Communication

Communication. The portfolio.

Communication of politicians, associations and companies is subject to constant change, which, due to digitalisation, requires the agile use of a wide range of channels, tools and platforms - around the clock. This is a development that poses new questions and challenges for communicators, but also offers opportunities. The same applies to public affairs, i.e. the strategic, communicative influence on political decision-making processes by organizations.

Modern communication platforms (social media, Twitter, blogs, forums, messengers, news-influencers and so on) are overtaking traditional media, i.e. print, radio and TV. The dependence of a news item on a publisher or a broadcaster is dwindling. There are alternative ways of distribution.

Those who have mastered the variable use of modern communication instruments will find recipients for all their messages. In companies. In politics. What is needed is a communication strategy with rough edges, alternative thinking is required. Old-fashioned press work is a thing of the past.

Political communication

Media are an important component of the communicative design of public space, especially for the processes of communication and action between politics, social actors and the public.

Social media have massively changed political communication structures. This change is reflected in a quantitative multiplication of the channels of political communication, and it is reflected qualitatively in the type of communication, as well as in the possibilities for interaction between political actors, social groups and increasingly less enlightened - or often completely disinformed - citizens through "framing".

Alternative thinking determines the social media - much to the chagrin of the political, media and predominantly synchronized mainstream.

The mainstream media have also recognized this positive trend for democracy and freedom of opinion - but still draw their own, largely erroneous conclusions:

Social Media Champion (WiWo, German language)
This is gigantic (WELT, German language)
85% Market sharel (WAZ, German language)

Corporate communication

Like political communication, corporate communication is subject to ever faster and often radical change.

Formerly limited to classic corporate PR work, internal communication and market communication (marketing), companies are now facing far-reaching changes:

Ideologically controlled lobby groups are increasingly influencing politics. Thanks to the silent majority, minorities will find a hearing in the media. Politics often takes the side of the screaming activists.

Victims are companies from the automotive or power plant sectors. Other sectors will follow. Companies are still subordinating themselves to "political correctness". But times will (have to) change. Companies are called upon to fight for their existence and take a public stand - even against a minority hyped by the media.

Corporate- and association public relations must be prepared for this. They are not yet.

VW disgraces itself at Greta Gala (Meedia, German language)

Social media communication

Social media communication is part of political communication, as it is part of modern corporate communication.

However, it has a special significance: serious user groups such as citizens, customers or interested parties mix with activists, bots and a multitude of colorful trolls on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Co.

If it is already part of day-to-day business in politics that almost every post and every tweet evokes a shitstorm, companies must learn to face up to this problem.

Today, energy companies are reaping hate comments from self-proclaimed environmental activists just because they do their job and generate energy - something that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago.

Thanks to Web 2.0, public feedback is coming around the clock, seven days a week.

While Greta and her army of children are demonstrating outside, ideologically blinded users are spamming all social media channels. Crisis management and crisis communication are in demand.

Shitstorm for RWE (utopia.de, German language)

Communication from the bottom up

My communicative beginning: school newspaper. Parallel to my studies of political science I worked as a freelance journalist for newspapers and agencies. This was followed by several PR internships, training as a TV and multimedia editor, professional stations as TV editor, head of service and editor-in-chief and over 15 years as project manager and conceptioner in the field of "New Business"; among others in Nuremberg, Berlin, Prague and Shanghai.

My communicative expertise is extensive. Over 25 years of know-how in all relevant sectors, in all media, classic, modern, digital and – last but not least - international.

To sum up: Every project has communicative aspects; the words on a website, the company blog, the exhibition stand, the social media presence, the press release, the press enquiry, the role as a speaker at events and conferences, or the holistic communication concept.

Anyone who knows the editorial work knows how journalists work. I know it.

Arrived in the German Bundestag: Since autumn 2017 I have been focusing full-time on political communication.

The daily newspaper Hokkaido Shimbun, which is published in Japan, reported on my work and the related strategic orientation of political communication in Germany.

Communication. Without an end.

My experiences show: Visual, digital and even classic communication never ends.

This is a good thing as without communication everyday life would be kind of boring, wouldn't it?

Erstellt mit