Friday, 3 June 2016

What Kind of Damage Can Cyberterrorism Do

Since cyberterrorism is such a new brand of crime, we as a society do tend to be somewhat complacent when it comes to cybersecurity. However, in the near future, we can only expect to hear more about both cyberterrorism threats and actual incidents.

“The threat will only grow with the passage of time,” said Levy. “And it’s up to everyone to begin treating it as it deserves to be treated: with respect.”

Currently, the most frightening potential attacks are those that come from all angles. Baumgartner envisions a scenario in which cyberterrorists simultaneously disrupt communications systems, infrastructure controls and financial markets. Such a wide-net strike would be difficult to pull off, but the resources may exist—for the right price.

“It somewhat depends on the attackers’ goals and capabilities,” he said, “but capabilities are for sale.”

In terms of actually inciting terror, most rightfully fear bombings and explosions more than anything else. But the damage caused by cyberterrorism attacks can induce a different brand of fear since they are orchestrated by a faceless evildoer.

“Tangibly, we can all relate: a power plant could be taken offline, a company’s finances could be wrecked and a region’s ability to communicate wiped out,” said Levy. “Intangibly, the psychological impact could be even greater and longer-lasting, as cyberterrorism strikes at the very heart of what makes us feel safe in a supposedly safe society.”

This can lead to a feeling of helplessness. “It allows enemies to easily bypass the traditional barriers of military and geography, and it allows them to get at the soft underbelly of day-to-day society,” said Levy. “Fear of these types of attacks, in many respects, is just as debilitating as the overt effects might be.”

While definitive, public accounts of large-scale acts of cyberterrorism can be difficult to come by, there have been some comparatively smaller-scale examples of cyberattacks in the recent past. The hacker group Anonymous, for example, has launched multiple attacks against authorities. Founded in 2003, this group of loosely associated hackers is extremely opposed to any type of internet surveillance and censorship.

“These attacks illustrate the broadly disruptive impact of a distributed, focused campaign to take down resources controlled by forces they deem the enemy,” said Levy. “Chicago’s police department, for example, was taken down earlier this year, and law enforcement agencies in Ontario had usernames and passwords published by hackers claiming to be affiliated with Anonymous.”

While groups with agendas similar to Anonymous will likely continue to carry out attacks regardless of the day’s political climate, social factors have driven other hacktivists to action. “The Occupy movement as well as the Arab Spring spawned an upsurge in this type of activity,” said Levy.

With respect to governmental organizations, Stuxnet, a malicious computer “worm” designed to interfere with the nuclear program in Iran, was accidentally discovered in 2010 when the virus left the digital perimeter of Iran’s Natanz plant and reached the wider internet. According to the New York Times, this malicious code was developed by both the United States and Israel. Since then, two new versions of this worm have been discovered.

In May 2012, another piece of malware, a virus called Flame, was uncovered. This virus infiltrated the computers of high-ranking officials in Iran with the goal of collecting information. Flame appeared to be approximately five years old when it is was found, and the Washington Post has reported that it was designed by the United States; publicly, U.S. officials have not stated that they were responsible for creating this particular virus.

During April and May of 2007, Estonia was the victim of violence, riots and cyberattacks after officials moved a memorial commemorating the Soviet liberation of Estonia from the Nazis during World War
BY PROTAS LEVINA BAPRM 42657

Thursday, 2 June 2016

What is effective communication

Communication is about more than just exchanging information. It's about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. Effective communication is also a two-way street. It’s not only how you convey a message so that it is received and understood by someone in exactly the way you intended, it’s also how you listen to gain the full meaning of what’s being said and to make the other person feel heard and understood.

More than just the words you use, effective communication combines a set of skills including nonverbal communication, engaged listening, managing stress in the moment, the ability to communicate assertively, and the capacity to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of the person you’re communicating with.

Effective communication is the glue that helps you deepen your connections to others and improve teamwork, decision making, and problem solving. It enables you to communicate even negative or difficult messages without creating conflict or destroying trust.

While effective communication is a learned skill, it is more effective when it’s spontaneous rather than formulaic. A speech that is read, for example, rarely has the same impact as a speech that’s delivered (or appears to be delivered) spontaneously. Of course, it takes time and effort to develop these skills and become an effective communicator. The more effort and practice you put in, the more instinctive and spontaneous your communication skills will become.

Barriers to effective interpersonal communication

Stress and out-of-control emotion.
When you’re stressed or emotionally overwhelmed, you’re more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. Take a moment to calm down before continuing a conversation.
Lack of focus.
You can’t communicate effectively when you’re multitasking. If you’re planning what you’re going to say next, daydreaming, checking text messages, or thinking about something else, you’re almost certain to miss nonverbal cues in the conversation. You need to stay focused on the moment-to-moment experience.
Inconsistent body language.
Nonverbal communication should reinforce what is being said, not contradict it. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will likely feel you’re being dishonest. For example, you can’t say “yes” while shaking your head no.
Negative body language.
If you disagree with or dislike what’s being said, you may use negative body language to rebuff the other person’s message, such as crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or tapping your feet. You don’t have to agree, or even like what’s being said, but to communicate effectively without making the other person defensive, it’s important to avoid sending negative signals

BY PROTAS LEVINA BAPRM 42657

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

New media

New media most commonly refers to content available on-demand through the Internet , accessible on any digital device, usually containing interactive user feedback and creative participation. Common examples of new media include websites such as
online newspapers , blogs , or wikis ,
video games , and social media. A defining characteristic of new media is dialogue. New Media transmit content through connection and conversation. It enables people around the world to share, comment on, and discuss a wide variety of topics. Unlike any of past technologies, New Media is grounded on an interactive community. [1]
Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense , compressible , and interactive . [2] Some examples may be the Internet , websites, computer multimedia, video games ,
augmented reality , CD-ROMS, and DVDs. New media are often contrasted to "old media," such as television, radio, and print media, although scholars in communication and media studies have criticised rigid distinctions based on oldness and novelty. [3] New media does not include television programs (only analog broadcast), feature films,
magazines , books, or paper-based publications – unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity. [4] Wikipedia , an online encyclopedia, is an example, combining Internet accessible digital text, images and video with web-links, creative participation of contributors, interactive feedback of users and formation of a participant community of editors and donors for the benefit of non-community readers. Facebook is an example of the social media model, in which most users are also participants. Wikitude is an example for augmented reality. It displays information about the users' surroundings in a mobile camera view, including image recognition, 3D modeling and location-based approach to augmented reality.
History
In the 1950s, connections between computing and radical art began to grow stronger. It was not until the 1980s that Alan Kay and his co-workers at Xerox PARC began to give the computability of a personal computer to the individual, rather than have a big organization be in charge of this. "In the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, we seem to witness a different kind of parallel relationship between social changes and computer design . Although causally unrelated, conceptually it makes sense that the
Cold War and the design of the Web took place at exactly the same time." [4]
Writers and philosophers such as
Marshall McLuhan were instrumental in the development of media theory during this period. His now famous declaration in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964) that " the medium is the message" drew attention to the too often ignored influence media and technology themselves, rather than their "content," have on humans' experience of the world and on society broadly
BY PROTAS LEVINA BAPRM 42657

DIGITALITY
BY KIDENDEI SEGERETI

The rise of digital has completely remodelled the media sector. Media convergence is a reality. The boundaries between traditional media and digital media are ever more blurred.

For example, social media are hosting more and more professionally-made content and are an increasingly important route to news.

Take the Discover feature of the instant messenger Snapchat, housing content from both broadcasters and publishers.

Or the recent agreement between Facebook and some publishers, allowing them to offer their content directly on the platform and sharing or letting them manage advertising revenues.

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism just published these days shows that in countries like Germany, France, UK, Italy, and Spain Facebook is increasingly the vehicle to deliver news.

The same report also shows that a significant proportion of young people no longer wait to watch the evening television news. They prefer to find out what is going on as it happens from a multiple source of online media sources.

Messaging services are also increasingly prominent: one-quarter of Spanish internet users said they have read, watched or discussed news on WhatsApp.

Traditional and new media are quickly converging into a larger, predominantly-digital media environment.

Physical boundaries – including among national media markets – are becoming less relevant, thanks for instance to mobile technologies.

The good news is that Europe has a very strong and high-quality media sector. In such a mutable context, we only need to make sure that media are up to speed as regards innovation and that our regulatory framework is adapted to the new environment. I will therefore focus my intervention on three main aspects:

1. Implications for media businesses

New players join the market, new hybrid services become ever more popular, and a huge quantity of audiovisual content is available. This can bring new ways of monetising content, new sources of advertising revenue and new possibilities to reach out to consumers directly and through innovative methods. New market niches and opportunities for international development become available

• There are also challenges. Established models and practices might have to be re-assessed. And some players are struggling more than others to adapt.e with you some thoughts about the implications of media convergence for media businesses;

• Secondly, I will present the work the Commission has undertaken towards a regulatory modernisation for the digital single market, including for audiovisual media services;

• Finally, I'll say a few words about the importance of preserving media freedom and pluralism.

One of the challenges is to keep up to speed as regard innovation. I refer in particular to the necessity of investing more in research and technology innovation.

2. The regulatory framework

The EU Digital Single Market Strategy

The Digital Single Market (DSM) Strategy that the Commission unveiled on 6 May will lead to a more integrated EU market, with better services at better prices and more choice.

In monetary terms, bringing down digital barriers within Europe could contribute an additional EUR 415 billion to European GDP.

The Strategy revolves around three main pillars:

o improving access to online goods and services across Europe.

o digital networks and innovative services.

o maximizing the growth potential of the Digital Economy.

3. Media freedom and pluralism

I would like to conclude by mentioning a crucial value for the EU: media freedom and pluralism.

Whether a media outlet is so-called traditional or online, media practitioners will always have to be warranted the right to report facts and offer their views and opinions.

Political pressure, economic hardship, physical attacks against journalists, restrictive legislation, and a general financial crisis in the sector all influence the media's ability to operate freely.

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Functional brands, image brands, and experiential brands

BY Kidendei Segereti

Building and managing your brand, its identity, its name, and its reputation is critical to your company’s ultimate success. How (and when and where) you connect with your customers is determined in large part by your branding and by how your audience relates to your brand. Markets are more competitive than ever, and the quality of products and services more consistent so, in many cases, you’re branding will become your strongest differentiator in the marketplace.

Today I want to discuss the three types of brands, what distinguishes each, and some thoughts on how this can help you to determine the optimal marketing mix of strategy and tactics.

1. Functional brands.

A functional brand is typically bought to satisfy a functional need on the part of the consumer. Automobiles, cell phones, and dish soap are examples of functional brands. Functional brands are tied in the consumer’s mind to specific product categories and typically share the user’s associations with other brands in the same category. For instance, all automobiles share in their basic functionality; they are designed to transport passengers from point A to point B and they all do the same thing in essentially the same manner. Because of this, functional brands must differentiate from their competitor’s brands by stressing either better performance or better economy.

Building and managing a functional brand is dependent on focusing the marketing mix on either the product itself (for superior performance) or on place and price (for superior economy). Advertising and messaging must support the connection between the brand and the category. but must also stress what it is that makes the brand superior, either in functionality and features, or in price and overall value.

2. Image brands.

Image brands create value by building specific perception in user’s minds. Certain fashion, food, and liquor products are image brands and they differentiate themselves because buyers perceive them as offering a unique association or image. For instance, while clothing is typically a functional product, many huh-end fashion brands are marketed based on the image used to differentiate it from the competition.

Managing an image brand is a function of creating an emotional connection with the customer. Image brands depend on their ability to tap into consumer’s desires to belong to a social group, or to be admired by others, or to define themselves according to a particular image. Because of this, advertising plays a huge role in building these brands, as well as other forms of communication such as sponsorships and publicity.

3. Experiential brands.

Experiential brands differ from image brands in one important respect: where image brands focus on what the product represents, experiential brands are all about how the product makers the user feels when interacting with the brand. An experiential brand is not always a tangible product, but in many cases is a place or a service which delivers a sensory experience or encounter with the brand. Starbucks is an experiential brand; while the product is coffee and other beverages and food items, the real product is the experience of the store itself. Comfortable seeing, stylish design, WiFi connectivity, work space, and music are all part of the experience the brand provides. Another example of a experiential design is Six Flags amusement parks. Here a consumer pays admission in exchange for the thrills and adrenaline-inducing rides available in the park.

Managing experiential brands are primarily a challenge of consistency. Starbucks takes great care when hiring and training employees to assure a good cultural fit and and the ability to convey the brand values and deliver on the brand experience. Disney, too, is known for the care it takes in hiring, training, and managing employees, as well as maintaining the spotless and cheerful tamps[here of the parks.

Monday, 30 May 2016

AN IMPORTANT PR ARTICLE

WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE WORKING IN PR

When I left college, I thought I knew everything but oh was I wrong! After I graduated, I started my career in management and I’m still in management to this day. Since I started my career a few years ago, I have definitely made my fair share of mistakes and there are so many things that I wish someone would’ve told me before working in management. If I knew then what I know now, I’ve probably would’ve gained more money and less stress.

Mistakes are inevitable, and we all know we can’t go back in time to change the past. However, there is so much that we can learn from people that have “been there” and “done that.” It doesn’t matter how many internships that you have or how many classes you take, experience will always be the best teacher.

This is why I asked 3 professionals to share their experiences working in PR and the top things that they wish they would’ve known before starting their career. PR (Public Relations) is a very popular career choice among Millennials and is ever-growing.

If you are interested in a career in PR, I urge you to listen to what each PR professional shares below.

THE RECENT GRAD

Jasmyne Carter is a recent graduate and a Junior Public Relations Specialist at T.D. Jakes Ministries, Inc. She works closely with senior Public Relation employees, reporters, producers, and high-level clients.

College is the best time to prepare for a PR career

While I was in undergrad, I wish I would have taken advantage of PRSA. In college it is referred to as PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and it is an organization that allows you to propel your thinking while you are in the incubator (college). Being able to be apart of this organization and network is key. Also, I wish I would have attended more international events to broaden my perspective on Public Relations in general. I totally believe you can have all of the knowledge in the world but unused knowledge combined with inexperience will place you in a steeper learning curve when you are entering your profession.

It is important to invest in your appearance

In PR you are what you look like so while learning to save is key, also make sure you look like how you would want to be approached. This might involve you spending money on suits, nice shoes, etc. Just look at it as an investment with a high return rate.

#WorkingInPR: It is important to invest in your appearance.

Everyday shouldn’t be a “networking” lunch

I believe that you should NEVER create the habit of working through lunch. Enjoy the break because in public relations something is always going to be happening.

_________________________________________________________________________________

THE “JILL OF ALL TRADES” OF PR

Tianna Robinson has a work portfolio including Major League Baseball, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LVMH, Food Network, Microsoft, Remy Martin Cointreau and others. She specializes in planning strategic public relations campaigns, media relations, event management, and talent relations. She currently serves as the Director of Publicity at The Chamber Group with a client roster including Keke Palmer, Jill Scott, ESSENCE Communications, Ford/Lincoln Motor Company, Brandy and others.

Never go to an interview empty-handed

When you interview, be ready to name drop! In PR interviews, you always get asked what editorial contacts you have and who you know at the publication. Be ready to answer those questions confidently. Also, have all your press clippings in a portfolio. It’s always a good look when you leave something for the interviewer to review after.

Sometimes PR work can be imbalanced

#WorkingInPR: Always have your press clippings in a portfolio & always leave something for the…

Tweet This Quote

In PR, it is very little to no balance. The lines between work and personal life are so blurred. Between working crazy unconventional hours, traveling and attending events, your fully immersed in the world of PR. Colleagues and business associates become friends because you spend so much time together. I find myself at brunches and dinners questioning whether or not its work or play, **laughs**. It’s the biggest indication that I love what I do!

___________________________________________________________________________

THE PR PRO LIVING BY HER OWN RULES

Christina Rice is the CEO & Founder LuxeLife Media Inc., a full service PR and Marketing agency based in New York. Some of our clients include Demetria Lucas (Relationship expert, author and cast member on Blood, Sweat & Heels on Bravo), Angela Benton (Founder & CEO of NewME Accelerator), Frederick Hudson (Tech Entrepreneur, Founder/CEO of Pigeonly), and more.

Working in PR is more than cute Snapchat videos and IG photos

PR is not what you just see on social media, it is not all glitz and glamour and walking clients down a red carpet. There are perks, but it does not come without sacrifice. The pay isn’t all that great in your early part of your career, and depending on which area of PR you’re in, your life can be consumed by it.

Find balance early on

PR work can be grueling so self-care is important. The long hours, the endless cocktail parties where there’s always an open bar, lack of sleep, and more can take a toll on your body and can ultimately affect your productivity. So being able to say no to an event or pause on some work to catch a fitness session, or even spending a quiet evening with your love is essential to maintaining a healthy balance and separating your personal life from your work.

More than likely, your first job will not pay what you want

An average entry level position in PR averages around $28-36k. If you live in New York (or any other state where the cost of living is high), you already know that is not a lot of money. So it’s essential you figure out how to adapt your lifestyle to your income. You’re going to need to work hard, smart and deliberate to accelerate quickly. So if you have to sacrifice some night out with friends to stay home and work on your professional development or stay later at the office to show your commitment, then do that.

#WorkingInPR: You first job will not pay what you want. The avg entry level job pays around $28-36K.