Come Away With Me... On A PR Adventure to Malaysia.

Malaysia was good to me, and I had a fantastic time working as an Intern for a PR consultancy named GO Communications.

(Photo from Go Communications LinkedIn)

The staff at the office were very welcoming and quickly helped us settle into our new roles! I remember that first day, nervously walking into the office, only to be met by the kindest smiles and greetings all around the room. They even took us out for drinks after work on our first day  (Mind you, it was a public holiday the next day).

I had the honour of enjoying this amazing opportunity with two fellow Curtin PR Students, whom I was able to build great friendships with (another bonus)!

Coming into the internship, I wasn't really sure what the next 4 weeks at Go Communications would entail. I've always felt unsure of what the day-to-day tasks of a PR Professional included. Yes, the past three years at University taught me things like writing media releases, event plans and PR plans, but honestly, I was still confused on how to apply these skills in the workplace! Would I walk in everyday and get handed a media release to write? Was the structure the same as what I was taught? and how long did I have to write one?... The answers to these questions, and many more, became clearer throughout my journey at Go Communications.

In my first week, I observed the workplace culture at Go Communications and how different this was to Australia. Firstly, the working hours were 9 am to 6 pm, as opposed to 9 -5  in Australia. We also worked in groups ('Elite' was the name of my group), and each group was assigned different clients to manage (some of my group's clients included Ricoh Malaysia, Tourism Victoria and Nippon Paint). Another important distinction was that Go Communications operated around 3 different languages; English, Malay and Chinese. Media monitoring therefore revolved around coverage done in all 3 languages (this meant more work, but Challenge accepted)!

By the end of my first week at Go Communication, I'd already begun to feel like a true PR Professional, despite the fact that I hadn't written one media release yet! I learned that there was more to PR than just writing media releases everyday.

To find out more about my PR Internship adventure in Malaysia, stay tuned for my next blog.

Thank you for your time.

Naomi James
Curtin University, Bentley.

Love-Hate Relationship with Phone Calls

Greetings everyone,

Making phone call is not my forte as I have trouble with speaking and trust me, I was so nervous when I was given a task to make phone calls on my third day of my internship. I know I am not going to be better if I didn't train myself with phone calls. So, I took it as a challenge for me. Before I'm making the phone call, I learnt from the other intern, Joan on how they make a media phone call by observing.

As I get a grasp of it, I picked up the phone and dialled the number. My very first phone call was for Nokia Malaysia and my duty was to call the media and enquire if they still keep the Lumia 900 or Lumia 800 device and ask when is the right time to collect the phones from them. It wasn't that hard as I thought and I'm glad I received positive respond for my first few calls that I've made. 

Then, slowly I dare myself to answer every calls the company received and transferred the calls like a receptionist as Joan's contract almost ended so by default, I need to replace her spot as the 'receptionist'. Phone is like my best friend that can be annoying sometime as the calls keep coming in like every 5-10 minutes. There was this one time, I didn't even put down the phone and all I did was pressing the end-call button to make another phone call as there were a lot of calls to be made on that day. Yes, I made phone calls like Chris Gardner before he become a millionaire.

However, not every phone calls are positive. Its a challenge to every PR person to receive negative responder and its a must to remain subtle, calm and nice although deep inside your heart is burning and you feel like screaming and flip your table or throw away the phone. Let me share you my bad phone call experience. When I was in-charge to update the master media database, I called one of the media to enquire about their editorial team. The receptionist were so rude and not being helpful at all as they feel annoyed. Believe me, I wanted to explode but for the sake of the company, I just remain calm and spoke to them nicely and I managed to handle the situation. 

If you're hot tempered person, try to train yourself not to be one. Learn to stay calm and speak politely because you're not only representing yourself but a company. This is a must have characteristics/ skills in every PR person to protect the company's reputation. Once you blow up to the media, you're not the only one who is screwed but the company as well. My advice is, stay calm and be prepared.

All the best.

Best regards,
Fazar Ria Muneera
13761196/ 7D5B3504
Semester 1, 2013
Curtin University Sarawak Campus

PR is Not Just About Writing

Greetings everyone,

From the beginning of my internship, I was never been given a chance to write a news release and honestly I felt a bit depressed and worried at the same time as I have not enough work sample for my report. Until this one fine day before my contract ends, Nokia Malaysia consultant, Gan Kel Sern asked for help from one of us, the interns, as he need to upload photos of Nokia Lumia 920 phone on Nokia Malaysia Facebook page. So, I offered myself to take photos for him as I have passion in photography and plus I need to add up my portfolio. I was assigned to take photos with the following themes:

• Nokia as most personal smartphone
• Valentine's Day

He didn't provide me with DLSR camera and the only camera he offered was Nokia Lumia 920 phone. I was skeptical with the quality at first but I just give it a try to see if its turn out as phone reviewers said about the phone's camera quality. So, I took photos of the phone and I was amazed with the photo quality. After taking few shots of the photos, I passed the phone back to Kel Sern and he chose two best photos to be uploaded. 

The next day, I saw the photos I took were on Nokia Malaysia Facebook page and I was so happy. The links of the photos are below:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563284517017593&set=pb.113065628706153.-2207520000.1370542244.&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563802590299119&set=pb.113065628706153.-2207520000.1370542244.&type=3&theater

Photo is one of the medium in communications. I believe if you have more skills to offer other than writing and ability to speak properly, your value as a PR person is higher. I'm glad my skill in photo taking is applicable during my internship and after that day, they known me as an intern who can take a good photo. I'm glad to get positive feedback from FHKL about my skill. I feel appreciated.

Remember, never give up. 

Best regards,

Fazar Ria Muneera Bt. Safree Zainudin

13761196/ 7D5B3504

Semester 1, 2013

Curtin University Sarawak Campus

Mass communications in PR

Media relations is the core of public relations as it is about liaise with the media to inform about an organisation or company we’re representing. Building a good relationship with the media is very important as they are the one who can help us to convey the key messages to the publics. In fact, the media also need public relations as it is their job to get a story or news for the publication they are working with. Hence, public relations and media need each other.

Press conference is one of the way to communicate with the media in mass. So, what is press conference? It is basically an event where the journalists from different media are gather in one place with company’s spokespersons. The aim is to have Q&A session with the media and to make sure they filled in with information about the company’s profile, programme and etc.

I usually watch press conference on TV news but this time, I was invited by Volvo Trucks Malaysia account holders to help out with a press conference event as well to witness it live. The press conference is called ‘iSTREC: Motorcycles and Trucks’ that aims to inform the media about their plan with governmental bodies to create an innovative solution to reduce crashes between motorcycles and trucks. The press conference was held on January 15th, 2013 at Volvo Trucks Malaysia headquarter in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Volvo Trucks Malaysia Headquarter in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Volvo Trucks Malaysia Headquarter receptionist counter 

The Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia, Mansoor Ahmed giving his speech.

Officiating the Signing Ceremony of iSTREC: Motorcycles and Trucks

Below were my tasks that I've done :

Before the event:

• To update the media list to ensure the invitation are send to the correct person.

On the day itself:

• Pack the goodie bag (media kit) for the media
• To call the RSVPs to confirm with their attendance as well to enquire whether they can find their way to the place.
• To ensure they register their attendance for us to contact them after the event.
• To take note of questions addressed by the media and answers from the spokespersons. Yes, I have to remember their name and which media they’re representing. I’m very bad in memorising people’s name but I can only remember those who are unique to me. Thankfully, I remembered most of them.

One of the items in the goodie bag.

Media Registration booth.

I was very surprised as press conference is very different from what I’ve watched on broadcast media. At first, I thought one question should be answered by one spokesperson but I was wrong. I asked my colleague, “Is press conference supposed to be this way where one question will be answered by 2-4 spokespersons?” and she said, “yes, in case one person missed one of the important point but it should not be more than 2 or 3 persons actually as things will be a mess”.

How press conference can be a mess? Having so many spokesperson to answer can be misleading to the press as one point might be clash to another. Plus, not everyone can think likewise. The journalist can be likely to include information that may change the publics’ view on the company. Thus, it is crucial for PR practitioner to make sure that the spokesperson are briefed and understood on what should they do for Q&A session with the press.

Remember the Q&A document that we need to prepare for our PR 250 (Media) assignment? That is one of the document that we need to prepare for our client including few other documents such as interview details and tips. The document basically to guide our clients so they know how to handle with the media.

After the event, we need to send out the news release to all of the press who attended and contact them to check if they have received it and will they be using it. When the media said they won’t be using the news release, it is our job to ask why and seek for advice in order for them to accept it. Sound pushy but that is the most gentle way to push in order to get more media coverage as well to improve the media release quality to match with the publication’s preference.

Best regards,

Fazar Ria Muneera Bt. Safree Zainudin
13761196/ 7D5B3504
Semester 1, 2013
Curtin University Sarawak campus

Stepping into the world of PR

Salutations to everyone,

My name is Fazar Ria Muneera and I’m in my final year of Mass Communications majoring in Public Relations stream in Curtin University, Miri. I’m currently doing my internship at Fleishman-Hillard, Kuala Lumpur (FHKL) since December 2012 and my I'm finishing very soon. I apologise for delaying my post.

PR Awards trophies won by Fleishman-Hillard Kuala Lumpur shown at the office entrance.

Before I start, let me introduce about FH and its office in Kuala Lumpur. Fleishman-Hillard is a strategic communication firm that was first based in St. Louis then the company grows and now has 80 offices around the globe. FH has expanded its office in Kuala Lumpur on 1999. FH is no stranger in public relations industry and I feel honoured to be given an opportunity to join the company.

My e-mail details given buy FHKL office manager, Shirleen Ooi.

On my first day, I was assigned to do a media monitoring for Volvo Trucks Malaysia. Its exactly like what we’ve done in PR 250 media clipping assignment. The difference is we don’t need to flip through the magazines and dailies that much as we have news and advertising monitoring agency to do it for us. However, we still need to do a cross check in case they left out with some of the news regarding with the company. I learnt something that never been taught in class, every releases has its own PR value which is thrice the advertising value (AD Value). The news that we need to monitor is not only on the company news but we need to monitor the competitor(s) as well as the industry itself. Every morning, I need to send a media monitoring report to respective account holders via e-mail together with the news clipping(s). I noticed that different client has their own preferences on news monitoring report format and we as the PR person of their company need to follow it. Thus, that's explained why PR assignments do not have specific format like other business units.

One of my challenge when doing a media monitoring is to summarise non-English dailies especially Chinese language dailies. Yes, I have to admit that although I speak Malay language at home with my family, I still have a bit of problem (ok, just a bit) translating Malay to English. Google translator is not being helpful but I’m glad I have another intern to help me out with Chinese translation. I guess it would be better for PR practitioner to know more than one language. It would be an advantage that can bring us further. My advice is, learn as much language as you can and embrace your own mother tongue. It's time to read and speak more.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Fazar Ria Muneera Bt. Safree Zainudin
7D5B3504/ 13761196
Semester 1, 2013
Curtin University, Miri Sarawak campus

My First Week at ABU Organisation #Blog 2 (Event Preparations)

Hello again mu fellow PR Professional colleagues on the today post i will be updating you on what my first week was all about with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Organisation.


Okay I will say I had a really great interview the previous week, and now was the time for me to shine, and show my boss how great I was with the field of work I have interned for. I was so greatful that when I started the organisation had been on some preparations on 3 (three) major workshops for the following week, to be hosted for a period of 2 (two) weeks. What we had to do was to prepare for the events. So these takes me to the part of Event Management under our program. We had to check whether every aspect of the event was on place and ready for the opening, we had to  look at the following during that week: 

• Site 
• Budget finalising (Catering Company)
• Scheduling (Program finalising)
• Site design
• Technical design (Webinar setup)

From my first week at work all was set for the major event on the 18th of July in which we had a total of 40 participants from all the member organisations of ABU.

During all the preparation I did notice one major concern, the organisation did not have local journalists to cover the event rather they mentioned they relay on the publicity of their organisation website to disseminate the important informations and that they had the event on their quarterly magazines and monthly newsletter sent to the members of the organisation. Also the use of Microsoft Outlook was a major source of communication with sending invitations to participants.

From these blog post I would like us to discuss on the importance of the relationship between Media and Public Relations  sector in order for me to recommend the findings to my organisation. And what other new ways can we keep the media up to date with what is happening on our organisations. So that ABU Organisation can use and consider building a great relationship with media on their future events.

Thank you and kind Regards

Keletso Ndiye Kakanje

14464629

LUCT