Graduation Day 2009

Today was graduation day for the Public Relations Management department (PRM) and the graduates did the department proud with four students achieving Cum Laude.

Rachel Finch, Mandy-Lee Graham and Tarin Johannessen achieved a Cum Laude pass for their National Diploma and Monique Boucher achieved Cum Laude for the B Tech Degree in Public Relations Management. Graduating with a Cum Laude means that the graduates maintained an average of 75% throughout their term of study. Well done guys!

B Tech Class of 2008 (from left): Monique Boucher, Simoné Swanepoel, Candice January, Liezl Hohne, Angelique Jordaan, Lounelle Nortje and Rene Strydom

Hats off to all the graduating PRM students of 2009. Graduating means that all those late nights of cramming, bottomless coffees, missed parties and hours spent in front of the computer were worth it after all!

B Tech Class of 2008 (from left): Cassie O’Neill, Monique Boucher, Simoné Swanepoel, Candice January, Liezl Hohne, Angelique Jordaan, Lounelle Nortje and Rene Strydom

Please send your PRM Graduation 2009 photos to theprassistant@gmail.com and they will be add to the slide show and this blog post. Please include full names.

'Modern Day Living' Photography Competition

Would you like to win one of these… a Nikon D40 Camera valued at R 4,895.00 and Camera Training software kit to the value of R850 proudly sponsored by ORMS Pro Photo Warehouse? Of course you would!

All CPUT students are invited to find a way to capture modern day life on camera and submit their original A4-sized photograph interpretations for The Square 2009 Conference.

Entries open on Monday, April 20 and close on Thursday, April 30 before 12:00. Look for the signs to post your ‘Modern Day Living’ Photography Competition entries in the Admin Building on the Cape Town campus.

Photographs will be displayed and the prize winner announced on Saturday, August 1 at The Square, the 11th annual CPUT conference. The conference, titled ON Technology, explores online and mobile technology.

Read the full brief at http://www.squareconference.wordpress.com/photography-competition

The Square Conference 2009

Do you love events and want to build your events portfolio experience? The Square Conference team is looking for Public Relations Management students to assist at this year 11th Annual CPUT Conference.

The 2009 conference builds on the success of last year’s conference on Technology. The theme for this year, On Technology, will include practical workshops and interactive technology exhibitions exploring online and mobile technology.

If you are an enthusiastic, professional and hard working PRM student, we would love to hear from you. The conference offers you the opportunity to gain experience and skills in the following:

• Hosting VIP guests and speakers
• Assisting with audiovisual and technical set up
• Event décor
• Welcoming and registering guests
• Assisting with conference communication and publicity

Volunteers will have the opportunity to attend the conference free of charge and will be issued with a contribution certificate and short letter of reference.

If you with you have what it takes to help make this years conference the best yet, email Jade Snyman, Conference Coordinator, at snymanja@cput.ac.za and include your CV accompanied by a short motivational letter as soon as possible. Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

For more information visit http://www.squareconference.wordpress.com/

Research Made Easy

By Michelle Ramsay, 2nd year PR student

Conducting research can be a challenge. Trying to convince people to give you their time can be difficult if you do not approach them correctly.

Public Relations Management (PRM) students had the opportunity to assist with a business feasibility survey in Franschhoek. As part of the STREAMLINE student volunteer group, we had to target a specific market, which we had to base on appearance, a difficult task because we have always been taught to ‘never judge people based on appearance’.

Carrie Christien, B Tech PRM student, Simoné Swanepoel, recent graduate (B Tech PRM 2008) and I, a second year PRM student, conducted research along with Monique Boucher, the research co-ordinator from STREAMLINE, the PR agency within the PRM department. Reporting back on the feedback we received revealed mixed responses with some having found that people were not interested while others said, “I found it quite easy!”

Above: Michelle Ramsay surveying local Franschhoek resident

So what is the secret to persuading people to answer your survey? Here are a few tips on how to make your research easier:

Environment
The environment that you do your research in plays a huge role. If it is very hot, people may not want to stop as they hurry to get out of the heat. It is important to pay attention to their behaviour, if they look like they are in a hurry, rather do not approach them and avoid wasting your time and theirs.

Make Eye Contact
“When I approach people I take off my sunglasses and look them in the eye. This is a common courtesy and helps to establish trust, two very important aspects when you are asking people for their time and opinions,” said Boucher.

Body Language
Watch your body language. If you are holding a clipboard, make sure you are holding it and not hiding behind it! Keep an open body language when approaching and speaking to an interviewee.

What You Say
Briefly explain that you are not selling anything. Speak clearly and confidently, without rushing through your words, and communicate what you are doing and why.

You could start by saying, “Excuse me, can I have one minute of your time to ask a few questions?” Make sure that it will only be one minute. If it takes five minutes, people will become annoyed.
“I asked people if I could pick their brains for a minute,” said Christien, who returned to CPUT to complete her degree after working abroad as an events coordinator. People are flattered when you ask for their opinion and this was just the approach she used.

Smile Power
Most importantly, smile, smile and smile some more! A smile often ensures that people react favourably, mirroring the courtesy that you have shown them. It immediately makes them less hesitant to help you.

Following these tips will help get you started with your research, whether for a client or for an assignment. You may find your own ways to approach people successfully and hopefully you will find perception surveys as fun and interesting as the STREAMLINE team of volunteers did.

Above: Carrie Christien surveying a visitor to Franschhoek