By Marian Pike, Senior Lecturer: Media Studies
“I will have a cup of coffee,” I say waving the menu away. “Just coffee, please.”
The waitress pauses. She looks at me expectantly, with a though of irritation that says “I am busy, please don’t waste my time, just order, half-wit.” She nods, as if prodding further information.
I repeat, “I will have a cup of coffee. Thank you.” I add for good measure, after all I have already said please.
She launches into a monologue that I have some difficulty in understanding, “Latte? Gingerbread Latté? Mocha? Peppermint Mocha Trio? JavaKula? Brewed Coffee? Filter? Expresso? Hand Shaken ColdBrewed Originals? Café Alternatives? FruitKula Blended Beverages? Cappuccino? Milk or cream, nonfat milk, organic milk or soya milk? Sugar, Brown, White, Carmel or Sweeteners, or Syrup – there are 11 including including Valencia, Classic and Sugar-Free Vanilla? Short, Medium, Tall?” She pauses for breathe. “Just take a look at the menu and let me know. “
Whew, I think, blowing out like a whale. Who would have thought that ordering coffee could be so difficult? This is not a Monty Python movie – or is it? I am not that old school, am I? One would think this was a movie scene – with Sandra Bullock ordering 27 coffees en route to the cop meeting of Ms Congeniality. This isn’t even Starbucks. For heaven’s sake, it is Seattle coffee shop attached to the local Exclusive Book Store. Maybe I should have asked for tea, I conclude as I reach for the menu.
Designer coffee is so passé today. Who hasn’t ordered mocha latte tall or whatever? Sure it is all so last year, but what if we apply the same rules to PR. Tailor-made designer PR – wow. Designer PR however is new. This new level of PR puts PR on the same status as marketing, branding and advertising, if not higher. PR is at heart all about conversation and finally there, in that conversation, is the opportunity for PR to own the customer. Everybody knows that only 14% of people still believe in advertising, that marketing is all about sales and that branding is about perceptions – it is about what the customer says it is, not what the company says. Major shift alert – are you ready?
Imagine a world where PR is no longer second cousins to marketing, branding and advertising, PR – after drooling for so long – can now rule. Are you ready? Do you know what is out there – not only on the menu of Starbuck or Seattle coffee shops, but in the PR toolkit of conversation – listening, hearing, replying or initiating. Only four ingredients make coffee after all – coffee beans, water and with or without sweetener or milk.
This is a world of one-to-one marketing (conversations), niche marketing, long tail marketing or personalised marketing based on ‘people like me’, social media, social networks, virtual lifestyles and sharing your every thought, moment, fart and event on facebook, twitter, bebo, blueworld, myspace, Ning networks and so on and so forth. Yes it is a lot to take in. But it is today.
The rather untraditional move, unexpected move, but then ‘not even the wise know all the outcomes’ of moving a business discipline – public relations – from the Faculty of Business, to the Faculty of Informatics and Design has opened many more opportunities than it has closed. Business is so old school, so traditional, so bound up in rules and regulations, so hamstrung by ‘this is the way it has always been done’, that it is unable to acknowledge that the world has changed. Information is not scared, but abundant, it is all there at the click of a button. What hasn’t changed is the ability to use it, to shift it to sort it, to spot trends, to back yourself (Richard Branson would agree) and just go for it anyway. Designer business is a long way off. Designer PR is here.
I am quite pleased to be in a faculty that prizes flexibility, originality, innovation and new ways of doing things, new ways of looking at things, new ways of making my voice heard or new ways of listening to what needs to be done. I am especially pleased that if PR listens, learns and grabs the opportunities offered, PR can finally rule the roost. After all it is all about winning, isn’t it?
November 13, 2008
November 10, 2008
Unravelling The Grid
By Saadiyah Marks, 2nd year PR student
On Saturday, October 18, students and guests at the CPUT annual media conference were introduced to a new mobile social network service called ‘The Grid’. Vincent Maher, portfolio manager for social media at Vodacom, introduced the innovative service and demonstrated how you could use The Grid to stay connected with friends.
The Grid (Groups Radar Identity Dropzone) is, is similar to ever-popular mobile social network, MXIT but has location based advantages such as viewing on an actual map exactly where you are and what your friends found interested at that particular place. This service allows your cell phone to be located by triangulating its position between cell phone towers. It has been dubbed “Google Earth meets Mxit” and means that you could be at a party and send a picture, video, text or sound clipping to a contact and they would see your exact location as well as if the party is worth attending or not.
Video clips, photographs and comments you drop on The Grid is called ‘blips’ would be made available to your contacts to view. The Grid is that the usage is free although network data costs as charged by your service provider therefore you could minimise costs by making sure the file size of your data is small. The creators of The Grid has really upped the standard of social networking allowing users to stay connected with their friends by showing each other where they are and what they doing.
The Grid was initially launched in South Africa last year by invitation only through the country’s leading mobile network, Vodacom. The reason for the creation of The Grid is to buy into a share of the Mxit market, which as we know, is a huge population. Vodacom has incorporated social networking, differentiating The Grid from Mxit. The service is continuously improving as you can see on The Grid Blog and growing as it reaches more and more of its target market. By using the built-in radar function the user is able to find the content they are looking for as well as forward it to their friends, comment on it or rate it. In the pipeline for Vodacom and The Grid is an international launch so before we know it we would know more about the hotspots in other countries than in our very own.
The good news for public relations and marketing professionals is that The Grid is allowing small businesses the opportunity to advertise through the social network. The Grid allows people to share their experiences and stories, a perfect medium for creating an brand awareness.
For more information about visit http://www.thegrid.co.za/, The Grid on Facebook, The Grid Blog, or watch The Grid video on YouTube
To register for The Grid simply SMS “grid” to 33313 (Please not The Grid currently available to SA mobile phone users only)
On Saturday, October 18, students and guests at the CPUT annual media conference were introduced to a new mobile social network service called ‘The Grid’. Vincent Maher, portfolio manager for social media at Vodacom, introduced the innovative service and demonstrated how you could use The Grid to stay connected with friends.
The Grid (Groups Radar Identity Dropzone) is, is similar to ever-popular mobile social network, MXIT but has location based advantages such as viewing on an actual map exactly where you are and what your friends found interested at that particular place. This service allows your cell phone to be located by triangulating its position between cell phone towers. It has been dubbed “Google Earth meets Mxit” and means that you could be at a party and send a picture, video, text or sound clipping to a contact and they would see your exact location as well as if the party is worth attending or not.
Video clips, photographs and comments you drop on The Grid is called ‘blips’ would be made available to your contacts to view. The Grid is that the usage is free although network data costs as charged by your service provider therefore you could minimise costs by making sure the file size of your data is small. The creators of The Grid has really upped the standard of social networking allowing users to stay connected with their friends by showing each other where they are and what they doing.
The Grid was initially launched in South Africa last year by invitation only through the country’s leading mobile network, Vodacom. The reason for the creation of The Grid is to buy into a share of the Mxit market, which as we know, is a huge population. Vodacom has incorporated social networking, differentiating The Grid from Mxit. The service is continuously improving as you can see on The Grid Blog and growing as it reaches more and more of its target market. By using the built-in radar function the user is able to find the content they are looking for as well as forward it to their friends, comment on it or rate it. In the pipeline for Vodacom and The Grid is an international launch so before we know it we would know more about the hotspots in other countries than in our very own.
The good news for public relations and marketing professionals is that The Grid is allowing small businesses the opportunity to advertise through the social network. The Grid allows people to share their experiences and stories, a perfect medium for creating an brand awareness.
For more information about visit http://www.thegrid.co.za/, The Grid on Facebook, The Grid Blog, or watch The Grid video on YouTube
To register for The Grid simply SMS “grid” to 33313 (Please not The Grid currently available to SA mobile phone users only)
October 30, 2008
Bowling for a Six
By Monique Boucher, B Tech PR student
Leila Steyn, PR 3rd year student, bowled over the Western Province Cricket Association during her internship. She started as the assistant to the youth coordinator in the Amateur department and soon after took on the responsibilities of the youth coordinator.
“I was thrown into the deep end and it was scary at first, but I came up swimming!” said Steyn.
The position of Team & Operations Coordinator to the Nashua Cape Cobras became available and Steyn decided to throw a fast ball and apply. Today she has the job of her dreams as the right hand to the Head Coach, Shukri Conrad and part of the team behind the scenes.
Steyn loves her job but says it is not all 'glitz and glam'.
“There are intricate preparations, logistics and a lot of pressure behind a great game of cricket. There is no time to procrastinate.”
“It’s a tough world out there and people depend on each other to make a campaign or event work.” She advises soon-to-be interns and graduates that one should always be professional. “All you have to do is remember what got you to this job, and that you are there to accomplish. “
“Why am I not surprised at Leila’s early breakthrough?” asks Prof. Johann van der Merwe, head of the department Public Relations Management. “Because her enthusiasm and determination shone through from year one!” he said. “As well as her persistence”, he adds with a smile!
Steyn plans to complete her B Tech Degree in PR as a part-time student while she fulfils her role at the Nashua Cape Cobras. For now she is quite happy to enjoy a great summer of cricket.
“I could not have asked for a better opportunity within this field….I don’t like cricket, oh no, I love it!”
Leila Steyn, PR 3rd year student, bowled over the Western Province Cricket Association during her internship. She started as the assistant to the youth coordinator in the Amateur department and soon after took on the responsibilities of the youth coordinator.
“I was thrown into the deep end and it was scary at first, but I came up swimming!” said Steyn.
The position of Team & Operations Coordinator to the Nashua Cape Cobras became available and Steyn decided to throw a fast ball and apply. Today she has the job of her dreams as the right hand to the Head Coach, Shukri Conrad and part of the team behind the scenes.
Steyn loves her job but says it is not all 'glitz and glam'.
“There are intricate preparations, logistics and a lot of pressure behind a great game of cricket. There is no time to procrastinate.”
“It’s a tough world out there and people depend on each other to make a campaign or event work.” She advises soon-to-be interns and graduates that one should always be professional. “All you have to do is remember what got you to this job, and that you are there to accomplish. “
“Why am I not surprised at Leila’s early breakthrough?” asks Prof. Johann van der Merwe, head of the department Public Relations Management. “Because her enthusiasm and determination shone through from year one!” he said. “As well as her persistence”, he adds with a smile!
Steyn plans to complete her B Tech Degree in PR as a part-time student while she fulfils her role at the Nashua Cape Cobras. For now she is quite happy to enjoy a great summer of cricket.
“I could not have asked for a better opportunity within this field….I don’t like cricket, oh no, I love it!”
Leila Steyn with cricketers Herschelle Gibbs (left) and Justin Kemp (right)
October 29, 2008
Public Relations Management Speech Competition
By Kirby Venlet, 2nd year PR student
The anticipation is over and the 3 winners of the Public Relations Management Speech Competition have been announced. The finals of the competition, for the 1st year PR students, of the Faculty of Informatics and Design, took place on Friday, 24 October, at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
Guest speakers, acclaimed South African comedian, Brendan Murray, and Tom Dawson-Squibb, motivational speaker for ITISA, a developmental and change management company, gave the students tips on how to be a great public speaker.
“Keeping the audience’s attention was a key factor,” said Tom Dawson-Squibb who explained the basics of confident public speaking. Dawson-Squibb used entertaining video clips from “YouTube” as examples of holding your audience’s attention. With an Honours Degree in Business Science in Organisational Psychology from UCT, he was able to provide students with much perspective in leadership necessary for presenting in the business and corporate context.
“Speaking publicly is just like speaking privately. You always start with small talk, like the weather, to loosen up your audience,” said Brendan Murray who spoke about what it takes to be an entertaining speaker. He knew just how to get the attention of the audience with a loud and energetic welcoming jump onto stage. “When you are speaking to an audience, you hold the power and you need to use this power in your favour.”
Murray had the audience in stitches, not surprising since he has been described as ‘South Africa’s Best Young Comic’ and has performed at the Cape Town International Comedy Festival, Rocking the Daisies and toured with the Comedy Revolution.
The focus then moved to the speech competition finals. Thirteen finalists battled for the first place spot but it was Anike Theron who was awarded with 3rd position for her intriguing speech entitled ‘Are your thoughts your own?’ Lirita Hugo was awarded 2nd position with her topic ‘Too much of anything is bad’ and 1st place, with the thought-provoking topic, ‘Money does not create self worth’ went to Bianca Carls.
Prizes included vouchers to the value of R1000 from Van Schaik, a gift card to the value of R300 from Canal Walk Shopping Centre and R300 in vouchers from TygerValley Shopping Centre. Annette Grobler from Student Affairs also sponsored prizes to the value of R1000 and MCD made gifts available to the value of R300.
The competition formed part of the student’s syllabus for one of their major subjects, namely Communications Science 1, presented by Ayesha Toyer. The finals were judged by Public Relations Management lecturers, members of industry, and guests. The judging panel included Prof. Johann van der Merwe, our head of department and an experienced stage actor, Dr. Nirvana Bechan, Elza Myburgh, Thabisa Nondzube, Darren Rix (speech competition winner of 2007), Stefan Joubert (from industry) and guest speaker Tom Dawson-Squibb. Luvuyo Jongile, 1st year PR student, acted as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the guests, speakers and audience.
For those who missed the event, the top tip for giving a great speech came from Brendan Murray who said, “Be yourself and always have fun with your speech.”
A big thank you to organiser, Ayesha Toyer, who described the event as: “A wonderful opportunity for students to put what they learn into practice and show the world what they are made of. Our Top 13 made the department proud, they were professional, entertaining and most of all, they were persuasive. Thank you to the presenters, guest speakers, sponsors, MC, technical support, photographer, audience members and our wonderful judges.”
The anticipation is over and the 3 winners of the Public Relations Management Speech Competition have been announced. The finals of the competition, for the 1st year PR students, of the Faculty of Informatics and Design, took place on Friday, 24 October, at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
Guest speakers, acclaimed South African comedian, Brendan Murray, and Tom Dawson-Squibb, motivational speaker for ITISA, a developmental and change management company, gave the students tips on how to be a great public speaker.
“Keeping the audience’s attention was a key factor,” said Tom Dawson-Squibb who explained the basics of confident public speaking. Dawson-Squibb used entertaining video clips from “YouTube” as examples of holding your audience’s attention. With an Honours Degree in Business Science in Organisational Psychology from UCT, he was able to provide students with much perspective in leadership necessary for presenting in the business and corporate context.
“Speaking publicly is just like speaking privately. You always start with small talk, like the weather, to loosen up your audience,” said Brendan Murray who spoke about what it takes to be an entertaining speaker. He knew just how to get the attention of the audience with a loud and energetic welcoming jump onto stage. “When you are speaking to an audience, you hold the power and you need to use this power in your favour.”
Murray had the audience in stitches, not surprising since he has been described as ‘South Africa’s Best Young Comic’ and has performed at the Cape Town International Comedy Festival, Rocking the Daisies and toured with the Comedy Revolution.
The focus then moved to the speech competition finals. Thirteen finalists battled for the first place spot but it was Anike Theron who was awarded with 3rd position for her intriguing speech entitled ‘Are your thoughts your own?’ Lirita Hugo was awarded 2nd position with her topic ‘Too much of anything is bad’ and 1st place, with the thought-provoking topic, ‘Money does not create self worth’ went to Bianca Carls.
Prizes included vouchers to the value of R1000 from Van Schaik, a gift card to the value of R300 from Canal Walk Shopping Centre and R300 in vouchers from TygerValley Shopping Centre. Annette Grobler from Student Affairs also sponsored prizes to the value of R1000 and MCD made gifts available to the value of R300.
The competition formed part of the student’s syllabus for one of their major subjects, namely Communications Science 1, presented by Ayesha Toyer. The finals were judged by Public Relations Management lecturers, members of industry, and guests. The judging panel included Prof. Johann van der Merwe, our head of department and an experienced stage actor, Dr. Nirvana Bechan, Elza Myburgh, Thabisa Nondzube, Darren Rix (speech competition winner of 2007), Stefan Joubert (from industry) and guest speaker Tom Dawson-Squibb. Luvuyo Jongile, 1st year PR student, acted as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the guests, speakers and audience.
For those who missed the event, the top tip for giving a great speech came from Brendan Murray who said, “Be yourself and always have fun with your speech.”
A big thank you to organiser, Ayesha Toyer, who described the event as: “A wonderful opportunity for students to put what they learn into practice and show the world what they are made of. Our Top 13 made the department proud, they were professional, entertaining and most of all, they were persuasive. Thank you to the presenters, guest speakers, sponsors, MC, technical support, photographer, audience members and our wonderful judges.”
October 28, 2008
Technology Media Conference hosted at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
By Danelle Milward, 2nd year PR student
CPUT’s 10th annual media conference explored technology and the new media. Held on Saturday October 18, the conference attracted tech-savvy speakers on the cutting edge of new media.
“Technology impacts on our lives in all areas; sometimes changing things, sometimes keeping things the same, but improving speed or accessibility. It is important that we use the conference to explore the effectiveness of technology commercially and socially,” said Rifqah Abrahams, junior lecturer: media studies and supervising lecturer for the media conference.
“Keep it simple and don’t complicate things,’’ said Melissa Attree, guest speaker who specialises in social media, branding and educating as many people as possible about online communication. She focused on the importance of listening, collaborating and engaging with customers online in order to best present your brand.
Charl Norman, 24-year old internet entrepreneur and operations manager for Blueworld Communities, a leading social networking technology company, spoke about social networking – the trends and developments around the world and in South Africa.
“A recent study found that 58% of people trust people like themselves, not CEOs and marketing managers,” said Tim Shier, marketing manager at Africa’s largest full service online marketing agency.
Shier introduced the audience to the field of online reputation management and the free online eMarketing resource, eMarketing – the essential guide to online marketing. This textbook, developed by Quirk, will be updated every 6 months and can be downloaded from the Quirk eMarketing website, a great resource for students and professionals alike. For those that love the smell of a new book and the feel of turning the pages, you can find the print edition at Exclusive Books.
Vincent Maher, Jayne Morgan and Peter Greenwall were the three other guest speakers that blew us away with their presentations from citizen journalism to new broadcasting such as podcasts and innovation and new inspiring ways of thinking. During the recess guests enjoyed the interactive exhibition where they were able to get their hands on XBOX, Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.
"The dynamic speakers had everyone on the edge of their seats with their cutting edge information! The enthusiasm was infectious and bounced from the first to the last speaker. I left totally inspired," said Prof. Johann van der Merwe. Head of Department: Public Relations Management.
“I learnt so much from the speakers at this year’s conference,” said Monique Boucher, Conference MC, Public Relations B Tech student and self-confessed online junkie.“In a time where lifestyle revolves around technology and with business centered on online accessibility, talking technology makes perfect sense.”
CPUT’s 10th annual media conference explored technology and the new media. Held on Saturday October 18, the conference attracted tech-savvy speakers on the cutting edge of new media.
“Technology impacts on our lives in all areas; sometimes changing things, sometimes keeping things the same, but improving speed or accessibility. It is important that we use the conference to explore the effectiveness of technology commercially and socially,” said Rifqah Abrahams, junior lecturer: media studies and supervising lecturer for the media conference.
“Keep it simple and don’t complicate things,’’ said Melissa Attree, guest speaker who specialises in social media, branding and educating as many people as possible about online communication. She focused on the importance of listening, collaborating and engaging with customers online in order to best present your brand.
Charl Norman, 24-year old internet entrepreneur and operations manager for Blueworld Communities, a leading social networking technology company, spoke about social networking – the trends and developments around the world and in South Africa.
“A recent study found that 58% of people trust people like themselves, not CEOs and marketing managers,” said Tim Shier, marketing manager at Africa’s largest full service online marketing agency.
Shier introduced the audience to the field of online reputation management and the free online eMarketing resource, eMarketing – the essential guide to online marketing. This textbook, developed by Quirk, will be updated every 6 months and can be downloaded from the Quirk eMarketing website, a great resource for students and professionals alike. For those that love the smell of a new book and the feel of turning the pages, you can find the print edition at Exclusive Books.
Vincent Maher, Jayne Morgan and Peter Greenwall were the three other guest speakers that blew us away with their presentations from citizen journalism to new broadcasting such as podcasts and innovation and new inspiring ways of thinking. During the recess guests enjoyed the interactive exhibition where they were able to get their hands on XBOX, Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.
"The dynamic speakers had everyone on the edge of their seats with their cutting edge information! The enthusiasm was infectious and bounced from the first to the last speaker. I left totally inspired," said Prof. Johann van der Merwe. Head of Department: Public Relations Management.
“I learnt so much from the speakers at this year’s conference,” said Monique Boucher, Conference MC, Public Relations B Tech student and self-confessed online junkie.“In a time where lifestyle revolves around technology and with business centered on online accessibility, talking technology makes perfect sense.”
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