What gives you the right?



Who knows what he's about to say: DJ Mo Flava
ready to do what he does best, presenting.
(sauce: http://www.google.co.za/)

 The workplace is a place where you will spend most of your time in your life. That is why you have to love it, adapt and make the most of it. What about if you use the workplace as your form of expression, but not in a rightful way? South Africa is indeed celebrating it's 18 years of freedom on 27 April of this year. This shows that the country has come a long way to fight for the citizen's rights. Is your workplace a platform to communicate, just because you can?


What I have found fascinating however is the people using their freedom to such an extent that will hurt others. Mo Flava a DJ in Y FM, the Youth FM made comments about well-known actress Maggie Benedict who plays Akhona Griffiths in the famous South African soapie Generations read more. Mo Flava used the platform of being a DJ to describe Maggie as "ugly". The manager of Y FM commented that " They merely implied that she has a resemblance to UK popstar Estelle. Then why didn't he say so?


Ready for "action": Maggie Benedict who plays Akhona in
 Generations, is loved by the many.
(source:www.google.co.za)

 How can a DJ say such a thing as this was a complaint by a listener claiming that Mo Flava and his colleagues are referring to Maggie as an ugly-looking person. Does our freedom of expression lead us to such behaviour. There are obviously effects and implications because Mo Flava has not only created a bad name for himself but for his company too. The radio station's reputation is at stake now. The company has to find a way of handling the situation, but the question still lies, how will Y FM handle this and does having a right whether in the workplace or as a citizen make you label others? YFM has to look at how it will communicate with the actress to establish or maitain a good relationship.

The University of Johannesburg goes carefull



Outside the University of Johannesburg
 Bunting Road campus: A prospectus student awaits,
 wondering about the future. (sauce: http://www.google.co.za/)

 It is always intriguing to see how companies and organisations manage their crisis situations or dilemmas. I couldn't help but think of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa read more about UJ. UJ is well-known in South Africa and in other countries, famous for being diverse and having four campuses; it will be hosting an Open Day on 11 and 12 May this year.

As UJ is approaching its' Open Day, my question only lies on how the day will be maintained or controlled. Schools have to book and make an appointment to come visit UJ on Friday; parents also have to make appointments to come visit with their children on Saturday. Open day is a day whereby prospective people or learners come together, ask questions about career fields they are interested in, tour around and learn more about the institution. The institution is basically selling itself to its consumers or customers. It is the best way to market and communicate directly with its' target market.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A CRISIS? HOW?

Now UJ came with a strategy of setting appointments because after this year's stampede read more about stampede, that caused a mother's life, UJ cannot certainly take any chances.

The long queue for applying: Everyone wants to see themselves
studying at a university. (sauce: http://www.google.co.za/)

Is UJ showing that it is responsible enough to handle a big number of people besides the registered students that are already enrolling? The matter might have been handled or be in the process of being solved, read more but a bad image has already been created. Some might even think twice about applying at the University of Johannesburg.

How are companies, organisations or institutions handling their crisis situations? Do they wait for an incident to occur. Are they reactive communicators with the public instead of proactive? -Foreseeing a crisis before it happens. But who is to be blamed though, the department of education, UJ, the late applicants?

This situation goes to show that public relations and communications departments are vital in each and every organisation. Dealing with matters in a way that will benefit both the organisation and the public market or customer has to be dealt with strategically. Internal and external communication should be looked at cautiously no matter how big or small an organisation is.

Social Media and technology taking over?




You can also find kids on Facebook.
(source: www.googleimages.com)

 



Is the social media networking taking over our lives? Social media is indeed taking over our lives because these days we relate everything to it. Besides using it at home or for social reasons it is being used at work as a tool to communicate with the staff.  Sites like Facebook or Yahoo are used to disseminate information faster than you can say “quick”. It is good and it is being improved everyday as I read on The New Age, (11 April) about Facebook buying Istagram  for $1 billion which is a camera application used by social network users to share photos in the most effective and immediate way read more about Instagram deal  
What about when these networking sites don’t protect your private information?  What about when social network cause road accidents or kidnappings. But then again, which good PR campaign can change all this?- Resources and money!

The New Age( 13 April) published an article about “Go Digital South Africa” which is a new way of broadcasting that will be implemented in South Africa. Broadcasting will be moved from analogue TV to digital which will provide more clarity and sound and more TV channels. Digital TV is when signals are encoded and can be compressed to a minimum of 8 TV channels and can be provided in the same frequency as analogue which is transmission in form of electromagnetic waves. This is proof that technology is improving and taking over because schools are also implementing ways on teaching using i-pads. read more

One of the leading social networking sites.
(source: www.googleimages.com )

What about when social media disturbs us in the workplace or sends out the wrong information? Yesterday I went to a school appointment to find that the employee was not assisting me because of being on Facebook. What does this therefore say about the company’s image and communication? It simply sends out a message that they couldn’t care less about me or any other customer who needed help? This does not only happen at schools but also at supermarkets, hospitals or retail shops.

Twitter is also one of the social networks used these days especially by celebrities. They are able to build on their image by communicating instantly with their fans or the public, they just miss the plot when they tweet about anything and I mean anything, or when they say whatever because of the social network being instant and immediate. Social media is a great way of communicating but can ruin a campaign or a person when incorrectly used.




The logos at their best.
(source: http://www.googleimages.com/)

  Let your employees know that when they treat a consumer badly chances are that they won’t come back. Social media goes wrong when you do not know its' purpose, especially at work. Know the time to chit-chat and to work. It is therefore up to Public Relations Practitioners of companies and organisations to teach their staff members about the importance of social media.

Know what to say.

Don’t link personal information

Know how to use it… You will never go wrong.