Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Embracing Multiculturalism In The Classroom
Each year, American classrooms become more diverse. This makes cultural diversity in the classroom a paramount issue, which is not only faced by educators, but the educational system as whole. The act of ignoring the increase in diversity can do more harm than good, so educators are encouraged to embrace and foster diversity in the classroom. This means promoting sensitivity, strengthened by the concept of wanting each student to succeed. With that in mind, diversity poses this simple but relevant question: what is culture?Contrary to what most believe, culture is more than a combination food recipe, preferences, language, and holidays. Culture is, essentially, the structure we build around our identity, as it influences how we engage with the rest of the world. It plays a role on the perspectives we choose to take and the expectations we set for ourselves and the outside. Each one of us belongs in a culture, and most of us even have identities founded on multiple cultures. For insta nce, you may consider yourself belonging to the American culture, further identifying with the culture of South Virginia, followed by the small community of immigrants in your little town, and then the culture of people who enjoy books, and so on. This holds true for the confines of the four walls of classrooms, as students come from different cultural backgrounds. Huddled in a single space, their sensitivity and acceptance towards one another should be always be taken into consideration.Why should we promote cultural diversity in the classroom?According to the Census Bureau, by 2020, more than half of Americas children will be part of an ethnic group or minority race. They further report that a shift will happen for America as a whole by 2044, where not a single racial or ethnic group will dominate the country in terms of size. By 2044, the students will be well integrated into their working lives. With the shift to consider, one can assume that their workplaces will be just as div erse as classrooms, where heritage, languages, and traditions are different. As early as now, multicultural students should learn to embrace differences, as well as understand the truth about people who may seem different: that theyre not really as different, despite glaring factors like physical features.What are the kinds of cultural diversity mostly present in classrooms?No two students are alike, even if they do share plenty in common. To nurture cultural diversity in the classroom positively, it is necessary to consider the various aspects of culture, especially those that influence perceptions, behaviors, and attitudes. Some cultural differences include the following:RaceThe recognition of the impact ones skin color poses is important, especially on the broader aspect of the American culture. Hard as it may be due to the surrounding issues around race, creating an environment of understanding and how it affects students perceptions of one another can greatly help.EthnicityEthn icity is sometimes equated to race, but it is more precisely defined as the culture we derive from our respective nationality. There are ethnic differences that arise in every immigrant group, which persists for generations.ReligionThe act of worshiping varies greatly, and some people do not worship at all. To further understand how to nurture multiculturalism in the classroom, its important to familiarize yourself with religious traditions and requirements, as these also play a role in a students behavior and time spent.LanguageLanguage can be restricting, yes, but it should not serve as an educational barrier. Of course, the reality of being able to speak every language isnt plausible, but there are ways to accommodate those who only speak English as a second language.EconomicAnother factor to consider is a students economic standing, as it greatly impacts ones education. It is important to be aware of the extent of the role of economic pressures in classroom stress, which include s finding time and a place to study.LGBTQ+Even with evident progress towards acceptance, ones sexual orientation or gender identify can still bring forth conflict in their lives. To truly accept cultural diversity in the classroom, the culture of the LGBTQ+ should be considered.How do you embrace diversity in the classroom?To fully embrace diversity in the classroom, a school-wide effort is necessary, along with the help of implemented policies. However, there are initiatives individuals can make, especially the educators. Here are some ideas:Make time to understand your studentsOne of the best ways to nurture an inclusive environment for multicultural students is by understanding each one of them. Make sure you allot enough time to understand their strengths and weaknesses, along with personality traits and learning styles. As a teacher, this level of interaction and engagement shows that you are invested in them and their ability to succeed. Also remember that students learn diffe rently, so taking some time to understand each one of them will make the teaching process easier for you. Set presentation projects on subjects about culture or a certain countryThe ideas here are endless: you could ask students to write about their own cultures through essay writing and present it to the class, or perhaps assign them to research on anothers culture to write and present on. They could either do this project in pairs or groups, so that presentation aspect will not be much of a problem. Some students are rather shy while some can be outspoken; pairing the opposites can also help foster mutual respect and encourage acceptance.Be willing to address inequalitySupporting diversity in the classroom means creating a safe space for students and educators alike to freely talk about how discrimination affects the many parts of their lives. Opening a discussion about diversity means more will follow suit, but it should not just be limited to words. In order to make an effective change, you must be willing to take practical steps to address discrimination whenever necessary. Such steps can include the following:Quickly shut down discrimination whenever you hear it.Use language that encourages positivity.Dont reinforce existing stereotypes; for instance, boys will be boys, a case of everyday sexism, should not be used to justify such ideology or aggression towards others.For inappropriate comments or actions, make sure to respond effectively. Infractions must be taken seriously and inform parents whenever necessary.Encourage students to include all of their peers, especially if there is apparent division forming instituted by racial or economic lines.Eradicate prevailing markers of inequality in your school. This could be the lunch programs for financially unstable students, as this program often makes them feel singled out and different.Remember that fair does not mean equal. Fair means that everyone gets what they need or deserve. Equal, on the other hand , means that everyone receives the same regardless of need, even if they are already enjoying privileges. In the academic context, fairness means ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, is given what is necessary to succeed in every aspect.Pitch events that invites guests and motivational speakers from different backgroundsSchools usually hire speakers and guests from numerous industries, where theyre invited to share significant messages and inspire students to reach for their dreams. To promote diversity, it could be a good idea to invite guest speakers presenting the different parts of society, so that students will have role models they can relate to. Having a culturally diverse set of speakers, all successful in their respective fields, can send out the message that no matter your gender, heritage, and physical attributes, you can reach your goals.Arrange afoodfair to celebrate different dishes from around the worldEven the littlest of efforts can make an i mpact. A food fair can be a full day event, or can even be a monthly occurrence. The idea is that each student could bring a dish native to their culture or country, which others can try. A background of the dish can be discussed, which includes its relevance and history.The importance of diversity in the classroom for all students and society as a wholeRemember that students spend a significant amount of their time surrounded by their classmates, friends, and teachers. Although academic achievement is regarded as a high priority, it is expected of the educational system to prepare students to become productive members of society. As America continues to adapt multiple cultures and heritages, the teachers are given the task to show students the value of embracing cultural diversity. While a holistic growth and positive citizenship are key to a students success, overall development and personal life choices are just as essential having the ability to learn and work with people haili ng from different backgrounds is a part of this. An essential way of learning about anothers culture is through the art of writing and research. You may find yourself required to write a paper about a culture youre unfamiliar with, or perhaps a cultural identity essay infused with careful introspection.An academic writing service for youWith a heavy workload on your back, however, accomplishing this can be quite difficult. , an essay writing service, would be glad to help. We understand the importance of diversity intimately, as we are a team hailing from various parts of the world and from many different industries. More than your essay on culture, were also capable of accomplishing plenty of your requested academic help, like custom research papers and custom term papers.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
What Were the Top 4 Causes of the Civil War
The question ââ¬Å"what caused the U.S. Civil War?â⬠has been debated since the horrific conflict ended in 1865. As with most wars, however, there was no single cause.à Pressing Issues That Led to the Civil War The Civil War erupted from a variety of long-standing tensions and disagreements about American life and politics. For nearly a century, the people and politicians of the northern and southern states had been clashing over the issues that finally led to war: economic interests, cultural values, the power of the federal government to control the states, and, most importantly, slavery in American society. While some of these differences might have been resolved peacefully through diplomacy, slavery was not among them. With a way of life steeped in age-old traditions of white supremacy and a mainly agricultural economy that depended on cheap (slave) labor, the southern states viewed slavery as essential to their very survival. Slavery in the Economy and Society At the time of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, slavery not only remained legal in all 13 British American colonies, but it also continued to play a significant role in their economies and societies. Prior to the American Revolution, the institution of slavery in America had become firmly established as being limited to persons of African ancestry. In this atmosphere, the seeds of white supremacy were sown. Even when the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789, very few black people and no slaves were allowed to vote or own property. However, a growing movement to abolish slavery had led many northern states to enact abolitionist laws and abandon slavery. With an economy based more on industry than agriculture, the north enjoyed a steady flow of European immigrants. As impoverished refugees from the potato famine of the 1840s and 1850s, many of these new immigrants could be hired as factory workers at low wages, thus reducing the need for slavery in the north. In the southern states, longer growing seasons and fertile soils had established an economy based on agriculture fueled by sprawling, white-owned plantations that depended on slaves to perform a wide range of duties. When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, cotton became very profitable. This machine was able to reduce the time it took to separate seeds from the cotton. At the same time, the increase in the number of plantations willing to move from other crops to cotton created an even greater need for slaves. The southern economy became a one-crop economy, depending on cotton and, therefore, on slavery. Though it was often supported throughout the social and economic classes, not every white southerner owned slaves. The population of the south was around 6 million in 1850 and only about 350,000 were slave owners. This included many of the wealthiest families, a number of whom owned large plantations. At the start of the Civil War, at least 4 million slaves and their descendants were forced to live and work on the southern plantations. In contrast, industry ruled the economy of the north and less emphasis was on agriculture, though even that was more diverse. Many northern industries were purchasing the souths raw cotton and turning it into finished goods. This economic disparity also led to irreconcilable differences in societal and political views. In the north, the influx of immigrants ââ¬â many from countries that had long since abolished slavery ââ¬â contributed to a society in which people of different cultures and classes lived and worked together. The south, however, continued to hold onto a social order based on white supremacy in both private and political life, not unlike that under the rule of racial apartheid that persisted in South Africa for decades. In both the north and south, these differences influenced views on the powers of the federal government to control the economies and cultures of the states. States and Federal Rights Since the time of the American Revolution, two camps emerged when it came to the role of government. Some people argued for greater rights for the states and others argued that the federal government needed to have more control. The first organized government in the U.S. after the Revolution was under the Articles of Confederation. The 13 states formed a loose Confederation with a very weak federal government. However, when problems arose, the weaknesses of the Articles caused the leaders of the time to come together at the Constitutional Convention and create, in secret, the U.S. Constitution. Strong proponents of states rights like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry were not present at this meeting. Many felt that the new Constitution ignored the rights of states to continue to act independently. They felt that the states should still have the right to decide if they were willing to accept certain federal acts. This resulted in the idea of nullification, whereby the states would have the right to rule federal acts unconstitutional. The federal government denied states this right. However, proponents such as John C. Calhoun ââ¬â who resigned as Vice President to represent South Carolina in the Senate ââ¬â fought vehemently for nullification. When nullification would not work and many of the southern states felt that they were no longer respected, they moved towards thoughts of secession. Slave and Non-Slave States As America began to expand ââ¬â first, with the lands gained from the Louisiana Purchase and later with the Mexican War ââ¬â the question arose of whether new states would be slave states or free states. An attempt was made to ensure that equal numbers of free and slave states were admitted to the Union, but over time this proved difficult. The Missouri Compromise passed in 1820. This established a rule that prohibited slavery in states from the former Louisiana Purchaseà north of the latitude 36 degrees 30 minutes, with the exception of Missouri.à During the Mexican War, the debate began about what would happen with the new territories the U.S. expected to gain upon victory. David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso in 1846, which would ban slavery in the new lands. This was shot down amid much debate. The Compromise of 1850 was created by Henry Clay and others to deal with the balance between slave and free states. It was designed to protect both northern and southern interests. When California was admitted as a free state, one of the provisions was the Fugitive Slave Act. This held individuals responsible for harboring fugitive slaves, even if they were located in non-slave states.à Theà Kansas-Nebraska Actà of 1854 was another issue that further increased tensions. It created two new territories that would allow the states to use popular sovereignty to determine whether they would be free states or slave states. The real issue occurred in Kansas where pro-slavery Missourians, called Border Ruffians, began to pour into the state in an attempt to force it toward slavery.à Problems came to a head with a violent clash at Lawrence, Kansas. This caused it to become known as Bleeding Kansas. The fight even erupted on the floor of the Senate when anti-slavery proponent Charles Sumner was beaten over the head by South Carolinas Senator Preston Brooks. The Abolitionist Movement Increasingly, northerners became more polarized against slavery. Sympathies began to grow for abolitionists and against slavery and slaveholders.à Many in the north came to view slavery as not just socially unjust, but morally wrong. The abolitionists came with a variety of viewpoints. People such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass wanted immediate freedom for all slaves. A group that included Theodore Weld and Arthur Tappan advocated for emancipating slaves slowly. Still others, including Abraham Lincoln, simply hoped to keep slavery from expanding. A number of events helped fuel the cause for abolition in the 1850s.à Harriet Beecher Stoweà wrote Uncle Toms Cabin, and that popular novel opened many eyes to the reality of slavery. The Dred Scott Caseà brought the issues of slaves rights, freedom, and citizenship to the Supreme Court. Additionally, some abolitionists took a less peaceful route to fighting against slavery. John Brown and his family fought on the anti-slavery side of Bleeding Kansas. They were responsible for the Pottawatomie Massacre, in which they killed five settlers who were pro-slavery.à Yet, Browns best-known fight would be his last when the group attacked Harpers Ferry in 1859, a crime for which he would hang. The Election of Abraham Lincoln The politics of the day were as stormy as the anti-slavery campaigns. All of the issues of the young nation were dividing the political parties and reshaping the established two-party system of Whigs and Democrats.à The Democratic party was divided between factions in the north and south. At the same time, the conflicts surrounding Kansas and the Compromise of 1850 transformed the Whig party into the Republican party (established in 1854). In the North, this new party was seen as both anti-slavery and for the advancement of the American economy. This included the support of industry and encouraging homesteading while advancing educational opportunities. In the south, Republicans were seen as little more than divisive. The presidential election of 1860 would be the deciding point for the Union. Abraham Lincoln represented the new Republican party and Stephen Douglas, the northern Democrat, was seen as his biggest rival. The southern Democrats put John C. Breckenridge on the ballot. John C. Bell represented the Constitutional Union Party, a group of conservative Whigs hoping to avoid secession. The countrys divisions were clear on election day. Lincoln won the north, Breckenridge the south, and Bell the border states. Douglas won only Missouri and a portion of New Jersey. It was enough for Lincoln to win the popular vote, as well as 180 electoral votes. Even though things were already near a boiling point after Lincoln was elected, South Carolina issued its Declaration of the Causes of Secession on December 24, 1860. They believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of northern interests.à President Buchanans administration did little to quell the tension or stop what would become known as Secession Winter. Between election day and Lincolns inauguration in March,à seven states seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.à In the process, the south took control of federal installations, including forts in the region, which would give them a foundation for war. One of the most shocking events occurred when one-quarter of the nations army surrendered in Texas under the command of General David E. Twigg. Not a single shot was fired in that exchange, but the stage was set for the bloodiest war in American history. Edited by Robert Longley
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Where I Am I Now - 1501 Words
Where Am I Now? When I think about assessment I think about rubrics. Rubrics are an outline of what I aspect students to accomplish during the task at hand. When they complete the task, the students will receive a point value grade that reflects what they accomplish on the task. However, according to Craig Huhn (2005), ââ¬Å"assessment means being keenly aware of what students know and understand, having sufficient evidence of this understanding, and offering a grade that accurately reflects thisâ⬠. As a Family and Consumer Science teacher, mainly food courses, I found that I partially meet Huhnââ¬â¢s definition of assessment. In all my food labs, I use a rubric to grade the students. Each kitchen receives one lab rubric, five to six students in a kitchen, and I tend to grade them as a whole. It is very difficult to make sure I have sufficient evidence of understanding and accurately grade each and every student. At times, I feel that the ââ¬Å"meaning of ââ¬Ëpointsâ⬠⢠has shifted students focus away from demonstrating what they have learned and toward collecting as many points as possibleâ⬠(Huhn, 2005). At times I feel that students and I tend to lean more to ââ¬Å"pointsâ⬠instead of making sure they can demonstrate what they learned. I would like to understand how I can have students fully recognize that the main goal is to walk out of the class knowing more than walking in to the class. Where Are We Going? Our goal is to logically create a valid and reliable assessment program for aShow MoreRelatedWhere Am I Now?1891 Words à |à 8 Pagesâ⬠¢ EQ #1: Where am I now? In many education systems, there are always some commonalities- regardless of the politics within that particular school setting. One significant commonality is through the grading system. The idea of assessing a student based on their value of knowledge and comprehension has been gradually overshadowed by the point values in general. 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Now before I leftRead MoreThe Death Of The Yacht1521 Words à |à 7 PagesApril 3rd, 1966- ââ¬Å"As I depart from the New York Harbor in Vida the Yacht, I hear the screaming voices of the city becoming one mumbled echo; becoming a wall pushing my boat further and further away into the freedom of the sea. The disconcerting, explosive screams of a city enraged, shrieking, ââ¬Å"make love not warâ⬠soon decrescendos into the calming, humming winds of the ocean. All that those people are rioting for, I have found. Peace. Just a few miles out from where they stand. If only everyone couldRead MoreMy Experience At A Retail Store Essay970 Words à |à 4 Pages3. Your vision-hustle- the thing I need to say yes to is being optimistic. The future scares me so much I donââ¬â¢t step out of my comfort zone when it comes to my job. I figure since I am making money and I am able to go shopping freely and save for a vacation I am planning why fix something that is not broken. I am happy where I am with my job right now but I donââ¬â¢t think itââ¬â¢s where I want to be. Therefore, the side door I have not yet opened is applying to a retail job. A few towns over there is aRead MoreThe Rainbow Fish : Character Traits1315 Words à |à 6 Pagesthink character traits are? (I am going to get out my anchor chart and refer to it.) In my own words, character traits are descriptive words or phrases that help us understand a character. Looking at what the character says, looks like, feels, and does can help us identify their character traits. While I am reading The Rainbow Fish, we are going to look out for different character traits, and I am going to write it these character traits on this chart right here. (I am going to get out my other chartRead MoreI Want For Attend Bryant University877 Words à |à 4 PagesToday, I find myself as a junior at Bryant University. 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Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Understanding Public Relations
Question: Discusss about the Understanding Public Relations. Answer: Introduction: Public Relations help a company or person or other organisations in maintaining a positive public image. It helps a company or an individual to bring forth an image in front of the public that is positive. This report discusses the importance of various aspects of PR in a company (Black, 2013). Firstly, it presents short notes on the best practices in media relations. Then it moves on to presenting a fictional news release for an imaginary newsworthy client. The write-up then discusses the Social Exchange theory and how it can be applied to fundraising and sponsorship. The report uses the example of the PRINZ case study to indicate the opportunities that were created for establishing interactivity and awareness. It discusses how the concept of social exchange theory was encouraged through the program. It then identifies the ways in which successful fundraisers follow up with their donors. The report then lists the key characteristics of crisis. It also explains the method how effecti ve issues management can prevent a crisis situation. It then gives an example of a recent crisis. It moves on to defining a crisis management plan discussing the individuals who should be involved in it. The report then moves on to outlining the information needs of the shareholder and investor, giving example of how those needs are satisfied. It then moves on to describing the different kinds of non-financial information that are important to shareholders and investors, supported by examples (Jain Winner, 2013). Media Relations Best practices of media relations: Media relations comes under a section of public relations in general. It refers to the equation or the relationship that companies develop with journalists of various media houses. It is important to understand the necessity of media relations. It is important as it helps in informing the public about the company and the inner workings of a company. The best practices of media relations are as follows: 1. The organisation should have a clear picture of the audiences it is targeting. Assumptions do not work in this case. A company needs to be careful before choosing a media to extend its public relations to the masses. It needs to monitor the coverage that the media is providing to the company. It needs to assess the quality of coverage also. It has to be seen whether the coverage that is being provided by the media is partial or distorted. If it is so, then the company should immediately stop the association with that particular media (Howard Mathews, 2013). 2. An organisation or a company must be careful in choosing the media that helps them to extend their PR skills to the public.3. The company should be aware of the facts and the points that will attract the media and will help them be interested in the company. If a company employs new and innovative ways for customer service or a new technology to connect with the customers, then it might make the media interested, as it is a newsworthy item. Things like these help the company to go further in the competition race as these things attract the media (Raupp, 2017). 4. The company should be cooperative with the journalists. It should give them the access to different spheres of operations of the company to find out newsworthy items inside the company. 5. A company should understand that journalists have a responsibility towards the society and this responsibility cannot be avoided under any circumstances. Journalists have to work for the society even if it becomes detrimental to the company. 6. A company should provide newsworthy items to the journalists in order to make a good story. However, an employee of a company should always remember his or her loyalty and thus be careful of the information that he or she is providing to the journalists (Martino Lovari, 2016). 7.The company should train its staff carefully and thoroughly so as to properly educate them to deliver the message of the organisation. The staff of the company must be trained in such a way so that the employees of the company only distribute all the relevant information (Pang, HE Chiong Begam Binte Abul Hassan, 2014). 8. The employees of the company should behave cordially with the journalists in order to maintain a professional and cordial relation.9. The company should resolve disputes and queries immediately in a manner which benefits both, the company and the media. Any disputes should be resolved quickly and efficiently by the company (Supa, 2014). News release: Voices mobile brings in a technology that supports free video calling Auckland, New Zealand: Voices mobile company, today has announced a new handset that supports free video calling for all subscribers of Voices telecom. This facility is going to help all the users all over the world to connect in a more personal note. Since the users of Voices telecom is essentially placed in the defence, it comes as a refreshing and welcome update to all the subscribers of Voices telecom. After five years of research and development, the company has come up with the technology that is the first of its kind in the market. According to the CEO of the company, John Smith, this technology has been made keeping in mind the requirement of the people in the defence sector posted in various location. Mr. Smith said, This technology will help our soldiers to be better connected with their loved ones when they are posted at the borders defending us and ensuring our safety. The launch is scheduled to take place at the Hilton International hotel on Monday, 20.2.2017 from 7.00 P.M. About Voices mobile: Voices mobile is the new venture of Voices Telecom service. It was launched in the year 2010. Voices Telecom service caters to the army, navy and air force of New Zealand. The telecom service has a tie-up with the defence sector of the country. It was voted as the most reliable telecom service provider by the National Telecom Services Sector. Fundraising and Sponsorship Social exchange theory: Social Exchange theory proposes that the society is a structure full of interactions between people that minimises the cost and maximises the return. According to the theory, all relationships are made up of series of give and take. The theory implicates that in general, people are self-centric and not concerned with equality. The relationships that give the maximum amount of return without investing a lot into it, is the one which the people prefers to pursue for a long term (Cook, 2013). According to the theory, people feel negatively or positively about their relationships owing to the combination of these three factors:- 1.Comparison level 2.Cost-benefit analysis 3.Comparison level of alternatives According to Mersham, Theunissen and Peart, the social exchange theory states that each and every individual in the world is dependent on the exchange of interactions that prove to be beneficial for them. Fundraising also falls under the category of social exchange. Fundraising essentially means collecting financial support for a cause, a charity or for other enterprises. It basically means accumulating voluntary financial contributions or other resources by the means of donations from individuals, government agencies, charitable foundations or businesses. By keen observation, it can be noticed that fundraising falls under the social exchange theory. By fundraising, funds or financial aids for different causes or charities are accumulated. Although at the first glance, it might seem that fundraising is a benevolent work that is not aimed at profit making, it can be observed that the social exchange theory is subtly at work in this concept as well. Through the means of fundraising, co mpanies can look after their own PR interest. By fundraising, the organisation can garner a name for itself and also contribute to a good cause. The company or the organisation, thus stands at a position which proves to be beneficial for the firm (Cameron, Higgins Lippincott, 2012). Fundraising as a social exchange One of the significant examples of this concept of fundraising as a social exchange is exemplified in the case of Achilles International New Zealand. Achilles International is a charity that supports people with disabilities, so that they can perform and participate in mainstream sporting events alongside healthy athletes. When it started its operation in the year 2014, it was virtually unknown to the world (Honigman, 2012). However, when Cigna Life Insurance took over the public relations campaigns of Achilles International, things started to change. Cigna Life Insurance created a firm identity for the charity and an amount of $10,000 was raised in the process. The life insurance company used the PR strategy to raise the awareness of Achilles amongst the local citizens. The company took the help of a media campaign raise awareness amongst the local residents. They found three local Wellington based local Achilles athletes who were willing to share their personal journeys with the ot hers. The company paired these athletes with famous guests like The Mayor of Wellington. This provided an additional newsworthy angle to the event. The media relations programme of the company targeted a range of well-known media that were based in Wellington. One of the important messages that was shared was how to join and donate to the cause (Cousens Bradish, 2013). Another example is that of the Givealittle foundation, the largest crowd-funding organisation of New Zealand. It is an external generosity programme of Spark foundation. The Spark foundation acquired Givealittle foundation in the year 2012. It helps charities, schools, community groups and individuals to accumulate funds online. During the last year, the company garnered substantial interests from the media (Brennan, Binney Brady, 2012). Aspects of social exchange: Through the support of Cigna Life Insurance, the Achilles International found the desired recognition and media coverage. The donor, Cigna Life Insurance, sought to find new respect and recognition by supporting this cause. The life insurance company garnered a name for itself with the success of Achilles International. The success of Cigna round the Bays (CRTB) implied a win-win situation for both Cigna Life Insurance and Achilles International ("PRINZ - PRINZ Awards 2015 - Public Relations Institute Of New Zealand"). In return for sponsoring or supporting causes like these, the donors expect a certain amount of reciprocality. They expect returns in the lines of recognition and communication of future projects and events. The success of the events automatically highlights the participation and contribution of the donors in the event. The donors expect a little something to get recognised for the effort that they are putting in. The benefit might be substantial or intangible. According to the Social Exchange theory, everyone gives something in return of getting something back. Different donors have different expectations when it comes to the question of getting returns (Kennedy, 2012). Some people only expect to receive information about the event or any other future event while some people expect to get more than that. They expect to get recognition and fame through the process. The organisers almost always follows up with the donors. This is in expectation of future involvement of the donor with future events. The organisers often come up with techniques like honour rolls, mementos, awards, feedback in the form of progress reports and donor recognition events (Boenigk Scherhag, 2014). Crisis Communication Key characteristics of crisis: Crisis is often defined as a situation or time of difficulty or danger when an important or difficult decision must be made. It is a time when an urgent decision has to be made. In an organisation a situation of crisis is not welcome. There are certain characteristics which define a time of crisis. They are: 1. A time of crisis can unfold in an unexpected manner and very quickly. In such situations, the organisation can have difficulty regaining their initiative. 2. A crisis involves many individuals around the company. It involves the investors, the staff members, the customers and the media to name a few (Mersham, Theunissen Peart, 2009).3. In this type of situation, a lot of confusion goes around the company. Everyone tries to find out who is affected and what has happened.4. During a situation like this, the top management of the company might develop a defensive mentality. They might refuse to talk to the media regarding the crisis which may lead to different types of conjectures amongst the people. It might lead to a rise in the insecurities and rumours (Verhoeven et al., 2014).5. In a situation of crisis, there might be a lack of understanding and information of the happenings which can lead to panic and stress amongst everyone. 6. A crisis might cost the company a lot of money a nd resources. The cost of compensation and recovery might be extremely high (Coombs, 2014). Issues Management In a situation of crisis, an effective issues management can solve any serious issue of crisis that may affect an organisation. Issues management deals with monitoring, identifying and analysing trends in the opinion of the public, which might create trouble for the company in the future. A public relations professional must monitor the trends, which might prove to be harmful for the company (Mersham, Theunissen Peart, 2009). They need to be on the lookout for what is happening all around the world, they need to scan the media for any potential development that is of interest to the company. According to Mersham, Theunissen and Peart, the keen monitoring of such issues helps the company to be aware of any potential threats to the company and formulate strategic formula to deal with any problem that might sprout up and affect the company. The PR official of the company should monitor any potential threats to the company and should warn the top management of the company for remedial a nd defensive measures to deal with a crisis (Coombs, 2014). Different stages of issue management: There are different stages of issue management. They are: Analyse and anticipate the issues Develop and understand the position of the organisation on the issue 1.Identify the important individuals whose support is necessary 2.Recognise the desired behaviour from those individuals 3.Identifying the important issues 4.Prioritising the key issues 5.Implementing the management tactics of tackling the issue 6.Evaluating the success and failure of the procedure Example of recent crisis: One of the most recent, glaring examples of crisis in an organisation in New Zealand is the case of Fonterra, a multinational dairy cooperative that is owned by around 10,500 New Zealnad farmers. In the year 2013 there was a wide-scale recall of dairy products sold by Fonterra. It was announced after botulism-causing bacteria were found during the safety tests. The contamination was found in the whey products that were sold to the third parties manufacturing baby foods and sports drinks. About 1000 tonnes of consumer goods were affected by the recall across 7 countries. However, no cases of illness in the consumer were reported. The head of the milk division of Fonterra, Gary Romao resigned as a consequence of the scandal. The company detected the bacteria during a routine quality check conducted by the company (Hutchinson, 2016). The problem was noticed in March 2013, while testing for the possible presence of Clostridium. In july that year tests exposed signs of Clostridium botulin um which led to the recall. The contamination was apparently due to the unsterilized pipes that were used to move the whey concentrate. The manufacturers in China, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia were affected by the recall. In the international scenario, the recall affected eight companies three animal-feed producers, a couple of beverage companies and three food companies. Crisis management plan A crisis management plan is a plan that is chalked out to combat in a situation of crisis in an organisation. Through this plan a rapid communication is facilitated that ensures the overall safety of both external and internal stakeholders of a company. It is the communication and the component of decision-making in the situation of crisis. Crisis management plan incorporates plan, procedures and policies to properly assess the impact of the situation. This plan also controls the media interaction during the time of a crisis (Timothy Coombs Jean Holladay, 2014). In this plan, all the individuals of a company who are important should be involved. They are the management officials, the PR official, the staff members of the company, the media and the internal and external stakeholders. Financial and Investor Communication In a company, financial investors play a crucial role. The financial and investor communication is therefore important for the company to succeed. A shareholder or an investor before investing in a company seeks to find out all the information about the company as possible. Information that is prepared by the accountants or the financial experts are often not enough or clear for the commoners to invest in the company (Guimard, 2013). Thus, a good communicator must compile the information in order to convey the information in a seamless and easy manner. In an organisation, a good communicator can convey the details about the company to the potential investors. An investor will look into the board of directors, the officers of the company, the image of the company, industry trends, reputation of the brand, position in the market, changes in the share price and the quality of products and services before looking into investing in the company (Laskin, 2014). The non-financial information is also important to the investors and shareholders. An investor, before investing in a company tries to find out whether the company is 1.meeting the legal requirement of the country 2.matching the industry standards 3.improving the moral spirit of the staff 4.improving the relationship between the consumers and the suppliers 5.improving the business reputation and strengthening the relationship with the local community (Laskin, 2014) 6.developing the business capability of the investor 7.properly dealing and anticipating the future threats (Monti et al., 2014) Conclusion: A company in order to succeed in the competitive market needs to have a strong PR team to handle all the pressures that come in the course of time. The public relations define the success or failure of a company. Maintaining a cordial relation with everyone in the market becomes necessary in the market of today. Media relations, fundraising and sponsorship, crisis communication and financial and investor communication all are important aspects of an adequate and healthy PR system in a company. References: Black, S. (2013).Practice of Public Relations. Routledge. Boenigk, S., Scherhag, C. (2014). Effects of donor priority strategy on relationship fundraising outcomes.Nonprofit Management and Leadership,24(3), 307-336. Brennan, L., Binney, W., Brady, E. (2012). The raising of corporate sponsorship: a behavioral study.Journal of Nonprofit Public Sector Marketing,24(3), 222-237. Cameron, J., Higgins, A., Lippincott, K. (2012).U.S. Patent Application No. 13/385,771. Cook, K. S., Cheshire, C., Rice, E. R., Nakagawa, S. (2013). Social exchange theory. InHandbook of social psychology(pp. 61-88). Springer Netherlands. Coombs, W. T. (2014). State of crisis communication: Evidence and the bleeding edge.Research Journal of the Institute for Public Relations,1(1), 1-12. Coombs, W. T. 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