PICNIC'07 Cross Media Week Weblog

PICNIC'07 Buzz Event 21st May: Limited Availability

For the upcoming PICNIC'07 Buzz Event, there is a limited number of people who can attend. If you would like to be present at the event and have sent an email of intent to Rosina, you will hear from her shortly if it's possible to attend.

PICNIC'07 Buzz Event: 21st May 2007

We are proud to announce that on Monday 21st May, between 18:00-21:00, we are hosting a special reception at the Westergasfabriek's Transformatorhuis, in Amsterdam.

This event is especially organised to present the new PICNIC’07 Look & Feel, the PICNIC’07 Conference Programme, and Public Events including ‘Come Out & Play,’ PICNIC Junior and PICNIC Academy.

PICNIC sponsors, event and marketing partners and the press, have all been invited to the event. If you would like to attend on the 21st May, you are kindly requested to confirm your attendance to Rosina at rosina@crossmediaweek.org

We look forward to welcoming you.

PICNIC: Marketing Manager Vacancy

Manager Marketing and Communications, Amsterdam Cross Media Week Foundation

The Cross Media Week Foundation is an Amsterdam based non profit that organises the annual Amsterdam Cross Media Week, also known as PICNIC'07. This event, which will take place for the second time in the last week of September, includes a high level international conference and 50 workshops and seminars for (international) media professionals, three days of lectures of students, an urban games festival, a week-long event for schoolchildren and three evenings of performances for the general public. The total audience of all events combined is estimated at 7.000-10.000 people.

PICNIC'07 is at the moment looking for a Marketing and Communications Manager. Working alongside the Programme Director and the Relationships/Sponsoring Manager, and supported by a small project team, you will oversee and ensure the success of the entire marketing campaign for the various PICNIC events.

The role of the marketing manager is to research, develop, and pro-actively manage international and national marketing campaigns. You will identify suitable target audiences and create strategic partnerships with trade publications and trade associations in order to promote the event in the form of direct mail, inserts or advertising.

You will negotiate mutually beneficial deals to ensure that PICNIC events receive maximum exposure to the right audience. You will also manage on-line marketing for all PICNIC events, assuming responsibility for the weekly newsletter, the weblog and the various websites. You will oversee the brochure / poster production process and ensure that the design and "feel" of each event is appropriate for the target market. You will look to create reciprocal banner ads and affiliate programs with strategic partners to compliment your marketing campaign. You will manage relations with several organisations involved in the marketing campaign, a.o an international PR company, and existing media and marketing partners.

The ideal candidate:

*     a native English speaker based in or close to Amsterdam
*     an experienced event marketeer
*     excellent written and verbal communication skills
*     strong negotiator who thrives under pressure
*     good combination of creative and analytical skills
*     good time management - capable of meeting tight deadlines
*     able to juggle multiple projects
*     enthusiasm, drive & determination

All applications should include resume, references and salary expectations. Contract is temporary, freelance candidates are welcome to apply.

Applications to Saskia Waldhober at saskia@crossmediaweek.org reference: PICNIC Marketing Manager

PICNIC @ Milia

PICNIC, in co-operation with Media Republic and Media Gilde, put up a welcoming booth at Milia between 16th-20th April. The booth attracted many enthusiastic visitors, who were informed about the Dutch creative organisations.

On Wednesday, Media Gilde hosted a Cocktail Party, which as organised in co-operation with PICNIC, on a harbour next to the conference grounds.

Many interesting contacts were made that will help us bring PICNIC awareness to a greater international audience. Overall, Milia proved to be a great success with many networking opportunities for all parties present. We look forward to being there again next year!

Interview with PICNIC Board Member

PICNIC is organised under the direction of the Cross Media Week Foundation. The Foundation has a strong team who are supported by several Board Members. Amidst the busy preparations for PICNIC'07, board member Wouter van Waardt has taken a moment to reflect upon PICNIC.

What are your reflections on PICNIC'06?

Wouter: It was a challenge to bring together different people from the cross media world - but we succeeded! The highlights for me were the workshops and presentations, most notably Philip Rosedale's speech on Second Life. PICNIC at Night also had a different vibe from any other party I've seen. It was truly an all round inspirational event.

What projects are you working on outside of PICNIC?

Wouter: I'm retired. My old profession was as an Accountancy Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I am still involved, coaching young professionals, and as a sparring partner for starting technology companies, helping them with their business plan, finance and organisation.

This is an excellent link to my PICNIC activities, which ensures organisations get a platform to showcase their product and/or services. These days I'm very much involved in PICNIC, as it's in full swing again.

What are your expectations of PICNIC'07?

Wouter: I'm in the middle of all the creative ideas developed to make PICNIC'07 an even bigger and better event that PICNIC'06 - I expect we'll succeed in doing that!

New Team Member

We are proud to announce that PICNIC has a new team member. Yme Bosma joined the team last week, and is responsible for PICNIC online.

Yme Bosma
yme@crossmediaweek.org

PICNIC Back from Milia

The PICNIC team are back!

After a successful week of networking and promoting of PICNIC and the Dutch creative industry at Milia, PICNIC representatives are now back on Dutch turf.

Here's a glimpse of the PICNIC booth at Milia.

Sylvia Paull: Profiled!

Sylvia Paull, a high tech publicist, also helps select and recruit some of PICNIC's big speakers.

To find out more about who she is and what she does you can read her profile in Fast Company, an online business magazine.

Contribute on the PICNIC Network!

Are you a PICNIC Network member?
We welcome all members to give voice to their individual selves and/or organisation.

As a PICNIC Network member, not only can you tweak your profile to meet like-minded individuals or organisations of mutual benefit, but you can also make personal contributions.

Making a contribution is easy. Simply log onto your online profile and select the 'New Contribution' menu. Here you have the option to either write a story, an article, or even add an artifact or organisation.

So why not make your profile your voice, today!

Interview with PICNIC Co-Founders

Bas Verhart and Marleen Stikker Co-Founded the Amsterdam Cross Media Week in 2006. Following the great success of PICNIC'06, they are now busy preparing for the second Cross Media Week, PICNIC'07, held in the creative capital of Amsterdam at Westergasfabriek.

In a run up to PICNIC'07, Bas and Marleen have taken a moment to reflect upon PICNIC'06, and to share what aspirations they have for PICNIC'07.

What are your reflections on PICNIC'06?

Bas: PICNIC'06 had a great atmosphere! It was interesting to see how in a short space of time, we could bring a network of inspiring people together. It was a great start to something that will grow immensely.

Marleen: It was an exciting event, with an interesting mixture of people from different backgrounds, cultures, businesses, and the science and Do It Yourself communities. There is a lot they have in common.

What projects are you working on outside of PICNIC?

Marleen: I am the Director of the Waag Society; a media lab that develops technologies for social innovation. We are specialised in locative media, serious gaming, interface design and real-time collaboration. I am also founder of Media Gilde, an incubator for technological starter, people with creative ideas.

Bas: PICNIC is more like my hobby project. Professionally, I am CEO of Media Republic, a cross media company, specialised in creating formats, content and campaigns for international brands. Media Republic has 65 working professionals, and we look forward to expanding our forthcoming projects within the Eco sector. This would provide a nice link for the creative professionals at PICNIC.

What are your objectives for PICNIC'07?

Marleen: I am eagerly anticipating the Come Out and Play Festival, a collaboration with the festival in New York. The public aspect is very important to PICNIC. It will be the meeting of professionals and the DIY community to create new user experiences.

Bas: For me it's also to use the creative brainpower that will be present at PICNIC'07, and to 'MAKE' something with the delegates, rather than just listen to them.

Marleen: This year PICNIC Junior will be an integrated part of the event. Youths have a familiarity with technology, and their expectations can be best exchanged with the professionals at the creative and innovative platform that is PICNIC.

Bas: It's hopefully going to be the most inspiring week of the year, for myself and for delegates. Attendees will have a great experience, and will be in for a surprise with the new ideas, projects and new partnership formations that await them.