Redacteur – Communicatienetwerk.amsterdam

Who will be the communication star of 2021?

News

The search for the best communication campaign in 2021 in the Amsterdam metropolitan region has started again. Entries for the ‘Amsterdam Communication Prize’, organized annually by Communicatie Netwerk Amsterdam, are possible until 15 June 2022. This time the jury will award two prizes to two winners under the headings ‘social’ and ‘commercial’. Intended for the best communication campaign or the best project or initiative of the past year. Anyone active in the communications industry can compete, from freelance professionals to colleagues working at communications agencies.

The aim of the Amsterdam Communication Prize is to inspire communication professionals among themselves and to put craftsmanship in the spotlight. An independent jury assesses all entries and selects the three prize winners from among the nominees.

An important starting point for projects that want to compete is that the work was completed between January 1, 2021 and June 15th, 2022 in the Amsterdam metropolitan region. The metropolitan region extends from IJmuiden to Lelystad and from Beemster to Haarlemmermeer.

Download the application form in Word below (in Dutch):
Application form ACP 2021

Fill out this form as completely as possible and return it to info@communicatienetwerk.amsterdam

Good luck!

‘Having an eye for cross-fertilization of theory and practice’

Column

Rutger de Graaf: “University education must be alert to what is going on in society and what the needs of the business community are. An optimal connection with the work field is important.”

What ambition manifests itself in you as a communication teacher?

“A good practical example is the integration of students with the Amsterdam communication community. The sector plays a significant role in terms of social contribution. Communication Network Amsterdam is a shining example as a platform. A great match for students to increase their knowledge and network with experienced communication professionals in an informal way. Every month we organize inspiring and educational meetings and networking drinks. At the beginning of February, the Zoom seminar ‘Jump out on Linkedin’, be seen and found online’, is on the agenda. Hence my commitment to increase the intake and retention of our students and young communication professionals in our communication network. This also demands something from the association. We see in more and more studies that the language of instruction is English due to the internationalization of education. Breaking the language barrier is a serious task for our communication network!”

The outside world is full of praise for the Communication Sciences program at the UvA. How do students experience this study?

“The UvA trains scientists. Communication Sciences studies the content, applications and consequences of media and communication. Both the bachelor’s and master’s programs offer a broad orientation in communication sciences: from intercultural communication to advertising, public relations and journalism. They are conducting follow-up research into its impact on our lives. Students often wonder why they have to learn so many theories. All those abstract theories sometimes seem to have little to do with professional practice. Reflection from theory on practice is a link that could receive more attention. Guest lecturers from professional practice can strengthen the relationship between science and practice.”

Despite corona, lectures continue online as usual. How flexible are students during this special period?

“The lockdown ensures that my education is only offered digitally. This naturally enhances the autonomy of students. At the same time, students are more often alone and miss the informal social contacts. We are learning more and more about the importance of our formal and informal meetings and are developing more and more digital solutions. It is often not ideal, but the development rate is very high at the moment!

By: Miriam van Coblijn

New board members wanted!

Board

With the GMM approaching, we are looking for reinforcements in the board of Communication Network Amsterdam. Currently, the board consists of five people, which meet monthly for a meeting. Do you think it would be interesting to gain managerial experience? Send an email and we will invite you to a board meeting.

In addition, there are some members who are active in organizing certain events. Would you like to help shape the association by, for example, organizing meetings and events, recruiting members or managing social media? Or do you have an idea for an event or lecture, for example within your field of work?

Please send us an email to info@communicatienetwerk.amsterdam

Monster, Hero, Vision: What’s your story?

Retrospect

A small group of people from around the world joined Communication Netwerk Amsterdam for this happening. From Paris to Berlin, US to India and from Den Hague to Amersfoort. And of course a bunch of communication wizards from our network in Amsterdam. That’s the beauty of online meetings and a possibility to meet other interesting people from relatively far away on a regular Thursday evening. We shared our necessities, obstacles and visions. We trained and listened to each other.

After a short and pointy session about the theory in story telling we went deeper into the matter and had tasks in groups of three or even one on one exercises. All with a (very very limited) time on the clock to feel the pressure and not be able to think a lot about our answers, our story and our way, before putting it on the table. The purpose was to make us speak freely and just define in a couple of seconds what our own journey is with items of storytelling like the Hero, the Gift and Mentor, the monster and the vision.

My first chat was with Juan, a psychology graduate who wants to combine his way of storytelling / storylistening and communication and create his own coaching program. The second time I got to practice my own story was with Miriam Habib, an abdominal surgeon from Paris who was looking for the right way to pitch her idea for a corneal transplant programme in Africa. OH… oops, my goal was so much less worldly.

How can I tell about my broad interests and let my specialism shine through? For me it’s more about the way of working than the actual assignment. Whether I have to record a story of a CEO in his tower or a fisherman on his boat, I have to get or be equally interested in both. Taking the right pictures only comes if you can connect sincerely.

How can I tell about my broad interests and let my specialism shine through? Am I a specialist if I like and do everything? Actually I see my broad interests as a specialism. For me it’s more about the way of working than the actual assignment itself. Whether I have to shoot a story of a CEO in his tower or a fisherman on his boat, I have to get or be equally interested in both. You can only shoot the right pictures when you can connect sincerely.

When I was done with my short visions on ‘the gift, the monster and my vision’, Miriam briefly presented her story to me and it was so nice and positive and well told, I thought her project had actually already taken place. Maybe she already worked on this for a couple of months or even years? But no, it was a brand new thought and a vision still to be built or started! So, maybe this was the better way to tell her story.

One participant had already gone so far with telling his story that no more monsters were to be expected. The road to it had already been set and now it was only a matter of continuing until the vision.

We had to communicate all questions and thoughts within the group in a couple of seconds. It looks so simple and it is so great to just do and find out more then what you would think of in the first place. There are no wrong answers and multiple answers are also possible. Wow, just tell all about your own qualities in just 60 seconds? It is a good way to find out what else you need to make, reach or achieve the vision.

Questions to define the journey;
The Monster: What are you trying to get away from, get out of, change or discard?
The Gift: what is the one thing you need to get where you’re heading? (Except money). You have 90 seconds on the clock.
What are your greatest strengths, the ones that make you prepared for the journey? You have 60 seconds!

All answers are right and multiple answers is also a possibility. Wow, just say in 60 seconds all about your own qualities? It is a good way to find out what else you need to make, reach or achieve the vision.

Two hours flew by and in between we had a lot of fun with the answers that came from Douwe’s pressure cooker.

Douwe thanks us very much for our attendance. He really liked the size of the group and we were all great participants! It was a lot to digest; this was by design, because the stories we care about the most are usually also the ones we think about endlessly, which isn’t always helpful. Douwe would say: trust that your story is already there, just waiting to uncovered. Have the courage to work it out, in writing, speaking or whatever form that works best for you: just throw it out the way it comes out. Then cut in half, turn it upside down, put it inside out and at some point, the true story will emerge. It doesn’t have to be hard, if you just let go of the outcomes a bit, or a lot.

Good luck all!