Thursday 7 July 2016

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Social Movements through the Net
1) Internetworking: The Internet has enabled the wide spread expansion of established movements. We would like to distinguish three types of internetworking: organization and network coordination, grass roots global internetworking, and direct action coordination.
2) Capital and information flows: We would distinguish three main types of net based economic activity, the sue of:  mainstream networked channels of capital distribution, solicitation, and management by social movements; computer mediated barter banks and local capital pools and credit unions and collective goods coordinated via the net, and decentralized media distribution networks.
3. A) Alternative media and theory:
Alternative media: We note three types of alternative media on the net: alternative media, grass roots global media and information networks and counter-surveillance measures. On alternative media including variously, online alternatives to mainstream media, social movement media, and local media online.
B) Alternative theory networks: Theory and strategizing is another level of the culture of resistance conducting online. While theory is mostly engaged offline, as in the big AGM mobilizations at counter-summits, strategizing which creates new practices/theory in larger networks is often/usually conducted via the Internet.
4) Direct cyber activism: Another type of cyber activism is the use of the Internet as a primary ground for political action.
(a) Virtual sit-ins: Movements are utilizing e-technologies as a disruptive tool to industry and civil practices or temporarily dismantle the various stages of capital's circuit e.g., the production and circulation of commodities. Cyber activists disrupt net activity through electronic civil disobedience, for instance, in “virtual sit-ins” by mounting extensive traffic to shut down websites.
(b) Hacking: In new forms of resistance, which have been called "hacking", hackers appropriate or disrupt technologies for personal and political ends. One example is a British hacker who cracked into hundreds of web sites worldwide and circulated anti-nuclear messages.


(c) Cyber terrorism: More forceful than such cyber-disruptions are the prospects of cyber terrorism. While computer viruses spread via the net have caused billions in economic losses and the escalation of such antics, often by youths using straight forward software, is of concern, hacker’s attacks for overt political purposes have been sporadic and small scale to date. Yet, government investments in cyber defense measures are increasing.

5) Contesting and constructing the Internet: Types of contestation of the nature of Internet and its relation to inequality and democracy include: movements to democratically inform the structure, ownership, and technical aspects of Internet media and technology, activism to create wider access to the internet, crossing the digital divide, and planning and development of the social use of the net. Structuring the Net, The nature of the net has been and is continually being worked out by think tanks, government agencies and legislation, civil institutions, industry, venture capitalists, net administrators, policy wonks, programmers, and in social movements. To understand the social fabric underlying the potential of cyber activism, it is important to explore how Internet technology itself may be designed to facilitate or inhibit democratic interaction.

6) Online alternative community formation:
With the Internet, early online forums demonstrated the promise of a great diversity of “virtual communities” organized around common interests (Rhiengold 1993). A fundamental problematic is if Internet-based communities exist solely as “virtual” moments in cyberspace or do constellations of digital information have an enduring material basis for “reality.”


BY MKULA DENNIS

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

BY KIMATI ELITRUDAH
 Media development
Is a kind of media which involvement is influenced by media convergence.

Drivers of digital media development
Drivers of digital media development are follows bellow:
Global connectivity and customer empowerment, enhances the capacity of ways corporate communication working I international level, engagement of customer.
Social network, due to this made corporate to think new and work differently. As corporate communication should be innovative, have vision, critical thinking, social network helps in creating corporate identity and usage of positive social in creating customer understand in corporate communication in digital age.
Mobility shifts and customer engagement, moving with information due to revolution of smartphones and tablets, thus engaging customer in whatever you do as he/she moving with information. Thus as corporate communication manager you think different in order the company to develop.
Pace of change, The ICT and digital technologies sector is dynamic and fast changing and many of the current business products or models did not exist a few years ago. The implication of this driver are: Constant change in skills requirements of the workforce and in Education system needs to be agile enough to be able to respond to the changing needs and expectations of businesses ((John, 2011).
Increase in digital investments, increased numbers of businesses, across all sectors, are investing more to enhance their use of technology. The implications of this driver are: to creates an increased demand for technology skills across a range of sectors. This can act as a catalyst for growth and job creation. Also, to assist businesses in adapting to changes in technology there is a need for core competencies and technology awareness to be improved across all sectors. ((John, 2011).
Increased Contracting out, this shows a trend towards increased contracting out of services to countries with the ability to provide a lower cost service. The implications of this driver are:  A high quality skilled workforce becomes critical if nation is to continue to be viewed as a location which can attract, and support high value jobs. Also, the development of the talent pool needs to be aligned with inward investments ((John, 2011).
Increased importance of security, Cybercrime is a driver of innovation within the industry.  This responds to the requirements of key client sectors such as the financial services industry. However, the ability of industry is to protect the integrity of a product or process in a global environment as a key success factor. In addition, the requirement for specialist skills is to be developed therefore education system needs awareness and capacity to respond to this issue as it cuts across all sub-sectors of Information Computer Technology (ICT) and digital technologies ((John, 2011).

Generally, we can conclude by saying that key insights into the impact of digital media on traditional media are: Social networks began as a basic tool to connect with friends; for example, in 2013 these services are now available on both fixed and mobile devices and are used for much more including messaging services, gaming; business networking, e-commerce; accessing breaking news and video/photo sharing. The era of digital social media has certainly caused much disruption to traditional media industries and has also led to many very innovative new applications and services. 



Wednesday 6 July 2016

DIGITAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

DIGITAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

Digital media is digitized content that can be transmitted over the internet or computer networks. This can include text, audio, video, and graphics.  This means that news from a TV network, newspaper, magazine, etc. that is presented on a Web site or blog can fall into this category. Most digital media are based on translating analog data into digital data. The Internet began to grow when text was put onto the Internet instead of stored on papers as it was previously. Soon after text was put onto computers images followed, then came audio and video onto the Internet. Digital media has come a long way in the few short years to become as we know it today and it continues to grow.

Media development involves capacity building for institutions or individuals related to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of media, as well as transparency of media ownership. Media development plays a role in democracy and effective democratic discourse through supporting free and independent media.

DRIVERS OF DIGITAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

1. Global connectivity and customer empowerment
If the world is always connected, and become a single village with no boundaries between states, the global connectivity must change you on how you use your social media or internet. Global connectivity will enhance the capacity in you on how to think and act because it has brought something new that is consumer empowerment.
As a corporate communication personnel you have to find time for to engage with your customers and know what they want, at what time they want it, how they want it to be like, you have to empower your customers so as to make them loyal with your organization globally.

2. Mobility shift and customers engagement
 Every consumer will be able to purchase and your products where they are due to mobility shift which means that due to the digital media development people move with information and also mobility shift engages consumers directly from what the organization produce. As a corporate communication personnel you have to know your customers well so as to be able to engage them in what product or service that you provide, also as a corporate communication personnel you have to be able to make your customers change due to the influence on the digital media development and also choose to be new everyday due to the influence of mobility shift.

3. Social network
As a corporate communication personnel you have to be innovate every day and be that innovation means the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay, and must have the following characteristics, Observability, Trial ability, complexity vs simplicity, compatibility, and relative advantage.

4. Movement of Individual to Business to Industry
As corporate communication personnel you have to make sure due to the help of digital media development you understand your customers individually and being able to change their minds to move to business and lastly being able to transform them to take the organizational products in an industry.

BY MKULA DENNIS

COMPONENTS OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATION


COMPONENTS OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
Corporate branding
A corporate brand is the perception of a company that unites a group of products or services for the public under a single name, a shared visual identity, and a common set of symbols. The process of corporate branding consists creating favorable associations and positive reputation with both internal and external stakeholders. The purpose of a corporate branding initiative is to generate a positive halo over the products and businesses of the company, imparting more favorable impressions of those products and businesses. In more general terms, research suggests that corporate branding is an appropriate strategy for companies to implement when, there is significant "information asymmetry" between a company and its clients.
 That is to say customers are much less informed about a company's products than the company itself is; customers perceive a high degree of risk in purchasing the products or services of the company, features of the company behind the brand would be relevant to the product or service a customer is considering purchasing.
Corporate and organizational identity
There are two approaches for identity:
Corporate identity is the reality and uniqueness of an organization, which is integrally related to its external and internal image and reputation through corporate communication.
Organizational identity comprises those characteristics of an organization that its members believe are central, distinctive and enduring. That is, organizational identity consists of those attributes that members feel are fundamental to (central) and uniquely descriptive of (distinctive) the organization and that persist within the organization over time (enduring).
Four types of identity can be distinguished;
Perceived identity: The collection of attributes that are seen as typical for the ‘continuity, centrality and uniqueness’ of the organization in the eyes of its members.
Projected identity: The self-presentations of the organization’s attributes manifested in the implicit and explicit signals which the organization broadcasts to internal and external target audiences through communication and symbols.
Desired identity (also called ‘ideal’ identity): The idealized picture that top managers hold of what the organization could evolve into under their leadership.
Applied identity: The signals that an organization broadcasts both consciously and unconsciously through behaviors and initiatives at all levels within the organization.
Corporate responsibility
Corporate responsibility (often referred to as corporate social responsibility), corporate citizenship, sustainability, and even conscious capitalism are some of the terms bandied about the news media and corporate marketing efforts as companies jockey to win the trust and loyalty of constituents. Corporate responsibility (CR) constitutes an organization’s respect for society’s interests, demonstrated by taking ownership of the effects its activities have on key constituencies including customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and the environment, in all parts of their operations. In short, CR prompts a corporation to look beyond its traditional bottom line, to the social implications of its business.
Corporate reputation
Reputations are overall assessments of organizations by their stakeholders. They are aggregate perceptions by stakeholders of an organization's ability to fulfill their expectations, whether these stakeholders are interested in buying the company's products, working for the company, or investing in the company's share.


 BY MINZI CATHERENE

EVENT

PREPARING AN EVENT

Any marketer and business person should know that “failing to prepare, is preparing to fail”. The same can be said for events. Whether you’re exhibiting at a  trade show, planning a talk at a  conference, or preparing for a trade show; there are 10 simple steps you should follow to ensure you are ready for success.

1. Do research
It’s important that you do prior research before heading to any event – both as an exhibitor or a guest – to identify the key benefits for you. Read blogs and view videos from past events, take a look at the 
visitor and exhibitor lists, and check up on social media.

2. Identify your goals
Once you have identified the right event for you, it is important to outline the goals for your business. Are you looking to sell a product, drive brand awareness, capture leads or simply use it as a networking opportunity? Whatever the goal, make sure you set yourself some SMART Targets. This will help you to plan the rest of your activity accordingly, and help to keep everyone in the business on track.

3. Plan your exhibition display
A creative exhibition display can make or break your event. Get it right, and you can attract customers, clients and leads steadily throughout the day. Get it wrong, and you could find yourself with low footfall and flagging interest.
First, find out the requirements and restrictions you’re working to base on the space you have. Then, get creative and come up with an eye-catching display that sets you apart from the competition. You should also consider how to create a memorable experience on the stand too.
  
4. On-stand experiences
Attracting customers to your stand is one thing. Encouraging them to stay on the stand, engage with your brand and eventually buy from you is another. Our next step to help you prepare for your next event is to decide what those aforementioned ‘memorable experiences’ will be. Some examples include:

5. Pre-event marketing
You need to have a clear marketing plan in place to promote your attendance at the event. Setting goals and having a creative stand will mean very little if the right audience doesn’t know where to find you.
Sending out mail shots – both direct and via email – are ways you can target your existing client base, but you also need to be targeting prospects. Follow the social media accounts and hashtags for the event and join in the conversation; do everything you can to create a buzz around your appearance.

6. Organize your business
In companies of any size, taking members of the team out of the office to work on a stand for a few days can have a huge impact. Because of this, it is important that you carefully organize who will work the event and when. This will obviously be partly determined by your goals; if you’re looking to leverage sales, members of your sales team would be a wise choice.

7. Live marketing
Your marketing and promotional efforts shouldn’t stop when you’re at the event. Instead, you should be sending out tweets and writing blogs whilst you’re there. Not only does this keep the event fresh in your prospects’ and clients’ minds, it can also help you connect with other attendees.
BY JAMES CATHERINE


INNOVATION

INNOVATION 
The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. To be called an innovation, an idea must be replicable at an economical cost and must satisfy a specific need. Innovation involves deliberate application of information, imagination and initiative in deriving greater or different values from resources, and includes all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products. In business, innovation often results when ideas are applied by the company in order to further satisfy the needs and expectations of the customers.
Characteristics of an Innovation 
Relative advantage 
Relative advantage measures how improved an innovation is over a competing option or the previous generation of a product. Potential users need to see how an innovation improves their current situation. Improvements can be in one or many of these areas: better service, consolidation of multiple functions into one tool, decreased need for supplies and equipment, empowerment of users, improved interface, increased customizability, increased longevity, increased productivity, reduced user effort, reduced environmental impact, saving of money, saving of space or storage, saving of time.
Compatibility 
Compatibility refers to the level of compatibility that an innovation has with individuals as they assimilate it into their lives. Potential adopters need to know that your innovation will be compatible with their life and lifestyle. If an innovation requires a huge lifestyle change or if the user must acquire additional products to make your innovation work, then it is more likely to fail. Innovations meet with the greatest success when users are able to seamlessly adopt them — when they replace an existing product or idea, for the better.
Complexity vs Simplicity 
Complexity or simplicity refers to how difficult it is for adopters to learn to use an innovation. Complexity slows down the gears of progress. The more complex an innovation, the more difficult it will be for potential adopters to incorporate it into their lives. Potential adopters do not usually budget much time for learning to use an innovation. The more intuitive an innovation, the more likely it will be adopted.
Trialability 
Trialability describes how easily potential adopters can explore your innovation. Trialability is critical to facilitating the adoption of an innovation. Potential users want to see what your innovation can do and give it a test run before committing. This is the underlying concept of trial sizes for tangible goods, and demo or beta releases for digital goods. Potential adopters can see for themselves what life might be like once they adopt the product.
Observability 
Observability is the extent to which the results or benefit of using an innovation are visible to potential adopters. We covered in the first article that not everyone adopts an innovation immediately. The adopter types who come after early adopters rely on seeing members of this group using an innovation. Observability extends beyond having earlier adopters use an innovation in view of later adopters. Potential adopters of all types must clearly see the benefit of adopting an innovation and using it.

BY BURUGI MARIA

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
Crisis communication is sometimes considered a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. These challenges may come in the form of an investigation from a government agency, a criminal allegation, a media inquiry, a shareholders lawsuit, a violation of environmental regulations, or any of a number of other scenarios involving the legal, ethical, or financial standing of the entity. The crisis for organizations can be defined as follows
Internal/employee communications
As the extent of communication grows, many companies create an employee relations (ER) function with dedicated staff to manage the numerous media through which senior managers can communicate among themselves and with the rest of the organization. Internal communication in the 21st century is more than the memos, publications, and broadcasts that comprise it; it’s about building a corporate culture on values that drive organizational excellence. ER specialists are generally expected to fulfill one or more of the following four roles:
Efficiency: Internal communication is used primarily to disseminate information about corporate activities.
Shared meaning: Internal communication is used to build a shared understanding among employees about corporate goals.
Connectivity: Internal communication is used mainly to clarify the connectedness of the company's people and activities.
Satisfaction: Internal communication is used to improve job satisfaction throughout the company.
Investor relations
The investor relations (IR) function is used by companies which publicly traded shares on a stock exchange. In such companies, the purpose of the IR specialist is to interface with current and potential financial stakeholders-namely retail investors, institutional investors, and financial analysts.

Public relations: issues management and media relations
Public relations
The role of the public relations specialist, in many ways, is to communicate with the general public in ways that serve the interests of the company. PR therefore consists of numerous specialty areas that convey information about the company to the public, including sponsorships, events, issues management and media relations. When executing these types of activities, the PR Specialist must incorporate broader corporate messages to convey the company’s strategic positioning. This ensures the PR activities ultimately convey messages that distinguish the company vis-à-vis its competitors and the overall marketplace, while also communicating the company’s value to target audiences.
Issues management
A key role of the PR specialist is to make the company better known for traits and attributes that build the company’s perceived distinctiveness and competitiveness with the public. In recent years, PR specialists have become increasingly involved in helping companies manage strategic issues – public concerns about their activities that are frequently magnified by special interest groups and NGOs. The role of the PR specialist therefore also consists of issues management, namely the “set of organizational procedures, routines, personnel, and issues”. A strategic issue is one that compels a company to deal with it because there is “ a conflict between two or more identifiable groups over procedural or substantive matters relating to the distribution of positions or resources”.


 BY ALLY AMINA