as emails on ‘consent’ arrived from companies you’d long thought forgotten. This historic date represents the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU wide rules which empower citizens to have more control over their personal data and govern how companies can...
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The 2014 European Parliament Elections – What impact can an election have?
April 25, 2018
As Europe moves towards its 2019 political handover, it is an appropriate moment to look back and take stock of the last European Parliamentary elections in 2014 and to take a closer look at the lessons learned. As a reminder, these elections were then characterised as a ‘political earthquake’ – where the anti-EU sentiment and movement has been, in many ways, a precursor to the Brexit vote. This piece is the first in a series...
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How EU trade policy became EU trade politics
April 23, 2018
Over the past few years, trade has risen from relative technical obscurity to become one of the most politically contended policy areas worldwide. The EU is no exception to the trend and is in fact a front runner. Undoubtedly, the most visible factor which turned EU trade policy into hard politics is President Trump. However, political mobilisation predates the last US presidential election by a few years. The TTIP factor Already in 2013 and 2014...
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Climate, Finance and Trade – Is Climate Policy the next trade battleground? If President Macron wins the argument, yes.
March 28, 2018
The debate on how to finance Europe’s transition to a low carbon economy has seen a significant political crescendo over the last months. The most important talks on new spending and financing options are taking place within the context of the next Multi-Financial Framework, where Member States are discussing whether and how to better align those options to help the EU achieve its policy priorities, among which climate and environment targets. Some Member States have...