Sunday, September 23, 2007

Week 11

Ch. 6 Research and Evaluation

I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings were:

-That the information gathered during the initial research phase provides input into the planning of a communication program.

-Management requires facts and statistics to show that efforts contribute to the bottom line, and that budgets must be justified, monitored and accounted for.

-PR research focuses on understanding the environment within which the org operates which includes: Information about needs or attitudes of target publics or stakeholders, strengths and weaknesses of competitors, environmental or political issues that could affect success.

-Goals and objectives of the research, and measurable objectives for the outcome should be clearly defined as to provide a direction for the research.

-Input research requires clarifying the organisation’s objectives, getting as much info on the organisation as possible, gathering info on the situation and understanding the current opinions and attitudes being held by the target group.

-Output research can reflect the delivery of messages allowing to fine tune, alter or modify the plan, and checks the channels of communication.

-Outcome research not only indicates the level of success or failure but can demonstrate how effective planning and communication have been.

The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in how PR is so heavily affected by research, not only in creating campaigns, but evaluating them and planning for future ones.

The daily work of a PR practitioner and PR campaigning is based on an understanding of the ‘current situation’. Knowing what needs to be done to address the situation. Knowing what needs to be done to address the situation and what the organisation can afford to do with its available resources puts the PR practitioner in a position to determine the aims, goals and objectives of a PR program.

The use of research positions PR as a purposive, goal-directed, and problem-solving management function.

Research is also so fundamental to PR that PRIA have a code of ethics relating to the honesty of results and their impacts on others.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Wk 10 Reading

Ch. 7 Strategy, Planning and Scheduling
Ch. 8 Tactics

I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings are:

-That the strategy is the overarching plan helping to ensure that organisational goals and objectives are achieved, while tactics relate back to the purpose of achieving the strategic outcome.

-Stages of the strategic process in PR are:
-the creation of organisational vision and mission statements
-creation of PR vision and mission statements
-establishment of performance indicators
-budgeting
-writing a strategic PR plan
-scheduling a PR plan activities

-Controlled tactics are those over which the PR practitioner maintains control of every aspect of the process, from message creation and crafting to final distribution ie advertising, brochures.

-Uncontrolled tactics are those that can be altered or even blocked ie media relations where the use of a message lies with the gatekeeper.

-Methods of delivery play a critical role in determining the impact and effectiveness of a message. eg Emails are good for an instantaneous way to communicate short sharp messages delivered to the addressee, but they also run the risk of being classified as spam and can be easily deleted.

-New Technologies largely evolving on the internet allow a platform for new tactics such as chat rooms, Q&A’s, video streaming and even podcasts to be available on an organisation’s website. These however must be dealt with in their online context, as a ‘brochure style’ rarely effectively crosses over to a webpage.

The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in the many varied tactics that can be involved in a PR campaign, and what needs to be considered before employing them.

Eg. Media relations may be far reaching but outcomes are not always controlled or guaranteed.

Printed materials such as leaflets, brochures and flyers are useful when detail, persuasion or a lasting document is required, but they rely on skilful execution to compel an audience to pick them up and read them.

Direct mail is directed at specific target demographics and is effective when more personalised communication is needed, but a practitioner needs to be aware of legal restrictions when accessing personal information.

It can therefore be seen that the strategy and tactics in PR campaigns must be selected with regard to target audiences, their appropriateness, advantages and disadvantages and the available budget.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Last week I commented on Kristen Lee: http://cmns1290kristenlee.blogspot.com

This week I commented on Matthew Murray: http://cmns1290matthewmurray.blogspot.com

Wk 9 Ch.13 Sponsorship and Event Management

The key points to remember from this week’s reading are:

-Sponsorship is the purchase of specific rights and benefits associated with an event, organisation or individual.

-Sponsorship can generate goodwill and provides opportunities to enhance the image and reputation of the organisation by association.

-Sponsorship provides a focal point for sales and marketing, offers high visibility to potential customers and can generate media coverage.

-Philanthropic sponsorship is usually community based and is close to a donation.

-Corporate sponsorship is the sponsorship of an event/ activity not normally linked to the sponsoring company’s general business eg Ford Australian Open Tennis, Mc Donald’s Junior Tennis.

-Marketing sponsorship is the most popular and is a common inclusion in a cost-effective sales and marketing strategy. Cash and goods are offered in return for tangible revenue-orientated results. It is primarily used to promote products and services to targeted market segments and/ or used primarily to reinforce a product, brand or promote sales activities. eg Nike has marketing sponsorship agreements with high-profile athletes.

This week’s reading made me think about PR theory/ practice more in that I know have a greater understanding of the amount of planning that needs to go into events.
First research needs to be undertaken to determine the feasibility of an event looking at areas such as cost, opportunities to raise revenue, effect on key publics, what the organisation can gain, when it would be best to hold it.

When creating a plan some considerations include:
-generating sponsorship (creating plan, proposals, securing sponsors)
-servicing sponsors
- formulating event budget
-preparation and implementation of promotional/ marketing plan
- preparation and implementation of PR strategy
- developing schedule of events
- formulating event rules and procedures
- appointment of key officials, judges and personnel
- determining the amount of equipment needed
-organising services such as electricity, audio visual, water, toilets
- organising security
- securing permits
-arranging catering services
- food and beverages for VIP, sponsors
-incorporating social schedule
- organising key functions
-liaising with accommodation and travel for participants
-processing entries
- coordinating rego
- securing merchandise
-organising insurance and implementing a risk management strategy

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Week 7 (Week 8 is below)

Chapter 10 Johnston and Zawawi, Drew, S. (2001) Oral Presentations, Van Emden, J. and Becker, L. (2004) Speaking as part of a group.

I think the important points to remember from this week’s readings are that:

The Australian media is owned by only a few large corporations (i.e. News Corp, Fairfax, PBL) so make sure you stay onside with these guys!

One study showed that 30% of 2500 newspaper articles tracked were wholly or partially based on press releases. Of these 20% were used verbatim or only had minor changes made, showing how effective good writing skills and an understanding of writing for the media can be. (Macnamara, in Choice 1998:29)

Media relations are two way. Practitioners not only give information to the media, but they also take it, using the media to stay up-to-date with current events, opinions and trends.

Elements that make a story newsworthy are: Impact, conflict, timeliness, proximity, prominence, currency, human interest, the unusual. (Conley 2002:42)

Other elements include: sex, disaster, money, drugs, animals (Granato 1991:34), the
‘underdog’ and ideals of a ‘fair go’.

The readings made me think differently about PR practice/theory in the way that practitioners need to have an understanding of the media to make it work in their favour.

Being able to write media releases which incorporate news values and are written in the inverted-pyramid style have a much greater chance of being used by the media than releases that a journalist has to completely re-work.

It is also important to understand the hierarchy of the newsroom and only contact those relevant to your story. I.e. The finance section editor if it concerns a story to appear in the financial section of the paper.

When supplying material to each medium, each medium’s needs need to be considered i.e. television news needs VISION!

When writing for media also remember the intended audience. The media are only interested in stories that readers would be interested in.

The two readings concerning oral and group presentations gave good insight into how to approach presentations and how to engage with audiences which will hopefully be useful in two weeks!
This week I will be commenting on
Deborah Wise: http://deborahwisecmns1290.blogspot.com
and Ngaio Stobbs: http://cmns1290ngaiostobbs.blogspot.com

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Week 8 Reading

Sallot, M. and Johnson, A. (2006) To contact... or not? Investigating journalists' assessments of public relations subsidies and contact preferences.

I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings were that public relations practitioners need to be aware of how to write for the media if they wish to build good media relations and get published.

In the study, journalists complained that:
-Practitioners lacked news sense and values such as accuracy, timeliness and style ie pyramid form.

-Practitioners lacked a local angle when writing subsidies.

-The information offered was overtly and overly self-serving.

-Practitioners lacked ethics, withholding truth and trying to win coverage through sending out freebies.

The article also mentioned that the majority of journalists preferred to be contacted by email, then phone, but that preferences also differed from journalist to journalist.

The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in that knowledge of journalistic standards and writing styles can be beneficial for both parties. Not only will it encourage practitioners a more likely chance of receiving coverage, but it will enable journalists to use the information and have greater respect for the practitioner.

Practitioners who frame their subsidies with benefits to society- or at least, to targeted gatekeepers’ audiences may be more successful by making journalists feel good about publishing the info.

Therefore, for optimal media relations, practitioners need to look at their framing skills, writing skills and keep in mind that a local angle is essential.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Week 6

This week I will be commenting on:
Lauren Hall: http://cmns1290laurenhall.blogspot.com/
Madeline Briggs: http://cmns1290madelinebriggs.blogspot.com/
and Thomas Pryszcz: http://cmns1290thomaspryszcz.blogspot.com/

Week 6 Chapters 4 and 5 Johnston and Zawawi



I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings were on some of the main legal considerations in Public Relations practice and how they can be best minimised.

Defamation aims to protect a person’s reputation; however rights of the individual must be balanced against public interest in terms of freedom and speech.

To bring an action in defamation a person must show that:
- the material was published
- they were identified in the publication
- the publication was defamatory

The three tests for defamation are:
- that the publication exposed the plaintiff to hatred, contempt or ridicule
- it lowered the plaintiff in the eyes of right-thinking members of the community
- it caused the plaintiff to be shunned or avoided, without moral blame

Defamation can take place unintentionally but one way to minimise the threat is to make positive rather than negative statements, and to also keep in mind that a person cannot be defamed unless they are identified.

Fair comment should not be prohibited provided that the comment is a comment and not an assertion of fact.
To maximise protection, PR practitioners should try to state the facts first and then draw conclusions from those facts.

Before embarking on any litigation one should assess:
-Will a legal win equate to a PR win?
-Have reputations been damaged?
-Will legal action expose you or your client to further disclosure?
-What are the likely costs of the litigation, taking into account any adverse publicity? (Todd 1997)

Copyright prevents people from unfairly exploiting others’ original work. Copyright cannot exist in ideas, but only in how ideas are expressed. E.g. a PR/advertising campaign only becomes copyright when that campaign is expressed with a specific slogan or logo etc.

There is no wording in the Copyright Act 1968 however, which reserves copyright to someone in particular, which is something a practitioner will have to clarify when negotiating contracts with clients in the creation of slogans, logos and other elements of campaigns.

To minimise breaches always acknowledge copyright, check the licence conditions of copyright material and do not copy designs, logos or graphics.

Contracts define the relationship between parties and are used in all facets of PR. The essential ingredients of a contract are: the offer, acceptance of that offer and considerations.

The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in the way that ethics play such a large role in PR decision making.

Values considered to be essential to ethical life are honesty, integrity, promise-keeping, fidelity, fairness, caring for others, respect for others, responsible citizenship and the pursuit of excellence and accountability (Josephson Institute 2003).

I found it interesting to see that Johnston and Zawawi listed the five duties of PR professionals in the order of: oneself, the client, the employer, the profession and society.

Two points which particularly made me think about ethics in new ways were:

“When in doubt, ask ‘What if everyone did this deed?’” – Immanuel Kant, German philosopher.

“Turnbull posits that the most successful organisations in the next decades will be those which build trust by aspiring to authenticity and practicing transparency (2003:1). He says these concepts are rapidly becoming more important as societies react against past excesses and future uncertainties.” (Johnston and Zawawi 2004)

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Week 5 Reading

Ch. 7 Johnston and Zawawi Strategy, Planning and Scheduling.
Ch. 4 Tymson, Lazar and Lazar A Typical Public Relations Program

I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings were about the need for the implementation specific strategies for any communication process to be successful.

Johnston and Zawawi spoke about the need for specific objectives to be set, with action plans being developed and coordinated with these objectives in mind. It is only through the setting of objectives that communications campaigns can work towards tangible goals, and thus allow for the level of success of the campaign to be measured.

When creating PR strategies, steps that need to be taken include:

-Defining the organisation’s desired goals and outcomes
-Analysing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the situation
-Defining publics
-Defining the main message
-Selecting the tactics and communications methods to be used
- Planning the implementation and scheduling
- Defining the budget
- Monitoring and evaluating the plan

The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in that a large part of it is anchored in strategy and logistics.

The second reading revealed how vast PR strategies can be and how the publics, intended messages and outcomes need to be clearly defined in order to determine the best forms of methodology/ media to use.

For example: A target public of a small rural community could be successfully dealt with through face to face contact and the distribution of printed material. If the target public was nation wide however, national press coverage and paid publicity would be more effective.

The importance of sticking to a budget was also clearly highlighted several times in both readings and surprised me when it was suggested that if the expenditure was to outweigh the impact, sometimes it more practical to do nothing at all.
Just found out we're meant to be doing this so here's a catch up:
Week 2- Commented on Alex Davis http://cmns1290alexdavis.blogspot.com
Week 3- I can't remember :(
Week 4- Commented on Annika Duurland http://cmns1290annikaduurland.blogspot.com

Friday, August 3, 2007

Week 4 Reading

I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings were about the differing roles and duties that fall under PR. Although the people profiled were in different positions working for varying organisations, many of the key tasks they performed stayed the same.

Tasks such as writing media releases, contacting journalists, arranging media coverage, organising events, and working on marketing strategy and promotion were all mentioned multiple times.

Desirable personal traits such as being able to work fast, under pressure, to a deadline, to a budget and staff restrictions were brought up. The importance of networking and the ability to think outside the box were also highlighted.

The readings made me think more about PR theory/ practice in that the people profiled enjoyed their jobs and recommended only working in something you believe in. Working takes up such a large percentage of your life that if you are going to put all the time and effort that is required into a PR role, you need to want to be there.

The second reading also made me think about the importance of internal communication in the success of any organisation. Just as with any team, goals are easier to achieve if everyone is striving towards the same ones, and it is only through clear communication and a feeling of mutual support that such goals are achieved.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Week 3 Readings: Chapter 3 and Gower



I think the key points to remember from this week’s readings are related to how elements from varying Public Relations theories can be used to better understand and develop PR practices.

In relation to ‘Agenda Setting’, PR practitioners work on trying to get their issue prominence on (or omission from) the public agenda, and hence draw attention towards (or divert it from) their particular cause.

The General Systems Theory operates in ‘closed’ or ‘open’ systems, where the closed system is sealed off from external influences while the open system interacts with the outside world. In this theory PR works by mediating between the closed operating system of an organisation and the community and hence creating an open system.

Semiotic theory explains how thoughts are manipulated through the use of symbols, reminding us of the role of perception in communications and how these are culturally determined. In PR, the varying interpretations of a message must be taken into account when planning communication campaigns.

Grunig’s models include the PR models of press agentry, public information, two-way asymmetric and two-way symmetric. It is the “ideal” model of the two-way symmetric that Gower’s article also delves into.


The readings made me think more about PR theory/practice in that most of them came back to respecting and focusing on the equality of the receiving public.

Habermas suggests that “the best qualities of civilised society are maintained if people are allowed to make up their minds in a rational way” with discussants meeting on an equal footing in terms of power relations.

The 'Relationship Management Approach' also centres on similar factors such as balance of power, the ability of parties to adapt in the relationship, and the trust within the relationship.

Heath and the ‘rhetorical theory’ also states that for PR people to have their point of view accepted it must be conducted on the basis of a level playing field in order for it to constitute ethical PR practice. I found this theory interesting as it comments on how no absolute truth exists, but that the accepted view is only contingent on the current best arguments for how we should think.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Week 2

I think the key points to remember from this week's readings were:

That the term "Public Relations" encompasses a whole variety of roles and positions.

The definition of PR tasks as defined by Burson (1987) are:
-Acting as a sensor of social change- helping mangement prepare for the impact of social issues
-Acting as a corporate conscience
- Acting as a communicator
-Acting as a corporate monitor ie making corporate policies and programs match public expectations.

Communications can be divided into two primary roles, being that of technician and problem solver.

Public Relations in Australia can be seen to have developed from more of a publicity role, as far back as the 19th century, but found its current form in the mid 20th century.

The readings made me think more about public relations theory/practice in that Johnston and Zawawi cite the use of ethics as the beginning point in their definition of Public Relations. The readings aimed to dispel the myth of PR solely being based on the idea of spin doctoring. The readings made me think about the idea of PR acting between parties, not exploiting one for the profit of the other.