Today the head of communications at the DALKIAgroup, Renaud CZARNES has a busy career. Economic and political journalist (La Croix, Les Echos) for more than 15 years, he was appointed, in 2012, as the press and communication adviser to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayraut before joining, in 2014, the Dalkia group. At the same time, Renaud Czarnes teaches, at Sciences Po, the challenges of relations between politicians and the media. He also published an Anti-manual on political communication in 2019 (Kawa editions).
1 / If by chance, you were to remain confined for more long weeks, what tracks would you (re) listen to?
Well, I would listen again as I did during my long evenings, the whole of experimental formations likeSoft Machine or King Crimson. Now I’m starting to listen to Franck Zappa’s work. I'm also taking advantage of this confined time to publish, every weekend, micro-chronicles of music and books on mytwitter account @RenaudCzarnès.
2 / What does a typical day of a #ConfinedComdirector looklike?
The first 15 days were particularly challenging. Commuting time, which has inevitably disappeared, has been replaced by meetings (video conf /call)! Since last week, we have been able to breathe a little more. I can catch up on some professional readings, for example on trends in communication or the effects of the crisis on our actions in favor of climate change. Other than that, I have been confined to Paris like many people.
3 / How does the sudden drop in economic activity impact youractivities?
Our customers have closed certain sites to comply with government instructions. However, 6,000 colleagues are on the front line! Some work in hospital settings to provide heating, hot water, air conditioning and ventilation and perform all maintenance work. Others ensure the proper functioning of the heating networks of social housing or are with industrialists such as agrifood companies; so many vital services in crisis management.
4 / We are in the 5th week of confinement, can you tell us how thecrisis comm went at Dalkia?
Like many companies, we have reassured our customers that we will continue to operate. We also focused our efforts on internal communication, aimed at our colleagues in the field, those we call the "heroes of the shadows". We continue to pay tribute to them with a new internal letter, “Dalkia Ensemble”, which collects their testimonies every week. And they can be proud of what they do.
5 / How do you see the future?
We have maintained most of our projects. We even launched a call for tenders to conduct an image survey among all our stakeholders and even the general public. Only our events until the end of July have been canceled or postponed. In the days to come, we will gradually reinvest in our socialnetworks to defend the employer brand and continue our educational communication on our business, that is to say, the promotion of renewable energies in the territories and the reduction of C02 emissions of our customers... We have been very measured in external com all these weeks and we will remainso.
6 / What are the lessons that you draw from this extraordinarycrisis?
This crisis is unprecedented, as far as communication is concerned, it brings us back to the essential: content. In journalistic terms, this is called information or "facts." You have to get as far away as possible. We live in an era where, especially on social networks, people, who have nothing to say, sulfate the whole world with their comments or opinions. Others, knowingly or unknowingly, spread "fake news", which feeds conspiracy theories... The goal is always to find a culprit. In this context, the communicator, in particular the communicator in politics, does their "best", which often amounts to doing "the least bad possible". "Doing well" is often out of reach.
About Epresspack
Epresspack, a tech player in the communication sector, aims to offer the best of technology for brands and businesses and their public relations. Pioneer of anti-fake news digital newsrooms in Europe, it hosts the tailor-made digital platforms of around 300 brands and international companies (40% of which belong to the CAC 40), including Accor, ADP, Audi, Bouygues, Hermès, ING, Taittinger, Vinci, Arte, Leboncoin…. and manages a cumulative audience of 3.5 million unique visitors in 2019. Epresspack and brings together 50 employees in Paris, London, Milan and Madrid. For the record, Epresspack had launched in September 2019 - in partnership with KeeeX, leader in on-board digital signature - an integrated blockchain protection and certification solution for press releases and other documents (source, integrity, date) for its customers.