There’s been some very interesting activity this month in the comments thread
about Summit Communications. Since I don’t expect anybody to plough through
more than 12,000 words of comments, I thought I’d summarise the discussion here.
And it really is a discussion: people pretty much are who they say they are.
I’ve got a list of their names and IP addresses after the jump if you don’t
believe me. The only time an IP address is repeated is when Marcos Melo, who
is an employee of Alvaro Llaryora, posts from the same IP address as Llaryora.
Which makes perfect sense.
Nearly all of the activity comes from employees or former employees of Summit
Communications or its sister companies. I’m not sure how or why they all seem
to have found my blog entry at the same time, but I assume there’s been some
emailing going on. In any case, the basic Summit Communications modus operandi
definitely emerges from the discussion.
It turns out that Summit Communications is a vehicle set up by a parent company
called AFA Press for the express purpose of selling advertising supplements
in the New York Times. AFA has other, similar companies for other publications:
the one for the Observer in the UK, for instance, is called Images, Words; the
one for USA Today is called United World; the one for the Daily Telegraph in
the UK is called PM Communications, and so on. The true center of operations
for all these companies is Madrid, although they’re mostly incorporated in the
UK.
The owner of all these companies is an Argentine called Alberto Llaryora –
the father of one of my commenters, Alvaro Llaryora. (In Argentine Spanish,
both "ll" and "y" are pronounced as "zh", so think
"zharzhora".)
Why does Llaryora have so many offshore companies, each with a very different
name? (Apart from any money-laundering he may or may not be doing, of course.)
The impression one gets from reading the comments is that it’s very simple:
the people working for these companies are so sleazy and unprofessional that
the governments and companies in the countries buying the advertorials are unlikely
to ever want to work with them a second time. So Llaryora simply sends a team
from a company with a name untarnished in that country instead.
And there’s another reason: the AFA sales team makes no effort whatsoever to
distingish themselves from the publication that they’re going to print the advertorial
in. The fact that each subsidiary works only for a single publication allows
them to say that they are "the exclusive partner of the New York Times"
or somesuch.
In fact, the sales technique at AFA seems to depend on their pretending to
be from the New York Times / USA Today / whoever. The AFA team always
includes a "journalist" who goes around attempting to get interviews
with senior officials and executives in the country, for a report on that country
to be published in the newspaper in question. Obviously, the fact that the report
will be an advertorial is not mentioned, and neither is the fact that the "journalist"
not an employee of, let alone a journalist for, the newspaper.
Similarly, when the advertorial is being sold, it is always sold on the basis
that the number of readers of the advertorial is the same as the number of readers
of the newspaper in question. Most advertisers who want a bound-out supplement
in the Sunday New York Times, say, are well aware that the vast majority of
readers will simply throw that supplement away unread. But AFA sales people
present themselves as selling advertising (little display units within the advertorials)
against New York Times / USA Today editorial with its enormous circulation and
readership numbers.
AFA seems to specialize in employing young, hungry sales people with no previous
experience in the media business. One of them phoned me after being given a
job offer, wanting to find out what I knew about the company; another left a
comment on my blog. The person I talked to had only sales experience well outside
the media industry, but was being offered a job as a "journalist":
writing skills, of course, were unimportant, as the only thing that matters
is making sales. These kids can make a lot of money by lying to advertisers,
and no one ever discourages them from doing so – quite the opposite. They
justify their actions by saying that they’re working in corrupt countries, and
that if you want to make money in such countries you have to be part of that
corrupt system.
Generally, it would seem, the male "journalist" will go through the
motions of interviewing the minister/executive in question; at the end of the
interview, a very pretty female "director" will then approach the
interviewee to buy some advertising against the interview. (Of course, if the
advertising isn’t bought, then the interview won’t appear, but that’s never
mentioned.) In the case of government ministers, the "director" will
ask the minister for a letter giving his "support" to the publication,
and encouraging the companies in that country to cooperate with the reporter.
The minister thinks he’s simply opening doors for the "reporter" to
be able to do his interviews, but of course the "director" helpfully
explains to the executives that in order to cooperate as the minister wants
them to do, they will have to buy advertising.
The technique works so well that former AFA employees have gone on to set up
their own companies doing exactly the same thing: see Vega Media, Impact Media,
and Media Plus, which seems to have an especially low reputation. There’s a
whole sector of these companies, it turns out: Global Press, for instance, run
by Alberto Llaryora’s brother Rodolfo Llaryora, would seem to have the Washington
Post and Fortune Magazine locked up. There certainly seems to be de facto
exclusivity: only one company ever seems to produce advertorials for any given
publication. Does Summit Communications pay the New York Times extra for being
its only advertorial provider? How else can one explain the seeming absence
of any competition in the NYT?
I’m sure that the New York Times, alongside all the other highly-regarded publications
in bed with AFA Press, spends as little time as possible asking about the genesis
of the advertorials which it prints. Just as the millions of people who eat
at McDonald’s really don’t want to know the details of how their meal is made.
This is the real difference between these publications, on the one hand, and
Euromoney, on the other: Euromoney, when it sells supplements, does so under
its own name, and in the knowledge that if the client is unhappy he’ll never
buy another one. The NYT et al don’t sell supplements, they leave that to others,
who are happier to burn their clients because they’ll likely never return to
that country anyway.
I’d be very interested to learn whether New York Times journalists working
in third-world countries ever find themselves battling ministers or executives
who think they’ve dealt with the New York Times in the past, and who have very
bad memories of the whole encounter. Maybe every time they do, they should complain
to the advertising department about the stuff which is being done in the NYT’s
name. That, in turn, might drive AFA Press and its subsidiaries to higher standards
of conduct.
More likely, an increase in the media-savvyness of third world ministers and
executives will force Llaryora and his employees to be more transparent; from
reading the comments on my original post, that might be happening already. Instead
of misleadingly selling an ad against an interview in the New York Times –
something which anybody who knows the NYT knows can never be done – AFA
might start talking more about the usefulness of newspaper supplements in terms
of turning around the image of a tarnished country. Chances are, of course,
that if the people buying into these supplements knew how effective they really
were, they would never take part. But at least some of the sleaziness in the
industry would be minimised.
Commenters and IP addresses after the jump.
| March 20 | Stefan Geens | 85.226.193.223 |
| March 20 | Lance Knobel | 71.249.17.70 |
| April 8 | Ray Corbis | 62.68.61.2 |
| June 1 | Thierry De Pins | 87.217.13.44 |
| July 6 | flimsy | 62.56.236.174 |
| July 7 | Mark | 80.25.234.40 |
| July 7 | Hugh Janus | 83.44.24.179 |
| July 7 | Veronica Fuentes | 83.35.204.167 |
| July 7 | Stefan Geens | 62.253.128.12 |
| July 7 | Renata (aka flimsy) | 62.56.236.174 |
| July 7 | Southampton’s Number 7 | 195.167.131.33 |
| July 7 | Stefan Geens | 62.253.128.12 |
| July 7 | Southampton’s Number 7 | 195.167.131.33 |
| July 7 | Stefan Geens | 62.253.128.12 |
| July 7 | bihboon | 81.192.191.75 |
| July 7 | Jorge Rosi | 83.34.209.175 |
| July 7 | G. | 69.194.13.47 |
| July 9 | Clemente Ordierez | 81.52.161.74 |
| July 10 | Alvaro Llaryora | 217.127.229.150 |
| July 10 | cause for concern | 86.140.215.182 |
| July 10 | Marcos Melo | 217.127.229.150 |
| July 12 | Valerie Favier | 83.202.97.233 |
| July 12 | Southampton’s Number 7 | 195.167.131.33 |
| July 12 | Marcos Melo | 217.127.229.150 |
| July 12 | Zeb | 195.172.183.10 |
| July 12 | valerie favier | 83.202.97.233 |
| July 12 | PomKa | 62.135.101.197 |
| July 12 | RAQUEL PICORNELL | 212.0.149.213 |
| July 13 | Benj (aka bihboon) | 196.217.242.241 |
| July 14 | Flavio G | 82.205.215.177 |
| July 14 | G | 69.194.13.54 |
| July 14 | Romeo | 200.31.172.4 |
| July 16 | Clemente Ordierez | 83.53.158.219 |
| July 17 | thermidor | 81.202.46.133 |
| July 19 | Moh | 196.200.83.51 |
| July 19 | Benj (aka bihboon) | 196.217.240.125 |
| July 19 | james | 86.1.67.234 |
| July 21 | jj | 212.80.189.229 |
Yes, on what CL is asking. Is vega media legitimate? Their website seems very thourough and profession. Also, on the whole this profession seems exciting but comes with a bad reputation, even if the said company is reputable and ethical. Any thoughts
Yes, on what CL is asking. Is vega media legitimate? Their website seems very thourough and profession. Also, on the whole this profession seems exciting but comes with a bad reputation, even if the said company is reputable and ethical. Any thoughts
At the end of this comment you’ll find a link to one of my blog posts, sort of telling why I quit the industry altogether after many years working on and off for several of the companies mentioned in this forum, and after having set up my own little agency for a while.
Let’s say that the truth hit me a few times during my career. But it hit me hardest last year while working on a project in Dubai — a city that, ironically, seems to be the incarnation of the values that the industry promotes to its readers (if there are any left?) and employees (well, contractors really, but you know what I mean).
Don’t get me wrong. I won’t go all moralistic on you now and tell you to not work for the industry because here I come with my confessions-of-a-(rather small)-economic-hit-man arrogance to lecture you.
I actually am of the view that stepping into the darkness is at times a necessary path towards enlightenment and growth. And if you feel you need to do that, then let the industry be part of Your Journey.
But whatever you do, I beg you to please, por favor, consider these pieces of advice:
* Don’t work for Media Plus. If it’s true that the wounds that this industry inflicts in poor countries, their clients and its contractors’ moral psychology are only dog bites when compared to what some sharks of international finance can do with their mighty jaws, well, then MP is a huge, mean, rabid Rottweiler you’d rather stay away from.
* Try to work for Oxford Business Group, which in my opinion is an entirely different ball game. At least the stuff they produce is readable and decently researched for godssakes.
* Or try to work for any of the smaller agencies. As some people here have said, they tend to be owned by people that have realized they could have a bit of a competitive edge if they only delivered more value to advertisers for their money. But bear in mind that you can run into someone like me, who left it all not only because of moral exhaustion, but also because I found it extremely hard to persuade advertisers you’re different from the rest of the pack. They’re simply, and understandably, extremely skeptical of any company involved in this line of business.
And last but not least, please keep it honest to yourself about the whole “I am willingly stepping into the dark with this experience because I feel attracted to it” kind of thing. Don’t fall into the insane wishful thinking and moral hypocrisy that some participants in this forum have shown, rationalizing their activity as something good for the world. Because it’s not. Take it as a strong chemical drug that you have decided to experiment with for a while.
LSD can be mind-opening and growth-enhancing, but you cannot say it’s good for your health, or that the world is necessarily better because LSD exists. Got it?
(Unnecessary digression here: At least LSD contributed to the the brilliance of The Beatles, ergo, LSD’s contribution to the world is much better than Special Ad Sections on Countries)
Peace,
Alan
Here’s the link to my little story:
http://alanfurth.com/dubai-and-i
At the end of this comment you’ll find a link to one of my blog posts, sort of telling why I quit the industry altogether after many years working on and off for several of the companies mentioned in this forum, and after having set up my own little agency for a while.
Let’s say that the truth hit me a few times during my career. But it hit me hardest last year while working on a project in Dubai — a city that, ironically, seems to be the incarnation of the values that the industry promotes to its readers (if there are any left?) and employees (well, contractors really, but you know what I mean).
Don’t get me wrong. I won’t go all moralistic on you now and tell you to not work for the industry because here I come with my confessions-of-a-(rather small)-economic-hit-man arrogance to lecture you.
I actually am of the view that stepping into the darkness is at times a necessary path towards enlightenment and growth. And if you feel you need to do that, then let the industry be part of Your Journey.
But whatever you do, I beg you to please, por favor, consider these pieces of advice:
* Don’t work for Media Plus. If it’s true that the wounds that this industry inflicts in poor countries, their clients and its contractors’ moral psychology are only dog bites when compared to what some sharks of international finance can do with their mighty jaws, well, then MP is a huge, mean, rabid Rottweiler you’d rather stay away from.
* Try to work for Oxford Business Group, which in my opinion is an entirely different ball game. At least the stuff they produce is readable and decently researched for godssakes.
* Or try to work for any of the smaller agencies. As some people here have said, they tend to be owned by people that have realized they could have a bit of a competitive edge if they only delivered more value to advertisers for their money. But bear in mind that you can run into someone like me, who left it all not only because of moral exhaustion, but also because I found it extremely hard to persuade advertisers you’re different from the rest of the pack. They’re simply, and understandably, extremely skeptical of any company involved in this line of business.
And last but not least, please keep it honest to yourself about the whole “I am willingly stepping into the dark with this experience because I feel attracted to it” kind of thing. Don’t fall into the insane wishful thinking and moral hypocrisy that some participants in this forum have shown, rationalizing their activity as something good for the world. Because it’s not. Take it as a strong chemical drug that you have decided to experiment with for a while.
LSD can be mind-opening and growth-enhancing, but you cannot say it’s good for your health, or that the world is necessarily better because LSD exists. Got it?
(Unnecessary digression here: At least LSD contributed to the the brilliance of The Beatles, ergo, LSD’s contribution to the world is much better than Special Ad Sections on Countries)
Peace,
Alan
Here’s the link to my little story:
http://alanfurth.com/dubai-and-i
And here’s a little poem I found that inspired me to write the comment above, I think you’ll find it useful to reflect on whether you want to dedicate several precious years to this industry or not:
How To Win Friends And
Influence People
by Robert Bruce
If you continually tell them
what they want to hear
you may gain
an honored chair
at the extravagant tables
of the world
If you play the game precisely
how they want it played
your security in this life
can be perfectly assured
a large salary with
profound benefits
a trophy wife
If you own the right rulebook
and practice with intensity
your name may rest
on the lips of princes
playwrights
and professors
If you learn to use your tongue
as a weapon of perjury
the wildest ambitions
you could ever dream to utter
can be made real
almost instantly
You need only prostitute
your gifts to
the right people
at the right time
to be swept from the presence of
the poor, the ugly, the lonely
and into the company of
the beautiful, the powerful, the loved
All of this can be yours
for the very low price of
a few daily lies
a tolerance for cowardice
a talent for flattery
a slight hardening of the conscience
and the willing slavery of your
fiery immortal soul
This is
the Art of The Fear of Man
If you decide to pursue it
be sure to luxuriate
in its fruits while
they are yours
For they are the kind
that only ripen on
this side
of eternity
Thank you guys for all information about such companies, as AFA Press Group, Vega Media, etc. I got a telephone interview invitation so far, but I am DEFINITELY NOT going any further. I really think this is completely UNETHICAL BUSINESS and I am smart enough not to sell myself for such dirty things, tasks, jobs, treating of people, money ( i don’t think that selling an ad for hungarian truck company for 500 000 USD or so makes anything to be proud of- just maybe for being a dirty, unfair sales person). Thank you for your honest experiences from these jobs, hopefully this will keep more people out of such businesses.
Recruitment fairs and websites are really also quite sh..ty publishing such adds…i don’t think that if they’d publish only honest ones they would have only 2% of their business (not all the world is f..ed)..so… shame on such companies, shame on people who are proud and happy for working in them, shame on all anybody who is indifferent about such bad practises.
Hi,
I got an interview with a company called GLOBAL BUSINESS REPORTS. Could someone tell me anything about this company?? And also, what kind of interview they usually do?
Hi,
I got an interview with a company called GLOBAL BUSINESS REPORTS. Could someone tell me anything about this company?? And also, what kind of interview they usually do?
Hi,
I got an interview with a company called Global Business Reports. Does anybody knows anything about this company??
Many thanks in advance!
Hello,
I never heard about global business reports, but do avoid Afa press definitely! They sent us a mail in june telling us that “due to some financial problem…bla bla bla” truth is, once again they just find another excuse not to pay commissions!
I guess they intend to close down afa press to open another company like 2 years ago but i won’t wait and prefer forgetting about my commission than wastingting more time in this company.
I realized after a while that all directors never got paid their commissions too, and they played on the fact that nobody wants to seem stupid saying, i haven t been paid!
Rumours (you will hear a lot in Afa press) are that Marcos Mello is sending resume looking for a job, he is running Afa press for now…..
Otherwise great job! just be careful with promises in this business! and with dodgy people like afa press ones!
Johanna
If anyone has been involved with Summit Communications or AFA, we are very interested in talking to you. Our company is putting a case together to file at the international court.
Please kindly contact me at baxterjennifer23@gmail.com
What you have to contribute would be very appreciated.
Thank you
Jennifer Baxter
Last comment by Jennifer Baxter is hilarious (if she is indeed who she claims to be).
To suggest that they are “putting a case together to file at the international court” reflects a complete misunderstanding of legal procedures, and for that matter international legal procedures.
Dear Jennifer, would you be so kind as to tell me what “the international court” is? If you are referring to the International Court of Justice, are you aware that it does dwell into matters of private international law? If not, what the hell are you talking about?
The International Court of Arbitration
Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Please feel free to contact me
baxterjennifer23@gmail.com
The International Court of Arbitration
Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Please feel free to contact me
baxterjennifer23@gmail.com
All I know is that Jennifer Baxter is not who she claims to be.
Hello,
has anyone heard of Peninsula Press?
I haven’t seen the slightest mention of this company in all the comments.
Thanks.
I cannot begin to explain how unprofessional and shameless AFA Press is… I have been working in this industry for a long time, it was good for a while: I traveled extensively, saved money and met interesting people.
However, AFA Press’ dishonesty, constant lies, dodgyness and unwilligness to pay commissions is unbelievable. They have not published one single report in the whole of 2009. Clients all over the world are fuming having paid exhorbitant amounts of money for nothing. Furthermore, AFA employees have literally been working for free since commissions have not been paid for the last 8 months. When confronted, the administration blames it on the 4 million USD that Kabinda owes them-. Sure, blame it on Angola.
AFA Press is simply revolting.
Good luck to you all.
SMMC
Hi everybody
Thanks you all for the different posts. Tomorrow I ‘ve got the first meeting with AFA in Madrid, and I think that I will not go.
You guys made me realize that this is not what i am looking for. I was so stroken with the ad on Monster or others, i said to myself this is my fucking job, as i ve lived in 4 different countries with my 25 years old, and i think i am a intellectual curious person that wants to travel and see as much as possible.
Now i know the kind of people i ll have to face tomorrow, if I decide to go..I don t wanna experience the described situations on an emerging country, and be lying my hole life. There’s been a nice discussion about Sales world. I agree that sometimes you have to “force” the other to buy, with lies or not. But anyways i ve decided that If I have to do it, do it, buty then i will go to have some beers with my friends and forget everything I did to close the deal.
I thought that this kind of companies, really take care of you while you were on those countries, but in fact youre kinda sent to a jungle thinking that paradise is waiting for you, while in fact, they are just taking profit of the fact that you re young, naive, unexperienced, that you want to see the whole world..
Thank you guys for making me realize about the “International Media Sales COnsultant”, that sounded so well to me
Peace and love
Andriu
Boy am I glad that people can now google Media Plus and see what they are getting into! Everyone seems to want to argue back and forth but the fact that this discussion is here is proof that the company has some serious issues, and MOST people will not find it a fulfilling, profitable, or very happy experience. Yes, they are very often unethical, they are motivated exclusively by money, and employees are dispensable to them.
Just think it through carefully before you decide to take a chance and put yourself in their hands. Knowing that you’re the only one who will look out for you makes a person desperate sometimes, and this creates a tricky work environment. Take it from me, it’s exhausting and stressful and lonely to be in this environment. I love traveling and I am happy that I got to see the places that I did, but I could have done that on my own and got more out of it.
Don’t say you weren’t warned…
~Happy to be Free
Test
Hi. After reading every post here, I have concluded a few things, and also have a few questions.
-Many sales people for these companies use sleazy or forceful tactics to sell industry reports that may or may not end up being used or sold to a legitimate newspaper or journal (whether because of the quality, content, intentions, or legitimate sales ability with news companies). Some gaming and negotiating is sometimes expected, I understand. Can someone succeed as a sales person in this business without using these dirty tactics? I’ve done sales, but have never lied or used puffery to get a client.
-Some people who had these jobs for short time periods sound naive and spoiled. That’s expected from college students and fresh grads, I think. Does anyone have any stories at all about working at these places – stories involving management choosing ethics over money? Is management truly that unethical or are these people upset because their boss was mean and pressured them to produce results?
-330 days sounds like a lot of time away from family and friends. Does anyone here (who has worked for one of these companies) have a wife and kids? Any LDS people?
-Where do the companies file their taxes? Do they file taxes anywhere? Are they legitimately owned and licensed businesses?
-I hear about valuable life and sales lessons from people who would not return to work for these companies? What kind of lessons did you learn beyond recognizing that you’re being taken advantage of and how to avoid it?
-What are some names of reputable companies that do this? It seems like industry reports, gathering data on foreign economies and companies really could be helpful in the right hands. Are there ways to do this through large corporations?
-My education is in economics, finance, and accounting. I also took a lot of minor classes in English editing. I have light sales experience ($150-$2,500 per sale) and a ton of door-to-door, phone, and networking experience. I have lived overseas in third-world countries. Doing something similar to this (in an ethical environment) sounds like it could be exciting and rewarding. Does anyone have any other insights to share that could help me?
-If someone is a fresh graduate from college, has strong religious and moral values, has very little international experience (beyond school, vacationing, and humanitarian work), and wants to work internationally, is this the business for them?
-Are any of these companies even legitimate? I have read several posts that seem like they’re only calling it a legitimate company because they feel it’s the only way to maintain that they weren’t suckered or pressured into doing anything morally wrong. I don’t want to be too presumptive.
many companies go and many come, but just a few are staying alive and avoiding red numbers, if i were to recomend some they would be: ASAP, Vegamedia and Impact Media. i know that the latest one is recruiting experienced people. for new recruits, if you think this job might be what u are looking for , give it a try, you wont regret it even if it is not what you were looking for. the experince of their selection process is quite unique.
Beware! AFA Press to announce bankruptcy at the end of November 2009.
Good luck to you all in getting what they owe you.
BEWARE!
Afa Press to announce bankruptcy at the end of November 2009.
Good luck to you all in getting what you are owed by them.
Hi everybody,
Have you ever heard anything about The Country Section?
Thanks.
Here is my experience with Media Plus:
I was emailed out of nowhere (I have no idea where they got my resume) about a group interview near me. It sounded like the perfect opportunity, so I went. The other people in the interview seemed very unorganized and unprofessional, and I was surprised that they were even given the chance to do that much. I was given the job pretty easily. The interview process was not hard.
I didn’t see this website until after I accepted and made plans to go to the selective training in Belgium. By that point I was already convinced that these people on here just didn’t know what sales was all about and weren’t right for the job. I emailed the recruiter asking about her thoughts on the website and she just said to not believe everything you find on the internet. It wasn’t very comforting to say the least, but I was still in (Call me naive. I was.)
I got to Belgium, and another girl from my interview group was there. Another girl made up the total training group, which we are told is sometimes as big as 12 people and usually many more than 3. I guess this website is working.
The first day of training it all sounded great. I was skeptical though. I’m not sure if I would completely call it brainwashing, but pretty darn close. There were several times when I had to stop and clear my brain to think rationally. I got back and re-read this site completely, keeping in mind everything we were “taught.” I was starting to worry but was still too hopeful for my own good.
The second day is when the red flags went up. People were openly talking about how some people think you’re from the Wall Street Journal, and you just go along with it. They also talked about how much schmoozing goes on with the government and how that’s all related to the sales (that’s basically one of the only things that gets the sales!) I was not okay with that.
We had sales reps come in that were only there for a few months to train us. One casually talked about how many girls sleep with the CEOs to get the sales. I was absolutely shocked! They clearly considered it completely acceptable, they didn’t try to hide it from new trainees, and even if you had integrity and didn’t do crap like that, you’d be judged against people who do!
At that point, I was out. I was just waiting till the end of the 2 weeks to get back to America. I didn’t want to say anything sooner because I was worried they might take away the return ticket or something. Who knows with such a unethical company? I was trying to look disinterested to get them to say they didn’t want me. Many times I would bring stuff up with the other girls like “Oh, don’t you think it’s weird that they said…” or “Wow, I would never sleep with someone to get a sale.” I wanted to judge their reaction, and they always defended the company and said things like “Oh, that’s just how it is.” Effective brainwashing or just naive people? Who knows?
The company produces essentially worthless reports. No one reads them. No one cares about the featured CEOs or the companies. Seriously, none of the 3 of us read a report more than a few pages, and we were planning on working for them! That just shows how boring and unnecessary they are. There is no way that a CEO reads this stuff casually, which is what they openly claim. I think that was one of the biggest reasons I didn’t want to work there. No one actually wants the finished product. Everyone is hustling to make a sale that benefits no one.
Once I had a critical eye, everything people said seemed like bullshit. The CEO seemed really shady (well, he would have to be!) and so did everyone else. Trainers sucked. They would contradict each other and themselves. One packet of training material repeatedly mentioned itself as one of the competitors! They clearly just used their information, and tried to pass it off as their own! We were taught how to manipulate. Seriously, in those terms. They weren’t trying to hide the fact that it was straight manipulation. They use flattery, lies about government connections, and lies about readership. All for way to expensive, worthless advertising.
No one in the rest of the office would talk to us. Probably because they knew they’d most likely not see us again. They had a training session EVERY MONTH and people quit all the time. They only had about 30 salespeople at the time…
Less than halfway through the 2nd week of training they let us know that they reached a decision about whether we were selected or not. It was a shock to all of us since we were expecting to be there for at least the 2 full weeks. They told me that they could tell I wasn’t interested, so they didn’t want to continue with me. Whether or not that was the truth or just a convenient excuse, I don’t know. Nor do I care. It ended up the way it should have. One of the other girls was hired, the other let go. The one let go was super upset. She really still wanted to work with those people! I was upset too. More about the fact that I quit my previous job and bought out of my apartment lease for a shitty job and then I had to basically start over again. I can’t believe that anyone would still want to work with them past the training. That’s pretty obvious in the fact that it’s written in the contract that if sales reps quit within the first 5 months, they have to pay back the cost of training.
I wish I would have seen this post before my interview, or I wouldn’t have wasted all that time. It’s unfortunate, but at least now I have strong ideas on what I will and will not do for the name of business.
If you want to take this position and can handle being unethical for a worthless product, go for it. I couldn’t.
I have been working for WINNE myself at the end of the 90 begggining of the century for over 3 years and I can tell you that I had the best time of my life in WINNE.
For those who applies for WINNE you need ot klnow tghta this company was the pioneer on the internet, since 1996. and they really do what nobody did in the past publish all the material they have got from the field on the net, this was revolutionqary at the beggining we were selling spaces like pancakes.
Then another thing thta WINNE did was to gove credits to all its collaborators, this was never the case in the industry you can check section form 97 , 98 in WINNE with credits on their teams, this also obliged the industry to adjust to the same standards.
Another revolutionary ideas wa sthe launching of eBizguides, I have never worked in that department but this Guide Collection is the fastest growing one in the world 28 titles in just 6 years. They really do their best.
And their section according to what we published until 2004 which were the ones i have participated were a very good quality. I think they moved their main offices to Madrid now I still in contact with the management once in a while, I can tell you they are very human compared to what i have heard. Of course you can have bad experiences like everywhere but after 12 years in the market i think they still be among the BIG 3 AS WE SAID! DO not have any doubt about it go fo it and enjoy the ride!
Hi Mary,
I am interested in WINNE and would like to apply for a job there, but not a sales job, rather a journalist position. Do you have any advice to provide me with?
Thanks a lot!
YB
@ NAMIBIA-MEDIA
WINDHOEK 10 Spetember 2003 Sapa-AFP
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS CONVICTED ON FORGERY, IMMIGRATION CHARGES IN
NAMIBIA
Two foreign journalists working for a European newspaper were
convicted and fined by a Namibian court Wednesday for contravening
immigration laws and, in the case of one of the reporters, on a
forgery charge.
US national Shilah Jeanette Overmyer, 22, and her British
colleague Manjinder Sohal, 24, were preparing an economic and
investment supplement on Namibia for European Business Report when
they were arrested last Wednesday.
The prosecution charged that the duo received an introductory
letter from Namibian Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amathila to
the NamibRe company, but altered the letter for use as an
introduction to other Namibian companies.
Overmyer pleaded guilty to forgery and to entering Namibia on a
tourism visa instead of a business visa.
Sohal was convicted only of entering Namibia on a tourism visa.
Both, who have been in police custody since their arrest last
Wednesday, were denied bail by Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Overmyer was fined 3,000 Namibian dollars (411 dollars / 369
euros) on each charge. Sohal was fined 3,000 Namibian dollars on
the visa charge. Their lawyers have arranged for them to leave
Namibia later Wednesday.
Defence lawyer Richard Metcalfe told magistrate Sarel Jacobs
that Overmyer had started to work for Austrian-based European
Business Report on June 1, two weeks after gaining her Bachelor of
Arts degree.
She was sent to Namibia on June 24.
“It was naivete, lack of experience and a stupid mistake on her
part. She was over-eager”, Jacobs said.
Overmyer cried with joy and embraced her female police wardens
after the court gave its decision.
Thieu Cuypers, director of European Business Report, who had
flown in from Austria for the trial, said he was relieved the case
was over.
“Our company has done business supplements on Namibia before and
we will continue to do so”, he told AFP.
Thieu I hope that’s really not you posting these comments? I would be ashamed.
I have an interview tomorrow and I am glad i found this website right now because it opened my eyes and I am in no way going through this bs. PLEASE PEOPLE stay away from Media PLus consulting. It is not worth it.
Does anybody know anything about ASAP Worldwide? Can anybody tell me about the legitimacy of this company and their work?
Thank you đŸ™‚
I checked this blog before I started at Mediaplus, and almost decided not to go to the training. Then I realised I was not blindly going to belief or follow other peoples ( negative ) experience or advice. I will judge for myself. I just came back from the best year end party at Mediaplus ever and had a fantastic year. I was very happy I took a chance. The business is tough yet very rewarding. You meet great people and colleagues and learn what life is all about…..taking responsability!! Which at the same time is the most difficult thing to do!!
I now also understand the anger and frustration of the people that were rejected, you do have to give up a great lifestyle when they let you go, and the lifestyle is pretty Amazing and difficult to say no to. You get to stay in places you couldnt dream of and all expenses are covered.
You do get pressure to perform, but at the end of the day they also have to pay the bills.
I can just say JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!!! What is the worst that can happen …. a free training or free holliday….. Jee that’s really awfull isn’t it.
I think you get my point.
I do feel sorry for the people that did not decide to grab this opportunity or the people that were let go!
Unfortunately, like always, the negative stories always get 10 time more publicity then the postives one. The succesfull people are to busy with their jobs or celebrating their successes.
Take a chance in your life!
AFA Press, has not been paying its current and past employees for months and months.
Some are holding on in the field and the office.
Others have left.
The truth remains that Alberto llaryora, Pedro Berastain, Pablo Berzal, Carmen Garcia Benito and cronies continue to pump poisoned lies towards all the AFA employees.
Shame on them, this story will go a lot further and hit all its “customers” and ” employees”
Afa press will be hit hard in the media.
Screw them for betraying all the people that went out there to sell and bring the bacon home.
I am about to enter the industry. I wonder what you are so angry about? What did you loose through this experience? And what did the company AFA loose with your experience?
Did they make you prefinance? Did you loose your own money? what country did they send you to? why this resentment? how bad can it be? did they join you on your trip? did they pay for your lodging? Are they slavedrivers? do you have time of at all, or is this one of those 20 hours a day , investment banking trainee jobs?
were you succesfull? is the product diffcult to sell? I can imagine it is very challenging to do business internationally and to realise you should not believe everything people say. Even though i think we all realise that when we find out that santa clause really does excist:)
Please explain your anger to me!
you make it sound like a bootcamp?
please tell me why you are so angry?
Hi I am about to start in the industry and work for AFA.
It is the only company that I came across that gives graduates the chance to travel the world and speak to the world leaders;
If this much is true, it is already more than I can believe and expect and if this is not going to cost me money I will recommand this to everybody , as it was recommanded to me by a friend that works there, and is very happy by the way.
I mean be honest…. what do we bring to the table? and what other company would do this??
What do you expect…?
I do have a question for Mr AFA bitcher:
Why did you stay on when they did not pay you? If they will not pay me I will go! I feel when you stay on and you dont like it leave, but if you stay on and only wanna bitch about it, i think you are probably lying to them!!
In that case you shouldn’t even start, they will not pay you.
Let’s make this clear for all:
AFA PRESS HAS NOT BEEN PAYING ANY SALES COMMISSIONS TO ITS FIELD AND OFFICE STAFF FOR OVER A YEAR NOW…
If you are looking to talk to world leaders, or the leaders of the Universe….and travel (for free), than go for it, ENJOY.
If you are looking to build a medium to long term career, make money for Afa Press and generate savings for yourself, than you are at the wrong address.
They will promise you sales commissions, that you might earn but that they will never pay you.
Afa is run by a bunch of people (- see the names in the post above -) who have never generated a single Dollar of profit for the company.
They have never been on the field selling the product. They spent their careers in Madrid, costing the company tons of cash.
They are an-alphabets; who have proven loyal to Mr. Llaryora’s money, without having any competence at all.
The financial and logistics department of the company are 2 buckets full of holes. Llaryora is blindly rewarding their greed-driven loyalty over their non-existent competence.
Good luck!
@Jane
I don’t think you realize that people leave their lives, homes, jobs and families in order to pursue an opportunity that was inaccurately presented to them. It is apparent that you are not American by your heavy misuse of grammar and spelling in your promotional rant. Maybe you cannot comprehend boarding a 13 hour flight and leaving your entire life behind on a whim. I think it is naive and quite ignorant to ask people to “Just Judge for Themselves”. I also believe your little rant is quite promotional and you neglected to highlight some of the problems at Media Plus, but that is neither here nor there. Media Plus must be so thrilled to have someone like you on board to do their bidding.
Afa Press is not paying its employees sales commissions they have earned.
Just wondering….exactly what does AFA stand for? I can’t find it on any of their websites.
I’m a college student who received an exciting email about the “International Media Sales Executives” position with Media Plus Consulting. The email was forwarded by my school’s career center.
I was looking for their official website (other than http://www.mediaplusapplicant.com) and started typing “media plus…” in Google. The first option Google suggested was “media plus consulting scam” and that’s how I came here. (Thank you Google)
I’ve read every single comment in this page and wanted you share the email with you all.
————————
Dear graduate,
If you are interested in an international career – read below. We
will be conducting interviews in Miami, Florida in February 2010.
Job Description —International Media Sales Executive (Entry-Level,
located overseas):
Our International Media Sales Executives have a passion for sales with
excellent work ethic and an intense enthusiasm to travel at least 335
days a year on projects worldwide. Executives sell advertising, both
print and television, and stay 3-6 months in each country until
reaching sales targets. Successful candidates are hard working,
entrepreneurial, independent, energetic, professional and flexible.
You will sell advertising for promotional country/region reports
worldwide. These country reports are aimed at informing readers of the
economic conditions and investment climates of different countries.
They highlight and promote business, trade, and investment
opportunities in every sector of a nation’s economy. The reports are
entirely promotional and fully supported by the number of advertising
sales accomplished by our International Media Sales Executives. These
reports are featured in leading American and European newspapers and
magazines (NY Post, Wall Street Market Research, etc.) as well as
broadcast on major television networks (Fox News, CBS, Channel News
Asia). Currently we have teams throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the
Middle East and Latin America.
Company Information:
Media Plus Consulting Ltd. produces promotional country reports for
both print and television media. Media Plus is based in Belgium, with
offices in Cyprus and Dubai.
Candidate Requirements:
– A Bachelors Degree
– One year of sales experience (preferred)
– You are commercially minded and you have recent experience working
with measurable targets
– Fluency in English (more languages a plus)
– You must have experience living, studying, working or extensive
traveling in foreign countries
– Hold a US, Canadian or EU passport
– You are knowledgeable about national and international current events
– You are a highly effective communicator who can easily adapt to any
environment
– You are not attached to home and have a passion for international travel
– You are flexible with schedules
– You are energetic, entrepreneurial, hard working and persistent
– You have a passion for and a talent for sales
– You are ready for the international business experience of a lifetime
Job offer for position of International Media Sales Executive:
– Base Salary plus performance based commission
– All travel, accommodations and work-related expenses (paid for with
Media Plus company credit card)
– Extensive sales training (in-house and on-the-job)
– Work in an international executive environment
– The start of an international career
– Personal and professional growth (rapid promotion opportunities)
Media Plus will finance entirely a comprehensive, in-house & field
training in international sales for the selected candidates. The
in-house sales training will take place in Belgium. The field training
will consist of a minimum of 4 weeks (maximum of 12 weeks) on project
location, supported by sales coach/management and trainers.
Media Plus Consulting is currently hiring for its two top products,
United International Press and Wall Street Market Research. We are
scheduling interviews in Columbus, Ohio: Friday, January 15, 2010 and
in Miami, Florida: Friday, February 19, 2010. If you qualify for this
position, you will be contacted and invited to interview. Only
successful applicants will be contacted. Send your resume to our
Director of Recruiting in the U.S., Tara Koehler, at
recruiter@mediaplusapplicant. com
Tara Koehler
Director of U.S. Recruiting
Media Plus Consulting
recruiter@mediaplusapplicant. com
http://www.mediaplusapplicant.com
————————
Thank god you guys saved me the trip to Madrid. With a university degree and sales experience I’m not going to destroy my career at AFA Press.
Africa and Asia are only enjoyable when people don’t hate you!
GL everybody.
I can confirm that AFA Press is not paying sales commissions.
They are delaying, and making new promises once again.
Alberto,please make a statement, your coward – compulsive-lying employees in Madrid are wasting our time.
Good luck to you all!
Everything negative about AFA is completely true.
I don’t know a single person who has been paid what they are owed by AFA. I am still waiting on payment 2 years after I quit.
The product is also typically garbage because it is written and prepared by the office in Spain, largely staffed by ESL employees, so no one is ever happy with what they bought. Of course, they only realise this after they have paid…
There is also an argument that it is simply a money-laundering front, which makes complete sense. Avoid getting tangled up in their criminal web!
Do yourself a favour: do not work for this company, do not buy advertising from them and do everything you can to spread the word that this is a minefield best avoided by sane people.
By the way, if anyone expresses that they are happy working for this company, then I can assure you they are “bad” people. They are either trying to get you hired so they can make a hiring commission off of you, or they are part of the “machine” in Madrid which does nothing except pester those in the field despite knowing nothing themselves.
Finally, to answer “the Observer”‘s above question, AFA apparently stands for the initials of the owner’s children. Alternatively, it might be “Avoid Fishy Advertorials”…
ALWAYS FINDING ANOTHER excuse not pay – not to publish…
AFA must love this blog…!
They actually, do read it in Madrid – London and Argentina, they even copy paste on email and circulate the latest news from Felix Salmon on Afa Press…
The ‘media company’ getting slaughtered on some internet blog thread which is over 3 years old…but so alive…
WillWell – Grupo Prensa 6666666, why are you not paying your current and previous employees what you owe them?
Why are you not publishing supplements which you have sold and received payments for?
Hi all. I don’t know AFA personaly but their attitude seems quite common in this industry. I suggest their ex employees to contact the various companies that actually bought advertising space from them to give a feedback about what they received for the money they spent. Maybe some of them would be delighted to take some legal action against AFA providing the fact that you manage to gather several of them, which shouldnt be too hard to achieve. To do this you must have a strong motivation eithe rto get some money paid finally (will probably never happen) or more likely just to force AFA to face their actions and the companies they cheated. As you have been cheated yourselves, that could bring you some satisfaction. Another way: ask these cheated companies to come and write some comments or feedback on this website. Aparently these pages are THE best source of information when it comes to international country reports.
To end this post, I would say that this attitude towards end products and work in general is a real pity because the initial idea is just great, I mean promoting country image. If done properly, with a good product in the end, this could be helpful to those who advertise and really enjoyable for those who sell it.
News release just in:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)has acquired 51% of AFA PRESS (IBEX:POO) ordinary stock following an agreement reached between both organizations in Madrid on February 3, 2017.
Mr. Warren Buffet will personally take over the position of Chairman of the Board and will be overseeing daily operations from the group’s headquarters in the Spanish capital. Mr. Buffet has personally commissioned Mr. Saturnino Izquierdo to lead the turnaround of “an historic company destined to lead the developing world into a new era of prosperity during the 21st century”.
Mr. Izquierdo takes over the Chief Executive position from Mr. Pedro Berastain, who successfully spearheaded the organization for the previous two decades. Mr. Berastain, a respected linguist and philanthropist, has been granted a life annuity of USD 3 million per annum. Mr. Izquierdo delivered the agreement to the international press through a 25 page – long press release broadcasted live, followed by a Q&A session with local journalists. “This is indeed a lifetime accomplishment for which I have had to sacrifice a lot. Success is just like being married, everyone congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you have been fucked”.
Mr. Pablo Berzal will leave AFA PRESS but will remain within the group, as he has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the second most important executive position within the organization. Mr. Berzal will be personally responsible of drafting the group’s “Strategy Paper 2025” with the main aim of scaling up Berkshire Hathaway’s net worth to USD 200 billion from the current USD 165 billion by 2025.
Alongside Mr. Berzal, and also travelling aboard Berkshire Hathaway’s corporate jet from Madrid to Omaha will be Ms. Carmen Benito, former Director of Logistics, now Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Berzal and Ms. Benito both refused to comment on their new appointments.
On a related note, Mr. Alberto Llaryora, founder of AFA PRESS and majority shareholder until his arrest in 2012, has avoided appearing before the European Court of Human Rights for a record sixth time due to the sudden death of a Grand Committee Judge under uncertain circumstances. Mr. Llaryora has been awaiting trial in a state prison in Strasbourg since he was arrested by Interpol in May, 2012, under charges of international racketeering, human trafficking and pillaging issued by a magistrate of the Supreme Court of Angola.
News release just in:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)has acquired 51% of AFA PRESS (IBEX:POO) ordinary stock following an agreement reached between both organizations in Madrid on February 3, 2017.
Mr. Warren Buffet will personally take over the position of Chairman of the Board and will be overseeing daily operations from the group’s headquarters in the Spanish capital. Mr. Buffet has personally commissioned Mr. Saturnino Izquierdo to lead the turnaround of “an historic company destined to lead the developing world into a new era of prosperity during the 21st century”.
Mr. Izquierdo takes over the Chief Executive position from Mr. Pedro Berastain, who successfully spearheaded the organization for the previous two decades. Mr. Berastain, a respected linguist and philanthropist, has been granted a life annuity of USD 3 million per annum. Mr. Izquierdo delivered the agreement to the international press through a 25 page – long press release broadcasted live, followed by a Q&A session with local journalists. “This is indeed a lifetime accomplishment for which I have had to sacrifice a lot. Success is just like being pregnant, everyone congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you have been fucked”.
Mr. Pablo Berzal will leave AFA PRESS but will remain within the group, as he has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the second most important executive position within the organization. Mr. Berzal will be personally responsible of drafting the group’s “Strategy Paper 2025” with the main aim of scaling up Berkshire Hathaway’s net worth to USD 200 billion from the current USD 165 billion by 2025.
Alongside Mr. Berzal, and also travelling aboard Berkshire Hathaway’s corporate jet from Madrid to Omaha will be Ms. Carmen Benito, former Director of Logistics, now Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Berzal and Ms. Benito both refused to comment on their new appointments.
On a related note, Mr. Alberto Llaryora, founder of AFA PRESS and majority shareholder until his arrest in 2012, has avoided appearing before the European Court of Human Rights for a record sixth time due to the sudden death of a Grand Committee Judge under uncertain circumstances. Mr. Llaryora has been awaiting trial in a state prison in Strasbourg since he was arrested by Interpol in May, 2012, under charges of international racketeering, human trafficking and pillaging issued by a magistrate of the Supreme Court of Angola.
Correction on previous article by Glenn Peck of Faux News:
Mr. Izquierdo’s quote was “…Success is just like being pregnant. Everyone congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you have been fucked.”
Instead we published “…Success is just like being married…”
We apologize to Mr. Izquierdo for this misunderstanding and for any inconvenience this might have caused.
Correction on previous article by Glenn Peck of Faux News:
Mr. Izquierdo’s quote was “…Success is just like being pregnant. Everyone congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you have been fucked.”
Instead we published “…Success is just like being married…”
We apologize to Mr. Izquierdo for this misunderstanding and for any inconvenience this might have caused.