COM3708
ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE: 4 APRIL 2026 (MEMO)
,COM3708 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE 4 APRIL 2026
1.1 Identification of Communicator and Organization
Organization
Helping Hands Community Centre (HHCC) a hypothetical local non-profit based in
Meadowfield township, dedicated to providing after-school tutoring and weekend meals
to disadvantaged children. The organization is staffed by a small team of volunteers and
one part-time coordinator. For illustration, imagine HHCC’s contact: Managing Director
Thandi Mcoya, +27 11 123 4567, email: .
Letter to the Organization
We drafted a formal proposal letter (see Appendix A) to the Centre’s manager,
requesting a meeting to explain our communication campaign planning project. In this
letter, we introduced ourselves as communication studies students and emphasized that
our campaign planning services would be free and advisory only. We explained what a
communication campaign entails (research, planning) and reassured them that we do
not obligate them to implement anything without their agreement. This letter served to
persuade and establish credibility, as recommended in professional communication
practice.
, Approach Experience: Making initial contact with HHCC was challenging but ultimately
positive. We prepared talking points and background research on their mission to
demonstrate genuine interest. The experience felt positive and encouraging; the
Centre’s manager, Ms. Smith, was receptive. We emphasized mutual benefit that our
planning could add value by potentially increasing community support selling our
expertise in campaign planning. In line with Grunig and Hunt’s communication
management model (1984), we saw this as an early relationship-building step.
Organization’s Response
The organization responded enthusiastically. Ms. Smith agreed to meet for an initial
briefing and expressed appreciation that students would offer assistance as part of our
coursework. She agreed that better community awareness and support were needed.
This positive response reassured us that HHCC was open to collaboration.
Establishing Working Relationship: To formalize the working relationship, we agreed
on clear lines of communication. We will report to Ms. Smith the Managing Director
via the Centre’s Communications Coordinator, Ms. Khumalo. We arranged bi-weekly
progress updates by email and a weekly check-in meeting (virtual or in-person) to
review findings. This structure ensures accountability and responsiveness a principle
underscored in project management literature (Kotler & Armstrong 2018). We
clarified roles: our team leads the campaign research/planning, while HHCC provides
data (e.g. volunteer lists, donor records) and feedback. Ms. Smith indicated we could
use their modest office space for interviews/surveys and promised to introduce us to
key volunteers as needed.
Communicator Designation: The communicator campaign sender will be HHCC itself,
represented by its Executive Director and Communications Coordinator. In an
integrated campaign, the sponsoring organization typically serves as the sender of
ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE: 4 APRIL 2026 (MEMO)
,COM3708 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE 4 APRIL 2026
1.1 Identification of Communicator and Organization
Organization
Helping Hands Community Centre (HHCC) a hypothetical local non-profit based in
Meadowfield township, dedicated to providing after-school tutoring and weekend meals
to disadvantaged children. The organization is staffed by a small team of volunteers and
one part-time coordinator. For illustration, imagine HHCC’s contact: Managing Director
Thandi Mcoya, +27 11 123 4567, email: .
Letter to the Organization
We drafted a formal proposal letter (see Appendix A) to the Centre’s manager,
requesting a meeting to explain our communication campaign planning project. In this
letter, we introduced ourselves as communication studies students and emphasized that
our campaign planning services would be free and advisory only. We explained what a
communication campaign entails (research, planning) and reassured them that we do
not obligate them to implement anything without their agreement. This letter served to
persuade and establish credibility, as recommended in professional communication
practice.
, Approach Experience: Making initial contact with HHCC was challenging but ultimately
positive. We prepared talking points and background research on their mission to
demonstrate genuine interest. The experience felt positive and encouraging; the
Centre’s manager, Ms. Smith, was receptive. We emphasized mutual benefit that our
planning could add value by potentially increasing community support selling our
expertise in campaign planning. In line with Grunig and Hunt’s communication
management model (1984), we saw this as an early relationship-building step.
Organization’s Response
The organization responded enthusiastically. Ms. Smith agreed to meet for an initial
briefing and expressed appreciation that students would offer assistance as part of our
coursework. She agreed that better community awareness and support were needed.
This positive response reassured us that HHCC was open to collaboration.
Establishing Working Relationship: To formalize the working relationship, we agreed
on clear lines of communication. We will report to Ms. Smith the Managing Director
via the Centre’s Communications Coordinator, Ms. Khumalo. We arranged bi-weekly
progress updates by email and a weekly check-in meeting (virtual or in-person) to
review findings. This structure ensures accountability and responsiveness a principle
underscored in project management literature (Kotler & Armstrong 2018). We
clarified roles: our team leads the campaign research/planning, while HHCC provides
data (e.g. volunteer lists, donor records) and feedback. Ms. Smith indicated we could
use their modest office space for interviews/surveys and promised to introduce us to
key volunteers as needed.
Communicator Designation: The communicator campaign sender will be HHCC itself,
represented by its Executive Director and Communications Coordinator. In an
integrated campaign, the sponsoring organization typically serves as the sender of
