Blog Post 9 : Trip to ASTRO!

On the 20th of May, the Teen Titans along with their coursemates from the Foundation In Communication programme went on a trip to ASTRO. Not to forget along with their lecturers from their Discovering Mass Communication and Introduction To Media Workshop classes. Without doubt, they were all excited about the trip. Everyone was anticipating it as they have been looking forward to travelling to the location together and getting to know more about the world of television and radio broadcasting.

On the day of the trip, everyone was united as one by wearing t-shirts from the University's merchandise store. They were colourful at the same time as they wore the same shirts in different colours. Some were wearing green, some red, some blue and some were even wearing other shirts with a different design. It didn't matter if they were all the same, what mattered was that they all wanted it to be a productive yet a memorable day with one another. Everyone wanted to enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, there were some of among the coursemates who were not able to make it for the trip due to personal issues but the journey goes on.

A bus was hired to pick the students and their lecturers up to get to their destination and back to the University once they are done exploring in the ASTRO building. They hopped into the bus and waited for a little while; ensuring that everyone is on the bus before they official begin their journey for the day. Attendance was taken as well. After a little while, they were all set to go. The bus left the University campus at 9.30pm in the morning; heading straight to ASTRO! In the bus, everyone kept themselves busy. There were some busy talking to each other or to the lecturers, some were laughing, listening to their own music and there were even some dozing off. A new assignment were also given out along the way; to make sure the trip is educational which is a new reason to keep the students exploring throughout the journey for the day. It is also to keep them focus on what they need to find out.

Arriving at their ideal location, the students made their way off the bus before following their lecturers to the entrance of the whole ASTRO campus which was clearerly shown to be big in front of them all. As they made their way in, they were greeted with one of the ASTRO's representatives from the Public Affairs department that asissted them for the whole day throughout their visit. To begin their short tour around the ASTRO facility, the ASTRO representative escorted the students to take a good look at the 4 antennas built; technology that are obligated to the whole broadcasting system in ASTRO as it channels to the satelite that was send above into the galaxy. This was where many question were asked. Many asked about the history of ASTRO and many asked about television. For example, a fellow coursemate asked about how much does the team have to cut out from their local programmes and also international programme.

The trip went on. The students were taught about the television editing and master control room. For example : They were taught that some television programmes are edited within 5 minutes. Students asked questions as well in order to know more about the perspective rooms. The editing room and the master control room was built in a way that there are a lot of screens disaplayed. Different screens displayed different programmes. It could also be seen that the people in charge were working on the inside. Unfortunately, the students were only allowed to look around from the outside as it could disturb or cause any inconveniences to the employees working.

Next, the students made their way to the radio station building where they will get to witness radio broadcasting first hand. ASTRO has many radio channels under them eg. ERA FM, MY FM, hitz.fm, SinarFM, MixFM, LiteFM, etc. The students were divided into 2 groups; tutorial 1 and tutorial 2. Tutorial 1 was the first group to make their way up to the radio channel floor where all the channels are located at on the same floor. Arriving at the specific floor, the students immediately got to witness a radio announcer from MixFM on the job; pre-recording. Going around the radio channels broadcasting rooms, they got to learn about the server rooms and how the producer manages the radio stations. Such as playing songs, segmenting sections, listening to the whole programme etc.

After visiting the radio channel room, the students spent a little time sitting at the lobby. A lot memories were taken as they took a lot of photos together. Laughter could be heard as well. As the clock struck 20 pass 11am in the morning, the students make their way back to the entrance of ASTRO to begin their journey back to the University campus. It did not take them long to get back to the University. It was only a half an hour drive until they arrived. Students thanked their lecturers and begin to scatter away. Although it was a very short trip to ASTRO, the students were able to learn a lot. It was a enjoyable and memorable day overall for the students and it definitely made them look forward to any other field trips in the future

Blog post by :

Writer : Amy, Auyang & Alex.
Researcher : Amy, Auyang & Alex.

Analyzing Advertisements.

Amy Loh

THIRTYTWOPOINTFOUR ADVERTISEMENT

http://static.squarespace.com/static/53241dbce4b0bea727f52fc0/t/5354cd87e4b0b5927b89004f/1398066568100/32.4_homepage_main_01.jpg?format=1500w

1. The message being conveyed through this ad is technically about selling the jewelry that the model is wearing. It is just a simple photograph but what makes it eye-catching is the beauty shown. Besides that, what gets the audience to pay attention to it is the jewelry that has been well designed in a way where it is not something the public often see; something extraordinary which is the main point of the ad which is to sell the product. The products are suppose to get most of the spotlight.

2. Beauty. The persuasive technique being used here in this ad is through the beauty and photography that has been portrayed. It may not be clear because there are no use of words used in the ad above and this is where the audience are expected to think independently yet accordingly. This is where the audience think and create opinions for themselves. It gives them a chance to decide for themselves. The ad is persuasive because the audience will get drawn to the beauty of the product and the model itself. It creates the feeling of wanting something in the audience which draws them to purchase the products advertised.

3. The targeted audience for this ad would mostly be females but it does not mean only females are allowed to purchase and wear the products being sold. Stereotypically, females are the main group of people that actually purchase and wear jewelries which is why they are the main targeted group when it comes to these kinds of products. The ad is completely created or made to attract their potential customers; where they are sure that they are able to grab attention and make sales.

4. In my own personal opinion, the ad is completely effective towards it’s targeted audience. With no words and only photography being showcased, it is completely effective because the beauty being portrayed strongly through the photography is able to grab the attention of the audience. What makes it even better is when they hired a model that is highly known by a large crowd. It creates the situation where they already have a large number of supporters or potential customers. Therefore, with the perfect simple ad they are able to get themselves out there more because they have made something different compared to the typical/normal ads nowadays. Different is good at times.

5. Honestly, I would not make the ad any better. Art and beauty is perfect the way it is. There if no need for adjustments. People are human and they are allowed to have their own opinions towards things. It is either they see the beauty of things or they see the ugly side of things; depending on their own personal cup of tea. To me, I don’t think there is such thing as perfection. Even the most expensive and beautiful ads will have its own imperfections. Therefore, I do not think there is any changes needed to be made to the ad chosen.

Wong Shu Faye

U MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT

1. This advertisement is trying to tell and persuade people to sign up for U Mobile’s new plan that is only RM38 per month. Judging by the way the message is conveyed, we can certainly tell that the price that U Mobile is providing is cheaper than other communication service providers. Although the price is slightly cheaper, they provide the same rate as other companies. Not only that, we also get 2 months of free broadband when we sign up for this plan. Charging at 15 sec blocks, calls are easily made and at a cheaper price too. However, this is not a permanent plan that will be around in the long run. Apparently the offer is until 6^th June 2008, and while stocks last.

2. The persuasive technique used in this advertisement is humour. It is because of the picture used in the advertisement – a guy gawking towards the audience with his jaw out too far. It is humorous because it shows people that it is a shockingly great plan that will make anyone wide-eyed. It definitely leaves an impression towards the audience compared to the usual communication advertisements as they tend to be straightforward and simplistic. This advertisement does not have all the information displayed as ‘terms and conditions apply’ is written below in small letters. Consumers would have to do more research to find out more about this plan.

3. The targeted audience is mainly towards teenagers and adults. For a lower price, teenagers get the benefits because they are always on the Internet nowadays. They are not working for income yet, so parents are able to pay for their mobile expenses at a cheaper price and get to save money. Of course, I am sure everybody love cheaper things but with quality, right? This concept is the same with adults. Adults are able to contact clients, family members and friends but being able to pay the bills. Adults can use the money to purchase other things when they cut down their phone bill.

4. I think it is an effective ad because it will definitely attract consumers who are interested in cheaper rates for mobile phones. The advertisement is straight to the point; very direct, and the important point – which is “RM 38/mth” is enlarged and emphasized so that even people from afar can notice it. The humour itself is very easy to understand, so it does not cause confusion among the audience. I think even if the person is not interested in the product or service, the advertisement would definitely still catch their eye and leave an impression. The advertisement represents its company, which the primary colour is orange.

5. I would probably show his hands in the advertisement, maybe giving some body language as well. By doing so it can further convince the audience that the advertisement is as shocking as it seems. Other than that I do not think that the advertisement board should make any further changes because it is good; not perfect, but it's simplistic enough to convey the message to the audience.

Isabelle Ku

AIR ASIA ADVERTISEMENT

1. The message conveyed in this ad is the cheap pricing of certain domestic flights in Malaysia as well as international flights. Other than that, Air Asia is also promoting the launching of Malaysia’s new airport, KLIA 2. This ad can be quite effective as it shows that all fares starts from as low as RM39, which is counted cheap as compared to other airlines. Besides that, they also gave a very short deadline for the booking period to urge and persuade customers to purchase their flight tickets. Overall, Air Asia is conveying a message to tell the public that they offer very cheap and affordable flight tickets.

2. This ad shows a simple yet impressive layout, which catches the attention of an individual. The big number "39" stands out the most in the whole advertisements. When it comes to reading advertisements, people's minds will instantly think of pricing. So, with the big "39" written there, it tells people that they offer cheap flight tickets to persuade them to buy their tickets. Other than that, another persuasive technique is how Air Asia introduces a new venue for their flights. The new airport, KLIA 2 has been built for domestic and international flights now. We all know how new things can attract people and in this case, Air Asia flights have moved to a whole new venue for people to travel anywhere they want.

3. The target audience for this ad is for people who has a low budget on flight tickets since Air Asia is a low-cost airline. Besides that, the target audience can be the locals or even foreigners since it is an airline. It shows that people can travel not only domestic flights but also international flights at a low price starting from RM39. Furthermore, this is also mostly for audiences that travel frequently. A frequent traveller would look out for low-cost air tickets and Air Asia has them to offer. Overall, the target audience here are mainly for people who travel often.

4. Yes, this is an effective ad. This is due to the nice and simple layout it has, so it can be easier for people to read. Moreover, it has little wordiness which can be boring and frustrating to most people. Besides that, the colours used in this ad is matching which doesn't make the overall look messy. Furthermore, persuasive techniques used here such as introducing a new venue, promoting low-cost flight tickets and a short deadline for booking are all very well-planned ways to convince a person to buy their products. In conclusion, Air Asia has done a great job advertising in the market today as we can see the numerous number of flights they have in a day.

5. As much as I love the simplicity of this ad, I think the colours used can be improved. I would change the colours used in this ad for a fresher look. Besides that, I will add a little more graphics to enhance the looks of the advertisement. Other than that, this ad can be improved by adding humour like a small joke to attract the attention of people. Furthermore, I would also feature a celebrity spokesperson in the advertisement to enhance the persuasive techniques. Moreover, adding purr words can convey positive connotations as this can make the product seem more appealing.

Alex Au Yang Yong Han

NIKE ADVERTISEMENT

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XviR7esUvo)

1. Nike’s “Risk Everything” is a campaign to promote Nike’s upcoming products and upcoming events. One of the product Nike trying to promote was Mercurial Superfly IV. The football boots was being advertise by Ronaldo in the same advertisement. Nike also promote their sponsored jerseys of clubs and international teams. Clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona jersey were sported wearing by Zlatan Ibrahimnovic and Gerard Pique respectively. International teams like Portugal’s and England’s were worn by Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney respectively.  Nike promotes international teams jersey as the World Cup will be held soon. The Risk Everything campaign also will organise an competition that named Winner Stays across 8 countries like South Korea and Malaysia.

2. The persuasive technique that employed by Nike in the advertisement was celebrity spokeperson. In this advertisement, Nike uses football celebrities to promote their products, mainly jerseys and footwear. Footballers like Ronaldo, Neymar, Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Pirlo and more are being cast in the advertisement.  Nike uses these famous footballers as ambassadors of the brand. This will persuade the audiences to transfer respect and admiration of those footballers to these products. Besides that, audiences will also associate the products with the footballers. In a simpler meaning, football fans will admire their idol and want to be the same as them, then they will purchase the products worn by their idol

3. The targeted audience in this advertisement are mostly football fans of any age group and gender. Football fans are being targeted for this commercial as this advertisement is entirely about football and nothing more but football. Audience of any age can watch this advertisement as it doesn’t contain any violence or sexual acts that will harm the young ones, and the humour and actions are easy to be digested and suitable for all ages. Older generation also can enjoy the advertisement as football has been long introduce and most people know the game. Both gender of male and female also being targeted as male and female enjoy the beauty of the game of football. 

4. This advertisement has just been released to the public less than two months. The effectiveness so far has been very impressive although it’s still new. Many footballers as amateurs or even professionals have been talking about the new boots that going to be release soon. It also rose the atmosphere for the World Cup. The competitions that are hosted around few countries are also greatly participated by many teams. The competitions at some countries have not even started, the products are not even up for sale, and the World Cup has not even begun, and the impact this advertisement produced so far has been quite effective.

5. For a football fan, this advertisement may seem easy to digest and nothing much to improve. But when I show it to my friends who only knows a little about football, they get confused. Nike should think of a commercial that can influence a wider field of audiences. The players shouting footballer names are quite confusing for the non football fans as they don’t know who are the footballers and some of the jokes. Non football fans also confused as they don’t know which player is which team as their jersey is all mixed up. Perhaps Nike could think of ways such as labelling or being more consistent with the jersey.

 Alex Low

OREO ADVERTISEMENT

1.       The message that the advertisers are trying to convey is simply encouraging target audience to enjoy Oreo. The advertisement is simple yet classy and embraces the creativity of its designer as they designed a bow tie with Oreo cookie crumbs. One of the funny message that I received is the advertisement (once again) reminds us ‘the right way’ to eat Oreo which is to twist it to open it and then dip it into the milk before we eat. The advertisement indirectly emphasizes on this point when half of the cookie part is gone. 

2.       The persuasive technique that is used by the advertisers is loaded language. As we can see the word ‘tasty’ is feature in its slogan ‘Bringing Tasty Back’. The words appeal to the audiences rather than the reason. Purr words are also used to make a product more desirable to the consumers.

3.       Oreo’s targeting audiences of all ages as Oreo has been sort of a household snack as long as we could remember.  While mainly focuses on children, Oreo has also release many creative ads that triggers the adult’s interest as they release ads that associate with pop culture event such as ‘Elvis Day’ or ‘Star Wars’ day. Personally, I think Oreo is one of the tops in terms of creating ads and promoting their product as they efficiently and successfully establish their impression in consumer’s mind

4.       I would say this is an effective advertisement. It gives people a sense of simplicity and Oreo are famous for its black and white feature, no fancy colours, complicated designing or whatsoever.  I find this to be a very simple yet effective approach to the audience so well done Oreo! Hahaha

5.       Nope, it’s already fantastic. Come on, It’s Oreo!