WEEK FOUR LECTURE (GUEST SPEAKER)

WEEK FOUR LECTURE (GUEST SPEAKER)

As planned for the week, Mr. Osei Piesie-Anto who is also a lecturer of the University and a Political figure was invited to give a lecture on “INTRODUCTION TO PUBLICITY METHODS”. The lecture centered on the clearest distinctions among publicity, Advertising, Propaganda, Public Relations, Campaigning and Advocacy.

Enough time was taken to explain the basic characteristics of the fields mentioned earlier.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I LEANRT FOR THE DAY:

The distinctions among PUBLICITY, PROPAGANDA, CAMPAIGNING and PUBLIC RELATIONS were very important insight for me on the day especially as the lecture was delivered by a man who has lived almost all his life using these methods (Publicity, Advertising, Propaganda, Public relations, Campaigning and Advocacy

PUBLICITY:

Mr. Piesie- Antoh defined publicity as the deliberate attempt to manage the public’s perception of a subject. It entails promotion of political ideas or advertising goods and services of an organization and of all kinds of works and works of entertainment. In effect it has to do with the principal motive of making an idea, agenda or otherwise better known so that the target audience may join the bandwagon. Low cost and gaining of credibility over a period are its main advantages. On the other hand, lack of control over how releases are used and frustrations that may set in due to low media usage of release are its main disadvantage.

PROPAGANDA:

Propaganda is defined as a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of persons or group of persons towards a cause or position so as to benefit oneself or ones’ group.

Propaganda has the basic and intimate aim of influencing audience. It is often biased, with facts selectively presented to support a side of an argument, which is the cause championed by the propagandist. The selective nature of the subject makes the propagandist lie by omission and not commission .It was clear in the lecture that Politicians have now taken over the subject of propaganda in their support of a driven agenda to gain political points.

CAMPAIGNING:

Campaigning is the process of mobilizing people to join together to take action. It encourages people to take decisions for the benefit of mostly marginalized group but not to harm especially the powerless. It involve writing letters to politicians, signing petitions, lobbying, marches, boycotts, demonstration, vigils, media work etc. It is thus directed against a target to achieve a specific result .It has to do with tackling the causes of injustices by challenging those structures, policies and practices which serve to keep the poor in poverty.

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

It is the action of a Cooperation, store, government, individuals etc in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the Community, employees, customers etc. PR provides an organization or individual exposure to audiences using topics of public interest and news items that provide a third party endorsement. In other words, public relations are used to enhance a reputation.

WHY I FOUND THAT TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON OF THE DAY

Even though other areas were highlighted by the guest speaker, I paid much attention to the areas highlighted as they will go a long way to help me especially in the area of publicity and campaigning. These fields would be used as and when the need be throughout my career and so it is very appropriate that I consider them very important lesson.

I welcome your inputs  to the key areas since the clearer and in depth understanding of same would help me a great deal to realize my goals of studying PUBLICITY METHODS.

HOW I WILL APPLY THAT IN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

With these options of carrying out a campaign, I will have different options to choose from and choose accordingly depending on the purpose of the campaign and the area of pursuit as Development 

 Communication cuts across almost all fields.