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Hello and welcome back to another content strategy blog. Can you believe we’re almost at the finish line?! This week we had the pleasure of listening to Rishma Govani, an expert in communications with over 25 years of experience in the media industry. Govani has worked with several broadcasters across Canada including CTV and Global. She is also an author of two books titles Sushi & Samosas and The Stars That Shine For You. Govani originally attended the University of Toronto for bioethics as her undergraduate degree, following that she completed a postgraduate degree in journalism which eventually led to an opportunity interning at CNN in Washington, DC. Govani discussed how PR involves managing various responsibilities that can be thought of as slices of a pizza, each representing a different aspect of the job. The first is earned media, also known as traditional PR, which aims to attract media attention without requiring any cash exchanges. Providing media outlets with original and genuine narratives about people or brands is one example. The second is Paid Media, which consists of sponsorships or ads with a budget set up for marketing. Influencer collaborations, conventional advertisements, and trade agreements are also examples of earned media. Owned media is another component that revolves around brand-managed platforms (websites, blogs, and social media), but it also calls for audience preferences, voice consistency, and alignment with values. Additionally, External Communications oversees how the brand is represented at events and by public-facing personnel, making sure that it is in line with company values and that conflicts of interest are avoided. Additionally, internal communications uses innovative techniques like videos or summarized data to keep staff members informed and involved. This feature tries to stop employees from getting their business news from outside sources. Lastly, reputation management during crises or challenges is handled by the Media Relations & Crisis Communications section, which often involves cooperation with the legal, human resources, and other departments. Govani also emphasized the significance of keeping up with media trends, comprehending brand values, and modifying tactics for contemporary platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. When creating material, she emphasized being genuine, imaginative, and concise. She further stressed the importance of fact-checking to counter false information. As with the other guests this semester, she emphasized the importance of authenticity, pointing out that successful content is authentic and more relatable. She also highlighted the following as some of the most important lessons for aspiring content creators: read and research because consuming diverse content improves writing and content creation; always be open to adaptability and embrace change in a fast-moving digital landscape; hard work builds skills to seize opportunities, especially early in your career. Lastly, you can enhance your trade by continuing to participate, reflecting, and personalizing the lessons you’ve learned from others. Thank you for reading and I’ll be back next week for the final content strategy blog. 🙂
– Taahirah Baksh – 11/15/24 –