The Relationship Between Pressure Groups and the News Media :: The Mass Media and Environmental Issues

Nowadays, it is comprehensible to hear that crowded citizens flourished on the street or gathered in front of the official government in order to advocacy their appeals towards government or pressing the ‘sluggish’ government. These phenomenons could be identified by social activities lead by pressure group and as the forms of expressing public opinion ( Grant, 1999:4). However, news media also reveals similar functions with pressure groups by attracting public attention and raising public awareness on certain issues, even influencing government’s decision on a great extent. This essay will mainly focus on analysising how pressure groups successfully utilize and affect news media in terms of enhancing the public attention to their campaigns which accompany with a few negative examples of pressure groups about misues news media. Besides, this essay will critically argue about the relationship between pressure groups and news media; some techniques exerted by pressure groups in media area and how news media reacted to pressure groups. There are several types of pressure groups existing in current society which they possess different values and aims. In details, causes groups may eager to set up certain debates in political agenda and expected to receive effectual political action (Grant, 2000, P126); sectional groups might need to attract public attention to their problems but sometimes they prevent public attention in order to conducted via au fait consultative channels (Grant, 2000, P126); interest groups which easily to understand in its literal meanings used to upgrade their interest in political agenda by utilizing media (Grant, 2000, P127). Therefore, certain pressure groups require higher level of media assistance compared with others. Furthermore, despite of pressure groups relate to political agenda, environmental groups have established long-history relationship with news media that could be identified by large amount of environmental articles in media coverage (Hansen, 1993, P5). In details, mo st well-known environmental groups employed rich experience staff; those workers involved in making environmental news before or providing environmental information to journalists that will guarantee their campaign issues are similar or familiar with favourable news coverage (Hansen, 1993, P5). However, environmental groups are taken significant advantages in news coverage compared with other pressure groups due to the environmental news are more mediagenic and equivalent to news criteria (Hansen, 1993, P5). Despite of the pressure groups require news media at a variety level, different form of news media might present diverse effects depends on its functions and targeted audiences.

Leading at a Higher Level

IntroductionThe book under consideration is named â€Å"Leading at a Higher Level† and this extraordinary book was written by Ken Blanchard. The author has previously written numerous books namely The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans and now this book. The books written by the aforementioned author have turned out to be helpful for a number of people in perfecting their own leadership skills and expand the prospective of those around them.Now, in Leading at a Higher Level, Ken Blanchard discloses the answers to superlative leadership. Anyone and everyone can profit from the recommendations in this book that have previously helped thousands of leaders and business’ become more oriented around its people, centered on the satisfaction of its customers and performance-driven. The author introduces the readers to innumerable concepts such as the â€Å"triple bottom line† and how to use it to generate effectual objectives and visions.The book provides the readers with t he ways to determine ways to turn customers into what the author calls â€Å"raving fans† and build up a proper â€Å"customer mania.† Any of the higher authorities of an organization can use the techniques presented by the author in his book their own guidance, for leading teams as well as complete organizations. It can also help one in finding their own individual â€Å"leadership point of view†, which is a skill that all really great leaders have power over and it is also helpful in finding out how to relate it all the way through your entire life. By the use of this book, regardless of who or what place you are at, one can produce high-performing business; that can ease out life for everyone. Hoist your game, improve your presentation and make sure that you are foremost at a higher level.ReviewAs said, â€Å"Leaders in any realm of life can become self-serving when the driving reason for being in business is based solely on profit. While profit is a legitim ate goal, neglecting to see leadership as part of a higher calling diminishes the capacity to influence others and impact the greater good† (William, p.1). Leading at a Higher Level scrutinizes the notion of leading with a higher rationale, which necessitates a persuasive visualization and a way of life that the expansion of people is in the same way important to that of presentation. Author Ken Blanchard dares readers to show the way by asking themselves about their own realities, what they position for, and how they can take the inventiveness even if they do not have authoritative power.In the aforementioned book, the author along with a number of his colleagues has made the efforts to put forward their own understanding of top-notch leadership. By reading the book one can learn just how to create aims and objectives for the organization and the ways by which you can make your existence known as well as where your company is moving.Blanchard expands his step forward work on conveying well-known customer service and creating what he calls â€Å"raving fans.† In the book one will find the state-of-the-art dialogue of the well-known Situational Leadership II techniques for leading yourself, persons, teams, and complete businesses. Most significantly, Leading at a Higher Level the book is a big help if one wishes to take a good look at himself, determine the private â€Å"leadership point of view† and then use it for the rest of his or her life.  In the words of the author, â€Å"those who want to lead at a higher level need to understand what a high performing organization looks like and what is necessary to create one. They need to aim for the right target. Profit is the applause you get for taking care of your customers and creating a motivating environment for your people† (Blanchard, p.4).The author believes that anyone who wishes to become a better leader in any company, any organization, and any area of life needs to have a fi xed aim, follow the right idea, focus on the â€Å"bottom lines† that really matter at the same time as providing the customers with good support and deliver your ideal customer experience, and create â€Å"raving fans†. But most of all what he wants to deliver is that leaders should, â€Å"Listen, praise, support, guide, and help your people win† (Blanchard, p.5).The book is extremely informative when it comes to learning how to lead your people to enormity as you create elevated performing organizations that make life better for everyone. This book will direct you, motivate you, incite you, and be your criterion. Ken Blanchard along with a vast number of his colleagues are people that have spent a number of years in serving good leaders and organizations become grand, and as well as stay that way. In this book, they have made an effort to bring together everything they have learnt in the years gone by. By this book one can discover how to, â€Å"Go beyond the short term and zero in on the right target and vision, deliver legendary, maniacal customer service, and earn raving fans, truly empower your people and unleash their incredible potential, ground your leadership in humility and focus on the greater good† (Blanchard, p.10). Since a very long time, a vast number of people have benefited from the insight, understanding, and convenient procedures.From my personal point of view, the book is excellently written providing examples from the lives of real leaders. The book has been written in a very exciting manner and one can not get bored while reading it. Speaking for myself, I have not found anything negative about the book.ConclusionIn the light of the above discussion we can hereby culminate that the book that has been mentioned above namely Leading at a Higher Level was written by Ken Blanchard and the book is related to the ways in which leaders can understand themselves and then lead themselves, their teams and the entire org anizations on the way to success.Works CitedBlanchard, Ken. Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on Leadership and Creating High Performing Organizations.   United States of America. FT Press. 2006 Pp. 4,5,10.Williams, Susan. Leading at a Higher. Financial Times. 2007. Pp.1.

Gender Bias Essay

The concept of equality is regarded as an inalienable human right that should be enjoyed by all individuals regardless of their gender, race, religion, and other differential factors (United Nations, 2009). However, it is clearly seen that this is not practiced in the society that exists today. Discrimination still persists and this is greatly exemplified by the inequality that is based on gender differences. It is undeniable that women are still placed in a disadvantageous or inferior position as compared with their male counterparts. There are indeed substantial changes that have taken place in the past that made the situation of women better than before. Nevertheless, it is still obvious that there are still many changes that should be made before women can achieve the real essence of equality that they rightfully deserve. The discriminatory practices against women can be rooted back in the early history of the world wherein philosophers are still trying to make sense in the world that human beings live in. Even in the past, women have already been seen as inferior to men and this is evidently proven in the development of language. According to Becky Michele Mulvaney, the author of the article entitled â€Å"Gender Differences in Communication: An Intercultural Experience,† gender is both an influence of and a product of communication. In line with this, she pointed out how the idea of gender is first learned by an individual through talking with other people. A person could see the difference between the language that is used by girls and is often characterized by qualifiers and fillers to soften their message. There are words that are acceptable if used by a boy but not by a girl. Moreover, famous philosophers also focused on the image of an active male that makes a female as mere a supporting character. This is exemplified by Plato who defined women as â€Å"lesser men† and Aristotle who said that women are â€Å"a deformity, a misbegotten male;† as well as St Thomas Aquinas who argues that women should not have been created by God (Mulvaney, 2004). In the same manner, discriminatory practices against women still continue up to this present time. The patriarchal influences of key personalities in history and the general perspective of the people before, that women are inferior to men established a societal thinking that further propagated this view. Despite the improvements in the status of women in the society, it is evident that they are still perceived as second class citizens. This is proven in the professional lives of women wherein there are still biases and discrimination practiced against them because of their gender. Even though there are women that are already working in industries that are previously dominated by males, there is still an observable discrepancy that shows that a large number of men are in the working force. Furthermore, women are also having difficulties climbing the professional ladder of success because they are not given a fair consideration because of their gender even if they have the same capabilities sometimes even better skills than their male contenders (Farough, 2005). Being the case, it can be said that the inequality experienced by women is often not in terms of their age, race, or religion even though these factors are often intertwined. The inequality that they have to go through especially in their jobs is brought about by the social construct that women are inferior to men. The society, the one that is responsible for creating this concept, should also be the one responsible to deconstruct the notion of gender inequality. In order to do so, it entails using approach that deals with the cooperation and collaboration of people regardless of their genders. The Feminist/Sociological approach entails that people should work toward deconstructing this gender bias especially the males, and should realize that there are more disadvantageous effects if this inequality persists as compared with the privilege that they get from it (Farough, n. d. ). Furthermore, gender inequality could also be addressed through the proper use of language and communication. People should realize that language and communication are also intercultural factors wherein diversity should be accepted because there of the inherent differences between males and females (Mulvaney, 2004). However, it should be remembered that these differences should not render one gender inferior than the other. References Farough, S. (2005). The Negative Consequences of Male Privilege. In Understanding and anaging Diversity: Readings, Cases, & Exercises. 3rd edition. (Chapter 21). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Mulvaney, B. M. (2004) Gender Differences in Communication: An Intercultural Experience. In International Communication: A Global Reader. (pp. 221-229). United States: SAGE Publications. United Nations. (2009). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from http://www. un. org/Overview/rights. html.

How to Survive the First Year of College Essay

Everyone has a different college experience. The time we spend and relationships we form vary from person to person, but there are some commonalities most freshman experience in their first year in college. What follows are some simple and easy tips and suggestions to help those clueless and frightening incoming freshman survive their first year of college. The first tip of advice I would give anyone to make the most of their experience is to leave or expand comfort zones. To make the most of this time it will be inevitable to leave the bubble that have involuntarily formed over the past four years of high school. It is important to get out there and push the comfort levels that have been formed. Next, it is very important to make new friends. As we move away from high school and drift away from our past relationships, it is vital to form new relationships and make new friends to spend this important time of our lives with. Friends play a key role in our social growth and development. Friends will also play a crucial role in our college experience. They are there to support us and help us through the tough times that we all experience during college. They help us through the homesickness, relationships troubles, and anything else that comes our way and are possibly the single most important factor in surviving college. Another key to thriving in college is to get involved in extra-circular activities, groups, or teams. Getting involved is a great way to accomplish multiple of the above tips. This is an easy way to expand comfort zones and to meet new people in the process. Extra groups provide a good way to fill daily schedules and keep busy in between classes and homework. My next tip, is to go to class and to do the best possible in those classes. However, do not get overly stressed out or to focused on classes. When we become overly stressed nothing productive gets done and that benefits no one. Classes are important, however, missing a couple classes or not getting an A on that exam will not ruin any plans for the future. College is as much  a social experience as an educational one. It is important to find a good balance between the two and not to become consumed by the class work and studying. The next suggestion is the easiest. Find the library. The library is one of the most important buildings on campus. It is a nice quiet place that people go to study whenever they need to. When the dorm or apartment is bustling and focusing becomes too difficult, its nice to have somewhere quiet to go so that you can finish that project or write that essay. Lastly, enjoy your time in college. After college we enter the real world and workplace and it can be a scary thought. My best advice is just to make the most of these years and enjoy it in whatever way works best. So just relax and enjoy your time. College is a rollercoaster ride. No matter what we experience and no matter how different it may be it will have its ups and its downs. But when it comes down to it college is supposed to be one of the best times of our lives. So no matter what happens, the best advice anyone can give is just to enjoy the ride!

Critique the Financial Analysis and Research Paper

Critique the Financial Analysis and - Research Paper Example and 122 in Canada. The company employs over 361,000 associates in the United States (Yahoo, 2013). In the U.S. there are about 5,000 department stores with combined revenue of about $120 billion annually (Target, 2012). In the U.S. the discount department store industry is highly concentrated with the eight largest companies accounting for almost 100% of revenues. Wal-Mart and Target are leading the pack. In this industry the main factors driving demand are consumer spending related to economic outlook and population growth. In order to remain profitable in this highly competitive industry driven by ever lower margins companies depend on efficient supply chain management, high volumes, effective merchandising and competitive pricing in order to maintain profitability. Target is following an industry trend of adding and converting major markets stores into supercenters which combine traditional general merchandise with a fully stocked grocery store to help drive store traffic, since c ustomers spend more on groceries more than any other product category (Hoover’s First Research, 2013). 2) There are significant business challenges in this industry which dictate the success of its major players. The industry is characterized by its dependence on high volumes and extremely low operating margins. In order to keep prices low the industry has a heavy dependence on imports in most of their key merchandise categories. In general terms gross margin percentages for discount department stores can be 10-20% lower than traditional department stores. Although there is also growing recent and resistance from communities that perceives giant discounters as a major threat to their local economy and small business community. In terms of economic growth for the industry it is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 1% from 2013-2017 (Hoover’s First Research). We will analyze Target Corp. for its fiscal year ended 2/2/2013 and compare it with the industry averages in terms of overall financial performance, financial ratio analysis and investment potential. In order to gauge the company’s liquidity we will analyze the quick ratio as well as their debt to equity ratio and compare it with the industry. We will look at the inventory turnover ratio to gauge operational efficiency and inventory management compared with the industry. In order to measure management effectiveness, shareholders returns and profitability we will analyze the price/earnings ratio, return on equity, earnings per share and net profit margin versus industry averages (Yahoo). Target Industry Average Quick Ratio .54 .50 Debt to Equity Ratio 91.53 67.6 Inventory Turnover Ratio 6.4 4.4 P/E Ratio 17.24 15.8 Return on Equity 14.84% 11.3% Earnings per Share 3.74 5.2 Net Profit Margin 4.17% 2.7 4) As one of the most successful discount department stores, Target must be extremely efficient in their operations in order to remain profitable. Target has a slightly higher debt to eq uity ratio compared with industry average. The company is effectively managing its levels of financial leverage in order to increase shareholder benefits and maximize growth and stock performance. By analyzing the company's quick ratio it demonstrates that the company has maintained an above average level of liquidity to meet their short and long term liabilities as compared with

Cash Flow Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cash Flow - Case Study Example Yum Brands Inc. operates six in different segments including YUM Restaurant International, Pizza Hut (US), Taco Bell (US), KFC (US), A&W All American Food Restaurant (US), YUM Restaurant China and LJS Long John Silver’s (US). This paper comments on the difference between net cash provided by operating activities and net income by speculating on which is likely to be superior sign of profitability for the firms in the long term. The paper also comments on the data reviewed by each firm and analyze cash flow position of each firm. After analyzing the cash flows of the companies as per the information given in the case, the paper finally ends with a conclusion that comments on whether these companies has any cash flow problems or not. Net Cash Position of the Firms According to the given case study, the financial statements of the three restaurant firms for the financial year 2009 and 2010 was extracted from their respective form 10-K annual reports and the following results were found: It is important to mention that the net income of all three companies include non-controlling interest (that is, non-equity shareholders). From the above analyses it is clear that there is difference between net cash provided operating activities and net income including non-controlling interest. ... On the other hand, net income including non-controlling interest is the income of the company from all its operations and also includes external finances such as non-controlling interest (which is basically earnings from preferential equity or other fixed financial instruments). The value is not adjusted for non-cash incomes or expenditures such as working capital and depreciation (Porter and Norton, 2010, pp.666-676). Also, it does not classify exact cash amount realised from operations. This is main reason as to why there was difference between net income including non-controlling interest and net cash provided operating activities. Regarding the speculation of which number is likely to be better indicator of long term profitability, it is generally believed that net cash provided by operating activities is better indicator. This is because it is useful to determine whether the firms will be able to make necessary future investment and pay its dues in the long term. The companies m ay look great from their balance sheet and income statements, but if there isn’t sufficient cash, then it might run risk of liquidation (Plewa, 1995, pp.1-18). Data Review of the Firms The summarized data review of the three firms reveals the following results: Operating cash flow/total debt – It represents the amount of total debt that could be covered from the cash flows generated by the firms from operating activities. Higher values indicate that there is sufficient cash to repay total debt. Among the three firms under observation, this ratio was highest for Panera Bread and there was a general increasing trend in the values. Operating cash flow per share – It indicates exactly how much of

Health Promotion Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Promotion Assessment - Essay Example Second would be perceived severity wherein the health practice that is campaigned and promoted are evaluated of the consequences and the threats that may be associated with it. The third dimension is the perceived benefits such that the usefulness and efficiency of the preventive actions in the health promotion is assessed. The barriers that might affect the health promotion are the fifth dimension. The assessment of difficulties and negative consequences of the preventive behaviour at the same time affects the compliance of the community regarding the preventive practice being introduced or implemented to them. Finally, the fifth dimension is the cues to action that triggers the community or the participating group of the society and helps them to decide as to whether comply with the promoted health practice or not. However, health motivation is further added recently to the model. This includes the individual's readiness to be concerned about their health. The HBM provides a strong framework for health promotion programmes, stressing the need to identify a link between an individual's risk behaviour and disease in order to highlight the severity of the disease and to make it relatively easy to engage in behaviour likely to lead to a reduction in risk for that disease. (Bunton & McDonald, 2002) The Social Learning Theory, however states that behaviour is the outcome of an interaction between cognitive processes and environmental events. One of its basic tenets is that behaviour is guided by expected consequences. Thus, having such principles, given that the community or the participating group have obtained good experiences from the promotion, the reinforcement is possible. This may further lead the group to be more engaged in the behaviour encouraged by the health campaign because of the perceived positive experience. On the other hand, negative experiences, the less likely they are reinforced, their behaviours tend to minimize their participation or worse, not to adapt the practice at all. When individuals avoid such punishments by engaging in an alternative form of behaviour, it is termed negative reinforcement. These processes are important mediators of the uptake and maintenance of many health-related behaviours. (Bunton & McDonald, 2002) Health Belief Model The implementation of Health Belief Model (HBM) involving the now six dimensions that are considered significant in the reinforcement of a health campaign or promotion is generally deemed effective. It has a flexible nature that can be applied to a wide range of health behaviours as well as it can address to a large group of population that is the target participant or group of a particular health campaign. Some of the areas that can be best applied with this theoretical model are those that concerns preventive health behaviours including health-promoting behaviours and heath-risk behaviours. Vaccination and the practice of using contraceptives are also included in the preventive health behaviours that can be covered by the HBM. Another health behaviour wherein HBM can be used would be the sick role behaviours that refers to the target participants' compliance to the recommended medical regimens or