The Versatility of Language

Hi everyone!

I’m so excited about finally being able to blog about my placement. There were several things that got in the way of me starting my placement earlier, but I’ve finally started and it feels great.

I am doing my placement at the Global Good Foundation (GGF). The GGF is committed to helping those impacted by domestic violence by encouraging and empowering them to speak out about a topic that is not commonly addressed, as well as stopping the cycle of domestic violence. They’ve grown tremendously in such a short time. One of their campaigns, the Minute of Noise campaign, has already been brought overseas!

The week before I started my internship, the founder and the General Manager (my supervisor) of GGF were featured in the Weekend West. This meant that I started my internship in the midst of heaps of enquiries and opportunities flowing in! It was definitely a great way to experience the awareness and response that positive media relations can generate.

The GGF was also recently granted some, well, grants, so they now have the resources to carry out their programs in quite a number of schools. Hence, I was tasked with creating an information kit for the schools and their students’ parents. We’ve always learnt about identifying different stakeholders and using different language and tone to best drive the organisation’s messages across to each target group. Working on these kits made me realise how difficult this can be, especially when you are trying to convey messages about domestic violence in a delicate and non-confrontational manner. My work was edited quite a bit, but I was reassured I would be able to grasp the right and sensitive language and tone used in dealing with the issue in time.

I was also given the chance to look at how applications for grants and funding are written. Again, a totally different tone (more formal) was used in this document because it targeted another stakeholder (e.g. the government).

I’d love to hear if those working in consultancies also have to juggle different writing styles for various clients. I’ve always loved to write, but my first task has already proven itself a challenge! I can only be thankful that I have a good foundation in English, and will remember to stress to others that it is such an important skill (I’m sure your lecturers and tutors have told you this countless times! Well…believe it if you haven’t! Haha).

I am very honoured and privileged to be working with and for some very successful, dedicated, and inspirational people. I know it’s early, but I already know this will not be just another PR internship, but one that would make a real positive difference in the community.

Till my next update!

Danielle Han
Bentley Campus
Interning at the Global Good Foundation