WEEK 4- Internal Communications

Readings- Chapter 11 'Internal & Community Relations' & Career Faqs pp 37-93

The Career Faqs reading for this week I found were rather beneficial it was also practical and easy to read. I discovered from this weeks reading that there are a wide range of job areas pr covers such as media and communications manager, pr consultant, media advisor and communications director. The job titles that the reading outlined helped me to understand what the different job titles encompass and when it does come my time to find a job I know what areas to search and what job titles pr covers.

Two profiles in the reading made me think more a about pr in practice in what pr jobs really involve. Jessica Walker who is a media and communication manager for CARE organises campaigns such as the World Hunger campaign. I have always wanted to work in an aid organisation and I found it interesting that Jessica points out that, ‘people working in the aid industry have a very poor life-work balance.’ I guess in that sense you really have to do it for the love of the job and you would have to learn to make sacrifices. She also points out that job experience is essential and volunteering is the best way to develop skills. I feel this advice is very important in that I must create work experience for myself throughout my degree.

Another profile I found practical was Jess Hudswell who is a core values and corporate communications manager for Daimler Chrysler Financial Services Australia. She makes various points about pr jobs in general that I feel are valuable for myself to remember such as:

• High stress jobs require you to be strong willed
• Respect people who have been in the organisation longer than you
• Don’t cross anyone only pick the fights you can win
• Be represented by a recruitment agency as it is the company’s first port of call
• Seek advice from the people in the industry
• AND make sure you have work experience…

Chapter 11 ‘Internal and Community Relations’ by Marianne Sison discusses the importance of ‘internal public relations’ and 'community relations’. I think the key points to remember for this weeks readings are:

• Internal and community relations are increasingly becoming the first priority in public relations practice.
• Public relations is taking on the role as the company’s social conscience.
• More importance is being placed by companies on the two-way symmetric communication model.

I feel that corporations have the duty to look after their workers as well as the community. At the end of the day in order for a corporation to be successful financially they must put their workers and community first. Another interesting point from chapter 11 is that most companies’ traditional organisation structure is hierarchical and now a flat organisational structure has become more popularised, this demonstrates equality within the work environment.

References

James, M. (2006). 'Insider Info.' In Public Relations. (pp. 37-93). Sydney: Career Faqs.

Johnston, J. & Zawawi, C. (2004) 'Internal and Community Relations.' In Public Relations Theory and Practice. (pp. 287-314). Sydney: Allen & Unwin.