Role of African Elites in Dismantling Decolonization

Colonial literature F-K Omoregie, English Department, University of Botswana Walter Rodney s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, Amilcar Cabral s National Liberation and Struggle, and Ngugi Wa Thiong o s Writing Against Neocolonialism reveal the political, economic, and social circumstances that formed the sensibility of most African writers. Thus, they illuminate the various types of mentalities or ideologies that inform African literature. In addition, these works help the reader determine if a novelist s portrayal of African society fully reflects its social relations, political arrangements, and economic factors. These critical writings also help in the debate on the definition of African literature. For they bring out the†¦show more content†¦. . (1980). In Ferdinand Oyono s The Old Man and the Medal, the road, constructed by forced black labor, symbolizes the visible exploitative means linking Africa to Europe. Rodney notes also that the social services in colonial Africa reflected the pattern of domination and exploitation geared toward the wel l-being of the settlers. In Mayombe the narrator says: You earn twenty escudos a day, for chopping down trees with an axe . . . And how much does the boss earn for each tree? A pile. What does the boss do to earn this money? Nothing, nothing . . . So, how can he earn many thousands a day and give you twenty escudos? What right has he? This is colonialist exploitation. [Pepetela: 1983: 19] What the narrator notes above, claims Rodney, is what resulted in the underdevelopment of Africa. Rodney observes that the African dependency upon the European also ultimately produced neocolonial class stratification and Africans who manipulated the colonial economic structures for their own benefit. In Mission to Kala, the colonial authorities nominate the chief of Vimili who goes on to live an opulent life at the expense of the people: The colonial Administration (who had nominated him in the first place) buttered him up. In return, he obeyed their commands like a robot and knew they would not throw him out. In the days of the forced labor gangs he had been feared by everyone because he betrayed fugitives to the authorities and acted as an informer.Show MoreRelated Outside the Teaching Machine by Gayatri Spivak2753 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Other† as self’s other is going on, perhaps with more subtlety and programmatic finesse. The significant distinction she makes between relative strength of subjectivity is the way how she considers the Western critical discourse as assuming the role of the originator, legitimizer, and of course the guarantor of the discourse about the so-called Third World. The ethical question that arises from Spivak’s discussion leads towards what she terms â€Å"epistemic violence.† For her, the Western subject’sRead MoreCultural Erasure5591 Words   |  23 Pagescity of El Dorado, the fabled Fountain of Youth and the island home of Robinson Crusoe. Enriched by the process of creolization, the cosmopolitanism of the average Caribbean person is also well recognized: ‘No Indian from India, no European, no African can adjust with greater ease and naturalness to new situations’ (Lamming 1960, 34). As a concept or notion ‘the Caribbean’ can also be seen to have a marvellous elasticity that defies the imposition of clear geographic boundaries, has no distinctRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagestwentieth century as a coherent unit for teaching, as well as for written narrative and analysis. Though they do not exhaust the crucial strands of historical development that tie the century together—one could add, for example, nationalism and decolonization—they cover in depth the defining phenomena of that epoch, which, as the essays demonstrate, very often connect in important ways with these and other major developments. The opening essays of this collection underscore the importance of including

Real Choices at Starbucks Free Essays

Real Choices at Starbucks Starbucks started as small coffee shop in a tourist area called Pikes Place Market in Seattle. The three unknown pioneer of Starbucks wanted to share their passion for brewed coffee and tea. During their first year in the business, they experimented with all sorts of coffee blend until they came up with their own flavor. We will write a custom essay sample on Real Choices at Starbucks or any similar topic only for you Order Now Their business became an instant success using the word of mouth selling brewed coffee cup by cup. This is what inspired them to open a second store to target the wider market. By the early 1980’s, Starbucks expanded to four new stores in Seattle area. Since then, they became the largest retail company in the world. This coffee company grew from four Starbucks store to having currently 16,635 stores globally including 11,068 in the United States, 1000 stores in Canada, and more than 800 in Japan (Salomon 271). This amazing expansion can be attributed to Howard Shultz’s dedication to brewing coffee who bought the coffee’s trademark twenty five years ago. The main reason Starbucks has done so well for four decades can be attributed to their commitment to high quality products and passion for educating customers to appreciate the qualities of fine coffees. Strength Starbucks has become a popular company for selling the best tasting coffee products around the world. As a result, everyone saw Starbucks as the biggest and best in the business (Higbee 6). They acquired a solid brand reputation and have a world renowned company logo. There are no other national coffee bar competitors in the same scale as Starbucks. They are the only competitor in the coffee business that has a recognized brand image. They also own trademarks, copyrights, domain names, patents. The current SEC filing of Starbucks shows that the company is in a positive financial condition. The company’s total revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 had increased sixteen percent and the net income was up more than ten percent (Smith, http://wallstcheatsheet. com/). This result was primarily driven by increase revenues from company-operated stores, licensed stores, and CPG foodservice contributing to approximately $3. 44 billion (http://investing. businessweek. com/). The overall areas of Starbucks business, from domestic and international retail operations to the company’s specialty businesses delivered strong financial performance, and innovation was the reason for the success of the company’s operations. The statement below shows the current financial status of the company as of January 1, 2012. Financial Statements Results of Operations (in millions) Revenues Quarter Ended ___________________________ Jan 1, Jan 2 % 2012 2011 Change _________ ________ ________ Company-operated stores $ 2,731. 8 $ 2,451. 3 11. 4% Licensed stores 306. 6 254. 3 20. 6 CPG, foodservice and other 397. 245. 3 62. 0 Total net revenues $ 3,435. 9 $ 2,950. 8 16. 4% Weakness Even though Starbucks has strength to stay in the business, it also has a few weaknesses. Starbucks must deal with these weaknesses in order to remain as a competitor in the retail market. One of the company’s most prevalent obstacles is the price they charge for a cup of coffee. While most people consider Starbucks coffee as a luxury and would pay whatever price is set, there is an increasing opinion that Starbucks charges too much (Higbee 7). Sometimes it is difficult for a company to penetrate the mass market with the prices above market averages. While this weakness may not come to reality in the short term, it is possible that this company is somewhat maturing since they have grown so rapidly penetrating the U. S. market. Opportunities Opportunities present themselves when it comes to Starbucks business strategy which provided the options to strengthen its retail market. Starbucks would not be able to effectively compete with its competitors if it not with these opportunities. They continued their quest by expanding its retail operations and sales. They pursued other opportunities by introducing new products and develop new channels to stay on top. Starbucks is in great position to expand its global business more that they already have. Since they expanded to Europe, Canada, and Japan, they enjoyed much success in these countries and their future plan is to open more Starbucks in Asia, Latin America, and the Far East. Starbucks also created numerous partnerships that will ensure its longevity for a long time. Formed a partnership with Pepsi Company and created a coffee type bottled drink called Frappucino. These Frappucino bottles were currently being sold in shops, grocery stores, and convenient stores. This drink has grown in popularity in the past that it was labeled by the consumers as â€Å"the coffee on the go† (Higbee 6). In addition, Starbucks also partnered with Target that pave the way to opening a coffee shop inside the shopping center. Threats One of the major threats to Starbucks is their competition with other coffee chain, such as Coffee Bean and Peet’s Coffee. Other companies, such as McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King already have the infrastructure in place and are instead adding quality coffee to their menu to compete with Starbucks (Higbee 8). But for one thing, many people enjoy buying coffee even though it is pricey because of the environment and experience that allow people to enjoy, relax, and mingle while sipping a cup of coffee. Other threats to Starbucks are the gas station and restaurants industry. Many people are in the habit of buying breakfast and coffee at the local gas stations such as 7 Eleven. This practice is done mostly out of habit, but also for convenience especially for morning paper paired with a cup of coffee before going to work. Many consumers are also attracted by the convenience and the economics of the big mug cup of coffee they can obtain. Other consumer concerns are the trend towards more healthy ways. More and more people are becoming aware of the risk in consumption of caffeine. Too much caffeine can produce restlessness, nausea, headache, tense muscles, sleep disturbances, and irregular heartbeats. Caffeine can also increase the production of stomach acid that causes acid reflux. And finally, the price of coffee is so volatile that it remained as the biggest complaint by its customers. Recommendation Starbucks has created such a strong corporate culture and strong work values that it allows a company to successfully engage in product diversification. However, amongst the first thing that Starbucks needs to have is to define their brand image by lowering the coffee prices. It needs to be conveyed to the market in a precise manner, so that there would be no confusion amid Starbucks customer complaints. This is vital if Starbucks wanted to maintain its domestic market share competing with the likes of McDonald, Dunkin Donut, and Burger King. They must resolve all the consumer concerns so that they can embark on another project with smooth transition. Conclusion Overall, as long as Starbucks maintains and promotes a strong quality product without deterring from its corporate-level strategy, it will always have number of opportunities ahead. There is a very strong base for this company which will allow it to pursue desired avenues with aggressiveness and confidence. Works Cited Salomon M, Marshall G, Stuart E, Marketing: Real People Real Choice 7th Ed. P. cm. Higbee J, Liaw Z, Ting C, Tjho K, Ton M, The Future of Starbucks, http://www. mcafee. cc/Classes/BEM106/Papers/2008/Starbucks. pdf Smith G, Cost of Coffee Could Squeeze Starbucks, http://wallstcheatsheet. com/stocks/cost-of-coffee-could-squeeze-starbucks. html/ United States Securities and Exchange Commission, FORM 10-Q, http://investing. businessweek. com/research/stocks/financials/drawFiling. asp? docKey=137-000119312512032427-56VATRT3JVABGO7FIGIBD5RTCJdocFormat=HTMformType=10-Q#D270627D10Q_HTM_TX270627_3 How to cite Real Choices at Starbucks, Essay examples

Jack Shaefer Essay Example For Students

Jack Shaefer Essay These four short stories are all set in America and show the diversity of Culture in the United States compared to the UK and other countries. I will illustrate the main cultural features shown in these four stories. Jeremy Rodock, by Jack Shaefer This story is about a pioneer who owns a ranch in the uncharted Wild West of the United States in the mid nineteenth century. He is extremely fond of his horses, which are the main feature in his life. One day, he goes to see his mares and foals in his pasture, but discovers they have been stolen. He and the author of the story track the horses and locate them in a valley, but they had been roped and thrown and their front hooves rasped almost to the quick, so that they could barely put their weight on them. Rodock leaves the horses in the valley, planning to return to try and capture the thieves and make them pay. He does this and manages to capture the thieves, but instead of hanging them, which is his usual practice, he makes them walk fifty miles over rocky land without shoes, but then he decided to let them go. This story features a pioneer, a man who explored and settled in unknown territory in the Wild West of America in the mid nineteenth century. Pioneers are a very important feature of American culture, and are not featured in many other countries cultures, except other New World countries like Australia. Pioneers rode on their horse into the unknown, founding settlements. In this story, Jeremy Rodock, the pioneer, has started up a ranch in some unknown territory. Pioneers were very important to American culture in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as they expanded American territory from the East to the far Wild West. Without them, the western areas of the USA would not be part of the country. Jeremy Rodock was a typical pioneer of his time, a tough strong man. The story is set in the Wild West, which is also very important to American culture. The Wild West is an informal term for the unexplored southwestern states of the USA, where law did not exist. Pioneers, or settlers who followed them inhabited the Wild West. As there was no law; people took the law into their own hands, as shown in Jeremy Rodock. He has a reputation (which he deserves) of hanging rustlers who stole his horses, Jeremy Rodock was a hanging man when it came to horse thieves (page 1). Modern America appears to be intrigued by the Wild West, as they have made a countless number of films and series set in the Wild West, as have many other countries showing that it is not just the Americans who are fascinated with the Wild West. The main culture demonstrated in Jeremy Rodock is the horse culture. The story is set in a horse ranch. There is nothing else at the ranch but horses and ranch hands to look after the horses. The whole story is about horses, tracking down horse thieves who have stolen and harmed Jeremy Rodocks horses, and getting revenge for this. The Horse culture was very important to the pioneers, as back then this was their only mode of transport. In the barren land, where this story are set, there are no women, no nearby settlements, nothing but open landscape. This horse culture could be described as primitive or restricted. The horse culture is so important as the ranch is isolated, and no settlers have followed Rodock into this area. The language used in the culture shown above is different to modern English. .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .postImageUrl , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:hover , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:visited , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:active { border:0!important; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:active , .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2 .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u285e3b55ffa282d5f97951f9f1b68db2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: John Keats uses often uses pain EssayThey have many slang words, and correct American vocabulary. The slang that they use is commonly associated with America; some was absorbed into the American language as correct vocabulary at a later date. Examples: critters (pg5), mosey (pg5), look see (pg5), hobbles (pg4) and hitching (pg4). These are but few of the many slang examples in this story. They give an insight to the language used in the mid nineteenth century, which is a very important part of the culture. Words in this story that are part of the American language but not the English are: hustling, (pg6) and rustling (pg2). There are many more examples of correct American words in the story. The difference in language illustrates the difference between the American culture and the English culture at the time. Jeremy Rodock sheds light on the life of a pioneer in the mid nineteenth century. My father by Damon Runyon This story is about a man whose father used to be a pioneer and who has a pioneers reunion in the same town where his wife is to give a speech for her society in dedication to a new museum for Spanish explorers. But his father tries to re-enact his earlier years and starts running riots in the town with his gun and violent ways.

Mountain Biking Essays - Mountain Biking, Cycling, Trail, Freeride

Mountain Biking If you want the rush of going downhill at thirty miles an hour on two wheels with wind blowing dirt in your eyes and mud flinging all over you, then mountain biking is for you. However it isn't for the faint of heart. When you fall, you fall hard, and if you ride hard, you go through parts like a runner goes through water. Also keep in mind that mountain biking isn't for everyone. You have to want to live on the edge. The thrill is the reward for all of your efforts. So let's take a walk through a day at the course. The sun is shinning in my room as I wake up on another beautiful Saturday morning. The one thing that excites me as I rise is the fact that today I am going mountain biking. So I get dressed and call my friend Sean. Sean is the person who I go mountain biking with the most. We normally go to a place in Barrington. It is a forest reserve that has great trails. After Sean arrives at my house we do a little pre-ride bike check. We make sure that all of the components are securely on the bike and that the tires are properly inflated. With water bottles filled and bikes ready to go, we are off. Not long after we arrive at our destination we see others just like us who are out to enjoy a great day at the trails. With bikes ready to go so are we. Usually we start off with the small trails that have some hills to them. After we are tired of the small stuff we get into downhill chutes, cross-country riding and all the hard riding that mountain biking is all about. Occasionally, we have a spill or two but nothing to serious. In my case however, the only time I go mountain biking by myself, I fall and break my collar bone. So after a few hours of riding all our energy on the course, we decide it is time to go home. You know that you rode hard if you are covered in mud and dirt. And after another successful ride, we go home to plan our next day at the course.

Comparing LBJ AND JFK essays

Comparing LBJ AND JFK essays John F. Kennedy and Lindon B. Johnson were two of the united states presidents during the cold war although neither was is office very long each had lasting impact on the United States. John was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Mass., the second of nine children. As an infant he lived in a comfortable but modest frame house in that suburb of Boston. As the family grew and the father's fortune increased, the Kennedys moved to larger, more impressive homes, first in Brookline, then in suburbs of New York City. John had a happy childhood, full of family games and sports. He attended private elementary schools, none of them parochial. He later spent a year at Canterbury School in New Milford, Conn., where he was taught by Roman Catholic laymen, and four years at Choate School in Wallingford, Conn. John seemed to grow up in the shadow of his oldebrother Joseph, who dominated family competitions and was a better student in school. Encouraged by his father to take part in school athletics, John, wiry but thin, played in half a dozen sports without making the varsity. When John graduated from Choate in 1935, he ranked only 64th in a class of 112. His classmates, howev er, voted him "most likely to succeed." And its a good thing they did because in 1960. During his presidency he had to dal with many foreing problem retaining to the cold war. The first was the By of Pigs. This plan wasnt even Kennedys it was Eisenhowers but Kennedy was forced to go through with it. This pan was for the U.S. to train the Cuban rebels how to fight and to help them revotlt against castro but when it came time to invaid Castro was ready and it turned out to be a huge blounder. Kennedy also had to deal with one of the most scary incidents of the Cold war this incident was when the Soviets sent Cuba nuclear warheads to point at the U.S. for finacial aid. Kennedy however dealt with this well and got the soviets to remove the we ...

Discovery of the Higgs Field Behind the God Particle

Discovery of the Higgs Field Behind the God Particle The Higgs field is the theoretical field of energy that permeates the universe, according to the theory put forth in 1964 by Scottish theoretical physicist Peter Higgs. Higgs suggested the field as a possible explanation for how the fundamental particles of the universe came to have mass, because in the 1960s the Standard Model of quantum physics actually couldnt explain the reason for mass itself. He proposed that this field existed throughout all of space and that particles gained their mass by interacting with it. Discovery of the Higgs Field Though there was initially no experimental confirmation for the theory, over time it came to be seen as the only explanation for mass that was widely viewed as consistent with the rest of the Standard Model. As strange as it seemed, the Higgs mechanism (as the Higgs field was sometimes called) was generally accepted widely among physicists, along with the rest of the Standard Model. One consequence of the theory was that the Higgs field could manifest as a particle, much in the way that other fields in quantum physics manifest as particles. This particle is called the Higgs boson. Detecting the Higgs boson became a major goal of experimental physics, but the problem is that the theory didnt actually predict the mass of the Higgs boson. If you caused particle collisions in a particle accelerator with enough energy, the Higgs boson should manifest, but without knowing the mass that they were looking for, physicists werent sure how much energy would need to go into the collisions. One of the driving hopes was that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) would have sufficient energy to generate Higgs bosons experimentally since it was more powerful than any other particle accelerators that had been built before. On July 4, 2012, physicists from the LHC announced that they found experimental results consistent with the Higgs boson, though further observations are needed to confirm this and to determine the various physical properties of the Higgs boson. The evidence in support of this has grown, to the extent that the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Peter Higgs and Francois Englert. As physicists determine the properties of the Higgs boson, it will help them more fully understand the physical properties of the Higgs field itself. Brian Greene on the Higgs Field One of the best explanations of the Higgs field is this one from Brian Greene, presented on the July 9 episode of PBS Charlie Rose Show, when he appeared on the program with experimental physicist Michael Tufts to discuss the announced discovery of the Higgs boson: Mass is the resistance an object offers to having its speed changed. You take a baseball. When you throw it, your arm feels resistance. A shotput, you feel that resistance. The same way for particles. Where does the resistance come from? And the theory was put forward that perhaps space was filled with an invisible stuff, an invisible molasses-like stuff, and when the particles try to move through the molasses, they feel a resistance, a stickiness. Its that stickiness which is where their mass comes from. ... That creates the mass.... ... its an elusive invisible stuff. You dont see it. You have to find some way to access it. And the proposal, which now seems to bear fruit, is if you slam protons together, other particles, at very, very high speeds, which is what happens at the Large Hadron Collider... you slam the particles together at very high speeds, you can sometimes jiggle the molasses and sometimes flick out a little speck of the molasses, which would be a Higgs particle. So people have looked for that little speck of a particle and now it looks like its been found. The Future of the Higgs Field If the results from the LHC pan out, then as we determine the nature of the Higgs field, well get a more complete picture of how quantum physics manifests in our universe. Specifically, well gain a better understanding of mass, which may, in turn, give us a better understanding of gravity. Currently, the Standard Model of quantum physics does not account for gravity (though it fully explains the other ​fundamental forces of physics). This experimental guidance may help theoretical physicists hone in on a theory of quantum gravity that applies to our universe. It may even help physicists understand the mysterious matter in our universe, called dark matter, that cannot be observed except through gravitational influence. Or, potentially, a greater understanding of the Higgs field may provide some insights into the repulsive gravity demonstrated by the dark energy that seems to permeate our observable universe.

Americal Labor Issues (as it relates to unionized labor) Essay

Americal Labor Issues (as it relates to unionized labor) - Essay Example It will also emphasize on the fact that this influence is often felt in a radical sense in many working environments. The paper will give the function of unions and how unions are lawfully the employee's only representatives, which represent both union and non-union members. The only method an employee has for manipulating important decisions such as strike votes, contract approval, or strategies of negotiation is to join the union. As a result employees have to join so that they can be represented in the negotiations of union regarding wages and working conditions (Tait 2005). It will portray how for a lot of American employees, union membership may be their only choice as union members have authority over non union members when it comes to working conditions as well as wages. In the analysis section of the paper in order to portray the authority union members have over non union members a few cases, of union's mishandlings of workplace affairs that have hurt non-union workers will be given .

Organizational theory Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational theory - Coursework Example 45) For the best implementation of change towards this model, first, there should be personal and team education, this would help in the proper understanding of the challenges presented and the possible methods to deal with these challenges, for this to go as required the process must start with a self-assessment test. They should then highlight the concepts and the approaches, and then conduct the training sessions (Moretz, 2012, p. 107) The second step towards moving to this model is educating others, in that those who understand the concepts of this model and have enough knowledge regarding strategies and programs can share this information with other staff members and their colleagues. As the information spreads, even the families come to join the process. This may be through professional and personal stories, organizational leadership staff and even peer mentors The third step for the implementation of the model is the development of infrastructure, this helps in sustaining and creating improvements in many institutions. Infrastructure development may be through staff liaison, integration of patient and family advisors and development of action plans (Moretz, 2012, p.

A Message Without Words Essay Example for Free

A Message Without Words Essay Select one (1) of the picture ads from the Benetton advertisement images document, located in the online course shell. Assume you are the project lead at Benetton. You and your team are tasked with revitalizing a social conscious campaign to address a world issue Benetton wants to draw attention to. Craft a message for this image and its appeal to the public on behalf of Benetton. The message selected for revitalizing a social conscious campaign to address a world issue that Benetton wants to draw attention to is, adoption and racial tolerance. Benetton wants people to realize that many children go without a real home or parents to love them and never get a real chance at childhood. They may have to live in orphanages, group homes or even worst, be placed from home to home in foster homes, because they never get adopted. The message is that love has no color, it is colorblind. It does not matter, what color the parents or the child are or what part of the world they come from, anyone can give the gift of love, by giving a child a home of their own. Define the goal of this campaign and the targeted audience with supporting rationale. The goal of Benettons communication and advertising is to target the global consumer and create a brand image and lifestyle. In past campaigns, Benetton has sought to create both a global dialogue about specific issues and make this part of its corporate culture. Benetton has used its advertising to champion social causes. Therefore, the goal of this campaign is to make people aware of the need for adoptions, the ease of adoption, bring attention to the beauty of adoption while combining racial tolerance, to promote colorless adoption. We want to shine the light on the colorblindness of adoption and that race, culture or creed should not matter, it is all about giving love. TARGET AUDIENCE The target audience will be global consumers, men and women between the ages of 18 and 44, because according to J. Jones, PhD. with the National Center of Health Statistics, â€Å"†¦ about 2 percent of the adult population aged 18-44, or nearly 2 million persons, [have] adopted children (4). More than twice the percentage of men (2.3) had adopted a child compared with women (1.1). These percentages represent approximately 1.3 million men and 613,000 women. Higher percentages of people over age 30, who are currently or formerly married, who have given birth or fathered a child, or who have ever used infertility services have adopted children compared with people who are aged 18-29, never married, without biological children, or who have never used infertility services†. This audience was chosen because it represents the majority of the American adopting population and also follows the demographic of Benetton shoppers. Develop a model for the advertisement strategy you will use and briefly discuss each stage of the model. â€Å"Most adoption companies use an advertisement strategy that employs marketing techniques like advertising in local or national magazines. They may write articles, place personal ads or use advertorials in magazines† (Adoption Marketing, n.d.). â€Å"An advertorial is an advertisement in the form of an editorial† (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, n.d.). This method is used because when used in printed publications, the advertisement is usually written in the form of an objective article and designed to look like a legitimate and independent news story. This method has gotten much attention for adoptions, but can be very costly. Other methods that are generally used for marketing adoption are running ads in newspapers or in the Yellow Pages. Because most adoption agencies are non-profit, a non-profit business cannot spend a whole lot of money on marketing. Even though some of these methods are inexpensive, these traditional methods are not very effective and really cost adoption agencies more money than the results, they receive. The reason for such poor results if the fact that newspaper and telephone book use are in decline. Personal ads though, are still somewhat effective. For these reasons, Benetton has decided to support this cause and use their bold, controversial ad campaign and social media network tools, to draw attention to such a worthy cause. Benetton also likes to stir controversy and believes that through this campaign they can address that adoption should be colorblind. This is the reason for this particular image to be used. It is strong and quite an attention getter. We want to use marketing techniques to reach single, young men and women, as well as, couples. The marketing campaign will need to work well and be effective enough to reach singles and couples, who want a baby and are unable to have one or want to add to their existing families. Because this campaign is for a nonprofit, instead of selling a product, we will be trying to get people to take action. We must translate the concepts of for-profit marketing for financial reward to nonprofit marketing or â€Å"social marketing†. â€Å"Social marketing is defined as using marketing concepts and techniques to achieve specific behavioral goals for social good† (Miller, 2010). This researcher believes that a marketing plan really is a set of questions that once answered reveal the actual integrated marketing communications package. The marketing plan is a made up of topics and then the questions to address each topic. The elements of our marketing plan are as follows: 1. Marketing Goals – in this phase we define what we need to do or want to accomplish. As stated above, through Benetton’s bold ads and their existing social media network, our goal is to bring awareness to adoption and that giving love is colorblind and we will do this by targeting the global shopper. We need to make people aware of the ease of adoption and how adoption makes the world better for all parties involved. We have to examine our existing advertising network, to determine if this message a proper fit for our current methods of advertising. Will this message work in our in the current magazines, billboard network (buildings, Times Square, etc., in transit stations, on trains and buses), in our stores and within our established social media network, already in place; which has been used in our other social cause promotions? Should this campaign be just domestic or global and include our international advertisi ng? 2. Environmental Analysis – the conditions under which we will operate. During this stage, a SWOT analysis will be performed, to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with matching adoption and the Benetton corporate image. Because we are operating within the framework of a retailer promoting their stores and products, as well as, this social cause, we will address each of the following conditions: a) What are the internal and external conditions under which this marketing program must operate? Internally, what is Benetton’s corporate governance policy and how have they handled their promotion of social causes in the past? Because much of Benetton’s social promotion has been so controversial, we will need to investigate this question carefully, because adoption involves children and is not strictly an adult issue. Also, are there any adverse corporate public relations issues of record which could arise, that would relate to the company supporting and endorsing adoption? Since Benetton is a global organization where will this promotion appear, in the United States, only or in international markets? Throughout our global market, what are the legal regulations and cultural differences regarding adoption,? Finally, what resources are available to promote this cause within the organization? Does Benetton already have resources in place to promote adoption or will there be the need for partnerships with others? If partnerships are necessary, which ones should be selected. b) What skills will we need to promote this cause and what ones do we have on staff now? c) What systems do we need in place for this IMC plan to succeed? Do we have the proper exposure and audience in place, to make the social media elements of the promotion successful? 3. Audience and Segmentation – Who must we reach and convince and what are their interests and values. (see Target Audience, p. 3 of this document). 4. Messaging – the specific message that will move the audience to action. The message is simple: Adopt!!! Love Is Colorblind. By showing the hand of a child of one race and the adult hand of another race, we wish to communicate that adopting any child is a great gift of love and race should not matter, racial tolerance. The message’s goal is to show that we can all love and share love with any child and make the world a better place, trough racial tolerance and coexistence. 5. Marketing Tactics – how will we deliver the messages? Because of the demographic of the Benetton shopper and the company’s past advertising for social causes, this researcher believes that that they have in place the distribution channels for this message. The methods selected are photographic ads in their current magazine relationships, open air billboards; and billboards in transit stations, on buses and trains and in their retail outlets. Benetton’s existing social media network channels will also be used as a part of this IMC mix. This will include the company website, an email banner and Twitter. 6. Budget and Staffing – the resources to implement the plan. In this phase, we outline the financial and staffing resources required to implement the plan. Questions that must be answered include: What will be the budget for this promotion? Do we have the skills, time, and talent on staff to produce this promotion? For this IMC program to succeed, do we have adequate knowledge about adoption, in house or do we need the support of partner? 7. Strategy Metrics – how will we measure progress against our goals? In a for-profit IMC program this is an extremely important step, but in promoting a social cause, this step is very different and very difficult to measure. Although we want more people to adopt, this is tangible. Getting people to look at others through colorblind eyes, becoming more loving and caring toward others and to increase racial tolerance, is not. Therefore, promoting this message and stirring up publicity and social consciousness about adoption, race issues and tolerance, are one way to measure the success of this social cause IMC program. Formulate an integrated marketing communications plan that communicates the message to the targeted groups. Within this plan, be sure to address: The technologies used along with expected benefits of each. How the message and goals will be promoted. The process of marketing occurs in five steps: Understanding the market and the company’s marketing strengths and weaknesses, developing a marketing strategy, building a marketing plan, implementing the plan, and monitoring the success of the plan. Now that we have formulated our integrated marketing communications plan, and identified our targeted group, we will address the technologies we intend to implement, as part of this IMC program. The technological methods we will use, will be the company website, an email banner and Twitter. The Internet offers innovative and cost effective methods for adoption marketing. Using the Benetton website, we will be able to focus on reaching more people, telling people what adopting means, to a child and to society as a whole. We will take the mystery out of the adoption process. An excellent method of using the website for social cause internet marketing is having a website blog chronicling true stories of happy events surrounding adoptio n, and the fact that this can be interactive and done in a matter of moments, will give Benetton an opportunity to gather consumer data. A good use of the email banner is pay-per-click advertising, this will lower the overall cost and give interested consumers a way to contact an actual adoption agency. It will give the agencies more traffic to their websites and help increase greater awareness. The use of Twitter to promote this cause, is an excellent choice, because the Benetton customer is young, international and upwardly mobile. Benetton has a reputation for being modern, young and on the edge, so this is a perfect fit. Twitter is mobile and â€Å"gives [the user] the ability to share 140-character thoughts in a split second, [Benetton] can easily share links to PR releases, [adoption success stories, positive race messages] and stories about [their] business†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lacey, 2010). Twitter can also be used to branch out into other social causes, keeping an eye on trending topics and using it to tweet, about more than just Benetton business. â€Å"Twitter gives [Benetton] the ability to take a single thought [or cause] and share it with millions of people. And [their] customer evangelists can spread [their] message, as well as their opinions about [the] company’s greatness to as many people as possible† (Lacy, 2010). Since Benetton has such a reputation for their involvement in social causes, this element of the IMC, is a perfect fit for the company and the cause. In fact, all three of these technologies fit perfectly with the Benetton consumer demographic and the company’s corporate image and culture. They will be effective, not only to bring attention to this campaign on adoption, but will work well with future social cause promotions. These internet marketing methods will even include search engine optimization, viral marketing and article marketing as well. Decipher and select at least two (2) types of individuals, groups, companies, etc., that you reach out to gain support for the campaign. Be sure to discuss the expected benefits that accompany each external partner you identified. Benetton wants to enhance its reputation and drive sales; and the nonprofit cause wishes to generate awareness of their mission. In this promotion we are drawing awareness to the Benetton brand, adoption and race tolerance. The first group that we will reach out to partner with and gain support for the campaign; will be adoption agencies and orphanages. Benetton has the brand name and the reputation that will get the public’s attention. They want to use and share this with the cause to promote adoption. This a great combination but, the company lacks the knowledge on adoption regulations, laws and the process. Adoption agencies and orphanages have this expertise. An adoption agency or orphanage must be well-versed in laws and regulations regarding adoption, because this industry is so strongly regulated. Each country and even within a country, each state may have a different set of rules, regulation and laws to follow. Adoption agencies and orphanages are also heavily licensed. Because of the stringent regulating and the involvement of children it is necessary to have a partner with this knowledge, to be successful in promoting this cause. For this reason, these organizations are obvious choices to be major partners in this ad campaign. To support the â€Å"colorblindness†/racial tolerance piece of this campaign, Benetton will partner with The Southern Poverty Law Center. This partner was selected because this organization â€Å"is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society†(Who We Are, 2012). The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. and is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups. This partnership was selected because of the organization’s international reputation and their dedication to fighting race bigotry. Also, their attention to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society, one of which is children. They were also selected because they have a specific program aimed toward children of the world, which distributes, free of charge, documentary films, books, lesson plans and other mat erials that promote racial tolerance and respect. Once this IMC plan is implemented with these partners, Benetton will not only have a successful campaign on adoption and racial tolerance but, this IMC foundation can be used for future social cause promotions. References Adoption Marketing | Advertising Strategies for Agencies Childrens Homes. (n.d.). Search Engine Positioning | Advertising, Marketing Optimization. Retrieved December 9, 2012, from http://www.customermagnetism.com/adoption-marketing/ Advertorial Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Dictionary and Thesaurus Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advertorial Jones J. (2009). Who adopts? Characteristics of women and men who have adopted children. NCHS data brief, no 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Lacy, K. (2011). Twitter marketing. (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub.. Miller, K. (2010). The nonprofit marketing guide: high-impact, low-cost ways to build support for your good cause. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Who We Are | Southern Poverty Law Center. (n.d.). Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://www.splcenter.org/who-we-are

Stereo Types Essay -- essays research papers

Stereotypes â€Å"What do you expect form a blonde?† â€Å" A woman’s place is in the kitchen†, â€Å" Look at the jewelry he’s wearing, he’s probably a drug dealer† How many times have we heard statements such as these? It is such statements along with numerous others, which have caused our society to isolate and stereotype every individual based on past or previous experiences. To categorize individuals or a group according to an oversimplified standardized image or idea is to stereotype. When we stereotype, it affects our ability to understand and accept individuals and various groups of people for who they are. Women, Police Officers and various ethnic groups are among many who are stereotyped. In the early 1800’s, women were recognized as â€Å"homemakers†. However, as times changed they began to feel the need to become independent. As a result, women are now frequently stereotyped more than ever, especially in the business environment. Men are accustomed to women acquiring positions that require a â€Å"feminine touch† such as, nurses, secretaries, school teachers or other clerical positions. Therefore, when a woman acquires a position that puts her in higher authority, such as a role as a Vice President or CEO of a company, she is instantly stereotyped as feeling the need to be dominant. Women are also stereotyped by what they wear. For example, if a woman is wearing an outfit that is tight fitting or wearing a mini skirt, she is misconstrued as being too promiscuous.   Ã‚  Ã‚  &n...

Manipulation of Psychology in Macbeth Essay

The play Macbeth highlights William Shakespeare’s own opinions on correlations between committing unethical deeds and the manipulation of a person’s psychology. While modern psychological research did not appear until the late 1800s it is evident that with the help of his son-in-law John Hall (a man who introduced one of the first psychological concepts of hypochondriac melancholy), Shakespeare was able to use many psychological abnormalities to highlight that partaking in evil changes the mind. But this little knowledge has left plenty of room for ambiguity in Macbeth and has resulted in many modern debates to arise over differing interpretations of the play. One interpretation details Shakespeare wished to show to his audience that mental illness will form within them if they commit a particularly sinful act. While Shakespeare did not know the official diagnosis of mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bi-polar Robert Munro states within his Lady Macbeth: A Psychological Sketch that ‘which a knowledge of psychology which was far in advance of his time†¦ e always speaks of the abnormal conditions of the mind with marvellous accuracy’. In Act 5 a doctor comments on Lady Macbeth’s sleep walking saying ‘unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds/ To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets’. This comment upon her case of what the responders of the time knew as Severe Somnambulism is the pinnacle of Shakespeare ’s claim that guilt from an unethical deed will result in an ill mind. The darkened stage and inclusion of a taper as a prop in Lady Macbeths’ hands helps to illustrate for the responders the issue of her mind falling into symbolic darkness as she struggles to cope with the guilt caused by her deeds. Also personification of deaf pillows is used by Shakespeare to show that her unusual habits of sleepwalking places Lady Macbeth in an isolated situation as she cannot tell anyone the cause of her troubles. Munro also states ‘As to somnambulism, the most incredible views were held [by Elizabethans]†¦ it was regarded as a prophetic†¦ state in which the subjects were believed to be under the influence of angles or demons’. This contextual evidence provides insight into how Shakespeare would have terrified his responders through the inclusion of a disease in which they feared; developing within Lady Macbeth as a result of her deeds. Hence Macbeth is often said to demonstrate that individuals will inevitably succumb to the maladies of the mind if they commit acts frowned upon by society and God. Another psychological correlation with unethical deeds is not one that is a result of them but in fact is the cause of them. Some interpret the play as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth being motivated to murder by a monomania-desire for children. Munro states ‘it was clearly the intention of Shakespeare to represent them†¦ n the attitude of one suffering from the effects of an ever-increasing monomania’ This is first seen in Act 1 before the murder occurs, Lady Macbeth says ‘I have given suck and know/ How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me’ before she says ‘I would, while it was smiling in my face, / have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums / and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn / As you have done to this’. This juxtaposition of love and hatred towards an innoce nt symbol such as a child highlights a deep conflict of emotion occurring within her and provides reasons that she may not have had success with raising a healthy child. Lexical choice of the word tender still highlights her desire for a child which raises a thought within responders that attempting to become king and queen is their effort to become symbolic parents for a nation. Then throughout the play murder follows Macbeth wherever he becomes jealous for the fertility of others such as Macduff’s children and the chance that Banquo’s children will become successive kings. Freud effectively sums up the famous quote by Macduff ‘He has no children! ’ in Act 4 when his family is murdered as ‘Only because he himself is childless could he murder my children’. Once again this recurring imagery throughout the play continues when in Act 4 Shakespeare uses the character of a bloody child to confront Macbeth which can be interpreted by responders as the child of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who is assumed to have died of still birth or unnatural causes. Uses of these props and characters which reiterate the theme of family and children throughout the play create a strong motif which the Elizabethan audience could relate to as family values were significantly important. Hence Shakespeare uses this growing obsessive frustration at the inability to have a family within Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as a the motivation for their multiple acts of the unethical deed of murder. Therefore Shakespeare shows correlations in Macbeth between changing psychological patterns in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and unethical deeds such as murder through cause and effect. Cause being a monomania frustration causing more unethical deeds to be committed. The effect being the development of mental illness which can cause somnambulism within an individual as a result of committing a crime.

Hamlet Insanity Essay

During the chamber scene, Hamlet shows an insane side to not only his mother, but everyone else in the play. Hamlet clearly demonstrates how insane he is after killing Polonius and showing no remorse for his death. Another example of Hamlets insanity is during the chamber scene, when Hamlet’s talking to his mother, the ghost appears talking to Hamlet, but the queen couldn’t see the ghost, only Hamlet could see his fathers ghost. These examples show how crazy, and insane Hamlet is not only in the chamber scene, but throughout the play. Hamlet clearly demonstrates how insane he is after killing Polonius and showing no remorse for his death. Right before Hamlet entered the chamber to talk to his mother, Polonius explains to the queen that he will be hiding and ease dropping on their conversation, to find out the real reason for Hamlet erratic behavior. Hamlet enters the chamber, on a rampage after finding Claudius guilty of killing his father and also seeing him trying to pray. Hamlet goes off on his mother when she says, â€Å"Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended† (l. 10). That also triggered his anger to the point where the queen feared for her life and as told to do so, she yelled for help. Polonius tries to come out from behind the curtain and before you know it, he was stabbed by Hamlet. At this point, after he stabbed Polonius, killing him, Hamlet first thought it was Claudius that was hiding behind the curtain. Later finding out it was Claudius, Hamlet says, â€Å"A bloody dead– almost as bad, good mother, as killing a king, and marry with his brother† (l. 27-28). You would think that Hamlet would be scared for his life after realizing he killed someone. Not Hamlet, he just continues on with his conversation with the queen about how crazy it is that she remarried so soon. Hamlet showing no remorse for killing someone shows that he is not mental stable and doesn’t realize what just happened. When Hamlet’s talking to his mother, the ghost appears talking to Hamlet, but the queen couldn’t see the ghost, only Hamlet could see his fathers ghost. After the queen finding out that her â€Å"new† husband is a murderer, the ghost reappears in the chamber, reminding Hamlet to not harm his mother because she had nothing to do with anything. Hamlet is trying to explain to his mother by saying, â€Å"To whom do you speak this? Do you see nothing there? Nothing at all, yet all that is I see. Nor did you nothing hear? No, nothing but ourselves† (l. 135- 139). To the queen, she thinks Hamlet’s gone mad, but Hamlet tries to explain himself to her by saying he saw the ghost and that its his father talking to him. Hamlet’s mother doesn’t know what to believe at this point. She doesn’t want Hamlet killing her, so she agrees with whatever Hamlet says. The queen fears for her own life, and that is why the readers think that this is why she agrees with Hamlet. Hamlet insanity takes over his life and he soon finds himself struggling to find what makes sense and what doesn’t. The chamber scene is one of the most important scenes that prove to the readers that Hamlet is crazy. Even though Hamlet tries to prove himself to not be crazy, he just can’t convince his mother, or Ophelia, or anyone else in the play that he isn’t crazy. In the beginning of the play, he shows little signs of being insane, but as you progress throughout the play, you realize that Hamlet is not mentally stable by his actions and words.

Quotes About Long Distance Relationships

Quotes About Long Distance Relationships It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder- this is probably why lovers who are apart spend most of their time thinking about each other. If you are living away from your beloved, then there might be a long distance love quote below that will provide you with some comfort. Making Long Distance Work Many people who have been in long distance relationships have confessed that it is tough to stay committed when your partner lives across time zones and continents. Practical considerations such as the difference in time zone, cultures, lifestyle, and attitude draw couples apart. Lack of physical contact  also contributes to the gnawing chasm between two lovers. So are long distance relationships practical? Should couples who live apart reconsider their career or lifestyle choices so that they can accommodate the relationship? Rationale dictates that to keep a relationship alive and energetic, lovers need to be together as often as possible. So you can schedule a recess in your work or study routine to factor in a romance holiday. Make sure to keep aside all other work obligations when you are with your sweetheart. Long distance love can work if both partners are willing to accept the difference in lifestyle. Here are some long distance love quotes that can help stoke the flame of passion. Quotes on Long-Distance Romance George Eliot: What greater thing is there for two human souls that to feel that they are joined... to strengthen each other... to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.Anonymous: Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart.Thomas Fuller: Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.Robert Dodsley:One kind kiss before we part,Drop a tear and bid adieu;Though we sever, my fond heartTill we meet shall pant for you.Francois de la Rouchefoucauld: Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and blows up the bonfire.Roger de Bussy-Rabutin: Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great.Richard Bach: Can miles truly separate you from friends? If you want to be with someone you love, arent you already there?Anonymous: Absence makes thy heart grow fonder.Anonymous: I hate the stars because I look at the same ones as you do, without you.Anonymous:A part of you h as grown in me.And so you see, its you and meTogether forever and never apart,Maybe in distance, but never in heart. Khalil Gibran: And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.Jon Oliva:If I go awayWhat would still remain of me?The ghost within your eyes?The whisper in your sighs?You see... BelieveAnd Im always there.Kay Knudsen: Love is missing someone whenever youre apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because youre close in heart.Hans Nouwens: In true love the smallest distance is too great, and the greatest distance can be bridged.George Eliot: That farewell kiss which resembles greeting, that last glance of love which becomes the sharpest pang of sorrow.Anonymous: If the only place where I could see you was in my dreams, Id sleep forever.Pam Brown: Odd how much it hurts when a friend moves away- and leaves behind only silence.Edward Thomas: The simple lack of her is more to me than others presence.

Killer Nashville Writers Conference Scholarship Giveaway

Killer Nashville Writers Conference Scholarship Giveaway Want to attend a conference but cant afford the cost?   Want to be around others who enjoy reading mystery and suspense?   FundsforWriters, in partnership with 2016 Killer Nashville, is offering a scholarship to one lucky individual who wishes to hob-nob with other mystery enthusiasts for the three days of August 18-21, 2016 in Franklin, TN. But wait, theres more. Guess who will be the Guests of Honor  at this shin-dig? Besides so many other published and almost-published authors . . . besides a sea of mystery aficionados? Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Fox and O’Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barna Before his thrillers landed him on The New York Times Bestseller list, Kevin O’Brien was a railroad inspector who worked all the live long day and wrote novels at night. His first thriller, The Next To Die (2001) became a USA Today  Bestseller. Then came The Last Victim (2005), which hit the New York Times Bestseller list and won the Spotted Owl Award for Best Pacific Northwest Mystery. So, what does this scholarship include? 3-day full registration for the conference ($300 value) Agent/Editor Roundtable participation (free for you because you have a 3-day registration) A free Network Lunch on Saturday with Guest of Honor Janet Evanovich ($45 value) A free Breakout Session (a paid event for others) any of the three days ($15 value and only open to 3-day registrants) A ticket to the Guest of Honor Dinner Awards Banquet ($95 value) $100 toward travel and transportation (issued Total value $555 ***NOTE: Conference does not include all costs of transportation or motel accommodations. See Killer Nashvilles site for information on the special hotel rates for this conference. So, how do you enter for a chance to win this opportunity? Email hope@chopeclark.com with KILLER NASHVILLE SCHOLARSHIP in the subject. Include name, address, phone, email, website/blog/Facebook (if applicable) Explain what this scholarship means to you in 100-500 words. Agree to write a 500-600-word piece for FundsforWriters within 30-days  after the event, talking about the conference and how you benefited from the experience. Piece will also be considered for publication on the Killer Nashville site. Winner selected based upon the quality of submission. DEADLINE for entries is midnight (Eastern Time), on July 1, 2016. (Winner to be announced July 8, 2016.) So, why is FundsforWriters sponsoring this contest? Because C. Hope Clark is an avid mystery author and enthusiast and wants to share that joy. Because C. Hope Clark believes every author ought to experience the thrill of a writing conference. Because C. Hope Clark wants to give back to the readers of her mysteries. Thanks . . . looking forward to your entries . . . https://www.fundsforwriters.com/killernashvillescholarship DISCLAIMER: C. Hope Clark reserves the complete right to make the final decision of winner, not to be disputed. Article to be submitted upon return from the conference to be turned in no later than September 23, 2016 and will not receive additional compensation. The scholarship is not transferable. If winner cannot attend, C. Hope Clark/FundsforWriters reserves the right to give the scholarship to the runner-up on her choice in the contest.

Public Law Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Public Law - Thesis Example Public law is further divided into different sub-categories to include constitutional law, criminal law, and administrative law. The public law in the United States is greatly influenced by the English law, called the â€Å"common law.† The common law has its roots in England where it is the legal tradition. This law evolved in England starting from the 11th Century. It is also the basis of private law of different countries, including Ireland, Wales, and the United States, with an exception of the state of Louisiana, whose state law is based on civil law (Carper McKinsey & West, 2008). The common law and civil law have different histories. The common law came into existence in 1066 because of the unification of the customs of the Norman conquerors and the older Saxon law. The civil law however, has a longer history than that of the common law and traces its roots from the Romans. The spread and adoption of these law systems in other world countries was mainly influenced by colonization and conquests. Nonetheless, the core distinction between these two legal systems lies in their structure, history, and legislation. While the common law system lacks a clear comprehensible structure, the civil law system puts more emphasis on the organization and clarity of its structure (Allen, 2010). Law in society is made up of a variety of rules, which are enforced by law courts, and play the role of government regulation, as well as the control of relationships between the state and its citizens, and between the citizens themselves. Public law and private law is a crucial categorization of the law, as these primarily address different relationships in a country, which are paramount in ensuring stability. As noted earlier, public law regulates the relationships between a country and its citizens. This law is further divided into the constitutional law, the administrative law, and the criminal law. These are enacted by the Congress, and enforced by a

SWOT ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SWOT ANALYSIS - Essay Example It I this form of integration that makes it competitive. Throughout its history, the company has enjoyed strong economic growth and constantly increasing cash flow (Baines, Fill, and Page, 230). This has enabled it to expand and command a wider share of the market. At one point in the market, research was ineffective with the company failing to anticipate the need for new products such as phablets. What resulted was late entrance into the market thus affecting sales and revenue. The lack of a wider price differentiation strategy makes the company appear to be a premium category company. This means that many people in the middle and low socioeconomic status disregard its products. Further, the company has overtime depended on revenue from only two products, iPad and iPhone. Most of Apple’s products have remained popular and relevant to many people. This means that the company can continue investing on the same products with the assurance of revenue. The growing technology industry increases the demand for electronic products constantly. The company is thus assured of progress. Lack of price differentiation strategy is detrimental to the company’s quest to get into a wider market. The company is outperformed by competitors such as Samsung on this and the demand for its products may shift when lower priced products are in the market. There is increased a need for innovativeness in the industry (Kurtz, 23). As long as the company enjoys revenue from only two of its products, innovation may be delayed and with time, the products will lose

Clinical pharmacology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Clinical pharmacology - Essay Example 2010). Antibiotics especially co-trimoxazole, metronidazole, macrolides, fluroquinolones: As far as sulpha drugs which cause enhanced effect of Warfarin resulting in bleeding, in the absence of proven mechanism of action, it has been hypothesized by clinicians that systematic administration of such antibiotics results in reduced production of Vitamin K caused by intestinal flora. Same mechanism of action applies to macrolides that include Azithromycin etc and quinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Medication Management Home).As for metronidazole, it interferes with metabolism of S enatiomer of Warfarin. As for, Rifampin, it induces hepatic enzymes thus increasing metabolism of Warfarin (Horton and Bushwick, 1999). Antidepressants: Two theoretical hypotheses about Warfarin’s potential interactions with antidepressants are that because Warfarin is protein bound, antidepressants which are also protein bound, their interaction can result in displacement of Warfarin from its binding sites as stated by Sansone and Sansone (2009). They at the same time point out the observation of Sayal et al (2000) that there is no clinical evidence to that effect. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), are found to potentially inhibit Warfarin metabolism through their isoenzymes 2C9 and 1A2. However Sertraline and Citalopran are not likely to cause interaction. While Paroxetine has low-to-moderate risk, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine have the potential to effects of Warfarin. Ginkgo biloba has properties capable of inhibiting platelet aggregation, if taken with Warfarin, it will enhance the toxic effects monamine oxidase inhibitors. However, Ginkgo on its own is capable of causing bleeding complications (Dharmananda). Dong qual increases the anticoagulant action of Warfarin. St John’s Wort induces P450 pathways resulting in lowering of INR. This increases the metabolism of Warfarin.

Recruitment Strategy at HiTec International

Recruitment Strategy at HiTec International Introduction: Problems: Advice: Step 1Provide a Positive Working Environment Step 2Recognize, Reward and Reinforce the Right Behavior Step 3Involve And Engage Step 4Develop Skills and Potential Step 5Evaluate and Measure   Introduction: HiTec International is the company which is emerging organization. It has annual turnover of more than $19billion in current and employs more than 30,000 people across the world. The headquarter of HiTec which is located in West Dublin employs 2500 people in which 90% are permanent employees and remaining are on contract basis. HiTec have some expertise in procurement of hardware and bespoke programming solutions for corporate customers to aid them in boosting the utilization of the web. HiTec likewise give a complete after sales services which go beyond maintenance of software. The organization is perceived as worldwide business sector pioneers in a few of its central line of business. Because of the focused market that HiTec works in development and persistently advancing engineering improvements through innovative work division is vital to the organizations future achievement. HiTec offers workers brilliant terms and states of livelihood with top-pay rates, liberal extra plans, rebates, benefits, and wellbeing and life coverage. The earth in which they work is extremely alluring with superb offices, for example, staff cafeterias, wellness offices and valet administrations. Staff retention is great; turnover levels are at present at 5% of which half are represented by dismissals and non-renewal of fixed term contracts. Problems: HiTec are encountering some troublesomely with discovering sufficient number of workers with the obliged aptitudes to reach its development needs. Because of the quick moving nature of the industry which makes it difficult to usefully employ graduates with limited experience and train them. With the time, they learned a lot of skills and then moved on to another organization to learn more skills. HiTec likes the people which are employed in companies to who with HiTec has a customer relationship and in partner companies but HiTec has a long standing policy to not recruit from these sources. However, HiTec is recruiting people through advertisement in national newspapers and with the use of headhunters but this also not succeeded because through national newspapers the people who are properly qualified are few and head hunters are also not succeeded due to target labor market is so small. Advice: HiTec should explore the fundamental reasons of people leaving the jobs. HiTec should distinguish new methods and strategies, for example, making a developing leaders program, giving preparing to directors, and enhancing their representative distinguished program. As a result, they will draw in better ability and all the more significantly will have the capacity to hold best individuals. And the HR Department will be more satisfied in light of the fact that they wont spend all their time conducting training. HiTech can improve their ability to attract, retain and improve productivity by applying the following five-step PRIDE process: P Provide a Positive Working Environment R Recognize, Reward and Reinforce the Right Behavior I Involve and Engage D Develop Skills and Potential E Evaluate and Measure Step 1Provide a Positive Working Environment HiTec should provide a positive working environment to its employees to retain them for a longer period. Employees quits the jobs for many reasons but one reason for quitting them is the relationship with their first line-supervisor because the fact is that managers and supervisors are totally unaware with their actions that can affect employees. Manager training is a critical aspect for an effective retention strategy. Suitably trained managers play a key part in an effectual recruitment and retention policy. Managers need the skills, tools, and knowledge to help them understand their employees retention needs and be able to implement a retention plan designed to increase employee engagement in the organization. Step 2Recognize, Reward and Reinforce the Right Behavior Cash and profits may draw in individuals to the front entryway; however something else needs to keep them from going out the back. Individuals have a fundamental human need to feel acknowledged and pleased with their work. Recognition and motivation projects help address that need. A fruitful prize and recognition program does not need to be confused or lavish to be compelling. Hitec ought to offer prize to its workers. In a few organizations CEO frequently give their extravagant auto keys to their workers for a week or for an outing. This inventive approach to remunerate workers has a greater effect than money. In the event that you gave someone a $200 reward, it wouldnt mean all that much. When somebody gets to drive an auto for a week, they always remember it. For Example, At First American, administrators exhibit a Greased Monkey Award to the machine specialist who is best in determining issues with machine programs. The recompense is a plastic toy monkey in a container of Vaseline alongside a $50 supper testament. A supplies wholesaler remunerates each workers work celebration with a cake and a check for $200 for every year utilized. Twice a year workers kids get a $50 reserve funds security when they accumulate their everything As report card. Whats more, they compensate workers with a Security Bonus Program. They screen each representatives driving record twice a year, and any individual who has a reference is expelled from attention. Those representatives staying toward the end of the year separate $2,000. On Fridays, all representatives pivot employments for one hour. This fabricates a stronger group, solidarity, and enhances correspondence inside the organization. Step 3Involve And Engage The directors of Hitec ought to be included and captivate with the workers. Individuals are more dedicated and captivated when they can help their thoughts and proposals. This provides for them a feeling of proprietorship. Hitec ought to have a capacity to make and produce new and creative items. Keeping in mind the end goal to encourage the trade of thoughts inside offices, they ought to support a yearly Idea Exposition. Amid the article, researchers and designers showcase ventures and thoughts they are chipping away at. This procedure makes a solid atmosphere of development and captivates each one of the individuals who take an interest. Organization should have a unique way of making its employees feel valued and involved. One wall within the company contains the photographs of all employees who have worked there more than five years. Their equality program goes beyond the typical slogans, posters, and HR policies. There should no reserved parking spaces or other perks just for executives everyone is an equal. This is one reason why companies can be best employer company. Step 4Develop Skills and Potential For the vast majority, vocation opportunities are generally as vital as the cash they make. In a study by Linkage, Inc. more than 40 percent of the respondents said they would consider leaving their present boss for an alternate occupation with the same profits if that employment gave better vocation improvement and more prominent difficulties. So Hitec ought to create abilities and possibilities for their staff to hold them/ Hitec ought to find that why they were losing gifted individuals to different organizations and they ought to lead passageway reviews to discover what number of representatives who left to take new occupations and vocations outside the organization and can accompany the same employments and professions inside Hitec. As an issue they ought to make with an intranet-based improvement and profession guiding project for all representatives. This will bring about over of workers who left the organization and representatives will exploited the project and perspective inside employment opportunities. Not just does the system give new openings for work, however Career Connections offers an assemblage of profession improvement instruments, for example, assessments toward oneself, apparatuses to create continues, and articles on different occupation looking for techniques inside the organization. Gifted individuals wont stay in a vocation in the event that they see no future in their position. To wipe out the inclination of being in a deadlock work, each position ought to have an individual advancement plan. Step 5Evaluate and Measure Nonstop assessment and endless change is the last venture of the PRIDE framework. The main role of assessment is to measure advance and figure out what fulfills and de-fulfills your workforce. The assessment procedure incorporates the estimation of demeanor, confidence, turnover, and the engagement level of the workforce. Here is an agenda of things that ought to be incorporated in Hitecs assessment and estimation process. Carry out an employee satisfaction survey at least once a year. Improve your contracting methodology to make a finer match between the singulars abilities and employment prerequisites. Examine those divisions that have the most elevated turnover rates. Hold chiefs in charge of maintenance in their area Initiate interviews and surveys concerning the real reasons people come to and leave your organization. Provide flexible work arrangements for working parents and older workers. Start measuring the cost of turnover. Focus on the key jobs that have the greatest impact on profitability and productivity. Design an effective employee orientation program.

DISCRIMINATION Essay -- essays research papers

Although I had always thought that I could never be discriminated for any reason, two years ago I felt discriminated. One Friday, while working in a large corporation in the administrative department, the president of the corporation organized a meeting for the administrative and accounting departments. The president of the company mentioned that the accounting department was opening a new position as Junior Controller Management. Moreover, he said that there were only two candidates who were postulated for it. I knew I was one of them. In fact, most of my co-workers started talking about it and all were claiming me as the winner. I was extremely happy. But, I wanted to wait for the real nomination that was going to take place the following Friday after the executive meeting in which each department’s director needed to vote either for me or for my co-worker, who was a man older than me. I knew I did not have to worry, so I was extremely relax the entire week. I always loved to work, and I always did a good job, so I thought that the position as a Junior Controller was mine. Unfortunately, it was not true. Although management knew that I was extremely qualified for the position, they could not give it to me for two reasons. The first one is that I was only 22 years old, and they thought that I was too young to handle such a high level position. Second, they told me, men always occupied the highest positions in this company, and even if they understand that life had evolved ...

How Close Is Too Close?

How would you suggest Tim analyze this opportunity? Senior Vice President of supply chain management Tim Tree of Top Line, Inc. Has to decide if being a partner is right for him. For Tree to make the proper decision he will need to list vital factors that will allow Dynamo and Top Line, Inc. To work as one. By strategically analyzing the short-term and long-term goals of Dynamo, Tree will see if the Dynamo organization will remain in a business with Top Line, Inc. For several years.He will see through evaluation of gains and losses if Dynamo will try to find nether company that could possibly offer the same thing that Top Tree Is offering. For the company to profit Tree will need to ensure that consumers are in the market for what is being offered if Dynamo does not partner with Top Line, Inc. For this to be accomplished Tree will need the help of those that work for him. Those that work the day-to-day operations of the company will are in the best position to tell him what they are observing, and If moving on will be the best choice. Question: What the Implications of saying â€Å"yes†?The Implications of Tim accepting the offer from Dynamo to become one of their few â€Å"partner suppliers† is a perplexing situation for Tim, who is the Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Top Line Inc. There are tremendous positives for Top Line if they were to accept this offer, but there are also some negative considerations that could be significant. The positive opportunities for Top Line Include the commitment of Dynamo to Top Line as their sole source for their products. This means stability for Top Line with this customer and as Dynamo grows so grows the Top Line Inc.There are also great opportunities for engineering and technology sharing between the two organizations and this could be a strong addition to the Top Line group. An additional positive of this acceptance into the partner/supplier is that Top Line will be included in the early develop ment and design of new products from Dynamo. This means that Top Line can design and be ready to supply Dynamo with their new requirements because of this early Inclusion and partnership agreement. The negatives of this agreement are very real and must be carefully considered before accepting this seemingly golden opportunity.There is a great deal of resource commitment that will have to be made to meet Dynamo's agreement. From mandatory meetings, to the sharing of technical resources, a great deal of resource time will have to be allocated to this one customer. There is also a mandate where cost, technological, and resource Information Is required to be shared with Dynamo. This Is a very sensitive area for Top Line as there patent strength Is one of their key intellectual properties and the information of these will be required to be shared tit Dynamo.Another consideration is the mandated cost reduction that Top Line must supply each year as a partner to Dynamo. This will have to b e evaluated, and the financial impact reviewed carefully. Question: What the implications of saying partner supplier for a Dynamo corporation or to decline this offer. Although Tim can see a lot of advantages of saying â€Å"yes† to this opportunity, he has to analyze the outcomes of his negative decision if he will have to make one. The positive sides of not accepting this offer would be not feeling the pressure of being a sole partner applier for a large corporation.He would not have to worry about the availability of resources to supply. The company would not have to be involved in all the organized agenda of a large company, I. E. Holding the mandatory meetings, sharing intellectual property, like technical resources, costs and resource information. The patents, therefore, would be safer here, not being shared with a large customer. Mandated cost reduction would not have to become an issue, because the impacts of reduced costs on financial stability of the Top Line are no t really known.All the process of reading the inventory would not have to be shared every single step of the way. In other words if Top Line would decline the offer, it would not have so many obligations to take upon itself and it would not have to follow an agenda of someone else. The negative side of declining the offer to become a partner supplier is that Top Line would not secure a large contract that could potentially lead to more revenues and better financial security of the company. The company would not get an enhanced publicity, which it would otherwise enjoyed by securing a large contract and gaining exclusivity status.That publicity is usually very good for marketing and getting the name of the company out there. The company would not have opportunities that could arise while sharing the engineering and technology between the large organizations. Top Line would also not be included in the early development and design of the new products, and that means that they would not have so much say in the design specifications and requirements of the product. Question: If the invitation is accepted, how can Tim assure a successful â€Å"partnership†? As Tim considers if Top Line Inc. Would partner with Dynamo he should consider hat saying â€Å"no† would do for the company. Currently Top Line Inc. Is doing very well and Dynamo has proven that they are a company that can be depended on for service by winning the supplier of the year award and being names the key stake holder. The fear of that Tom has on communicating information real-time, sharing technology, integrating planning and production schedules, and dedicating resources are all validate point of concerns but the Dynamo has shown that will to meet the needs of Top Line Inc. Saying â€Å"no† would be a missed opportunity to grow future business.

Changing Workforce Essay

Introduction: It is no surprise that the workforce is on the move and changing at a growing rate. There are several factors that lead into the changing workforce and play important roles. There are the workers who are leaving, the ones who will be staying and the new ones who will be entering, all of which have an important role to play in the US economy. This topic is important but it seems to weigh a little more heavily during an election period like we are in now. When the unemployed rate is high and the national debt is at an unprecedented amount it makes me wonder, who will our job force consist of and how will it be changing? Some of the important things that need to be considered when looking into how the workforce is changing is who is now entering the workforce that was not previously in it? How will this affect competition for jobs? Are education levels affecting the workforce? Childcare and Eldercare seem to be playing an increasing role in who works and who stays at home to care for th eir families, will this change? More minorities are also working in the US making a big change to the workforce, how does this play out with HRM and other parts of management? All of the questions and statements above need to be answered in order to find out why the workforce is changing and who comprises the majorities now. The workforce today is much more different than just 20 years ago. It is important as a human resource manager to stay up to date on these things and to know what the coming trends are for who you might be looking to employ. Significance of the topic to the field of Human Resource Management: The effects of the changing workforce on Human Resource managers are quite large. As of 2007 in healthcare there are older workers than younger ones. The issues arise in HRM with this when the technology is changing and schools are teaching different things that the older generations are not as familiar with if at all. The changing of technology in any field is greatly  affecting all parties involved. The issue of globalization and learning new policies and procedures of how to handle a workforce that is not in the same location you are is also something that is on the rise. The changing of the demographics as well as competition also plays a large role in why HRM is becoming such a fast paced changing job. The biggest issue that the US sees in the trend of the workforce changing is the older workforce. With an aged employee base come issues with health cost, retirements, age discrimination and succession planning. All of these things have to be considered and taking very seriously in HRM. It is important to handle all the issues legally and just fully but with the things like increasing healthcare cost for the older generations things get tough for the managers and decision makers. Literature Review: The article Trends and Challenges for work in the 21st Century goes over a lot of points on the changing workforce and what is making it change. It includes things such as changing demographics and why they are changing, the issue of people having or choosing not to have children while in and out of the workforce as well as our aging workforce. It looks at things such as insurance and pensions and whether or not those have any effects on people choosing to stay in the workforce longer or shorter amounts of time. Lerman, R. (n.d.). Trends and challenges for work in the 21st century. Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/conference/trends/trendsVII.htm This article had figures from the women in the workforce. It examined how many have children under 18 versus those who have children over 18 and are in the workforce. I think the goal of this study was to see how many females with younger children choose to stay at home rather than work. They also included a study of the race and sex of employees in the workforce and how it has changed. This article seemed to find that with the changes in technology, the adding of more women and more minorities to the workforce has made drastic changes and will continue to do so over the next decades. The article seems to lean on the side that people are choosing less or no children and that enables them to work more. However, having less or no children directly impacts the workforce for the coming generations. Nursing Leadership is a publication of where I found  the second article I reviewed. Although it focuses on one career instead of the workforce as a whole it is very specific how the workforce change has affected the nursing and medical industries. The change in technology seems to be the hardest adjustment for the ones who have been in the workforce the longest. Spinks, N. (n.d.). The changing workforce, workplace and nature of work. Retrieved from http://www.longwoods.com/content/19286 In this article Spinks talks about in 2010 that the older workforce will outweigh the younger ones. She talks about issues of predicting retirement, â€Å"Women’s retirement patterns are somewhat less predictable because we are only now beginning to experience large numbers of women in the paid labour force working until retirement†. (Spinks) Although the article is done about healthcare she makes a lot of good notations and observations about the workforce as a whole. In this article she lays out 7 strategies and solutions to help maintain a good strong workforce. Spinks did a lot of her observations and studies in Canada. One section of the article talks about having a workforce shortage and I can assure you the US has not had this issue in the last few years. She found that the workforce in Canada is much like the population there, many are not from Canada but rather born somewhere else and migrated there or their ancestors came to Canada making the work population there very diverse. To me it seems Spinks found that technology and diversity in the nursing and healthcare industry are the biggest struggles when you start to think about the workforce changing. That although this study was done in Canada where their health system is a bit different from that of the US the overall concept of the workforce aging and changing is the same. In the article the workforce is changing the way we do business printed in the USA today magazine the author talks about the corporations being able to keep up and how to handle the changes. The author goes into some detail on how to keep a completive edge even when your employee base that you once knew is now completely different. The author also talks about what to look for in the new employees that will be emerging, or what kind of people you should look to hire. Herman, R. E. (n.d.). The workforce is changing the way we do busines. Retrieved from http://www.retentionconnection.com/retention_article_workforce_changing.html This article explores the idea that its not just customers looking to be satisfied within a business but the workers are as well. Herman states that  while there are people out there willing to do work there are not enough qualified for the skilled jobs, thus making the competitive advantage harder to achieve today. One idea that Herman explores to help with this problem or situation is to concentrate on building workforce stability. He explains it like this â€Å"Concentrate on building workforce stability. Forget the revolving door of recruiting and hiring any warm body. It doesn’t work and will just create more problems for you. Replacing people who leave will become more chal lenging. Evaluate the qualifications for your next hire(s), and become more selective. If you’re going to invest in retention, you might as well have good people to retain.† (Herman) This article to me states there is indeed changes happening in the workforce but more importantly is how as a business we embrace the changes and hang on for what could be a rough time. It shows the importance of having skilled workers to help your company but at the same time there are not as many of them as there once was. Workforce planning makes for a smarter reduction in force is an article that seems to relate very well to the economic times the country has been and seems to be copiously enduring in regards to jobs and job demands. The idea that businesses need to cut cost means they have to look at lowering their work force to save money. This takes a different approach then the normal how is the workface changing articles bur rather how are businesses changing the workforce. Garbis, N. (01, 2010 06). Workforce planning makes for a smarter reduction in force. Retrieved from http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/business-strategies/articles/workforce-planning-makes- This article goes over the idea that businesses in this time of the economy being hard and not being as profitable they sometimes offer the employee to take some sort of severance package and leave. Garbis says you have the worse problem when to many leave, or you forecast incorrectly of how many of your workforce you need to eliminate. His studies show that having workforce planning in place can be very beneficial but it is something that needs to be re-visited often so that to many or to few employees are let go back out into the workforce when really they are needed. The article A Global March toward an aging workforce was written after a speech by an author of a man named Ted Fishman. Fishman looks at the ideas that the age range of the world population and those who are working now is not near the same as it was a decade or two ago.

Here Are Six Tips for Reporters Covering Press Conferences

Here Are Six Tips for Reporters Covering Press Conferences Spend more than five minutes in the news business and youll be asked to cover a press conference. Theyre a regular occurrence in the life of any reporter, so you need to be able to cover them - and cover them well. But for the beginner, a press conference can be tough to cover. Press conferences tend to move quickly and often dont last very long, so you may have very little time to get the information you need. Another challenge for the beginning reporter is figuring out the lede of a press conference story. So here are six tips for covering press conferences. 1. Come Armed with Questions As we said, press conferences move quickly, so youll need to have your questions ready ahead of time. Arrive with some questions already prepared. And really listen to the answers. 2. Ask Your Best Questions Once the speaker starts taking questions, its often a free-for-all, with multiple reporters shouting out their queries. You may only get one or two of your questions into the mix, so pick your best ones and ask those. And be ready to ask tough follow-up questions. 3. Be Aggressive If Necessary Any time you get a bunch of reporters in one room, all asking questions at the same time, its bound to be a crazy scene. And reporters are by their nature competitive people. So when you go to a press conference, be prepared to be a bit pushy in order to get your questions answered. Shout if you need to. Push your way to the front of the room if you must. Above all, remember - only the strong survive at a press conference. 4. Forget the PR Speak - Focus On the News Corporations, politicians, sports teams and celebrities often try to use press conferences as public relations tools. In other words, they want reporters to put the most positive spin possible on whats being said at the press conference. But its the reporters job to ignore the PR talk and get to the truth of the matter. So if the CEO announces that his company has just suffered its worst losses ever, but in the next breath says he thinks the future is bright, forget about the bright future - the real news is the huge losses, not the PR sugarcoating. 5. Press the Speaker Dont let the speaker at a press conference get away with making broad generalizations that arent supported by facts. Question the basis for the statements they make, and get specifics. For instance, if the mayor of your town announces he plans to cut taxes while at the same time increasing municipal services, your first question should be: how can the town provide more services with less revenue? Likewise, if that CEO whose company has just lost billions says hes upbeat about the future, ask him why - how can he expect that things will get better when the company is clearly in trouble? Again, get him to be specific. 6. Dont Be Intimidated Whether youre covering a press conference with the mayor, the governor or the president, dont let yourself be intimidated by their power or stature. Thats what they want. Once youre intimidated, youll stop asking tough questions, and remember, its your job to ask tough questions of the most powerful people in our society.