Gorkana meets Carlos Carnicero Urabayen

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Carlos Carnicero Urabayen, is European correspondent and political analyst for a range of Spanish newspapers and publications, including El País, El Periódico de Catalunya and HuffPost. He talks to Gorkana’s Mario Cipriano about his career in Brussels and his view of modern journalism.

Carlos Carnicero Urabayen

You studied Economics and Political Science before becoming a journalist.  Why take this career path?

I studied Law and Political Science at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. After that I moved to London and lived there almost three years. First I worked as a tutor for a group of Spanish students that were doing an internship in London. After that I continued my studies doing a Master in European Studies at the London School of Economics and another one in International Peace and Security at King’s College.

In 2009 I moved to Brussels and worked in the European Parliament as an adviser. It was only in 2014 that I started working in journalism, but that doesn’t mean I was a total outsider before. I’ve always had a passion for communication and politics, to some extent due to the influence of my father (Carlos Carnicero Giménez de Acárate) who is a prominent journalist.

In 2009, I started writing op-eds for El Periódico de Cataluña and El País, among other newspapers (something I’ve been doing since then). When The Huffington Post launched its Spanish edition in 2012, they invited me to blog for them. I guess my career path has evolved naturally towards what I do best.

What challenges and excites you about the sector?

It is a moment of crisis for the sector. Nowadays, journalists live with increasing uncertainty. It is a burden to undertake long-term assignments and produce investigative stories that require a lot of time investment.

That said, it is the necessity to reinvent how we tell stories, how we inform, which excites me the most. Thanks to the internet and social media, we have tools to reach new audiences. Our principles must be the same, but the channels have greatly changed and provide great potential for innovation.

You are based in Brussels, working mainly for Spanish newspapers: how do you make this work?

I think the crisis in Europe has convinced many that the European Union plays a critical role in people’s lives. Some may not like the EU, and certainly there are many things that are calling for change, but very few people question its importance.

Spanish newspapers – like others in Europe – are looking more and more into what happens in Brussels and beyond. The EU is not only Brussels, where its main institutions are based, but it is the most privileged observatory to inform and analyse European affairs.

In order to get assignments, I try to put in value what I know, what I learn every day and what I think is our duty, as a public service, to inform citizens of.

You are often introduced as son of Carlos Carnicero Giménez de Acárate: how has this impacted your own career?

I have a great deal of respect for my father. I have learnt a lot – and I still do – from him. He is a great journalist and an amazing father and that is why I’ve always felt very comfortable whenever I’ve been introduced as his son. I believe this has had a very positive impact on my career because I have an advantage: I had a teacher at home.

Brexit will presumably have a significant impact on the sector you serve and the stories you write. Can you tell us how this influences your role as a European Correspondent?

Brexit really proves that we are living exceptional times in European politics. For the first time, a Member State is leaving the EU. It is a traumatic process because it was unthinkable that this could happen: the EU was meant to enlarge but never to shrink. For my job, it makes it more challenging and more demanding. The Brexit divorce talks will not be easy and will probably be very tense as the stakes for both parties are too high. It will certainly demand from my side extra attention and accuracy. Feelings can affect your analysis, but should never challenge the facts.

You are currently writing for both the Spanish and US version of the HuffPost: there is any significant difference on how you approach a news story?

I do all kinds of stories for the Spanish edition of HuffPost (interviews, analysis, blog posts, video-debates) and they could get translated and published in all other editions of the newspaper around the world. I have occasionally written blog posts for the American edition when I felt I needed to say something for the American audience – mostly about Spain or the political situation in Europe.

What are you looking for in a press release?

Well, first accuracy and even spelling. When you see something that’s done fast and without attention to detail, it could be a sign that it’s not newsworthy. Secondly I analyse if the topic is relevant for my audience and if it contains real news.

What is your relationship with PRs like?

I mostly have contact with press officers of the European institutions, governments and political parties. It’s important to have an open channel. They are a very valuable source.

How do you make use of social media?

Social media plays a crucial role. On the one hand, it provides an incredible source of information that, of course, demands constant verification. On the other hand, it is also fundamental to reach growing audiences. I share my stories – and other articles that I find interesting – through Twitter and Facebook.

And finally, what is the most memorable story that you have reported on?

In 2015, I travelled to Hungary and Serbia to report on the refugee crisis. It was a very tough experience because I felt powerless: I wanted to help people that were struggling for their lives and were not being welcomed in Europe. I tried to capture the gravity of the situation so that more people could understand the need for action.

I took a photo of a Syrian boy called Mahmud and wrote a little post. I still wonder where he ended up and wish he and his family managed to settle somewhere in Europe and find the peace that was stolen from them in their home country.

  • Carlos Carnicero Urabayen was interviewed by Mario Cipriano

2020 Dynamics appoints Milk & Honey PR

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Milk & Honey PR has been appointed by 2020 Dynamics, the Microsoft Dynamics partner, to support sales and drive leads for the CRM specialist.

Kirsty Leighton

2020 Dynamics was set up to look for a communications partner to amplify marketing efforts and drive brand visibility in the UK marketplace by using a combination of brand building, storytelling and agenda setting. It is using PR to support the sales lifecycle and make the most of its partnership with Microsoft.

Stephen Heppelstone, co-director at 2020 Dynamics said: “Having known Kirsty for a number of years, Milk & Honey PR was the natural partner to support us in growing our presence in the CRM technology support and implementation marketplace. The team demonstrated a great understanding and enthusiasm for what we want to achieve and how communications can help our journey.”

Kirsty Leighton, managing partner of Milk & Honey PR, added: “The team has a wealth of Microsoft expertise and adding 2020 Dynamics to our technology portfolio is a great addition. We love working with ambitious companies on a growth trajectory and now is the perfect time for 2020 Dynamics to begin boosting its profile.”

Wolfstar promotes Direct Conversion

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Wolfstar has been appointed by digital X-ray imaging specialist Direct Conversion to establish and build its social media presence.

Direct Conversion



Direct Conversion is a multinational company headquartered in Sweden, with offices in London and Finland. The company comprises two brands: XCounter and AJAT.

The group develops and sell X-Ray imaging and photon-counting technology for a range of sectors including medical, welding inspection and food production.

Wolfstar has been briefed to create an online community to raise the global awareness of Direct Conversion and help establish it as an industry leader.

Nathanael Allison, Direct Conversion’s sales and marketing director, said: “I am delighted to have Wolfstar on board to help us build a social community for Direct Conversion. We have already been impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the team. With Wolfstar’s extensive social media and PR expertise, we have no doubt our relationship will be a great success.”

Wolfstar’s MD Tim Sinclair added: “We are looking forward to working with Direct Conversion on its communication and social media strategy. This is a new sector for us so it has been an enjoyable challenge and a great learning curve. We look forward to what the future holds for both Direct Conversion and Wolfstar.”

It Works appoints new trio

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Leeds-based digital agency It Works has appointed Kate Roodt as client services manager, James Nuttall as content and outreach specialist and Andre Hughes as SEO executive.

Left to right: James Nuttall, Kate Roodt, Andre Hughes

Roodt has more than seven years agency experience at Leeds agency ilk, in both traditional PR as well as creative account management working with B2B and B2C clients.

Nuttall joins the team with two years’ in-house experience, as well as his ongoing freelance music journalism contribution to the Yorkshire Post. Hughes completes the team of new starters with five years’ agency experience at Leeds-based Stickyeyes working with clients such as Tesco Bank and Pharmacy2U.

Steve Pritchard, founder and managing director at It Works, said: “What was important in these appointments was finding talented individuals which I felt could really add value to a small, yet emerging, business. We are at a stage of business growth and with that, we need to bring together a team that will further strengthen our offering as a digital growth specialist.”

 

Darren Hewitt-McLaren joins Aisle 8

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Aisle 8 has brought in Beauty SEEN’s Darren Hewitt-McLaren as senior beauty PR manager.

Darren Hewitt-McLaren

Hewitt-McLaren will oversee the Aisle 8’s beauty division, with brands including blow LTD, DCL (Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories), EISENBERG Paris and Immunocologie.

Reporting into co-founder and director Lauren Stevenson, Hewitt-McLaren will work alongside PR manager Jade Jackman, and will be supported by PR assistant Hannah Chapman.

Hewitt-McLaren first joined Beauty SEEN as a global junior account executive in 2013, rising through the ranks to become an account manager before moving over to Aisle 8.

Morgan Rossiter makes fintech and healthcare hires

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London-based financial and corporate communications agency Morgan Rossiter has appointed Kathleen Edmondson as account manager and Rosie Ward as senior account executive, as it expands its financial services, real estate and digital health offering.

Rosie Ward

Edmonson will add to Morgan Rossiter’s growing real estate and digital health expertise – both key areas of growth for the business. Prior to joining Morgan Rossiter Kathleen was an account manager at Citizen Relations, an award-winning global agency, headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Ward joins Morgan Rossiter from London-based financial services specialist agency Teamspirit PR where she worked across a range of client in the financial services sector. Her clients at Morgan Rossiter include business advisory firm; FRP Advisory, independent investment advisory consultancy; bfinance and Cavendish Corporate Finance.

Richard Morgan Evans, joint managing director at Morgan Rossiter, said: “We are pleased to welcome both Kathleen and Rosie to the expanding Morgan Rossiter team. They bring useful experience and have already proven to be a great asset and support for the company’s growth. They join at an exciting time as we continue to expand our corporate client base and win new accounts.”

CNC named 2017 EMEA Financial PR Consultancy of the Year

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CNC Communications & Network Consulting (CNC), the global strategic communications consultancy, was named 2017 EMEA Financial PR Consultancy of the Year at The Holmes Report’s EMEA SABRE Awards in London this week.

Left to right: Tom Buchanan and The Holmes Report‘s Arun Sudhaman

The SABRE Awards attracts more than 2,000 entries from across the EMEA region each year.  Judges remarked on CNC’s rapid revenue growth, its advice on many of the most high profile M&A transactions across the EMEA region, and the successful development of its digital capabilities.

According to mergermarket, which compiles M&A data around the world, CNC ranked 6th globally for M&A in 2016, 4th in Europe, 2nd in Germany and 5th in the UK.

Bernhard Meising, CNC CEO, said: “The last year has been outstanding for CNC.  We advised many of Europe’s largest organisations on a range of exciting and complex challenges and enjoyed strong revenue growth as a result.

“While M&A was an important part of our successful year, so too was the development of our digital and change management offers and our innovative approach to crisis and issues management, especially in the area of cyber security.  In 2017, we want to remain at the forefront of innovations in our industry while continuing to build our international footprint, as evidenced by our recent announcement to combine with the leading Nordic strategic communications firm JKL.”

Most read people news on Gorkana News

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Your bitesize update on the latest People News and Moves featured on Gorkana News:

Mark Walsh joins Ketchum
Ketchum has appointed Citizen Relations’ Mark Walsh to the newly-created role of consumer director in its London office.

Walsh will provide strategic counsel to Ketchum’s consumer brands in London and assume responsibility for growing Ketchum’s consumer client roster.

Former Trinity Mirror director launches new agency Hollicom
Mark Hollinshead, a former board director of LSE-listed media giant Trinity Mirror, is to launch a Scottish public relations and strategic communications agency headquartered in Glasgow.

Hollicom will launch officially on 1 June 2017 at a grand opening party held at 200 St Vencent Street.

Edelman hires Kate Hawker as healthcare MD
Edelman UK has appointed Burson-Marsteller’s former healthcare chair, Kate Hawker, as MD of its UK healthcare team.

Hawker brings 25 years’ experience working with biopharmaceutical companies across a variety of therapeutic areas.

IA comms manager Alex Hogan joins Unigestion

Swiss asset manager Unigestion has brought in the Investment Association’s Alex Hogan as comms manager, associate, with a brief to work across the UK, North America and Asia.

Hogan has spent the last three years as comms manager for the Investment Association, the UK’s trade body for asset management, heading up its investment trade media relations.

 

Former Trinity Mirror director launches new agency Hollicom

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Mark Hollinshead, a former board director of LSE-listed media giant Trinity Mirror plc, is to launch a Scottish public relations and strategic communications agency headquartered in Glasgow.

Hollicom team

Hollicom will launch officially on 1 June, 2017 at a grand opening party held at 200 St Vincent Street. The event will be backed by Hollicom supporters Jack Daniel’s and OK! Magazine.

The agency will launch with a start-up team of eight PR and communications professionals and will offer a portfolio of media services, including public relations and strategic communications planning, media consultancy, crisis management, media training and regional marketing planning.

Hollinshead, previously managing director of Daily Record and Sunday Mail publisher Media Scotland, is joined by Erikka Askeland, who takes up the role of strategic communications director. She is an award-winning journalist with nearly 20 years’ experience in business and corporate journalism in the UK and was previously the business editor of the Press and Journal and deputy editor of Insider Magazine.

Other members of the Hollicom founding team include Gaynor Simpson, who brings more than 20 years of experience within the public relations industry to the role of account director, and Rachel Lindsay, who previously worked with Launch PR in London, Comic Relief and Talkback Thames. Lindsay joins as client services manager.

The Hollicom team will create, plan and execute PR and media campaigns for a range of regional, national and international clients. In addition, Hollicom will operate an “expert associate network” model, working with a select panel of communications specialists in their respective fields.

Hollinshead said: “Our job is to enhance and protect the reputations of our clients and help deliver their business objectives, both strategic and financial. We will achieve this by immersing ourselves in the strategy of our clients and then by telling their stories in a compelling and impactful way.”

Smoothie brand Savsé re-hires instinct pr

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instinct pr has been re-appointed by smoothie brand Savsé to launch a baby food product, My First Savsé, and manage UK PR for the core Savsé range.

Savsé

instinct will manage the launch of My First Savsé, “Europe’s first ever cold-pressed baby food”. The campaign will be fronted by a celebrity ambassador, and supported by a launch event and targeted media relations strategy.

instinct will also deliver a Summer campaign for the core Savsé range, which will include experiential social media content and press office activity.

instinct pr managed the launch of Savsé in 2013, helping secure stockists including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado.

Savsé founder Guka Taveridze said: “This is a very exciting year for us as we cement our position as Europe’s fastest growing smoothie brand. We’re delighted to have instinct pr back on board to help us launch My First Savsé and support the growth of our core range.

“We are always impressed by the teams passion, knowledge and outstanding ability to secure sales-driving press coverage. The agency has grown since we last worked together in 2015, as have we, and we look forward to making 2017 a stand out year for us both.”

Jonathan Kirkby, founder and director of instinct pr, added: “We’ve always been immensely proud to have worked with Savsé. We achieved some incredible things when we launched the brand back in 2013 and we look forward to delivering more exciting and creative work for a product that really is a game changer for the baby market. It’s a dream client for us and we look forward to helping Guka and his team make 2017 the most successful year yet.”