Media Conference 4 - Dr. Peter Milne

Culture Jamming - The War on Brands

Dr. Peter Milne is a lecturer at the University of Queensland. His qualifications include a PhD, a masters in visual art and a bachelor of fine arts. Today he graced a group of young public relations students with his presence and introduced to them the concept of Visual Culture Jamming.

Dr. Milne describes Culture Jamming as an engagement with existing media in a socially critical way. It involves inverting existing media; turning things upside down to create something politically challenging. Cultural Jammers believe that iconic brands are a damaging influence on our personal identities, and therefore on society. They have waged a war against the big brands.

Visual Culture Jamming starts off with detournement; the act of of lifting an image or message out of its context to give it a new meaning. Artists play around with the iconic images of society in a humorous way, usually to make a political statement.

Large corporations are often the target of Culture Jams, as they are influential players in creating culture. Culture Jamming keeps up the pressure on political figures and corporations to adjust to the concerns of the consumer.

It could be said that the rapid increasing popularity of Culture Jamming could also be the death of it. There are many examples of things that start out as counter-cultural statements, then are commoditised and mass-produced to the point where their original meaning is no longer recognisable, undermining the wit of the Culture Jam in the first place. The Jam ends up becoming everything it once hated. 

The battle for virtuous Culture Jamming continues today in a society where the very institutions sought out to challenge, are the ones most taking advantage of the Jam. 

Here are some examples of popular Culture Jams. 

How to be Persuasive - Professional Presentation skills

Presenting is one of the hardest things to do. Like, ever. Let's not lie, we all pretty much despise it. 
Here are some reminders and tips to help you write and present like a pro. 

Presentations – 

• Benefit – You must grab the audience's attention in the first 15 seconds, so offer a benefit to listen. 
• Agenda – Use tools throughout the speech to set up the agenda. 
• Credentials – Be credible and believable. 
• Argument – The content in the body of your speech must reinforce the main argument (repetition).
• Flag – Use devices to retain/regain attention.
• Take home message – Don't forget the final message or reward for your audience for going along with you.

Ask yourself – 

• Who is my audience? 
• Why should they listen – what’s in it for them? 
• What is the purpose of my speech? 
• What structure will I use? 
• What persuasive strategies do I have? 
• What do I want the audience to do with the information?

Planning to speak – 

• Know your audience, but don’t prejudge. 
• Know what you want your audience to know, and how to achieve this. 
• Know why you are giving the speech – to inform, persuade, remind? 
• Know time constraints. Have the skill of knowing when to shut up. 
• Have a clear achievable goal in mind – to provoke action or emotion, etc. 

Preparing a presentation – 

• Set a goal 
• Collect info 
• Select relevant points 
• Structure clearly 
• Intro- about 10% of speech. Must be creative and catchy and delivered well. Refine as you continue writing. 
• Body – about 80%. Have about 4 major points and use signposts to emanate flow. 
• Conclusion – about 10%. End with a bang & give a call to action. 
• Create creatively 
• Organise & memorise

Aristotle’s 5 Canons – 

Keep these in mind when creating and presenting. 

• Invention – Ethos (credibility), pathos (emotions), logos (logic) 
• Arrangement – Structure of ideas and style 
• Style – Language, rhythm, clarity, appropriateness 
• Memory – patterns to trigger recall, from known to unknown, concrete to abstract, problem to solution 
• Delivery – vocal quality, phrasing, pause, posture, gesture, eye contact.

Principles of simple language – 

• Think before you write, then write logically and naturally. 
• Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases. 
• Avoid redundancies, & unwanted rhyming and alliteration 
• Use contractions carefully 
• Use short sentences, vary sentence structure and use active voice 

Principles of meaningful language – 

• Create word pictures 
• Use analogies 
• Use the right words, strong verbs & give precise descriptions 
• Replace clichés, & avoid journalese, loaded or pretentions words. 
• Write honestly 

Principles of inclusive language –

• Use gender inclusive terms 
• Use neutral words 
• Avoid gender stereotypes 
• Exercise caution with race, religion and ethnicity 
• Be sensitive in describing age and ability 
• Describe physical characteristics with care 
• Avoid offensive language and terms

Mechanics of voice – 

• Breathing and breath control 
• Diaphragmatic breathing (c/w shallow breathing) 
• Vocal cords and voice placement 
• Resonating chambers (head and chest) 
• Volume control (does not happen in throat) 

Relaxation when presenting – 

• Physical relaxation – loosen up, try and be comfortable 
• Open up neck, shoulders and torso 
• Ensure posture is correct 
• Vary your voice – introduce energy, emphasis and enthusiasm 
• Use more variety of voice when presenting in groups 
• Lift your energy/performance levels to be higher than that of the audience 
• Don’t be afraid to let personality/enthusiasm show 
• Vary pace and tone
• Practice out loud! You will gain confience.  
• Use natural language, natural pace and tone – as if in a conversation 

Final tips - 

• Paint a verbal picture 
• Make abstract examples concrete 
• Speak in short sentences 
• Ask rhetorical questions 
• Use pauses to your advantage
• Use natural gestures – avoid habitual mannerisms like playing with hair 
• Make direct eye contact with audience members – speak to them like normal human beings
• Monitor audience for non-verbal feedback

The best advice when it comes to presenting confidently is to remember that you are just a human talking to a bunch of other humans. You are not a robot - don't sound like one. And remember, there is not a single person in the audience who doesn't think you are brave for just being up there. Almost everyone in the world is afraid of public speaking - even those who are really good at it. Remember it is a common fear, as this will help you relax. The less nervous you feel, the less likely you are to stuff up, so don't stress it too much. Your best is all you can do. Happy presenting!

Help Protect Our Beautiful Reef!

The Magnificent Great Barrier Reef

Last week, the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke approved an enormous new coal terminal, known as T3, in the World Heritage Reef.

It has come down to us, the proud people of Australia to help protect our one-of-a-kind reef and stop this coal terminal from being built. 

Click here to help out!

Paraprosdokians to Live Your Life By..

A Para-Whaa?!

I had to look up "paraprosdokian". The definition reads: "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation." "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.

1.. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2.. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3.. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4.. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5.. We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.

6.. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7.. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8.. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9.. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted pay cheques

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, please notify...' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt.......plus a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water. 

Words of Wisdom.... "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

A PR Pro Walks Into A Bar..

7 jokes about aspects of public relations to put a smile on your dial as you endure another day in the office. 

On news releases

Q: How many PR people does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Four. One to change the bulb and three to write the holding statement, key messages, and the news release.

On writing and editing

A writer and an editor are making their way through the desert. The sun is beating down, and they're parched beyond belief. Up one dune and down the next they go—walking, stumbling, crawling. Just when they're about to give up, they look over a sandy crest and see an oasis.

Revitalized, they stagger toward it, with the writer leading the way. He lands face first at the edge of the cool water, cups his hands, and drinks. 

Suddenly, a few feet to his left he hears a soft splashing sound. He looks over and sees that the editor is peeing into the water. 

In stunned disbelief, the writer yells, “What the hell are you doing?” 

The editor, without even looking up, says calmly, “I'm making it better.” 

On media relations 

Three journalists walk past a bar … hey, it could happen. 

On explaining PR

What does the wife of a public relations expert do when she has insomnia? 

She rolls over and says, “Tell me again, darling, just what is it that you do for a living?” 

On client work

A PR pro dies and goes to heaven. “There must be some mistake,” she argues, standing in front of the Pearly Gates. “I’m too young to die. I’m only 45.”

“Forty-five?” says Saint Peter. “According to our calculations, you’re 82.”

“How’d you get that number?” she asks.

“Well,” said Saint Peter, “we added up your time sheets.”

On branding 

Q. What's the difference between a squirrel and a rat? 

A. PR. 

On grammar

A dangling modifier walks into a bar. After finishing a drink, the bartender asks it to leave.

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Creating Atmosphere: 'Spooktastic'

The Tale of Bloody Mary

'Standing in front of the dirty mirror in the darkened room, the girl took a deep breath. 'Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary,' she whispered, body trembling. With a deafening crack, the mirror in front of her shattered into a thousand pieces and cut her skin all over. A disfigured woman, covered in blood and dirt suddenly appeared in front of the girl. The woman had eyes of pure, black, piercing evil.

There she was, Bloody Mary in the flesh.'

'Creating Atmosphere - Spooktastic' is a presentation design to spook your pants off. It is in the genre of gothic horror, and will inject fear into the depths of your soul.. Okay, maybe not quite, but it will enhance your Halloween wisdom and entice your taste for terror. Be entertained by a short clip - all things Halloween and humorous; get ready to party at our Halloween-themed Fab-Bash. But most exciting of all, relive the fear and adrenalin rush of the tale of Bloody Mary Worthington.

Halloween, also known as All Hallows Eve, is an annual holiday celebrated around the world on October 31st. History states that Halloween originally began by incorporating traditions from pagan harvest festivals, and other festivals honoring the dead. Common Halloween festivities include Trick-or-Treating; getting dressed up and annoying your neighbours by threatening them for candy, Costume Parties; one of the only times a lady can step out of the house in lingerie and still be socially acceptable, and the crafting of Jack-O-Lanterns; freaky-faced vegetables and with candles inside them.

Are you gonna get your Halloween on this year?

Check Out My Pinterest! :)

Check out my Pinterest boards for photo inspiration, life inpiration, PR inspiration and more. 

“It is only when our fate hangs in the balance, when our very life depends on something, that we see whether or not we trust that the rope to which we are clinging will support us. If we do not, then we let of of the ledge and swing on it with our full weight.” ― Margaret George, The Memoirs Of Cleopatra Natalia Jeshoa.

http://pinterest.com/prinspiration/