The crucial role communications plays for non-profits
Angkie Yudista stands out for someone who works at a non-profit organization.
At a presentation recently she held the attention of the crowd. Then she paused and pulled off something attached to her ear. “Without this I can’t hear you.”
The crowd was mesmerized. What she had in her hands that she showed to the audience were her hearing aid and in a few short moments drove home her message about the important work that Thisable Enterprise, the organization she leads, empowers those with disabilities to fulfill their full potential; and how she’s managed to grow the organization from scratch in large part with strategic communications.
KPAI isn’t all wrong about PB Djarum
Something important is lost in the rancour against KPAI (The Commission for the Protection of Children) for calling out PB Djarum’s (Djarum Badminton Association) badminton auditions.
KPAI, as we know has accused the cigarette maker Djarum of using its foundation, PB Djarum (Djarum Badminton Association) to exploit children.
To be sure, KPAI has chosen its accusation poorly, using the word manipulate instead of exploitation or a more neutral used. It has caused a groundswell of opinion and invective against its stand, drowning out the one important issue that should be addressed: How should corporations discharge their Corporate Social Responsibility?
MavInsights – Humanizing Human Rights Campaigns
“I’m tired of human rights campaigns that rely on invoking pity or sound preachy.”
A fiery university student uttered the sentence to me during a group discussion last Thursday. He was one of the participants of Sekolah Hak Asasi Manusia (SeHAMA / Human Rights School), where I was invited by the Commission for the Disappeared & Victims of Violence (KontraS) to deliver a session titled ‘Humanizing Human Rights Campaigns’.
I understand his sentiment. Campaigns for human rights advocate for some of the most pressing changes of our time, but often fail to find an ear with their intended audiences.
My Pho-nomenal Trip to Hanoi
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always liked Vietnamese food, and I can now say with confidence that pho is hands down my most favourite food.
I am also a huge fan of the Masterchef show and of celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay. So, when I heard Gordon Ramsay claim that the best food he’s ever had in his life was Vietnamese noodles that he ate during his trip to Vietnam, I immediately made it a short-term goal to go to Vietnam for a culinary trip.
Read MoreCan NET TV Survive to its 7th Anniversary?
The TV station has been making news itself in recent months with reports of mass layoffs

AC Nielsen’s 2018 report says that Indonesians still watch a lot of television programs. They spent an average of 4 hours 53 minutes each day, more than their consumption of content from the internet which was clocked at an average of 3 hours 14 minutes per day.
Read MoreArt, Mobiles and Palliative Care
What happens when you mesh together big hearts, creativity, a company with an emerging sense of purpose and a worthwhile cause?
You get an exhibition of innovative Indonesian art, collectible designer wear, and a pop-up shop that succeeded within its first night to raise Rp103 million for Rachel House, a foundation that provides palliative care for poor children in Greater Jakarta.
Mencari Simba dan Treebeard di Banyuwangi
“Ke Banyuwangi yuk?”
Hah? Itu yang pertama terucap di mulut saya ketika partner ngajak ke Banyuwani. Sekejap otak saya bekerja keras mencoba mengingat-ingat ada apa di Banyuwangi. Sebelum saya menemukan ingatan saya soal Banyuwangi, dia melanjutkan ajakannya tadi.
“Kamu kan suka Lord of the Rings dan kamu juga udah berkali-kali nonton The Lion King. Makanya aku mau liburan kali ini ke Banyuwangi aja”
The Reason Why Garuda’s in a Tight Spot over Hand-Written Menu
Thank goodness Garuda has come to its senses and rescinded its direct over to disallow passengers to take any videos, photographs or the Indonesian staple, selfies, on board its planes.
For a while there it looked like Garuda had charted for itself a journey of no return into infamy, scorn, and derision. Garuda positively looked like what Ian Mitroff, one of the foremost thinkers on crisis management, would call a Crisis-Prone corporation.
Mitroff holds that corporations fall roughly into two categories where crises are concerned.
Why PR is bad PR for PR
Two weeks ago, at a lunch with senior PR people in Singapore, the conversation drifted to how to make senior executives in corporations understand what PR people can do for them.
The conversation went on a predictable course: lamentation of how difficult it is to explain to others what PR people do, let alone what they are capable of doing. There was the self congratulatory we-do-so-many-things idea, the we-are-so-inexpensive-compared to-others idea and the usual other cliches.
But they all agreed that it is soooo difficult to explain what PR does.
Maverick admitted to international alliance of crisis and litigation specialists
Over the past 17 years Maverick has carved out a name for itself as the go-to firm for crisis management and high-profile litigation cases.
We are delighted to announce that from this month Maverick has been admitted to the select group of crisis and litigation communications specialists worldwide, the Crisis and Litigation Communicators Alliance.
We look forward to working with the CLC to further deepen out knowledge and sharpen our skills as well as providing clients with a worldwide network of specialists for the cross-border litigation issues.