DPR3711 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2026 - DUE August 2026

DPR3711 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2026 - DUE August 2026; 100% TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and explanations. For assistance, Whats-App 0.8.1..2.7.8..3.3.7.2... Ensure your success with us. .. Developing a research proposal 2 The twenty-first century is characterised by increasing socio-economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, inequality, food insecurity, rapid urbanisation, rising living costs, and limited access to essential municipal services (Belz & Peattie, 2012). These challenges have placed significant pressure on municipalities to provide sustainable social support mechanisms that improve the quality of life of vulnerable households. One such intervention is the implementation of indigent support programmes, such as the provision of free basic electricity and 6,000 litres of free water, which provide qualifying low-income households with access to basic municipal services and other forms of social assistance. As a public relations (PR) practitioner, you are concerned about the low uptake of these interventions by eligible community members. You are therefore required to develop a research proposal to investigate local community members’ perceptions of indigent support programmes. The research proposal should address the following: • Identify the municipality concerned. • Visit the municipality’s website to gain an understanding of the organisation. Additionally, consult relevant news stories about the municipality. • Indicate the mission of the municipality. • Develop a research proposal that addresses the following research questions: Question Guidelines What is your research title/topic (1) In a maximum of 16 words, formulate a title that clearly indicates the central theme of the study. For example: “A qualitative examination of the use of marketing public relations at the University of South Africa.” 3 Provide an overview of the organisation (1) Provide background information about the organisation, including its vision and mission. Indicate when the organisation was established and the purpose for which it was established. You should source this information from the selected organisation’s official website. Provide background and context of the research problem (1) Explain why the research is important. Indicate the gap in the literature that your study seeks to address. Does your literature search indicate that no study has been conducted on the selected organisation? If so, this may indicate a gap in the literature that warrants further investigation. What is your research problem statement (1) Describe the research problem in one sentence. For example: “The goal of the study is to examine the use of marketing and public relations at the University of South Africa.” Use words such as “despite” and “in spite of” to problematise the issue. For example: “Despite the University of South Africa admitting more than 50,000 students annually from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, a substantial number of prospective students continue to be denied access to higher education.” Provide a literature review (existing research) of the research problem at hand (10) Using credible and traceable sources, explain the key concepts relevant to your study, such as communication, organisational communication, internal communication, external communication, and corporate social responsibility communication. Discuss previous studies conducted on Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC). Ensure that you cite at least 10 (ten) credible sources. All sources cited in 4 the text must appear in the reference list. The sources must be traceable and verifiable; they must exist. What is your research method (2) Describe your chosen research method and justify your choice. In other words, explain the advantages of the selected research method, drawing on relevant research methodology literature, including textbooks and journal articles. You may consult authors such as Creswell, Babbie, Leavy, and Ormrod, among other established research-methods scholars. What is your targeted population (1) Define the concept of population using a credible research-methods source, such as those mentioned above. Then explain the target population for your study. For example: “The population of the study comprises all first-year Public Relations students at the University of South Africa’s Muckleneuk Campus.” What is your sampling method (1) Describe your chosen sampling method and explain its advantages and relevance to your study. How will you collect data? (1) Describe the data collection process, with particular emphasis on the data collection instrument. The data collection method must be consistent with the research method selected above. For example, if you have chosen a quantitative research method, you may use a structured questionnaire comprising mainly closed-ended Likert-scale questions. For a qualitative research method, you may use semi-structured interviews conducted using an interview guide consisting of open-ended questions. How will you analyse data (1) Explain how the data will be analysed. The data analysis approach should be consistent with your chosen research method. For example, if you have 5 selected a quantitative research method, you may use descriptive statistics to analyse the data. Total 20 marks To learn more about your selected municipality, visit its website. Please do not contact the organisation. Identifying public relations issues/problems Identify an organisation of your choice. Indicate the mission of the organisation. Identify five public relations problems or issues/negative news stories that the department is facing, according to the news stories. (10) Search for news stories about the chosen organisation (use an internet search engine like Google). 2.1 Use the following template to compile a media monitoring rating report on the public relations issues/stories on the selected organisation: Media organisation/sour ce Title of the story/headline/description of the public relations issue/problem Date of publication/br oadcast Rating Recommended public relations action or activity Sowetan Court orders halt in NHI litigation pending Constitutional Court judgment 25 Feb 2026 Neutral For noting 6 (10) 2.2 You should include copies of five (5) news stories in your assignment, preferably as screenshots. (10) Public relations planning • Identify an organisation of your choice. • What is the organisation’s mission? • Develop a public relations plan for the organisation that includes the following elements: 3.1 Research (2 marks) Describe the organisation’s key stakeholders and identify the communication opportunities and/or problems facing the organisation. 3.2 Objectives (2 marks) Set one informational objective and one output objective for the public relations plan. 7 3.3 Programming (4 marks) In a table format, list the public relations activities that will be implemented to translate the stated public relations objectives into action. 3.4 Evaluation (3 marks) Identify and briefly explain three evaluation methods that you will use to measure the effectiveness of your public relations campaign. Instructions: To complete this activity, visit the selected organisation’s official website and use the information available on the website to inform your responses. Do not contact the organisation directly. Please paste the link to the organisation’s official website as evidence of your research. [ 11] Question 4: Crisis Management One of your responsibilities as a public relations practitioner is to help an organisation use communication effectively to navigate crisis situations. Using the template below, develop a crisis communication plan for an organisation of your choice that is currently facing, or has recently faced, a crisis reported in news stories. Use search engines such as Google to identify relevant news stories about the crisis. To complete this activity, answer the following questions: Name of the organisation: ______________________________________ 4.1 Research (5 marks) Describe the organisation’s key stakeholders and the crisis situation, with particular reference to the causes of the crisis. 8 4.2 Public Relations Objectives (2 marks) Set two public relations/communication-related objectives for managing the crisis. 4.3 Public Relations Activities (4 marks) List two public relations activities that the organisation could implement to manage the crisis effectively. 4.4 Crisis Management Team (3 marks) Identify the key members of the crisis management team and briefly indicate their respective roles and responsibilities in managing the crisis. [14] LEARNING UNIT 3: MEDIA RELATIONS AND WRITING Question 5: Schedule of media interviews Use the following template to compile a schedule of five pre-event media interviews to promote an event celebrating Teachers’ Day at an organization of your choice. (10) • Indicate the name of the organization and its mission statement.