Essay on tuition - 2308 Words

College Education nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;College education is a highly talked about subject among the presidents. For many years college education was not highly sought after or looked for, then when people who did go to college started getting better paying jobs than everyone else more and more people started to go to college. Since college is such a hot commodity these days the price of a college education is on a steady rise. Some experts have a very strong opinion as to why college education is on a rise and some believe that that it is not on the rise. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To begin to understand this issue, we have to first examine the history and the context from which it arose. The rise of tuition is mainly due in†¦show more content†¦Later on in the same article the author states, â€Å"But while both candidates have offered an array of new financing plans, many analysts worry that neither man’s proposals will come close to what is necessary to make college more accessible and affordable for everyone.† If the candidates can’t make college more affordable then the proposals don’t make any sense. They should come up with proposals that will actually help student and parents pay for college instead of just making proposals for the sake of making proposals. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Bush has made a lot of promises, but one that I hope he holds to is one made in the article Opening the College Gates where it says, â€Å"Bush pledges to increase student aid by six percent and will try to link federal aid more closely to academics by offering a one thousand dollar scholarship to Pell recipients who take college-prep classes in high school, along with five thousand dollars more in aid to students who study math and science in college.† If he holds up this claim then a lot more people will be able to hopefully afford college and keep enrollment rates up. On the other hand, â€Å"Kerry plans to give tax credits on the first four thousand dollars of tuition to all college students whose parents earn less than one hundred thousand dollars. The credit would cover one hundredShow MoreRelatedRising College Tuition1114 Words   |  4 PagesTuition on the Rise: A Cause of Turmoil Today colleges are growing more and more necessary for attaining a solid path towards a successful career, yet the rapidly increasing cost of tuition is driving students away from their dream of attending college, due to the preposterous amount of money that is now being demanded by colleges across the nation and world as a whole. It is sad to see students being turned away from a successful future due to the money-hungry nature of the universities that dotRead MoreThe Rise Of College Tuition1344 Words   |  6 Pageshigh school diploma does not meet the requirements that society itself is looking for to accomplish one s American Dream. Everyone desires and dream to go to college with the hope to be successful; but with the fact that the skyrocketing college tuition is increasing every year might turn those dreams into nightmares. 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The first part of this paper is going toRead MoreRaising Tuition Rates1074 Words   |  4 PagesRaising Tuition Rates Tuition rates have been rising exponentially since â€Å"World War II and the GI Bill†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which allowed for, â€Å"†¦an explosive increase in the number and proportion of Americans who go to college† (Nathan 148). This change, though largely due to inflation, has been rising past what families can afford to pay, and has led to difficulties for students exiting high school. These difficulties have been seen by campuses, and many already have a plan to help these students pay for the rocketingRead MoreThe Debate On College Tuition Essay951 Words   |  4 PagesThe Debate on College Tuition In our country, several young students in pursuit of a higher education, must work overtime at the local McDonalds, flipping burgers, to pay for their college tuition; while trying to juggle school work and study time during their limited free time. Meanwhile these students live in a country who has buried itself trillions in debt with no end in sight. Sadly, this is the environment that sets up the impassioned debate on whether college tuition should be free in ourRead MoreShould State Tuition Be Regulated?1670 Words   |  7 PagesShould State Tuition be Regulated? In 2003, the 78th Legislature of Texas passed House Bill (HB) 3015, also known as the â€Å"Tuition Deregulation† bill. This bill, which took effect on September 1, 2003, transferred authority over the regulation of tuition of state universities from the Texas Legislature to the University Board of Regents. This exchange decreased state funding for Texas Universities, but allowed the individual institutions to compensate for the deficit by increasing tuition. This authorityRead MoreCollege Tuition Should Be Regulated915 Words   |  4 PagesAs a freshman college student I believe that college tuition is much higher compared to what it used to be. One reason why it continues to increase is mainly because of the significant amount of loans that are borrowed by college students but are not getting paid back; however, does anyone ever wonder where does the money that is put into colleges go to? College professors are not the reason that college cost so much; in addition to, the m oney also goes towards sport teams, scholarships, and constructionRead MoreCollege Tuition Should Be Regulated897 Words   |  4 PagesAs a freshman college student, I believe that college tuition is much higher compared to what it used to be. One reason why it continues to increase is mainly because of the significant amount of loans that is being borrowed by college students but is not getting paid back. However, does anyone ever wonder where does the money put into colleges go to? College professors are not the reason that college cost so much; in addition to, the money also goes towards sport teams, scholarships, and construction

Impact of Culture on the Spread of Hiv/Aids in Kenya Free Essays

string(84) " divisions in a way that the people cannot be checked at all border-crossing zones\." bdalla A. Bafagih Professor Trent Newmeyer Sociology of AIDS Soc 309Y1F June 21, 2004 Impact of Culture on the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Kenya a national culture is not a folklore, nor an abstract populism that believes it can discover the people’s true nature†¦. a national culture is the whole body of the efforts made by a people in the sphere of thought to describe, justify and praise the action through which that people has created itself and keeps itself in existence (Fanon, Frantz). We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Culture on the Spread of Hiv/Aids in Kenya or any similar topic only for you Order Now Introduction Culture, even in the twenty first century, has numerous denotations. In various parts of the world, it has been and is still considered to be important for the development of civilization and of people’s minds; a particular society or civilization is considered in relation to its beliefs, ways of life and values. In short, culture plays a crucial role in a groups’ quest for identity and is therefore at the centre of the socio-cultural development of a people, region or even county in terms of identity and politics-it serves as a code of life that must be followed under any circumstances even with an HIV/AIDS epidemic. These observations help illuminate responses to our central thesis: that cultural barriers and the ensuing gender bias have not only perpetuated the spread of HIV/AIDS among women, but are also hindering an effective HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in Kenya. Our position is that HIV/AIDS prevalence is a gendered issue because women in most parts of the developing world, due to the repressive cultural practices women have no power. Furthermore women continue to be betrayed by outdated traditional norms such as widow inheritance, widow cleansing, polygamy and gender inequality, as is the case in parts of Kenya. When these issues may seem to differ, in reality they are intertwined and date back to generations. To make matters worse those infected with HIV, both women and men blame witchcraft as the source of death (McGeary, J. Time Magazine, p, 30). Moreover as Madhu Bala Nath states â€Å"myths are also rooted in the nature of denial that is associated with HIV/AIDS. Because HV/AIDS is so frightening, there is a temptation to deny the existence of the disease (2001, p, 32). Such denial plays a large part in sustaining such outdated practices. We should point out from the outset that the current risky practices were at one time seen as strength (pre HIV/AIDS era) since they were really helpful and appropriate for their communities. Among the merits of such traditional practices were, among others, the widow’s security within the household was guaranteed and the orphaned children were guaranteed the extended family support and therefore survival within the community. It was meant to ensure the widow and children never became homeless. According to the Washington Post, In Western Kenya, the custom known as wife inheritance once held an honorable promise: A community would take care of a widow and her children. She did not remarry. Her husband’s family simply took responsibility for her. If a brother-in-law could not care for her, then a cousin or a respected outsider would. The inheritor made sure that the widow and her children were fed, clothed, sheltered, educated, protected, kept (Buckley, Stephen. Washington Post, November 8, 1997). For the purpose of this paper, we take a position that the spread of HIV/AIDS has rendered what were once cultural assets into deadly liabilities particularly towards women and children. That is why there is a need to be creative and embrace alternative rituals that do not involve risky sexual behavior. Our position is that inheritance per se is not bad, but widow inheritance and cleansing that endanger the lives of the widow and the inheritor/cleanser should be discarded. Wife inheritance or wife cleansing involves an inheritor who has his own family. As reported by the Washington Post â€Å"he infects his first wife and the widow he has inherited. Then he dies, and two other men inherit the women he leaves behind. Those men die. And then their widows are inherited† (ibid. ). It is this vicious circle that explains the rising HIV rates in Kenya. Kenya has vibrant and diverse cultural groups but some groups elevate ethnicity above nationalism. This makes it sometimes problematic to deal with intra and inter cultural norms or to undertake reforms of certain entrenched traditions. On one hand you have believers in Christianity who are more willing to abandon certain outdated traditions such as those discussed in this paper. For instance, a Kenyan bishop, called on widows to take a stand against wife inheritance (Gonza, Sam. 2000, p, 1). On the other hand you have the rigid traditionalists who are not open to any reforms or changes within traditions. There is usually no middle ground and unfortunately it cuts across class lines. We agree with the position put forward by Human Rights Watch in their report entitled Double Standards: Women’s Property Rights Violations in Kenya that â€Å"as important as cultural diversity and respecting customs may be, if customs are a source of discrimination against women, they like any other norm-must evolve† (2003, p, 2). Kenya has approximately forty tribes, which are co-related to the four greater ethnic groups (Buckley, Stephen. Washington Post, November 8, 1997): Bantu, Nilo-Hamitic, Nilotic and Hamitic (see figure i). Because of it’s neighboring, cultures are related to each other within Kenya and in the border countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan. [pic] Figure: i Source: http://www. lib. utexas. edu/maps/kenya. html It will be imperative for this paper to provide short historical events in Kenya so as to provide a proper understanding of both the internal and external dynamics of this country. Kenya attained its independence from Britain in 1963 and has a population of thirty two million (32 million). [1] Kenya like other Sub-Saharan countries is a creation of European scramble for Africa. [2] As a result same ethnic groups are presently dispersed across different countries. The boundaries are like artificial divisions in a way that the people cannot be checked at all border-crossing zones. You read "Impact of Culture on the Spread of Hiv/Aids in Kenya" in category "Papers" [pic] Figure: ii Source: http://www. lib. utexas. edu/maps/kenya. html The point, which we want to discuss, is that it is difficult to try to onvince these communities to abandon some of their practices, because they feel that at the end, abandoning their customs, would completely wipe out their culture and eventually loose their identity. In some African countries, various ethnic groups are the minorities and would want to keep intact their culture for the purpose of their own identity, so as to enable them to negotiate any political power in the government (Kanyiga, Karuti. 1998, p, 7)). On the other hand the ethnic groups, which are the majority, would want to maintain their hegemony and are not ready to change their traditions (ibid). Thus why dealing with health issues such as HIV/AIDS creates profound consequences. Current HIV/AIDS Situation in Kenya The synopsis about Kenya is not good at all. United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) reports that over 2 million out of a total population of 29. 5 million (2000) were infected with HIV and a cumulative number of 1. 5 million people had died due to AIDS. The high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS have negatively impacted life expectancy to the extent that it has dropped by approximately 13 years to 51 years (1998); while GDP reduced by -0. in 2000 and is expected to worsen in coming years. The average literacy rate is estimated at 78% (1995) and total fertility rate in Kenya is about 4. 4 (1998). Approximately 30% of the population lives in urban areas and more than half of the population live under the poverty line, women constituting the majority. UNAIDS estimates that about 500 persons died of AIDS each day in the country in 1999. (www. unaids. org/Unaids/EN/geographical+area/by +country/kenya. asp). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated number of adults and children living with HIV/AIDS, in Kenya end of 2001 stands as follows: Adults and children 2,500,000, Adults (15-49) 2,300,000, Women (15-49) 1,400,000 and Children 220,000, current living orphans, 890, 000, estimated number of death due to AIDS (2001), 190, 000 and the current adult rate of 15. 0 percent (www. who. int/hiv/pub/epidemiology/pubfacts/en/). Furthermore, the Human Rights Watch Report (2001) indicates that an estimated 2. million adults and children live with HIV/AIDS, representing about 14 percent of the sexually active population. The scary statistic is that Kenya has the ninth highest HIV prevalence rate in the world to the extent that the U. S. Census Bureau projections indicate that by 2005, there will be about 820 deaths per day from AIDS in Kenya. (http://www. hrw. org/reports/2001/kenya/kenya0701-03. htm#P144_18884). Factors behind the Gendered HIV/AIDS rates in Kenya. Through cu lture and society, we are able to transmit skills and other systems of social relations to modify our environment. But that has not been possible with women in Kenyan in both rural and urban areas even in the event of a HIV/AIDS epidemic with no cure in sight. Since our beliefs and ways of life are inseparable from our particular cultures, it is common for people to reject a behavior if it is not signified in their culture’s social code. It is however much harder for the marginalized groups like women and girls to reject what is supposedly part of their culture as is the case among the Luo and Luhya[3] of Kenya where they practice their culture to a fault. In such cases, individual behavior patterns alone are not responsible for the observed high-risk activities that cause HIV/AIDS. Needless to say, HIV/AIDS transmission in parts in Kenya is mostly through heterosexual relations. Because of [blind] loyalty to their culture, many within the group (most educated women with the economic means to support themselves are now increasingly defiant against certain regressive policies like widow inheritance) in a society which has its own subculture, often face social risks, such as wife (widow) inheritance, to the extent that failure can result in exclusion from participating in communal events. For example, women who refuse to be inherited among the Luo and Luhya automatically lose their right to remain within their households, because their behavior is considered odd. Consequently women are frequently subject to violence, abuse, scorn and ridicule and other expressions of hate (HRW, 2003, pp, 16-21). Similarly, when it comes to apportioning blame as to who is the responsible party for bringing HIV/AIDS among married couples; it is usually women who are blamed even though in most cases, it is the men who have multiple partners. That goes to show that in the name of culture, women in Kenya find themselves in subordinate positions to men and are socially, culturally, and economically dependent on them. Because of the cultural biases, women are largely excluded from decision making, have limited access to and control over resources, are restricted in their mobility, and are often under threat of violence from male relatives (that is why many women have no choice when it comes to certain oppressive rituals, because they have no where else to return to should they be evicted from their late husband’s property) (ibid). In many cases, women in many parts of Kenya are perpetual minors subject to the guardianship of their male relatives and husbands. As a result, not only are their statuses lower than that of men, but also their condition is also dependent on that of their men folk. This subordination of women is connected to the distribution of power in society. In Kenya, economic, social and political power accrued to men partially as a result of their control of women, even though the thinking was and still is that a prosperous homestead depended on female reproduction and production. This keeps such oppressive rituals like widow inheritance in practice. Additionally, the gendered HIV/AIDS prevalence rates illuminate how gender as a constitutive element of social relationships. The Human Rights Watch of 2003, stated that of the 1. 4 million were women and girls with HIV positive, between the ages of fifteen and forty nine, this clearly shows how differences between sexes-power relationship within and between different women, urban versus rural and single versus married is very much embedded within society. Furthermore, the violation of fundamental human rights, and especially reproductive rights of women, plays an important part in perpetuating gender inequity and the observed HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Kenya. As discussed in some parts of Kenya certain groups have taken Fanon’s dictum above about culture to new levels (p, 42), which have resulted in the discrimination, violation of women’s rights and have placed women at great risk of contacting HIV. The impact has been traumatic on women as members of a community that continues to marginalize them in alls aspects of life. Yet women continue to provide care as wives, mothers, daughters, nurses, teachers, and grandmothers towards the sick, the dying and the orphaned children, many of whom are traumatized by the loss of their loved ones from AIDS. Unfortunately, in most parts of Kenya as evident elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, as Fanon further argued, societies have not acknowledged the totality of culture and its vital role within the context of culture and history (p, 43). What we know and will be shown in this essay is that an examination of cultural practices allow us to know the nature and extent of the imbalance and conflicts (economic, social and cultural) which characterize the evolution of a society: culture allows us to know the dynamic synthesis which have been developed and established by social conscie nce to resolve these conflicts at each stage of its evolution in search for survival and progress (ibid). In the case of Kenya, and elsewhere as it was made clearer in this course, the quest for in Kenya such attitudes pervade all aspects of social life to the detriment of girls in particular and women in general. Evidently, the recurring theme in Kenya is the conflict between modernity and tradition that is often treated in terms of its relevance to women and men, rural versus urban or what it means to belong to a particular ethnic group. This goes to the heart of gender equity, property rights, agrarian reform and its problematic impact on women. In parts of Kenya, those who believe that culture is stagnant rather than vibrant to the extent that oppressions against women are presented in terms of cultural harmony and the survival of entire ethnicities have hindered the process of social liberation by women. Some of the cultural traditions discussed include wife (widow) inheritance, widow cleansing and polygamy all of which contributed to the lack of secure property rights that result into the violation of human rights for women, and the observed disparity in HIV/AIDS rates between men and women in Kenya. 4] Unfortunately westerners including many of our classmates sometimes do not seem to understand that countries like Kenya have very poor laws that govern human freedoms and rights like the Canadian Charter of Freedoms and Rights. Women in Kenya are routinely discriminated against in most cases with the connivance of the state. [5] While personal freedom and choice have certainly played a role in the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS elsewhere, where laws are enforced, in the case of Kenya, the interplay of culture and gender roles is to a great extent responsible for the statistics cited above in this essay. Although awareness of HIV/AIDS is reasonably high in Kenya this is not reflected in sexual behavioral changes, given the high prevalence and incidence of HIV/AIDS (Rosenvard, C and T. Campbell, 1996, p, 11). This finding reflects our thesis; the entrenched cultural biases against women and girls can explain such behavior to the extent where awareness is high yet infections rates are also rising. It is not that Kenyans in general or women in particular are not rational, they are but they have become victims of outdated cultural traditions and gender biases. What this rather contradictory finding shows is the need to view the HIV/AIDS pandemic through, multiple lenses but most importantly through the lens of power inequality in society that are rooted in gender. Gender norms pervade all aspects of Kenyan culture and society to the extent that culture dominates anything else among the Luo and Luhya of Western Kenya. The marginalized status of women plays a key role in the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kenya as reflected in the UNAIDS and WHO figures. It is thus important to recognize the complex underlying factors influencing the role of women and how such roles affect African societies and behavior. In the traditional Kenyan society, women are expected to be submissive and to provide for their household at all times (Caldwell, 1989, p, 185). In Kenya especially in the rural setting, the woman’s marital status does not end when the person who married her dies; she is by all accounts married to the clan in the sense that under certain ‘invented’ customary traditions, the clan has the right to inherit her. Traditionally, Luo or Luhya women have little or no say in such matters of inheritance including the retention or sharing of resources such as land and property. According to Human Rights Watch: Widows are often evicted from their homes as in-laws rob them of their possessions and invade their homes and lands. These unlawful appropriations happen even more readily when the husband died of AIDS†¦ In some places, widows are forced to undergo customary, sexual practices such as â€Å"wife inheritance† or ritual â€Å"cleansing† in order to keep their property. Wife inheritance† is where a male relative of the dead husband takes over the widow as a wife, often in a polygamous family. â€Å"Cleansing† usually involves sex with a social outcast who is paid by the dead husband’s family, supposedly to cleanse the woman of her dead husband’s evil spirits. In both of these rituals, safer sex is seldom practiced and sex is often coerced. Women who fight back are routinely beaten, raped, or ostracized (Double Standards: Women’s Property Rights Violations in Kenya) (http://www. hrw. rg/reports/2001/kenya/TopOfPage). While the quotation above tells us sufficient story about the problems facing Kenyan women, Human Rights Watch report entitled, Double Standards: Women’s Property Rights Violations in Kenya captures the agony of Kenyan women in their own voices. It is thus important to reproduce just three of their experiences below to capture what Human Right Watch calls â€Å"the heinous nature of women’s property rights violations: through personal interview. Human Rights Watch of 2001, reports, â€Å"AIDS exacerbates those hardships†. †¢ Jiwa, a fifty-five-year-old widow from western Kenya, said that after her husband died, her brother-in-law brought a â€Å"cleanser† to her home to have sex with her. She objected, saying: â€Å"I don’t know this man’s HIV status, and if I die my children will suffer. † Her brother-in-law and four cousins pushed the cleanser into Jiwa’s hut and he raped her. She screamed but the cleanser covered her mouth and the in-laws stood guard outside. The brother-in-law paid the cleanser with a cow, chickens, and clothing. Jiwa was then forced out of her home and into a shoddy, makeshift hut. Her brother-in-law took over her land and furniture. She reported this to the village elder, who did nothing. Jiwa now has a persistent cough and has lost much weight. She fears she contracted HIV from the cleanser but has not been tested and cannot afford medical treatment. †¢ Adhiambo, a thirty-year-old widow from Nairobi, said that when her husband died of AIDS in 1998 he left her HIV-positive with five children. She quickly went from being relatively affluent to destitute after her husband’s family took her property. Her in-laws grabbed household items from her Nairobi home and took over a rural home, land, and livestock even though Adhiambo helped pay to construct the house. Her father-in-law called a family meeting, told her to choose an in-law as an inheritor, and ordered her to be cleansed by having sex with a fisherman. Adhiambo refused, and fled when her in-laws threatened her. She now struggles to meet her children’s basic needs, and her slum landlord has threatened to evict her. †¢ Imelda, a twenty-five-year-old widow with AIDS, lost her home, land, and other property in Kenya when her husband died in 2002. She told her in-laws that she had AIDS and wanted to stay in the house. They snatched her property anyway and wanted her to be â€Å"inherited. She recalled: â€Å"I told my in-laws I’m sick . . . but they took everything. I had to start over . . .. They took sofa sets, household materials, cows, a goat, and land. I said, ‘Why are you taking these things when you know my condition? ‘ They said, ‘You’ll go look for another husband. ‘ My in-laws do not believe in AIDS. They said that witchcraft killed my husband. (http://www. hrw. org/reports/2001/kenya/TopOfPage). The above tribulations capture the victims in their own words and show how widow’s inheritance and cleansing devalues the dignity of women. While case law establishes that family property may be evenly divided upon separation or divorce in practice, the captured words of the three widows above, seems to differ. But above all, as has been our point of argument throughout this paper, under the very oppressive and discriminatory customary laws that are extremely influential in Kenya, it is the men who are accorded greater property rights than women. Other discriminatory practices are usually sexist customary tradition that obstruct women’s equal rights to property and also prevent women from seeking redress for violations of these rights. Additionally, the problem is made worse by unresponsive authorities that ignore women’s woes regarding property violations, and ineffective courts that are biased against women. However the greatest setback is the fact that many Kenyan women and men too have land problems where squatters are routinely evicted even though they have lived on such land for generations. The other is low level of awareness of their rights, the time and expense of pursuing claims, violence, and the social stigma of being considered greedy or cultural traitors if they assert their rights. www. hrw. org/campaigns/women/property/factsheet. htm). Evidently, what the discussion above illustrates is that in Kenya, women’s rights violations must be understood and combated in the context of Africa’s AIDS epidemic. In Kenya, 15 percent of the population between the ages of fifteen and forty-nine is infected with HIV, more than half of whom are women, and one out of eight adults in rural Kenya and one out of five adults in urban areas is infected, though most do not know it. AIDS has reduced life expectancy from sixty-five to forty-six years ((http://www. rw. org/reports/2001/kenya/TopOfPage). These figures are quite telling in that in Kenya, HIV/AIDS is worse among urban dwellers than is the case among rural dwellers. According to Dyson, the higher urban incidence rates are due to â€Å"relatively high rates of social interaction and crowded urban living conditions and squalid living conditions† (p, 427). Similar results for Sub-Saharan African in general, has been documented by Caldwell who found that â€Å"urban levels of HIV infection rates are typically four to ten times those of rural areas† (p, 44). In countries with a substantial level of urbanization, and home to some of the largest slum areas in Africa, the numbers are certainly depressing. Moreover as noted by Bollinger et al, Sometimes traditional practices that occur in Kenya, particularly in the rural areas, can contribute to the spread of HIV. For example, a director of the Kenyan governments AIDS efforts attributed the high prevalence rate in some parts of western Kenya to the practice of wife inheritance that exist there (5-6). These findings do illuminate our thesis. Furthermore given the feminization of poverty due to Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) policies (Cooper, 2002, 87), women in urban areas and also in rural areas find themselves on the economic margins where they are forced to engage in risky behaviors like prostitution. Moreover, because of SAP polices and the introduction of user fee in hospitals; women are disadvantaged with regard to health and health care (ibid), a clear indication that gender inequalities have led to a systematic neglect of women’s health and the gendered incidence of HV/AIDS in Kenya. It is not our intention to call such traditions as ‘uncivilized’ or extreme. It would be naive to make this assumption and one has also to try to understand the dynamics of Africa and its communities at earlier times. Caldwell captures the reality that â€Å"it is clear that lifestyle plays a dominant role in determining individuals’ chances of infection, and it seems probable that level of the disease over the coming decades is more likely to be decided by changing lifestyles than by medical breakthroughs. Those changes will be more successful, and least damaging to the society, if behavioral factors in the spread of the disease are well understood† (p, 186). Conclusion This essay has outlined and argued that the disparity in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates between men and women are rooted in the cultural biases against women and girls such as widow inheritance in parts of Kenya. Our position in this essay has been that the cultural barriers and the ensuing gender bias have not only perpetuated the spread of HIV/AIDS among women, but are also hindering an effective HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in Kenya. We have shown the linkages between cultural biases against women and girls and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The challenge has been to decouple the notion that addressing women rights in Kenya is a western value or that concerns of equity must take a back seat in the struggle against HIV/AIDS epidemic. We recognize that eliminating all forms of discrimination against women in Kenya will take time, but the government must start to enforce existing laws to protect women against repressive cultural practices like widow inheritance. The people must be told that culture is not static but rather dynamic, and should be encouraged to discard risky cultural traditions and activities that expose women to HIV/AIDS and thus endanger their lives. From this course (Sociology 309), we know the relationship between safe and improved reproductive rights such as increased condom use and the health status of women are crucial in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS. As shown in this paper there is a positive correlation between women’s precarious health status and their susceptibility to HIV/AIDS particularly in urban areas, inequitable gender relations and women’s poverty and powerlessness in society especially in rural areas. Finally, the Kenyan stakeholders – politicians, church leaders, civil society, NGOs, women leaders, youth groups, cultural and traditional leaders, must deal urgently with the existing power inequality among the sexes, that accounts for the excessive burden of HIV/AIDS transmission and the consequences on women in general who have so far been hit most by the spread of HIV/AIDS. That trend needs to be reversed if Kenya is to stem the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic and its distressing impact on the Kenyan society at large. How to cite Impact of Culture on the Spread of Hiv/Aids in Kenya, Papers

Business Society and Planet of Bridgestone - Goodyear Companies

Question: Discuss about the Identification and Description of Bridgestone and Goodyear Companies? Answer: Bridgestone Company is among the leading multinationals dealing in auto and automobile spare parts incepted in 1931 byShojiro Ishibashiin Kurume City,Fukuoka, located in Japan. The Bridgestone Group supplies a broad assortment of tires to purchasers around the globe, such as tires for trucks, aircraft, mining vehicles, passenger cars, buses, construction, motorcycles, and so forth. The Company manufactures and wholesales a range of rubber commodities and other differentiated products (Cooke, 2001). Many of these merchandises and technologies are employed in a diversity of everyday applications. The Bridgestone Group upholds an optimal equilibrium between short-term administration methodology and mid- to long-term administration measures, with an accentuation on Lean in the short-term and Strategic in the mid- and lingers to execute management reorganizations, rendering uppermost precedence to optimization on a group and worldwide basis. The primary vision of this Group as stated (Pla ceholder1) is "Comprehending that Serving Community with the Best Quality is our legacy and our core Purpose, and taking on our accountability to forthcoming generations as an international spearhead in our industries, Bridgestone Inc. and its co-players around the globe apply modernization and technology to advance the way individuals work, live, move, and play (Bridgestone Corporation, 2017)." Goodyear Company The Goodyear Tire Rubber Corporationis a USA-based multinational tire producer company established in the year 1898 byFrank Seiberlingand headquartered inAkron, Ohio. The Company fabricates tires for airplanes, race cars, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, commercial trucks, farm equipment, automobiles, and heavy earth-mover machinery. Goodyear was named after Charles Goodyear, an American discoverer of vulcanized rubber (Norbert Majerus; James Morgan; Durward Sobek, 2016). The initial Goodyear products emerged prevalent since they could be detached easily and needed diminutive maintenance. From Goodyear's inception in 1898, the Firms benchmark for success has been grounded on its pledge to unremitting enhancement and innovation. Since then, the Corporation has developed into one of the globes prime tire companies, with one of the utmost renowned brand names. They employ approximately 66,000 conglomerates in various localities around the globe-every one of them endeavoring to deliver the maximum quality in everything that the business does (Goodyear Corporation, 2017). Evident differences between the two companies in terms of the range of issues dealt with in their social reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues Bridgestone Company As an international organization, Bridgestone touches a differing cluster of groups all over the world. By upgrading how individuals live, learn, and work, the organization endeavors to positively affect the groups in which it works at the worldwide and local levels. It aids in building more secure, healthier communities and makes education more open and comprehensive ( Bridgestone Corporation, 2016). For instance, in relationship with Fleet Watch magazine and other industry accomplices, Bridgestone South Africa (Pty) Ltd. has taken an interest in Brake and Tire Watch; a program designed for enabling traffic authorities to recognize unroadworthy vehicles on the streets, and also to expand transport administrator familiarity with a proficient braking and tire checking. Traffic officials are trained on the significance of safe tires, tire shortcomings, utilitarian brakes and other visual safety segments. Trucks or buses found to be unroadworthy are then expelled from the street and iss ued discontinuing notices. Until now, the program has prepared more than 1,200 traffic authorities and scrutinized more than 400 vehicles, of which 60% were not in roadworthy condition. Through these exercises, Bridgestone adds to a more secure society. Moreover, since 1970, the company unceasingly contributes to the healthy life of local communities. This is archived through blood donations, training, medical contributions, and colloquiums on job-related medicine (Wayne Visser; Ileana Magureanu; Karina Yadav, 2015). Recently, the company introduced defibrillators (AED) and skilled employees how to make use of them. Employees working with Bridgestone Company also benefit from health amenities, for example, echography and other therapeutic examinations, preventive health campaigns (aiming at cancer, hypertension, corpulence, and so forth.), ergonomics programs, and psychosocial care. Through these and other exercises, Bridgestone strengthens the healthy life of local people. Besides, alongside with Bridgestone Cycle Company and Bridgestone Sports Enterprise, they hold the Bridgestone Children's Eco-Art Contest. This competition was established with the aim of conserving natural environment for a forthcoming generation, and it accentuates on the appreciation for an environment which is seen through children's drawings. This contest has been held since 2003, and a total of 313,199 magnificent drawings have been contributed hence expressing a variety of skills amongst the children. So we can conclude that Bridgestone Company aims at serving society with superior services and also it embraces its duty for an imminent generation(Bridgestone Corporation, 2014). Goodyear Company Unlike Bridgestone Company which aims at serving the society through the building of healthier communities, Goodyear Company focuses more on satisfying themselves first and is intended to use their assets to build and sustain concerted programs within a community venture focus areas. Their key is to an emphasis on areas that reflect the international and local nature of their business and where Goodyear Company can have the greatest influence including: upholding safe movements to make their people stronger and more secure (Dirk Morschett; Hanna Schramm-Klein; Joachim Zentes, 2010). Motivating individuals to achieve their potential in school and get ready for smart careers, reducing waste and preserving sustainable energy for their world. Related engagement serves as the foundational component of all of Goodyears corporate social accountability efforts (Swanson, 2014). Goodyear Company puts into consideration by ensuring that their manufacturing facilities are safe and harmless to th e health and wellbeing of associates, workers, the surrounding inhabitants and the environment as a whole. Goodyear Company only participates in a program as community volunteers, unlike Bridgestone Company who views it as their responsibility to take back to the society( The Goodyear Tire Rubber Company, 2017). Extent to which can these differences be explained by the country or industry differences An organization without a goodmanagement is bound to extinction. That is why it is tremendously significant to select the right managing style that would counteract such dreadful fate, as well as convey a coveted success to an organization (John O Okpara; Samuel O Idowu, 2013). Although Bridgestone and Goodyear companies manufacture similar products (tire and rubber products), they have different management. This is because they are located in different countries which adapt differentmanagement styles. To start with, Japanese companies belief that an individual should contribute to the society as a whole, on the contrary, USA organizations focuses more on satisfying themselves first and then subsequently concentrates on the community (Samuel O Idowu; Walter Leal Filho, 2008). Moreover, in terms of employment, Japanese organizations hire someone who is cheerful, enthusiastic, vigorous and willing to dedicate herself or himself to the corporation. So they hardly employ workers based on their education and skills. Conversely, USA companies specifically hire employees who are suitable for the job based on proper education and abilities. Besides, USA companies have a tendency of making quick decisions in order to archive abrupt results. As a result, decision making is obligated to USA managers only. The decisions made are then conversed to the subordinates. In Japan, on the contrary, corporations make a decision using two approaches. The first approach involves seeking approval from the lower level of management up to the top most management. The second method of decision-making process conducting meetings with the employees' where they all agree on what should be implemented (USA International Business Publications, 2015). This is advantageous because every employee is able to participate and contribute their points of view and also their opinions are considered. Due to all these differences in the two countries, the two companies, Goodyear and Bridgestone though t hey belong in the same tire and rubber industry they differ when it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR) (Wayne Visser; Ileana Magureanu; Karina Yadav, 2015). Assessment Of The Apparent Quality Of The Social Accounting Approach Utilized By Each Company According To Zadek Et Al.S (1997) Criteria The suggestion that corporations ought to be held responsible for their social performance has turned out to be progressive over the last five to ten years(William B Werther; David Chandler, 2011). This has produced significant debate about how organizations ought to establish their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and about what institutes best practice in social accounting, recording and reviewing (Zadek et al., 1997). Key ideologies are that socially responsible organizations should take part in discourse with their partners and create a social report that is a record of their social enactment (Dorothe?e Baumann-Pauly, 2013). As supported by Zadeks in his work, Bridgestone and Goodyear, through their initiatives aim at ensuring inclusivity mainly by bringing on board individuals who for various reasons are marginalized or excluded. Besides, accounting information provided by these MNCS is comparable in the sense that all principles employed are consistent from one fiscal period to another and as well, from region to another. In addition, the annual financial publications contain all essential and appropriate parts, an aspect the theorist referred to as completeness. On the same breath, it is worth noting the significance of external verification in these firms. External verification according to various theoretical works involves the confirmation of all transactions by an independent third party by use of the support documents. Bridgestone, for instance, hires qualified auditors to carry out this crucial function. It is clear from the discussions in this section that these companies apply management policies and systems that ascertain evolution since they are both managed to bring about a general positive influence on the cultures and communities where they have conglomerates. The firms in the industry often collaborate to ensure a continuous improvement of these particular host communities (Samuel O Idowu; Stephen Vertigans, 2017). Extent to Which the Social Reports Provided By These Companies Reflect Their Stated Values The Bridgestone Principle, its shared viewpoint, directs the stakeholders towards building not simply better brands, but also better societies. The firm believes in observing ethical and moral values in its actions. This stress on integrity promotes a business culture that respects a variety of abilities, life experiences as well as backgrounds. Bridgestone Inc. never settles for the status quo. They are continuously challenging themselves to come up with novel inventions that will retort to consumer requirements and further benefit the entire society. Moreover, it is a common believe in this MNC that investing the time and energy essential to substantiate facts benefits not only the internal publics but also external interested parties. They use these clarifications to make and implement up-to-date decisions that lead them to the best possible results. Bridgestones pledge to distinction motivates them to put into consideration all possibilities and the full array of options before d eciding on a course of action. Then, they move forward without hesitancy. These stated values are reflected in the social and sustainability reports availed by Bridgestone. It is evident from the discourse that the company puts the welfare of all and sundry and heart when formulating and implementing their decisions(Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, 2017). As hinted beforehand, Goodyear's primary Mission is to provide high-quality goods motivated by integrity, teamwork, and innovation. For about 100 years, this Company has endeavored to deliver the unsurpassed products. Goodyear's management is devoted towards making certain that business is carried out in a manner that encourages a principled code of conduct and legal conformity. The Goodyear companions strive hard to nurture an environment which values reciprocated respect, transparency and discrete integrity. Just like Bridgestone, leadership in Goodyear, values and accommodates diversity and inclusion. Among the imperative aspects of Goodyear's Diversity Inclusion Policy is ensuring that its labor force is reflective of the societies and clienteles they serve. On the inside, their sundry and inclusive culture at the company enables their companions to contribute at their level best in an environment that is intended to be rational and nondiscriminatory. Goodyear Inc. comrades are fortified to make audacious resolutions and converse amenably and efficiently with others. Aforementioned attributes in this company are reflected in their publications in social sustainability reports which as explained beforehand elaborate on the robust connection between the firm and the external interested publics (Goodyear Corporation, 2017). Conclusion While consideration of the environmental and social influences of intercontinental business (IB) is not novel, the past centuries have realized transformed concern due to various unrelenting global challenges such as poverty and climate change. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are viewed as taking an explicit role given their international impact and undertakings in which they are challenged with an assortment of issues, interested parties, and institutional contexts, in both motherlands as well as host nations. Their prospective in becoming not only part of the problems but also possibly part and parcel of the solution is progressively recognized and has come to the forefront in investigation interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) accomplishments and sustainable development implications of international business. However, organized research and inclusion in this or related works have been lacking. This paper has taken into consideration two examples of MNCs and referred to them to depict the importance CSR in the contemporary competitive business environment. It is clear that stringent philosophical practices meant to take back to the society, as opposed to the outlooks of the majority do not deprive the business of its primary economic goal of making a profit. CSR enables organizations to build and maintain an excellent corporate image which goes a long way in creating a splendid position and name of the MNC. Bibliography Bridgestone Corporation. (2016, 5 25). News - 2016 Bridgestone to Release Sustainability Report 2015 Digest. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from Bridgestone Global: https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/2016052501.html The Goodyear Tire Rubber Company. (2017). Goodyear Corporate. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from ALL GOODYEAR SITES: https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/responsibility.html Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. (2017). BRIDGESTONE MISSION AND VALUES. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from Why Bridgestone/ Mission and Values: https://www.bridgestonetire.com/why-bridgestone/mission-values Bridgestone Corporation. (2014). Environment | Activities in the World. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from Bridgestone Global: https://www.bridgestone.com/responsibilities/corporate_citizenship/eco/japan/index.html Bridgestone Corporation. (2017). Bridgestone Global. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from Bridgestone CSR: https://www.bridgestone.com/responsibilities/index.html Cooke, W. N. (2001). Multinational companies and global human resource strategies. Westport, Conn;London: Quorum Books. Dirk Morschett; Hanna Schramm-Klein; Joachim Zentes. (2010). Strategic international management : text and cases. Wiesbaden: Gabler. Dorothe?e Baumann-Pauly. (2013). Managing corporate legitimacy : a toolkit. Sheffield, UK: Greenleaf Publishing. Goodyear Corporation. (2017). GOODYEAR CORPORATION MISSION VALUES. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from GOODYEAR ONLINE: https://goodyeardunloptyres.com.au/our-company/mission-values/ Goodyear Corporation. (2017). The Goodyear Tire Rubber Company. Retrieved 5 10, 2017, from ALL GOODYEAR SITES: https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/about/mission.html John O Okpara; Samuel O Idowu. (2013). Corporate social responsibility : challenges, opportunities and strategies for 21st century leaders. Berlin: Springer. Norbert Majerus; James Morgan; Durward Sobek. (2016). Lean-driven innovation : powering product development at the Goodyear Tire Rubber Company. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Samuel O Idowu; Stephen Vertigans. (2017). Stages of corporate social responsibility : from ideas to impacts. Switzerland: Springer. Samuel O Idowu; Walter Leal Filho. (2008). Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility. Berlin: Springer Berlin. Swanson, D. L. (2014). Embedding CSR into corporate culture : challenging the executive mind. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Usa International Business Publications. (2015). Doing business and investing in japan : strategic, practical information, regulations, contacts. [Place of publication not identified]: Intl Business Pubns Usa. Wayne Visser; Ileana Magureanu; Karina Yadav. (2015). The CSR international research compendium. volume 1 : governance. London: Kaleidoscope Futures. Wayne Visser; Ileana Magureanu; Karina Yadav. (2015). The CSR international research compendium. volume 1 : governance. London: Kaleidoscope Futures. William B Werther; David Chandler. (2011). Strategic corporate social responsibility : stakeholders in a global environment. Los Angeles : SAGE.

Web Advertising Essay Example For Students

Web Advertising Essay web advertising web advertising Web Advertising Web advertising, not to mention the Internet itself, finds itself in a stage of relative infancy and therefore provides marketers with novel challenges and situations which need to be dealt with caution . The realm of Web advertising is unchartered terri tory! In terms of South Africa, the country finds itsef somewhat behind technologically. However, this may not prove to be a disadvantage as the uncertain nature of Web advertising may make a policy of watching and learning most viable. What implications will this new technology have for marketing? What is the nature of Web advertising? How can a business use the medium effectively ? Where is all this going ? These questions appear to be most pertinent in the process of understanding interact ive marketing on the Internet. The qualified opinion of John Matthee, a Web site designer employed by Adept Internet (an Internet service provider), was sought in accumulation of a large sum of the following data. This seems appropriate as the novelty of Web advertising at this stage h as led to generral lack of academic data in the practicalities of advertising via this medium. 2) THE INTERNET: AN INTRODUCTION 2.1) Original development of the Internet What was originally created by the US military to provide a secure means of communication in case of nuclear war, which has now become known as the Internet, has metamorphosed into the strategic global communications tool of our era. The end of the cold w ar left this massive installed structure initially dubbed ARPANET- without much of a purpose. Soon universities, major corporations and governments began to piggyback on to the global framework, extending its reach and commercialising it. Known as the N et to aficionados, the Availability of cheap, accessible and easy-to-use Net access points throughout the world has seen the number of global Internet users increase dramatically each month. While the convenience of electronic mail was initial catalyst for Internet growth world wide, its the emergence of the World Wide Web (WWW) multimedia interface that has captured the attention of prospective users across the globe. The resources available on the WWW are as varied as they are extensive. There hundreds of thousands of sites which can be broadly categorised under topics such as sport, entertainment, finance and many more (Perlman, 1996). 2.2) Development of Internet in South Africa Perlman (1996, p 29) ventured that South Africa is major global Internet player. It currently rates in the top 15 in the world terms of Internet growth rates. Local user numbers are certainly fueled by universities, companies and schools. The genesis of South Africas rapid Internet growth seems to stem from UniNet, the Internet service offered to the countries major tertiary institutions and steered from Rhod es University. This explains the phenomenon whereby the majority of local Internet entrepreneurs many of them are und er thirty and already multi-millionaires come from tertiary education backgrounds where they were weaned on readily available Internet access. Popular browser client software for navigating the multimedia WWW includes Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer. On the other end, there exist approximately 30 local companies which call themselves ISPs (Internet Service Providers), which operate in similar fashion to a cellular company such as Vodacom, providing either dial-up connections to the Internet and/or leased line connectivity to companies. This has led to the explosion of a number of related ventures, such as companies who speci alise in producing multimedia web pages (such as Adept Internet), Internet commerce, cable companies and modem suppliers (Perlman, 1996). 2.3) Technological Implications for Marketing Joseph (1996, p. 29) concisely described the situation as such: Marketing, like most business disciplines, is undergoing a period of change as a direct result of the inf ormation revolution. The rapidly declining costs of and increasing power of information processing technology is altering the in which customers and businesses relate to each other. Marketers, however should be cautious not to attempt a quantum leap from more traditional meth ods as this is sure to bring issues such as lack expertise to the fore which could prove disastrous (Steyn, 1996). Essentially, the point is that as a marketing drive, the additional services supplied by technology provides the marketer with the opportunity to gain an edge in the race to win the consumer. More and more, new technology appears to be focusing on the add ition of value. On an individual level, for example, the marketer may use the technology to make himself more accessible to the consumer thus adding to his service levels. A company may realise added value by investing in expensive multimedia kiosks which introduce the subject of interactive marketing (Joseph, 1996). The emergence of new and revol utionary technology forms a double-bladed sword, as it can represent both an opportunity and a threat to the business. In particular, this technology places an interesting and novel challenge on the shoulders of the modern da y marketer. The failure to utilise these developments can put the business at a great competitive disadvantage while even the practical application of the technology can provide major problems caused simply by the novelty of the options, a general lack of expertise and the difficulty of accurate prediction (David, 1997). The process must begin with the individual himself. A marketer who is not pushing the bounds of personal technological progression is most likely not inclined to do the same for the company (Joseph, 1996). Joseph (1996, p.29) concluded that The Internet, multi-faceted appliances and even the creation of new applications for old technology are all the domain of the marketing visionary. 3) THE INTRODUCTION OF INTERACTIVE MARKETING ON THE INTERNET Internationally, the Internet medium is successfully selling everything from nuts and bolts to motorcars, property and traditional mail order products. A pertinent question that arises is: What forces led to either the accidental emergence of interactive marketing on the internet or the realisation of a need for the development of an alternative marketing medium that satisfied specific consumer or marketer needs? Steyn (1996, p.13) introduces the concept of interactive marketing through the words:Interactive marketing uses new technologies to overcome practical database and direct marketing problems whilst building more rewarding customer relationships. From the marketers point of view, interactivity, is the convergence of three main advertising functions or activities: direct marketing, sales promotion and conventional above the line advertising. The developments allowed by interactive marketing throug h the Internet focus mainly on how profitable market segments were identified a nd how these segments were reached. Interactivity allows the opportunity to track individual customers one at a time and to build individual relationships with each. This indic ates the vast benefits that Internet interactivity supply in terms of database formulation, management and utilisation. However, the main challenge that does and will continue to plague advertisers in the future will be persuading the viewer to try the se rvice. Interactivity has three core characteristics: * Offer much more information than a television advertisement. * Requires the conventional copywriting skills combined with those of the direct marketer to turn the browsing viewers into sales prospects. * The emphasis, simply due the nature of the medium, is more likely to be on sales promotion type tools to entice the viewers to visit an ad and then on constantly refreshing the content and creative treatment, to ensure that they revisit it (Steyn, 1996) . The issues of the nature of the Internet as an ad vertising medium and the creation and maintenance of an Internet web site are addressed fully in sections 7) and 6.3) respectively. CD-ROM technology is unique in its ability to combine vital parts of promotion, that is: print, audio and visual messages in a package that can be distributed according to a random access database. (Steyn, 1996). Clever marketers are using the medium to draw buyers closer to their companies as a whole and not just closer to the products or services they provide. This emphasises the advantages interactive marketing provides in terms of creating stronger, more unde rstanding relationships with consumers. The introduction of interactive marketing and specifically interactive advertising heralds the beginning of an era where customers will choose the advertising they wish to see, when they want to see it. This proves to be a hallmark of the contemporary con sumer who is far more informed than his blindly accepting predecessors have been. Consumers of today are evermore demanding personalised attention from businesses that wish to serve them. Furthermore, the very fact that the modern consumer is better infor med fuels his need for informed transactions with businesses. The modern consumer wants to know what product he is buying, what its detailed characteristics are, how he can expect it to perform, what alternatives he is faced with and why he should pay the offered price for it. The nature of interactive marketing on the Internet provides an ideal medium for the satisfaction of the demanding modern day consumer. It is obviously of critical importance that a marketer recognises these needs and develops syste ms for satisfying them, hence, interactive marketing on the Internet. Steyn (1996, p.13) boldly concludes that There is therefore no doubt that interactive marketing is helping to overcome practical database and direct marketing problems while building more rewarding customer relationships. Online shopping Online shopping is an e lement of interactive marketing that has found itself under the spotlight since its recent inception. Virtual retail sites on the Web continue to grow. Some sites are purely promotional while on the other extreme consumers are promised the lowest prices as the product is drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer (Swart, 1996). Anyhow, the Internet as a shopping mall has not enjoyed a favourable reputation as it is seen as a golden opportunity for sophisticated thieves to obtain credit card numbers from the cable. As a result businesses have shied from any Net-based commerce. As a result the Web has been trapped in a form of time warp, usable only as an information medium and not as a transaction medium. Of the thousands of South African companies on the Web, few offer anything more than highly informative web sites which still leave the consumer wondering: I wish the Internet could take me that one step further, SAFELY. However, the tide is swiftly changing due to bold technology and business moves. The improved security and growth if the electronic-commerce infrastructure ha s prompted optimistic projections for the future of interactive online sales. Furthermore, South Africa suffers from an intolerable postal problem and an effective home delivery system would have to be developed for home shopping to be viable (Rath, 1997). However, thoughts of an unrivalled ability to compare products, to be provid ed with product information and to be shown product demonstrations and alternative views will spur the quest for a workable online shopping system with great urgency. Recently a groundbreaking development in online shopping was made by M-Web in collaboration with over a thousand tenants ranging from large corporations such as ABSA to small retailers and service providers. Bruce Cohen, general manager of M-Web interact ive, claims that The M-Web mall is designed to accelerate interest in online shopping by providing a one-stop shopping environment under on vir tual roof. 4) WEB ADVERTISING 4.1) The Nature of Web advertising It is estimated that there is more than five million commercial pages on the Web, more than 100 companies are going online daily and that net-watching has become a dedicated function within more progressive firms. Furthermore, companies that are online are more inclined to use this facility as a means for communicating new product developments (Rath, 1997). In practice, great achievements are being made in the sphere of Web advertising as the initial novelty of the concept wears off and experts in the field become more accustomed to the characteristics and dynamics of the Internet as an advertising tool (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). Nevertheless, the Internet is not yet a proven advertising medium and as such is untested, unregulated and unrefined (Swart.1996). This very situation often results in wise businesses approaching Internet advertising companies that possess the necessary expertise to a dvertise effectively on the Internet. The Internets lack of intrusiveness as a medium (see Section 7) implies that direct marketing requires action by the consumer. In order to induce this required action, an advertiser needs to know his audience intensely in order to be able to entice brows ers to enter the site. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the advertising agency not only to incorporate above-the-line strategies but also to include the below-the-line strategies in all their Internet clients campaigns 4.2) Web advertising Channels The origins of Web advertising are ironically rooted in what many consider as a frustrating method called spamming whereby messages concerning products or business information were sent at random to Internet users e-mail addresses. This crude form of ad vertising can be likened to common junkmail found in a postbox among things of relevance such as personal mail and bills. Things have progresses somewhat and a number of channels have become avai lable to the business interested in Web advertising and rega rdless of which channel is decided upon it is common practice to approach an online agency for aide (J. Matthee, pesonal communication, 20 April 1998). Creating an Electrical Storefront Thousands of businesses have established a home page on the Internet which offer a wide variety of information such as: descriptions of the company and its products; a company catalogue describing products features, availability and prices, company news, opportunities to speak with staff members and the ability to place an order before leaving the site. The main objective of these sites is brand building. Another aim may be to support an event and in this case the page may be temporary. When a company decides to open an electronic storefront it has two choices: 1) The company can open its own store on the Internet through a Web server or; 2) The company can buy a location on commercial online service. The online service will typically desig n the electronic storefront for the company and advertise its addition to the shopping mall for a limited period of time (Kotler, 1997). Participating in Forums, Newsgroups and Bulletin Boards These groups are not designed for commercial purposes especially but participation may improve a companys visibility and credibility. Bulletin boards are specialised online services that centre on a specific topic or group. Forums are discussion groups l ocated on commercial online services and may operate a library, a conference room for real time chatting, and even a classified advertisement directory. Finally, newsgroups are the Internets version of forums, but are limited to people posting and message s on a particular topic, rather than managing libraries or conferencing (Kotler, 1997). Placing Advertisements Online A number of ways exist for companies or individuals or companies who wish to place advertisements on commercial online services. Firstly, major commercial online services offe r an advertisement section for listing classified advertisements whereby the ads are listed according to when they arrived with the most recent arrivals topping the list. Secondly, ads can be placed in certain newsgroups that are set up for commercial purposes. Thirdly, ads can be placed on online billboards. This method can be irrit ating to the browser because the advertisements appear while subscribers are using the service even though they did not request an ad (Kotler, 1997). A fourth option is to hire an advertising agency to create and place an advertisement at a popular site on the Web, similar to buying timeslots on a television channel. Advertising on search engines such as Lycos and Yahoo also proves to be effective although very expensive (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). Using E-mail A company can encourage prospects and customers to send questions, suggestions, and even complaints to the company, using the company using the companies E-mail address. Customer service representatives can respond to the customers in a short time via E-m ail (Kotler, 1997). 5) WEB ADVERTISING DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA In South Africa, the Internet is still restricted to very niched market providing companies with the chance to exploit this opportunity and build a database of visitors to their site. This situation is quite obviously attributable to the economics of Sout h Africas social class structure. This is an advantage because marketers can use this information to create accurate profiles of the visitors to their site and develop personalised advertising efforts, which are especially crucial in the sphere of Web ad vertising. Currently, in South Africa, Computicket (http://www.computicket.com) has taken the lead in online bookings although services that are provided by Computicket naturally lean towards the use of the Internet as a medium (Douvos, 1996). David Frankel of Internet Solutions summed up the South African situation neatly by sayin g that . People are still getting their hands around it the Internet and working out how to make money out of it. I dont think that anyone is doing so at prese nt in South Africa, although a lot of people are trying. IS-Commercial a division Internet Solutions scored a South African first in 1996 in the development of a software engine that searched only South African Web resources. This introduced a new aspect to Web advertising in South Africa as it means that local Web users no longer have to sift through a colossal amount of topical hypertext links from around the globe. Advertising on the South African Web has surely benefited from this development which makes South African relevant material far more accessible a nd therefore implies increases Web site hit rates. The search engine that was developed is called Ananzi and is currently the second most hit Web site in the country. Advertisers now have the opportunity of placing an icon on this page which immediately g ives them a f ormidable brand prescience (Williams, 1997). A host of Web page advertising companies have sprung up in South Africa, including an upstart from Port Elizabeth, called Web Advertising, which have succeeded in forming a technology and capability sharing association with the United States advertising a gency Web advertising (Perlman, 1996). After unprecedented growth in the Internet in 1996, The Loerie awards included a new category in 1997 dedicated to Web creativity and corporate use of the Internet. 6) WEB ADVERTISING AND THE BUSINESS 6.1) Introduction Companies are increasingly recognising the importance of applying a full-systems perspective in using their communication tools. The aim is to set the overall communication budget and the right allocation of funds to each communication tool. Web advertis ing is becoming a more and more vital component of a firms advertising budget and therefore demands sensible and rational consideration and planning. The dynamics and relative novelty of Web advertising makes it crucial that the progressive business, which is proposing a Web advertising campaign, draw up a comprehensive advertising program. It is vital for organisations that are considering an Internet marketing strategy to effectively coordinate each component. The bottomline is that organisations are putting themselves into the global marketplace. It is thus important for people to be crit ical of what works well and what meets their need with an Internet marketing strategy (Perlman, 1996). By using the standard advertising program process (Kotler, 1997) as a base, it is simple to outline the characteristics of the Internet which a business must take into consideration when planning a Web advertising campaign. The various steps involved in t he process of planning an advertising program are depicted in section 5.2.1 below and the specific characteristics of the Internet are superimposed into this framework in section 5.2.2 through section 5.2.7. 6.2) Developin g and Managing an Advertising Program 6.2.1) Introduction to the Advertising Program Process In developing an advertising program, marketing managers must always start by identifying the target market and buyer motives. This applies, perhaps even more so, to the new advertising alternative represented by the Internet. The next step is to make fiv e major decisions in developing an advertising campaign, known as the five Ms: * Mission: What are the advertising objectives? * Money: How much can be spent? * Message: What message should be sent? * Media: What media should be used? * Measurement: How should the results be evaluated? 6.2.2) SWOT Analysis This step is a necessity when studying the feasibility of any intended business proposition and when the planning of that operation takes place. It involves a study of the firms internal strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats presented by circumstances in the environment. Web advertising provides a spec ial challenge to marketers and planners due to its relative infancy, which brings previously un-encountered circumstances to the fore. In terms of internal strengths and weaknesses, it is common practice at this stage in Web advertising for businesses to approach Internet service providers such as Adept Internet to manage the intricacies of advertising on the Internet. Therefore, issues concerning ability to actually place an effective advertisement on the Internet are shifted to specialised companies. According to Trafex managing director David Pegg few organisations have the technical skills and financial resources to establish a nd manage a sophisticated private trading network. It makes sense for companies to focus on their core business and let experts look after their trading partner connections. The study of external threats and opportunities in Web advertising largely involves market analysis and the attempt to identify the companys typical customer, how they can be enticed to visit the companys web site and how they can convinced to keep on v isiting the web site. Web site design companies and dedicated tracing companies who try to check the demographics of a visitor to site are coming to the fore, creating an entirely new industries in the process (Perlman, 1996). Research in South Africa cla ssifies the Web user base as a niche, particularly from the point of view that the users tend to share characteristics that make them a targetable segment. Profile of the model Web user: Internet surfers would certainly be considered technologically progr essive, innovators and early-adopters. In terms of demographic profiles, the mean age of users worldwide is around 35 years, with approximately 50% having tertiary education and mostly earning A incomes. Male users have outnumbered female users in the pas t but gender parity has recently been reached (Rath, 1997). 6.2.3) Advertising objectives It is not uncommon with the advent of the Internet and the advertis ing possibilities that it provides that many companies become rash in their plans for Web advertising. This can be disastrous without first analysing the objectives of a promotion via the web. The essence of the medium is still to be assessed in relation to the way business can be conducted. 6.2.4) How much can be spent? The direct set up costs to the marketer are likely to be in excess of R100 000 for an above-average site but, further to this cost, are costs if site maintenance, enhancements and server storage. The direct and indirect costs of Web site development are t herefore not insignificant, requiring considerable capital, time and energy to establish and to keep it alive (Rath, 1997). Smaller scale businesses, for example a coffee shop such as Fandango in Stellenbosch, which wishes to utilise Web advertising, can expect to pay from R1000 for web site design. A site such as this could be linked to four other sites and also requires cons tant maintenance which often entails h igher costs than the development of the Web site (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). 6.2.5) Message It should be stressed that Internet site development is part of the marketing function and does not fall within the realm of the Information Technology Department. Management is often tempted to allow the IT department to create a Web site because it woul d seem to offer the most cost-effective solution. However, the sites that have been designed by programmers are notable for their lack of creativity and generally do not entice the viewer. This, in essence, revolves around the question of the Web sites me ssage (Rath, 1997). The principles that apply to media such as television and radio are generally applicable to message formulation on a Web site although valuable information that is dynamic seems to be the key (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). 6.2.6) Medium The Internet as an advertising medium has a number of inherent advantages and disadvantag es which are discussed in section 7. 6.2.7) Measure and Evaluate Performance To quantify a Web sites contribution to revenue is often quite difficult. Where sales are generated more-or-less directly off the Net, the companys return on investment is a matter of simple arithmetic. However, where the company provides an added value service via the Net, the sites contribution to the bottom line is far less easy to quantify (Rath, 1997). In terms of actual Web site design effectiveness, processes are still largely undefined. Many online organisations do exist, however, that monitor and provide Web site statistics, namely number of hits and how for how long visitors stayed at the site, for a fee (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). Furthermore, information can be obtained detailing the demographics of visitors to a Web sit although this is more difficult. This can enable a company to measure the Web sites effectiveness in terms of reaching the companys target market. It is quite c ommon now for the Web itself to be used for research purposes with companies asking Web users for personal responses to products, sites and messages. This also provides feedback on the sites effectiveness and facilitates corrective action. 6.3) The Web site Itself 6.3.1) Web site Design Web site design is very much a grey area in terms of the fact that Web advertising is a relatively new addition to a business choice of promotional alternatives. However, guidelines do exist which can increase the chance of web site effectiveness. These i nclude questions such as: Who would use our service or product; how likely is our target market to be on the Net and who understands the culture of this new medium to create a site that encapsulates the brand, the culture and the practicality of web adver tising. Other aspects are the understanding of the need to employ the expertise of a company that specializes in design for an interactive medium. Incorporating a wealth of useful informat ion, interactive games and an ease of navigation through the site have also proved to increase Web site effectiveness (Joseph, 1997). Experience and creativity are most definitely necessary characteristics of a Web site designer who is usually employed by an Internet service provider such as Adept Internet. Feedback via methods that are mentioned in section 5.2.7 above could provide in dications of responses to Web site design. Once again, the principles applied in the television, radio and print media all apply to the design of a Web site. Fundamentals of consumer behaviour and psychology should be understood by anybody attempting to u ndertake commercial Web site design (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). 6.3.2) Web Site Maintenance As with any medium of advertising, an inferior display can be detrimental to a firms image. However, Web site maintenance due to its reliance on a newly developed technology must receive special attention. This explains why a company m ay induce greater expenditure in the maintenance of a Web site than in the actual design and creation of the sit e. Maintenance of a Web site has two implications: Firstly, information supplied by the site must be dynamic, that is, it must be updated regularly in order to draw browsers on the Net to revisit the site; secondly, the site must be checked regularly to e nsure that no errors have occurred in the content as a result of any damage to data for instance (J. Matthee, personal communication, 20 April 1998). An example of the second problem is clearly demonstrated by the printout of the coffee shop Fandangos We b site in which the main picture failed to load. See figure 1 in section 5.4 below. (Take note: John Matthee, who originally designed the site and who, as an employee of Adept Internet, is hired to handle the maintenance of the site, has since rectified the problem.) 6.4) Profiles of Examples Example1: Fandango The Fandango Web site provides an example of the importance of site maintenance. See figure 1. Example2: SAA This provides a successful example of advertising by means of putting up an entire site which serves a brand building exercise. The airlines site took all-important factors outlined above in section 5.3.1 into consideration and the result is self-evident. The site won the prestigious Magellan award which is contested for by two million sites. 7.) THE INTERNET AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM 7.1) Advantages . The demographics of the average Internet surfer are attractive enough to warrant their inclusion as an important niche market (Rath, 1997). The Web can be transformed into a research tool, a brand builder and an advertising medium in one swoop, something not offered by other media (Joseph, 1996). Furthermore, unlike other media where the advertising agency is the only link between the client and the media owner, the Web allows the client to become the media owner. From the companys point of view, by buying into the technology itself, a c ompany ha s the ability to enter the world of cyber marketing without the intervention of any intermediaries. Yet another competitive advantage of this medium is that it provides advertisers with reassuringly detailed demographics about who actually saw their advertisement, turning it into a marketing research as well as an advertising medium (Williams, 1996). Interactive media can operate in territories not covered by a vendors sales force. It can bring the showroom and the sales pitch to the buyers remote locations simply by dropping it in the post. 7.2) Disadvantages Lack of Intrusiveness The persuasive elements of the Internet advertisement usually lie at least one click away from the users current location and this requires the user to be sufficiently interested in the product or intrigued by the advertisement banner to click the to the advert. Limitations of Banners The Web has primarily been used for the presentation of text and graphics onto fairly small computer screens. Th is size limitation restricts the conventional Web ad to a banner asking the user to click here for more information. This in turn provides en dless creative restrictions (McDonald, 1997). Radical Fragmentation It is very difficult for any given site to draw enough attention to itself to attract an audience large enough to matter to an advertiser. 8) WEB ADVERTISING SCENARIOS FOR THE NEAR TERM FUTURE Scenario #1: Web site Shakeout There are good reasons to question whether the Web advertising pie will prove large enough to support the numerous commercial Web sites that are counting on it for sustenance. Recent reports that some publishers are scaling back their web publishing ambit ions, or shutting down sites altogether lend credence to the notion that there will be significant shakeout as commercial Web sites fail for lack of a viable business model (McDonald, 1997). Scenario #2:Advertising-content hybrids Advertisers who do not sell their products directly to consumers but still want to find a way to participate in interactive media will revert to a model that prevailed in the early days of television sponsorship. By sponsoring a site that consumers value, the advertiser will hope to build positive associations for the brand. The communication limitations of banners will be overcome by surrounding content with imagery related to the sponsoring brand. Where practical sponsor-friendly content will be interle aved will brand-neutral content. Though there will be some reaction against this hybridisation on the part of media critics and consumers alike, the form will probably still flourish as the digital equivalent of the infomercial (McDonald, 1997). Scenario#3: Internet service providers provoke privacy whiplash New generations of Internet service provider will emerge that will provide an extraordinarily sophisticated database that captures information on how individual subscribers use the Internet. This will enable the marketer to customise communications ba ck into the box in the subscribers home and hereby the Web will be able to live up to its promises of one-to-one marketing (McDonald, 1997). Scenario#4: Advertisements get detached from the media Marketers will be able to sent targeted information to subscribers on their past Web usage patterns regardless of what current Web sites they are visiting. In effect, they will be able to sell the audience to advertising directly without the intermediary of the media (McDonald, 1997). 9) CONCLUSION The Internets Multimedia arm, the World Wide Web, can support both consumer marketing and trade marketing objectives. The Web is where all the commercial activity and its importance as a new medium has been recognised to the extent that it will be measure d in all US media research from this year. The Web provides a company with access to a global audience of consumers in their millions, and also to a very wide range of companies (Rath, 1997) The Internet has provided marketers with exciting and challenging advertising prospects. There will undoubtedly be many lessons to be learned in the near-future concerning the intracacies and quirks of the medium. South Africa is technologically equipped to make full use of the Internets capabilities and South African marketers are provided with an opportunity to prove themselves to a very viable Internet market. In conclusion , the future of the Internet and Web advertising can be encapsulated through the words of John Matthee bigger and better, bigger and better. 10) References 1. David, F . R (1997). Concepts of Strategic Management (6th ed.) . New Jersey : Prentice Hall 2. Direct Marketing . Supplement 96. Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 6, p 1 43, Jul.; 1996 3. Douvos, E. Net Sales Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7, p14, Aug., 1996 4. Hopkins, B. Beyond direct marketing. Market Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7,p10, Aug. 1996 5. Joseph, E, The wonderful wired world of Marketing; Internet: Technology. Marketing Mix, Vol. 14. Iss 7, p28 29, 31, 33 -34 , Aug., 1996 6. Kotler, P, (1997). Marketing Management (9th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall 7. Perlman,L. You get what you pay for: the bandwidth wars; Internet solution packages: Bundled solutions; If youve got it flaunt it: advertising: Internet. Finance week; Vol. 69; Iss 11, p 32, 34, June 13, 1996. 8. Rath, B. Marketing on the Web: net return. Marketing mix. Vol. 14, lss 3, p 88 -89, APR, 1996. 9. Styen , C. Introducing interactive. Marketing Mix. Vol. 14, Iss 7, p 14 Aug. 1996. 10. Swart, D. Techno Blitz. Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7, p 11. Aug., 1996 11. Williams F, Interview: David Frankel MD. at the Internet Solution Marketing Mix. Vol. 14, Iss 6, p 30 31, July , 1996 Bibliography References 1. David, F . R (1997). Concepts of Strategic Management (6th ed.) . New Jersey : Prentice Hall 2. Direct Marketing . Supplement 96. Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 6, p 1 43, Jul.; 1996 3. Douvos, E. Net Sales Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7, p14, Aug., 1996 4. Hopkins, B. Beyond direct marketing. Market Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7,p10, Aug. 1996 5. Joseph, E, The wonderful wired world of Marketing; Internet: Technology. Marketing Mix, Vol. 14. Iss 7, p28 29, 31, 33 -34, Aug., 1996 6. Kotler, P, (1997). Marketing Management (9th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall 7. Perlman,L. You get what you pay for: the bandwidth wars; Internet solution packages: Bundled solutions; If youve got it flaunt it: advertising: Internet. Finance week; Vol. 69; Iss 11, p 32, 34, June 13, 1996. 8. Rath, B. Marketing on the Web: net return. Marketing mix. Vol. 14, lss 3, p 88 -89, APR, 1996. 9. Styen , C. Introducing interactive. Marketing Mix. Vol. 14, Iss 7, p 14 Aug. 1996. 10. Swart, D. Techno Blitz. Marketing Mix; Vol. 14, lss 7, p 11. Aug., 1996 11. Williams F, Interview: David Frankel MD. at the Internet Solution Marketing Mix. Vol. 14, Iss 6, p 30 31, July , 1996 Word Count: 5817 Miscellaneous .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .postImageUrl , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:hover , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:visited , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:active { border:0!important; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:active , .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3d76b9c704bc422d1499c8daec0c057c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: 12 Angry Men Essay We will write a custom essay on Web Advertising specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

AUTHOR UNKNOWN essays

AUTHOR UNKNOWN essays Social Security is not a problem right now; in fact, it runs a large surplus every year. However, Americans are living longer, and drawing more Social Security payments than they ever put in. Early in the next century, we will be paying out more than we take in, and Social Security will have to dip into its surplus, which is currently used by the federal government for other spending. When the last of the baby boomers retire, the payroll tax would have to almost double to maintain benefits. This creates an undue burden on Generation X-ers, and solutions need to be found to prevent this from happening. * Citizens should be given a choice on whether or not they wish to invest their own Social Security funds in a high-yield bank account, or the stock market. Right now, the average American has withdrawn all he has put into Social Security within 7 years of retirement. This forces the everyday worker to support those currently on Social Security with his payments. Whoever is still in the work force should be given the opportunity to do with their money as they see fit. If someone feels that they are unable to invest wisely in the stock market, there are other options available. For instance, and perhaps the simplest, is to invest the funds into a money-market account, which will on average receive 1-1 1/2% more interest than a traditional savings account. From the time the average American starts working - say 16 or 17 - till the time he retires, there will be a lot of money that has accumulated in this account. Another option is a tax-sheltered annuity. This is an option available to anyone - as long as they have an investment broker - to take a certain amount of money from their paycheck, tax free, and have it invested and re-in! vested in stocks and bonds. It can be cashed out at any times. Many banks offer tax-sheltered annuities for a ...

Learn the French Verb Conjugations for Annoncer

Learn the French Verb Conjugations for Annoncer The French verb annoncer  should look very familiar because it means to announce. When conjugating it for use in the present, past, or future tenses, there is a slight spelling change that you need to know about. A quick French lesson will show you how to handle that with ease. Conjugating the French Verb  Annoncer Annoncer  is a  spelling change verb. In this case, it is a minor change in the letter C as is common in many verbs that end in -cer. As you study the conjugations, you will notice that some forms  use the cedilla à §Ã‚  rather than the normal c. This is to ensure that you pronounce it as a soft C sound even when it appears before the vowels A and O. Beyond that minor change, the verb conjugations for  annoncer  follow the standard -er  patterns. This chart demonstrates how the verb endings change depending on the subject pronoun and the tense used. For instance, I announce is jannonce and we will announce is nous annoncerons. Subject Present Future Imperfect j annonce annoncerai annonais tu annonces annonceras annonais il annonce annoncera annonait nous annonons annoncerons annoncions vous annoncez annoncerez annonciez ils annoncent annonceront annonaient What is the Present Participle of  Annoncer? The  present participle  of annoncer  is  annonà §ant. The simple ending change from an -er  to an  -ant  is the difference. Again, though, notice that the cedilla appears with the vowel change. This tells you the ending is pronounced [sant] rather than [cant]. What is the Past Participle of  Annoncer? The past participle of  annoncer  is  annoncà ©. This is used to form the common past tense of the verb, which is known as the  passà © composà ©. You will also need to conjugate the  auxiliary verb  avoir  in order to complete this conjugation. For example, I announced is jai annoncà ©. The past participle does not change with the subject, so we announced is simply nous avons annoncà ©. More Conjugations of  Annoncer You may find the need to use a few other simple conjugations of  annoncer  at times. The subjunctive and conditional are more common and imply a level of uncertainty to the action of announcing. The passà © simple and imperfect subjunctive are primarily reserved for formal writing. While you might not need to memorize all of these forms at first, it is important to be aware of them. Most French students should concentrate on the present, future, and passà © composà © forms of  annoncer. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j annonce annoncerais annonai annonasse tu annonces annoncerais annonas annonasses il annonce annoncerait annona annont nous annoncions annoncerions annonmes annonassions vous annonciez annonceriez annontes annonassiez ils annoncent annonceraient annoncrent annonassent The imperative form of  annoncer  may be useful if youre using it as an assertive and short command or request. When doing so, theres no need to include the subject pronoun: use annonce rather than tu annonce. Imperative (tu) annonce (nous) annonons (vous) annoncez