These national treasures are among the seven wonders of Ireland featured on a new Irish Atlas launching today [May 16, 2012]. The ‘Atlas of Ingenious Ireland’ has been designed to highlight local and national sites of scientific interest around the country for people to discover, and is part of the Dublin City of Science 2012 programme. The Atlas is an interactive online map, that people can explore at www.atlas.ingeniousireland.ie.

The seven wonders include natural and man-made wonders, and a Eureka! moment of discovery. The atlas also features 60 top places of scientific interest around the country. From museums to commemorative plaques, to wildlife watching, the website has it all, including some of Ireland’s best gardens, and the top 10 astronomy and science sites.

www.atlas.ingeniousireland.ie is supported by Dublin City of Science 2012 and is part of the year-long celebration of science with a programme of over 160 science-related events that cross the worlds of art and culture to entertain the general public and visitors to Ireland’s capital.

For more information, please visit www.atlas.ingeniousireland.ie or www.dublinscience2012.ie.

Of course, the Euro was not the only crisis to sweep through the region in 2011: from riots on the streets of London to protests on the streets of Moscow; the Arab Spring and the resultant regime change in North Africa and the Middle East; phone hacking scandals and also a painful reminder of race relations issues in the UK – plus a fragile relationship of trust in the police. Now, the spectre of unemployment looms larger than ever before – with the UK at a sixteen year high and levels of youth unemployment in Spain hitting 40%. All is not well in EMEA and the young are understandably restless and increasingly angry.

The EMEA region – and, more specifically, the Eurozone – now sits in the very crucible of Trust. The global findings of the 2012 Barometer (the decline of government and business’ opportunity to earn the license to lead) are accentuated across EMEA, as trust continues to democratise and diversify across all channels and institutions.

The net effect is that EMEA is now, without doubt, a region of Distrusters. On the composite trust scores, only the Netherlands secures ‘Trusted’ status at 61% – and even that usually stable country has seen a significant 8% composite decline in trust. Globally, Distrusters are about half (11 out of 23 countries). When focused exclusively on the Eurozone countries, 7 out of 9 countries are Distrusters. Scepticism has engulfed the region. Russia suffers the ignominy of being the least trusted of all 25 countries surveyed globally. Bear in mind, though, that the region was always tipping towards dis-trust. Trust in business and government has never been that high anyway – EMEA has lived for a while with the vacuum of the approximate 50%.

Government – seen to be paralysed and failing to deliver on its promises – is surely the originator of this 2011 Trust crisis and the evidence suggests that, from government, the contagion has spread to trust in business also. France has seen trust in government plummet from 49% to 31%; in Spain (admittedly, polled pre-election), the fall is equally dramatic, from 43% to 20%; Italy (pre-Monti) collapsed from 45% to 31%. And, in Russia, trust levels fell 13 pct points to 26%. Only Germany remained stable within the Eurozone countries (leveling at 33% trust in government), while German trust in Business took the hit instead, falling from 52% to 34% during 2011. In France, the decline in business trust was from 48% to 28% and, in Spain, from 53% to 32%. Spain’s descent into a state of distrust is just as dramatic as Japan’s trust collapse post Fukushima.

Mapping the crop of S&P recently ‘downgraded’ Eurozone countries against the Trust data, it becomes clear that there is a direct correlation between the paralysis of leadership and the shockingly steep declines in Trust. The average fall in Trust in Government for the three most recently downgraded nations (France, Spain, Italy) was from 46% to 27%, compared to a fall of 6% pts (to 44%) for those who escaped the downgrade. Governments who, un-democratically to some, embarked upon the ‘gigantic monetary experiment’ that is/ was the Euro, are now paying the Trust price.

In Business, the downgraded segment fell from 55% to 41%, versus a 57% to 46% drop for the others. Curiously, Ireland, which had an election early in the year, saw Trust in Government rise 15 pct points to 35%, though essentially acknowledging that Ireland remains at the bottom of its own bathtub: mostly flat on trust numbers but still depressing. Last year, Ireland recorded a (rather worrying) record 6% level of Trust in banks and bankers and that group has suffered another painful year. At 29% and 28% respectively, Financial Services companies and Banks across Europe remain the least trusted of all the industry sectors surveyed. The French took their revenge on their bankers (down 29 pct points to 23%), as did the Germans on theirs (down 4 pct points to 19%). Again, the trust data reflects the reality of a parlous, paralysed year and a region in crisis.

While (as explained below) Business still has an opportunity to step forward and lead, scepticism abounds and business will now need to come to terms with leadership in an era of low and conditional trust.
At least those surveyed believe that Business leaders are less likely than Government leaders to just tell lies. Here, the data is equally shocking, though. On the government front, so the data says, EMEA is, quite simply, a region of liars. Respondents stated that in Italy (73%), Spain (69%), UK and France (66%) and Germany (65%) they just do not trust government leaders to tell the truth at all. At all. The Business leader ‘lying’ numbers are lower but still of concern, oscillating between 40%-50%. Unlike in the 2008/9 Crisis, business is not being made to carry the can – but this is hardly a champagne moment.

The election landscape looks interesting – and somewhat challenging for Putin and Sarkozy. If the Trust data is a reflection of popular sentiment, real challenges lie ahead. In France, 73% believes that the country is heading in the wrong direction; the figure is 55% for Russia. There is a vacuum of leadership, ready for others to fill. Worries abound in France about the rise (again) of the Right. This time it is Marine Le Pen and not her father but the message is the same.

In the UK, PM David Cameron is suffering from his own very particular Trust dynamic. While his anti-Eurozone stand on ‘protect the City at all costs’ seems to have played well for trust in government, there is a yawning gap of how he is rated for expectations versus delivery. On ‘listening to citizens’ alone, the government expectations vs. performance gap is a shocking 58%, making something of a mockery of his Big Society play. The summer riots have taken their toll. Of those who said the riots impacted their trust in various groups, only 4% of adult respondents trust young people more than they did twelve months ago compared with 30% trusting young people less. Politicians score no better: 36% trust them less than they did a year ago; the police – enmeshed in the riots and the hacking scandal – are trusted 27% less than one year ago.

Yet Britons have seen a clearer pathway on trust in media in general. Surprising some observers, this has jumped by 15% points to 37% among informed publics across the year – although further investigation shows that there is now a clear delineation between more credible commentariat broadcasters and broadsheets and the tabloid gossip-peddlers who have been tarred by phone hacking scandals. The BBC retains an astonishing 87% level of trust (Ipsos Mori poll Nov 2011), for example, while it should not be forgotten that it was a newspaper (The Guardian) that chased and then broke the phone hacking story. In the business world – and across the region – serious media outlets are seen to have provided a more coherent and authoritative narrative to the financial crisis – as witnessed by a 16% increase in informed Brits’ trust in Traditional Media (to 32%). It can be said that not all media is now equal.

The rise (or return?) of Social Media is part media-story, part citizen renaissance. Trust in authority figures continues to disperse and citizenship rises across EMEA. Big ratings boosts were seen for ‘people like me’ and ‘regular employees’, as well as for social media itself (up 7% pts, admittedly off a low base) – emphasising the long-term shift away from traditional institutions and ‘established’ hierarchies and the continued democratisation of trust. Across nine EU countries, trust in CEOs is down 14% points to 30% as trusted spokespeople; a government official (sometimes known as a regulator) is there alongside him or her – also at 30%. A regular employee is now trusted to the same level (51%) as an NGO spokesperson – possibly proving that real people/ real citizens can now bridge the conscience deficit, once the sole preserve of the NGOs. And citizens, of course, are becoming increasingly vocal on the need for both business and government to do real societal good. This is a call for values-led leadership – as seen also in the global data in the 2012 Trust Barometer. Of course, the Arab Spring and, to an extent, what happened in Russia pre-Christmas, were visceral and violent manifestations of citizens rising – but the peacetime equivalent can also be seen in this year’s Barometer.

Much can be learned from the stakeholder expectation gaps of institutions – in EMEA, just as worldwide. Business holds a slight but still significant advantage over government – the latter suffering an average 44% point deficit between public expectations and delivery. Business only suffers a 27% point deficit – and scores fairly well on the core competencies around products, innovation and profit. But the data tells us that business has much more to do on the societal front: helping the environment; partnering for good; treating employees fairly. If Business Competence is established then (as with the global responses), Societal Competence still has some way to travel; and fundamental Engagement Behaviours (Transparency, Listening, Active Participation and Partnerships for Good) are now mandatory. Business leaders across EMEA would do well to consider this three dimensional approach of operations, social responsibility and engagement to building/ maintaining/ protecting trust. If 2011 was about Profit with Purpose, 2012 is about Profit + Purpose + Engagement. This is a big message for business in the region. When people clamour for ‘more regulation’, they are often just asking for businesses run on values, not compliance. When the cry goes up for ‘transparency’, the simple ask is for accountability and responsibility again.

What this tells us, of course, is that – if it moves to fill the vacuum left by government – compliance alone will not be enough for business. EMEA, and the Eurozone in particular, is craving real leadership, which is properly values-based. Business needs to increase its social footprint (through social networks but also as part of its wider social responsibilities) and to re-discover its citizen-values – if it is both to participate and to lead.

Eighty-plus years ago, John Maynard Keynes wrote that ‘the businessman is only tolerable so long as his gains can be held to bear some relation to what, roughly and in some sense, his activities have contributed to society’. If the Trust data in 2011 told us that Milton Friedman is dead (the social responsibility of business extends beyond the profit motive), then maybe the 2012 findings suggest that Keynes is re-born. With serendipitous wisdom John Plender quoted this recently in his FT article on Capitalism in Crisis – the FT, itself, a haven of trust in an age of dis-belief.

If EMEA is the crucible, then the Eurozone is the centre of that crucible where trust burns most fiercely. So many of the global findings are reflected in the EMEA research – yet amplified and accentuated for the world to see. It is January 2012 and we still have 48 hours to save the Euro. This is the challenge of government. But the opportunity for business extends far beyond this. Wealth creation and sustainable economic development drives trust and the wealth of nation-states sure needs boosting now. No-one can be in it alone; nor is mere compliance or business competence enough. Without a drive for real social reform and towards real, societal values – and without a new approach to business, based on public engagement – the EMEA crisis could deteriorate further still. Business can do it, of course. Radical social change, from the mills of New Lanarkshire to the factories of Port Sunlight, was born in Europe. ‘Better regulation’ means helping the drive for change flourish and providing a progressive fiscal framework within which this can more easily happen. Business needs to ‘play long’, for sure, and government needs to help business get there.

Pessimists may argue that the year ahead is not going to be a pleasant or an easy one. Optimists, however, will see not only the positive challenges of citizenship, but also a real opportunity for the next generation of values-led business visionaries to become the new ‘political’ leaders of the period forward. Whichever way the story plays out, the fragility of trust remains – and those who do step forward and lead will henceforth be held to account by citizens and stakeholders on a more acute and more transparent footing than ever before. Albeit by accident, the crucible of Europe may yet be at the vanguard of where the world goes next on trust.

Robert Phillips. President & CEO, Edelman EMEA

The Irish findings of the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer, a global survey of trust in institutions across 25 countries and 30,000 people, have shown that overall trust in government in Ireland has risen by 15 percentage points to 35%. This compares to a global average of 43%, down 9% on the previous year and the largest global fall for trust in government in 12 years. The research also shows that when looking at trust in key institutions (government, business, media and NGOs) Ireland, along with a majority of Eurozone countries is more distrusting than trusting.

Key Findings of the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer:

• Overall levels of trust in Ireland improved very marginally over the past 12 months, rising 2 percentage points to 41%. Ireland is no longer the least trusting country globally. Germany, Spain, Japan and Russia now have less trust than Ireland. Russia at 32% is the least trusting country in the survey

Government

• Overall trust in Government in Ireland increased 15 points to 35%
• Seven in ten Irish people don’t trust Government leaders to tell them the truth
• Countries downgraded by Standard & Poor’s are more likely to think that things are going in the wrong direction. In line with other European countries a high proportion of people in Ireland (65%) think that their country is on the wrong track
• There is a significant gap between public expectations and perceived delivery by government in Ireland.
• 12% believe that government is effectively managing the economy
• 10% believe that government is listening to citizen’s needs and feedback
• 14% believe Government is delivering national training programmes which will deliver jobs
• Only 3% believe Government should provide money to business when it experiences a financial crisis

Business

• Trust in business in Ireland fell by three points from 46% last year to 43 percent this year, in-line with a global decline of 3 points from 56% to 53%
• The energy industry experienced a sharp decline in trust, dropping from fourth to eighth most trusted while the brewing and spirits industry rose from eighth position to fourth overall
• Only 9% of the general public in Ireland trust banks, a rise of 3% but still the lowest global trust level in any industry
• CEO credibility in Ireland increased 1% to 33% but still lags the global average of 38%
• Despite the lack of Trust in government in Ireland, there is still an expectation that it should regulate business with 64% believing that it doesn’t regulate business enough. Paradoxically, the credibility of government regulators stands at 25%
• When assessing the role of government in business protecting consumers from irresponsible business practices, building infrastructure and regulation are seen as the most important areas.

Media

• Trust in media dropped 3 percentage points to 35% despite a global trend that showed an overall increase in trust in media (49% in 2011 to 52% in 2012)
• Traditional news sources (newspapers, TV, radio), as well as online search engines, are the most trusted sources of information
• Content-sharing sites and social networking sites are the least trusted sources of information
• The majority of people in Ireland (64%) need to hear something between 3 and 5 times before they will believe it

NGOs

• Globally, trust in NGOs dropped three percentage points to 58% this year, however they still remain the most trusted institution
• This trend is reflected in Ireland with 53% of respondents trusting NGOs, making NGOs also the most trusted institution in Ireland

Trust in Ireland is at a critical inflection point. Citizens seek leadership, clarity and solutions and don’t believe any institution is delivering on these expectations. The clear message for government is that it is perceived not to be getting its message through or listening. The big message for business is to generate trust by moving beyond a purely operational focus to engage with society and deliver solutions which benefit all stakeholders.

The 2012 findings show that trust in authority figures continues to shift as citizenship rises. Academics or experts are still seen as the most credible spokespeople but ordinary individuals or “a person like yourself” has risen from fifth place last year to second place this year. This can be viewed as part of a more long-term movement from traditional institutions and ‘established hierarchies’ toward a democratisation of trust.

Edelman will launch the findings of the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer at a breakfast briefing in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2, on January 26^th at 7:30am.

The enormous political, social and economic events of the past 12 months have presented new challenges for organisations seeking to maintain and build trust with their stakeholders.

The 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer measures how levels of trust in Business, Government, NGOs and Media have changed over the past twelve months and presents insights into the factors that influence levels of trust in Ireland today.

If you would like to attend this event please contact Laura Fahey on 01 6789333 or at laura.fahey@edelman.com

• A genuine passion for social media. Expert at using Facebook, Twitter and other social media/digital platforms;
• Community management experience;
• The confidence to provide strategic counsel to clients and to devise digital strategies that support brand and campaign objectives
• The ability to assess brand plans and brand objectives and respond to these with communications programmes that make sense and deliver ROI.
• Content creation and optimisation for social media campaigns. Web development, photoshop and video editing knowledge is required;
• Excellent communication and writing skills – with a keen attention to detail and strong spelling and grammar abilities;
• Preparing social platform reports, including reporting and analysing the data and preparing recommendations;
• Ability to communicate results and interact with clients in a fast-paced environment;
• Organisational instincts and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, while meeting tight deadlines.

Edelman Digital is the digital and social marketing division of Edelman PR Worldwide, the world’s largest independent PR firm. Established in 1981, Edelman Ireland is one of the country’s leading public relations firms with a blue chip portfolio of clients to match. Passion, forward thinking and a commitment to innovation has ensured Edelman is one of Ireland’s top agencies.

To apply, please email your CV with a cover note to piaras.kelly@edelman.com by close of business Friday 2nd December. Recruitment agencies are not required to assist with the process.

www.facebook.com/windowsphoneireland

Worryingly, the 2011 report revealed that November is the most likely month of the year for burglaries to occur, which indicates that home owners should remain security aware as we move into the winter months. The 2011 report also reinforces previous findings as once again it is determined that burglars no longer strike solely under the cover of darkness. For the fifth year in a row, the most likely time of day to be burgled is between 12pm and 4pm (23%).

The 2011 eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report, the most comprehensive report of burglaries in Ireland, also reveals that an average value of €1,868 was taken from each home burgled. This equates to approximately €48m worth of goods stolen from residential households in Ireland in the twelve months between July 2010 – June 2011 – a 66% decrease on last year.

Dublin continues to top Ireland’s burglary table, however the number of burglaries outside of Dublin has fallen, with statistics indicating a 1.7% decrease year on year. Outside Dublin, the most targeted counties were Kildare (7.9%), Wicklow (4.9%), Meath (4.2%) and Cork (4%).

Within Dublin, the Southside of the city accounts for 63% of all burglaries committed – an increase on last year’s figure of 53% – while the Northside of the city accounted for 37% a decrease on last year’s statistic of 47%. The postcode of South County Dublin is the most burgled area in Dublin (Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Killiney). The areas least likely to be burgled are Dublin 10 (Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard) and Dublin 20 (Chapelizod and Palmerstown).

Other key findings from the eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report include:

• For nine of the past eleven years semi-detached homes represent the most targeted type of dwelling (21%)

• Thursday, which accounts for 16.5% of all burglaries in 2011 is the most targeted day of week

• For the fifth year in a row, three bedroom homes remain the most targeted (43.73%)

• 74% of homes burgled did not have a monitored alarm in place – further highlighting the need for homeowners with no household security to be more diligent

The eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report, which has been published annually for the last ten years, was launched to raise overall awareness of the need for increased household security in Ireland. To view burglary statistics for your county or area, or to access additional home security tips, visit www.phonewatch.ie or call eircom PhoneWatch staff on 1850 500 900.

This is a demanding role which requires exceptional communication, organisational and writing skills. The position is central to the effective operation of a busy international consultancy business.  While the role has several elements and will suit someone who enjoys working in a demanding client focused environment, key requirements are:  acting as front of house receptionist, meeting and greeting clients, managing a busy switch board, office management and general administrative support.

The candidate must have a proficiency in Microsoft packages and basic excel capabilities and strong verbal and writing skills.

This role requires an individual with an exceptional positive outlook, an outgoing personality and strong attention to detail. The working environment is friendly, team orientated and highly professional.

Responsibilities include:

• Working Shoretel switchboard
• Meeting clients
• PA role to Managing Director
• Office and travel management
• Support wider team
• General administration and writing.

Interested applicants should forward their CV by Friday 14^th November to: Sarah-Jane Smith – sarah-jane.smith@edelman.com

The successful candidate will receive excellent career opportunities at an international PR firm and this position provides the right candidate with the  opportunity to lead a blue chip client portfolio in the consumer arena. Senior Account Managers with the appropriate experience and looking for the next step in their careers will be considered for this position.

Edelman is seeking applicants with a proven track-record in consumer pr and, preferably in an agency setting, or similar.

Suitable candidates will also have:

• The confidence to provide strategic counsel to senior representatives of client companies
• The ability to assess brand plans and brand objectives and respond to these with communications programmes that make sense and deliver ROI
• A practical understanding of the consumer landscape and its impacts within an Irish context
• The ability to collaborate effectively with Edelman team, both domestically and internationally, to deliver outstanding client service
• Strong writing and presentation skills
• The ability to mentor and develop junior team
• Outstanding project management skills, with the ability to scope and lead projects

Candidates should also demonstrate confidence in the following:

• A track record of business development and responding to RFIs
• An understanding of social media and its integration within an overall campaign

Senior Account Managers looking for the next step in their careers will be considered for this position.

Established in 1981, Edelman is one of Ireland’s leading public relations firms. Passion, forward thinking and a commitment to innovation has ensured Edelman is one of Ireland’s foremost Consumer Marketing agencies We are known for ‘Hero Campaigns for Hero Brands’ – dedicated to building brands with credibility, integrity and tangible business results.

Candidates meeting this profile should apply with a CV and cover letter to:

sarah-jane.smith@edelman.com by 6pm on Thursday 27th October.

More than 200 rabid fans flocked to the launch party at Dublin’s Workman’s Club, to be amongst the first to experience this year’s highest-rated Xbox 360 exclusive.

Edelman was on hand to interview some of the stars at the event including Leinster’s Dave Kearney and Shane Horgan and Cici Kavanagh from RTE’s Fade Street.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360, “Gears of War 3” is now available in various editions – Standard (€69.99) and Limited (€84.99). For additional details on the game, please visit www.gearsofwar.xbox.com

Model & DJ Cici Kavanagh from RTE’s Fade Street:

Leinster and Irish Rugby Players, Dave Kearney and Shane Horgan: