Artificial and Human Intelligence: A Combination for Maximum Results
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and when we combine it with human intelligence properly and effectively, we can achieve maximum benefits. This was the key takeaway from the World Media Intelligence Congress of FIBEP, hosted in Limassol by Clip News as the Host Sponsor, under the theme “Beyond Algorithms: Unleashing the Power of AI for Strategic Decision-Making”. From October 23 to 25, experts, professionals, and industry leaders discussed the role of artificial intelligence in the Media Intelligence sector, focusing on topics such as misinformation, cybersecurity, data analysis, PR & Marketing, and strategic decision-making.
In a world where even real-time isn’t always fast enough, artificial intelligence is a catalytic partner in processing big data, identifying trends, and reducing “noise.” Combined with human experience and intelligence, it propels Media Intelligence into a new era, providing immediate and high-quality information and analysis.
“This is the core philosophy of Clip News. We recently announced the creation of our own AI tools, based on Greek language models. With our extensive experience in providing media monitoring and analysis services, we are in a position to harmoniously and effectively combine the latest technology with the expertise and specialization of our analysts,” stated Clip News CEO Theofilos Argyriadis.
Key Insights from the Congress
- George Michailidis, Cyprus Commissioner for Communications, outlined the latest developments in efforts toward cybersecurity in Cyprus and the EU. He emphasized the importance of investing in artificial intelligence research and the need to train professionals, the workforce, and society as a whole.
- Konstantinos Kattirtzis, Channel Partner Lead – LSPs at Microsoft, highlighted that artificial intelligence is already present and offers immense opportunities. If utilized correctly, AI has the power to significantly improve people’s lives, offering solutions that make daily tasks easier and more efficient.
- Eduardo Ordax, Principal GTM Generative AI at Amazon, stressed that AI will be integrated into every aspect of our lives and that adopting this technology is essential to add value for customers.
- Amrita Sidhu, Managing Director of Medianet, gave an insightful presentation on integrating AI into business operations, emphasizing communication, experimentation, and the necessity of clear objectives.
- Theofilos Argyriadis, Clip News CEO, underscored the power of AI in data processing, helping us delve deeper, uncover patterns, predict trends, and make faster, more accurate decisions than ever before.
- Katerina Kechagia, Vice President of FIBEP and Clip News, moderated a panel with Virginia Padovese, VP of NewsGuard, and Michalis Sirivianos, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology at CUT and from MedDMO (Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory). Together, they shared valuable strategies for revealing truth in the AI era and combating misinformation.
- Anna Tsenova, Marketing Director of Updata One, and Eva Karasmani, Director of the International Department at Clip News, participated in the Young Leaders panel, exchanging views on their ideals, the biggest challenges they face, and the transformative role of AI in reshaping the landscape.
FIBEP State of the Industry Report 2024
On the second day of the conference, Katerina Kechagia, Vice President of FIBEP and Clip News, presented the findings of the “FIBEP State of the Industry Report 2024.” The research aimed to uncover key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Media Intelligence sector for 2023-2024. It provided valuable insights into how companies adapt to an evolving landscape shaped by AI, technological advancements, intellectual property management, and changing regulations.
An Optimistic Outlook for the Future of Media Intelligence
The conference concluded with optimism for the future, emphasizing that strategic investment in technology and adaptation to ever-changing conditions are critical for success. The Media Intelligence sector remains robust and resilient despite challenges, with companies anticipating growth driven by technology, innovation, and staff specialization.
Clip News remains committed to innovation and the continuous training of its team, ultimately aiming to deliver high-standard media monitoring and analysis services.
FIBEP is the International Association of Media Monitoring Companies, of which Clip News has been a member since 2002, contributing to the Association’s efforts in various roles. Clip News also hosted the global conference in Thessaloniki in 2011.
Although Clip News has over three decades of experience in the Media Monitoring & Analysis sector, it continues to innovate and adapt to the challenges of the modern digital world. Through the development of Artificial Intelligence tools and the expertise and experience of its analysts, it offers new capabilities to all communication professionals.
In today’s era, where technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, are transforming communication, Clip News has strategically invested in maintaining its leadership in the Media Intelligence sector. The company’s Chairman and CEO, Theofilos Argyriadis, along with Managing Director Theodoros Anastasilakis, Vice President Media Intelligence Katerina Kechagia, Reporting & Analysis Manager Anna Plomaritou, and IT Manager Aspa Nasiou, explain how the combination of AI & Human Expertise emerges as the ultimate tool for companies’ marketing and communication strategies.
MW: What is Clip News’ philosophy and how has the company evolved over the last 30 years?
Theofilos Argyriadis: Our primary focus has always been to provide reliable and immediate information to the businesses that trust us, alongside advanced analyses that decode the messages they receive and transform them into action. The triad Monitor – Analyse – Predict perfectly encapsulates our philosophy. Our vision for the future is to remain pioneers in the Greek market, offering innovative services that combine technological advancements with our team’s expertise. Through strategic collaborations, such as with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and keeping a close eye on global developments in Media Intelligence, our goal is to deliver tools that enable brands to deeply understand their reputation, identify opportunities and threats, and make real-time strategic decisions.
MW: Intellectual property rights are a hot topic. What are the latest developments and how does Clip News ensure compliance?
Theofilos Argyriadis: Clip News is fully licensed for the media monitoring services it provides. We were among the first companies to participate in the Licensing Program (ΑδΥΑ) of the Greek Collecting Society for Literary Works (OSDEL), initially for print media and, as of August 2024, for the internet as well. This program ensures that all parties involved operate legally, respecting the effort and investment of the Greek media, both print and online. This licensing guarantees that creators’ intellectual property rights are respected and compensated, allowing our subscribers to use monitoring services without legal concerns. It is therefore crucial that those receiving monitoring services, whether from print or online media, choose a company participating in the ΑδΥΑ program.
MW: You recently developed your own AI tools. What exactly do they offer?Aspa Nasiou: In collaboration with the Intelligent Systems Lab (IS Lab) of the Department of Informatics at Aristotle University, we developed
AI tools for media data analysis. These tools are based on Greek language models, enabling us to achieve high prediction accuracy regarding data sentiment. For the first time, we can recognize emotions (sadness, joy, anger, etc), detect hate speech, and identify irony. Additionally, these AI tools enable automatic tagging for every reference and data clustering since our algorithm understands the content of every collected reference.
MW: Are there other areas where AI solutions are applied in your services?
Aspa Nasiou: Clip News has made a comprehensive investment in artificial intelligence to enhance its entire service range. We have developed an updated version of our platform “Clip News Portal” incorporating advanced AI tools that automate processes. This enables us to analyze large volumes of data in real-time, delivering more accurate and up-to-date analyses. Furthermore, we will soon offer data visualization and analysis through interactive Power BI dashboards, uniquely combining offline and online media. Looking ahead, we plan to invest further in developing AI tools to strengthen our ability to monitor and analyze data, focusing on communication patterns and the prediction of threats and crises.
MW: What does Media Intelligence mean and how do Clip News subscribers benefit from it?
Katerina Kechagia: Media Intelligence refers to the collection, analysis, and use of media data to support business decisions. Businesses benefit by identifying consumer trends, improving product strategies and brand image, and analyzing competition. By monitoring discussions on social media and other media, they can make data-driven decisions rather than relying on assumptions. Media Intelligence transforms raw data into actionable insights.
MW: What is the significance of Reporting & Analysis services?
Anna Plomaritou: These services are critical for understanding and interpreting media data, enabling communication professionals to leverage them to gain deeper insights into market trends, identify influencers affecting their audience, and measure the effectiveness of their messages. We provide daily concise summaries of key publicity points in Greek or English, as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses, offering valuable insights into public perception of each brand, the main issues of interest, and how they compare to competitors. In a rapidly evolving environment with an ever-increasing volume of information and new communication channels, our services are essential for designing an effective marketing strategy.
MW: How do you combine artificial intelligence with human expertise in your Reporting & Analysis services?
Anna Plomaritou: We believe that the combination of artificial and human intelligence provides the best possible service. AI helps us quickly and accurately analyze vast amounts of data. However, analysts are the ones who shape the final conclusion, validate the data, and pinpoint critical aspects that may influence a company’s reputation. Media analysts add a human dimension, which is essential for interpreting data. This AI and Human Expertise combination enables us to deliver the most reliable insights and serves as the competitive edge of our services. It plays a decisive role in both preventing and managing publicity crises. The smart alerting system helps brand and marketing managers anticipate potential PR crises, while real-time data analysis allows them to respond appropriately and manage their communication effectively.
MW: How does your presence in international organizations impact the development of Clip News and what are the next steps following your expansion to Cyprus?
Katerina Kechagia: Clip News is an active member of FIBEP (International Association of Media Monitoring Agencies) and AMEC (International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication), gaining access to international practices and technological advancements in publicity analysis. Membership in AMEC certifies the high-quality Media Analysis services we offer. Notably, within just a year of joining AMEC, we were shortlisted for the AMEC Communications, Research and Measurement Team of the Year (Small) award, recognizing our achievements in technology, investments, growth, and data-driven analysis services. Our focus is expanding into new markets, as demonstrated by our entry into Cyprus, where we are the only licensed company by the Cyprus Publishers Association to provide monitoring and analysis services. Highlighting the importance of new markets, we decided to host this month’s annual World Media Intelligence Congress of FIBEP in Cyprus, focusing on AI and its transformative impact on our services.
MW: You have successfully implemented a hybrid work model with employees across Greece. How challenging was this and what are the key elements of its success?
Theodoros Anastasilakis: Effective collaboration is key to the work models we have implemented at Clip News. These models were successfully developed during the Covid-19 pandemic and have continued, offering on-site, remote, and hybrid work options. With invaluable support from the Human Resources department, we have created a pleasant and supportive work environment and a close-knit team, despite being dispersed across various cities in Greece. Additionally, we have invested in a specialized internal training system (LMS) to continuously enhance our team’s skills and knowledge. At the same time, we place great emphasis on our social impact, supporting local communities, associations, and organizations through CSR activities in Athens and Thessaloniki, providing opportunities for all our people to participate.
MW: How do you see the future of Clip News with the continuous technological advancements?
Theofilos Argyriadis: Artificial intelligence will continue to play a central role in our evolution. However, we firmly believe that human expertise is irreplaceable. We will continue to invest in combining both of them to deliver services distinguished by accuracy and strategic value. Our next step involves exploring new markets and developing innovative services that meet the needs of modern businesses with speed and precision.
This interview was published in the 1693 issue of Marketing Week.
What happens when a brand suddenly faces a PR crisis that threatens its reputation? Such a case can turn into a public relations nightmare – unless you manage it quickly and properly.
Let’s look at an example: A well-known company in the food and beverage sector is forced to recall batches of its products due to contamination concerns. Almost immediately, the incident triggers a wave of negative publicity on websites and reactions on social media, with consumers clearly expressing their frustration.
For companies in the FMCG sector, where consumer trust is of utmost importance, such a negative publicity crisis can be catastrophic. However, with the right tools, a crisis can become an opportunity to rebuild trust. This is where media monitoring and especially digital listening can make a difference.
Crisis Overview
In the FMCG industry, especially for companies handling consumer products such as food and beverages, product safety is a top priority. A contamination issue can escalate quickly as consumers share their concerns on social media (like Facebook, Twitter, Forums), while the media amplifies the news across print, radio, TV, and predominantly online platforms (news websites). In this particular case, the product recall quickly became a topic of discussion, with consumers questioning the brand’s commitment to safety and transparency.
The company’s initial response failed to address the public’s main concerns. As a result, negative sentiment continued to grow, with social media users sharing their disappointment and anger. Even competitors took advantage of the situation, highlighting their own safety practices, further undermining the brand’s position in the market.
The Role of Digital Listening
This is where media monitoring -and more specifically digital listening– could have significantly changed the brand’s response strategy. By real-time monitoring sentiment, the brand could have detected the negative tone of conversations on social media and online articles from the moment the recall story started. Understanding the speed and scale of the reaction would have allowed for a faster and more tailored response aimed at addressing the concerns of both consumers and the media.
Digital listening tools go deeper than media monitoring, revealing different concerns of the public. For example, are consumers more worried about health risks or about the company’s lack of transparency? By analyzing the conversations, the brand can craft targeted messages that directly address these concerns, such as a clear explanation of the recall process or the steps being taken to ensure product safety in the future.
Moreover, digital listening allows brands to identify key influencers -journalists, bloggers, and social media personalities- who shape the conversation. Engaging directly with these online voices can help steer the narrative in the company’s favor.
Impact of a PR Crisis on the Brand
A product recall in the FMCG industry is not just a logistics challenge. It’s also a threat to the brand’s reputation, which it has built slowly and steadily over the years. Poor management of a recall can lead to a loss of consumer trust, which may take months or even years to restore.
In this case, the company’s slow and vague initial response deepened the crisis, leading to an increase in negative comments on social media and a drop in sales. This shows how ineffective management of a product recall can turn an online PR crisis into a broader business problem.
Rapid Response and Analysis
In a similar product recall incident, Clip News immediately activated its effective procedures for PR crisis cases to handle the sudden surge in media data (over 3,500 references per day for the brand on the internet and social media).
Additional shifts were created immediately, ensuring that our team of analysts was available 24/7 to monitor the situation’s evolution and regularly send updated crisis reports to the client.
The Keywording department quickly adjusted the keyword tracking on our platform, adding the most critical terms, phrases, and hashtags related to the incident. This enabled us to have full coverage of the topic without missing any publications or comments.
Although the crisis initially broke on social media, the search profile was automatically “built” across all media monitored by Clip News (internet, social media, print, radio, and television). This allowed us to immediately track when and how the story expanded across all communication channels.
Additionally, we conducted extensive tagging (breaking the issue into subcategories) and sentiment analysis (neutral, negative, positive) to provide the brand with a clear and comprehensive picture of what consumers were saying, their concerns, and emerging trends in the discussion.
Sentiment analysis categorizes your publicity references as positive, negative, or neutral, offering a detailed view of public opinion. This approach allows the brand to quickly identify areas of concern, adjust the messaging, and engage more effectively with consumers.
The combination of AI technology for speed in processing media data and our analysts‘ human expertise for accuracy ensures that you receive reliable data as quickly as possible. This is key to responding promptly to an incident of negative publicity, detecting consumer reactions early, and adapting your PR crisis management plan accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- Speed and Transparency Are Crucial: Being honest about mistakes and presenting a clear plan to address the problem is vital in handling a crisis. An effective response must target the concerns expressed by the public. Therefore, it’s critical to identify and analyze the discussions surrounding the issue in order to regain consumer trust more quickly.
- Use Digital Listening Tools for Better Results: Digital listening tools can guide a brand in shaping a more targeted response. In the first case we described, if the company had closely monitored sentiment on social media, it could have identified that consumers were more upset about the lack of transparency than the actual contamination of a specific product batch.
- Resilience through Continuous Media Monitoring: Beyond crisis incidents, continuous monitoring of a brand’s publicity helps companies identify potential issues before they escalate. By constantly monitoring how consumers perceive products and messages, brand managers can be better prepared for future challenges.
Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity
Due to the constant flow of information on the internet and especially on social media, a brand’s reputation can now be affected overnight. But with continuous media monitoring and the use of digital listening, even the toughest crises can become manageable.
Perhaps even more important is the ability to turn a PR crisis into an opportunity. By evaluating what worked effectively and what didn’t, you have the chance to improve your strategy for handling such incidents, so that next time you are prepared and can act more effectively.
For FMCG brands, where product safety is critical, media monitoring and digital listening tools are not just an option -they are a necessity. The key question for every brand is: Are you listening to what your customers are saying before it’s too late?
On Friday, September 27, P+ Measurement Services held the 27th edition of #EvaluatePR with a focus on Transparency and Trust: Measuring PR Impact in Government Communication.
Katerina Kechagia, Vice President of Clip News, participated in the online panel and emphasized the necessity of transparency in government communication strategies to foster trust among citizens. She also highlighted the importance of Media Monitoring & Analysis in measuring and evaluating the success of a government communication campaign:
- Monitoring and Digital Listening Tools: Ms. Kechagia pointed out that the use of real-time monitoring tools across all sources (internet, social media, press, radio, TV) enables immediate corrections and adjustments to the message.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis: She also emphasized the multifaceted analysis of media data to extract valuable insights: quantitative metrics, such as buzz to measure volume, and qualitative criteria, such as sentiment, to evaluate trust.
This important discussion on communication transparency also featured speakers Kenneth Adejumoh, Corporate Communication Manager at Nosak Group, and Gilbert Alasa, Communication Consultant at the International Finance Corporation, who shared their extensive experience in communication and PR campaign management.
#EvaluatePR has become a global initiative, bringing together professionals, experts, and academics to analyze developments in the fields of public relations, communication, and media intelligence.
Clip News brings the World Media Intelligence Congress 2024 of FIBEP to Cyprus on October 23-25. The conference, under the theme Beyond Algorithms: Unleashing The Power Of AI For Strategic Decision-Making, will explore the changes that artificial intelligence brings to communication and business. Among the speakers are Communications Commissioner George Michailidis, as well as Constantinos Kattirdjis, Director of Microsoft Cyprus, and Michalis Sirivianos, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology at Cyprus University of Technology.
The goal of the conference is to connect top professionals in the industry worldwide, offering participants the opportunity to learn from experts, share their own experiences and ideas, and build relationships that will contribute to the promotion of innovation and growth in the Media Intelligence sector.
The conference agenda includes exciting presentations from international communication professionals, engaging panel discussions, and the exchange of best practices in a rapidly changing environment due to the swift development of artificial intelligence.
The conference will be held in Limassol on October 23-25.
FIBEP is the International Federation of Press Clipping Bureaux. Clip News has been a member since 2002, contributing to the Federation’s work in various capacities, and has hosted the global congress in Thessaloniki in 2011.
Clip News is the only licensed company by the Cyprus Publishers Association to provide media monitoring and analysis services.
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