Media relation

Media relations is a cumbersome subject to “get your arms around”, in public relations. The media rather may help to create and sustain the image of your corporation. Media relations are the relationship between practitioners in public relations and those in the media. A big part of this rapport is the recognition that you have a job to do as Public relations personnel and so do they the media personnel. Normally the press is neither friendly nor hostile. The media personnel are there to get juicy news to inform and attract readers. Those who work well with the media can get their clients billions of dollars of free publicity. The media is not a simple uniform tool; there are multiple types of media very different from one another. The electronic media has never been less respected, yet it has never been so powerful. The media is as powerful as the government and have power to build and sustain an organisation or person and at the same time destroy a person. Knowing what reporters and producers want involves experience and that experience is continuous. Keep up with who’s who in the media both print and electronic and figure out what turns them on and off. Communication experts from various organisations use press conference and press release. A press conference unlike press release is that it enables ACTUALITY-video clip or audio-for the electronic media. For print media the conference gives reporters an orderly environment for face to face interrogation. A press kit should contain relevant items for the media personnel like announcement, appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and biography of the new executive.

Vox pop and clarity in radio broadcasting

Vox pop (populi) is a Latin abbreviation that means “the voice of the people”. In radio broadcasting the term “vox pop” means various people’s voices, expressing few reactions to the news. In broadcasting one of the golden rules is that vox pop must be relevant, and not done to simple fill air time Radio broadcasting focusing on the key local issues can use vox pop in their news item to reflect peoples feeling over an issue that affects them in the community. The reporter should pose a single question to various individuals in the street. It is important to ensure that local accents are represented in a vox pop. As a reporter you should be open to what you are doing and tell people that their views are important. If people are not willing to talk do not force them, but rather respect their will. Sometimes the response one get from people may not be polite and against the reporters expectations. The reporter should always smile and avoid arguing. Those who are not willing to participate should be respected. Recording of a vox pop should be done in a less noisy place to avoid an uncomfortable background as this may distract people’s utterances to be captured. Clarity in radio broadcasting is important as listeners cannot go back over to listen. The presenter must be clear and avoid rushing. Pronunciation and voice projection should be correctly adjusted without rushing. Simple short sentences translate to short statement filled with nickel and dime words should be used. The presenter should not be afraid to repeat words or phrases. Oral communication needs reinforcement. Simple words, use of real names and surnames should always be used instead of pronouns. The subject should be kept close to the verb to close the gap between the doer and the activity. Vox pop occupies only a minute of the airtime and the reporter should balance the selection after reaching out to many people.

Radio broadcasting

Radio broadcasting is the form of journalism that is exciting as it enables one to appreciate the voice recording and airtime use. If there is one interesting thing in life that is exciting is to listen to you voice in the air space . Broadcasting news either for radio or television is different from print media as it emphasise on TIMELINESS, which alters the news writing style. In broadcasting, particularly radio, breaking story receives top priority, which makes IMMEDIACY to be valued than any other news values in broadcasting in contrast with print media. Radio broadcasting, from the experience gained, slightly differs in style compared to print media. Conversational style merged with tightly writing and clarity is over emphasized in radio broadcasting. Current happenings often functions as determinant factor in radio broadcasting as it can be used as a newscast. This lead broadcasting media to be termed “now” media compared to print media. Timeliness as one of the greatest new value becomes a determinant factor for WHY a news item is to be broadcasted. Time or lack of it, determines HOW an issue can be reported or broadcasted. Air time is precious in broadcasting as it emphasized more on the WHAT and the WHERE more than the WHY or HOW. Broadcasting is concerned with INFORMATION that with EXPLANATION. And most stories must be told in 20 to 30 seconds and no story can run for more than two minutes. Unlike print media, broadcasting is different particularly considering the technology involved. News items are selected for radio because a reporter has recorded an on-the scene audio report. Some news items are selected for television broadcasting because it is visually appealing. ACTUALITY that are direct recorded words from the sources who would have saw the happening, affected or participated in the happening make radio broadcasting unique compared to print media. Radios broadcasting depend on SOUND BITES. SOUND BITES are recorded voices of people directly talked to by the reporter; those involved or saw the happening. The reporter can capture SOUND BITE by talking to people who saw or visited the area where an event occurred using telephone, mobile phone, Skype technology from the studio. People involved in SOUND BITE may also include government officials, politicians with local interest, eye witnesses and those who arrived at the scene. In radio broadcasting reporters are encouraged to “write the way they talk”, and this lead to CONVERSATIONAL STYLE which is simple and informal. What is key in broadcasting is to know that you are talking to people so tell them WHAT happened. Tell the WHAT you just saw. In radio broadcasting reporting we use simple, short sentences, with “transitive” verbs in the active voice. These are some of the nitty-gritty of radio broadcasting that I enjoyed following during my days in the field. Writing in conversation style in radio broadcasting reporting does not mean one can use slang or colloquialism or chose to be ungrammatically. Conversational style permits the use of sentence fragments and of truncated sentences, that are sometimes strung together loosely and can begin with conjecture such as “and” or “because”.

Community relations

THE term “community” should be in the plural and there are many communities in which firms have interests. Communities to be taken seriously include those where the firm’s headquarters are located, where they actually manufacture, where they distribute and sell, where they are considering doing business, where they do business that could create a crisis, and where they no longer do business because there was a crisis. In the twenty-first century, one of the central issues facing corporations will be how they identify and define their relationship to their communities. Corporations take a strategic approach and consider which stakeholders they must need to influence. Key stakeholders may be residents of the community who had little or no power but, who are vocal and know how to use media. Key stakeholders could be the most respected people in the community who exercise power behind the scene on members of certain ethnic, racial, or age group. Corporations may resort to three-pronged strategy like sponsoring community events such as sporting activities or arts festivals, which can assist in giving “face” to regional or local brand. Secondly, a company can give financial assistance to groups to promote social issues such as literacy. Social Investment Initiative or Social Performance Initiative redefines the interest in corporate relations from simple being a good corporate citizen and global competition to become an agent for sustainability through private-public partnerships or inclusivity stakeholder relationship to benefit the future generation. The community relations representatives may advice the company where the money would make them look caring and how it would affect the bottom line. Companies effective in their community relations uses the human touch strategy

Rare characteristics for ethical leadership

TO lead is a calling which many do not have despite being learned, and is believed to be an innate ability which cannot be learnt, but that human being are born with. For one to be a good leader they should be guided by honesty, fairness and just, loyalty, respect, humane, team building, value driven and value awareness and not to violate work ethics. Ethical leader across the globe have rare same characteristics that are built on consciousness to appreciate accurate ideas. In other terms, although they may be having a colossal task to clearly articulate sign post of ethical leadership, they care and do things that appeals to ordinary people as well as to the professionals all the time to ensure value addition. Ethical leaders are driven by fairness and justice not only in implementing and executing their duties, but also in dealing with other employees. When dealing with an issue they disconnect it from an individual to avoid favouritism, but to enhance equality. A bias that may be caused by gender, ethnicity, and nationality is avoided at all cost all the time. Ethical leaders respect others and thrive on team work by listening attentively to workmates. Leaders who are ethical value their contributions as well as those that are made by their workmates, are compassionate, generous and critical in their analysis by asking what if it does not work. Honest and loyalty are also receipts of ethical leadership. Ethical leadership conveys facts no matter how strange they are to ensure transparency and dependability. Ethical leaders in their decisions and dealing with others are humane, and places magnitude in kindness, not greedy and do things to benefit all the team members. The sense of togetherness, collegiality and community as well as team work is fostered in an organisation as well as to the employees. Ethical leaders are more keen to achieve both organisational and teamwork goals. They always make an effort to attain goals that benefit the entire organisation, not just one person and do not celebrate the suffering of others. Decisions are checked, verified and critiqued as a team to ensure that they meet the organisation mission, values and goals. Only such decisions that add value to an organisation are implemented. Employees enjoy the benign environment displayed and thrives to flourish as they are rewarded for initiating innovative ideas, and to improve their working standards. Employees are praised from the onset and motivated to do their best all the time. Ethical leaders walk their talk and their expectations which are applicable at individual level. The ethical leader is on the lead and is prepared to bear the blame if things fail to work out accordingly. Ethical leaders communicate openly and effectively on high values and expectations looked forward to employees. Constant communication and discussions ensure consistent understanding on the organisational values and goals. Ethical leaders are guided by code of conducts, corporate code to ensure good governance, transparency, honest and make the employees to be responsible and answerable to their action without being ruthless.

Toxic Gases and Human Life

There are many gases produced by cars, machines, and waste that can affect the flow of the oxygen within human red blood cells. Pick from my ordinary level there are cell that transport oxygenated and de-oxygenate blood within human body. Today in this article I shall be talking about carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and carcinogens and the extent to which they affect both the environment and human beings. Humans local, regional and global have been encouraged to maintain a clean environment. Carbon is a building block of molecules which make up living cells and its essential elements for life on earth. Carbon can be found in gas, liquid, fossil fuels or in solid form and moves in the atmosphere, ocean, rivers, and landmass through chemical processes and geophysical means. It moves through the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, carbon acids and then flows to the ocean and all these gases are harmful to human beings as they may lead to air bone diseases like turbacolosis (TB), asthma and many others. Carbon dioxide is a gas that occurs naturally in the air and is produced when animals breathe, vegetation rots and when material containing carbon is burnt or broken down. Carborn dioxide is key component in photosynthesis, a major based source of food for organisms on earth. Through photosynthesis carbon dioxide combines with water and sunlight energy to produce sugars which provide energy for plants to grow. Many years ago, earth atmosphere consisted on carbon dioxide until plants removed gases by way of decomposition. Human kinds have reversed the process by reversing carbon through burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is currently termed "green house gases" and absorbs heat in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is absorbed back into the system physically through plants, which can be tamed if humankinds destroys many trees and reduces he absorption capacity. People especially in urban centres cut down trees for fire wood sources due to erratic electricity supply. The newly resettled farmers in Zimbabwe disturbs carbon dioxide by unnecessary veld fires that end up destroying grass and trees in search for wild animals. Carbon monoxide is a colourless gas produced by incomplete combustion from vehicles and cigarettes. It is a toxic which combines with haemoglobin (the red blood cells) to form pink carboxy-haemoglobin, which prevents the red blood cells from transporting oxygen to the body tissues. In Most developing countries like Zimbabwe many vehicles are not road worth and produces exhaust fumes that produce carbon monoxide. Chain smokers have a level between 9-10% and at this level nothing much can be noticed as harm except people with heart or lungs complaints. Human being should avoid smoking, burning bushes and driving un road worth cars to curb carbon monoxide Carcinogens is a substance that can cause cancer in animal tissues as well as human beings. Carcinogens substances such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium and asbestos are among the substances that form carcinogens. Carcinogens can be eliminated from work place, by encouraging workers to wear protective clothing. In Zimbabwe most gas filling tanks are not well take care of, teachers who are still using chalk boards directly breathes the chalk dust and those in industry that manufacture cement, quarry stones, builders and many other professionals should avoid carcinogens in their everyday livelihoods. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10255700

Organic Farming and Organic Gardening

MILLION years ago our societies could grow their food using an organic means which translates to the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides that are currently used by most farmers in the 21st century to boost production. The food source generated across the world because of the inorganic approach has seized to be a vibrant, live source of nutrients and energy important for physical and mental well being. Organic farmers obey the universal "law of return", which is "what is taken out of the soil is put back in equal measure". The farmer through organic approach physical removes the weeds, products are harvested, pruning is done manually and the nutrients from plants are removed. Farmers should be encouraged to grow plants without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides that may lead to air pollution, water, animal life, and food crops and soil degradation by using the chemical products. Organic gardening is a method of growing crops using only organic products such as manure, compost, and organic fertilizers to improve and retain soil fertility. THE gardener uses natural substances to control pests and diseases, growing insects repellent plants and companion plants which are beneficial to each other. Growing food crops using an organic method is time-consuming but healthy as a garden would have to cut the dependence on chemicals by making use of manures, composts, organic fertilizers and natural pest control methods. A gardener may apply a rich compost that contains a diverse mix of plant matter (green and brown) and animal manures. The gardener may also enforce intercropping with a diverse mix of crops and companion plants to provide the ecological balance required above and below the soil. The gardener can keep all of the soil covered with green and brown mulches which keep the root zones and soil cool and can provide optimum habitat for soil micro-organisms. Organic pest and disease management depends on soil health and a health eco-system full of diversity. Mono-cropping creates imbalances that attract pests and diseases. When challenges arise there are natural organic products to be used like introducing a natural predator like a chameleon, stop breeding, stop feeding and so forth. Organic farming and gardening is the practice of stewardship, maintaining a healthy environment and eco-system, whilst producing food that is full of nutrients and gives vibrant health to the animals and humans that consume it. Farmers and residents should learn to plant their garden using organic methods that enhance nutrients to the soil Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10255694