Title Critically discuss the ways UNICEF engage media techniques in their communications’ strategy. The WritePass Journal

Title Critically discuss the ways UNICEF engage media techniques in their communications’ strategy. Introduction Title Critically discuss the ways UNICEF engage media techniques in their communications’ strategy. : 37). NGOs are also important in helping to bring public interest matters before the courts (Wadham, 2001: 1). The mass media is a useful tool that allows political communications of NGOs to be effectuated, yet social, cultural and psychological problems are usually associated with media content and use (Perse, 2001: 1). It was stressed by Young that modern society engulfs its members through the media, education and participation within the marketplace (Young, 1999: 82). The media is capable of articulating beliefs by adopting various ideological approaches. It has been said by Croteau and Hoynes that the media do not promote a singular perception of ideology and instead communicate a number of different ideological perceptions (Croteau and Hoynes, 2012: 154). They noted that social ideologies are more domineering of society than mainstream ideologies because of the fact that people pay as much attention to street scenes, housing and clothing as they do to the commentary when watch ing international news (Thompson, 1995: 176). Arguably, it is clear from these assertions that the media is extremely powerful in influencing the minds of individuals, which is why it is a form of communication that is commonly used by NGOs to further their agendas. The media is capable of shaping an audiences subjectivity through the representation of ideological beliefs. NGOs thereby benefit from using media techniques to persuade their targeted audience to act in a certain manner. The media is extremely powerful in persuading the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of society through the use of propaganda. Propaganda is a form of communication that influences an audience to act based on a particular agenda. Propaganda is used as a means of generating emotional responses to messages that are produced to influence societal attitudes towards a particular cause or position. NGOs often use propaganda to fulfil their objectives and are thus considered effective cultural propaganda disseminators (Cull et al; 2003: 193). NGOs have been considered politics of the poor on the basis that they represent political ideologies (Karim, 2001: 92). Political ideology is a set of ideas which represent the objectives, expectations and actions of a political party. A broad range of belief systems exist within different political parties and have generally been acquired from doctrines, ideals, myths, principles and social movements. Ideology is a system that is made up of values and beliefs regarding the various institutions and processes of society that is accepted as fact or truth by a group of people† (Sargent, 2008: 2). Political ideology therefore comprises the views of political parties on how the world should be. This allows political parties to allocate social values (Easton, 1971: 129) and determine what is considered an ideal world. There are different views and opinions of ideological theory, though ideology is largely driven by competing groups in society who strive for hegemony (Hall, 1997: 13). Hegemony happens when the most dominant in society promotes, through the media and culture, a set of ideals that members of that society must conform to (Allan, 2004: 6). This is beneficial for NGOs who use the media to establish an ideological perception of the rights in which they are trying to protect. In deciding whether certain behaviours conform to society, the set of ideals that have been created within that society will need to be considered b y the media when deciding what messages need to be conveyed. Many believe that this is unfair and problematic as ideology only serves the interests of one segment of society over all other segments (Curra, 2000: 6). This prejudices many parts of society as certain groups may not benefit from the established ideals that are created. As pointed out by Brown et al; ideology may only be beneficial to certain ethnic groups, genders or religions (Brown et al; 2010: 9). This does not provide an accurate reflection of the whole of society and whilst ideals are necessary in helping people to identify what is right and wrong, it seems unacceptable to segregate certain parts of society. This may, however, be necessary when protecting the rights of certain individuals. Political ideologies are subject to further critique on the basis that they do not consider the needs of modern society (Stankiewicz, 2012: 408), yet as pointed out by Selinger; â€Å"There is no politics without ideology† (Selinger, 1975: 99). In effect, this appears to demonstrate that all political communications will have some element of ideology as moral judgements will be contained within them. Effectively, the objectives of NGOs will be based upon ideological beliefs and will mostly have a political objective. An example of this can be seen in relation to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), which is an NGO that provides humanitarian and development assistance to mothers and children in underdeveloped countries. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) created UNICEF on the 11th December 1946 to provide food and healthcare to children that had been affected by World War II. Although UNICEF is not operated by the government, it like many other NGOs largely relies upon governmental support and political communications. NGOs have, for some time, relied upon the mass media to expose violations of human-rights and encourage governments to put pressure on those found to be abusing them (Thrall et al; 2014: 3). This is intended to discourage human rights abuses from taking place and to help the perpetrators be put to justice. The effectiveness of this is arguable, though it seems as though greater support is being acquired by the likes of UNICEF as a result of this. Since the advancement of modern technology UNICEF is now able to establish new communication strategies for channeling information politics via the internet (Chadwick and Phillip, 2008: 3). It is arguable whether the strategies that are being undertaken by UNICEF are effective in persuading audiences to support their cause, though it seems likely given UNICEFs use of the media. The media is largely proficient in influencing society of certain ideological perceptions through television programmes, newspapers, magazines, films and radio programmes (Long and Wall, 2009; 285). These forms of communication are used in a way that manipulates societal values and beliefs and will continue to influence the ways in which we think about things whether consciously or subconsciously (Kenix, 2010: 1). Not only does the media send out ideological messages to the public but media systems have also been intertwined into societys ideological framework. This highlights the power of the media in shaping individuals values and beliefs within society. UNICEFs campaigns are mainly in the form of mass media, radio programmes, posters, street plays and localised outreach (UNICEF, 2014: 1). Because of this, a wider range of support will be acquired. UNICEF is reaching out to a broader audience, which will generate a huge amount of support and funding that would not otherwise be available. Arguably, it is imperative that the media techniques being used in UNICEFs communications strategy are effective in helping to shape ideological views on the rights of children. UNICEF is an advocate of childrens rights and so it is necessary for UNICEF to communicate how these rights are being violated and what protections need to be in place. This will help UNICEF to gain support and the message UNICEF is trying to put across will be better received by the public. Communications Strategy The communications strategy of UNICEF is vital in strengthening human development and avoiding missed opportunities. An ineffective communications strategy will generally yield poor results and stifle the development of UNICEF (UNDP, 2014: 1). UNICEFs targeted audience will not receive the message that is being portrayed. This will prevent UNICEF from developing, which will impact its success.. Effective communications are important skills NGOs need to survive and be successful (KDID, 2013: 28). To make an impact, UNICEF will thus be required to use effective means of communication to ensure that their views and opinions are heard. In doing so, they will most likely face a number of difficult challenges because of the fact that it has become increasingly difficult to deliver to society complex humanitarian crises. It is also difficult to explain to society who is involved in certain humanitarian crisis because of how widespread they generally are (ICRC, 2005: 673). A huge amount of N GOs currently strive for media attention, thereby highlighting the need to have effective communication strategies in place (Thrall et al; 2014: 19). UNICEF must adopt a coherent and credible approach when conveying public communication so that its message can be heard. It has been said that in order to understand political communication, one must understand how consent is created (Denton and Kuypers, 2007: 1). UNICEF will thus be required to communicate messages in a way that allows consent to be obtained, which will need to be included within the communications strategy of UNICEF.   A good communications strategy will help to certify good organisational branding and positioning, which will help to attract staff, donors and volunteers (KDID, 2013: 28). Successful branding through media communications will put an NGO in a desirable position within the community, which will help to garner support and belief from the public. This will require NGOs to be completely transparent so that the messages in which they are trying to put across can be clearly communicated (Thrall et al; 2014: 19). Unless UNICEF adopts a transparent and clear approach, it will be difficult to gain support and belief from the public (Lilleker, 2006: 4). Public support is, however, crucial to the implementation of change (Rabinowitz, 2013: 3). Without public support, it is doubtful that UNICEF would be as successful as they are. It is debatable what the best techniques for gaining public support are, though an effective communications strategy that takes into account UNICEFs agenda and identifies points that will require persuasive communication will most likely prove successful. It is important that the communications strategy identifies the approaches and tools that are needed to make a particular event more effective. In developing a communications strategy, it first needs to be established what UNICEF is trying to achieve. Subsequently, it will then need to be considered what communications objectives will most likely support the objectives of the project (McManus, 1994: 58). The communications objectives of UNICEF will be those that are capable of being reached through various means of communications. Such objectives will also need a target audience. This will require UNICEF to consider who they are trying to reach. In reaching out to the target audience, UNICEF will need to develop appropriate messages which highlight the relevant issues; the actions that needs to be taken by the target audience; and the benefits of such action (KDID, 2013: 28). Once this has been done, UNICEF will then have to consider how these messages will be delivered. Different methods of communication will be considered depending upon the type of event that is b eing promoted such as; media conferences, social media, interviews, marketing, advertisements and news stories. Given that UNICEF targets underdeveloped countries, it is likely that difficulties will be faced when considering the political objectives of various countries. Political communications are likely to vary from one country to another, which will create a number of problems. An effective communications strategy will seek to address these difficulties, though it will remain arguable whether they will prove sufficient in achieving certain objectives (Thrall et al; 2014: 19). In Africa, for example, the media seems to control those in power by reporting to citizens. Whilst this demands a degree of institutional independence from the political system, it has been said that there is actually a clear interdependence between the media and political systems (Windeck, 2014: 17). Information from political systems is usually exchanged for coverage in the media system and vice versa. The media consequently rely heavily on the supply of information from politics, whilst political bodies rely on th e media to spread their messages and objectives (Windeck, 2014: 17). Political communication is   an important tool in the political process, and will continue to influence politics. In effect, the political communications of certain countries will be driven by cultural and political factors, which may be difficult to overcome. Female genital mutilation is one area that UNICEF continues to campaign against, but is faced with many political objections from countries where FGM is prevalent; Asia, the Middle East and some parts of Africa (Gaber, 2007: 219). UNICEF are resultantly required to implement a strategy that is capable of strengthening the political commitment of governments. UNICEFs Communications Strategy There are three components of communication that are used by UNICEF to garner support and funding. These are; advocacy, social mobilisation and behaviour change communication (UNICEF, 2008: 7). Advocacy is used to inform and motivate leadership so that a supportive environment can be created. This will allow the objectives and development goals of the program to be achieved. Social mobilisation seeks to engage support and participation from various institutions, social and religious groups, and community networks. It is intended that the development objectives of UNICEF will be maintained through the use of social mobilisation and that greater demand will be generated. Behaviour change communication involves face to face discussions with a number of individuals and groups to motivate, inform, plan and problem-solve. It is anticipated that by using this technique, the objectives of UNICEF can be met (UNICEF, 2008: 7). Various conceptual models are used by UNICEF to implement communica tion including ACADA, P-Process and COMBI. The ACADA (Assessment, Communication Analysis, Design, Action) model is frequently used by UNICEF to use systematically-gathered data to link communications strategies to development problems. The P-Process model, developed by The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP), is used for the strategic planning of evidence based communication programmes and contains the following five steps; 1) analysis, 2) strategic design, 3) development and testing, 4) implementation and monitoring, and 5) evaluation and re-planning (UNICEF, 2008: 7). The COMBI   model uses a ten step process for communication planning, which are; 1) overall goal, 2) behavioural results/objectives, 3) situational market analysis, 4) results strategy, 5) plan of action, 6) management structure, 7) monitoring, 8) impact assessment, 9) scheduling, and 10) budget (UNICEF, 2008: 7). All three of these models seek to establish an effective communications strategy by analysing the different approaches that can be taken and considering the necessary steps needed. Analysis is integral to an effective communications strategy as it will enable any underlying issues to be identified and thereby dealt with accordingly. UNICEF undertakes a comprehensive analysis comprising of; the situation, the programme, the participants, the behaviours, and the communication channels (UNICEF, 2008: 7). The situation section describes the issues that are being addressed by UNICEF such as; child poverty, disease, malnutrition and trafficking. This is based upon data that has been collected from local knowledge, programme documents and research. The data highlights the underlying social and cultural issues by demonstrating what changes need to be made to social structures and practices. The programme section is designed to establish where the objectives of UNICEF can be achieved by communication. The participant section establishes what people are required to achieve UNICEFs objectives. The behaviour section focuses on setting behavioural objectives and analysing the behaviours or practices that have been selected for change. Finally, the communication channels section considers the available communication channels that are applicable in achieving the objectives. Once the analysis has been completed, UNICEF will have identified the participants, behaviours and channels of communications that are needed to encourage audience participation and accomplish its goals (UNICEF, 2008: 7). In order to ensure that the objectives of UNICEF are being met by changing the attitude and behaviour of individuals, knowledge alone will not be sufficient. Instead, a supportive environment will also need to be established (UNICEF, 2008: 37). Therefore, whilst the communications strategy of UNICEF will need to instil knowledge into the community so that support can be acquired, a supportive environment will also need to be created. This will involve creating policies that improve access to services and by using leaders that help to promote social and behaviour change amongst various members of society. Resources will also need to be allocated for the programme activities that are to be carried out and positive change will be effectuated by using a combination of communication techniques. UNICEF believes that communication goes way beyond providing information to the targeted audience and instead argue that communication is vital for development (Dijkzeul and Moke, 2005: 673). UNICE F has therefore set up a development programme, also known as C4D, which aims to engage communities through understanding peoples beliefs, values and social and cultural norms (Lenni and Tacchi, 2013: 16). This is achieved from listening to adults and children, identifying issues and working out solutions. This is considered a two way process that allows individuals to share knowledge and ideas through the use of various communication techniques that empower communities to take action in improving the lives of children (Lenni and Tacchi, 2013: 16). Advocacy is one technique UNICEF engages in its communications strategy, which is the act of supporting a cause to produce a desired change (Save the Children, 2014: 1). Advocacy is capable of influencing governments to effect change by communicating with the media, elected officials and influential leaders. Advocacy is able to encourage leaders to implement various changes such as; legal reform, policy decisions, addressing social and political barriers, and altering funding priorities. Advocacy efforts being used by UNICEF occur at global, national and sub-level and seek to influence the decisions of policy makers as well as political and social leaders. This is done through the creation of an enabling policy and legislative environment and by allocating resources appropriately to create and sustain social transformation (UNICEF, 2011: 1). For example, in 2010 when polio resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there existed a lack of awareness of the disease and how it could be prevented. Influential leaders, such as Marco Kiabuta, did not believe that the vaccination of polio was necessary. After a number of debates with community mobilisers and leaders Kiabuta came to realise just how vital a vaccination was. This example demonstrates how effective communication techniques ca n make a huge difference in implementing change and possibly saving lives (UNICEF, 2011: 1). Advocacy is used by UNICEF to target political, business and social leaders at national and local levels. It is not used simply to create mass awareness but is also used as a means of generating change and leading to a specific action that is to be taken (UNICEF, 2010: 20). UNICEF uses advocacy to inform and motivate appropriate leaders to create a supportive environment by changing polices, speaking out on critical issues, allocating resources and initiating public discussion. Communication is a powerful tool, which is why it is important for various media techniques to be adopted by NGOs such as UNICEF. Social mobilisation is another method of communication that is used by UNICEF to enlist participants, community networks, and religious groups to strengthen participation in various activities. This helps to engage and motivate partners and allies to raise awareness of UNICEFs development o bjectives through face-to-face dialogue. Partners and allies subsequently work together to target audiences and convey certain messages. Social mobilisation is used as a way to facilitate change through a range of players that are engaged in interrelated and complementary efforts (UNICEF, 2012: 1). An example of this can be seen in relation to the training community health workers in Madagascar received from UNICEF. The health workers were trained to provide outreach to families on various issues including, hand washing, vaccinating children, and not defecating in the open (UNICEF, 2012: 1). This is clearly an effective communication technique that is used by UNICEF as it allows certain individuals to be trained up so that they can pass their knowledge onto others. This has a domino like effect and will enable the views of UNICEF to be conveyed to a wider audience than that which would have been possible through advertisements alone. Social mobilisation is therefore an effective way of spreading messages to targeted audiences and helping to achieve the objectives of UNICEF, which is to provide assistance to mothers and children in underdeveloped countries. Behaviour change communication is another method that is used to address knowledge, attitudes and practices that are linked to programme goals. This is done by providing participants with relevant information and motivation through well-defined strategies, using an audience-appropriate mix of interpersonal, group and mass media channels and participatory methods (UNICEF/INDA, 2012, 1). Behaviour change communication strategies focus on the individual to effect change. In order for behavioural changes to happen on a larger scale, social change communication needs to be employed. This technique helps to define and address social influences in life and is currently being employed by UNICEF through the Social Ecological Model framework (UNICEF/INDA, 2012, 1). The media techniques that are currently being used by UNICEF do appear effective in helping to persuade audiences to provide support. The more UNICEF does to spread its message, the more successful UNICEF will be in achieving its aims. The Meena Communication Initiative in South Asia gives an example of how mass media and interpersonal communication is used to enhance the self-esteem and self-worth of children by enabling them to become familiar with life skills that are essential empowerment tools. The programme is primarily school based and is centred around a nine-year old girl called Meena who seeks to fight against the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS (UNICEF/INDA, 2012, 1). A radio station called Meena Radio was launched in 2010 to communicate with children, their parents, educators and community leaders. This provides an effective means of communication and provides a platform for UNICEFs political beliefs to be heard. It is intended that the radio stations audience will be persuaded to act so that the voices of children and communities can be heard through the power of communication. This helps to promote child survival, development, protection and participation (UNICEF, 2014: 1). It is clear that UNICEF uses a number of different media techniques in its communications strategy to achieve its objectives. Without the use of such techniques, the voices of children and communities would not be heard and UNICEFs message would not be delivered to its intended audience. It has been said that UNICEF raises considerable funds and carries out strong communication on its own through its national committees, press centre and media team (Dijkzeul and Moke, 2005: 683). This signifies the importance of having an effective communications strategy is in place as it can generate a significant amount of funding that would not otherwise be available. UNICEF also uses high profile figures to be its ambassadors who have been considered a highly effective in persuading society (Stromback, 2011: 42). Conclusion Overall, an effective communication strategy in an important tool for helping governmental and non-governmental organisations communicate effectively to meet core objectives. Given that UNICEF relies on voluntary donations from members of the public, government departments, charitable trusts and event organisers, it is important that they are capable of successfully communicating their objectives. In doing so, they will be required to persuade or encourage their audiences to provide support or funding so that UNICEFs end goals can be achieved. Given that UNICEF uses a number of different media techniques in its communications strategy, the approach that is currently being undertaken does appear workable. The media is a powerful tool in the art of persuasion, which is what UNICEF needs in order to survive. The use of media techniques will help to raise awareness of UNICEFs objectives and obtain humanitarian assistance. It is unlikely that such assistance would be obtained without the use of various media techniques, which is why UNICEFs communications strategy does appear largely effective. References Allan, S. (2004), News Culture. Bukingham: Open University Press. Changing Minds. (2013). Persuasive Language, http://changingminds.org/techniques/language/persuasive/persuasive.htm [Online], Available: http://changingminds.org/techniques/language/persuasive/persuasive.htm [07 July 2014]. Chadwick, A. and Phillip, H. (2008). Routledge Handbook of Internet Politics. London: Routledge. Croteau, D. and Hoynes, W. (2012). Media/Society: Industries, Images and Audiences, London: SAGE Publications. Cull, N. Culbert, D. and Welch, D. (2003). Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopaedia, 1500 to the Present, London: ABC-CLIO Publishers. Curra, J., (2000). The Relativity of Crime. 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(2012) Internal Affairs: How the Structure of NGOs Transforms Human Rights, New York: Cornell University Press.

3 Ways to Market Your Private School

3 Ways to Market Your Private School It was simple once, wasnt it? When it came to promoting your private school, you would create  a gorgeous brochure, mail it out to potential families, and wait for the phone to ring and the admissions appointments to be made. Its no longer that simple. Today, schools are finding themselves in a position of requiring a marketing plan to market to a savvier consumer. These prospective families have a long list of things that they are looking for in a school for their children, want to get an excellent education at an affordable price, and they want the best. Schools are facing a competitive marketplace, but many of them are faltering when it comes to marketing. So, how does your private school get noticed and where do you need to be focusing your marketing efforts? Here are three things you can start doing today to maximize your  marketing efforts: Evaluate and Optimize Your Website Today, it’s not uncommon for private schools to receive â€Å"phantom applications† meaning that there is no record of the family in their system before an application is received or request for an interview is made. Years ago, the only way to get information about the school was to inquire. Now, families can access that information through a quick online search. Therefore, it’s essential that your website serves a useful purpose. Make sure your school’s name, location, grades served, and application instructions are front and center on your website, along with your contact information. Don’t make people struggle to find this basic information they want; you might lose a prospective family before you even get a chance to say hello. Make sure the application process is outlined with easy-to-find dates and deadlines, as well as public events posted, so families know when you’re holding an Open House. Your site should also be responsive, which means it adjusts itself automatically based on the device the user has at the moment. Today, your prospective families will be using their phones to access your site at some point, and if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, the experience for the user won’t necessarily be a positive one. Not sure if your site is responsive? Check out the responsive design checker tool. You also need to think about how search engines view your schools site. This is called Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. Developing a strong SEO plan and targeting specific keywords can help your site get picked up by search engines and ideally display at the top of the search list. In the most basic terms, SEO can be broken down like this: Search engines like Google want to show users pages that have interesting and reputable content in their search results. That means that you need to make sure that your school’s website has interesting and reputable content that can be shown in search results.   You’re writing great content that uses keywords and long tail keywords- phrases- that people are searching for online. Start linking to previous content in your new content. Did you write a blog about admission process last week? This week, when you blog about financial aid as part of the admission process, link back to your previous article. This linking will help people navigate through your site and find even more great content. But, how will your audience find your content? Start by making sure you share your content using things like social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and email marketing. And, repeat. Blog, link, share, repeat. Consistently. Over time, you’ll build your followers up, and search engines like Google will take notice, slowly increasing your reputation. Develop a Robust Social Media Plan It’s not enough to have a website with great content. You need to share your content, and a strong social media plan is the perfect way to do that. You need to think about where your target audience is on a daily basis and how you’re going to interact with them. If you’re not already active on social media, you should be. Think about which social media outlet might be right for your school, and pick one or two outlets to use to start, if you haven’t already. Are you more interested in targeting the parents or the students? Determining your main target audience is key. Facebook and Twitter may be ideal for targeting parents, while Instagram and Snapchat could be best for students. How much time do you have to devote to a social media plan? Consistency is essential when it comes to social media marketing, and having regular content to share, and a purpose to what you’re sharing is important. Make sure that you have a plan that is realistic for the long-term, and that you are posting regularly. Ideally, you want to focus on evergreen content, which isn’t time sensitive and has a long shelf-life. That way, you can share the content many times, and it’s always relevant. Things like calendar reminders aren’t evergreen, and can only be used for a short period. Limit Print Advertising If reading this one causes you to panic, hear me out. Print advertising is expensive, and it’s not always the most effective use of your money. It’s hard to judge the success of print advertising truly, but many schools have stopped the vast majority of their print advertising campaigns, and guess what? Theyre doing better than ever! - Why?- Many of these schools have reallocated that funding to inbound marketing strategies, which helps them reach target audiences where they are on a daily basis. If youre thinking to yourself that theres no way your board of trustees will ever go for this, heres what happened with me: A board member at one of my former schools, came to me livid that we werent included in a major back to school advertising booklet that most of our peer schools were in. Four people have come to me asking why were not in there! I simply replied with, youre welcome. Think about it- if someone is looking through the newspaper and notices that you’re not there, is that a bad thing? No! You just saved money by not advertising, and the reader still thought about you. What’s the goal of advertising? To get noticed. If you get noticed by not advertising, that’s good news. And, people might even wonder why you’re not in the paper or magazine they are reading, which means they might head on over to your website or Facebook page to see what’s happening at your school. Not appearing in that Back to School issue might also make people think you dont need to be advertising, which makes them assume that youre doing so well, that applications are flooding in. This is a great reputation to have! Supply and demand. If people perceive your product (your school) as a highly desired commodity, then they will want it even more.  As long as you have other outreach efforts, not being in the print advertising sections isn’t going to hurt you. The benefit of digital advertising is instant conversions. When you can make a digital ad that leads the user right to the inquiry form where you get their contact information, that’s an ideal interaction. Print advertising requires the reader to move from their current media form (the print publication) to another media form (the computer or their mobile device) and search for you. When you advertise on Facebook and show up right in their timeline, that’s only one click to get them to interact with you. That’s easier for the user, and it saves you time and money! More inquiries with less money? Sign me up!

The effects of the Ottoman Empire on modern day Crete Essay

The effects of the Ottoman Empire on modern day Crete - Essay Example Crete, therefore, has a rich history that informs how individuals strove to build a better world for the rest of the human population. The past struggles of the Cretan people define their modern culture. Multiple events helped create the Cretan culture. To begin with, conquests have made the modern day Crete. This mainly occurred due to the wealth associated with the Island as different parties sought to gain economically from Crete. In addition, religion hugely influenced the development of the region. This occurred in terms of religious conversion and religious conflicts. Notably, Islam and Christianity informed the cultures and attitudes of the residents of Crete. In addition, intervention by international parties influenced the development of Crete. Modern Cretans have a culture of self-defense and self-reliance. In this sense, the citizens believe that they should assume the responsibility of their own lives. In such a nation, individuals slightly delineate from politics since they believe pure hard work relieves one from poverty. Self-reliance is notable in the military culture of Cretans. For instance, a significant number of surveys note that every household in Crete owns at least one gun. These guns are either legal or illegal. In the 17th century’s rebellions against the Christian rule, the Ottoman authorities usually responded by executing several bishops and Christians. In turn, the Greeks attacked the Turkish people. It is notable that there were huge casualties on both sides of the war. The Muslims who migrated into the northern fortified towns experienced famine that consumed almost 60% of the population (Kyriakopoulos, 2008). These experiences seemed to have forged an attitude among Cretans that the state mig ht not always protect them. In this turn, they ensure their own security by owning guns. The Cretans have a contemporary language that borrows heavily from the region’s development. In as much as the general

COE Framework And Ethical Dispositions Comparison Matrix Assignment

COE Framework And Ethical Dispositions Comparison Matrix - Assignment Example I have ranked the issue of Mastery of Content at number two because these are the fundamentals of any successful learning program. For professional educators to align themselves with facts and deliver without bias, a mastery of important concepts and principles is key. According to Mowchan et al. (2015), "Any professional service provider, in this case, professional educators, should conduct business with objectivity, avoiding conflict of interest or personal prejudice and should not intentionally mislead others, for this case students." â€Å"Learners will align educational objectives to content and professional education standards, as well as design formative and summative assessments including rubrics that analyze student learning and teacher effectiveness.† (COE-GCU Framework, 2011) I have rated Student Learning and Teacher effectiveness at number three because this relationship fosters coherence and important shared values. The professional educator can be able to understand the diversity of cultures through such formative assessments that are more certainly than not set by both parties. In a research conducted by Cannaerts et al., 2014 indicated that ethics education was best attained through ethics learning integrated through a curriculum that was learner based. Learning based on diversity of views enhances active participation that is more efficient (Ann, 2013).

Good and Evil in Beowulf Essay Example for Free

Good and Evil in Beowulf Essay The story of Beowulf was probably composed in England sometime in the Eighth Century AD, and written down circa 1000 AD, by a literate scop (bard) or perhaps a Christian scribe who was possibly educated in a monastery. The poem was created in oral tradition and was transferred to writing over time. It had its roots in folk tales and traditional stories until some very talented poet put it in something very near to its current form. The poem was more than likely performed for audiences at court or on the road as the scop found audiences to support him. It was sung or chanted rather than recited it, and usually to the accompaniment of a harp. There was a constant struggle between good and evil in the story. Beowulf, God, and Wiglaf represented good in the poem whereas Grendel, his mother, and Cain portrayed the contrasting side of evil. Beowulf and Grendel represented the ultimate struggle of good and evil. Grendel tried to destroy everything around him while Beowulf tried to do good all the time. The first battle between Beowulf and Grendel, Beowulf was God (good) and Grendel was Cain (evil). This was actually an allusion from the Bible, the story of Cain and was used to compare Gods feelings of Grendel, a descendant of Cain. The book stated, †¦Since Cain had killed his only / Brother, slain his fathers son / with an angry sword. God drove him off, / outlawed him†¦. Cain killed his brother because he was evil and God shunned and marked him for his evilness. God used his wrath to take care of Cain. God had the same feelings for Grendel. Grendel was described as a vicious monster that was an offspring of everything evil, God refused to forgive Grendel and favored Beowulfs pride over Grendel’s sins. In the battle, God granted Beowulf overwhelming victory. The book stated, The Ruler of the heavens brought about a right issue, when once more he stood up with ease. God stood with ease because the beast he hated, Grendel, was dead. Beowulf was a mighty, honorable hero who had super strength and the ego to match his strength. He defeated Grendel with his bare hands, and then he fought Grendel’s vengeful mother. Tired and torn, Beowulf, through his goodness, was able to vanquish Grendel’s mother. , At the brink of exhaustion, Beowulf grabbed a monstrous sword and the book continued, he struck furiously the blade went straight through the doomed body. This was the perfect example of goodness. The story of good and evil was told from the beginning of mans existence. Beowulf, revealed how this was evident and explained the side of good as depicted in the hero Beowulf. Evil was personified in Grendel, Beowulfs, opposite, the man-eating beast that terrorized humanity. As long as the delicate balance of good and evil was recognized the characters in the epic related to the concept of good and evil. Good won out every time there was a contest because God wanted good to prevail. Beowulf showed how good was related to evil. This story represented these qualities in both main characters. The struggle began when God allowed Satan dominion over the earth. The battle between them had been recorded throughout literary history. Some of the heroes that had challenged Satan did so to protect the weak. Others fought for fame and glory. The theme of good vs. evil that was present in the story of Beowulf, it became the classic foundation of many modern stories. Beowulf and Grendel represented the ultimate struggle of good and evil. Grendel tried to destroy everything around him. To Beowulf, this was another conquest. It allowed him to do yet another good deed that people talked about for a long time. Beowulf represented God and Grendel was Satan. The struggle between God and Satan had existed throughout time. Beowulf was all that was good, moral, and ethical. He lived by the rules of God. Grendel denounced those rules to live by his own. Thinking only of that which gave him pleasure, he attempted to destroy everything good and kind. Truly, Beowulf was like a parent and Grendel was like a child whom he chastised. Beowulf displayed a variety of things that the Anglo-Saxon people valued; many of those traits were expressed through the main character, Beowulf. In him, was seen the qualities of courage, loyalty and a thirst for fame. The character and story also had one running theme throughout, the age-old subject of good versus evil. Beowulf was the epic hero of this poem. He embodied all the characteristics that a hero should, such as bravery, loyalty and strength, both physical and mental. He was the archetypal hero. He fought for good and represented it as well. Beowulf signified good, but there was a contrasting evil to complete the balance. The monster Grendel and his mother were that evil. The mere look of them left the impression of fear and sin. He strode quickly across the inlaid floor, snarling and fierce: His eyes gleamed in darkness, burned with a gruesome Light. Their wickedness seemed to spread to their home, infecting the lake in which they lived. A deer, hunted through the woods by packs of hounds, a stag with great horns, though driven through the forest from faraway places, preferred to die on those shores, refused to save its life in that water. This signified good and evil. Beowulf confronted the monsters and defeated them. (Baldwin, 99). With each of the characters representing good and evil respectively, Grendels defeat clearly symbolized Beowulf and his goodness overcoming the beasts wickedness, just as we would view Christ defeating Satan. Throughout history and in endless fairytales, good was always victorious over evil. The white knight always defeated the dragon. This was no exception with Beowulf. Though the poem ended in his demise, Beowulf was remembered for being the hero that saved his people from the evils of their world. In conclusion, in the epic Beowulf, there was a constant struggle between good and evil. Beowulf and Grendel represented the ultimate struggle of good and evil. Grendel tried to destroy everything around him while Beowulf tried to do good all the time.

Zero Tolerance Essay -- School System Education Discipline Essays

Zero Tolerance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many disciplinary actions that have been used and are still in use in order to deal with problems in the school system today. However, it seems that zero tolerance is now the most widely used and most controversial policy that has came into effect. Zero tolerance means absolutely no mercy for students when accused of doing something wrong. This policy leaves no room at all for error. These cases are not judged for their individual qualities. They are all treated the same regardless of the circumstances.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When zero tolerance is thought of, it seems like a very practical way of dealing with the problems that we face everyday in the school system. However, we then have to ask ourselves if it is fair to give all â€Å"offenders† of a crime the same punishment without looking at the circumstances of each case. There have been many cases of zero tolerance use that shows just how unfair this policy is. An example of the misuse of zero tolerance is this; a student was kicked out of school for writing a paper that involved guns. This paper said nothing about harming anyone but the student was still kicked out. Is this to say that by having the word â€Å"gun† in my paper that I will be kicked out of school too?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zero Tolerance has a very good literal appeal. Parents and some students alike are happy to have this disciplinary action. However, zero tolerance would not have stopped the school shootings that have recently plagued the country. A recent po...

Society Have Become Dependent On Technology

Today’s society is too dependent on technology. With all the advancements to our standard technology such as the internet, cell phones, computers, iPad and all other wireless and electronic devices. Today’s technology has change society with many thinking that can’t exist without these devices. Technology has brought the world to our fingertips. It has change the workplace, and the way we learn. Society’s dependence on technology paired with the rise of technology is a disadvantage to humanity as whole.What was considered a luxury is now considered a necessity. Advancements in communications technologies is a benefit to our society. Dependence can best be seen when there is a power outage over an hour, people go into instant panic mode. Dependence on technology will inevitably lead to advances in technology, creating new social standards, thereby furthering the same dependence on technology. Technology also creates a world that demands things in a rapid ma nner. It provides a faster means of communication, makes a person more efficient and organized.Deepak Chopra, MD author and founder of The Chopra Foundation states that technology doubles every year and in 10 years will be a million times more. Let’s look back at history in the early to mid-1900 when children and adults didn’t rely on television and computers but spent time with family and friends in person having face to face communication. Technology has affective how children play. Fewer kids play outside due to video games and other electronic devices. Today I can be in my home playing a video game with a friend in his home in other state through the internet online.Every day millions of people turn on their cell phones, log on to their social networking sites and spend hours each day texting, messaging, and blogging. Pew Internet reports for cell phones activities this year (2013) shows 91% of American adults own a cell phone. Younger adults are more affluent in t he use of cell phones. Texting continues to be the most common cell phone activities, with 81% of cell owner’s text. Texting is popular among younger adult and college educated.Many persons access the internet through their cell phone, with more that 34% admitting mostly accessing the internet from their phones. Pew’s report also identify half of cell owners send and receive email from their phone. It was also noted that 49% of cell owners used their phones to look up directions, recommendation and other information related to their location and 48% of owners listening to music on their phones. The Apple iPad a newer device falls somewhere between the smart phone and notebook computer.It allows a person to accomplish their routine task for work, school and home. Technology is the major reasons for the changes in society. Technology has taken over our lives and has provided shortcuts and an easy way out. Many people admit that their smart phone or other electronic devic e runs their life. The military uses technology to monitor our Nation against national treat . Technology is a vital element of the advancement of education, healthcare, communication and transportation.

Crime and Senator Joseph Estrada

The most discussed law these days is Republic Act 7080 otherwise known as the law on plunder. Seen as a deterrent to prevent public officials from stealing money from the government, the plunder law was passed in 1991 with the most significant signatory being one Senator Joseph Estrada. In this edition of the Law Professor, we shall now examine the intricacies of the Plunder Law. What is plunder and how is it committed?According to Section 2 of RA 7080, plunder is committed when a public officer who, by himself or in connivance with members of his family, relatives by affinity or consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other persons, amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts as described in Section 1 (d) of RA 7080 in the aggregate amount or total value of at least Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000. 00).In addition, any person who participated with the said public officer in the commission of plunder shall likewise be punished. The criminal acts described in Section 1 (d) are as follows: 1. Through misappropriation, conversion, misuse, or malversation of public funds or raids on the public treasury; 2. By receiving, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share, percentage, kickbacks or any/or entity in connection with any government contract or project or by reason of the office or position of the public officer concerned; 3.By the illegal or fraudulent conveyance or disposition of assets belonging to the National government or any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities or government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries; 4. By obtaining, receiving or accepting directly or indirectly any shares of stock, equity or any other form of interest or participation including the promise of future employment in any business enterprise or undertaking; 5.By establishing agricultural, industrial or commercial monopolies or other combinations and/or implementat ion of decrees and orders intended to benefit particular persons or special interests; or, 6. By taking undue advantage of official position, authority, relationship, connection or influence to unjustly enrich himself or themselves at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines. In the original version of RA 7080, the offender was liable only if the aggregate amount amassed is at least Seventy-five million pesos(P75,000,000. 00) with the corresponding penalty of life imprisonment with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any public office. However, RA 7659 (The Death Penalty Law) amended Section 2 of RA 7080, and lowered the amount to Fifty million pesos and increased the imposable penalty to death, to wit: Sec. 12. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7080 (An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder) is hereby amended to read as follows: â€Å"Sec. 2. Definition of the Crime of Plunder; Penalties.– Any public officer who, by himself or in connivance with members of his family, relatives by affinity or consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other persons, amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt criminal acts as described in Section 1 (d) hereof in the aggregate amount or total value of at least Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000. 00) shall be guilty of the crime of plunder and shall be punished by reclusion perpetua to death.Any person who participated with the said public officer in the commission of an offense contributing to the crime of plunder shall likewise be punished for such offense. In the imposition of penalties, the degree of participation and the attendance of mitigating and extenuating circumstances, as provided by the Revised Penal Code, shall be considered by the court. The court shall declare any and all ill-gotten wealth and their interests and other incomes and assets including the properties and sha res of stocks derived from the deposit or investment thereof forfeited in favor of the State.† Section 4 of RA 7080 also prescribes the method for proving that the crime of plunder was committed. It states that for purposes of establishing the crime of plunder, it shall not be necessary to prove each and every criminal act done by the accused in furtherance of the scheme or conspiracy to amass, accumulate or acquire ill-gotten wealth, it being sufficient to establish beyond reasonable doubt a pattern of overt or criminal acts indicative of the overall unlawful scheme or conspiracy.

Cask of amantilado Essays - The Cask Of Amontillado, Fortunato

Cask of amantilado Essays - The Cask Of Amontillado, Fortunato Cask of amantilado Literary Analysis Through the character of Fortunato in ?The Cask of Amontillado,? Edgar Allan Poe illustrates that hubris, or great pride or arrogance, is a major flaw in a person?s character. Fortunato is a character who always makes fun of one of his friends and doesn?t realize that it hurts his feelings. He is very arrogant in that he doesn?t care about the feelings of others. In the end his hubris turns out to be his tragic flaw and leads him to his downfall. The particular friend in question whose feelings were hurt is the narrator of this short story, Montresor. His friend Fortunato keeps insulting him but Montresor always puts on a smile. He then reveals that he doesn?t smile because of his jokes. He smiles because he is secretly plotting different ways of bringing about Fortunato?s downfall. Along with Fortunato?s great arrogance concerning other people?s feelings came a great love for drinking. This too played a vital role in his death. These were the days of great and boisterous carnivals in their city. This is when Montresor made the plan for Fortunato?s death. Montresor was not an arrogant man the way Fortunato was. He was a smart man and he knew what Fortunato?s flaws were. Fortunato?s arrogance and great pride as well as his love for drinking are what made Montresor?s plan possible. During the carnival Montresor approaches Fortunato and tells him that he has in his possession a large crate of Amontillado. Amontillado is a very expensive and rare type of wine. The Italians were very fond of their wine and Fortunato in particular considered himself to be a master of recognizing different types of wine. He had a huge ego and as soon as he heard of the possibility of Amontillado in Montresor?s possession he needed to see it and taste it right away. Montresor lights a fire under Fortunato?s ego by saying: "As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me." Luchesi is another wine taster in the city. Fortunato replies with: "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry." Then, when they progressed deep underground Fortunato developed a cough and Montresor offered to take him back so he could rest: "Come," I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi" Fortunato replied: "Enough," he said; "the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." Fortunato was too full of pride to go back and he was too drunk to realize what Montresor was trying to do. Montresor in the end has no trouble chaining Fortunato to a wall and sealing him shut since he was so inebriated. In the end, his pride and drunkenness brought about his own downfall.

Top 8 Tools You Need to Use For Salary Research

Top 8 Tools You Need to Use For Salary Research Here at TheJobNetwork, we talk a lot about the job hunt, and your career path. Revamping your resume, searching for the perfect job opportunity, getting your smile and handshake ready for the interview†¦all crucial career elements. But what about the most practical career consideration of all: your salary? You need a paycheck to pay for life’s basic necessities, and the goal for most of us is to keep building on that so that we’re able to live comfortably while doing something fulfilling. Sure, dreams of Ferraris and designer clothes are great, but in reality most of us are just looking for solid pay for a day’s work. For years, salary was kind of a taboo subject- you didn’t talk about what you earned with anyone but your employer. And even now, there are a lot of unwritten rules: don’t bring up salary during an interview, let them mention money first, etc. So how do you know what you should (and could) be making? Where do you even start? Letâ €™s look at the top tools you can use to research salary, and figure out what you’re worth in the workplace.U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsIf you like stats and charts, this is the place for you. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is the data-heavy arm of the U.S. Department of Labor. It’s a comprehensive resource for information about just about any career you can think of, with an extensive database providing information about employment rates, regional employment information, job outlooks and projections, median salaries, U.S. employment trends, occupation profiles, and demographic information.Pros: It’s not just a salary resource, but also one for general career information. You can find out not only what people are making in your field, but also what the requirements are, and job descriptions.Cons: Occupation information tends to be very high-level, without much variance for different job titles. Also, the salary information is usually median, so it ca n be tough to see the full range of salary info.PayScalePayScale is a massive salary database that is available to employers (to help them figure out what to pay) and employees/job hunters (to help them figure out what they’re worth, based on job title, industry, and region). Users can create a custom profile based on their current job, a job offer they’re considering, or just general job research. The site also offers general information and research on fair compensation, salary negotiation, and salary best practices.Pros: Casual users can get a free â€Å"salary report† based on experience or location.Cons: Much of the research and features of the â€Å"largest salary profile database in the world† are available as premium software for employers. Also, expect to give detailed (though non-personally identifiable) information about your current job title, salary, location, etc. in order to get your salary report.Salary.comLike PayScale, Salary.com is a co mprehensive salary software that draws on a massive database of salary information, parsed out by region, job title, experience, etc. It has an enterprise software component for businesses and employers to research and compare salary data, as well as a free salary profile available to employees and job searchers. Notably, the site also has a Cost-of-Living Wizard, which lets you enter information and determine what your cost of living would be in various locations. This is very helpful if you’re moving and need to find a job, or are considering transferring in your current job.Pros: Straightforward interface, and a huge database of job and salary information. The site also has a number of general job search and career development articles.Cons: Many of its resources are available as paid options.Idealist Career Salary SurveysIf you work for a nonprofit company, or are looking for a job with one, you know that they can be a different kind of beast than their corporate siblings . Compensation may be handled differently, so the standard resources might not be as helpful. If you’re looking for info on nonprofit careers, Idealist has compiled a number of different links and surveys to help you find the information you want on working for nonprofits.Pros: It’s a comprehensive resource for nonprofit career information (job openings, career development, pay and benefits information).Cons: The focus is limited to nonprofits, so it can be difficult to compare nonprofit salaries and jobs to other fields and industries.BufferIdeally, all of our companies would have a salary calculator where we could plug in our job title and level of experience, and see what the salary range is. (I mean, we’re all a little nosy about what other people are making, right?) Practicality often calls for more discretion, and most companies would prefer not to have that knowledge public. The exception to that rule: Buffer, a social media company who has pioneered the whole â€Å"transparent salary† concept over the past few years. Their Transparent Salary Calculator really only tells you what you’d be making if you worked at Buffer, but it’s still a handy tool for reference.Pros: If you have a similar job title and level of experience, this can help give you a baseline to take with you into a new job offer salary negotiation, or a request for a raise. Also, yay transparency!Cons: It’s very specific to a small social media company, so if you have a role outside of the 20 or so job types listed at Buffer, it’s not especially helpful.Educate to Career Job Seekers Salary CalculatorIf you’ve been around the block for a while, career-wise, you probably know roughly what people make in your field, or what you can expect long term. If you’re just starting out, say, as a recent grad, you probably don’t have that sense yet. Educate to Career helps students, recent graduates, or other job seekers figu re out what they can make based on the field, job title, relevant experience, and location.Pros: The database covers all states and regions, and factors in education level as a predictor of salary. It’s a straightforward search, and gives information on median salary, starting salary, top earner salaries, and likely market salaries. The states are broken down into regions, which gives very specific reports.Cons: The site is very student-focused, so the general career information is geared more toward students and soon-to-be grads than the average job hunter.U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionWhether you’re figuring out your market value or hoping to negotiate a higher salary for yourself, it’s important to know what’s legal or illegal when it comes to your pay. The U.S. government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) publishes information about discrimination, equal pay, and the latest legislation that affects employee compensa tion.Pros: If you’re concerned that you’re being underpaid or discriminated against by your employer, this is an excellent place to start.Cons: It’s not a huge database, or a flashy interface- just straightforward information about employment practices.Salary ExpertIf you want to know more about salary on a global scale, Salary Expert has a database for that. Like other salary search engines, Salary Expert allows you to get reports and make comparisons on salary and cost of living across the globe.Pros: If you’re fantasizing about moving to London but are concerned about your earning potential and the cost of living, this is the tool to use. You can browse salary and cost of living data without signing up for any services.Cons: The most advanced salary data is part of a premium software package purchase.Next Steps After You’ve ResearchedOnce you know what you’re worth, you’ve got the tools you need to move toward your higher salary. W e’ve got you covered on what to do next:Your Comprehensive Guide to Negotiating SalaryHow to Earn a Six-Figure Salary in Your Lifetime11 Tips for Getting the Salary You WantHow to Negotiate Your Salary in An Interview6 Tips for Negotiating the Salary You WantWhen you’re ready to talk money, you should have every possible tool at your disposal. These resources can help you be armed and ready to advocate for yourself, and make sure that you’re exactly where you should be- or could be. Good luck!

How does the media effect body image in teen girls Essay

How does the media effect body image in teen girls - Essay Example The idea of the ‘Barbie complex’ is not new, but the importance placed on being blonde, slim and young has created a culture that is inordinately focused upon appearance to the great detriment of most of its members. This is largely the result of a concerted effort brought forward by the big cosmetic giants that depend on this flawed perception for their profits. The links between advertising, female perception of themselves and serious physical and mental disorders are abundantly clear. The media world depends to a large extent upon the money it receives from advertisers to stay alive, but these advertisers depend to a large degree upon selling their products. The best way to sell a product is to ensure that the product is something that will be needed perpetually, that there will always be some kind of demand for the product. A very effective technique in doing this is to set an ideal that is nearly impossible to achieve and then selling products that are geared toward bringing someone closer to this ideal, as has been done in the dieting and cosmetic markets. â€Å"Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight† (Jean Kilbourne, media activist, cited in â€Å"Beauty and Body Image†, 2009). This is only started with the portrayal of women in the media as â€Å"the images of impossibly thin models overwhelm today’s teenage girls.   U nbelievably, most models are thinner than 98 percent of American girls and women† (Bartell, 2008), which is also the source for everyone else to form their ideas of what the ideal female body should look like. Thus, friends, boyfriends, parents and others all add to the pressure for girls to attain, regardless of how impossible it might be, the shapes and forms represented in the media. While some may argue that this isn’t really as prevalent as the