Course Title: Manage the public relations publication process

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2016

Course Code: MKTG6048C

Course Title: Manage the public relations publication process

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5335 - Diploma of Business (Public Relations)

Course Contact: Sally Parrott

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175

Course Contact Email: sally.parrott@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Felicity Burns

felicity.burns@rmit.edu.au

 

 

 

Nominal Hours: 45

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage the design, production, implementation and evaluation of public relations publications in accordance with organisational requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBPUB501A Manage the public relations publication process

Element:

1. Research publication requirements and segment target audience

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Prepare a public relations research brief that specifies the research objectives, methodology, time schedule and budget 1.2. Consider the internal and external factors that may impact the effectiveness of public relations publication 1.3. Assess primary and secondary research methods for their capacity to provide information on publications requirements and market segments 1.4. Evaluate and choose criteria to use in segmenting the audience in accordance with the public relations brief 1.5. Define the target audience in terms of prospective readers of the publications 1.6. Ensure the target audience profile meets organisational requirements in terms of level and style of language usage, format, content and level of detail

Element:

2. Plan public relations publications

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Ensure publication purpose is consistent with organisational mission, vision and corporate values 2.2. Identify, agree upon and document publication objectives and central message consistent with messages in other organisational publications 2.3. Select team members according to skill and knowledge requirements 2.4. Develop and agree upon budgets and schedules with relevant stakeholders 2.5. Identify appropriate suppliers of goods and services and obtain quotations as required 2.6. Develop criteria to test and evaluate the success of the publication

Element:

3. Develop and evaluate public relations publications

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Design and write publication text in accordance with communication objectives and house style 3.2. Check readability of material to ensure it is geared to the target audience's reading levels 3.3. Test document with relevant stakeholders and incorporate findings into the final publication 3.4. Ensure publications, including any changes, comply with legal and ethical requirements 3.5. Select and contract suppliers to complete publication production processes 3.6. Distribute publication according to public relations plan 3.7. Evaluate aspects of the publication in line with stakeholder feedback and against evaluation criteria


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Supportive activities will involve development of strategies, planning, research and creative tasks. This course covers developing knowledge, skills in project concepts and strategic thinking (based on lecture notes and activities covered during the semester). Preparing, submitting and presenting a public relations publication is recommended for the required project. Individual activity may require development of strategies, creative, media, risk analysis and budgetary recommendations. All team members are to participate in the developing the PR Plan.

You will receive ongoing feedback on your progress in the course. You will be informed about how to improve your performance in the competency/course and what you need to do to be deemed competent or to gain a pass in the assessment.


Teaching Schedule

This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with Develop and Manage Public Relations Strategies MKTG7883C

 


Week         

Week Commencing

                                      Topic                                                                          

Assessment /Comment           

 1

 4/7/16


Introduction/induction

Course Induction
• Course delivery and assessment details
• Course support documents – any text books or readings
• Online learning environment – go through Blackboard shell
• Grading – reminder of codes and no marks (codes at end of doc)
• Plagiarism – must have signed cover sheets on all assessments
• Appeals – process and where it is on website
• Extensions – process (details on website)
• Feedback – contact times
• Submission requirements – how all work must be uploaded
• Resubmission policy – one resubmission, marked to a pass allowed
• Where to get support - student study support details
• Student responsibilities – must check emails and Blackboard shells weekly


*Outline for all Assessment Tasks

 

 2

 11/7/16

Introduction - What are public relations strategies? What are PR protocols? Understand the public relations aspect of managing processes in industry.

Assignment 1 provided.

Research process - activities for preparing a research portfolio


*Overview Assessment 1
Information to inform course content, delivery and expectations.

 

 3

 18/7/16


Preparing a research portfolio

Potential PR issues/ PR strategies

 

 

 4

 25/7/16

PR Strategies

Strategic direction to solve potential situations (risks)

*Overview of Assessment 2 and working in groups

 

 5

 1/8/16

 

The key aspects of a public relations plan
- Company goals
- Objectives
- PR Activities/media vehicles

 

 

 

 6

 

 

8/8/16

 

Target groups

 

 

 

Assessment 1 Due

 

7

 

15/8/16

 

Mapping Objectives
 

 

 8

 22/8/16


Budgets and timelines - how to create a critical path

*Feedback on Assessment 1

 

 

 

29 Aug – 2 Sept

Mid-semester break

 

 9

 5/9/16

Publication process - publishing

Drafting the PR publication


*Overview of Assessment 3

 

 10

12/9/16

 Design Workshop 1 - PR publication

Assessment 2 Due

 11

19/9/16

Design Workshop 2 - PR publication

 

12

26/9/16

Design Workshop 3 - PR publication

 

 13

 3/10/16

Preparing for a Presentation/ Editing Publication

Assessment 3 - Publication Due

 

14

 

10/10/16

 
Presentations

Presentation due for peer review and assessment

 

15

 

17/10/16

Presentations

 Presentation due for peer review and assessment

 

16

 

 24/10/16

No classes – Resubmissions and feedback only

 


 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 – Research Portfolio and PR Strategy (30%), 1000 words - Individual (due Week 6)

Requirements:

You are required to select a not for profit organisation and provide a new company strategy to address a potential PR issue in a rationale format, supported by a research portfolio. The rationale and research portfolio will need to be collated, titled and saved as one PDF file.

During the research portfolio stage, you will need to address the following factors:

- Internal and external information on the organisation (situation analysis)
- Potential PR issue
- The organisation’s core activities, business values, relationship to the public, service and business direction
- Key stakeholders

*A guideline for key areas to be researched and included in the portfolio will be provided on Blackboard.


Assessment Task 2 – Public Relations Plan (40%), 2000 words - Small groups of 3 - due Week 10

Requirements:

Working in small groups (no more than 3), all group members are to draw on their research portfolios and their developed strategy from Task 1—and implement a new PR plan. The PR plan is the strategic direction of the company that is presented in a brief format. The PR plan highlights: PR activities to undertake, key objectives to meet, proposed time schedules, and the most appropriate media vehicles to use to communicate the message. As the plan is developed in the pre-campaign stages, this assessment piece will be used in Assessment Task 3 for creating a new publication document (for a new PR campaign).

In this task, you are required to identify the most effective PR activities to use, segment the target audience, provide a solution to address any potential situations that could occur and develop a realistic plan within budget and the expected timeframes. The plan needs to be presented in a report format using the brief template provided.

*A brief template of the key aspects to address will be provided on Blackboard.

 

Assessment Task 3 – Publication and Verbal Presentation (30%) - Individual (flyer due Week 13, presentations due in Week 14)

Requirements:

Building on Task 1 and Task 2, you are required to create a DL flyer that represents the new PR strategy and the organisation’s core values, campaign objectives and corporate responsibilities (in accordance with the organisation’s style and key attributes). Upon completion of the flyer, you are to present your work to the class for peer feedback.

In this task, you are required to align the publication with the new PR plan and address the key elements in the publication stages such as:

• Meets publication deadline
• Publication aligns with organisation’s objectives
• It is within budgetary requirements (aligned with Assignment 2)
• It is consistent with company values, mission and house style
• Communicates effectively and reaches the intended target audience
• Central message is clear and consistent with other publications

*Adobe InDesign technical workshops will run in class from Weeks’ 10 to 12 and example formats will be handed out and uploaded to Blackboard.      

Length: DL Flyer (250 words), Presentation (5 minutes)

 

Submission Requirements:

Format:
Work is to be saved in a Word doc or .pdf and uploaded to the assessment tab in your course Blackboard shell by the required date. Work sent by email will not be marked. Work submitted after the deadline and without the Cover Sheet form from Blackboard below will not be accepted or marked.

Assessment deadline extensions:
Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If you think you might not make the due date due to circumstances beyond your control, you must apply for an application of extension time BEFORE the due date.
You can apply for an extension of seven or fewer days from the original due date for submission of assignments, projects, or essays. You must lodge it no later than one working day before the original submission due date. See link below for eligibility criteria and forms.
If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms for extension time and special consideration can be found at: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz

Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks (hard copy and soft copy).
When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. Cover sheets for submission of work is available from the Assessment Folder in your Blackboard course shell.

Assessment Feedback:
Feedback on the assessments will be provided as per University policy. Where resubmissions are required, it is the responsibility of the students to check the due date listed in the feedback sheet and resubmit within that timeframe. If the resubmission does not occur within the required date and time, a “not yet competent” will be awarded and a fail for the unit will be recorded. It is the individual’s responsibility to monitor Blackboard to be aware that the feedback has been posted.

Grading:
• Interim grades will appear in Blackboard grade centre for all assessment. Explanation of the interim grades are as following:
“CAG” for Competent – for a result between 5.0 and 10.0
“NYC” for Not Yet Competent for any result between 0 and 4.9 (one resubmission granted)
“DNS” for Did not Sit/Submit and no approved extension

Resubmissions:
It is the student’s responsibility to check their results and complete resubmissions by deadline set (usually within 2 weeks of receiving feedback/results). Students are entitled to one re-submission per assessment. All resubmissions will be marked to competent or non-competent only, no grades will be given. All resubmissions must be received by Week 16.

 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix will be supplied in the RMIT Blackboard course guide.

Other Information

 

 

This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with Develop and Manage Public Relations Strategies MKTG7883C

Course Overview: Access Course Overview