Mark Jansen

🇳🇱 It is good to be back! For the 2nd year running, we’ve been here in the Netherlands talking crisis communications resilience on a global scale. ✒️ Having recruited us as their retained 24/7 crisis communications support, this client doubled down on their commitment with annual training for the whole team. 👉🏻 Crisis communications and reputation management is not just a comms job and if you haven't had a crisis recently it's easy to forget the important stuff. Regularly involving other colleagues creates business wide awareness so: 🟩 more people are alert to potential issues 🟩 feel comfortable raising concerns if a crisis happens 🟩 are equipped and confident to support the response

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Building on the challenges that communicators must overcome to reach European citizens—fragmented media use, the rise of populist narratives, and an influx of unreliable AI-generated “news”—we explore how the EU can maintain consistency, visibility, and relevance in this rapidly evolving context. 

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Why aren’t more people talking about the Digital Markets Act #DMA and Digital Services Act #DSA? It’s not just about the EU it’s about fairness and interoperability and not allowing 2 or 3 big tech players to hold market power. These regulations could open up new opportunities for digital media companies.

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📢 The Google.org Impact Challenge: Strengthening Democracy in Europe is now accepting applications! 🇪🇺 This initiative is launching as state-sponsored threat groups are attacking government institutions across Europe, and putting systems and civil society organisations at risk. We have long been investing, innovating and partnering to counter these threats while new opportunities to harness technology and AI’s potential for good are emerging. Now is a moment that calls for a more effective partnership between public, private and civic organisations — between technology and democracy, and better tools in democracy’s defence.  We’re committed to supporting governments, industry and civil society on this important goal, as supporting civil society is core to how we’ll make technology work for democracy for many years to come.  I'm thrilled to see Google launching this €15M initiative to empower organisations across Europe to drive democratic resilience. We're looking for innovative proposals that leverage advanced technology, including AI, to protect election integrity, support voter education, and strengthen civic dialogue. If you're a European nonprofit, civic entity, academic institution, or social enterprise with a bold idea, apply today! Let's harness the power of technology to build a stronger, more resilient democracy for Europe.  https://lnkd.in/d6eY7mkc  #GoogleOrgImpactChallenge

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Two questions : What makes a great consultancy? Why is Terrapin different? Having run the largest public affairs agency (Bell Pottinger) for twelve years, I came to understand that the trick is to employ the best consultants, to consistently deliver outstanding results and (crucially) to understand your clients’ businesses. The key role for a consultancy is to deliver added value. Over the years, it has also become clear that clients like to work with consultants who they like. Hence Team Terrapin’s mantra : Best in class. Best fun! 🐢🐢🐢 In the world of property and development, Team Terrapin brings something very special and possibly unique to the party. In addition to our extensive consultation and communication expertise, we also deploy our experience of local government and our unsurpassed political networks for the benefits of our clients. Our aim is always to derisk a scheme at the start of the planning process …😎 Too many developers and house builders are surprised when their schemes are refused. Yet, there should never be any surprises at a planning committee. Before any application is submitted there must always be extensive engagement with all the key players including the senior politicians. Once the planning application is submitted, there should be no surprises. So to answer my two opening questions. What defines a great consultancy is an approach and delivery which always exceeds the expectation of clients. Team Terrapin is different because we insert political knowledge and expertise into the planning process. If all of this makes sense, please get in touch with me at : [email protected]

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I've been working on a #campaign about the #EUElections for a client, which has prompted me to consolidate what I've been reading + listening to in a blog (so you don't have to 😉 ). Main points here ⬇ ⬇ : 💥Although hard to predict, EU politicians and policymakers are bracing for a swing towards the right. 💥Whilst the EU Parliament has been ruled by a de facto grand coalition, this equilibrium can change if the ECR and ID gain seats. 💥The incumbent EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen will have to negotiate a deal with the right and far-right MEPs and/or the far-left MEPs to secure a second mandate. 💥A change in the EU Parliament will have far-reaching political and policy implications. 💥 Only when the new Commission is in place, we will know for sure which policies the EU will decide to prioritise. #EUelections #GreenDeal #EUCommission

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On our team, we know comms isn't a one-trick channel – we run a multipurpose toolkit for tackling big opportunities and threats. We're hiring a new teammate with new tools to join us as GetYourGuide's first Head of Public Affairs ⤵️ To set the scene: We've spent 15 years building a category-leading platform, global brand, and thriving partner ecosystem around a simple promise to unlock unforgettable travel experiences. As GetYourGuide's Global Comms team, our remit is to build and protect the reputation of our company and category with strategic audiences. To date, we've focused on investors (that's Clare), our partner ecosystem (that's Prateek), and our own team (that's Sarah and Catriona). As we've grown, our horizons have expanded, and our name has gained a new kind of weight. Now, more than ever before, our way forward will involve engaging institutions, policymakers, and advocacy groups to shape our reputation with these new audiences, and advance our shared priorities. This is where you come in: As our first Head of Public Affairs, you’ll be the architect of our engagement with these audiences. Working with our strategy, commercial, and policy teams, you'll develop and deploy communications strategies that drive impact on the issues that matter most to us – including: 🤼 Fair competition in our industry 🏛️ Stewardship of the world's great cities and monuments 🇪🇺 A strong Europe for talent and innovation Beyond the what job ad (in first comment) says, here's 3 qualities I expect my next teammate to bring: → You're eager to pioneer a new role on a nascent team, and you know to set a compelling vision that fits our company priorities like a puzzle piece. 🧩 → You know how to turn a policy agenda into a communications platform, and how to win allies and build coalitions to support and amplify our message. 📢 → You know how to build the internal and external bridges you'll need, and you'll be adept at leading stakeholders on a journey across them. 🌉 Want to play for this all-star team? Apply via the link in the comment below and let's talk.

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Thanks to John Johnston for the POLITICO Europe London Influence story on the training gap between white PR Professionals and those from BME backgrounds. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations State of the Profession survey showed that white practitioners are: - more likely to have received training in the previous 12 months (81% vs. 74%) - are more likely to have agreed training needs with managers - and are less likely to have had requests for training turned down (36% vs. 47%).   This represents statistically significant gap in the training experiences and opportunities of UK BME PR professionals compared to their white colleagues. Not only is training vital for an individual’s progression, and internal profile, as it can shape how an employer views their ability and seniority, lack of access can impact overall achievements as well as retention - a key point brought up by Matthew Otubu. And based on previous research and people's lived experience, it’s also a red flag for other missed work opportunities and unspoken barriers to fairness and inclusion. Sadly the training gap is not surprising but it is unacceptable and, in an age of skills shortages, inexcusable. #PR #Comms #DiversityandInclusion #Training https://lnkd.in/eCZypZM8

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What parallels! I equally love metaphors, allegories, as well as data, reports, and clear outlooks. So, sharing the results of our challenging fiscal year couldn't be ignored. 😊 My personal 'broken' fiscal year (battle with cancer) and our journey at Renewi share striking similarities. We faced challenges, made tough decisions, and embraced change—all with the aim of moving forward together. Yesterday, we published our Annual Report: Advancing Circularity Together, year end results ánd announced the sale of our UK business—a strategic move, though a challenging one, to advance our mission of circularity. Grateful to be part of this incredible team. Here’s to resilience, progress, and the power of collaboration. We did it. We do it. Together. Advancing.  📥 https://bit.ly/3wZMHsX https://lnkd.in/ehuj9yJY #AdvancingCircularityTogether #Renewi #CircularEconomy #Resilience #ProudNewi #AnnualReport #Communications

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As most communications professionals know (or should know), the struggle against jargon is never-ending but we must never give up the fight Back in 2015 I wrote this piece for POLITICO Europe in which we created a new set of #EUJargonaut terms, such as "stakehole", "unilogue" and "Schumansplaining" The story is here: https://lnkd.in/e3Bgqx-z

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We hear it all the time: every day is relentless, and there’s never enough time to step back and get ‘above it’. That’s why we set up HYPHA Connect: free consultancy sessions where you can share your comms, culture and change challenges, hear about relevant, impactful case studies and discuss what might work for your organisation.💡💥✅ It’s easy to get involved – just message me directly and we’ll get some time in the diary. Bookings still open for August and September… 🗓️ 💬 #internalcommunications #employeecommunications #culturechange #behaviourchange

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Election deepfakes: what impact will they have on the campaign, and on AI regulation after polling day? We're seeing deepfakes play out in a UK General election campaign for the first time and it's impacting politicians directly. They obviously don't like this and it shapes their perceptions around AI and wider advanced tech. How will this effect their approach to wider regulation? I guess we'll see post GE as politicians/regulators are really struggling with how to grapple the complexities of this... How and at what point to regulate? 👇 https://lnkd.in/eH45gapH

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"ISD’s Platform Preparedness Analysis explored the policies which four major social media companies (YouTube, Meta, Snap, and X) have in place to govern transparency and moderation of political advertisements." Key Finding: Snap was the only platform on which researchers did not identify any ads that violated platform policies." https://lnkd.in/gZuQHPy6

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On a related but slightly different tack, many companies rely on Google Alerts for news monitoring, mostly because they don't want to pay for a specialised news monitoring service when they think they are getting the same thing for free. They aren't. Every Google alert is sent to you for one reason only - to sell you an ad. So if you're in the middle of a reputational crisis, and the media is running hot, do you really want to rely on a sales algorithm to tell you what's going on? I look forward to seeing if SearchGPT does a better job.

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🎉 It's that time of year again! The Google Year in Search results are out, and it's my absolute favorite way to wrap up the year. From the Euros to the Olympics, Marry Me Chicken to Baby Reindeer, Ireland's searches in 2024 were a rollercoaster! Want to know what topped the charts? Check out the full results: https://lnkd.in/edDjHYKZ #YearInSearch #GoogleTrends #Ireland

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The purely business case for #DEIB is solid and unchanging no matter who is in the White House. Lisette Arsuaga of #ANAAIMM makes a compelling, research-based case worth reading because the country’s demographic growth is not impacted at all by politics or parties. #DiversityMatters #MulticulturalMarketing https://lnkd.in/enphx723

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Reading Stickify was a crash course on customer retention. It’s part of a series of books, but this one specifically dives into building customer loyalty—making them “stick” to your business, not just for one-time transactions but for the long haul. The central idea is clear: loyal customers are the foundation of a sustainable, decade-lasting business. The book is packed with actionable advice and relatable concepts, but these three lessons stood out to me the most: Product-Market Fit One of the key insights for me was the importance of starting with the customer’s problem rather than the product. In my analogy, finding a lock first and then designing the key to fit it. This approach reinforces the idea that businesses thrive by solving real problems, not by forcing solutions onto uninterested markets. Satisfied vs. Loyal Customers This distinction was a major takeaway. Satisfied customers might stay until a competitor offers something better, but loyal customers become advocates for your brand. Building loyalty isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about creating a deeper connection that keeps customers coming back and recommending your business to others. To Be the Best, Be the Only This concept challenges the idea of competing solely on being better or cheaper. Instead, it’s about carving out a unique space in the market where your business stands apart as the only choice for a particular need. It’s a mindset shift that emphasizes differentiation and long-term positioning. What I appreciated most about Stickify is its practical yet strategic approach. The lessons are easy to grasp but powerful when applied, especially for businesses in their early stages or those looking to refocus on customer retention. If you’re an entrepreneur or a business leader, this book offers a straightforward framework to strengthen your business relationships and create lasting connections with your customers. Stickify is FAH’s playbook about making customers stick and he is inviting thoughtful First Readers. Feedback would be appreciated. You can email him at [email protected] or send him a DM for a copy. Maraming salamat for this, Sir Florentino A. Hernando! 🫡

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