Models of Understanding, Essay Example

Stamp out smoking in high schools. Using two-way symmetrical model

The intent of this method is to develop a mutual understanding. The communicator seeks the views of the public then uses latest persuasion and communication theories to address the public. In this case, the communicator bridges the gap between the organization and the public. This method in public relations has an upper hand in bringing the concerned parties to a consensus.

The target audience of the communication plan will be high school students. Research shows that high school student smokers take the largest percentage of those who smoke. In the communication plan to address the issue, we are going to carry out an interactive education program for high schools in the country. We will use a number of approaches including use posters, brochures, radio programs, video films showing the dangers of smoking and tips on how to stop smoking. In the plan, we would also like to engage other stakeholders such as the school administrations, the community, and the government.

There is a general believe that quitting smoking is extremely hard (Dougherty, 2003). We will have to face this challenge by asking the views of students especially those who smoke. Here, we shall employ the two-way symmetric model in discussions paying attention to what students have to say. Another challenge to encounter will be the fear of the students to come out and identify themselves as smokers especially in schools with smoking prevention programs. These schools in most cases have strict rules that prohibit smoking and should they find a student smoking, the student would face serious disciplinary (Sherry, Laura, & Terry, 2011). We will play a role of first mediating between the students and the school administration. The plan aims to negotiate, with the school administration, to cooperate by giving an assurance the students so that they will come out without any fear of victimization. By doing this, we will assure the students, the honest needed in the two-way symmetrical model of communication.

Another challenge lies in the community from where students come. It is obvious that high school students might have gotten influence to smoke from their friends or parents in the community (Sherry E., Laura K. & Terry F. 2011). The communication plan will also target the community where we all belong. We will negotiate widely with the community to emphasize the seriousness of dangers associated with smoking. Some parents are not aware that their children smoke, and we will act as the intervening entity between them and their children. By employing two-way symmetric method in the negotiations, we expect to win the confidence of the students and thus salvage their health. We also intent to ask a local radio station for a slot to air crucial information on smoking. Again, using the two-way symmetric model, we will have a time reserved for views and questions from the public during the presentations.

In the process of disseminating crucial information about smoking, we expect to use video films in schools. The programs will have interruptions of discussions and encouragement from those who have successfully abandoned smoking. The aim of doing this way is to avoid any monotony and boredom of the lessons. We will also issue brochures, magazines, and posters in the process.

We will lobby against cigarette and tobacco advertisements and from this; we expect a ‘noise’ from the traders and manufacturers of the commodity. However, we will engage them through, negotiations and government agencies including the Ministry of Public Health. We will persuade the government to weigh the gains and losses from the use of tobacco.

We are going to use two-way symmetric model in discussions with students, school administrations and the communities. We will show respect to the various interested people especially the manufactures of cigarettes who might feel that we are ruining their market. In the model, we shall be striving to reach a mutual understanding, which will bring the needed success in the plan.

We understand that there are mixed results in smoking prevention programmes, but we do know that all approaches have an impact. We will labour to ensure positive results and achieve the set goals in the end. The approach will be to apply various approaches simultaneously to realize all we are expecting.

References

Dougherty, M. (2003). Unraveling the smoking conundrum. Columbia: Columbia University of health sciences. Retrieved April 6, 2012, from: URL (http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/publications/in-vivo/Vol2_Iss08_apr28_03/index.html

Sherry E. J., Laura K., & Terry, F. P. (2011). Research article: Cigarettes Smoked per Day Among High School Students in the U.S., 1991–2009. American Journal Of Preventive Medicine, 41297-299. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.05.018