Showing posts with label Violeta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Violeta. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Creative Email Collection for ERISJ’s Database
Contacts are obviously very important. Having a large database, with contacts of people who would like to have information about your organisation, is of a golden value. But how to get them is sometimes a challenge. Thinking of a creative way to be able to ask the visitors of the Just Music concert to provide their email address was a group brainstorming session at ERISJ. I had a big role in researching options, as my creative mind and ideas where very welcomed by the others. We created two ideas that where a major success with over 300 emails collected. First idea included raffle ticket for a prize draw, given at the entry, once the email address is provided. The second one was collection of signatures for Universal Declaration of Human Rights document. To explain, on a web-site Every Human Has Rights there is an option to add name and email address –supporting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights document, a word wide collection of signatures. We made printouts of this document as well as a spreadsheet with name and email address. We have taken up the responsibility of collecting the names and email addresses and placing them on the web-site in their behalf. In both instances, people where notified that their email address will be used to send some information about ERISJ, with an option to unsubscribe at any point. This is a very important detail as people are getting inundated with marketing material and a reluctant to provide their email addresses. It is all in the presentation of the inquiry. I even initiated a little role- play, making sure everyone was comfortable and using the right words. Sales consulting experience really came in handy there : )
Monday, May 4, 2009
Not for profit organisations really need a PR department
Hi all,
Being a not for profit organisiation there are a lot of birocracy policies and procedures as well as rules and regulations. Because you rely on the grants and sponsorships it seemed to me that everyone donating money was a boss of ERISJ. Not having money for paid advertising someone needs to be able to find venues for unpaid publicity and who else then PR person? I would have imagined that such an organization would then have an allocated PR department or at least a position. Someone has to research and chase the money for those grants and sponsorships and who else is better equipped to do so then a PR person?
I got myself in a trap in applying for a grant for ERISJ when I suggested that their computers and software are completely out of date - practically a dinosaur of computer times. In order to design and organise the back stage and staff passes for the Just Music concert I had to bring in my own lap-top. I could not design and liaise with the printers and designers using ERISJ’s computers. David, the director, suggested I start researching avenues and apply for a grant that would allow purchase of new computer equipment.
As it was the busiest time, leading to the big event of the Just Music concert, Kate have openly expressed her dissagreement in doing so. I was also aware that would take up a lot of my time as well as the fact that I had no experience in doing that what so ever. I knew it was a huge job; there are even short courses and information nights at TAFE’s and Universities teaching people how to apply for grants and sponsorships. It was not an option at this point of time. I have suggested starting doing that after the Just Music concert to which both Kate and David where really happy.
What I am trying to get across here is that all those jobs motioned here are PR related jobs: Publicity, Events Organizing, Grants and Sponsorships, Liaison with Printers and Designers and there was not a formal position in PR allocated in doing that. Kate’s position was Major Events Coordinator and I am just a temporary intern there recruited specially for this Just Music event but PR work, as we all know, includes much more than just Events.
Being a not for profit organisiation there are a lot of birocracy policies and procedures as well as rules and regulations. Because you rely on the grants and sponsorships it seemed to me that everyone donating money was a boss of ERISJ. Not having money for paid advertising someone needs to be able to find venues for unpaid publicity and who else then PR person? I would have imagined that such an organization would then have an allocated PR department or at least a position. Someone has to research and chase the money for those grants and sponsorships and who else is better equipped to do so then a PR person?
I got myself in a trap in applying for a grant for ERISJ when I suggested that their computers and software are completely out of date - practically a dinosaur of computer times. In order to design and organise the back stage and staff passes for the Just Music concert I had to bring in my own lap-top. I could not design and liaise with the printers and designers using ERISJ’s computers. David, the director, suggested I start researching avenues and apply for a grant that would allow purchase of new computer equipment.
As it was the busiest time, leading to the big event of the Just Music concert, Kate have openly expressed her dissagreement in doing so. I was also aware that would take up a lot of my time as well as the fact that I had no experience in doing that what so ever. I knew it was a huge job; there are even short courses and information nights at TAFE’s and Universities teaching people how to apply for grants and sponsorships. It was not an option at this point of time. I have suggested starting doing that after the Just Music concert to which both Kate and David where really happy.
What I am trying to get across here is that all those jobs motioned here are PR related jobs: Publicity, Events Organizing, Grants and Sponsorships, Liaison with Printers and Designers and there was not a formal position in PR allocated in doing that. Kate’s position was Major Events Coordinator and I am just a temporary intern there recruited specially for this Just Music event but PR work, as we all know, includes much more than just Events.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Precious Black Book - I didn’t manage it very well
Hi all,
The main reason I managed to get my placement with ERISJ is my previous experience with writing articles for newspapers and managing to get them published. Basically, I was taken on board based on good media liaison and my little Black Book.
One of my first tasks was to create a database with contacts. ERISJ had some but no media contacts at all so that is where my contacts where handy. I have also included contacts that Kate, my supervisor, had from her Green activist campaigns. I used excel spreadsheet to divide the type of contacts like: industry related, media contacts and general database - friends of ERISJ that are receiving the newsletters and information.
This was rather a boring and unchallenging task but it had to be done. It took me almost two full days as most of the contacts where in a hard copy and some even hand written. Having so many interruptions during the day didn’t help either but then again that is quite typical in the PR. I have lost my enthusiasm to complete this spreadsheet as I knew I was needed to do something more creative and PR related rather then boring data entry. Kate has acknowledged that and has decided to pass this duty to somebody else.
Oh NO…. if I just knew what a mistake that would be! And it’s my fault really. I should have NOT shown my loss of enthusiasm and just completed the task myself. What happened was…we ended up doubling some contacts and there were not arranged in such a way to be able to just ‘cut’ and ‘paste’ as a group when sending a group email. And the way I found this out was was…very embarrassing. I received a very arrogant email from one of the journalists I sent the information THREE TIMES!!! Once again, it was my mistake for not checking the spreadsheet. I was in a hurry…How typical but not a good excuse.
The main reason I managed to get my placement with ERISJ is my previous experience with writing articles for newspapers and managing to get them published. Basically, I was taken on board based on good media liaison and my little Black Book.
One of my first tasks was to create a database with contacts. ERISJ had some but no media contacts at all so that is where my contacts where handy. I have also included contacts that Kate, my supervisor, had from her Green activist campaigns. I used excel spreadsheet to divide the type of contacts like: industry related, media contacts and general database - friends of ERISJ that are receiving the newsletters and information.
This was rather a boring and unchallenging task but it had to be done. It took me almost two full days as most of the contacts where in a hard copy and some even hand written. Having so many interruptions during the day didn’t help either but then again that is quite typical in the PR. I have lost my enthusiasm to complete this spreadsheet as I knew I was needed to do something more creative and PR related rather then boring data entry. Kate has acknowledged that and has decided to pass this duty to somebody else.
Oh NO…. if I just knew what a mistake that would be! And it’s my fault really. I should have NOT shown my loss of enthusiasm and just completed the task myself. What happened was…we ended up doubling some contacts and there were not arranged in such a way to be able to just ‘cut’ and ‘paste’ as a group when sending a group email. And the way I found this out was was…very embarrassing. I received a very arrogant email from one of the journalists I sent the information THREE TIMES!!! Once again, it was my mistake for not checking the spreadsheet. I was in a hurry…How typical but not a good excuse.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Importance of a well structured meeting
Hi all,
Every Tuesday at 12pm there is a staff meeting at ERISJ. To my surprise, meeting starts with a soup for all to share which makes the meeting hit-on in a less formal note. I thought that is a brilliant idea. I was invited to attend the meeting and enjoy the delicious soup as well. So there we all are…chatting away about life, social issues, and cultures while eating soup. Some staff members where trying to push their business agenda but had no feedback regards to that -obviously the meeting has not started yet. We have all finished eating, so I was wandering at which point this meeting actually starts. David, the director of ERISJ, has attempted few times to address everyone in a more formal tone to announce that the meeting is actually starting but some have not acknowledged that and continued talking. I could see that David started to feel uncomfortable. He then started by introducing myself to all the staff, which I was very pleased about, and with that- he has got everyone’s attention.
He was going through the things (or shell I say agenda which was not written anywhere) that we need to discuss at this meeting in a very informal and friendly way. Some staff members were not pleased that few important matters are going to be left out which diverged the meeting in a complete different discussion. Most of the staff had their say in what is and what is not a priority of being discussed at this meeting. Then the issue of what happened at the last meeting came up…It seemed like nobody really known what came out from the last meeting. It all became a huge discussion, not a bad one, just one of those… chatting moments. I have quietly asked my supervisor Kate: isn’t there someone taking down the minutes? To which she replied that admin girl usually does but this duty is not really formally designated to her.
Throughout the meeting there were no structure, no control, and no guidance. Staff members where getting bored and were drifting away into la-la land while someone would talk regarding something that didn’t involve their department of work. Minutes were not recorded and there was no real conclusion or call for action once the meeting has finished. And the whole finilising of the meeting was not quite clear as well. Some staff members where excusing themselves from the meeting while collecting their soup bowls from the table and some were talking amongst each other still regarding business matter. Even though I was introduced at the meeting I had no idea the names, roles and duties of all of the staff at the meeting. I kind of learned it along the way.
I must admit I enjoyed every minute of this meeting. I learned a lot about the organization and every individual attending this meeting by just watching and listening. The meeting was a good insight (like a preview for a movie) into how to communicate and interact with them in the future. This is very important as these are the people I will spend almost every day for a while. It helps to know these things in order to create and build those important PR relationships.
Every Tuesday at 12pm there is a staff meeting at ERISJ. To my surprise, meeting starts with a soup for all to share which makes the meeting hit-on in a less formal note. I thought that is a brilliant idea. I was invited to attend the meeting and enjoy the delicious soup as well. So there we all are…chatting away about life, social issues, and cultures while eating soup. Some staff members where trying to push their business agenda but had no feedback regards to that -obviously the meeting has not started yet. We have all finished eating, so I was wandering at which point this meeting actually starts. David, the director of ERISJ, has attempted few times to address everyone in a more formal tone to announce that the meeting is actually starting but some have not acknowledged that and continued talking. I could see that David started to feel uncomfortable. He then started by introducing myself to all the staff, which I was very pleased about, and with that- he has got everyone’s attention.
He was going through the things (or shell I say agenda which was not written anywhere) that we need to discuss at this meeting in a very informal and friendly way. Some staff members were not pleased that few important matters are going to be left out which diverged the meeting in a complete different discussion. Most of the staff had their say in what is and what is not a priority of being discussed at this meeting. Then the issue of what happened at the last meeting came up…It seemed like nobody really known what came out from the last meeting. It all became a huge discussion, not a bad one, just one of those… chatting moments. I have quietly asked my supervisor Kate: isn’t there someone taking down the minutes? To which she replied that admin girl usually does but this duty is not really formally designated to her.
Throughout the meeting there were no structure, no control, and no guidance. Staff members where getting bored and were drifting away into la-la land while someone would talk regarding something that didn’t involve their department of work. Minutes were not recorded and there was no real conclusion or call for action once the meeting has finished. And the whole finilising of the meeting was not quite clear as well. Some staff members where excusing themselves from the meeting while collecting their soup bowls from the table and some were talking amongst each other still regarding business matter. Even though I was introduced at the meeting I had no idea the names, roles and duties of all of the staff at the meeting. I kind of learned it along the way.
I must admit I enjoyed every minute of this meeting. I learned a lot about the organization and every individual attending this meeting by just watching and listening. The meeting was a good insight (like a preview for a movie) into how to communicate and interact with them in the future. This is very important as these are the people I will spend almost every day for a while. It helps to know these things in order to create and build those important PR relationships.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Violeta, Bentley, 31/03/09
MEDIA TRAINING
Did anybody go through unpleasant experience of suggesting it to your Boss?
I have experienced an interesting and rather unpleasant situation when I approached the Director of the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice, asking him for few sentences I can use as a direct quote in a media release. Being a highly educated professional, whose language is far from common, his quote was very long and confusing. The big words, he was using, would not be understood by the general public reading the paper. So, I had to ask him if he could maybe put it in simpler, smaller words. And he tried…it didn’t sound much different. Being new to the organisation, just an intern, I thought I better just go with it.
But then when I tried to put it in a logical order in a media release, it just could not fit in. Having the understanding of what the journalist would like to see in the media release I could not run with it. I have gathered the courage, after talking to my supervisor, and approached him again. I have asked him for an approval to change his quote and double checked the meaning and intent he wanted to convey. He did not look impressed but his answer was very nice and pleasant. He told me that I got the essence of what he is trying to say and trusts me paraphrasing it. So what I did is: I paraphrased one sentence by using the indirect quote and used just a partial quote for the direct one. This was then used in most publications, exactly as I have written it. Actually, the whole story was written exactly as I have sent it in a media release and the background information I sent. This has got me thinking… how slack some journalists get…seriously? And then they attach their own name to the story!
Anyway, back to the quote subject… Few weeks later I have organised an interview for the Director with the journalist from Fremantle Herald. He attended the interview and was quite happy with how it went. But the problem has risen when the story got published. He walked in the office (where I was sitting together with my supervisor) and expressed his concern over being misquoted at the Fremantle Herald. My supervisor looked at me hoping I would say something …I did not dare…But she did… she told him, in a nicest possible way, that that might be due to misunderstanding of his highly academic language. He has acknowledged that and sad (smiling and looking at me) that he will be more careful in the future.
I do not know, now reflecting back, what gave me the courage to query the Director. Maybe it is due to the support from the supervisor, maybe due to the understanding of journalism and my experiences? But one thing is for sure - I am definitely glad I did as we all have learned something from it. I guess it is how you approach the situation and the boss you have. My boss was really great and I was lucky but it was NOT easy.
MEDIA TRAINING
Did anybody go through unpleasant experience of suggesting it to your Boss?
I have experienced an interesting and rather unpleasant situation when I approached the Director of the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice, asking him for few sentences I can use as a direct quote in a media release. Being a highly educated professional, whose language is far from common, his quote was very long and confusing. The big words, he was using, would not be understood by the general public reading the paper. So, I had to ask him if he could maybe put it in simpler, smaller words. And he tried…it didn’t sound much different. Being new to the organisation, just an intern, I thought I better just go with it.
But then when I tried to put it in a logical order in a media release, it just could not fit in. Having the understanding of what the journalist would like to see in the media release I could not run with it. I have gathered the courage, after talking to my supervisor, and approached him again. I have asked him for an approval to change his quote and double checked the meaning and intent he wanted to convey. He did not look impressed but his answer was very nice and pleasant. He told me that I got the essence of what he is trying to say and trusts me paraphrasing it. So what I did is: I paraphrased one sentence by using the indirect quote and used just a partial quote for the direct one. This was then used in most publications, exactly as I have written it. Actually, the whole story was written exactly as I have sent it in a media release and the background information I sent. This has got me thinking… how slack some journalists get…seriously? And then they attach their own name to the story!
Anyway, back to the quote subject… Few weeks later I have organised an interview for the Director with the journalist from Fremantle Herald. He attended the interview and was quite happy with how it went. But the problem has risen when the story got published. He walked in the office (where I was sitting together with my supervisor) and expressed his concern over being misquoted at the Fremantle Herald. My supervisor looked at me hoping I would say something …I did not dare…But she did… she told him, in a nicest possible way, that that might be due to misunderstanding of his highly academic language. He has acknowledged that and sad (smiling and looking at me) that he will be more careful in the future.
I do not know, now reflecting back, what gave me the courage to query the Director. Maybe it is due to the support from the supervisor, maybe due to the understanding of journalism and my experiences? But one thing is for sure - I am definitely glad I did as we all have learned something from it. I guess it is how you approach the situation and the boss you have. My boss was really great and I was lucky but it was NOT easy.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Keeping a Journal and the Importance of Contacts
Violeta Stojkovic 31/03/09
I have started my PR reflections almost three months ago when I started my PR placement. But due to my lack of knowledge and understanding of how this whole blogging works I managed to make a mess with two accounts not knowing what to do. To top that up I had no access to the Internet anywhere else but at my PR placement, where I was at full time capacity, plus held a full time job. I guess this was one of my first lessons as part of my PR placement -learning the technical side of blogging and learning to juggle with time and priorities.
Even though I have failed to blogg about my experiences during my placement I took a LOT of notes. Which brings me to my first suggestion - keep a diary with detailed notes. Write everything down: duties preformed; research done; names of people and organisations contacted; sites visited; interactions and conversations with people; things you have seen, ideas and thoughts you had. Basically, note down all that you might think it would help you for a next day’s task or for reflecting back when writing your final report. For me, now looking back at the notes, I can see how amazing that experience was, share it with you via blogg (now that I know what I am doing) and easily write my report.
Now let me introduce, once again, where my placement was, the duties I have been performing as well as how I managed to get the placement after all. I had an opportunity to start my internship with Edmund Rise Institute for Social Justice in Fremantle. Check out their website if you interested to see what they are all about: www.erisj.org.au. In short, ERSJ provides social justice education and service learning; engages with and build a community for social justice; and fosters research in areas of social justice. I was in a few different PR positions and sharing the responsibility with others. The titles of the positions are as follows: Event Support Staff, Publicist, Media Advisor, Photographer, and Journalist.
Working for ERISJ is something that provided me with lot of personal satisfaction as it is a true fulfillment of my personal values. Working for an organisation whose cause, we as future PR professionals, must completely support is very important. We are the ones who will look after the image and identity of the organisation by fostering relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Therefore, we must make sure we truly believe in the organisations vision in order to enjoy our work.I had to write a profile about myself explaining my connection to this organisations mission, vision and values. This was then placed on their website together with the rest of employees and board members. If you are interested to know about my connection to the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice please follow the link to check out my profile. You can click on my name under the photograph to then read my profile http://www.erisj.org.au/vs_profile.
The main reason I got this placement is due to the media contacts I have gathered during my voluntary work for Perth Centre for Photography. Another reason was that I build strong relationships with Journalists and got published in the few Community and Entertainment Newspapers as well as The West Australian. I have also had a strong understanding of a non for profit organisation and the importance of volunteering. So what we have learnt in all the PR subjects to date is really true… Contacts are VERY important – we are in a relationship business.
I will keep you posted as I go along writing my report
Violeta, Bentley, 31/03/09
I have started my PR reflections almost three months ago when I started my PR placement. But due to my lack of knowledge and understanding of how this whole blogging works I managed to make a mess with two accounts not knowing what to do. To top that up I had no access to the Internet anywhere else but at my PR placement, where I was at full time capacity, plus held a full time job. I guess this was one of my first lessons as part of my PR placement -learning the technical side of blogging and learning to juggle with time and priorities.
Even though I have failed to blogg about my experiences during my placement I took a LOT of notes. Which brings me to my first suggestion - keep a diary with detailed notes. Write everything down: duties preformed; research done; names of people and organisations contacted; sites visited; interactions and conversations with people; things you have seen, ideas and thoughts you had. Basically, note down all that you might think it would help you for a next day’s task or for reflecting back when writing your final report. For me, now looking back at the notes, I can see how amazing that experience was, share it with you via blogg (now that I know what I am doing) and easily write my report.
Now let me introduce, once again, where my placement was, the duties I have been performing as well as how I managed to get the placement after all. I had an opportunity to start my internship with Edmund Rise Institute for Social Justice in Fremantle. Check out their website if you interested to see what they are all about: www.erisj.org.au. In short, ERSJ provides social justice education and service learning; engages with and build a community for social justice; and fosters research in areas of social justice. I was in a few different PR positions and sharing the responsibility with others. The titles of the positions are as follows: Event Support Staff, Publicist, Media Advisor, Photographer, and Journalist.
Working for ERISJ is something that provided me with lot of personal satisfaction as it is a true fulfillment of my personal values. Working for an organisation whose cause, we as future PR professionals, must completely support is very important. We are the ones who will look after the image and identity of the organisation by fostering relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Therefore, we must make sure we truly believe in the organisations vision in order to enjoy our work.I had to write a profile about myself explaining my connection to this organisations mission, vision and values. This was then placed on their website together with the rest of employees and board members. If you are interested to know about my connection to the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice please follow the link to check out my profile. You can click on my name under the photograph to then read my profile http://www.erisj.org.au/vs_profile.
The main reason I got this placement is due to the media contacts I have gathered during my voluntary work for Perth Centre for Photography. Another reason was that I build strong relationships with Journalists and got published in the few Community and Entertainment Newspapers as well as The West Australian. I have also had a strong understanding of a non for profit organisation and the importance of volunteering. So what we have learnt in all the PR subjects to date is really true… Contacts are VERY important – we are in a relationship business.
I will keep you posted as I go along writing my report
Violeta, Bentley, 31/03/09
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