If You Can't Kill It With Fire, Then Kill It Like A Boss

How I Plan to Kill This Final Report

like a Boss.

I'm not going to lie to you, starting is always the hardest part for me. Call it what you will; lack of

motivation, or abnormally cold weather - this final report is very daunting. Like always, Mum senses 

my desperation and gives me a good piece of advice. "Work at it even just a little bit, every day and 

you'll see that it will be done in no time." So after receiving this momentarily inspiring advice, I 

calculated that if I contributed 200 words each day, then I would have the report done in 3 weeks.

That old chestnut.

Of course, that didn't happen and more time passed. There was no sudden, brilliant epiphany and

certainly no progress. Why? because the bulk of my report would come from my PR plan, which was

still pending. The obstacle was, that I just couldn't find a way to narrow down my ideas, in a way that

would holistically achieve the organisational strategy. Finally, I asked myself this simple question:

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"

My first answer was, "because I want to graduate - obviously." I then pushed myself to answer 

more objectively and reworded the question. Michelle, what exactly are you trying to achieve? So I 

answered, "A solution."

That's when it hit me. All PR plans, start with a problem. Some people are scared of that 

word... 'Problem'. But they shouldn't be because if there is a problem, then there is also a solution to 

counteract it. Problems might seem intimidating, but take courage. There are ways to approach 

problems, so that they don't seem so unbeatable.

Without further ado, here is the best problem solving tip I ever learnt. When faced with a problem, 

consider what you can do about it.

Courtesy of my first year unit, Business Information Systems - 2014.
Thanks goes to that amazing Unit Coordinator.

THE COGS IN THE BRAIN GO ROUND AND ROUND

round and round, round and round.

I sat and thought about the problem that the business was facing, which wasn't difficult; because my 

boss already told me exactly what the problem was. Coming up with the solution was also a self-

explanatory process. Logically, I want exactly the opposite of the current problem, to happen instead.

The difficult part now, is how to make the opposite happen. That's when I started analysing and 

thinking critically. What are we doing now and what or how does it need to change? I used the 

problem-solving approach above and now I can gladly tell you that my PR plan and final report is all 

planned out and a promising work-in-progress.

WHAT CAN YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BLOG?

Super Simple Steps: how to solve a problem

1. Establish the problem exactly

2. Establish the ideal solution

3. Establish what can be done about the problem

using a problem-solving approach like the one above.

I wish you all the best, killing your reports like bosses, also. 

Until soon. Always like a boss, 

 - Mivalaa

3 days down, 17 to go...

After weeks of difficultly trying to secure a internship that I could start, I finally secured a spot in a small non-for profit organisation called DADAA. DADAA is an organisation that aims to involve people with disability or a mental illness into the arts. After only three days at my internship position I have been having a fabulous time! I have been working alongside their head of communications assisting with day-to-day jobs that need to be completed. Such activities as the monthly newsletter, media releases, social media monitoring(metrics) and updating, annual report writing, visiting studios and liaising with clients. These along with many other jobs are all completed by the head of communications at DADAA. Working as an intern in a small organisation gives me a chance to learn every aspect of communications and discover the broader tasks that accompany public relations.

I found myself asking the question on my first day, if I was put into this position now as a graduate I would not have the necessary skills to complete these tasks. But after being at DADAA now for only three days and working through each of the tasks it wasn't such a daunting idea to think in a few months maybe even six months to a year I could be working in a similar position all by myself.

I have collaborated with my supervisor to write the DADAA September newsletter and a media release for the community newspapers in Fremantle. After she asked me to prove read the newsletter for her we then sent out the newsletter to all of their stakeholders and internal staff only to then find a mistake in the very first sentence!! Although this doesn't have huge repercussions it was a chance to prove my worthiness as an intern as my on of my first completed tasks. My advice is to check once, twice and three times just to make sure everything is perfect. Professionalism is the key to success and spelling and grammar presents as sloppy to future employers, stakeholders and staff. My supervisor then asked me to write a media release for the community newspapers in Fremantle in which I then redeemed myself by double and triple checking for mistake and improvements! I have definitely learned to listen to my university tutors and lecturers now when they tell me to check over my work numerous times as it is one of the most important things you must do.

My three days at DADAA have been a great learning curb. The one thing I felt confident about was social media. I felt I could bring some very help insight into what DADAA could do to fix the unity of their social media platforms. This was a common issue in DADAA's social media and I'm sure across many other small organisations also. Many of the programs that are run by DADAA have people who work independently with artists and wish to create their own social media platforms that are separate from the organisations page. My supervisor gave me the task over my time working with them to think of ways to improve their social media and branding. This was something I was confident I could achieve. The only thing that I felt I lacked from my university experience was social media monitoring or metrics. I had only had one, possibly two units over my entire time at university where I had learnt about metrics. Metrics is becoming a huge way to track and report on the flow of traffic an organisation gets on their social media sites.

Overall, DADAA has been a great opportunity for me and so far I have learnt a lot in my first three days. From day one to day three I can say I have progressed further than what I thought I would, learning some very valuable lessons along the way (must triple check!).
After only three days, I'm very excited for the journey ahead, gaining new experiences and learning new things along the way.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

Does anyone still feel as though they are not sure about what they want to do when they graduate? Because after almost 4 years at university it has finally hit me that life out of university is right around the corner.

I was never the type of person to know exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I left school I thought that I really wanted to be a physiotherapist. But alas that dream lasted one semester before I realized that I definitely was not cut out for the medical world.

So after a lot of hard thinking, I decided that maybe I should put my good attributes to use. Public Relations and Events Management seemed like a sure fit and I have thoroughly enjoyed the past few years of studying and work experience.

However this is where the next problem starts. Who knew that having this degree would open so many doors and lead down so many different paths? There are so many possibilities and different paths that I could take when I graduate. Do I want to plan small events or large festivals? Do I want to do consulting? Do I want to work in the not-for-profit sector?

As Im nearing the end of my internship, one thing I do feel sure about however is that I want to go into work in the not-for-profit sector. Working at Momentum Forum Events on the various charity events that are held yearly have definitely opened my eyes to the amazing work that can be done by the hardworking people working in the public relations and events management sector. There is a giant need for raising awareness and funds and gaining support for the many different people who need our help and our voice in society and public relations and events management is the perfect way to achieve these goals. While many people see this as a very fickle and selfish line of work, it is good to know that we actually have the ability to make a huge difference in the lives of many others.

Has anyone felt confused like this as they are nearing the ends of their degree? I’d be interested to hear if anyone has also felt as though they are still very unsure of their futures. I'd also be interested to hear about what field everyone has thought about working in and why?

Until next time,

Taila

"Welcome to Western Australia"....to up to 5000 from over 70 countries!

In my initial "induction" post, I mentioned the opportunity I would be getting as an intern at the Department of State Development to assist in the preparation for the upcoming LNG18 Conference and Exhibition....and in today's post, I would like to give you a greater understanding of what this task will entail.  There is no denying it will be an incredible learning curve - even for someone who has been in the Department for several years.  However, it also promises to be such a creative and exciting adventure!

Recently, I had a meeting with Dione, the Project Manager within the Department who heads up the coordination, design, materials, messaging and plan for the Department's booth at the Exhibition next year.  Listening to the work that Dione and her team have to do leading up to the Conference and Exhibition, I simply felt....overwhelmed! The Exhibition is a public relations dream! Combining creativity, logic, intelligence, savviness, media awareness - to be able to welcome up to 5000 participants, from approximately 70 different countries in the world to an exhibition on oil and gas - means that all staff members working on this significant project (including me!) will need to draw on all of their public relations skills.  This is interesting, given many staff members are Project Officers - some not 'trained' or 'schooled' in public relations.

Dione ran me through my main task that is designed to fit as a puzzle piece into the Exhibition.  I will be responsible for using my creativity, resourcefulness and budget to prepare the Department's videos for the booth.  Sound simple? Think again!

Try to imagine the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, filled with thousands of people at any given time over the course of the conference, surrounded by booths set up by private companies, and needing to stand out, hold attention, present interesting information, showcase Western Australia in the best possible way, and ensure that the videos tell the story of not only oil and gas in Western Australia, but other industry growth, recreation, facilities, lifestyle, opportunities, culture......! Dione has provided me with the challenge:

"We have a short time to get a person's attention, and we don't want that person to see the same footage numerous times."

There are constraints along with that - the budget that I need to manage wisely, use of the Premier's time for filming (also to be managed wisely!), available and usable footage from other agencies and companies (bearing in mind that all footage needs to be culturally sensitive).

Hearing Dione speak about LNG18 and my task in the big picture though, I can't help but feel excitement growing in me.  This is such a creative task!

Over the next few weeks, I need to develop a Project Plan that articulates my ideas - but also the logical steps of putting those ideas into action.  Where will footage be sourced? What new footage should be shot? How would I make best use of the budget? How would  make best use of everyone's time (including the Premier's)? What would I want to teach the international audience about Western Australia?

Stay tuned.....I have a feeling there will be experiences and learnings to share from this project!

A small, powerful engine of a well-oiled resources machine:

Inside Communications & Media at the Department of State Development

Having been a Project Manager at the Department of State Development for approximately five years now, my eyes were widened on Tuesday at my induction meeting with the officers responsible for communications and media at the Department!

The Communications and Media Unit is essentially made up of two staff members - who each directly report to the Director General. Having only two staff members does not mean that the responsibility of the Unit is in any way diminished however; it means those two team members must be very good at their job!

The Department of State Development is responsible for the facilitation of Western Australia's major resource projects, for the most part funded and developed by the private sector.  Wondering what might fit into that bucket? Perhaps you have heard of the Wheatstone LNG Project, being developed by Chevron? Or the Roy Hill Project, being developed in Port Hedland by Gina Rinehart? These major resource projects may be funded, constructed, managed and operated by private companies, but the State plays its role in 'keeping them honest.' Each project has stringent approvals to obtain, including: environmental approvals (State and Federal), financial guarantees, local content obligations, impact management to name a few.  The Department of State Development plays the primary role in guiding and facilitating these approvals for the private company.  The Department's website (created and published by the Communications and Media Unit) provides further context on the agency's core business.

So, where does Communications and Media fit into this mix? At my induction meeting with my supervisor, Natalie and her co-worker, Rick, I learned the role of the Unit is vital to internal communications - with the Department's Intranet and Internet to manage, the jointly-produced "Prospect" magazine to design and publish, media enquiries to handle - from newspapers, radio, the Minister's office, and investment opportunties for Western Australia to promote, for example, the 18th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas, being held in Perth from the 11th to 15th April, 2016. The LNG 18 event promises to be a significant showcasing opportunity for Western Australia as a 'LNG hub' of the world.

I am embarking on this internship experience very excited about the new insights I will gain from an organisation I have been proudly a part of for so long.  Meeting with Natalie and Rick has filled me with confidence that I will brush up on all of my public relations skills, use my natural creativity (that is not always readily usable in the Department), and receive useful feedback and supervision during the experience.  I am also sure I will learn far more about other teams across the Department - especially the area responsible for investment attraction.  In a time when the 'mining boom' has eased, iron prices are down, and there are much fewer major resource projects being actively developed in the State, the Government needs to work hard to ensure that the private sector recognises what is unique and optimal about doing business in Western Australia.


My impression so far of this small, but powerful engine room that is Communications and Media is that they play an integral role in that job!



The All-Rounder-Intern

Hey everyone!

I'm Camilyn, this is my third and final year of my Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication degree majoring in Public Relations and Web Media. I am studying in Curtin University, Bentley campus. In this blog post, I will be sharing with you my awesome experience during my internship placement for this unit.

It has been 10 days since I have started doing my PR internship with Asuar Design. Asuar is a brand new fashion label based in Perth, Australia.

Asuar, pronounced "as you are" was founded by Lauren Atkinson. The boutique label is influenced by art, travel, and culture. Each garment is made with the highest quality material and they are exclusive yet unique in every way. Here, I have included both Asuar's social network links to the Facebook and Instagram account.

In the past 10 days, it has been a full-on PR working experience. On my first week of internship, I have been sending and replying emails, collaborating with fashion bloggers and sending out newsletters to the brand's subscribers. I have also included our company's media kit as an attachment to all the bloggers I would like to work with. During the process of looking for bloggers to liaise with, it is surprising to discover certain bloggers or instagrammers buy their readers and followers or even Facebook likes on their social media platforms. There is a huge difference between the large amount of followers they have on their Instagram and in contradiction their photo likes are very minimal. Apart from that, a certain group of bloggers charge costly rates in order to collaborate with them. It is quite unfortunate for certain companies who have low budget to promote themselves using bloggers as their charges are expensive. I have come to conclude, Bloggers earn heaps! :D

Along with that, we have been busy preparing for the Winter Campaign photoshoot. I had a great time helping out with the photoshoot. It has been exceptional being able to be a part of the creative team, helping out during the photoshoot, capturing behind the scene shots, and observing how a professional photographer and model create remarkable images. It has truly been a great experience overall.

I have also been able to include my personal knowledge on photography and editing software during my internship. I have been assigned by Lauren to work on some image editing on Adobe Photoshop and editing lookbooks on Adobe inDesign.

It has been a pleasure working with Lauren, I have learnt so much during my internship with her. I'm looking forward to more of my days working with her. She has been a great help with guiding me through my internship and organising things for me to be done.

There is so much more coming up in my next few weeks of internship at Asuar Design. Stay tuned ;)

Till then people! :)

My warmest regards to all. Hope you are enjoying your placement as much as I am in mine.

Camy xx