Amama video: Here is how he scored on effective online communication

Honourable Amama Mbabazi literally froze the internet after he declared his intention to stand as a presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections.  The YouTube video on Monday June 15, 2015 offers many lessons in effective online communication.

The video scored highly on content development. The message was well thought out. The video message does not pass off as a village quarrel but an intellectual debate. Big media houses no longer control the agenda of public debates. It is content development that matters. He chose a conversational and engaging approach. He says "I greet you wherever you are" and "I come to you". You need to exploit all news angles not making noise. Noise means same angle is published by many journalists.

Timing was perfect. There is something magical about Monday. Most Ugandan viral nude pictures and videos always hit on weekends through Monday. Video was released at the start of a new week in the early hours. The world now operates on   24/7 news cycle because of the internet. It was a time the public was still internalising the National budget and the President was away in South Africa attending an AU summit.

Using YouTube was a great tool of effective communication to Ugandans.  Internet gives anyone an opportunity to tell it all because of citizen journalism. You can have all the space without limitations.  Social media mobilises all voters because uptake cuts across all age groups. Social media was crucial to Obama's victory in 2008. Amama has an active website and social media platforms.

Online political PR dictates that participation is simple.#Amama16  did set the stage for political  hashtags.His slogan "Go forward" was on spot. The memorable slogan encourages conversations. Online media is not one-sided like traditional media. Mobile phone penetration in the country continues to increase with internet usage not only among the rich. Sports betting may explain the presence of smart phones among Uganda's Boda boda Community. World Bank 2013 report said only 16.2% of Uganda's population use the internet. Social media has its ability to get anyone famous overnight. Justin Bieber is one such success stories of YouTube.

There was attention to detail in the video. The perfection in branding and video portrays Amama as a competent person. It would be a different debate if the video was not clear. The Concept of a flying crane and slogan 'Go forward' is commendable. The black flying crested crane is as symbol of change. The AMAMA team also branded items like mathematical sets and exercise books. The green plant in the background of the video brings out environmental activism and calmness.

His outstanding seductive PR skills has enabled him do a teaser campaign of sorts that has always kept people waiting for months since he was dropped from cabinet. The tactic of releasing information in bits should be commended. It keeps you a head of competition. He has always said "I will tell you when I tell you." Releasing less information helps assess feedback. Third party endorsements have worked for him. Other people have been communicating his presidential bid as he is silent. Amama seemed not pressured to say more than what was necessary on the morning he released the video before a swarm of journalists. He simply asked the media to take time off to internalise the video and wait for a press conference in the future. This was a wrong move.

Amama's message in its entirety was full of PR aspects of strategy, media relations, research, partnerships, events, branding, CSR, and crisis management. Digital PR is about emotions, hype and persuasion. Always remember that political communication requires both tender and loud channels of delivery. He chose the tender tactic. Amama message was effective since top NRM officials rushed to respond. It continues to be a hot topic of discussion on social media, TV, radio and in newspapers.

Ivan N Baliboola

PR and organizational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

Twitter:@media surgeon

Wordpress:nbaliboola.wordpress.com/

PR insight: When a company should sack its employee over leaked nude pictures.

How should a company treat its employee whose nude pictures have been leaked? Of recent Ugandan media is a washed with the debate of whether companies should fire their employees over leaked nude pictures and videos or not. In the last two years, the Ugandan public has witnessed an increase in leaked sextapes and nude pictures that have gone viral. Though celebrities have ranked highly on the list of victims, university students have not been spared. Today the list of dissemination channels of such content has grown to add social media platforms of Facebook and whatsapp.Online content can never be erased.

A damaged organisation reputation may bring up legal concerns, regulation penalties and disrupt general business operations. Companies invest a lot in reputation building and management. Some develop pre-employment contracts on reputation protection. In some organisations there is even a budget to cater for presentable employee dress code. There are those Companies that dictate a specific presentable employee dress codes or types of car to drive especially to the field. The last time I checked, anything can be a crisis on social media including a reckless company driver.

The notion that an employee's nude pictures disrupt company operations should be taken with a pinch of salt. Leaked nude pictures and videos can affect the reputation of a brand reputation positively or negatively. The response to a crisis of staff leaked pictures must be addressed on a case by case basis. Reaction of an organisation should be informed on the available information at the time. Sacking an employee may prolong the crisis and leave a lasting company reputation damage. Companies do not need to overreact but study the situation to get their facts right. We are in world of advanced technology that can be used to malice others. Are you sure the pictures are authentic? A universal approach may be disastrous to the organisation reputation than the staff involved. You are not likely to act the same way when police and local authorities have picked interest in the matter. As company you must be seen to cooperate with authorities than distancing yourself by sacking the staff.

Sacking is justified in some cases but it should be a last resort. Sometimes a statement from company can calm the crisis. We are living in a world that enjoys a blame game and as such companies must be seen to take some form of action against an employee. So why lose a talented employee over a non-issue yet you can send them on forced leave, ask them to do a public apology, suspension as you buy time for the crisis to end. Social critics want to witness someone taking responsibility but it should not come at a cost of your best employee. We all make mistakes.UCU did not expel students in the sextape but counselled them and condemned the act. Their reputation as a Christian institution was not in question after forgiving them .That was being a brother's keeper.

Leaked nude pictures and sextapes crises come with a valued resource of enormous media attention which you should not just throw away as a company. This is a free advertising opportunity. Companies can use the crisis as a publicity stunt to launch new products and services. Nude pictures have helped boost some music careers of people.

The Employer maybe within their right to fire an employee who goes against their interests but how it is done may cause problems. Handling of the sacking process is important. Should a company be seen by public to have abandoned staff at a trying time? Do you fire an employee on phone, text or in their absence? What if that inspires concerned staff to commit suicide? Would it not have been better to offer them counselling services or delay the sacking till they recover? A disgruntled employee is worse than a company competitor. This fired person may ruin the company reputation as a way of getting back.

Ignoring the crisis sometimes works just fine. Many organisations simply do not need to do anything and crises come to pass. Sacking could give the crisis unnecessary attention. It is always David(staff) against Goliath (big brand). Pressure groups, labour unions and activists may start petitions against your brand. The sacked staff can play the victim card to win sympathy from the court of public opinion. This may translate into a boycott of your brand.  Is the company willing to face that?

Organisation management must involve HR, PR and legal departments as they handle staff leaked nude pictures and video crises involving. Companies must critically think through their reaction strategy. Decision to sack must be guided by the nature of the brand the employee works for. What message would a medical officer, teacher or kids programme host is send out with their nude pictures if they work with known family brands in health, Media, education, and religious foundations? How do you leave a married staff member appearing in sextape not with her husband to continue hosting a wedding show? It is if your company is endorsing adultery on a marriage show.Public relations helps create maintain and protect the organization's reputation. Studies have shown that consumers often base their purchase decisions on a company's reputation, so public relations can have a definite impact on sales and revenue

Ivan N Baliboola.

PR & Organisational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

Movie review-Blow

Movie review-Blow

This is a true life crime drama about a drug smuggler George Jung who starts an illegal trade venture between Columbia and California. Johnny Depp is depicts this drug smuggler who is raised in a poor family. His first girlfriend suddenly gets cancer and dies. He even jumps bail to be with this girlfriend.

He gets another woman and they have a lovely daughter. His drug dealings stress his parents especially the mother. In one of the scenes, His Mum tips off the police when he comes to visit them. He is arrested on some occasions but escapes with lighter or no sentences.

Soon Jung loses everything as the bank he was saving in was nationalised. The wife leaves him and gets custody of the daughter after he is broke. He is tempted to go back to resume his illegal drugs trade but he is busted. This time he is in jail for a long time though he thought it would be his breakthrough to impress his daughter. The movie has a comedy theme as it is with most Johnny Depp movies.

.Reviewed by Ivan Baliboola

Movie review-Amazing love

Stuart, a church minister organises an outreach for church youth. The youth group from different backgrounds starts conflicts and fights.

One evening Stuart asks everyone in the group to share their favourite book in the bible. Surprisingly none would even say their favourite verse from their bible favourite book. Stuart proceeds to tells them a love story in the bible based on the book of Hosea.

Prophet Hosea lived at time when the people of Israel had turned away from God. Hosea was prophet of doom who delivered God’s tough message to his People.

It is one of those Christian movies you will watch over and over. It depicts current and ancient times. Movie portrays unconditional love.Hosea is a prophet of God marries a prostitute called Gormer on instructions of God. Gormer is a prostitute. Everyone blames Hosea for being faithful to her after she continues to cheat on him. Hosea had all the evidence of his cheating wife but does nothing except love her unconditionally. He says’ I will be for you always’ Depicts unconditional love God has for us.

After the story even the most difficult girl in the group transforms and opens up to everyone.

Why more girls are becoming commit phobic

Commit phobia is unwillingness to make something work .Commitment in relationships has been a hard thing for men since time in memorial. This could apply to simple things like a man accepting a pregnancy which could get their heart to race. Today, we have a growing concern over women increasingly refusing to commit to relationships. They fear to commit to a long term relationship, marriage and moving in. This fear can affect their careers, friendship and businesses.

Many may argue that they do not know any woman who does not want to commit but fear to commit is a real issue. Some women struggle to keep a hairstyle for even a day due to esteem issues. The U.S. Census Bureau reports single women are the fastest-growing segment of the American population. Unmarried women are one of the fastest growing demographic groups in America. Unmarried women have seen a huge increase in the number of eligible voters since 2000.

The idea of unmarried women on the loose was just unacceptable in African culture. Today most Ugandan women will testify to receiving immense pressure from relatives to get married after university. Many reasons may explain the sudden trend of women becoming less interested in committing to relationships. Being single does not mean you fear to commit but extreme disinterest in relationships may raise concerns.

The Rise of feminism may explain the less interest in committing to relationships. Some women feel independent and do not need to depend on a man for anything. This is true with career women who may feel that committing may limit them from going up the career ladder. She may need to travel for further studies but the family issues come in their way. The fear of starting a football team project of kids may tie them down. Women Emancipation ignores the value of marriage and the family. Some companies tend to shy away from employing reproductive active women.

There is changing perception about value of sex and respect for relationships..Some people feel they can still have benefits of a relationship without being in one. We see “friends with benefits” and “no-strings attached” relationships as a raising trend. This means you can have sex with someone whenever you need without any emotional attachments. Life continues normally hence no need to have   a man in their life. A lot of changes have changed the African tradition of courtship. There are many dating apps, dating agencies, reality TV on relationships that wrongfully depict commitment. Media has not helped the situation as it is pushing for hook-ups, ‘quickies’, and one night stands which are totally against commitment.

Past relationship experience may explain the trend of women fearing to commit .May be she was heartbroken and decided to take a break by not committing. History of failed relationships freaks out many as it puts on table trust issues.

It’s natural for a girl not to commit. Sometimes the reluctance to commit to a relationship is because of a lack of certainty about whether this is the right person for them .Some girls refuse to commit because person is not their type. It is not natural for a woman not to commit when the relationship is moving on well and refuses to take it forward .That is a sign she is commit phobic. Some women just go nuts when they are required to keep a promise. She looks at commitment as giving up all her freedom and she walk obviously want the opposite.

Perfectionist type of woman will obviously never commit. Worrying is their pillow. They fantasize about MR right. They worry too much even how someone kisses, looks, or spends their day. The list of unrealistic expectations can be endless. The Perfectionist craves for what they not have and will forever find more fault with all the would be partners. They are picky and stick to a checklist as though they were shopping groceries which cannot work on people.

Have you ever been given an ultimatum to commit? Sometimes the proposal to commit is communicated in a wrong way. Some people simply force others to commit and issue ultimatums. Pride and anger may come to play and she refuses to commit. Rushed requests for commitment are always suspicious. Less than a month and one party in the relationship wants to take the relationship to the next level. That may cause panic to a girl’s head.

Women must learn to ask themselves what they really want. Why would you breakup with someone you love because of commitment fears after getting close? Loneliness hurts. Commitment may affect your goals at times, but it’s just your excuse. Get ready to make decisions when you cross the bridge. The reason of the commit phobia usually lies in the woman’s past. Failure to steer away from the past makes anyone to sabotage all future relationship opportunities. Communicating frankly about fears to commitment with concerned people may work magic.

Ivan .N.Baliboola

Blogger

nbaliboola@gmail.com

Twitter:@mediasurgeon

Wordpress:nbaliboola.wordpress.com/

Blogger:http://mediasurgeon.blogspot.com

Movie review: Big fat liar

Movie review: Big fat liar

Stars: Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Bynes

Director: Shawn Levy

Genre: comedy /drama/action

My approval rating: 5/5

It is a 2002 action comedy about how a young boy Jason‘s school essay mistakenly finds its way into the hands of a Hollywood producer who turns the idea into a film.

The 14-year old boy Jason makes up stories and will lie about anything. His parents start not to trust whatever he says. On day, Jason goes late to school and sneaks into class. The teacher asks him to present his essay but he make up lies and forges a story. The teacher accepts on condition that he hand writes it. Jason writes the essay and rides his bicycle to hand it in. He is accidentally knocked by a Hollywood producer in a limousine. He offers him a lift but the written essay is left in the limousine by mistake. The Hollywood producer steals it and turns it into a movie project.

Teacher and parents do not believe his reason that script was left the producer’s limousine. Jason is asked to repeat summer class but his experience on the first day is so bad. The boy goes to one theatre and finds out his story was to be turned into a movie without his permission.

Jason and his friend Amanda Bynes embark on journey to confront the Hollywood producer. Jason and his friend Amanda successfully revenge on the producer. Parents believe Jason. The confession of the Hollywood producer is successfully recorded on camera. This is after Jason gets help from disgruntled current and former employees of the Hollywood producer. This is one movie you can watch over and over.

Ivan .N.Baliboola

PR and organizational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

nbaliboola.wordpress.com/