Shark Shield: The costly alternative to common sense.

Such is the impression left by the article titled “Shark Shield ‘saves lives,’ published in an August issue of the Sunday Times.

From what I believe, this is a press release that was written following the recent waves of Australian shark attacks to introduce a new device that (according to the article) deters them.

As a means of generating good publicity, the product and its description could have sold itself to even the most difficult of skeptics; had it not been the method of how the promotion article was written for it.

The article starts off strong, successfully utilizing the tragic story of recent shark victim, Nick Edwards as a means of pulling the reader’s heart strings. He then writes a series of recounts of previous shark victim’s recounts.

The journalist then employs brand reinforcement by introducing the company manager of Shark Shield, known simply as “Mr. Gapp to comment indirectly on theses shark victim’s recounts, and how his state of the art device could have saved their limbs. He then attempts to persuade readers into considering the efficiency of the device by rendering feeble descriptions like: “sends out waves in the water that upsets sharks” when describing its mechanics.

Despite the vague explanation, the article begins to offer the reader a sense of confidence to the product until it segues into Surfing WA Chief, Mark Lane’s spiel on how to avoid shark encounters by offering no brainer advice like “don’t surf during dusk or dawn,” “don’t swim near bait fish or seals” and to finish it off “The ONLY way to avoid shark attacks is not to surf.”

To me, the shark repellent device- the fundamental grounds of the article becomes an afterthought.

Although I understand that it is not a journalist’s profession to “sell” or be bias in their recounts, it is obvious that the article was not written in its entirety as it seems not much research or direction was put into the article before its print.

This can be seen as the main body of the article was written entirely out of dialogue and carried no substantial explanation as to HOW the Shark shield, saves lives.

Even the headline, ‘Shark Shield” ‘Saves Lives’” gives readers doubts, as “saves lives” was plant in the viewers minds as a mere marketing quote as opposed to a headline-worthy fact.

At the end of day, I put myself in the shoes of the reader and questioned: Do I want a Shark Shield? Can my occasional visit to the beach be insured with six hundred dollars worth of scrap metal that (and I quote) “sends upsetting waves to sharks?” Is there even incentive to this article? Following a great deal of intense contemplation on what was delivered, I could conclude on one thing, whatever what the incentive of the writer, im with Chief Lane on this one; if you don’t want to be eaten by a shark.

Life is not a waiting room.

My high school experience, like my disposable teenage years, was epic chaos. As mentioned in my previous entries for perhaps the five hundredth and sixty sixth time, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR PARENTS DECIDE TO HAVE A MESSY DIVORCE.

Between jet setting to San Francisco and Perth constantly, high school became an insignificant blur.
But I won’t dismiss my instable education choices solely on the state of parental affairs. Being a Libran I’ll admit, I’m indecisive, easily deterred and rash.
So came the time I was able to become emancipated from both my parents and was finally able to steer my life in a direction I wanted, I foolishly based my option for tertiary studies in Business and Hotel Management on a couple of memorable trips to Vegas. A diploma later, la de dah. I manage a hotel. But when you gradually begin to develop a severe sociopathic twitch in your left eye every time someone approaches you, you KNOW that hospitality is NOT FOR YOU.

It was time for a career change.

I recall before I signing on to study PR, meeting Keith Critchett. I was explaining to him my current situation of choosing between an internship as a Business Analyst at IBM or returning to studies. He casually asked me what fields I would be interested in working in and it was almost subconscious when I absent mindedly uttered “…Public Relations.” Funnily enough, he noted that he was the lecturer of the PR department! He then preceded on and asked the life altering question, "What do you want in life?" Instantly the image of one of my favorite albums by the band Senses Fail labeled: “Life is not a waiting room” came to mind. In that moment it dawned on me; you can’t sit in self asserted limbo and expect life to go in the right direction on its own.

I don’t want to lament on a life, unfulfilled which is why I have a duty to myself to live it.

And what an amazing experience it has been since taking Central on board. I'm putting it down to the fact that I was young and dumb in the past, but now, I can truly appreciate what a passion in learning can bring! More and more each day I feel fortunate to be bestowed with an opportunity to work with people from all facets of life, lecturers that are industry professionals in their fields, class mates with different aspirations and goals all with individual traits and talents that I can be confident in regarding as future partners in the workforce.

It’s taken me a long time to decide on what field of work I want to do but now, it seems that with every class I experience, the place I want to be in life is not far out of reach on the horizon.

Coco Chanel once quoted: "There are people with money, and there are people who are rich."

I WANT TO BE BOTH.

I don’t want a job that will slowly envelope me in brain atrophy.

I want a CAREER that can enrich me with more than monetary means (cancel that, the money thing is a big factor,) but I feel life will carry more meaning if I had passion and a sense of purpose in the profession I choose.

Strewth to anyone who says your profession doesn’t determine who you are.
That’s why I intend to finish this course above and beyond what is expected of ME, because at the end of the day, there isn’t anyone pushing me to feel accomplished but ME (and my insufferable desire to own a jet.)

Ideally, I would love to work in the music industry or be a columnist in a magazine. But I am also open to a lot of different industries and am willing to take on extra studies if need be for areas such as mining, government and charities. If I am lucky enough to get an internship after Diploma at Central, I will be happy to work part time and attend Curtin University to get my PHD in Communications and or Marketing. My goal is to be a “Doctor” without all the messy, bloody stuff.

And who knows? Come post retirement, I would love to become a lecturer myself in reverence to the people who enabled me to buy my own jet.

Professor Wendy; I like the sound of that.

Perth's Glass Act

There has been a lot of talk about recent glassings in Perth lately, with dozens of people finding the repercussions on their faces. Its not entirely surprising. Having never been in a situation where I witnessed a glassing occur personally, I can see why there has been a proposal for a NO ALCOHOL SERVED IN GLASS law. Just walking around a bar in Subi, a girl like me is not so much concerned about her blood-clot-inducing stilettos, but the sea of glass shards scattered all throughout the bar. I guess I’ll give that being Australia, yes we are a democratic country therefore we are entitled to freedom of speech (and apparently heated verbal exchanges,) and basically are culture is, well in lamest terms, to drink. We are not Canada or Sweden but I personally gave more credit to us that we are not Atlanta, Georgia!

In most opinion polls, most have suggested serving alcoholic beverages in plastic cups. In my opinion, to ban serving beverages in glass cups in all pubs are pointless. It would be ignorant to think that a bloke is whacking another bloke with a Manhattan. Out of the 67 attacks this year, 70% has been by the use of beer stubbies. I’m sure the producers of beers don’t market their product to be utilised as weapons. I suppose most can argue that beer manufacturers can employ different materials (e.g. plastic.) But for those connoisseurs that don’t drink to get drunk know, all alcohol is better served in glass to enhance and preserve the flavour of the beer. I doubt that they will be changing their packaging to demote alcohol related violence.

If you look at the stats in the CBD area, you’ll find that Northbridge is the capital glassing suburb when compared to the likes of West Perth/Subiaco end. So to be frank, it’s not an entirely unanticipated stat, looking at the demographics that go there: young hormonal kids, the homeless and the pubs that invite a “PARTICULAR DRINK TO BE DRUNK” crowd.
Sure, we can do another graphic television commercial campaign to ward off the idea of glassing and its consequences but in my opinion, this trend won’t and can never be stopped entirely because:

1) You can take the glass away from the idiot but you can’t take the idiot out of the idiot. There are ALWAYS going to be idiot machos roaming the streets

2) …No wait, that’s the ONLY REASON.

not much to inspire my vote...

The 2010 election to me can only be summarised in one word: WEIRD. Frankly, the two parties have done little to nothing to inspire my vote.
Government is, to me, is governing the people. In order to do this we must ensure the people are in a happy place, we ensure they’re living standards are comfortable and sustainable. To ensure comfort and sustainability, the Government needs to manage our money. Therefore, POLITICS=ECONOMICS. Though both parties seem to understand this concept, granted they are horrible economists. People don’t care about how you campaign, its about the contents of your campaign that concerns them: THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY. All I can really see is the two parties continually delving into the country’s seemingly inexhaustible bag of money for a fraction of Australian’s vote, they’re basically the playing the parents to us (the Australian Public) by buying our love (vote.) Professional much?
Though both parties’ ceases to stir mind or capture my interest, I can swear without a shadow of a doubt, that my I will not be voting for Julia Gillard as PM. My frustrations are as follows:
- Politicians and PR practitioners alike are often stereotypically portrayed as professional liars. Who in their right mind halfway through their campaign, start saying “I was not the real Julia in the past, but she is here now.” IDIOCY.

- She is an iconic Australian public advocate for Atheism and yet she’s paid an estimated 1.5 million dollars in the canonization of Australian Saint, Mary McKilop. She is the paradigm of desperation and hypocrisy.
She’s acting under the Australian campaigning rules of engagement of “protect your front runner status” by conforming to society’s ideal of “the right thing to do” The “real” Julia Gillard did not step forward. She is a whore to the Australian Public. SHE IS AN ATHIEST.
- She has no idea on when the troops are doing in Afghanistan nor when they should be retuning to home turf. She side stepped any questions about the war in Iraq she quoted what Howard said “The thing that defines how long we’re going to be there is getting the job done and not a deadline in time.” Stock answer for a stock politician I say. Being that she already knows nothing about government spending, she can at least redeem herself by deploying the troops from a senseless and suicidal war and save tax payers $1.2 billion dollars a year AND countless lives of our soldiers.

As for the Greens, what better way to promote your campaign for the environment than by nailing your campaign posters on the trunks of the Great Sothern’s old grown forest? They have as much chances of winning this election as Lindsay Lohan has winning her battle with alcohol.

Public Relation's wise, I'm sure both parties have covered some good air time
In the celebrity world, any press is good press. But this is certainly not applicable in the political world. From what I can see, I’m not impressed. In anycase I can only vote for Liberal by default. MEH.

Regurgitator

Neurotic wife loses husband to inflatable.

NETWORKING, IS POWER.

If I didn't learn anything in my first three weeks in PR, I definitely learnt this: NETWORKING IS POWER. The public relations industry is about what you know and who you know.
In this day in age, the Gen Y generation are accustomed to having everything RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. Social networks such as Twitter, Linked in and Facebook allows us to meet people outside our physical social circles. And that is where we tie blogging in. It is the pinnacle of current businss and social networking communications.
More and more businesses are beginning to embrace the blogging world. In blogging we are able to share up to date information in real time and reach people beyond our target audience. With applications such as commenting and reviewing we are able to recieve feedback straight away.
In a Public Relations Officer's perspective and your product or person's public image goes awry, you need to be the first to communicate to the world in rectifying the matter.
The power of blogging and social networking in great as the possiblities in communication is really ENDLESS.

Me. Me. Me

So, about me... I was born in San Francisco, California and currently reside in Perth. Many often question why I moved to lacklustre Perth when I lived in one of the most notable cities in the world. To them I say: a nasty parental divorce offers little options AND, Perth is beautiful and offers the world of opportunities!
And it has. I am currently working in the hotel industry and am a first year student in Public Relations. Despite getting lost on the first day, catching a virus and ending up in hospital in the first week, I am learning alot, and making friends with people that matter.
I can only summarise my experience thus far with a favourite song quote:

"There's nowhere to go, but up from here"

-Broadway (Band)