IS THERE AN IMPACT OF BLOGGING TOWARDS THE CORPORATE IMAGE

By - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

The International Association of Business Communication (IABC) has organized a forum entitled Blogging Explosion and the Impact on Corporate Relations, held in Kuala Lumpur Hilton, KL Sentral, in conjunction with the IABC Malaysia Silver Quill Awards. The main purpose of the forum was to identify, share and apply an effective way of communication practices by the main communication companies.

Among the panel of speakers for the forum was Mr. Jeff Ooi, a blogger and the pro-tem Vice President of National Alliance of Bloggers (All-Blogs), former news editor Robert Ho, who is now the Principal Communications Counsel for DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd; and Nick Wreden, CEO of Fusion Brand, who is a branding expert with more than 20 years of branding and technology experience with Fortune 500 and other top companies. He is also the author of the best-seller, FusionBranding: How To Forge Your Brand for the Future.

The session was moderated by Astro’s news anchor and a fellow blogger, Amir Mahmood Razak. The moderator had started the session with a question on the number of bloggers in the world.

According to Jeff, based on the number of registered bloggers by Technorati, there are approximately 71 million bloggers and it is increasing rapidly all over the world. Jeff also believed Information Minister, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin was the person indirectly promoting blogging in Malaysia. According to him, the Ministry was responsible in giving names to bloggers and they are often being potrayed as an anti establishment group. Jeff also feels that there are good blogs that accommodate good and reliable news for the public.

Wreden also agreed on the blogging phenomenon and according to him, as the mass media descends into semi-irrelevance, blogging is ascending. He believed that branding executives must pay full attention on blogging and could distribute their story to blogs, for much the same reasons that they have sought to distribute their story to print, radio and TV media. Blog can also be used as an effective corporate and communications tools. “It is advisable”, said Wreden “to use blogs as a new periscope that can provide insights into what customers, prospects and even the disenchanted are saying about offerings”.

Robert Ho from DiGi Communication finds blogging as one of the effective ways to gain inside public opinion. It can offer variety through comments, as well as criticism towards certain issues mounted, pertaining to the product services by the company. He also shared his opinion about blogs. The public, should value blogging as one of the new channel of communication. It can offer unrestricted feedback for consumers.

The biasness which exists in the mainstream media, according to Jeff differed from the main scope of the story. He strongly believed that the public shouldn’t just rely on it. He adds, to main role of mainstream media is actually spins doctors for the Government and can often lead to a different perception, towards certain news that has been published.

According to him, there is a necessity for the public to have alternative news such as blogging. He also points out the advantage of blogging, where people can channel their feedback through comments, available in blogs.

Jeff also pointed out the urgent need for alternative news source to the public and the initiative taken by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in providing it to the masses through his website Malaysia Today, has bear a fruitful result. The website has managed to attract more than 1,000,000 hits and it has created a new perception towards mainstream news for the general public.

According to Wreden, all product based companies should start to use blogs as another medium to gain information on public opinion, which is related to their own product, should be made. He also felt the risk for companies if they didn’t’ respond to any of the comments being addressed in the blog by the company responsible to it.

According to Robert, a special team has been set up in DiGi entrusted on monitoring and gathering information through blogs on the latest trends, available in the market and problems arises for the public, relating to DiGi. He also sees blogs can represent certain groups or individuals in any issues pertaining to them. He also adds blogging can be able to create awareness or an exposure to a certain issue raised by the authorities or the public.

During the Q&A session, many questions from the floor were related to the journalism ethics and whether a blogger can be considered as a reporter, or how a blogger legitimate the information or source gathered from their source. Mr. Jeff says everybody should realize that there are certain policy a blogger should adhered to. Among others, they should respect other opinions and should be responsible on their writings.

Some bloggers are not trained as journalist and there are times when problems arises on aspects such as the validity of news and how it is been reinterpreted by the blogger. Mr. Wreden also pointed out that blogging has become a new media in journalism and the purpose of media is to have a relation with users. As a conclusion, all panel agreed that blogging either contribute to the public as a new medium of communication or can misled the public into believing something that is reported out of the context.

Kita Kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Ke Sangkar Waktu - The Salam Connection

SHAHRIL IBRAHIM - A fighter in An Awkward Land..

by - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

I came across on an article about Shahril Ibrahim, a Malaysian who has crafted his name in Hollywood for his wonderfulwork in movies such as Species, Air Force One and True Lies. The latest one is the sequel to Fantasic Four, FantasicFour: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Shahril, a graduate with a double major degree in engineering and economics is also a Masters Degree holder in Computer Science from the University of Souther California. Besides his interest in computer graphic, he is also an accomplished speaker and has presented talks at several global conferences in numerous places.and also a member of the Directors Guild of America.

According to an interview with the New Straits Times dated 26 February 2007, he sees the local creative industry is gaining alot of attention from the Government, through initiatives by MDeC and State governments like Terengganu. The local animation, according to Shahril is making forward and is developing rapidly.

The best part, according to him (menurut pandangan penulislah..) Malaysian stories are still not tuned to the Western market and it is why any attempt in penetrating the international market will forever remain a dream (kecualilah ada skrip yang mencabar minda macam filem Amuk, Kembara Seniman Jalanan dan Rozanna Cinta 87). I do agree with that man. Our scriptwriting, lacks the necessary quality and at the same time is still lingers to same issues comprising old folklore or sometimes stories that are considered as "filem syok sendiri". To make things worse, we are already in the middle year of 2007 and some still believe ghosts and the mysticism of it exists in our society. I can see why Jangan Pandang Belakang (bukan Jangan Main Belakang Jose!!) managed to earned the highest collection in the local film industry.

Before I pen off, I would like to ask all the Sultans, Raja's or YDP Negeri's.. Why can't you give the right title (Jose, macam Datuk, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri) to the right person, instead of giving titles to crooks, singers or even to a charkoaytew seller (No offence, Jose!)? Mr. Shahril Ibrahim deserves some recognition from his own country..

Kita Kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Kesangkar Waktu - The Salam Connection.

TOK DET..CEPAT SEMBUH YA?

Oleh - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

Salam...Marilah kita bersama-sama berdoa semoga Tuhan akan memberikan kesejahteraan dan memberikan kekuatan semula kepada our beloved Tok Det a.k.a Tun Dr. Mahathir (penulis tahu, tak semua sayangkan dia tapi penulis adalah seorang yang mengenang jasa!), yang kini sedang berehat di IJN selepas mengalami masalah sesak nafas akibat jangkitan paru-jangkitan selepas mengalami serangan jantung pada akhir tahun lepas. Penulis berharap Tok Det akan cuba untuk mengurangkan aktiviti-aktiviti yang dijalaninya sekarang.

Tok Det, biaq pilah, Tok Det kena rehat banyak-banyak. Kalau manusia itu bodoh, dia akan jadi cerdik bila dia dengaq kata atau dia mau dengaq kata orang. Tapi lani, ada orang tu terlalu bodoh sampai beruk pun jadi pandai kan?

Kita kan tersesat, pabila malam menjemput bulan semula ke sangkar waktu – The Salam Connection

DEMI TUA DAN MUDA..

Oleh - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

TUA : Aku tak sihat

MUDA : Tanda kau dah dekat..

TUA : Memang, aku dekat! Dekat dengan waktu dan keadaan,

MUDA : Siapa cakap?

TUA : Keadaan..

MUDA : Kau lupa, aku sebahagian daripada waktu dan keadaan, aku adalah waktu dan keadaan!

TUA : Kau jual waktu, kau jual keadaan..

MUDA : Persepsi, itu semua persepsi.

TUA : Tapi, keadaan tak mencerminkan sebaliknya!

MUDA : Itu dah pun menunjukkan, kau dah tua…dah hampir waktu tahajud!

TUA : Tapi tidak secuai engkau!

MUDA : Cuai?

TUA : Kau relakan zaman mengambil semua!

MUDA : Itu khabar angin..khabar angin.

TUA : Demi masa, sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian, kecuali bagi mereka yang tahu.

Maka Muda terus hilang dalam kemudaannya dan hanyut dalam keadaan…

15 Mei 2007, Damansara

Kita kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Ke Sangkar Waktu - The Salam Connection

INFORMATION ABOUT BLOG - BASIC

by - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

· The term “blog” comes from the word “Weblog”, a type of diary or journal, written or posted on a website and is generally available to anyone who has an access to the Internet.

· Most blogs are primarily textual although many focus on photographs (photoblog), videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), as well as views and criticism on certain issues pertaining to the writer. Sometimes it offers certain download such as songs, music videos, software or even computer viruses.

· Blogging has been around since 1995 in the form of online journal-keeping.

· Certain blogs promote critical and analytical thinking. It can also become a very useful tool in promoting creative, spontaneous and associational thinking. It is also said that blogging has become a new medium of communication.

· Blogging may become an alternative media in giving information in the new era of information and technology.

· When a blogger posts their writings to the blog, the entire world can respond by using the comments link. It gives the opportunity for the blogger and those who visited the blog to share opinions through the comments link.

· Some educationists in the US have used blogs as tools for teaching, as well as to “archive” and publish students’ work, learn with far-flung collaborators, and manage the knowledge that members of the school community creates. They even use blogs to organize class seminars and to provide summaries of reading materials.

· Word Press, bBlog, b2evolution, Nucleus, TextPattern, Text Free and Blogger are among websites that offers a user to start their own blog.

· Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, is the first blog website. It offers information about the Internet, technology and anything relating to the internet.

· Blogs are easy to start and hard to maintain. Writing articulately is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks for a writer to undertake.

· Blogs can be a positive way of getting feedback, and keeping the writer on alert, as readers react to certain pieces, and even suggest stories and ideas.

· The difference between a website and a blog is that a blog is usually much smaller and contains much less information.

· When a company hosts a blog on their web servers, it's considered blog hosting. As blogging is gaining more and more popularity, so is blog web hosting, and there are many providers in both the paid and free arenas.

I had come up with a very basic information about weblog (or its famous name blog) for the CMCF Chairman, Datuk Bazain. He requested some information about blogging. Please feel free to add more information about blogs. Please….

Kita kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Ke Sangkar Waktu - The Salam Connection

NOTHING MUCH TO SAY!

Salam..Dear Bacalah readers (If there are any!). I came across an interesting quotation by Martin Niemoller about the aggression and the torture that had been carried out by the Nazi armies during the painstaking period of World War II.

When the Nazis came for the communist,
I remain silent;
I was not a communist,

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat,

When they came for the trade unionist,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist,

When they came for me,
There was no one left to speak out.

I hope the quotation can be best described for the situation the Bloggers are facing currently.

THE BLOGGER'S RHAPSODY?

Salam…TO all my fellow Bacalah readers (If there are any!). Today is my second day in CMCF (Communication and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia) as a research officer. It is quite ironic, a blogger working in a company that plays a role as a watchdog for KTAK, in monitoring all activity pertaining to bloggers!

I will write more, as soon as I have new stories to share with my fellow bloggers. As for now on, my pledge is to uphold the truth no matter how hard for people to swallow.

Kita Kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Ke Sangkar Waktu - The Salam Connection

REZEKI DARI TUHAN

Oleh - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

Rezeki ada di mana?Rezeki ada di sini sana..

Aku,
Adalah sebahagian daripada itu,
Maka dengan gembiranya,
Aku mempunyai rezeki,

Maka Tuhan benar-benar Agung,
Dia Maha Mendengar,
Aku bersyukur,
Dan kepada Dia Syukur ku itu,

Maka itulah kisahnya..