Comm Week 5 Disc (Professor Anthony)

#1

Review the Learning Resources for the week before preparing your response to the week 5 discussion. Come to our Thursday evening class prepared to share your response and discuss the responses of other students.  (If you are unable to attend class on Thursday, please post your written response to the discussion question here, and contact the instructor to discuss the reason for your absence.)

This week's readings in the Learning Resources on advertising provide examples of both good and ineffective ad campaigns. Please answer the following prompts regarding advertising and public relations:

A) Bring the link to one of your favorite ads and be prepared to discuss answers to the following questions:  Does it persuade you? How? Why do you like it? Is there anything problematic about the ad? Also included a link to an ineffective ad, providing evidence that the ad campaign failed (cite your source in proper APA or MLA format). In your summary, explain (in your opinion) why one ad succeeds and the other fails.

B) After reading this week's Learning Resources, provide an example,(other than those listed in the readings) where public relations campaigns have been effective or ineffective, and provide a link to information about that example.  Why was the campaign successful or unsuccessful? Provide a link to the example

#2

After studying the assigned readings for week 5, synthesize what you have learned by completing the following in essay format. Search online and find a website for an organization which has a campaign promoting a core issue that interests you (For example: The Red Cross and need for blood donations--You may not use this example).

Start your essay with a short overview of the organization and the issue (just a few lines) and then consider the topics we have covered in this week’s readings and discuss how they are reflected in what you see on this website. What clear messages do you see? What audiences is the institution trying to reach? How has technology affected the way this organization presents itself? Consider issues of Media Ethics and how they are represented or manifested in the website. Draw on examples offered on that website to support your observations. Specifically consider the content of 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 77: Theories and Effects of Public Relations, under the section “Assumptions and Lay Theories.” Which of these theories does the content of your chosen site most closely align with? Why? Explain your answer.

The essay should be in 12pt type, no more than 2 pages in length, 1.5 line spacing. Approximately 500-600 words, and must be properly cited throughout the paper in MLA or APA format and must contain a works cited.

Submit your response in the file submission area for this assignment. If you choose to “add a file” by attaching a MSWord or PDF document, please also copy and paste your response into the comments area.