Elettra is hiring a Media Relations Consultant

Elettra Communications has an immediate opening for a Media Relations Consultant with extensive experience in issues management and crisis communication. The chosen candidate will provide proactive and reactive media relations support to a client in the aviation industry. The position is part time (32 hours per week) and has a one-year term.

Responsibilities

• Act as day-to-day client contact on key projects
• Quickly build thorough knowledge of our client’s business and industry
• Handle incoming media inquiries
• Develop issues management strategies and key messages
• Provide guidance and coaching to spokespeople
• Plan and implement proactive media relations strategies
• Pitch stories to local media
• Monitor coverage in traditional and social media
• Develop written materials including news releases, fact sheets, media statements, articles, web copy, speeches, client correspondence
• Manage relationships with third party contractors and suppliers of communications services

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business, Marketing, Public Relations, or English
• Minimum four years experience handling issues management in a communications environment
• Direct experience managing communications in crisis situations
• Experience providing media training and coaching to executive-level company spokespeople
• Exceptional writing abilities
• Experience using and monitoring social media including blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc.
• Comfort working in a challenging and fast-paced environment
• Flexible with hours and able to respond to media inquiries outside the 9-5, Monday-Friday workweek.

Other:

• Preference will be given to candidates with aviation industry experience.
• International media relations experience is an asset.
• Previous experience in a PR agency setting and/or doing contract work will also be considered an asset.

Applicants are asked to send their cover letter and resume to info@elettra.ca

CTV launches desktop widget

by Gariné Tcholakian

Noise Digital is bringing the after-show water cooler session to the desktop. CTV show fans who want to rave and rant about last night's eps now have a social community online in which to do it, through the new CTV Primetime Widget.

The desktop app, created by Vancouver-based Noise Digital (the first it's developed for any Canadian broadcaster), is integrated with Facebook extensions and delivers CTV-branded content with customizable features, like format choice for content delivery - text-only, text and image, video, flash or animation - and a dynamic skin that can be changed according to show preference. Once viewers identify their picks, the widget filters content so they only receive relevant info, like new ep reminders, links to previews or full online eps on CTV.ca. To help keep them engaged, show trivia, games, contests and special interviews are also part of the CTV-branded menu. Viewers can also track upcoming eps through the widget's program sched and sign up for reminders or promo and contest news updates.

Through the Facebook app, viewers can connect with friends around CTV content, create fan pages for their favourite shows or participate in quizzes and polls. (And in true Facebook style, they'll also receive updates on their friends' quiz scores and can find out which shows friends are watching.)

"By creating a widget and integrating it into Facebook, we created a platform that pushes real-time information to people where they spend a lot of their time," Noise Digital president and CEO Trevor Carr tells MiC. "The widget creates a richer TV-viewing experience because it bridges the gap between the broadcast and online experience," he adds.

Noise Digital Creates Desktop Experience for CTV Viewers

Digital ad agency creates CTV widget and Facebook application

Vancouver, BC; July 15, 2009 – Noise Digital has officially unveiled their latest digital initiative, the CTV Primetime widget: a desktop application with integrated Facebook extensions. The application will push CTV-branded content onto users’ desktops allowing them to stay connected to their favourite CTV shows and characters.

“These digital applications create a much richer TV-viewing experience for fans,” said Trevor Carr, President & CEO, Noise Digital. “Users can access content that is relevant to them and connect with their friends around their favourite shows. This initiative creates the forum for ‘water cooler talk’ for the next generation of TV viewers.”

Noise has designed the desktop widget with a dynamic skin that can be changed based on the show users’ identify, providing access to special interviews, show previews, games, and access to catch-up episodes viewable online at ctv.ca.

The widget can deliver content in various forms including text, text and image, video, flash and animation. To help viewers track their favourite shows, the application offers program schedules for upcoming episodes. There is also a feature that permits users to sign up for reminders and receive news about special promotions or contests. The widget is available online at www.ctv.ca/primetimewidget.

The Facebook application provides users with the ability to connect with their friends around CTV’s content. Users are given the opportunity to create fan pages for their favourite shows and participate in quizzes and polls. It also allows users to receive updates on their friends’ quiz scores and view which shows their friends are watching.

“The CTV Primetime Widget demonstrates CTV’s steadfast commitment to reaching our audience on their terms,” said Stephan Argent, CTV’s Vice-President, Digital Media. “As an industry leader, we recognize the importance of using evolving technologies to engage with consumers in new and innovative ways.”

About Noise Digital:
Noise is a digital advertising agency providing online marketing solutions for leading national and global brands. The company’s success stems from its belief in truly integrated marketing strategy, cutting edge technology and breakthrough creative design. Noise was founded in 1998 and has offices in Vancouver and Toronto. Its clients include: Nokia, adidas, Sony PlayStation, Johnson & Johnson, Ferrero Brands, Canadian Direct Insurance, Maple Pictures and CTV. www.noisedigital.com

simpleview Teams Up With Meetingmax

Duo to Provide Online Group Reservation Technology to Destination Marketing Organizations

Tucson, AZ and Vancouver, BC; July 14, 2009– simpleview, North America’s fast-growing provider of technology solutions to the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) industry, announced today a partnership with Meetingmax Systems. Through the relationship, simpleview will market Meetingmax’s flexible and cost-effective online housing reservation system to its roster of DMO clients in North America.

“This new relationship presents great opportunities for our clients as well as for both companies,” says Ryan M. George, CEO, simpleview. “Meetingmax’s comprehensive online housing system rounds out our product offering and will provide our clients with new abilities to win group business.”

As part of the agreement, the two companies will begin integrating simpleview’s content and customer relationship management software with Meetingmax’s online housing system. This will help clients avoid the cost and hassle of working with independent systems and create a seamless experience for the user.

“This relationship makes sense on every level,” says Jeff Duncan, COO, Meetingmax Systems. “simpleview has established relationships with an extensive list of DMOs, but housing system technology hasn’t been their focus. With our background in meeting and event planning, we have been able to build a system that meets the needs of DMOs, event planners, and hotels.”

While the companies will initially focus their marketing efforts on the U.S., the organizations are also jointly pursuing growth opportunities in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

About Meetingmax:
Meetingmax Systems provides the travel industry with the most flexible and cost-effective online housing reservation system. Initially developed to meet the needs of Meetingmax’s meeting and event planning arm, the system provides convention and visitors bureaus, event planners and organizations with a simple yet powerful means to manage conference and event room bookings. The system boasts real time processing for hotels, a dynamic pricing model based on the length of the booking, and customizable features to meet each client’s needs. Meetingmax is based in Vancouver, BC and can be found online at www.meetingmaxsystems.com.

About simpleview:
Inc. magazine ranks simpleview #2 among the fastest-growing, privately held U.S. companies in the travel and tourism sector. Since 1991, the company has maintained a 99% client retention rate while capturing the largest market share in its field, helping 125+ destination marketing organizations (DMOs) get the most out of technology, the web and interactive marketing. At the highest level, simpleview develops big-picture strategies for DMO sales, marketing and operations. On a tactical level, they offer integrated products and services tailored to destination marketing: dynamic websites and content management, search engine optimization, interactive marketing services, social media management, design, content and multimedia production. To date, the company’s Web-based destination management system has driven $6.8 billion in economic impact for its customers, which includes destinations ranging from New York City to Portland, Oregon, Boston to Jacksonville, Toronto to the Bahamas. simpleview employs 60+ people in Tucson, Arizona and San Diego, California.