Why did political parties form in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why did political parties form in the US - Essay Example As Hamilton once said, â€Å"Its not tyranny we desire; its a just, limited, federal government.† The idea had support, but also had a lot of opposition. Many Americans felt that the creation of federal parties would make the U.S. like the U.K. which the hated. It is part of a question that has troubled billions of people since the dawn of time: how should a society construct itself to maximize justice and opportunity? Is a strong central government necessary to do so? There are as many theories as there are grains of sand on the beach, but some ideas over the years have been more popular than others. Some people believe in socialism and that everyone must be made equal by a very powerful central government, the tall cut down and the short pulled up; others believe in a meritocracy where those people who have talent and work hard are rewarded for their labours. These people believe the government should get out of the way. Considering how developed the U.S. is today, the latte r view should prevail. Thomas Hobbes is most famous for his book Leviathan. In it he argued that a â€Å"war of all against all† existed in nature and that people were mostly motivated by fear and distrust and that peoples’ motivations all conflicted with each other. The only way for order to prevail, Hobbes argued, would be through an absolute sovereign or strong central government. While there is certainly some truth to what Hobbes says regarding human beings, other political thinkers have questioned elements of his vision. Indeed there are several flaws in this theory, but it shows us that it is not possible for people to effectively work as a commune. That does not mean we need a dictator to control things, but it does mean we need a strong rule of law to protect individual freedoms. The rule of law is effectively the latter-day sovereign. It serves the same purpose: it protects contracts and business and

Elements Of Property Offences In UK Essay Example for Free

Elements Of Property Offences In UK Essay INTRODUCTION In most societies today, property offences have become prevalent in most courts of law. There have been cases of property offences here and there in most countries of the world. United Kingdom is not exceptional when it comes to the issue of property offences; therefore, in this seminar presentation a succinct or close examination of property offences in the United Kingdom shall be the focus of our discussion. This will prepare the young and potential layers in colleges for their impending mock law examination. Thus, this paper is a pathway to success in the area of criminal law, as it will broaden the horizon of students stressing in criminal law, particularly in the area property offences. AN OVERVIEW OF PROPERTY OFFENCES   Ã‚   There are wide varieties or kinds of property offences under both the common law and the statue law as initiated by the parliament. Understanding of what is term common law becomes imperative here; the common law is the law which has been built up by judges making decisions over centuries. We refer to the judges’ law as â€Å"precedents†, which it is offer called in most courts today. Like the case above, understanding of property offences; the main statue law passed by the parliament of New South Wales which deals with property offences is the crimes Act 1900, which has been amended by the parliament many times since it was enacted. Property offences thus involve extremely complicated relationships between the property itself, whose property it is and whether or not it is in someone’s possession, and what relationship or understanding there is between the accused and the victim about the property. It is therefore very important to take cursory examination of the various issues that can arise from property offences. This will provide enough insight and information to a better understanding of property offences. The most common offences are larceny, receiving and malicious damage, which shall be treated below. It is an offence under the Crime Act of 1900 in New South Wales to commit larceny. Thus the maximum penalty for such given by the statute is 5 years goal. The meaning or elements of the offence of larceny are governed by the common law, or judge-made law, which have built up over the years with judicial decisions. The elements of the offence of larceny are well established and have been summarized thus. A person must without the consent of the owner, fraudulently and without claim of right made in good faith, take and carry away, anything capable of being stolen, with intent at the time of such taking permanently to deprive the owner of that property. As shown here, each of these elements contain facts which would have to be proven beyond reasonable doubts by the prosecution for the offence to be proved in court. A typical example is that if a person walks into a shop and takes a bag of rice from and walks out intending to keep the bag of rice for himself or herself, and without any permission or right to do so, that person is guilty of larceny. Shop lifting is the most common form of larceny. However, if the facts are charged straightly, the prosecution cannot succeed. This means that if the person who took the bag of rice does not intend to permanently deprive the owner of the rice, then he does not commit larceny. If the bag of rice actually becomes to the person because he or she paid for it in the shop earlier that day and left it in the shop to be collected later, then there is no case of larceny because the person a claim of right and ownership. The variations on the facts are many and every case is haled depending on its own facts in the law court. ACTUS REUS AND MENS REA The actus reus-sometimes called the external element of a crime is a Latin term for the guilty act which, when proved beyond reasonable doubt in combination with the mens rea, i.e. the â€Å"guilty mind† produces criminal liability in common law-based on criminal law jurisdiction of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and the United States. According to Allen, Michael â€Å"In criminal law, mens rea—the Latin term for â€Å"guilty mind† is usually one of the necessary elements of crime. The standards common law test of criminal liability is usually expressed in Latin phrase; actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea, which means that the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty†. Thus in jurisdictions with due process, there must be an actus reus accompanied by some level of mens rea to constitute the crime with which the defendant is charged. In this sense, mens rea refers to the mental element of the offence that accompanied the actus reus. In some jurisdictions, the terms mens rea and actus reus have been superseded by alternative terminology. However, there are four general classes of mens rea which its words may vary from one state to another. These include (1) intention (2) knowledge (3) Recklessness (4) negligence. A GENERAL INTRODUCTION INTO THEFT BY THEFT ACT 1968, ROBBERY – S. 8(1) The Act 1960 (1968c. 60) is an act of the parliament of the United Kingdom, governing most of the general property offences in English law. On 15 January 2007, the Fraud Act 2006 came into force, repeating most of the offences f deception. Historically, the Theft Act 1960 resulted from the efforts of the Criminal Law Revision committee to reform the English law of Theft. The Larceny Act 1916 had codified the common law, including Larceny itself, but it remained a complex web of offences. The intention of the Theft Act 1968, was to replace the existing law of larceny and other deception related offences, by single enactment, creating a more coherent body of principles that would allow the law to evolve to meet a new salvations. The Act was assented to on July 26th, 1968. To understand Theft by Theft Act, the basic definition of theft itself becomes imperative. THEFT; DEFINITION In the criminal Law, theft (also known as stealing) is â€Å"the illegal taking of another persons property without that person’s freely-give consent. As a term, it is used as shorthand for all major crimes against property, encompassing offences such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, mugging, trespassing, shop lifting, intrusion, fraud (theft by deception) and sometimes criminal conversion†. Theft is offer considered to be synonymous with larceny. In this work, theft has replaced larceny. Therefore, someone who carries out an act o for makes career of theft known as a thief. Therefore, a person shall be guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriate, property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. DETAILS OF THEFT TO THEFT ACT 1968 THEFT ACT 1968, AGGRAVATED BURGLARY. ROBBERY = P. A person is guilty of robbery if he steals, and immediately before or at the time of doing so, and in order to do so, he uses force on any person or puts or seeks to put any person in fear of being there and there subjected to force. This means in a clear and simple term that the victim of such robbery is subjected to either physical or mental torture. This is a strategy employ by the robber to accompany his / her mission. In this case, a typical example is relevant. Take for instance, Mr. Johnson and Alfred entered a hotel with a gun and shot to the air to intimidate the customers and the workers, collected monies and other valuables from them, on their way out of the hotel, they were caught by the alerted patrol team of the police, in this situation Alfred and Mr. Johnson are guilty of robbery. A person guilty of robbery or of an assaults with intent to rob, shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for life. This should be the case of Alfred and Mr. Johnson exemplified above. BURGLARY A person is guilty of burglary if: He enters any building or part of a building as a trespasser, he steals or attempts to steal anything in the building or that part of tit or inflicts or attempts to inflict on any person therein any grievous bodily harm. The offences referred to in sub-section 1(a) above are offences of stealing anything in the building or part of a building in question, of inflicting on any person therein any grievous bodily harm or (raping any person therein, and of doing unlawful damage to the building or anything therein. iii.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A person guilty of burglary shall be on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding; Where the offence was committed in respect of a building or part of a building which is a dwelling fourteen years; In any other case, ten years. References in subsections (1) and (2) above to a building, and the reference in subsection (3) above to a building which is a dwelling, shall apply also to an inhabited vehicle or vessel, and shall apply to any such vehicle or vessel at times when the person having a habitation in it is not there as well as at times when he is. A good example of a person who seems to be guilty of burglary is established thus; Mr. Ali broke into Mr. John’s room, while he is away in Germany, on leaving, the security caught him, and dragged him to the court; John Mr. Ali’s action, he is guilty of burglary and is liable to face the charges and all the penalties. OBTAINING PROPERTY BY DECEPTION. S. 15    Any property acquire without the consent of the own through any form of dubious means is said to be a crime. Take for instance, it a vehicle is taken with the consent of the owner, it is said to be legal, however when consent if ignored, it is then said to be deception. Another good example is when one put up a force identity to hire a car. This overlaps with the 15 offences of obtaining property or services by deception. Taking by force may be robbery when defendant did not intend the victim to recover the car at all or so seriously damaged that it amounts to theft. It the evidence is insufficient for theft, the alternative charges are aggravated vehicle taking or blackmailing under S21. â€Å"Note that S12 (7) protects the interest of people hiring or buying under a hire purchase agreement deeming them to be the owner for the purposes of S12†. http.//en/wikipedia.org/wiki/IWOCH/ without the consent of the owner. AVERSION OF LIABILITY BY DECEPTION UNDER S.2 – D THEFT ACT 1979 Forgery is the process of making or adapting objects or documents 9see false document), with the intent to deceive. The similar crime of fraud is the crime of deceiving another including through the use of objects obtaining through forgery. Copies, studios replies, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misattributions. In the 16th century imitators of Albrecht Durer’s style of print making improved the market for their own prints by signing them â€Å"AD†, making them forgeries. In the 20th century the art market made forgeries highly profitable. There are widespread forgeries of especially valued artists, such as drawings meant to be by Picasso, Nee, and matisse. This usage of â€Å"forgery† does not derive from metal work done at â€Å"forge†, but it has a parallel history. A sense of â€Å"to counterfeit† is already in the Anglo-French verb forger â€Å"falsify†. Forgery is one of the techniques of fraud, including identity theft. Forgery is one of the threats that have to be addressed by security engineering. A forgery is essentially concerned with a produced or altered object. Where the prime concern of forgery is less focused on the object itself – what it is worth or what it proves† – than on a tacit statement of criticism that is revealed by reactions the object provokes in others, then the larger process is a hoax. In a hoax, a rumor or a genuine object â€Å"planted† in a concocted situation, may substitute for a gorged physical object. OBTAINING A MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH DECEPTION Obtaining a money transfer by deception (1) alter section 15 of the (1968 c. 60) theft Act 1968 insert – â€Å"is a obtaining a money transfer by deception A person is guilty of an offence if by any deception he dishonestly obtains a money transfer for himself or another. A money transfer occurs when – a debit is made to one account a credit is made to another account the credit results from debit results from the credit References to a credit and to a debit are to a credit of an amount of money and to a debit of an amount of money. It is immaterial (in particular) – whether the amount credited is the same as the amount debited whether the money transfer is effected on presentment of cheque or by another method whether any delay occurs in the process by which the money transfer effected. Whether any intermediate credits or debits are made in the course of the money transfer. Whether either of the accounts is overdrawn before or after the money transfer is affect. A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable in conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding tem years. 15 B section 15A: supplementary (1) the following provisions have effect for the interpretation of section 15A of this Act. â€Å"Deception† has the same meaning as in section 15 of this Act. â€Å"Account means an account kept with – a bank or a person carrying on a business which falls within subsection (4) below A business falls within subsection if – in the curse of the business money received by way of deposit is lent to others; or any other activity of the business is financed wholly or to any material extent, out of the capital of r the interest on money received by way of deposit. For the purpose of subsection (4) above – all the activities which a person carries on by way of business shall be regarded as a single business carried on by him; and â€Å"money† includes money expressed in a currency other then sterling in the European currency unit (as defined in council regulation N. 3320/94/EC or any community instrument replacing it†. Nothing in this section has effect in relation to anything done before the day on which this act is passed. Dishonesty retaining a wrongful credit (1) after section 24 of the theft Act 1968 insert – 24 a dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit (1) A person is guilty of an offence if – a wrongful credit has been made to an account kept by him or in respect of which he has any right or interest. He knows or believes that the credit is wrongful; and he dishonestly fails to take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to secure that the credit is cancelled. References to a credit are to a credit of an amount of money. A credit to an account is also wrongful if it is the credit side of money transfer obtained contrary to section 15A of this Act; The few sited examples should do as they have clearly established the meaning of deception in the case of money transfer. Conclusively thus, this piece of work is a pathway to a great success in the area of criminal law in relation to students who are preparing for their mock examination. In this regards, the student of criminal law, at the end this seminar paper presentation will be sure that they won’t be ridiculed by any kind of question that might likely confront them. Thus, this paper is a total and holistic review of Theft by Theft Act of 1968 under the U.K criminal law. The paper thus is an eye opener to the students as many thing, would become quite clear to them. REFERENCES Allen Michael (2005) Criminal Law. Oxford. Oxford University Press. //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWOC without the content of the owner.

The Concept Of Ethical Consumption Marketing Essay

The Concept Of Ethical Consumption Marketing Essay To present the concept of Ethical Consumption it needs to be acknowledging what is ethics and consumption. Ethic is a set of norms, principles or values that guide peoples behaviour (Sherwin 1993), and what is ethical or unethical is based on individual perception of right and wrong in other side consumption can be define as the process of buying or using goods that materialises when the consumer processes the product or service information, as a logical thinker (Holbrook et al. 1982: 132). Ethical consumption takes place when individuals purchasing goods are considering values of caring for other people, concerns for fairness and/or for the environment. The phenomenon of Ethical Consumption started to rise in the last fifteen to twenty years. This concept is directly related to the conscious and deliberate choice to make certain consumption options due to personal and moral beliefs (Carrigan et al., 2004:401). The ethical consumer strives to enhance their wellbeing through purchasing behaviour that avoids harming or exploiting humans, animals and the environment (Harrison et al. 2005: 4), and these represents the positive choices; additionally in this ample concept it can be included actions as recycling behaviour and philanthropy  [1]  . Consumption can be perceived as an instrument to achieve satisfaction on the material level; this consumer pattern is also moulded by groups and societal values: consideration for others and also for our eco system, leading to the concept of Ethical consumption, that can be identify as a tool to social change. Citizens and consumers are social actors that are recognizing more sustainable forms of consumption by optimising environmental, social and economic consequences in order to reduce ecological damage and demand labour rights to be respected. All consumers are forced to consider the increasing consequences of their habits, and existence (Harrison et al., 2005:3). We are now living in the world of disposability, of instant convenience where everything is disposable, however society is waking up and starting to reject these ways. There is a reform to the basic, to old values (Arnold 2009:4). Ethical consumption can be seen as an integration process, between producers and consumers, ethically minded consumers feel accountable towards the environment and the society, and they strive to express their values through their shopping habits. Ethical branding strategies are designed to support ethical business and ethical claims, these strategies are accomplished through all phases of a brand products lifecycle  [2]  ; leading to consumers perceptions and attitudes towards ethical purchasing (Tustin et al., 2008:24). Brands that are perceived as good citizenship  [3]   hold a good reputation on the consumer eyes, accentuating the responsibility of companies and consumers, producing/ purchasing products and services that pursue to minimise the social and environmental damage. It is quite clear exactly what is feeding this concept to grow, and Rob Harrison (2005) proposed seven factors inciting the growth of ethical behaviour: the globalisation of markets leading to the debilitation of national governments; this action drives to a rise of transnational corporations and brands; the growth of campaigning pressure groups which occurs as a result of the previous processes; the social and environmental consequence of technology; a shift in market power towards consumers; the effectiveness of market campaigning and also the enlargement of corporate social responsibility  [4]  (Harrison et al., 2005:3). However the main sources of the rapid progress of ethical awareness in the consumer shopping behaviour are the communication channels driven by the easy access of information, from websites as Ethical consumer guide and Keep it ethical; increasingly ethical awareness of issues related to products and brands leaded by the most effective channel the internet. 1.2 Study focus Although Ethical consumption seems like an ideal conception of consuming habits, there are issues stopping this idea to fully succeed. One of the strongest issue is price sensitivity, consumers are willing to pay extra pennies for ethical products, not small fortunes; another point is personal experience considering that some consumers cannot identify ethical products from non-ethical; ethical obligations as another issue where people feel difficult to consume certain products only based on the ethical claims; one critical point is the lack of information, where consumers feel that they are not fully informed in order to make the right purchasing choices; quality perception as other concept, sometimes people perceived that ethical products do not hold quality or flavour for example, as mainstream  [5]  products; cynicism considering that a high number of companies exploit for example the concept of environmental friendly, without any care for the environment which is named as gre en wash, leading to the lack of confidence to ethical products and finally the sense of guilt to support these exploited groups (Bray et al., 2010:5). Although other authors like Show et al., (2004) and Carrigan et al. (2001) defend, that ethical consumers are confused by: the lack of information, or too much information, restrict product choices and their availability, they also add that the lack of commitment plays an important role, additionally these authors go further believing that ethical consumers trust that their purchase choice does not make a significant difference amongst the others. Different authors point different issues as critical for this concept to flourished has it should. However all authors agree that communication, consumers education and the lack of trust is a significant concept for the shortcoming of ethical consumption. 1.3 Dissertation structure What is proposed in this study is to analyse in depth one successful ethical corporation Unicorn Manchester Cooperative Groceries, to understand how they show, educate and encourage consumers to follow their brand message through their ethical products; additionally how Unicorn procedures leads customers to trust them, finally it will be investigated their internal communication strategy. At this investigation it will be analysed trust, brand loyalty, brand message and internal branding, furthermore it will be acknowledge what their customers feel about their communication strategies and if they fully understand the meaning behind their purchases, what the company stands for and if the strategies used, drive customers to trust and became loyal to this business . To access this knowledge and to understand the communication strategy it will be made an interview to one of the cooperative members, which is accountable for the marketing and communication, education and advertisement of th is business, with the purpose to gain an insight of strategies adopted by this company. As a following step is needed to be acknowledge if customers are actually receptive to all these techniques adopted by the company by doing a small survey that only mention the communication strategies placed on the shop floor; to hundred and thirty customers. 1.4 Aims and objectives The outcome of this case study is to acknowledge and understands the ethical communication strategies adopted by this specific company and understand their effectiveness. Understand the Ethical Communication strategies used by Unicorn Cooperative Appreciate the channels used in order to build trust guiding to brand loyalty Acknowledge if customers fully understand the meaning behind their purchases Recognize the importance of Internal branding in ethical businesses How is possible to transfer this knowledge to other cases, business, institutions and so on. Research question: How does Unicorn- Cooperative develop consumer trust into their ethical brand? Hypotheses: 1. Trust is a key concept for the development of Brand loyalty 2. When brand message is communicated effectively, consumer tend to develop trust 3. Internal Branding high levelled the trust Literature review 2. Literature Review 2.1 Ethical Consumption Nowadays consumption can be perceived as a way to achieve social equality and a better environment. Ethical Consumption can include the purchasing behaviour that respects workers treatment, fair trade food, non-genetically modified food, environmental concerns, human rights, racial or gender prejudice, (Szimigin et al. 2006: 608). An increasing number of consumers are conducting changes in social conditions and business practices and they are progressively committed on these changes, this factor is what distinguish political consumer from ordinary consumer (Sandicki et al. 2008: 3). People are encountering more sustainable forms of consumption, and acknowledging individual and collective level of benefits, in order to meet the needs of current and future generations (Lunchs et al. 2011:2), affecting business and retailers to respond to this growing demand. At the same time individuals acquire a relation with ethical consumption that tend to be driven by a larger context, enforcing some kind of reflection which can be influenced by social groups (Barr et al. 2011: 715). Ethical consumption embraces two major groups positive buying is what was mention previously and in the opposite spectrum is the negative buying which can include boycotts and avoidance of certain brands on a permanent basis, considering their association with some political issue that the consumer opposes (Sandicki et al. 2008: 2). Furthermore these movements in great majority accomplish their objective, by changing business conventions to a more eco and social friendly practices. Consumption as an increasingly important purpose in contemporary society, these movements materialise ideologies of consumption  [6]  (Kozinets et al. 2004:692). Consequently, businesses are trying to blend ethical consumerism into their practices, as a result of pressure from consumers, considering that their perception is also linked to their consumerism (Tustin et al. 2008:25). Characteristics that run through all these consumption manifestations: Organisation, consumers envisage to organise a coherent set of activities informed by the actions of different organisations, including consumer bodies A desire for change, consumption as a tool of its own transformation Rights, consumers have rights that have to be fought Collectively, by working in groups, individuals hold a strengthen power for change Values, consumption as an exchange of moral messages, consuming can be good or bad Implications, consuming has effects, on other people and society or on the environment. (Harrison et al., 2004:40) Thankfully to the growing number and easily accessible information enhanced by the media interest of political issues (Harrison et al. 2004:69), consumers are more aware of ways to minimise environmental damage and change social issues. Some authors defend that there are more hidden reasons to purchase ethically, other dimension that evocates the individuality of each of us, they see ethical consumption as a integrative process, where the consumer tries to achieve: distinction, by distinguishing themselves in a proactively way through their actions; hedonism action that produces pleasure, the consumer feel good about himself purchasing ethically; love which demonstrates compassion to others and personal values and aesthetic appreciation, considering that ethical products tend to be classified as premium  [7]  brands, meaning more expensive which some individuals identify with them for their classification (Szimigin et al. 2006:610), and these are some of the extra aspects that the marketer needs to acknowledge when suggesting these products. However the most persuasive reason for people to consume more ethically is the power of social change, by forcing brands and companies to adopt more ethical strategies for t heir business practices. This seems the ideal consumption concept, however as many concepts in business has their faults to fully succeed, as mention previously the: personal experience; ethical obligation; lack of information; quality perception, cynicism and sense of guilt. The deprivation of effective information is a major barrier for this concept to accomplish their objectives. If consumers are not informed or even educated of these practices and strategies in some respects ethical consumption is failing in delivering a proficient communication. There is a high number of literature and case studies where consumers for example are willing to purchase eco-friendly brands, however they witness a very difficult task to identify these products, proving that these consumers are not very aware of ethical communication strategies (Picket- Baker et al. 2008: 290). Adequate communication prevail a disregard link between some companies to the mass consumer. This matter deviates the idea of ethical consumption; sin ce all consumers are possible ethical consumers (Harrison et al. 2005: 69). 2.2 Marketing Communications/ Communication Strategies Communication strategies is a core concept for this investigation, as it will be study the ethical communication strategies of one particular company and acknowledge how these support the business reaching trust amongst the customer. However to reach that picture it needs to comprehend in general the notion of marketing communication. All organisations to survive needs to exchange information to their stakeholders, Marketing Communications is the design, implementation and control to reach organisational objectives, through the consumer market point of view, marketing strategies is a method that will increase consumers positive thoughts and attitudes towards a brand or product, (Peter et al. 2010:25) basically is a management process through which an organisation engages with its various audience (Fill 2005:7), only strategically distributed can help organisations to lead a competitive position (Holm 2003: 23), by understanding the audiences, organisations explore actual messages that would be appropriate for their stakeholders. Following the previous sentence, marketing communication is a concept that bridges information between customers and potential customers to the business foundations, remind the stakeholders about the business essence, also reassure the distinctive aspects for other competitors additionally provide information about products and brands values, persuade the target audience to change attitude (Dahlen 2010:43). The Marketing Communication mix embraces every type of messages such in advertising, public relations, promotions and personal selling simultaneously direct response advertising, personal communication, public relations exhibitions and online exhibitions. All these different methods can work independently or ideally blended to accomplished communication goals. Promotional Objectives Target Audience Context Analyses Direct Marketing Sales Promotion Research and Evaluation Personal Selling Resources Positioning Public Relations Figure 1_ the system of Marketing Communications (Fill 2005:28) This concept promotes and maintain a dialogue with their audiences to create a Brand Equity, brand associations, brand dominance and brand prospects (Dahlen 2010:14), this it will influence conception of value in comparison with the benefits and costs, being the ideal situation to raise the benefits and decrease the costs (Holm 2006:23). Marketing communication can be perceived as: management and control of all communication strategies; also ensures brand personality, positioning and messages that should be distributed consistently throughout all components of communication and additional strategic analyses, implementation and control of the choices of marketing strategy (Smith et al. 1999:4). Communication is the act of sending a message to others in a way that these can interpret and decode the message, communications is essential to build trust on others(Anderson 2005: 169).Communication strategies can be defined as a constant pursuit to verbalize and decode the messages, in situation where these messages have not been decipher (Toronoe 1981: 287). A favourable communication is based around a committed, articulated brand idea as a foundation to sustain and build relations with customers (Dahlen 2010:2). The main target of Marketing Communication is to influence the judgment of value through communication, this process materialises when individuals share meaning, by developing a dialogue, where participants are capable to decipher the meaning of the messages and simultaneously being able to respond, and this exchange is possible through knowledge and understanding of the communication process. In overall process for organisations to be successful in their communications strategies, it is fundamental for them to understand their customers, the way they absorbs information, how they develop attitudes and how they react to marketing communications stimuli . However it necessary to identify, select and develop which communication tool it will be used to apply the most suitable brand communication to reach their target audience (Schultz et al. 1999: 309). The cognitive position perceives the consumer as the problem solver, using the various process to reasoning, forming ideas and gaining knowledge in their own individual way of decoding information (Fill 2005: 117). The previous judgment makes essential for organisations to build a strong Brand Narrative, based on a story that frames cultural codes, cultural expectations and stereotypes, essentially needs to create a story that reflects our times (Dahlen 2010: 13). The brand narrative is intrinsically consistent dialogue, which connects people, events and experiences which can lead to Brand Equity  [8]  . Brand attitude is an imperative characteristic of brand equity, which is intended to influence consumers to purchase the brand, through consumers attitude is possible to measure the brand success (Peter et al. 2010:232). Brand and customer equity Relationships Advocacy Advocacy Marketing communications Marketing communication mix Traditional and non-traditional media Channel partners Positioning Branding Image and Brand management Outcomes Marketing Communications Media Scape Narrative Brand Ongoing Figure 2_ Brand Narrative components (Dahlen 2010:6) Until certain extend brand equity, brand narrative develop a marketing stimuli directed to their target choice, guiding them in the way they behave, think and how they feel (Peter et al. 2010:25) and individuals express themselves, or aspire to be through brands, somehow consumers employ marketing communications to chase personal meaning through their consumption (Dahlen 2010:07). Meaning that by elaborating a brand narrative business is essential to have a deep knowledge about their target market. Customers are seem as problem solvers, through communication strategy perspective, their capability to message decode is affected by their level of elaboration and advertising is the conducive way of channel information to consumers, who then has the opportunity to appreciate the message according to their experiences (Fill 2005:197). 2.2.1Brand message- Communication Effectiveness Brand message is essential for this study, taking in consideration that it needs to be apprehended the communication effectiveness of Unicorn strategy, not measuring but understanding the effectiveness of their brand message, how this business is being so successful in communicating their values, when others in ethical trade are failing, essentially understand how Unicorn engage customers through their brand. Communication is an important means for organisations to reach their customers and potential customers (Bendixen 1993: 19), and this can be achieved through advertisement. Many advertisement models were tailored with foundation on Lavidge and Steiner hierarchy of effects model, this model defends that the customer purchasing process starts from awareness, to knowledge, then liking, moving to preference than conviction and finally purchase. The next model has foundation on Lavidge and Steiner effects structure, where Bendixen applied some changes: Forces of Communication Impact Specificness Credibility Relevance Conviction Comprehension Action Unawareness Awareness Forgetfulness Incompreheension Hotility Aphaty Barriers of Communication Figure 3 _ Brand loyalty the 5 stages of Communication (Bendixen 1993: 21) All components of the promotion mix hold diverse magnitudes to communicate. The effectiveness of each communication channel can be chased from the state of unawareness to all the other stages until purchase (Fill 2002: 18). 2.2.2 Brand message and trust The effect of the brand message also has an impact on trust and relationship commitment (Sharma 1999: 152), some studies suggest the critical role of effective communication plays an impact on the perceptions of quality, trust and relationship commitment, it involves the formal and informal channels between customers and the organisations, is meant to give real expectations and educate customers (Sharma 1999: 163). The effectiveness of cause related marketing may have an imperative influence in customer choice (Pracejus et al. 2004: 639). Communication effectiveness/ Brand message Functional quality Technical quality Trust Relationship commitment Figure 4_ Conceptual model of determinants of relationship commitment (Sharma 1999: 156) Effectiveness is an important derivative of communication strategy taking in consideration that for these to have a positive outcome into the target audience, it needs to achieve what was meant to achieve, the audience must decode in the way that the marketer thought that they would decode and if the audience can acknowledge the full meaning and understand the overall brand message, this process was successful, also has impact in which different communication channels to adopt and how it will affect particular consumer responses (Grace et al. 2005: 114), this might be through advertising or any other avenue. If customers acknowledge the brand message and this is something that they aspire or goes according to their values, consumer will tend develop trust with the brand through their messages. Consumer brand knowledge could relate all descriptive and evaluative brand information. In this spectrum, different levels of knowledge as attributes, benefits, thoughts, feelings, that are linked between them (Ghodeswar 2008: 4) would form a reaction to the brand message, and this reaction should be as expected by the brand in this way they accomplish their communication goals. Understanding brand message has an effect to future purchases, through brand relationship that also involve brand satisfaction, brand trust and brand attachment (Esch et al. 2006: 103), brand message need to be clear and adopt the most appropriate channels in order to achieve their target audience. By using their communication strategies effectively will lead to consumer relationship, trust that eventually will turn into brand loyalty. 2.3 Brand Trust Trust develops when one actor has positive assurance with a trading partner (Zboja 2006: 382), as a process that meets their customer expectations and probably overcome these ones. Brand trust is built over the acceptance that brand value can be design and improved in order to overcome consumer satisfaction concerning the product attributes. Brand qualities might also add value to an existing relationship between customers and brands, being trust one of the most critical elements of this relation. Trust is a feeling based on security and in this context trust has foundation in brand reliability and brand intentions; brand reliability is the capacity of brand to correspond to customers needs, in this dimension is necessary to accomplished what the customer is expecting from the brand; and brand intention has emotional roots, which accredits that customers are in an vulnerability situation when making purchasing decisions (Delgado- Ballester 2001: 1242). Consumer trust and satisfaction about a specific brand and the retailer will drive to repurchasing behaviour; trust is a significant element that bridges satisfaction, individual connection towards a brand as shown on figure five. Trust in the Brand Trust in the Retailer Reseller Repurchase Intentions Satisfaction with the Brand Satisfaction with the retailer Figure 5_ Conceptual model of the relationship between consumer perceptions of brands and retailers ( Zboja et al. 2006: 382) Relationship formation is balanced by customer, product and brand attitude. A brand with very distinctive attributes that adjust to customers values and behaviour tend to develop relationship based on the products categories (Hess et al. 2005:316). Trust is involved in brand credibility, and this creates brand loyalty as an element of brand equity and a key concept in customer relationship, and this might be the strongest connection in the marketing tools (Reast 2005:5). Credibility- based Credibility based trust correlates (Conative)Brand trust Performance- satisfaction based Trust Correlates (Cognitive) Truthful Fair minded Sincere Shows concern Similar values Gives confidence Competence Expert Status Reputation Personal Experience Usage History Fulfil expectations Quality consistency People experience Quality level Dependability Figure 6_ Two component model of brand trust correlates (Reast 2005: 5) The left column represents what a brand should provide and the right column is what customers will perceive if content. Credibility demonstrates the honesty and values of the brand where it can be delivered through advertising, packaging to personal interaction (Reast 2005: 9). Brand trust is establish through personal experience with the specific brand, consequently this experience it will guide consumers evaluation of any direct and indirect contact, being the consumption experience the most important as a foundation of trust. Brand trust offers some kind of security, considering that the brand will meet consumption expectations that will have an influence on commitment. (Delgado- Ballister 2001: 1254). Brand properties are vital to ultimate if customer decides to trust it or not. Consumers tend to judge a brand before forming a relationship with it, Lau believes that individuals develop brand trust according to reputation, predictability and proficiency (Lau et al 2009: 344);furthermore trust can be perceived as an ingredient that contrast relationships from transactions. Trust and satisfaction are crucial elements in building personal relationships that eventually will lead to brand loyalty; which has been conceptualised as a repetitive purchasing behaviour of a brand (Lau et al. 2001: 351). 2.3.1 Trust and Brand Loyalty Within the marketing discipline concepts as trust and brand loyalty are linked together, considering that is through trust that brands achieve loyalty from their customers. The consideration of trust in brand is supported by: the relationship between brand and consumer, that implies that the brand hold some characteristics that goes further than a simple product or service; in other spectrum brand trust is also associated to brand value, which is much more than consumer satisfaction, other characteristics can add value to the existing relationship between a brand and a consumer, being trust the most significant property of this relation. (Delgado- Ballester 2001: 1241). Trust in a brand is positively associated to brand loyalty which brings many benefits to the organisation. The brand properties are crucial to determine if the consumer will trust or not this business if the reaction is positive and the customers is repurchasing over again it will be achieved brand loyalty. Brand Predictability Additional Information Job Specifications are in Word format, to download a viewer for Windows click Here or for Mac users click Here all other documents are in PDF format you can get Acrobat Here Recruitment Policy: Click Here Candidate Guidelines: Click Here Job Share Scheme: Click Here About MMU: Click Here Disabled Candidate Support: Click Here Job Details   Job Reference: G2/2245 Job Title: Marketing Assistant Location: All Saints Closing Date: 16 October 2012 Salary Range:  £ 18340.00 to  £ 19972.00 Benefits Holiday Entitlement: 25 Pension:   Yes Job Details Division: Marketing, Communications Development Department: Marketing Communications Office Work Pattern: Temporary Application Form: Click here for Application Form Job Description: The University only accepts applications on a valid application form which can be downloaded by clicking here. You can then upload your completed application in the My Documents section once you have logged in. Please note that a curriculum vitae (CV) will not be accepted for this vacancy. Manchester Metropolitan University MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT MARKETING ASSISTANT (Full-time / Fixed 2 year contract/) Grade 4:  £18,340-  £19,972 per annum We are seeking a Marketing Assistant who is looking for an exciting, challenging role and has excellent marketing and administrative skills. This hands-on post will be part of a new marketing team in the Faculty of Business and Law. This new faculty brings together the Business School a

Culture Essay -- Anthropology, Durkheim, Functionalism

Throughout the complex yet recognised studies upon sociological phenomena, the term ‘culture’ continues to astound anthropological revisions. Whether or not a definition of ‘culture’ can be determined, or merely the exact forces which bring about such an abstract entity, the concept that culture exists can be acknowledged with focus to structural functionalism. The precise justification for culture itself began to enlighten anthropologists such as Durkheim, who in turn has encouraged studies from Malinowski and Parsons for instance. Still, existing theories suggest intensely dynamic and multifaceted definitions of ‘culture’, those of which ‘explain’ culture with various stances. Within contemporary studies, culture itself is often implied using the notion of functionalism. Durkheim outlines a society as a functional culture; both culture and society encompass systems and institutions which determine their own intentions (Durkheim, 1982). Each institution in a culture or society is a portrayal of the exact functions they have in that specific culture or society. Structural functionalism represents a paradigm of reality which interconnects the facets of civilisation and social order (Parsons, 1973). What’s more, it is these interrelations which may define culture as a system of collective purposes. Those specific purposes are determined by the civilisation of which they are present, thus often localised. Malinowski developed interpretations of functionalism in order to avoid ethnocentric ethnographies, and his work emphasises the impression that biological needs of a community are the forces which generate culture (Malinowski, 1944). The needs of a society encourage the development of institutions which function to fulf... ...xtent to which culture can be explained is very limited. A cultural system entitles the recognition of moral codes, survival mechanisms, cognition and an interaction with the environment. Durkheim revolutionised anthropological thoughts amongst sociological theory but the phenomena of ‘culture’ can scarcely be defined. An explanation of culture may encompass the notion that a specific set of views and behaviours will be adopted by a people and they will respond in certain ways, which is their culture. It is a form of society and believing which deviates towards a state of equilibrium; a state which will incorporate shared ideals and morality. The mere complexity and dynamic structure of culture ensures difficulty when explaining the concept; without properly being able to distinguish what culture is, one is also unable to determine its meaning and purpose.

Fliptop Battle: the Modern Balagtasan Essay

Introduction: As a developing country on a contemporary period dominated with diverse influences, different sectors and government organizations as well as the non-governmental organizations anticipate on how to elevate and preserved the most powerful tool for communication – Language. Language is used to express inner thoughts and emotions, make sense of complex and abstract thought, communicate with others, as well as to establish rules and to preserved culture. It is used to inform people of what a person might feel, desire, anticipate, and communicate effectively with words, gestures, and tone of voice in a multitude of situation. Language is a special gift from God to mankind; if language doesn’t exist, human civilization would be impossible. Apart from being a means of communication, it is also a source of thinking as well as an expression. This is the reason why it is termed as â€Å"species uniform† possession of human beings.1 Language change and shifts as time passes by for a variety of reasons responding on social, economic, and political pressures. History records many examples of language changed and shifts fueled by invasions, colonization, and migration. Even without these kinds of influences, a language can change and shifts dramatically if enough users alter the way they speak.2 Media is a general form for modern channels of public information. Traditionally, they are radio, televisions, films, newspapers, and internet. These disseminate information and entertainment on a wide scale and their powers of manipulating public opinion are the subject of much discussion and research.3 Media are changing the terms of our engagement with language and social semiosis in late modernity, and with linguistic variation and dialect as part of that. Media made a great impact on language change by means of word adaptation as well as familiarization of words especially on Filipino people as shown on television, internet, radio, or even newspaper. Multimedia serves as a pathway for manifesting new ideas on preserving languages like the newl y formed Filipino rhythmical poetry debate known as â€Å"Fliptop Battle† popularized through â€Å"Youtube†, a very popular video sharing Web site that lets anyone upload short videos for private or public viewing. 4 Fliptop Battle is a rap battle league in the Philippines partake by young Filipino rappers or popularly called as battle  Ã¢â‚¬Å"emcees† considered as geniuses on a contemporary Filipino language and made to help Philippine rappers promote and train both rap skills and abilities as well as to educate the masses both on a hip-hop cultural level and on a commonsensical level. The league places these rappers in a pit against each other in a battle of lyrical creativity and innate musical rhythm.5 Balagtasan is Filipino art of publicly arguing in extemporaneous, scaled and rhymed poetry manner formed by a group of Filipino poets in April 6, 1924 to commemorate the birth of Francisco Balagtas. Similar to the Fliptop Battle of contemporary period, this were fought by two different â€Å"Makata†, has a moderator, and has jurors that will decide whether who among the two excelled. 6 Balagtasan is a prominent type of literature from the time when is was discovered in 1924 unt il the world war II started. Balagtasan brightens the popularity of lots of makata. Well-noted theatres such as Opere House, Olympic Stadium, and Teatro Zorilla as well as the different theatres in the Philippines were fulled by public. A very expressive battle of discourse on Magazines, Newspapers, and even on the Radio were labeled before the world war II started. Different versions of Balagtasan pop-up in every regions of the language, as well as adopted language like English and Spanish. Being a form of national literature, it is still part of the lives of every filipino not just the whole form balagtasan but every piece of it as a cultural expression.7 Fliptop Battle and the conventional Balagtasan are both battle of wisdom and free-flowing poetic discourse. They give entertainment through humorous approach, bullying using hard-hitting words, and proving who among them is the best. Fliptop Battle as the modern Balagtasan is the focus of this study. Analyzing and critiquing is the main purpose of this research paper. Specifically, this study sought why Fliptop Battle dubbed as Balagtasan of modern day. This study was likewise anchored on the assumption that Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan as one of the modern significant pathway on the preservation of Philippine Language and educating masses on a new breed of wordsmith and calling attention on a dying culture in the Philippines. Statement of the Problem: The study intends to investigates and analyze the benefits together with the profile of Fliptop Battle as the modern balagtasan. Specifically, this study  sought to answer to the following questions: 1. What are the characteristics of the Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan and the Conventional Balagtasan? 2. What is the common feature of the modern and the conventional balagtasan? 3. What are the existing influences of â€Å"Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan† poses along: a. Music b. Literature c. Language d. Entertainment 4. What is the significant contribution of â€Å"Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan† to the preservation of Philippine Language and Culture? Scope and Delimitation: The primary objective of the study is to know why Fliptop Battle is called as the â€Å"Modern Balagtasan† and how will it aid on the preservation of the Philippine Language and Culture. The secondary objective of this study is to know its role and to understand how Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan affects and influences the Philippine Music industry, Entertainment, Literature, and Language. As an addendum, the study will only include major information concerning Fliptop Battle. Significance of the Study: The reason why this study is significant can be explained from three aspects. First, this study investigates the nature, quality, traits, attribute, peculiarity, and distinctiveness of Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan to the conventional Balagtasan. Consequently, this research might offer an empirical awareness to the reader on a dying culture reincarnated through a modern method. Second, this study will give knowledge to the readers regarding the stand of Fliptop Battle to Philippine Music industry, Literature, Language, and Entertainment. Third, it is hoped that this study may help the readers, as well as the authorities on providing the information addressed to the contribution of Fliptop Battle to Philippine Language and Culture. The researchers believed that this study would be beneficial to the following: Literature and Language Teachers — this study will help them in demonstrating and discussing the Modern Balagtasan in  contrast to the conventional balagtasan and encourage the students to love for own culture. Other Researchers – the study will serve as their reference encouraging them to research on different issues concerning cultural problems that needs a corresponding action and a guide for their studies and related purposes. Authorities – this study will serve to different sectors, governmental and non-governmental organizations as additional reference and will call their attention not just on the preservation of Philippine language and literature but also on the conservation and promotion of Philippine culture. NOTES 1Brown, Steven & Attardo, Salvatorre â€Å"Understanding Language Structure, Interaction, and Variation: An Introduction to Applied Linguistics and Sociolinguistics for Non-specialists†, The University of Michigan Press, 2000,2005., Pp. 160 2Mulfwene, Saliko S. â€Å"Language Evolution: Contact, Competition, and Change†, Cromwell Press, Wiltshirem, Great Britain, 2009 Pp.197 3Hawksby, Lester â€Å"Philip’s Encyclopedia† Octopus Publishing Group, c2007., Pp. 505 4 http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/YouTube 5http://neillangit.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/modern-balagtasan/ (August 9, 2010) 6Zafra, Galileo S. â€Å"Balagtasan: Kasaysayan at Antolohiya† Ateneo de Manila University Press, Quezon City Philippines, c1999., Pp. 4-11 7 Ibid., 13. Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature and Studies This chapter presents the related literatures and studies gathered from various books, published and unpublished materials, internet and other references which are related to the present study. This section also consists of synthesis of the state of the art, analytical framework, analytical paradigm, definition of terms, and notes. Related Literature: This present the related literature reviewed â€Å"Fliptop Battle: The modern Balagtasan – An Analysis† is a product of research, and reading on several literatures and studies. Several books such as encyclopedias, journals, magazine, newspapers, audio-visual materials, and other standard reference were used. The Balagtasan: Kasaysayan at Antolohiya of Galileo S. Zafra is a collection of past events, origins, and literary works of popular â€Å"makata’s† in the Philippines since the era of Balagtasan has started and wrote about transforming the consciousness and fighting alien interests and the ills of the society concerning cultural awareness.1 In a documentary video done by Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, it was discussed that Fliptop Battle is a new tool in preserving and reviving the forgotten oral tradition of the Filipinos namely the â€Å"Balagtasan†. Traditions of every ethnicity serve as an identity who they are and where they came from. Based on the documentary, the so-called Modern Balagtasan popularly known as Fliptop Bat tle is being practiced by youths anywhere such as in school, street, and bars. On one of the video footage where CBCP’s Fr. Melvin Castro was featured, he stressed that Fliptop Battle is a very good invention of the youth and can be developed, purified, and elevate the quality.2 Saab Magalona (2010) is a writer of Philippine Star Newspaper. She featured and wrote about Aric Yuson, the founder of the Balagtasan of the modern day. Aric is the son of Alfred Yuson, a well respected Filipino writer and according to the interview done by Magalona, Aric has always been a fan of the battling aspect of hip-hop and watches different battle leagues online such as the biggest rap battle in the world Grind Time Now by America and Canada’s King of The Dot. â€Å"As for rap or emcee battles, I enjoy the spontaneity, competition, and of course, the relatively twisted humor employed in degrading your opponent† Aric shares. The facet is entertaining in itself, but ultimately he enjoys how concepts are formed and then articulated in battle verse. He wanted to apply it to Philippine culture that’s why the Fliptop Battle was born. The merit of Fliptop Battle is to educate the masses on both hip-hop and dying culture in the Philippines which is the Balagtasan especially on the promotion of social awareness.3 In the documentary film done by Motorcycle Diaries of GMA News TV, Jay Taruc presented facts about the Fliptop Battle considered as the Balagtasan of the modern day, its nature, and how Fliptop battle is being practiced. The documentary also reveals that Fliptop Battle is somewhat a pathway for  rappers to promote and educate masses about the hip—hop culture.4 â€Å"Teenagers have a playful mind that’s why it is natural for them to invent their vocabulary; in fact they can form little language. Changes in Language are normal in every existing language like Filipino†. – It is according to Virgilio Almario, a Philippine National Artist for Literature on an interview done by Television channel GMA News TV on the show Balitanghali regarding the impact of Bekimon, Jejemon, and Fliptop Battle: The Modern Balagtasan to Filipino Language.5 In the July, 2010 issue of FHM Magazine, Fliptop Battle was featured together with the founder of it namely Aric Yuson, popularly known as ANYGMA. They presented facts about Fliptop Battle, its origin, behavior, nature, concept, and other important details. The article also stressed that â€Å"Fliptop Battle is one of the Youtube sensations of 2010 because it has gone viral with several of video hits million views in just a couple months†. Related Studies: This presents the related studies, which the researchers were able to find. The development of this study was taken from published and unpublished theses. The Published Doctor in Filipino Thesis of Galileo S. Zafra entitled, The â€Å"Dalumat ng Katuwiran mulang Duplo hanggang Balagtasan† is a study were Balagtasan is being invoked. It is the continuation of his past study entitled â€Å"Kasaysayan at Retorika ng Balagtasan. This study is vital to the following mainly the Literature, History of poetry, Ethnography of Native Culture, and to the Filipino and Ancestral Philosophy. In literature, it provides unique principles to elevate the native literature particularly in rhetorical and oral traditions of regarding verbal jousts and Balagtasan. In history of poetry, distinctions between poetical joust and Balagtasan from native rituals, it can be used as a cradle to reintroduce the history of poetry in the Philippines. In ethnography of native culture, this offers vital promulg ation of fundamentals which will awaken the existence of past events and can be used as a tool for studying culture and data. In Filipino and ancestral phisophy, the study could be a reference in philosophical discourse through the use of criticism. This study is related to the present study since both dealt with Balagtasan as a nearly forgotten tradition in the Philippines. Loreviza, et.al., â€Å"Philipine seditious dramas as a tool for  social awareness† a study mainly to create social awareness on every readers and researchers about the events may happen on the environment using the most powerful tool on influencing the masses – Media. â€Å"As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever – Clarence Darrow†, as part of the community people are subjected to be more critical thinker. If all of these wrongs get ignored, ancestral heritages would probably be forgotten especially the new generation. This study is related to the study since both dealt with social awareness. â€Å"Social issues are inevitable†, a phrase which was stressed on the study â€Å"Social problems reflected in the selected essays from Time Asia Magazine† by Bongalon et.al.,This study focuses on several essays concerning present social issues and aimed to have an understanding on the problems found in their surroundings and its implication to the society which has been taken for granted. In relation to the present study, both aims to persuade the masses in appreciating literary works and create social awareness regarding social issues. Synthesis of the State of the Art: The related literature reviewed helped the researchers on finding necessary information relevant to the present study, including the concrete definition of Balagtasan. The evolution of it from the early period to the present as well as how Balagtasan as a literary form has contributed to the lives of every Filipinos and how it mirrors the society. Especially on the Zafra has a wide scope of Balagtasan on his study â€Å"Ang Dalumat ng Katuwiran Mulang Duplo Hanggang Balagtasan†. He included the â€Å"Duplo† or poetic jousts in his study which is said to be one of the influences of Balagtasan although, the whole dissertation talks about Balagtasan itself. This study becomes the basis of the present study on the contextual of traditional Balagtasan and he then clearly portrays the Balagtasan as a whole. He proved Balagtasan as a form of literature that has vital role in traditions which is culture to the Filipinos. The presentation of the Balagtasan is unique, original, and convincing because of his methodology and ethnography which lead to an evident of the literature and to the society where it belongs. Bongalon et.al., focused on persuading the masses in appreciating literary works of Filipino writers and to generate awareness in the social issues. They used  essays from a magazine regarding social issues which nowadays have been overlooked by many. Loveriza et.al., objective was to convince the readers as well as researchers to become more socially aware on their society and to be more patriotic in their cultural heritages which is similar to the present study. They used Philippine Seditious Drama as a tool which will aid on the witlessness of the present society and in comparison to the present study, both uses audio-visual materials. In this regard the researchers were inspired by this study because no one has yet conducted a research about the Fliptop Battle as the Modern Balagtasan considering that is new in the present society which has a great bearing and significance to the society as whole. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK This study rests on the theory of Max Horkheimer’s (1937) Critical Theory. It deals with revitalization of radical, social and cultural criticism. This theory has two core concept: first is that â€Å"critical theory should be directed at totality of society in its historical specificity, and the second is that critical theory should improve the understanding of society by integrating all the major social sciences including geography, economics, sociology, history, political science, anthropology, and psychology. 2 The first concept deals with addressing it to the society through historical approach. In society, history is part of culture; failure to preserve cultural heritages will lead to overlooking. That’s the reason why Horkheimer have come up with this concept. The second concept states that critical theory should elevate the awareness of society by invoking the components of social sciences. A broad understanding of milieu particularly on societal components will aid on the preservation of cultural heritages and social awareness of every society. This theory aims not just to determine what was wrong with the contemporary society of the present but, by identifying progressive aspects and tendencies within it to help transform society for better.

buy custom The Wife of Bath’s essay

buy custom The Wife of Bath’s essay The story gives an in-depth picture of a womans rebellion against the anti-feminist attack of the medieval age in England. The prologue gives a good and realistic representation of a woman who fights and exerts her own independence during the medieval times. Her rights to progress in the business are pinned on her marital status and as a result, this raises questions on the clearness of the feminine roles during the middle ages (Smith, 2011, para. 2). Proto-feminism is a term that refers to the ancient movement among women that advocated for feminism concepts. This philosophical point of view existed before the 20th century, a period when feminism was still not yet accepted into the society. According to the Wife of Baths Tale, feminist ideas could not hold in the medieval times. There is quite a lot that can be inferred from the prologue and the tale itself. This paper will discuss the proto-feminist stand portrayed in the story and analyze whether this theme is well depicted in the tale or not. Alison, who is playing as the wife of bath is presented as one of the best developed and discussed women in the literature during the middle Ages. She is presented as a strong willed and vigorous lady who declines to give way for men to control her moves (Ames, 2007, p. 88). She therefore stands on her feet to fight for her destiny. Although she is seen as a forerunner of the feminist ideas, her prologue depicts her as anti-feminist orator. The prologue is actually a dramatic monologue in which the actor is expressed in her own words. Although she tries to sermonize, she turns out destructive to some extent. The wife of Bath attacks medieval system of belief thereby using aggression as her defense. The dominance of authority over experience is somehow twisted. It is found that experience gives forth tolerance and focuses on other views. Concerning genital, she says experience requires the genitals not to be used just for urination, but instead for sex. She further points out that Jesus did not give a decree on virginity (Ames, 2007, p. 88). She quotes the bible and argues that even if the bible talks about virginity as perfection, it does not required such perfection from everyone. She speaks about the intricate politics of sex in marriage life, mostly employing economic language. The concept superiority of the husband is found to be turned upside down. Additionally, the dominance of the spirit over the body is still twisted. According to her, she finds the aspect of experience as she calls it, the right one for her. She is very keen to justify herself referring to the authority from the bible. She argues that Christ did not prevent people from marrying more than once according to the story of the woman who had five husbands (Ames, 2007, p. 88). She already had five husbands and was still looking for the sixth. She further claims that the scripture can be interpreted from either point of view, both up and down. She uses this claim to illustrate how genitals can serve for urination purposes and as reproductive organs for differentiating males from females (Smith, 2011, para. 4). It is at this juncture that the pardoner interrupts, asserting that he was intending to marry a wife and that she put him off. She therefore advises him to put into consideration the advice that she was to offer to him. The conversation that follows thereafter depicts the status of a feminine dominated society (Chaucer, 2011, para. 3). Feminine sex roles are seen to have dominance over masculine ones. It is quite surprising to have this kind of experience bearing in mind the time of the incident was experienced. It was way beyond the invention of feminism movements and affirmative action for female gender. The wife continues to claim that women who wanted to have dominance over men did it very smartly as illustrated in the bible. The women could easily manipulate these men in order to get what they wanted from them. She claims that three out of the five husbands were good while two were bad. They were also rich but impotent mainly due to their old age (Ames, 2007, p. 88). As a result, these husbands gave the wife all the wealth that she needed. She claims that a wife uses great tactics that allow her husbands become victims of manipulation. She might even initiate an argument; make various justifications just to attain what she wants. She managed to cover up her own adultery by accusing her husband of infidelity. The wife was able to siphon money from her husbands by alleging that if she were to sell her sexual flavors, she would make more money than what they offered her (Delahoyde, 2010, para. 10). This was normally how the wife treated her first three husbands. The wifes fourth husband was a reveler, and had a mistress in addition to having his wife. The fourth husband was a good match for the wife of bath as they mutually had similar traits. However, he soon died. Although the fifth husband was good in bed, he was very violent towards the wife. He used to beat her brutally. She loved him because of how he used to play hard to have her. After he died, she married the fifth husband, was half her age. A female domineering character is portrayed through the interaction of Jankin, the fifth husband with the wife (Ames, 2007, p. 91). When he reads a book containing information on anti-feminism, the wife punched Jankinon the face making him fall onto the fire. He wakes up and hits her sending her on sprawling on the floor. After Jankin asks for forgiveness, she makes him burn the book. This portrays her as a courageous woman who is not ready to be intimidated, not even by her husband. The wife of Baths Tale is a story given when King Arthur ruled the earth. During this time, elves used to go round impregnating women. Nevertheless, the wife deviates spontaneously and the friars have replaced the elves. They have become copulating evil spirits. The king had a knight who found a maiden alone and raped her. This type of crime was normally punishable by death in the court (Ames, 2007, p. 87). However, the queen begged the king to spare the young mans life on condition that, within a span of one year, he was to find out what women desire most. After searching for the answer for a long period of time, he finally met an old lady who promised to help him with the answer provided he agreed to marry him. She gave him the answer and after presenting it to the queen, he was pardoned his mistakes. Although Knight was happy after winning the favor of the queen, he still felt miserable since he was supposed to honor his promise of marrying the old lady. They had a private wedding. The old lady realized his unhappiness after they went home and was lying on the bed. She gave him two alternatives to choose from. He could either have her as an old lady who would never both her or she could be a young and fair wife who could most likely bother him. The lady transformed into a young woman and the couple lived happily thereafter (Smith, 2011, para. 4). She concludes by claiming that Christ should kill all the men who are not ready to be governed by women. The wife of Bath has her voice highly typical, self promoting and aggressive. Through her prologue, she silences the Pardoner and the Friar. One of the major issues for interrupting the prologue is to show its relationship with the rest of the story. Some scholars have argued that the story ends wistfully with a sorrowful wish of an elderly lady whose hope for a sixth husband might turn futile. On the other hand, there are those who argue that the whole story revolves around the issue of mastery and control. As the story opens, we are told about the lady who was raped by Knight (Smith, 2011, para. 2). This is an indication of a man who is physically dominating a female. Furthermore, as the story closes, an illustration is given of a woman whose desire is being satisfied. However, a question arises on the premise under which a woman receives dominion over a man is all she does with it is to make her husband happy. The text and how it is interpreted is paramount to the wife of Baths Tale. She is presented in the prologue as being enveloped in textile spinning. Besides being excellent in giving a tale, she is also good at spinning a cloth. At the end of the tale, the lady requests her husband to cast up the curtain and see her as she really is (Delahoyde, 2010, para. 12). As a matter of fact, it becomes hard for one to differentiate where fiction and reality commences. The wife asserts that she stands for the female voices. Her story comprises of various women who represent each other. For instance, the raped maiden is signified by the queen, who is then represented by the elderly lady. She in turn transforms herself into the beautiful young lady. The image that precedes her manifestation is fittingly twenty four women who vanish into one. The wife is portrayed as the spokeswoman, on behalf of other women. She is opposed to male writers who have written articles on antifeminism like the one Jankin reads besides the fire. It is particularly ridiculous how the wife asserts to advocate for experience yet she spends most of her time in the prologue in dealing with the written authority. Although she is opposed to text, she is an expert in it. Also, even if against clerks, she turns out very clerical. Furthermore, she is very much bitter about the anti-feminist writing but on the other hand, she makes up the same anti-feminist texts (Delahoyde, 2010, para. 14). It can be plainly said that the voice of the wife is evident throughout the story. Her interrupted monologue in both the tale and prologue shows how the wifes voice dominates most parts of the tale. As a matter of fact, there are other uninterrupted monologues by Jankin, while reading from the book of wives. Also, the lothly lady is involved in another monologue on poverty and gentilesse. The wife is depicted as a more intricate figure than just a proto-feminist. She refers to an old myth, where a lion asked a rhetoric question after seeing an image of a man triumphing over a lion. The lion enquired whether the painting had been done by a man or a lion. Therefore, the story portrayed the same message and one could be ask whether the case could be similarly dismissed. In one way, it could serve (Smith, 2011, para. 4). This is because; the wife is portrayed as a lying and scheming woman. She thus fits into the anti-feminist habit that she represents. All these complex and fascinating questions show how the tale is remarkable to interpret. One of the key factors not to forget is that there is no wife without a husband. It is therefore, impportant to comprehend the proto-feminist wife of Bath from the perspective which understands her tough links to the men in her social circle. If the wife of Bath was meant to smash the long accepted stereotype of women, it could be seen that she would perhaps involve herself in a smart and well-versed conversation with some of those people supporting her (Smith, 2011, para. 3). Nevertheless, the closer she comes to this is through offering her bent understanding and interpretation of the bible. It is written in the bible that people should procreate; however, the wife prefaces this statement with claims of how men just do all the interpretation of the bible. She therefore asserts that she is also in a position to interpret the bible also and that the text is not even beyond her reach. The worst idea that is depicted from this illustration is that it does not portray her as having intelligence but instead, she was authenticating her lose conduct with the word of God. More importantly, her prologue shows that the wife was not trying to show herself as a woman who was able to have autonomy of thought, as she merely uses the bible. She uses an approach that is mainly linked with male dominion to support her claims. As a matter of fact, she is working well within the patriarchy rather than outside of it (Smith, 2011, para. 4). She only therefore substantiates the negative stereotypes about women due to the fact that the ideas that she gives are twisted or misunderstood. This is mainly portrayed when she tries to justify bad conduct with the bible. Additionally, her misinterpretations of the bible make her look foolish instead of an informed and educated lady. This is a clear indication and representation of the women in the medieval ages (Delahoyde, 2010, para. 12). It demonstrates that women did not have the capacity to comprehend the deep meaning and mysteries found in the bible. It also shows that if they were provided with a little information ab out it, they would utilize it to justify their sinful behaviors. Many scholars debate concerning the Wife of Baths Prologue and Tale. They try to find out if the use of Alison in the tale is meant to reinforce or cancel misogynist ideas. Throughout her prologue, the wife authenticates the bad stereotypes about women. She portrays herself to be a little more than a prostitute (Smith, 2011, para. 3). Instead f being a revolutionary figure representing feminist views, she simply concerns herself with search for husbands who will offer material things in exchange for her sexual favors. According to her, money, sex and marriage are all interconnected and are inseparable. In addition, to support the issue of how the wife propagates the negative stereotypes of women, she withholds sexual favors from the husbands who do not give her enough money that she demands. This can be seen as a representation of a woman in the middle ages who is trying to exercise her independence. However, the only power that she uses is that of her sexuality (Smith, 2011, para. 2). The only thing that differentiates her from a prostitute is the fact that there is a legal obligatory contract that joins them. Nevertheless, this is totally opposite and far from the feminist view of a solid marriage as it is greatly aligned with the old and bad stereotypes of women. It is worth noting that when the wife says she would no longer abide in bed, there is a message that she is trying to put across. She is illustrating and confirming how women who are obsessed with money lower their self esteem to exchange their own sexual favors to earn a living. Furthermore, she is trying to prove that an informed and empowered woman should not be held by the york of love and marriage (Smith, 2011, para. 1). Instead, she ought to be free to do as she wishes. However, this great feeling is reverted as she portrays herself as a contradiction when speaking about the last husband. She said the fifth husband used to beat her and she loved him for that. It is quite surprising how events later turn out to be such that the former domineering wife is finally happy with a man who is battering her. The idea that audience gets from the last episodes is that the wife has a complicated understanding of marriage such that at the end, she accepts to be beaten by the husband. Even if she had fought back to get her autonomy, at the end of the tale, she is seen to give in to male dominion (Smith, 2011, para. 4). As a result, she ends up not being the revolutionary female figure she portrayed in the beginning. She is no longer the proto-feminist but rather, the same kind of a female who occurs frequently through the Middle Ages and other literature. Although she tries to portray herself as strong-willed and an autonomous female, in the end, she becomes part of the negative stereotype than an ordinary woman. Although it can be suggested that the Wife of Bath could have demonstrated an early and proto-feminist character, there are too many features that show how she is part of the patriarchy system rather than being outside it. For a female figure to be truly feminist and revolutionary, she has to find a way of presenting herself partly with men and also independent of them (Smith, 2011, para. 5). The wife of Bath decides to use the patriarchal systems of religion and marriage for her own benefit instead of looking for more meaningful transformations. Buy custom The Wife of Bath’s essay

History of Public Relations Essays

History of Public Relations Essays History of Public Relations Essay History of Public Relations Essay Public Relations (PR) results from a convicted and thoughtful communication process that recognizes that favourable public opinion, attention and support is not achieved by accident. It recognizes a great deal of hard work since success depends on ensuring that nothing happens by chance. This is probably due to the inevitable growing complexity of the world and its communication channel and our Ghanaian society in particular. Every organization either provides a service or direct sales of products to its publics. This is regardless of whether the organization is state owned or otherwise. This presupposes that every organization has its own defined publics it deals with day to day basis. This is where PR comes in. According to the British Institute of Public Relations (IPR), PR is a deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organization and its publics. In 1999 the Institute added another version to the definition which is on reputation – Public Relations is about reputation, the results of what you do, what you say, what others say about you. Public Relations practice is a discipline, which looks after reputation – the aim of earning understanding, support and influence public opinion. Edward Bernays, the grandfather of PR in the USA sees Public Relations practitioner as an applied sociologist who advises clients or employers on social attitudes and action to be taken to win the support of public upon which the viability of the employers and clients depend (Harrison, 2000). Cutlip, Center and Broom (1985) are of the view that â€Å"Public Relations is a management function that establishes and maintains mutual beneficial relationships between an organization and the publics on which its success or failure depends† Ruehl defines public relations as â€Å"Public Relations is what public relations does† â€Å" PR practice is the art and social science of analyzing trends predicting their consequencies, counseling organizations leaders and implementing planned programmes of action which serve both the organization and the publics interest† (World Assembly of PR, Mexico City, 1978) Canfield (1952) in different semester inner do, upholds this perception of Public Relations as â€Å"a social philosophy of management expressed in policies and practice which are communicated to the public to secure its understanding† Philip Kitchen (1977) in his book Public relations; Principles and Practices came out with a revelation that over 500 Public Relations definitions exist; however a number of common themes abound as follows; Public Relations is essentially a communication function but the emphasis is on the two- way nature of the communication process. Public Relations is concerned with establishing and maintaining mutual understanding (goodwill) between an organization and its particular group of people (publics). Public Relation serves as an intelligent function analyzing and interpreting trends and issues in the environment that may have potential consequences for an organization and its stakeholders. Running through these definitions is the fact that, the p ractice is essentially in promoting mutual understanding, rapport and goodwill between an organization and its publics. Such a condition, needless to say is indispensable to the success of every establishment including higher education. It must be noted that this condition is premised on a two-way communication system with both inward and outward activities. An organization must be able to communicate its plans and actions to the public and at the same time, the public thinking and attitude must be communicated to the organization in order to evolve acceptable policies. It is not enough that an organization should have good intentions; it is essential that such intentions be communicated to the publics and translated into concrete acts. It is only by making people know and see concrete deeds that one can build a good public image. The importance of Public Relations practice is underscored by the indispensability of communication in any human setup. However, in spite of this importance in our side of the world Public Relation practice has suffered certain abuses by those who profess to practice it as well as those who are supposed to benefit from its practice. While management seems not to appreciate the importance and its relevance, the numerous publics do not appear to understand it and the practitioners themselves have for most part been woefully incapable of explaining to both management and the various publics what the practice entails. In short the Public Relations profession, its aims and objectives, guiding principles have largely not been understood and appreciated by the public. 2. 0 HISTORY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS â€Å"In truly democratic society everything depends upon the consent of the public† Thomas Jefferson. Public Relations began when people started communicating and needed to motivate others. The idea of public relations as a profession is relatively young. Public Relations is a twentieth (20th) century phenomenon and Edward Bernays often accredited as the father of Public Relations. He played a major role in defining the industry’s philosophy and methods. The history of Public Relations is mostly confined to the early half of the twentieth century; however there is evidence of practices scattered through history. A number of American precursors to the Public Relations are found in the form of publicists who specialized in promoting circuses, theatre performances and other public spectacles. In the United States of America where Public Relations’ has its origin, many early Public Relations practices were developed in support of rail roads. Many scholars believed that the first appearance of the term â€Å"Public Relations† appeared in 1897 year book of Railway Literature. Later, practitioners were recruited from the rank of journalism. Some reporters concerned with ethnics criticize former colleagues for using their inside knowledge/understanding of news media to help clients receive fovourable media coverage. 2. 1 THE FIRST NAMES Some historians regard Ivy Lee as the first real practitioner of Public Relations but Edwards Bernays is generally regarded as the profession’s founder. In the United Kingdom, Sir Basil Clarke (1879-1947) was the pioneer Public Relations. The First World War helped stimulate the development of Public Relations as a profession. Many of the first professionals get their start with the â€Å"Committee on Public Information† (also known as the Creel Committee) which organized publicity on behalf of the USA objectives during the World War II. In describing the origin of the term Public Relations, Bernays commented â€Å"when I came back to the United States of America (after the war) I decided that if you could use propaganda for war, you could certainly use it for peace. And propaganda get to be a bad word because of the German’s using it. So what I did was to try to find some other words, so we found the words (counsel of â€Å"(Public Relation)† Bernays was the profession’s first theorist based on Sigmund Freud’s theories about the irrational, unconscious motives that shape behaviour. He authorized several books; Criticizing public opinion (1923), Propaganda (1928) and The engineering of consent (1937). Ivy Lee is credited with developing the modern news release (also called press release). He espoused a philosophy consistent with what has been called the â€Å"two – way street† to Public Relations. It is reported that Kings College (Columbia University) sent out an announcement of its 1758 graduation ceremonies the first anywhere in the colonies – several newspapers printed it apparently the first instance of a NEWS RELEASE. 2. 2 PUBLIC RELATIONS IN GHANA The emergence of Public Relations in Ghana according to Gyan (1991) was characterized by scenario in which Public Relations Officers in such departments as administration, marketing, sales and personnel carried out Public Relations functions. Gyan (1991) further notes that, where the need for Public Relations job offer arises, organizations usually opted for press or information officers usually from the Information Services Department (ISD) of the Ministry of Communication. This had the effect of reducing the Public Relations practice to publicity or press relations thus limiting the scope of the practice in Ghana. Shortly before and after independence, that is between the late 1950’s and early 1960’s the civil service started replacing expatriate principal secretaries with Ghanaians. Multinationals like UAC, PTC, Shell and BP followed suit by appointing Ghanaian intermediaries between them and their various respective publics. Significantly, virtually all these Ghanaians who were given the Public Relations functions came from journalistic background and were therefore given the opportunity to learn some skills in PR practice. Some of these early PR practitioners took advantage of refresher courses to upgrade themselves and later became accomplished PR practitioners. Notably among them were Mrs. Veronica Addae-Mensah, Mrs. Regina Agbozo, Moses Dorvlo Herman Alan, Kafui Asem and Carl Reindorf. They joined the PR profession from other fields. The stigma attached to the PR by the unprofessional approach of some untrained practitioners in the past still remains. Thus in his article entitled â€Å"Public Relations, African’s biggest problem† Santuah Niagia Affidiweh (1998) asserts that Public Relations in Ghana has been reduced to negotiating for canopies for meetings, organizing press coverage’s or receiving delegates for conferences. He summed up saying â€Å"Public Relations in our part of the world is still a serious joke† However, Public Relations practitioners like honourable Kwadwo Yankah, Kafui Asem, honourable Ekow Spio-Garbah, J. E. Papoe Allotey and Ben Antwi have by their sterling performances in the field of Public Relations proved that PR practice has become recognized as a scientific professional and indispensable management tool in Ghana. In a recent study conducted by Wu, Ming-Yi, Baah-Boakye, Kwame,(2008) on â€Å"Profile of Public Relations Practice in Ghana, Practitioners role Most Important Skills† revealed that now most public relations practitioners perform managerial roles and take part in decision-making process. However, public relations practitioners who perform communication technician role do not have decision-making powers in their respective organizations. This result is different from the results of the Gyan(1991) study. The results of her study suggested that PR practitioners’ positions were very low on the organizational chart. However, they are now performing managerial roles and have decision-making powers in the organizations. Comparing the results with Gyan (1991) study which was conducted 16 years ago, we can see improvement in professional status of PR in Ghana. Currently, all state institutions have employed the services of qualified PR practitioners and consultancies to help promote and protect their respective images. Thus the practitioner is therefore a policy person and advisor to his or her organization. 3. 0 HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION From Colonial Harvard University to today’s online courses, higher education whether public or private has occupied an important place in the social cultural and political spectrums. It signified citizen commitment to next generations’ future as well as avenue to produce knowledge for current use. Today the long insulated position of higher education like other professions such as law and medicine is undergoing public scrutiny in all parts of its complex operations. Such change from enjoying reverend, unquestioned status to being pushed into high profile arena populated by media, special interest groups, empowered consumers and other vocal entities present new challenges to higher education public relations practitioners. (For example, Students’ reporters/journalists of the Part Time programme often scan the notice boards for news worthier items for publication. ) Because, the historical structure within higher education institutions evolved quietly, often without wide spread public attention, the new demand, by outside groups for accountability might seem like a threat for higher education. For example, it came as surprise to see an article published in the Ghanaian Times Newspaper in 2001, calling on the government to initiate action to investigate the financial impropriety and abuse of power leveled against the Finance Officer and Registrar of University of Education, Winneba. The number of rejoinders that were published after the University had stated its side of the story was overwhelming. That was unprecedented in the history of universities in Ghana. The issue of examination malpractices involving the son of a Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Asenso Okyere took centre stage in the media circles. A court action was instituted by the University of Ghana against the Daily Graphic, Newspaper. This compelled the paper to withdraw an article published by the paper alleging that 30% of student’s population of the University is HIV positive. This is clear demonstration of media scrutiny of higher education, which had hitherto enjoyed uninterfered running of the universities. The recent proliferation of the press and the electronic media (Radio stations broadcasting in local Ghanaian languages) may pose a serious challenge to the universities in Ghana on the best practices in media relations. Center, Cutlip and Broom (1985) description of closed and open system aptly illustrates higher education transitory state. The traditional close system promise of higher education institutions emphasized bringing internal and external stake holders in line with the organization with little regards for how the interaction of the components parts appeared to work together or conflict, hence the â€Å"ivory tower†. By contrast, the open system promise view external and internal holders interactions as critical to adopting to and flourishing in today’s changing environment something higher education is realising it must do. In the 21st century, emphasis will continue to be on the individual’s responsibility and power of choice for selecting and questioning his or her own health care options, to demanding quality and relevance from higher education institutions. One, the public perception of higher education must be more responsive to the needs of its constituents including being more accessible to different types of students more aware of and responsive to educational costs more concern with relevance of higher education to the market place. The internal structure of higher education is also chaotic, with many different factions balancing their goals with others while competing for resources and visibility, example, graduate education versus undergraduate education, finite and often diminishing resources versus increasing resources, administration versus faculty on issues such as academic freedom nd governance innovation versus traditional course and informal delivery system. In Ghana, for example, it took the University of Ghana, the oldest University, a considerable length of time and political pressures for it to change from the term system (3 terms) to semester system after all the other Universities in Ghana had adopted the semester sy stem. The structure is often compared with multitude of fiefdoms squabbling under the nose of a king. As higher education institutions grew and became more fragmented internally, functions became compartmentalized and seemed to operate without the knowledge of what other parts of the institutions were doing. Warner (1996) detailed the other disjointed developments of higher education as a separate office to deal with media relations, publications video services (most recently) website for external audiences. All of these coexist with internal faculty and staff audience resulting in a plethora of seemingly, unrelated and often contradictory external and internal messages. Now more than ever, higher education institutions not only must become aware of public relations efforts going on in their respective Universities but also must step up and coordinate these efforts within the structures before going out to the external audiences. As Berube (1996) wrote â€Å"the most important thing is that we need to re-evaluate our priorities internally, if we are going to understand how we might be valued externally† page 17. Today, good public relations is vital to the successful functioning of any educational institution. Higher education has been branded as â€Å"two expensive† and suffers from the receiving charge that money is wasted and graduates cannot get jobs. Universities face competition for students and dwindling resources it usually has three charges to fulfill that is teaching, service and research. Many are not aware of the last two, it is the job of public relations to create that awareness. 4. 0 THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ROLES Background The University Relations Office for the Kumasi Campus of UEW was set up in 1996 when the then KATTC was integrated into the University. The main objectives of the office is to provide an efficient, effective and high quality corporate publicity and public relations services to the University of Education, Winneba (Kumasi Campus) including; Production of external and internal corporate communication and publicity materials. Proactive and responsive media relations activities Advise and guidelines to other departments on media, liaison and promotional activities Staging of special events and protocol services to University of Education, Winneba guests Also to enhance the image and visibility of the university through the various functions of media relations, publications, advertising, marketing, special events and strategic public relations planning, for the administrative and academic departments in achieving the university goals. The practice of PR in an educational setting like the universities is similar to that of other government institutions. It is very important that PR specialists be part of the instituti ons management team. Many a time institutions don’t include PR in their management team. Ideally the PR should attend top-level management meetings involving the Vice Chancellor and other Administrators to ensure what we call â€Å"Learning the Whys and the Wherefores of decision made and lending counsel† University and College PR are generally carried out through the public information bureaus. The responsibilities consist of producing and distribution of news releases photographs and special events. The major roles of public relations are basically to analyze, create, projects, influence, sustain, educate and building relationships. The public relations practitioner may operate at the level of manager (sit at management table e. . Deputy Registrar at KNUST) or Technician (implementing). There are many different functions or activities engaged by the public relations practitioner to be able to perform all these roles – whether, in organizational functions such as media relations, and publicity or societal functions such as social responsibility and commun ity relations, the functions are the driving forces behind the way public relations is practiced in institutions. For the purpose of this presentation I would like to discuss the following; Media Relations Event Management Publications/Publicity Reputation building Community Relations Employee Relations Internal and external communications Protocol and passages 4. 1 Media Relations Media relations is one of the key functions of public relations. It is an important aspect of public relations since the media are important tools for effective public relations. Again the media, being the channel through which information is disseminated to the organization’s publics, are themselves a major public of the organization. Media relations is an organization function that is conducted through the media through channels such as, television, newspapers, magazines, and radio. An effective media relations often depends on designing and implementing a well though-out plan. The responsibilities of the PR specialist in such fields include writing and distributing news releases, feature articles and rejoinders to the press and compiling press list, publishing of newsletters, handling and maintaining media information, service, arranging press, radio and television interview for management. Also preparing marketing plans and strategic promotional and marketing efforts are other activities undertaken by the PR. A classic example of good media relations practice was documented in 1999 when Barclays Bank was donating some items to UEW-K and KNUST, the media team decided to have the presentation done on our campus to give us more publicity due to the good relationship that we had established with them. The type of media to use depends on accessibility and affordability in addition to what is their target audience. At times the University has little or no control over the messages in the media, it is the reporter and writers that decide what will be published depending on the angle they choose. 4. Publicity/Publication Publicity is a public relations function to ensure that the University has a strong public image. It can help the public to understand the University and its products and services. From promotional activities to marketing campaigns, publicity is the tool that public relations use to get the word about the University to the public. Negative publicity can cost organizations million s of Ghana cedis and forced out of the market. The public relations section has embarked on a deliberate campaign to prevent negative publicity through coordinated activities with the students and the edia in Kumasi. The creation of the notice board to display pictures of events and programmes are means of disseminating information to the University community through â€Å"News in Pictures†. Production and distribution of newsletters, leaflets, brochures and magazines are some of the activities undertaken to publicize the University. Articles are sometimes written and sent to the media to publish thereby keeping the Universities in the public mind through constant positive publicity. 4. 3 Community Relations The relationship that an organization has with its community can be vital to the success of that organsation. Institutions can interact with the community in numerous ways, from participating in community activities, to putting on events through donations. Successful organizations understand that their relations with the surrounding community is important. Community goodwill must be maintained through proactive public relations programmes in cities and towns where Universities are located. Due to this reason, it makes sense for Universities to participate in neighborhood programmes. The PR department should also serve as liaison between the university and the community and work closely with other social partners in the locality. For instance, University of Education, Winneba –Kumasi Campus has constantly maintained healthy relationships with the Manhyia Palace and other sub-chiefs in the catchment areas, like Atwima Agogo, Asuoyboah, Tanaso and Apatrapa. The naming of one of the two halls Atwima after the district is a vivid example. Occasionally, students, church and other members of the community are allowed to make use of university’s facilities to promote good neighbourliness. The community would be prepared and defend you in times of any problem or difficulty. The introduction of the admission to students from less endowed schools by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is clear indication of the university’s corporate social responsibility to the communities. There is currently a proposal before management for consideration on UEW’s contribution to the Best Teacher Awards scheme instituted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) by the University Relations Office. UEW-K is one of the first institutions to pay a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister when he assumed office recently. 4. 4 Employee Relations Internal motivation is vital factor which attacks the bottom line by building morale, enhancing productivity and creating team spirit. Public relations provides an early warning system by avoiding interruptions which may occur when single surprise issue or unplanned for social/political changes arise. Public relations practitioners interact more with the internal and external audiences than only one else in the organisation. Public relations helps institutions to manage change and ensure smooth transition in the system. Example, whenever, there is change is management, the public relations office informs the staff and students of the change and its implications. Through seminars and workshops the staff and students are given in death knowledge about the University, what it stands for, its structures and policies. 4. 5 Communication Expert The Public Relations Office deals with the management of both internal and external communication. It is responsible for promotion of the mission and vision of the University and also manages and improves the flow of information within the University and between the University and the publics that it serves. Public relations professionals have a role to play in helping management to keep in touch with their various publics because the role of public relations within an organization has become that of spokesperson to management, they actively solicit both employee and consumer opinions and make management aware of the effects of various decision on clients and employees. That is in line with the two-way systemic public relations model by (Grung and Hunt). It is important to realize that public relations is vital not only in helping to secure the universities funding, but also in recruitment of staff and students. We have to make sure that we build that basic awareness of what the University (UEW) is all about. We have to keep in mind that university is a learning community that needs different constituents to join in to make it strong. We are facing heavy competition for those constituents to join other communities. For example, when the part-time programme started, the University Relations Office went round institutions and organizations to inform them of the introduction of the programme by distributing brochures and other leaflets to sensitize them. The challenge for the future will be to continue to become more effective in getting stories out to the media and the public without taking the lecturers’ energy away from teaching or research. The institution of e media encounter and meet the press series are some of the programmes planned to promote research findings and papers presented at conferences and in international journals. Example the Department of Technology Education’s research into the use of oil palm for furniture was given much publicity. Recently, the office wrote a circular calling on the University community to furnish the University Relations Office of such information for upward publication to the University community. Public relations helps to overcome management isolation, something that can affect every organization sooner or later. An inescapable PR role is opening the eyes and ears of management to what is really happening out there (intelligence gathering function). The 1999 students’ demonstration on the Kumasi Campus, students’ reaction to the University’s delay in releasing results on time and the breakdown of the University of Education, Winneba Online Student Information System (UEWOSIS). The office quickly gathered enough and relevant information and advised management on what steps to take to avert agitations and confrontations. 5. 0 ACHIEVEMENTS The University Relations Office of the University has chalked a considerable success in the areas of media relations, communication event management and protocol services. The office in collaboration with the students, staff and management has been able to establish and maintain a very good rapport with the media. This has resulted in the projection of image of the University in media circles. There hasn’t been any negative publicity in the media on the University. Thus the University enjoys good reputation. The university is always in the news projecting its activities, core values and programmes. In the area of publication and publicity, we have contributed a number of articles in the University Newsletter, produced attractive brochures for our part-time and MSc in Marketing and e-Commerce programmes. The brochure covering the Kumasi Campus of the UEW published in 2005 is another classic example. The office frequently issues News Releases to inform the University Community on the events and programmes taking place in the university. We have successfully organized and staged a number of high profile events, like congregation, matriculation, media encounter, congregation lectures, workshops, seminars and orientation programmes etc. Good organizational skills of event management have contributed to the successful organisation of events sometimes at a very short notice. Our concerned for the image and reputation of the University motivated us to make sure that we coordinate all the activities to ensure incident free events. We have exhibited excellent customer relationships among the numerous clients, guests, visitors that do business with the university (both local and foreign). We have provided good protocol services to our guests and warm front desk/reception has always been accorded our visitors. We received commendations for our good works both written and verbal from the numerous guests; example was a letter from Mrs. Quashie-Sam, former Registrar of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST). We launched a successful campaign to make the UEW-K become a household name or to inform the Kumasi public of the new status of the Kumasi Campus of the University. There have been tremendous results. UEW-K is now known to most institutions and organizations as well as general public including taxi and trotro drivers. In the areas of policy direction we have written and contributed a number of proposals in the form of memoranda to ensure that we move in the right direction. The introduction of radio lecture and innovative programmes on the Mynd FM has contributed to the projection of very enviable image of the institution. 6. 0 CHALLENGES In spite of the success chalked, the section faces a number of challenges. The greatest challenge is that the University Relations Officer is on 24 hour call without much incentive like allowances. The problem has compounded with the absence of the Principal and Registrar on campus. He is the first point of call and in the event of any crisis he should be prepared to manage it. Limited office space is another serious challenge. There is no privacy to our guests who come to discuss confidential matters. Means of transport is sometimes difficult to come by but thanks to the Deputy Registrar who readily releases his pick up to us for our numerous assignments. The absence of qualified staff with journalism background to handle news and article production is another setback. The delay in procurement of certain vital logistics and in release of funds for programmes is a source of worry. 7. 0 RECOMMENDATIONS We wish to recommend that the Office be upgraded to that of a department to enable it operates fully and efficiently. Acquisition of means of transport for the unit would help us function effectively. Also the provision of new strategically located and spacious office will help interaction with staff, students and guests more professional and diligently.