Definitely it's not THE END!

Hello everyone, 

Hope you guys are enjoying your Internship and gaining valuable experience as well. My internship has came to an end, but it has definitely prepare me to a more challenging working life! 

I would like to thanks to PR Internship this unit which has pushed me from my comfort zone. This internship has made me grown up a lot and get to experience the life of a PR Officer. Besides, I have found my personalities and abilities during the placement based on the jobs that have been assigned by the supervisor. This enables me to choose the job that I am more suitable based on my strengths and abilities. 

Below is the summarize of the jobs that I have put to practice in my PR Internship. 

• Events: Planning activities for the visitors (from primary schools, secondary schools) by using Event Plan. 
• Press release: Using the Inverted pyramid format to write a media release and ensure the release is easy to understand by others. 
• Media clipping: Cut out all the press releases about Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri,the competitors and also the industry that its operate in. 
• Design notices: Design and put up the notices about the event to inform public

Some useful tips for those who are still doing your Internship:

• Say YES to everything. If we are asked to do things during placement, grab the opportunity and help them. It is because this is the chance for us to learn the things which we do not know. Besides, this attitude will also show that we are enthusiastic in our work and we are willing to learn new things. 
• Learn from the mistakes. Do not get upset or disappoint when we make mistakes. It is because everyone make mistakes as long as we learn from the mistakes and do not repeat it again in the future. 
• Be professional. We should be professional no matter in our dress code or works. As a PR Practitioner, the first impression is very important. Thus, we should dress professionally and neatly in order to create a good impression to our boss or the clients. In addition, when we come to work, we should not keep on playing our mobile phones. 
• Be punctual. It is important to reach the office early. When we have the habit to be punctual during placement, we will definitely have the same attitude when we go out to work. 

Lastly, This internship has opened my mind and eyes on how big the world of PR is and also the powerful of PR. I have noted down all the valuable experiences that I have gained throughout the journey and also the important lessons that have taught by Ms. Sofina. 

Group photo with my supervisor, Ms.Sofina (standing 2nd from the left) and my intern friends

I believe this is not an end, it will be a new beginning for me to explore deeper into the PR world. 

Good luck with the report guys! 

Best regards, 

Daphney Koh, 

17635884, 

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. 

What I have learnt on holding an exhibition ALONE!

Hello guys, I have been doing my internship at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri for almost 1.5 months. Throughout the journey, I have gained a lot of working experiences and some technical skills such as Photoshop which might be useful for my future career. I have learnt another software, Canva for designing purposes in the university but not Photoshop. I was glad that I have the chance to explore another software during my placement. It is good to know how to use different types of software. As a PR Professional, I should not only know how to write (media release or speech), but also need to know how to design (poster, flyer, banner) as well. Below are the examples of the notices that I have designed to promote the events that organized by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri.

On the first day of my internship, Ms. Sofina has told me I will need to carry out my own event before I end up my internship. It can be publicizing Pustaka or organizing any events that held at Pustaka. I decided to publicize Pustaka because one of the PR jobs is publicizing the brand to the target audience. I have used a couple of days to figure out what event should I do to publicize Pustaka. I have few options in my mind but when I think of I am the only person to do the event I became nervous. At last, I have an idea - do an exhibition at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. 

I have shared my idea with Ms. Sofina and she agreed on it. She said that it was a fresh idea as none of the interns ever hold an exhibition at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. I started to write a proposal about the exhibition to Ms. Sofina as she needed to submit to the Regional Manager for approval.

Once my proposal has been approved, I started to design the information that will need to share with the students. Then, I called up the staff of Curtin Library to seek for their approval to use their exhibition board to promote Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri. In the phone, they have told me the details and I decided to write them a formal letter to show my sincerity. 1 week later, my information has been put up at the exhibition board.

Although I done everything by myself, I have gained experiences and learnt somethings which I have never learnt before. For example, I get to communicate with different people. I got the chance to communicate with the Curtin Library staff and the manager who were Ms. Marina and Mr. Mac. I would like to thank to PR Internship has gave me the chance to meet them. I have been in Curtin University for almost 4 years and I have never met them before. Due to this internship, I have met them and get to know them. This is where I started to build my network.

I have also built up my confident. As I mentioned earlier,  I will need to talk to the students and approached them to tell them the benefits as a registered member of Pustaka. It took me a big courage to spoke to the strangers. However, I have gone through the hardships and have built up self-confident. It is important to have self-confident because as a PR people, we tend to speak to the strangers and VIPs and even present in front of many people.

Hope you guys enjoy the internship!

Regards,

Daphney Koh

17635884

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia.

The usefulness of Event Plan!

Hey guys, I am back again! Hope everyone is doing well in the Internship and have gained some experiences.

I have been busying in preparing activities for the children from Tadika Sedidik Miri. They visited Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri few days ago. I have been assigned to participate in this event for organizing some activities for the children. As the target audience was children, so I will need to figure some activities that the kids will really enjoy and love it.

In order to make the event go smoothly and successfully, I have used EVENT PLAN to prepare for this event. I learnt the format of event plan during Public Relations Techniques unit. I would say Event Plan is really useful when we are planning an event.

It is useful because it ensure that I am on the right track. As we need to write the event objective in the event plan, thus it has reminded me that every activities that I have planned should consistent with the event objective and the target audience. For example, the event objective was to promote Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri to the children. Therefore, I have suggested the event to be conducted at the Auditorium. It was because it not only can help to promote the Auditorium of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri and it also has a huge space to carry out some activities. The activities that have carried out were bringing the children for a tour, telephone game and singing session. Telephone game is a game which the first person will be given a piece of paper that consisted of an animal. Based on their understanding, they will need to act to their friends behind them. Then, the message will pass from one to another and the last person will need to stand up and say the animal out.

Besides, it helps to reduce the risk of having an unsuccessful event. It is because I will need to think of the risk assessment and back-up plan. Thus, by having an event plan I could list down any possible risks that might happen and try to avoid it when I am preparing for the event.

In addition, event plan also helps to ensure the person that responsible for the tasks will be finished in the given time. In the event plan, we need to draw a table which consists of few elements such as person responsible, actions and date to be completed. Therefore, this has provided a clear instruction that the person responsible will need to finish his/her tasks within the given time. By having this table, it can help to increase the efficiency and effectiveness.

Now, lets see pictures! :)

Kids group photo when they were just arrived at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri

First activity: Tour at Multimedia Galeri (MMG)

 When they were at Children Infotheque

Second activity: Telephone game

Third activity: Singing session ( They were so happy when the "twinkle twinkle little star" music was playing)

Group Photo 

Lastly, I am glad that an event plan has made the event went successfully and I feel happy when I saw the children enjoyed the activities. Although I have met hardships when I was planning for the activities, I gone through it and I have gained a lot of experiences which I never had it. I would say that it has made me to be a better person in handling the event or activity in the future. An advice to my peers, I strongly recommend you guys to utilize the event plan when you are planning for an event or activity during your internship or in your future career. 

All the best! 

Regards, 

Daphney Koh

17635884

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. 

Aidilfitri Celebration!

'Selamat Hari Raya, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri...' (Playing Hari Raya song everywhere)

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all my Muslim friends and colleagues. I wish all of you a great year ahead and stay healthy and young always! Hope my wishes are not too late. :)

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri has organized Aidilfitri Open House (Majlis Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri) this year. I am glad that I have the chance to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri together with the CEO of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak who is Puan Hajah Rashidah Haji Bolhassan. 

So back to the day of the event, it was started from 7.30PM to 11PM. There were around 200 guests which included the staff of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, the Friends of Library (FOL), and the smart partners who have worked together with Pustaka in organizing many activities throughout the years. Besides, the orphans from Hamidah Welfare Complex Miri also been invited to participate in this event.

I have been assigned few tasks for the day:

• Distribute the speeches for the reporters to publish a media release the next day.
• Prepare a media release to be send out to the media outlets.
• Be the PHOTOGRAPHER of the day! Take a lot of nice photographs.

Now, let me share some photographs with you guys! :)

My outfit of the night which was in purple colour baju kurung!

The Regional Manager of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, Cik Hajah Salina Haji Zawawi was giving her speech

The guests were entertained with Hari Raya song by the staff of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri

The orphans from Hamidah Welfare Complex Miri entertained the guests with choir

They are my intern colleagues. Nice to meet you guys :)

From left: Ms.Georgia (the Management staff of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri), Ms. Robiah (Management intern of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri), Ms. Jaylyne (Accounting intern of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri) and me!

A group photo of the staff of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri with the CEO, Puan Hajah Rashidah Haji Bolhassan (standing 11th from the right) after the event.

Own Reflection & Advice to all the Interns: 

As I mentioned earlier, I would need to write a media release about the event to be published on the newspaper the next day. I have learnt the techniques of writing a media release when I took PR Techniques this unit. I found that the format that I have learnt in the university is different with the format that used by Pustaka. This enable me to learn more formats which might be useful for my career in the future. Besides, I would like to thanks to my supervisor for guiding me on writing the media release and taught me the format and the font that usually used by Pustaka. An advice to all my intern friends, every organisation has different formats on writing the media release, so as a PR Practitioner, we need to be aware of the styles and formats that used by the company.

Another thing I would like to share is that on the next day, my supervisor asked me "which media outlets attended the event last night?" I was glad that I have note down which media outlet attended the event and got to know their names throughout my conversation with them. Therefore, I answered my supervisor "The Borneo Post attended and the reporter was XXXX." 

My last advice to all the Interns, as a PR Practitioner, we should be getting to know all the details of the things that we do. Imagine that if your boss ask you something and you answer him/her in a way that can make him/her impress of you. Why not we do that? Am I right? 

Best regards, 

Daphney Koh 

17635884

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia

It all starts with PR Internship!

Hello everyone, I am Daphney Koh Han Chien from Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. So, let me share with you guys what I have did for the past few days of my internship at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri. First of all, I would like to introduce Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri. It is a state library and it provides many types of information no matter in printed or online resources. The facilities of the library are Children Infotheque, Information Resource Center (IRC), Fragrant Garden and Multimedia Galeri (MMG).

Children Infotheque - This is the place where the children can read the storybooks and also the bonding time with their parents.

Information Resource Center (IRC) - The place where students can borrow the books for research purposes. 

Fragrant Garden - The place where consists of a lot of flora. It is a good place for students to relax themselves when they are tiring from studying at the library. :)

Multimedia Galeri (MMG)

This is my working table :)

On the first day, I have been introduced by my supervisor, Ms. Sofina Tan to my Regional Manager, Cik Hajah Salina Haji Zawawi. Then, Ms.Sofina brought me for a tour and introduced the staff and the facilities of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri to me. After that, I received the first task which was designing a brochure stating that it is free to apply as member of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri.

As Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri is a government-owned library and the target audience mostly are students and children, therefore the brochure that need to be given out must be attractive and appealing in order to get their attention. Students and children normally would prefer stuffs that are colorful and nice design.

I have been taught by Ms. Sofina on how to use Photoshop software to design a brochure. Throughout the process I have learnt the skills on designing an attractive brochure and the method on arranging the layout. I would say that it was totally different experiences in using Photoshop as compared to the software, Canva which was taught in the university. The features of these two software are different. However, I am glad that I have the chance to learn and use Photoshop software during my Internship. It is because I might be expert in using different kinds of soft wares to design things when I enter into the workforce in the future. Below is the outcome of my brochure. :)

The Malay version of the brochure

The English version of the brochure

Besides, I also used Photoshop and Canva to design the souvenir items such as the notepads and non-woven bags. 

The cover page design for the notepad

The design on the non-woven bag

Lastly, an internship with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri is definitely a pleasant place for me to grow throughout these 2 months. I am sure that the experiences that I gain will change me to be a more confident and capable person when I deal with different types of PR tasks. Yet, it might broaden my knowledge and also practicing the professionalism as a PR Practitioner. 

Good luck in your internship everyone! :)

Best regards,

Daphney Koh

17635884

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. 

The End of Internship

It's been over 25 working days for my internship program and I have learned a lot. Thanks to my PR supervisor for guiding me throughout the whole period.

Things which I get involved so far:

1. Media releases
     - 7 media releases in total
     - Follow up with media outlets
     - Media monitoring
     - Media clipping

2. Event
     - Organised a visit to orphanage
     - Coming up with proposal
     - Supervising the event

3. Pay visit to media outlets
     - Get known to editors and reporters, make sure to get their names and titles correct

4. Writting letters
     - Organisation's Anual Sponsorship Program
     - Zero Strays Miri and AIESEC Educational Talk in primary schools

I did make some mistakes during the period. Media releases for example, I had wrongly spelled few names in the emails for the media outlet but immediately I sent another email to apologise. Although it's a silly mistake which cannot be made by a PR practitioner but admitting and apologising on the mistake is also important.

Even though my internship period has ended and it's time to prepare for the finals but after everything is done I will still continue to stay in the organisation to help them out as well as continue to learn from them.

Thanks for reading.

~Elson Tsen~

It's All About Give And Take

For being a non-profit organisation, all the expenses and costs of Zero Strays Miri are basically being supported by public donors and sponsorships. Regularly the organisation will hold charity sales and fund raising events in order to maintain its normal operation financially. Apart from using the donations to help stray dogs and cats and organising educational talks, we also help those who are really in need.

Previously, I was assigned to come up with a proposal reagarding a visit to an orphanage. Although it's a simple visit but yes, I get to organise my very first mini event. So the theme for the visit is "Eco-love, Eco-life", where the children have to design cat playhouses using recyclable materials and was held on 21st May.

For the proposal, it includes:
          - Event overview
          - Event details
          - Objectives
          - Timeline
          - Preperations
          - Volunteers
          - Budget

Since I'm the event coordinator for the visit, I need to make sure eveything runs just as they planned. I was nervous at first but thanks to the volunteers from our organisation helped me out, I managed to pull it off. Besides, during the cat playhouse designing process i was amazed by the kids' creative imaginations.This has been a great experience for me as a PR intern to organise my very first event.

In PR, building good reputation for the organisation is a norm but helping the community is also important such as delivering positive education.

Thanks for reading.

~Elson Tsen~

A Day to The Media Outlets

In May, the organization had prepared a number of “Thank You” cards to be sent out to adopters, sponsors and media outlets to thank them for their support to the organization throughout the years. My supervisor had arranged a day for us that for media outlets, we gave them a visit as well as handing them the cards personally along with some small gifts. 

We went most of the major media outlets such as Sin Chew daily, The Borneo Post, See Hua daily News, The Stars, United Daily News, New Sarawak Tribune and Radio Televisyen Malaysia Miri office. When we reached each of the media outlets, I introduced myself as a new PR intern for Zero Strays Miri to the editors and reporters because I’ll be sending media releases regarding the organisation’s activities and it’s better to let them know who I am. After we verbally thanked them for supporting our organization by publishing our news on their newspaper, we handed them the gifts with a group photo being taken. 

It’s an unforgettable day and a great experience for me. I mean, how often you get to visit media outlets and to meet with the people behind the newspapers? I’m feeling grateful to be able to meet them and also for the arrangement from my supervisor.

                                                                     I'm the guy in blue shirt.
 
So what I learned from the visit?

1. Get known to the person, both editors and reporters, in media outlets because by getting their names, emails and their titles correctly will greatly reduce any embarrassment  or mistakes I might make in sending media releases such as getting their names wrongly spelled. Moreover, I get to know who to email to whenever I have a press release to be sent out. 

2. Media is one of the primary stakeholders to the organization because our exposure to the public mostly depends on them to publish our stories for free.  Their effort cannot be unseen and by showing our gratitude sincerely is the best we can offer. In hope of their continuing support, being on good terms with them is important.

Thanks for reading.

~Elson Tsen~
 

A Challenging Industry - NGO

I started my internship in Zero Strays Miri (ZSM), a non-profit organisation based in Miri City in Sarawak, Malaysia. I do have some working experience for being part-timer at various small companies before this intern but working for a non-profit organisation will definitely bring new challenges to me which I never experienced before.

For some basic background information, ZSM established in year 2013 which prioritise on Trap, Neuter and Release or Rehome of stray dogs and cats while also carry out rescue jobs for the injured strays. Besides, the organisation carries out educational talks regularly to encourage responsible pet owners. Due to it is a non-profit organisation, all its operational costs comes from fund raising and public donation.

So what is the challenge I’ve faced during the first week of my internship? Writing a lot of press releases!!

Before I joined the organisation, I already noticed that ZSM had organised quite a number of charity sales at malls, educational talk at its centre, schools and even orphanage through newspapers and its Facebook page. I do understand that for a non-profit organisation to raise awareness against something, publicity is the most important aspect. Usually news being reported on newspapers are based on their news value. In order for small events to be reported, press releases have to constantly be submitted to media outlets and hope they can be carried out.

Same goes to ZSM. Just in the first week itself I’ve been assigned to write two press releases with another one pending. This had given me a great opportunity to really improve my writing skills because what I wrote most probably will be seen in the newspapers; of course every draft has to be approved by my supervisor. I’m glad that I could join the organisation and anticipate for more new challenges for me as a PR intern.

Thanks for reading.

~ Elson Tsen~