Final Blog For Now

Cert 4 in PR has taught me determination, hard work, STRESS and how to work in a group situation...well how I should work.

I have seen that PR is not for everybody – so to the last of us that have made it to the end WOOHOO....... we did it!!

Studying PR has taught me copious amounts of coffee during the day will keep me going and a few wines after getting home helps to wind down.

I’ve learnt not to take everything so seriously all of the time, sometimes it is okay to let go and let others run with the ball, (as long as I don’t get lobbed in the head with it).

I have learnt to persevere even when I felt inadequate (publisher) sorry Rebel, I am still not a fan.

What is the spin?

http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/perth-confidential/gallery-e6frg343-1226073048151?page=1

At first glance you may think this article is about the ever eccentric English actress Helena Bonham Carter and another of her unconventional career decisions; however it’s rather plain to see that the publicist working behind the scenes at the Marc Jacobs fashion empire is trying to generate more buzz and publicity in being associated with an oddball actress better known for her fashion don’ts.

The spin is obviously that Marc Jacobs went down the unconventional route and didn’t choose a typical supermodel type. Hmmm maybe Mark Jacobs Company Inc is trying to give Alexander McQueen a dose of healthy competition??

I think the PR officer wants all the fashion folk to be sitting up and taking notice, they’d want them waiting, discussing and writing about Marc Jacobs and his up and coming collection and campaign.

Social Media – Friend or Foe?

I believe social media in this day and age is a necessary evil. Personally speaking I can admit to many a wasted day spent on facebook – not doing much at all…………….. okay okay so I was doing the facebook stalk, checking out what the ex's are up to, spying on what others have been doing lately or having a laugh at clearly over posed awkward lean style posted photos - you know the ones the “aren’t I great” and “I am having such a fabulous time” photos.

In the hands of others social media has become a flashing neon billboard sized advertisement for their entire life. Did I really need to know that your ex is now sleeping with your now ex best friend, that you’re doing your grocery shop for the week or even worse that you’ve been up all night coz your kids been sick? At both ends........HELL NO!!!

I have a lot of trouble relating to these kinds of people who broadcast every single mundane event on the internet... Why do they do it? What motivates them, I have no idea.

Used in the right way social media can be a fantastic tool for a Public Practitioner to put out their clients/company’s view out into the world, though it’s essential to be completely transparent ......people are able to see through the bullshit.

For the most part Social Media used by the right people in the right way can be extremely advantageous.

Australia’s Next Top Model Season 6 – Stunt or Gaffe?

Looking back at footage, it appears to ME from the look of embarrassment and discomfort Sarah Murdoch appears genuinely horrified that she was

1) told the incorrect information and 2) just announced to Australia and to the world the incorrect winner.

So what do I know really? Cynics out there would more than likely disagree with my view and they’re probably right.

It probably was a P.R. stunt to garner headlines and to guarantee A.N.T.M season 7!!

All's right that ends right, right? At least the loser Kelsey of the competition got to go to New York and try her luck at modelling and more importantly the $25,000.

So, how would I promote the Cert IV in Public Relations?

From my own personal experience in participating in the cert IV course, I feel it is very important to tackle head on with the wannabes, the people who enrol in the course but have no real idea what P.R. is and what a P.R. practitioner really does!

I think Central should advertise on their enrolment website and deal with the misconception that P.R. is a trivial, frivolous, never-ending party circuit but rather that it involves a lot of hard work, lots of writing and that it can be a hard slog, yet so worthwhile for the right person. Though in saying this, I can admit that some of the industries, that P.R. practitioners may be interested in going into, may involve some out-of-office hours, schmoozing, canapés and champagne.

If I were to promote this course for a career expo at a exhibition centre, I would definitely get online and start to reach out to the target demographic of year twelve school leavers and begin advertising on facebook by setting up a like page, getting on twitter and getting it out there, that a career expo was going to be held. I would of course include all activities, prizes and things of interest that would be happening during the course of the day at the expo.

On the actual day of the expo at the display stand, I would reiterate what P.R. is really about, that it’s not for the faint hearted and if they’re afraid of hard work – Do not bother enrolling!!! I think it’s important to steer the right people into this course and ultimately the right people into this industry.

One way I think would be great to get interest and traffic flow, to the display stand would be to run a flash mob at random times of the day. (Perhaps twice in the day)

Can you imagine the buzz generated by the chaos and fun of a mob scene!

Expectations...Inspirations...Aspirations...

So what do I really want to do once I finish this course? Well first things first I will be jumping on the first available flight direct to Sydney. Both to chill out on a 2 week break and to catch up with my brother, whom I love more than chocolate!!!

FAST FORWARD TO TWO WEEKS!
 (Less said, the better)

Right after arriving back in Perth, I’ll be on the hunt, for a job in P.R. with an agency. Using the contacts I already have, trying to wrangle a job with either of my two mentors (who are already in the industry) proving to them that I would be a fantastic asset, both to them and to their companies. If they are not able to take me on a full time basis, maybe I could freelance for them while working elsewhere? Or even just straight out freelance Public Relations all over Perth. Whilst working I am hoping to also attend university (part-time; only doing a couple of units) and complete a Communication degree.

I definitely think the universe is pushing me towards fashion P.R. Every day I am meeting more and more of the who’s who of the fashion crowd of Perth, making valuable connections. That will prove invaluable for my future P.R. career.

One of my mentors Caitlin, has told me the first 2 years in the industry, my life will no longer be my mine; it will instead belong to my future boss! Dramatic much?  It very well may be the case but I say “Bring it on”. I can’t wait to get out in the P.R. world to use all I’ve learnt at Central and to put it into practice, to actually start working, to develop campaigns and to work on promotions, WOOHOO I can’t wait to start working!!

Looking into the future at what I wish for myself in the long term; say in 5 to 10 years. I am hoping that my brothers wanderlust has waned somewhat and he decides to return to Perth to live. So both of us can join forces, and start a company combining both of our talents, His super amazing styling skills and by then my finely tuned awesome P.R. know-how.

Six word story

Jobs mean money, Money means debts!!!

Why do I have to work in a group?

A sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, a shiver runs down your spine? No wonder you have just been told you have to work in a group for a project.

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Ok now breathe, and know that at certain times in your life you will be required to work in a group situation, co-operating with others to achieve objectives.  

So you would rather eat razor blades than participate in a group project, but they are a necessary evil. So embrace the opportunity to delegate. Take a leadership role, work with productive people, and be prepared for the uncertainty.

Taking what I consider the best  tips from 5 tips for working in a group and 10 tips for working in student teams by Dr. Randall S. Hansen Ph.D. websites, mixing them up, personalising them and making them more my style

WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER

Be smart only choose to work with people who you know can perform, try choosing people that you know and respect. If you’ve only had limited interaction look out for interested people who appear eager and curious. Don't sit back and let the groups form without you. Get with the group who seem they are ready to work.

DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES EARLYAs soon as you get your assignment, start dividing up the responsibilities. Just get verbal commitments from your group members, and reconvene when everyone has completed their tasks. There is no need for numerous meetings, swap email addresses and phone numbers within the group and communicate.

DON’T BE AN ENABLER.

If you’ve got somebody who isn’t doing their work, hold them responsible as a group. Everyone needs to do their part.

SCREAM

Things are not  going well, you have a flake in the group! Why do you do next? Breath in Breath out, stay focused on the objective, and the deadline. Limit group meetings, think of the things you need to accomplish.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF.Some people get bitter when group projects go bad, and the bulk of the work falls on their shoulders. If faced with a worst case scenario (i.e. nobody's doing a darn thing), embrace the opportunity to take control of the project. If you're stuck with incompetent group members, why would you want your grade to be a reflection of their efforts.

If you do everything yourself, you can control the final outcome. Sure it might stink that no one else is helping, but you need to worry about your own grade. It's better to do the project all by yourself, and know that it's excellent. You don't want to have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. Just take control and make sure you succeed.

Website

Five tips for working in a group. 2009. Ezine Articles. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Tips-For-Working-In-A-Group&id=383548. [Accessed 16 March 11].

Website

Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.. 2011. 10 Tips for working in student teams. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mycollegesuccessstory.com/academic-success-tools/student-team-tips.html. [Accessed 11 March 11].

 

  

Media Release

16^th March 2011

Subject: Spectacular first for Swiss aerialist at Perth’s Red Bull Air Races

Kristoff Mathison will be the first ever contestant of the Red Bull Air Races to perform the highly technical yet spectacular half twist loop di loop.

Renowned aerialist, Kristoff hailing from Switzerland appreciates the warm welcome received from locals on the Perth leg of the Red Bull Air Races on the 15^th March 2011.

“I have always heard great things about Perth, being here I can see why” Kristoff was quoted as saying.

Lisia Dos Santos

Publicist

Republication

042158524

 

James Price Point...............

The Kimberley region in northern Western Australia is a globally significant natural and cultural landscape, home to rare and endangered wildlife and a marine wonderland of unrivalled beauty and diversity. The region can only be compared to places like the Amazon, Great Barrier Reef, or the Antarctic in terms of majesty and scale of relatively pristine and healthy functioning natural landscapes.

The Browse basin is a large undersea area off the Kimberley coast contains significant reserves of gas and some oil.  A number of companies hold leases over this region, and are now looking to extract the fossil fuel resource.

With so much interest from companies wanting to process the Kimberley’s huge gas reserves – the Government set up a process to find one location in an attempt to minimise the impacts.

A Government taskforce looked at 40 potential sites along the Kimberley coast but it paid only lip service to assessing sites outside the Kimberley despite the fact the Government had committed to doing so.

Then the State Government changed; Premier Colin Barnett was elected, and the whole process was abandoned. Premier Barnett quickly moved to make a unilateral decision that James Price Point, north of Broome was the best site.

A major industrial complex on the Kimberley coast would be environmentally destructive; compromise the sustainable economic future of the Kimberley (tourism, well managed fisheries etc.) and would act as a ‘thin edge of the wedge’ to trigger many other damaging developments in the Kimberley such as strip mining for bauxite and alumina refineries, and polluting fertiliser or ammonia plants.

We can protect the environment and create jobs through investment in sustainable industries such as ecotourism and improved land management which are not environmentally destructive.

Recent research mapping the world’s oceans placed the Kimberley alongside Antarctica as one of the world’s least impacted marine environments. It is clearly comparable to the Great Barrier Reef in conservation significance and value.

The Kimberley’s clean seas, innumerable islands, coral reefs, mangroves, bays and estuaries are home to an astonishing variety of wildlife including Humpback whales and Dugong, five species of turtles, crocodiles, rare Snub fin dolphins and a coral reef network of global significance. The Kimberley coast also has outstanding cultural values for the region’s many Indigenous peoples.

If the large multinational resource companies have their way however, the pristine Kimberley region is about to change.

The Wilderness Society. 2010. James Price Point FAQs - your questions answered. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/kimberley-lng-gas-plant-and-james-price-pointfaq-your-questions-answered. [Accessed 12 March 11].

In my opinion this whole debacle has been totally and irrevocably unethical; how can the Barnett Government possibly claim they have behaved in an ethical way, when the original decision to allow the LNG precinct was made without any consultation of the stakeholders who have an obvious vested interest in this region?

Surely, in a democratic country there should have been some consultation of this project? How can a project that has been collectively panned as a major ecological disaster waiting to happen?, that is unwanted both by the indigenous community who belong to that land, and the locals who choose to make their homes in the Kimberly region be allowed to go ahead, especially with viable alternatives that would suit all interested parties

Adding insult to injury, Colin Barnett is now on the offensive; announcing the process of compulsory acquisition of the land in question.

A special moment in my life.....

Switzerland 2008

When I think about the special moments in my life, they always seem to centre on the times I have travelled abroad.

                                      

One of those moments without a doubt would have to be my most recent holiday in 2008 to the magically captivating country of Switzerland, to visit my family but particularly to see my gorgeous favourite cousin Karin.

My visit was a total secret, unknown to her until I arrived and rang the door bell of her apartment. I remember as she grabbed me in a huge bear hug squeezing so tight as if she didn’t want to let me go, her look of utter stunned surprise was priceless and the best feeling ever.

Switzerland - the land of cuckoo clocks, silky smooth chocolate and well made luxurious time pieces.  In my opinion the month of December; is the best time to be in Zurich it’s an absolutely magical time of the year, the snow, the picture postcard lake Zurich, the majestic views of the alps,  Christmas light decorations hanging in every cobblestoned street, the scent of roasting chestnuts and hot chocolate made from real Lindt chocolate.

Panoramic view, looking down onto the city of Zurich

Feeling alot like Xmas?





Running the streets, with my cousin and brother.

St Moritz - the breathtaking resort enclave of the very rich and famous.

Blogging And Public Relations

What is the purpose of BLOGGING in Public Relations?

What exactly is blogging?

As per the online dictionary Blogging is as follows;

A blog is sort of like an online diary. A person can use a blog to write about their life, their thoughts on something or even just to talk about the news. A blog can be public so that any person is able to read them or private so that only a select few can access them.

1. A website containing the writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and may often have images and links to other web sites.

2. To maintain or add new entries to a blog. (As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.)

So how is blogging beneficial to me as a future publicist?

           

Blogs can be a powerful communication tool that allows you to get noticed; basically blogging allows you to advertise yourself and it doesn’t cost you a cent.

Advertising yourself should lead to future employment and hopefully thereafter many future promotions.

Public relations, right after communication; is all about networking, blogging is just another way of meeting like minded people.

Blogging can be another way of impressing future clients; you would be able to show a certain level of knowledge on certain subjects. Plus imagine being able to say “I have only just blogged about that topic”...look up my link.

Finally it’s the fastest growing form of media, blogging along with other web 2.0 networks are being predicted to overtake the traditional forms of media. You really need to get on the technological bandwagon or risk being left behind, in the dark.

Something about me......

Ok so a little bit about myself, my name is Lisia the simplest way to remember how to pronounce it is; Lee - C – Ah.......I hope that helps!

After 10 years in the workforce, it has been somewhat of an adjustment to return to the mindset of full time student. Currently I am studying a Certificate IV in Public Relations. Still debating, whether to go into the Fashion or Government sectors.

I love my family and friends, and would do nearly anything for them.

I like to read and if it's a really a good book, I have been known to finish it in a day or two.

I have a major hand bag and shoe addiction and I should fess up that I have a huge designer sunglass and perfume collection. As far as addictions go, though costly, it's not so injurious to my health as other addictions.

I love to travel, to meet new people, to see wonderous sites. I have travelled extensively throughout the Asia Pacific region and Europe (where I have a lot of family) My most favourite place in Asia without a doubt would have to be India! The food, the people, and the sites – TAJ MAHAL need I say more? In Europe it would be a toss up between Portugal and Switzerland. At this point in time I am debating whether to go on holidays to India or to Europe at the end of 2011.

But first things first, I need to concentrate on the next 20 weeks!!