Pages 69 to 80 of this weekend’s New York Times Magazine comprise a 12-page
advertorial from
Rwanda. The web address given should you want even more information is www.rwandatourism.com
– yes, Rwanda Tourism. Somehow I doubt that the amount of money that Rwanda
is going to make from tourism is going to come close to justifying the cost
of a 12-page advertorial in the New York Times Magazine.
The advertorial comes with a credit: it was "produced and sponsored by
Summit Communications", a company
whose sole purpose seems to be to publish advertorials in the New York Times.
Some advertorials, like that for Libya,
for example, are even on the web at nytimes.com.
So far this year, Summit Communications has produced advertorials for Rwanda,
Congo, and Sierra Leone. Last year it did Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, and Libya –
twice. Most of these countries come very low on transparency indices and very
high on corruption indices. Most of them, too, are unlikely to benefit greatly
from this type of exposure.
One can’t help but wonder how Summit Communications persuades these ministers
from highly corrupt countries to pay large amounts of money for advertorials
in the New York Times.
Now it’s true that the fee that Summit Communications charges has to be significantly
greater than the amount that Summit Communications has to pay the NYT. That’s
right and proper, of course: Summit has to produce the report, and make some
money for itself. But maybe – just maybe – some of that fee finds
its way into an offshore bank account controlled by the minister in question?
That can’t be the case: such a practice would make it easier to sell these advertorials,
but would also violate the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
So how does Summit Communications – none of whose principals are named
on its website – manage to keep its sales going? I have no idea.
Lovely to see so many known faces ! in one sentence, let’s not regret it, someday it was fun, someday it was ugly, we all draw the line where we want. one thing, have you / we ever thought about creating a club of former NOA/AFA press people ? since the landing seems rough, maybe we could be constructive and try to help each other, many of us know languages, are young and pretty, dispersed into this ever shrinking world, and don’t know how the “normal” life will be … and what if we could help each other ? good old AFA methods for good purposes….coordinacion !!!
Hey lost in media. You are definately not cut out for that business, get lost in another sector.
C.Ordierez
So to sum up the debate so far:
“You’re evil”
“No, you’re evil”
“No, you’re more evil”
“No, YOU’RE more evil”
I am appalled and shocked at how people have been dissing this fine industry with all their lies and slander. Sure, I once thought of working for an NGO instead, delivering aid to remote disaster-stricken villages in impoverished developing countries, but i heard it doesn’t pay enough to support my coke habit so i scrapped that plan. I mean, who wants to do stupid volunteer work with a bunch of preppy rich-kids trying to garnish their CVs with some goody-goody philanthropism for their precious little college applications? No thanks! I wouldn’t do it no matter how cute some of those aid workers are, bending up and down with their tight tushes and their lean suntanned bodies glistening with sweat under the brutal sub saharan sun, throwing sacks of grain at a desperate mob of starving disease-ridden people who’ll probably die of AIDS in a few days anyway. Sure it sounds fun, and sexy, but it seems like a bit of a waste of time since there’s always some other disaster that happens as soon as you’re done helping the ones who suffered from the previous one. So instead, I opted for this line of work that we all are (or have been) a part of, whatever it’s called. Let’s call it “Special Journalism”. And I’m glad I did become a Special Journalist, because I really do believe that we can – and do – make a difference, much more so than those stupid aid organizations that are really just fronts for some shady trading in the global black market for cheap grain and rice. But that’s another story.
Many nay-saying neer-do-well negative nancy’s here who like to poo-poo what I do would do well to note that these special reports we work so hard on serve a crucial function for attracting much needed attention – in terms of tourism potential and investment potential – to me. I get to see some of the most exotic locations around the globe while at the same time raking up some fine 5-10 percent commish on every sale so as to invest in a chic little flat somewhere back home where I can live in the future when my tits start sagging. How can you ignore the vital function that this industry serves for bettering the lives of so many impoverished college graduates with marketing and communications majors throughout the first world? Have you all become so jaded and cynical that you don’t realize that in terms of developing and attracting tourism and investment potential, these reports are, I believe, of great benefit to me and thousands of people like me, by giving me the kind of exposure I need to help successfully take my place in the world as a rapidly developing, up-and-coming cosmopolitan person. So all you pooh-poohing pansies better realize that when you’re putting down this industry, you’re putting down the very people this industry serves, the very people who are expecting to benefit from a better standard of living thanks to the services of this industry… people like you and me.
Another thing I love about this industry is that I feel that it empowers me as a strong, independent, successful, modern woman. Unfortunately, this type of model woman is sorely lacking in the world, and especially in all the third-world countries I go to, where women are anything but modern, successful, independent and proud. Instead they’re all poor and undernourished and always dependent on their husbands and always asking for money, or smell like rotten milk, and generally have a pessimistic attitude to everything, lacking that essential “Can Do!” attitude that makes the difference between Us and Them. By going to these countries, we are being excellent role models for what a woman should be like, and maybe that way those people will also start emulating us, instead of hiding their faces behind veils and cowering from the world in their ramshackle houses, when they could be going out there and being their own person, affirming their womanhood, becoming a successful woman all on her own, just like us. Maybe they’ll look at us and say “Hey, I can do it too!” All they need is a positive frame of mind and a go-get’em attitude. When I drive by in the back seat of my chauffeur-driven car with my high heels and miniskirt haranguing some bigshot businessman or state minister on my cellphone to pay up or face our lawyers in between making snide and slightly racist remarks to my dumbass driver who can’t seem to find a big goddamn GOVERNMENT MINISTRY on the only paved road in some shitty-ass third world hellhole, I’m setting an example to all the women by the side of the road trying to collect water from a puddle to stave off death for one more day for her 12 children… I’m basically saying “You go Girl! If I can do it, so can you!” It’s that sort of “Take no prisoners!” attitude that needs to be promoted in those kinds of countries, and we do that.
Some people have also cast aspersions on the quality of these reports, as if they were just a front to sell advertising. Well how could we sell the advertising if we didn’t have the report? We couldn’t! That proves how important the report is. It includes crucial information for those planning on going to those countries, and also sheds in a positive light governments and countries that have received nothing but bad press. I mean all you hear are people going on about negative things like “oh, you committed genocide” and “hey, you’re slaughtering political dissidents” or like “oh no, you just wiped out an ethnic minority”, bleh bleh bleh. Well is there nothing positive in these countries? Of course there are. Sure 800,000 people were butchered by machete wielding mobs in Rwanda, but I bet you didn’t know that they have wild gorillas and lush tropical rainforests. Thanks to our report, you know about it and can go see them before they’re all dead. Sure, you may know Sudan as an impoverished shithole where genocide is virtually official government policy, but did you also know that it’s the biggest country in Africa, and that it has enormous ecotourism potential? Untapped treasure trove! Sure you may know South Africa as a giant puddle of AIDS and crime, but did you know that Cape Town is delightful? So let’s stop the negativity and realize the importance of Special Journalism in giving people the other side of the story. As I always say, if God’s given them AIDS, why not help them make lemonaids?
But besides the benefit we bring to these countries, there’s also a lot of fun in it too. We all have whole conversations worth of anecdotes which we otherwise wouldn’t have had if we weren’t Special Journalists. You meet so many people wherever you go, but no matter where you are or how shitty the country is, we all know that there will be at least a few other white people there to hang out with and get laid every now and again. I’ll admit the job can be stressful, depressing and lonely at times – especially when you’re on one of your standard coke hangovers – but that just comes with the job. The trick is to have a little pep and always be positive. Some people think we’re just using sexuality to make dodgey sales, but they’re just people who are jealous that we’re prettier than them. Sure, looking good is important for any business deal, but it’s not the sex that sells, it’s the product we’re offering. In fact body language is important. Subtle little things make all the difference, like making good eye contact, or playing with your hair, or accidentally showing a nipple while my tits are bouncing around so hard because I’m fake-giggling at some CFO’s puerile pun. So yes, looks do matter. I mean people don’t want to look at some fat ugly bitch when you’re trying to get them in a spending mood. Instead they want to see a smart, beautiful, elegant, sexy lady… with nice tits.
So let’s say it once and say it loud: We’re Special and we’re proud!
French journalist stabbed to death at his home
Reporters Without Borders said today it was “very shocked” by the murder of French journalist Grégoire de Bourgues at his home in Almaty on 2 August and called for an immediate investigation.
De Bourgues, 24, had been in Kazakhstan since 22 April as an editorial adviser for an Athens-based firm called SML Strategic Media, which had sent him there for three months to do an advertising feature for the US magazine Foreign Affairs.
“We urge the authorities to do all they can to solve this murder and we hope the French government will follow the investigation very closely,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “We express our sympathy with his family and his employers.”
Three armed men, two of them masked, broke into De Bourgues’ fourth-floor apartment in Kurmangazy Street in the middle of the afternoon. The journalist’s Kazakh interpreter/translator was with him at the time.
The intruders tied both of them up and demanded money in Russian. The prisoners did not resist and the the attackers took a computer, digital camera, mobile phone and a lot of money. Then they took the journalist into another room and stabbed him to death. The interpreter managed to break free after they left and called the police. An autopsy on De Bourgues’ body showed the attackers first tried to strangle him.
He had had several meetings with top government and parliamentary officials as part of his reporting assignment and had been due to fly to Greece the day he was killed.
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French journalist stabbed to death at his home
Reporters Without Borders said today it was “very shocked” by the murder of French journalist Grégoire de Bourgues at his home in Almaty on 2 August and called for an immediate investigation.
De Bourgues, 24, had been in Kazakhstan since 22 April as an editorial adviser for an Athens-based firm called SML Strategic Media, which had sent him there for three months to do an advertising feature for the US magazine Foreign Affairs.
“We urge the authorities to do all they can to solve this murder and we hope the French government will follow the investigation very closely,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “We express our sympathy with his family and his employers.”
Three armed men, two of them masked, broke into De Bourgues’ fourth-floor apartment in Kurmangazy Street in the middle of the afternoon. The journalist’s Kazakh interpreter/translator was with him at the time.
The intruders tied both of them up and demanded money in Russian. The prisoners did not resist and the the attackers took a computer, digital camera, mobile phone and a lot of money. Then they took the journalist into another room and stabbed him to death. The interpreter managed to break free after they left and called the police. An autopsy on De Bourgues’ body showed the attackers first tried to strangle him.
He had had several meetings with top government and parliamentary officials as part of his reporting assignment and had been due to fly to Greece the day he was killed.
BenJ, tu preches pour ta chapelle? Well… You’re not wrong to do so.
Whomever wasn’t Racquel (lost in media) should find out about your company. Find the “Emerging (country) series”. You’ll decide whether the content is better or not but at least it is being sold as what it is.
Marcia, your comment was the best! It made me laugh to tears… Goes without saying that the irony is not lost on people.
So, nobody interested in taking this debate to the “darker” side, huh? I meant the actual business practices of the parent company rather than what people do on the field, knowingly or unknowingly. Is NOA/AFA purely crooked? Is it run by mafiosi with no scrupules who launder money from even shadier operations? Or is simply another company making bucks by relying on sales? If it is, why does it spill so much ink?
Somehow, I don’t think anybody outside the industry reads. We’re being unbelievably NOA-like again by only staring at our own navel… Too bad!
Hi Felix,
thanks for posting the IP addresses on your other comment. That helped identify who posted comments about Media Plus under my name. On a very simple web query I found out that it was posted from Saudi Arabia (82.205.215.177). If anyone wants to do it, go ahead (http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/node/view/36). Not difficult to find out who’s on a project in Saudi now…..
Anyways, I’m not in the mood to talk about the industry…. I’ve done it a lot previously. I just keep the good things for myself and think that the most important thing about this job is what you make out of it. It seems obvious, but it’s an unique opportunity and it’s up to the team (or the person) to decide if they will screw up the government, companies, etc or they’ll do a honest job.
Is promoting tourism in poor war-scarred nations, such as Rwanda, really as absurd as some contributors contend above… or are we ahead of the pack?
Rwanda
Ethical tourism
Jul 20th 2006 | KIGALI
From The Economist print edition
In a country notorious for its genocide, tourism may heal wounds
Get article background
SERENITY is not a word that springs to mind when mention is made of Rwanda, where nearly 1m people were slaughtered in 1994, mostly Tutsis killed by their Hutu compatriots. Yet the serenity—of its countryside and people—is what the Rwandan government is marketing in an effort to woo tourists. It also hopes that tourism can help heal the wounds inflicted by the genocide.
Rwanda has come a long way since 1994. Under President Paul Kagame, ethnic divisions are less harsh, crime rates have fallen, the economy is growing at 4% a year and the country’s politics seem stable. As for tourism, Rwanda boasts a diverse landscape of volcanic mountains, verdant hills, shimmering lakes and rolling savannah. The country’s mountain gorillas are the world’s most accessible.
But Rwanda’s gruesome recent history is not hidden. Tourist itineraries include harrowing but educational “genocide sites”. In a former school in the town of Murambi, 64 classrooms contain the bodies of people who died there, lying in the twisted repose of death, covered with lime. In Kigali, the capital, a museum serves as a more traditional memorial to the genocide, a flower garden covering the mass graves of nameless victims.
Before the genocide, tourism was Rwanda’s third biggest foreign-exchange earner. After a dip, it is now is projected to bring in $42m next year. The government wants that figure to rise to $100m by 2010. Its Office of Tourism and National Parks reckons that “high-end ethical tourism” is the way to go, with profits equitably distributed across the country: every year, 5% of the income generated from state-owned national parks is handed to local communities for spending on projects of their own choice.
Wow! This debate flows like a river, begins with strength and vigour in a quest to get to the bottom and ends up as a big sewer with a slow flow of repressed AFA junk.
Get back to the real issue plz.
Lost in Media:
Go, Take a plane out of there! Before it infects your mind & spirit.
Wow! This debate flows like a river, begins with strength and vigour in a quest to get to the bottom and ends up as a big sewer with a slow flow of repressed AFA junk.
Get back to the real issue plz.
Lost in Media:
Go, Take a plane out of there! Before it infects your mind & spirit.
Wow! This debate flows like a river, begins with strength and vigour in a quest to get to the bottom and ends up as a big sewer with a slow flow of repressed AFA junk.
Get back to the real issue plz.
Lost in Media:
Go, Take a plane out of there! Before it infects your mind & spirit.
BenJ – your last posting was well put and is the most accurate portrayal of the industry on this blog. Well done at cutting through the circular-rhetoric of the lost souls still in the business.
Marcia Brady – doubtfully your real name. Your last bit of commentary ranks among the funniest things I’ve ever read. So funny, in fact, that I think I will read it again after pressing “post”. You obviously have a talent for ironic and comedic writing. If you’d be interested in writing some funny “theonion” style articles for fun, I’d be interested in publishing them. Shoot me an email at: jc@dubizzle.com
Yo fui a uno de sus ß´ selective trainees ߪ los da un ex vendedor de seguros, Víctor Patatian, el tío no para de decir mentiras y meterse cocaína.
Los dan generalmente en el salón de conferencias de un hotel clasemediero… sin embargo prometen unos sueldos dignos de ser envidiados por cualquier banquero.
Cuando los reclutas preguntan “donde podría ser el reportaje?” la respuesta es “all over the world… we are not a travell agenzzy”
Los prosélitos de Patatian, deben atender a sus culto de hasta 12 horas por día, en las que todas sus preguntas son respondidas por ingeniosos sarcasmos y humillaciones publicas.
“El gran hermano” de Víctor funciona de la siguiente manera: te vas a tu casa cuando el lo dice, no importa de donde vengas… y puede que no llegues al día que te van a rembolsar tus 20 ‚Ǩ de comidas diarios…lo que aparentemente representa un gran ahorro para la empresa.
La dinámica es memorizar unas cuantas frases redactadas por el, en un ingles “curioso” y repetirlas con mímica mientras el señor sopla con su nariz y hace cualquier otro tipo de distracciones.
El mejor momento para los reclutas es cuando a la mitad del traine llegan unos cuantos chicos, potenciales “home boys” de Víctor a decir las hermosas experiencias que han tenido trabajando en esta lucrativa y fraudulenta empresa.
Saludos
If there is something that I hate in life is ungrateful people. Most of the people I met in this job are mediocre, which does not mean that I did not come across very talented individuals. In most cases this job gave them the best years of there of their lives. Instead they would have been grey clerks in a third class law firm somewhere in Birmingham or Caceres, or tenders at the grocery store around the corner. Some of these unthankful miserable losers do not have the dignity to admit this. One of the best examples is Valerie. She touts NOA as one of the worst places to work for. How odd that she only found out after almost a decade working for them. Is she like Saint Peter that she saw the light when she fell off the horse? And gave all the big fat dollars that in such shady fashion she made all over the world to the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Probably not. She was fired as so many other people before her were. And good colleagues of her, for whom she did not stick her neck out at any moment. Of course not, as her career was at stake. She was working for a company getting a salary. A hefty one. There is always a symbiotic relationship. You deliver and you get paid. Very simple. And like in any other private deal or agreement, when some of the circumstances under which the deal was agreed upon do not prevail any longer it must be terminated, in mutual interest. NOA has more competition so it downsizes and hires younger, faster, sharper and hungrier salespeople. Sorry Valerie but I know it is hard to move into something else when you are breathing into your 40th and all you have in your CV is selling advertisement to Kunta Kinte banking on a cleavage. Or a company that is losing money coz you guys are not so good any longer has to keep paying your salaries in your offshore accounts till it goes belly up?? What I find abhorrent is that we want the company to abate by the law when it concerns our pocket. How selfish and greedy to try to get a fat severance pay when we get fired. And unemployment payments. We have not paid taxes — or certainly not for all our income — but when we are fired we cry foul. Hypocrites and ungrateful!! You guys are the worse of mankind
Likewise, all those people who think that they will be Pulitzer prices make me vomit with their contempt and arrogance. How in hell do they think they are better than us. All those wanabees that barely make ends meet and are so sour about other individuals being more successful. Well the bad news for them is that their salaries are paid with the proceeds of our work. It cannot be more clear. I am so sorry. Or perhaps they believe that newspapers make their money from selling copies. No dear. They make their profits from selling ads, call it advertisement, sponsorships, special sections…. We have to consider that in the year 2000 advertisement in newspapers and magazines represented 19,5% of the US total spending in advertisement, against 16,5% in 2006 and the trend wont reverse. If we have the time to follow the stocks of two of the most reputed — if not the most — dailies in the US, NYT and Washington Post, we will see, it comes as no surprise to me, that they have plummeted 21% and 7% respectively, in a bull market!!! And both of them have sponsored sections. What is my conclusion, that you like it or not press needs these sections. And this is the reason why more and more magazines — who would have imagined that the National Geographic would join this motley crew, traitors to real journalist, woodoo!!!! — are producing them to pocket some good needed cash.
And before I go something for that one guy who was quoting some of the sales pitches we use. It is about to any person to go as far as they want. I am not sure if I am addressing to someone who ever came out of the closed. In any activity where there is sales involved you salespeople who have to make income for the whole company. Some are aggressive, some are sweet, some are ruthless. It is out it your one ethics how far you want to go and how deep into your eyes do you want to look yourself every morning in the mirror. Look into real estate. You will buy an apartment off-plan with a view to the sea, and sure enough when you move in you will have a view to the sea….. food section of the Carrefour that they built in the empty plot. And what about life insurance policies salespeople. You have to agree with me that this are some of the worse. How many of those policies are signed in bars. And moving up the ladder do you think my little crusader that big multinationals do not use any tactic. How many deals do you believe have been agreed in a threesome, in a high end brothel!!!! Wake up. The Noa people are rookies next to these. But your only worry is when you have no beer in the fridge, no petrol in the car or the internet or TV do not work.
To sum up I will say that in life you have to be coherent. Think in a certain way, whichever it is, and follow with your deeds with all the consequences.
Nothing is bad in itself, we make things good or wrong, name it work, love, sports, drugs, friends… No one tells us the way we have to conduct ourselves. Do not blame other Valerie and others for your repentance and second thoughts. Go to see a priest and do not lash out for your own misdeeds.
“Likewise, all those people who think that they will be Pulitzer prices make me vomit with their contempt and arrogance. How in hell do they think they are better than us.”
Spelling?
Hello,
Hope this post is still active.
I’m considering applying to one of these positions (still after reading all your posts) and first of all I’d like to say thank you for all your testimonies as I am a total neophyte to that line of work and it has really given me an insight into the practices.
I am however wandering about the possible career prospects. I got the impression you seem to stay on average 5 years in the position, so how is this experience perceived by employers and what branches have you all fallen into:
– I read most of you are going into the business yourself, but I’m thinking that can’t be right, there can’t be that much of these companies around?
– I’ve also read some talk about NGOs. It does seem conceivable considering the knowledge you must have acquired of emerging countries? Have you had openings in that direction?
– Maybe you’ve meet employers along the way?
My guess was journalism or salesrep, but I would greatly appreciate feedback on the matter. After reading this post I feel it’s really the main question I had that’s left unanswered.
Best regards
Caroline
Isn’t NOA like waaaaay overdue to do a project in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?
They could send a team of their young zealots to interview ‘His Excellency’ Kim Jong-il, paramount leader of this fine land. They should focus on the Democratic Republic’s goal of revitalizing the economy as well as numerous other initiatives that we don’t yet know about but wish we did. I hear the 25-year agricultural program is really coming along nicely. Let’s face it: this is a country so often and so unfairly overlooked by the mainstream media. It’s time to show the other side of the story!
Maybe Raquel — armed with her fake press card — could do an in depth TV interview like the riveting piece she produced in Sudan with Taha and posted on the Summit Communications website. Christiane Amanpour watch out!!
I write this in all seriousliness since if the Democratic Republic’s Central Propaganda Bureau were to offer NOA (or any other agency) 500K to produce an 8-page special on the country, and if they could find a media willing to print it, what are the chances they would?
A woman representing the definition of sex-on-legs brushing shoulders with the elite of a country after parachuting into the scene from no-where, partially aware of the business and political intricacies, and signing on-the-spot contracts of $50,000 is no longer the norm in this industry.
Today we are faced with an intricate balance of budgets, CEO accountability, board meetings, Marketing Managers and budgeted strategic planning. The politics of a given country are more complex than whether to appear in country report, while their financial concerns far exceed a mere couple of hundred thousand dollars.
As in every industry, a product is sold, employees are employed (and sacked), and stakeholders vie for greater profits with lower costs in light of (not) compromising customer service and quality. Best practices will shine and the weak companies will be siphoned out at the speed of the industry’s regeneration of competition. Times have changed and companies in this industry are gradually adapting.
The Special Reports industry has been dominated by a gold-rush mentality in its very short-lived history. Its lucrative returns and the relatively low level of experience required to successfully operate this business model tempted many field experts to start their own agencies. Though the increased competition reduced the profit share, an overzealous persistence on profit/sales coupled by a lack of industry norms and business acumen meant that many (management and teams alike) resorted to aggressive back-stabbing strategies with a heavier dose of unscrupulous tactics. Whatever damages the concept of a pair of tits sporting an impressive cleavage signing contracts had in the eyes of conspiracy theorists in the past was pittance compared to the damage by profit scrambling without careful managerial analysis of the problem.
There were many problems, most falling under the general category of quality. Many agencies realized this and tried to make amendments. ‘Quality’ came into the scene. [Ed. I will avoid commenting on the disgrace that Quality Media Press gave to this word through its wrong doings … suffice to say that there is more to a word than its meaning.] However, a conflict of interest arises time and time again when sales figures creep into the business model’s backbone and sway decisions in the name of higher profits. If left uncontrolled, such practice is a recipe for disaster; as was witnessed with the restructuring of NOA.
This industry lacks mature senior management who understand the product beyond its function to generate profits. The product is considered by most to be the special report, or some may even argue that it is merely the advertising space; both are myopic. The product that yields the profit is the people, the actual field agents. Each agency is ‘selling’ its field agents at the doorstep of the most powerful people around the world to take notice of them and to give them their time, money and support. It’s all about the people!
Some people in the industry fit in while others don’t. Likewise, there are those who succeed and those who fail. A good example is to look at the different blog entries; they range from utter syntax/content garbage to a career opportunity in writing comedy!
So where is the problem? We live in a free world. You want to be part of this industry, try it out? You prefer another company, move to the competition. You don’t like it for whatever reason, move on or move out. There are no secrets.
Wanting to avoid making sweeping generalizations, I would say that the younger and less professionally experienced the field recruits are when they join the industry, the more at risk they are in when leaving the industry to face ‘mainstream’ life style and a ‘normal’ job. That’s why so many perceive the job’s negative aspects with such intensity. Those with more years out in the ‘real’ world prior to joining ranks with such companies are able to interpret this industry and apply their field work beyond sending mass emails about their next trip to Haiti, a photo side-by-side to President Clinton, and the luxuries of Hilton Room Service for five months.
This industry is not like any other job, it is a lifestyle job. We were ‘bought’ on this very concept. But what no one bothered to deal with is the other half of the equation: that, to be able to have a lifestyle, you need to know yourself and be able to cope with that lifestyle. Many adopted the lifestyle but never understood how it applied to the wider context of their life and the world. The result has been many fucked up and embittered people leaving the industry without the slightest clue of what to do next or how to acclimatize within the real ‘mundane’ world.
This industry is not for everyone. Companies in this industry, more than any, must follow the path that so many other global companies have taken and invest customized personal attention to their employees with a coherent philosophy and a long term plan of care, retention and development. Only then will there be a chance to regain the goose that lays the golden egg.
Though it is sad to witness friends and colleagues whose lives have been messed up during their employment period, when ever was there a business that never did any damage? This is a nascent industry with teething problems but its services will not die down. It is not a short lived ‘license-to-print-money’ concept that, when uncovered, will come to a sudden end. Over time this industry will mature and so will its management, services and employees. There will be leaders, followers and newcomers.
My advice for those in the field is to look into yourselves and know why you are doing this job. My advice for those who have left the field and are still bickering over spilt milk is to stop blaming the industry and look into yourselves. Finally, my advice to those trying to uncover the holy grail of conspiracy theories is to spend their time looking at established companies and industries that have room for facts and accusatory conspiratorial scenarios [Ed. For example, Brown & Root, where $50,000 is not enough to make a secretary’s pinky twitch].
Hi! I’m Clara Francillon, some might remember me, some won’t. It remains I worked 13 years for AFA and loved 90% of it all: the job, the people, the countries. I had loads of fun, met wonderful people of whom loads are still friends. I’m in another international adsales job now: in an oil&gas press group and I travel a lot to the ME, it’s kind of fun, but nowhere near as much fun as AFA! I got lots to say about AFA, mainly positive. I’ll be back and chat with you all & give my opinion on the job, now I have to run caus it’s Ramadan and I have to catch my clients before they go for their siesta…
How many people know about Gregoire’s death in Kazakstan?
Was it work related?
Are the teams pushed to say things that are not true?
Do the teams come across as different to what they are doing?
Did his employers issue a statement within the industry?
What did his team members say?
Have there been other such accidents in this industry?
What responsibility do the employers have in such cases?
How many people know about Gregoire’s death in Kazakstan?
Was it work related?
Are the teams pushed to say things that are not true?
Do the teams come across as different to what they are doing?
Did his employers issue a statement within the industry?
What did his team members say?
Have there been other such accidents in this industry?
What responsibility do the employers have in such cases?
Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms, and Miss Negativity,
Please stand in front of a mirror and repeat over and over and over and over and over…
“I am moving on with my life”
“I will take the experience for what it was worth – (positive or negative) – I will learn from it and I WILL move on with my life starting now”
Good luck to you,
Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms, and Miss Negativity,
Please stand in front of a mirror and repeat over and over and over and over and over…
“I am moving on with my life”
“I will take the experience for what it was worth – (positive or negative) – I will learn from it and I WILL move on with my life starting now”
Good luck to you,
I am fixing to work for one of these ‘independent’ press agencies (Vegamedia), and after reading your posts I am quite worried, because I have ethics… And I cannot make up my mind among all these opinions.
Is the situation with corruption so bad? Ain’t it dangerous to work for those people in the end?
I felt the situation was blur and also other weird things during the personal interviews but I still don’t know why???
PS: Thank you Felix for your posts!
WARNING CONCERNING SOME MAILS POSTED SINCE JULY 2006,
I AM THE REAL VALERIE FAVIER AND I AM SHOCKED FROM WHAT I READ ON THIS BLOG. OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY WITH BAD INTENTIONS TOOK MY IDENTITY TO TALK ON MY BEHALF.
MARCOS, YOU ARE RIGHT, I DON’T KNOW YOU AT ALL AND I DON’T KNOW AT ALL YOUR CARRIER, BUT SOMETHING IS SURE SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT ME, IS TRYING TO DESTROY YOUR REPUTATION AS WELL AS MINE. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, DO NOT HESITATE TO WRITE ME AT val.favier@wanadoo.fr
AS FOR WHAT YOU AND SOME OTHERS SAID AGAINST FALSE MS FAVIER, I CAN’T REALLY BLAME ANYBODY CONSIDERING HER ATTITUDE, BUT LET ME JUST CLARIFY THAT MOST OF THE INFO WRITTEN ON THE BLOG CONCERNING MY CARRIER AND MY LIFE ARE NOT TRUE. I WON’T ENTER INTO MORE DETAILS HERE BECAUSE I AM SURE IT IS NOT OF EVERYBODY’S INTEREST AND THAT’S NOT THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG.
TO MS FALSE VALERIE FAVIER: YOU WANT ME TO APPEAR FRUSTRATED AND BITTER AND VERY AGGRESSIVE AGAINST A COMPANY AND AN INDUSTRY THAT GAVE ME A GREAT EXPERIENCE BOTH ON PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LEVEL.
MS FALSE VALERIE FAVIER, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT ALL WHAT YOU WROTE UNDER MY NAME WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CLEVER FROM ME TO WRITE, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT TERRA NUEVA IS A YOUNG 100 % FRENCH AGENCY THAT IS GAINING RECOGNITION, CREDIBILITY AND RESPECT FOR THE GOOD QUALITY OF ITS JOB? DO YOU THINK THAT I WILL BE TRYING TO DESTROY MY WORK? AT LEAST, I COULD HAVE HAD THE INTELLIGENCE OF WRITING UNDER A PSEUDO AND NOT SIGNING IT WITH MY NAME!
JUST A QUESTION, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAD HER IDENTITY USURPATED IN THIS BLOG ?
FELIX, SORRY TO INTERFERE ON YOUR BLOG FOR MY PERSONAL REPUTATION BUT AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT CAN CAUSE DAMAGES, BUT MOST PROBABLY THAT’S THE ONLY WAY SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPETE!
Hi Valeria,
my identity was “stolen” too. However, the blog manager posted here https://www.felixsalmon.com/000542.html the IP addresses of all postings. It was very easy for me to find out that my “impostor” was posting from Saudi Arabia in July. I guess I know who it was. To find the coutry associated with the IP, go to http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/node/view/36
take care,
Flavio
Hey, I’m in my late 30’s. Am I too old for this work?
Which company would you recommend as a starting point?
Jesus people, why there is so much negativity coming from both sides? As far as I get the whole thing was launched by a competitor of AFA press and it turned into a real parade of biterness against former colleagues and setting personnal accounts by stealing identities. As to Marcia, though I definetely liked het style of writing, I am not sure about her ethics regarding the coke addiction (or was it a joke?) and overblown arrogance.
Contrary to what some of you wrote I am an ousider of the whole industry and happened to be on this blog only because I saw the add of Summit Communications and was curious to see what they do. I checked their reports and though I find that it is a good idea in general to present the country from another point, they often lack in deapth. Though I find that the whole idea is good. I am tired to hear that Russia (my native country) is a corrupt country with bears walking on its streets (exaggeration, of course, but still). Surely corruption there is huge (but so is the case in many Western countires), but it also present tremendous investment potential, many fantastic places to visit and interesting people. Or South Africa, I agree with a person who said that it’s not only about AIDS and the crime. And surely someone has to talk about good things happening in the country as well.
Can someone tell me how is it to work for one these companies in more details. Thanks,
Kat
Kat, with your worldliness and keen sense of irony I think you’ll fit in perfectly. Go for it.
EL UNICO GRAN PROBLEMA DE ESTA EMPRESA ES QUE HAY GENTE QUE SE CREE QUE ES ALGUIEN Y DE NOA QUE SE CREEN QUE SON ESPECIALES, SUPERIORES Y SE LO REPITEN A SI MISMOS UNA Y OTRA VEZ. ESTUVE ALLI TRABAJANDO Y NO DEJE DE SORPRENDERME CUANDO RECIBIA MAILS QUE DECIAN: ‘COMPETITION IS THERE BUT WE ARE MUCH MUCH BETTER….’ HAY QUE SER GILIPOLLAS PARA DECIR ALGO ASI Y MAS AUN PARA CREERSELO
EL UNICO GRAN PROBLEMA DE ESTA EMPRESA ES QUE HAY GENTE QUE SE CREE QUE ES ALGUIEN Y DE NOA QUE SE CREEN QUE SON ESPECIALES, SUPERIORES Y SE LO REPITEN A SI MISMOS UNA Y OTRA VEZ. ESTUVE ALLI TRABAJANDO Y NO DEJE DE SORPRENDERME CUANDO RECIBIA MAILS QUE DECIAN: ‘COMPETITION IS THERE BUT WE ARE MUCH MUCH BETTER….’ HAY QUE SER GILIPOLLAS PARA DECIR ALGO ASI Y MAS AUN PARA CREERSELO
EL UNICO GRAN PROBLEMA DE ESTA EMPRESA ES QUE HAY GENTE QUE SE CREE QUE ES ALGUIEN Y DE NOA QUE SE CREEN QUE SON ESPECIALES, SUPERIORES Y SE LO REPITEN A SI MISMOS UNA Y OTRA VEZ. ESTUVE ALLI TRABAJANDO Y NO DEJE DE SORPRENDERME CUANDO RECIBIA MAILS QUE DECIAN: ‘COMPETITION IS THERE BUT WE ARE MUCH MUCH BETTER….’ HAY QUE SER GILIPOLLAS PARA DECIR ALGO ASI Y MAS AUN PARA CREERSELO
Hello Stefan,
actually in case I joined one of these companies it would be for the possibility to write and not for other things, advertized on this blog by former or current employees of the “contries’ adds” wiriting chronicles, like big money, or telling bullshit to businessmen or politicians in order to get money for the piece. So, you got it wrong from my post (though rereading it, I am not sure I would fit into writing either after seeing how many mistakes did I put in a single post). After reading the whole blog I wouldn’t go to work there, I think. And I posed the question about how is it to work there out of curiosity, simple period, since I do write but fiction.
Kat
As many of you I have been working for one of these companies.
I knew since the beginning what kind of business is it and the kind of people I was going to deal with. During the trainee everything is said between lines during a 2 to 10 days brain washing process levels of true and acceptance:
Once you accept you are not a real journalist, then they say you are for the advertising sales, then you learn that you have to reach the customer in any possible way (bad… specially for a girl), at the end you get to know that there are some corrupt ways to sale expensive publicity.
An exciting international career?
“Living for 3 months in one of the most dangerous countries and try to sell bad quality advertorials, earning a non expatriate salary” is very different of being an international reporter and traveling around the world.
In resume:
You are not protected by any country law.
You can not demonstrate your experience because the company won’t exist when you will need to do so.
You have a minimal emergency health insurance. (Not social security)
Don’t need to worry about what are going to do with the money (after not paying taxes after two years) because it won’t be too much.
satilda19@hotmail.com
For you deciding whether or not to venture into this Industry, carefully research the companies prior to committing to an employment contract. Understand what media’s represented by the company and the quality of the reports. Understand the risks and commitments involved with the position, the industry is very challenging and is not for everyone. Make sure the company provides adequate compensation in terms of performance-based pay, base salary, per-diem, ect…
There are companies in the industry that are very poor ..starting from the top down………poor management, strategy, sales ethics, end products, training..ect..and taking a position with one of the lesser companies in the industry will leave you at considerable risk in terms of value-added to your career. One such company Media Plus (Big Media Group: Global Business Press, United International Press..) encompass all the negative aspects of the industry……..the black sheep…including the poorest pay in the industry.
The industry is very young and is going through growing pains. Some companies are improving there practices and are running a good business with exceptional sales people. Unfortunately, the industry is suffering from a virus that comes in the form of companies like Media Plus, that has negative effects on the rest of the industry..not to take away from the talented professional that do exist in the company…..
As far as conspiracies,,,,,,I know there are crooks out there…without giving any names……..I am sure that these corrupt practices is reflected in the performance of those companies……..and these companies who continue down this path……have no hope for long-term growth and stability.
Hi,
I worked for a couple of years in AFA between 87 and 89. Wonderful experience for a ‘newborn’in the labor market. Basically I made good friends and met interesting people: powerfull, mean, dumb, smart, corrupt or just good fellows from different cultures and environements. Everybody you come across in your way brings always something valuable.
The other issue is that, in most cases, you return from the so called ‘industry’ with the necessary tough perspective of the real world, a world where you have to struggle the rest of your short life. I might be somehow inmoral myself but honestly, I really don’t mind today (even if I then did) if the company or it’s management were moral, or which might be the boundaries of legality in the media market. it’s none of my bizz nor my responability either to judge or blame the owner of the company or his top executives for any financial gambling, friends or political backround. I left with the belief that I was doing the right thing because this stuff was not meant for me, period, but I will never regret to have joined the business despite some unfortunate episodes during my assignement.
HELLO THERE
SEEING HOW MUCH PARTICIPATION FELIXߥS BLOG HAS RIGHTLY GOTTEN, MAY I ASK YOU TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR ENERGY ON AN IDEA of MINE? I MYSELF WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AND AM SETTING UP AN INTERNET PORTAL THAT SHALL SERVE NOT ONLY YOU, BUT EVERYONE ELSE THAT IS INTERESTED IN OR INVOLVED WITH THE DEVELOPING WORLD. IT SHALL OVERCOME SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SELLING AND INCLUDE MANY MORE GOODIES. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE INFO:
http://homoviator.blogspirit.com
Please press on “The True Gateway” (On the left hand side) and leave a message if interested.
Cheers!
Best n laterz
Nikolas
This was a hilarious blog, though it seems to have gone dry. Anyways, there were a lot of interesting points made on either side. I’ve been doing the job for 2 years now and I think I’m getting to the end of my rope but all in all it’s been a good experience and it has definitely paid me more than any of my friend have made at their more conventional jobs. I’d recommend it on the condition that you research the company, as there are some bad ones out there and know that you’re not a journalist, you are a sales person, it is a sales job. Plain and simple.
On a disappointing note, Felix Salmon never answered to Markus Melo’s email. It would seem to me that our friend Felix is the pot calling the kettle black. I’ve come across Euromoney people in a few of the countries I’ve worked in and they are not really different from the rest of the supplement world.
http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:w2PkUKv4mI8J:madamearcati.blogspot.com/2006/10/indys-odd-business-bedfellow.html+ray+corbis&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3
All this talk about AFA/NOA and everyone’s forgotten about IBNS, Impact etc. I worked for IBNS and was fired. I wouldn’t sleep with my boss or open an illegal bank account. Yes, I am a young attractive female. I tried to take them to an employment tribunal but they slipped like sand through my fingers. Yes, the where a UK company – but I worked for a subsidiary so therefore it fell under Spanish law and after a while I just gave up. I am now a real journalist, and I’m not trying to sell completely immoral products to completely corrupt people. (The report I did sold space to a hotel that was taken hostage by terrorists and the largest mall was bombed to oblivion two weeks prior. Strangely, for an ‘investment’ report, we didn’t mention possible terrorism threats.)
BTW someone mentioned the economist as having country reports – they do, but they don’t have special advertising sections. Big difference!
“I used to work for these unsavory characters. I commend you are on you research. This is as you mention a network of companies all dircted by one extremelly paranoid and mafia Argentine named Alberto LLyarora. The purpose of creating so many companies is to deceive the governments he licks ass to in order to send back team after team but without having to explain the terrible quality of the reports he produces. This man is worth an investigation and should be in jail! For more info, send me an email”. ~Thierry De Pins
well,
i am a dutch young man in between job shifts looking for a job where i can combine travelling with work. As a holder of several bachelor and master degrees I wouldnt consider myself the dumbest.
I noticed a little add by one of these companys (media plus). One doesnt have to be terribly smart to have a lightbulb shining above his head when he sees an ad like this. The whole description seems shady. I did some searching on the internet, and it took me several minutes to reach these kinds of blogs.
Obviously, any company that has this kind of publicity is not a company i like to be related to. So id like to thank the people who make ppl aware of these companies that were previously unfamilair with them. Ppl have the right to know.
Now if only the searching for this truth was made easier so others wont fall as easily for it as they will now.
grts
J –
Holland
a couple of posts from the other side of the blog.
Super Important:
1. No insurance for a large number of employees, particularly those recently hired. (The connection with the company is feeble by way of the contracts and they just don’t make the investment)
2. Hiring policy is based on appearance and race. This may indeed be impotant in the environments they operate. They require ostensibly an European appearance.
Hello All,
Thanks for the interesting comment and in some cases the language used….just I quick question as there is always a secret behind every success it could be a company, person, country and so forth…hence could you pls give an insight of the work for a late 20 young presentable guy, who has already worked for good companies but looking for an international and interesting environment to work within???
An honest one pls based on experience and not feeling as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, if you get me…
Many Thanks,
Hello,
Does anyone know anything about Global Business Reports? I’m supposed to on an interview with them. http://www.gbreports.com
Please if you have any info about them, share because lot of things are on stake.
Thank you,
cheers
Susan
Hey folks:
I am a freelance journalist looking to do some preliminary research for a book on the advertorial business.
If you have worked or know anyone who has worked for this industry, I would love your insights, good or bad.
Please e-mail me at the.source1@hotmail.com.
Thanks very much.
Hi everyone, Felix here, there’s a magazine called Xpatria which wants some tales about this business and anecdotes from the field. Do please either post them here for all to see or else just email me on felix@felixsalmon.com with any stories you might have.
Cheers!
I have been working for WINNE myself at the end of the 90 begggining of the century for over 3 years and I can tell you that I had the best time of my life in WINNE.
For those who applies for WINNE you need ot klnow tghta this company was the pioneer on the internet, since 1996. and they really do what nobody did in the past publish all the material they have got from the field on the net, this was revolutionqary at the beggining we were selling spaces like pancakes.
Then another thing thta WINNE did was to gove credits to all its collaborators, this was never the case in the industry you can check section form 97 , 98 in WINNE with credits on their teams, this also obliged the industry to adjust to the same standards.
Another revolutionary ideas wa sthe launching of eBizguides, I have never worked in that department but this Guide Collection is the fastest growing one in the world 28 titles in just 6 years. They really do their best.
And their section according to what we published until 2004 which were the ones i have participated were a very good quality. I think they moved their main offices to Madrid now I still in contact with the management once in a while, I can tell you they are very human compared to what i have heard.
Another good reason why I have chosen WINNE is thta all their medias they work under one single name and this makes a difference. No reason to hide under several names everything goes on BRAND BUILDING.
Of course you can have bad experiences like everywhere but after 12 years in the market i think they still be among the BIG 3 AS WE SAID! DO not have any doubt about it go fo it and enjoy the ride!
Well, I just wanted to keep this thread alive. I have thoroughly enjoyed it over the past few years and like to revisit it every now and again.
Just so you all know, the industry is still going, albeit a bit differently these days.
My organization is actually hiring at the moment.