FINANCIAL LITERACY AND THE COMMUNICATION FIELDS

Studying communications would help professionals in any field refine their speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills, while allowing them to investigate communications theories and methodologies.

The flexibility of a communications major allows students to focus their studies on areas most relevant to their career goals.

Communications Majors in Journalism, Media and Broadcasting

Communications majors in media and broadcasting possess the writing, research, and analytical skills necessary to produce and direct live studio productions, write broadcast news and news magazine feature pieces, and produce journalistic video stories.

These students go on to become:

• Broadcasters
• Copywriters
• Editors
• Writers
• Investigative reporters
• News and feature piece writers
• Radio/television announcers
• Journalists

Communications majors in media and broadcasting possess a thorough understanding of media as a social instrument. They emphasize responsibility, professionalism, and ethics, and they are able to prepare written copy in professional formats.

Communications majors in media and broadcasting supplement their communications studies with coursework focused on the creation and production of media, the interrelated nature of media industries, and the skills necessary to write, produce, and distribute messages through the media.

Communications Majors in Business and Industrial Relations

Communications majors in organizational and business communications possess the expertise necessary to serve as business leaders, contract negotators and consultants in the corporate environment.

These students go on to become:

• Labor relations specialists
• Corporate directors and executives
• Mediators
• Communications managers
• Special events planners
• Business to Business salespersons

Communications majors in business and industry are able to address the full range of communication that occurs in the corporate world and respond to current and future trends in corporate communications.

With a focus on a corporation’s organizational needs, communications majors in the business environment are able to formulate communication strategies that support company objectives.

Communications majors in business and industry study how to write and speak clearly, develop and deliver formal presentations, improve teamwork and morale, and examine the psychological implications of communicating effectively with management teams and the greater workforce.

Communications Majors in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations

Communications majors in marketing, advertising and public relations effectively coordinate communications programs to create a consistent position and image in the marketplace.

These students go on to become:

• Account executives
• Public relations specialits
• Marketing specialists
• Media buyers
• Media relations specialists
• Promotions managers
• Advertising sales representatives
• Film and video editors
• Graphic designers
• Market research analysts
• Writers

Their work involves being skilled in both traditional and digital communication channels such as social media, digital advertising campaigns, television, print and radio.

These communications professionals manage market research projects; develop advertising campaigns and digital, print, and broadcast materials; and plan and purchase media.

Communications majors in media, marketing, and advertising learn all phases of the communications process: planning, budgeting, creative strategy development, copywriting, media planning, and research. They supplement their communications core with study in traditional advertising, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and mobile marketing.

Communications Majors in Government and Politics

Communications majors in government and politics contribute to public administration, either through campaign efforts or by serving in government office.

These students go on to become:

• Campaign directors
• Elected officials
• Lobbyists
• Media consultants
• Press secretaries
• Speechwriters
• Public affairs specialist
• Community affairs specialist

These communications professionals appreciate the nuances of communicating a message to voters, constituents, and other members of the public from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. They possess a command of public speaking and message design, and have a critical perspective on society, politics, and culture.

Communications majors in government and politics supplement their core coursework with classes in political science and public administration, and many choose to minor in a field such as political science.

Capital Markets & Transaction Communications

FOR EXAMPLE:

READ THIS COMPANY’S FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGY

FINSBURY 

Effectively communicating a company’s strategy, growth ambitions, and financial strength is the daily challenge of senior executives as they seek to build investor and stakeholder confidence. As one of the leading advisors in capital markets and transaction communications, we have supported management teams through over 1,500 transactions with a total value of approximately $3 trillion over the past decade alone.

With our group of highly skilled professionals from a range of backgrounds spanning banking, law and financial journalism, we offer management teams educated insights into communicating some of the world’s largest cross-border and domestic M&A transactions, complex IPOs, bond issues and other capital raisings and financial restructurings and bankruptcies. This unrivalled experience has enabled us to develop trusted contacts with investors, analysts, the financial media, and regulators. Based on our unique know-how, we are able to provide each client with a bespoke, integrated offering, ranging from day-to-day financial calendar management and media relations to peer group analysis and corporate governance guidance. Be it M&A, IPO, activist, restructuring/bankruptcy, or ongoing financial communications advisory: We can help clients identify the stakeholder network, assess the entire spectrum of communications opportunities and challenges, and effectively implement a compelling and consistent story of strategic vision and value creation.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Our approach to M&A communications goes far beyond the traditional equity market audience to include all constituencies affected by the transaction, including customers, regulators and impacted employees.

IPOs / Capital Raisings

Raising capital from both public and private markets requires effective illustration of a company’s future, its ability to adapt to changes in the external environment and the skill of its management in creating value.

Across our network, we have managed the communications of some of the world’s largest and most complex IPOs, secondary equity and debt issues, driving communications strategies to support the investment case through every stage of the fundraising process.

Investor Activism

It is vital for a company to prepare smartly for activists ahead of time – identifying potential vulnerabilities, getting an early start on corrective actions, taking control of the company narrative and positioning its outlook.

Restructuring & Bankruptcy

Leading up to and during an in-court or out-of-court restructuring, effectively communicating a company’s strategy for overcoming financial and operational challenges to its key stakeholders is of paramount importance.

Financial communication is an important Factor in reducing the Cost of capital, provided the company discloses full, timely, and relevant information about its financial situation. The cornerstone of financial communications policy is the Signal the managers of a company send to Investors (see also Signalling theory).

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

What Are the Functions of a Corporate Communication Department?

by Ann Frederick; Reviewed by Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA; Updated March 06, 2019

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• 2Difference Between Corporate & Marketing Communications
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• 4Roles of Public Relations in an Organization

Corporate communications departments play a key role in how investors, employees and the general public perceive a company. They often report directly to a company’s chief executive officer and serve as advisers in managing a company’s reputation. They help leaders prepare for media interviews, develop messages to deliver to investors and employees and suggest new initiatives to keep companies on the cutting edge of communication with their stakeholders.

Media Relations and Communications

This may be the function for which corporate communication managers are best known. Media relations work includes writing and distributing news releases and responding to media inquiries. Corporate communicators oversee all planning for news conferences, including selecting the site for an event, arranging for banners and other graphics to be displayed at the event, preparing packets of information to distribute to the media and preparing executives to speak at news conferences.

Media relations also involves arranging for spokespersons to appear on local television and radio programs. Corporate communicators monitor newspapers, television news broadcasts and other outlets to see what the media is saying about the company and to devise strategies to address misinformation.

Customer and Public Relations

Building relationships with customers and responding to inquiries from the public fall under the public relations function of corporate communications. Duties in this area include producing newsletters, brochures and other printed materials designed for the general public.

Corporate communicators also manage a company’s website and social media presence, which includes monitoring what customers and clients are saying about the company on social networking websites and responding to inaccurate posts or requests for information.

Communication professionals may respond directly to calls and emails from citizens and customers with questions about a company’s plans or activities. They arrange for speakers from the company to make presentations to local community groups and may facilitate group tours of a company’s operations.

Advising in Crisis Communication

When an event occurs that threatens public safety or a company’s reputation, corporate communicators function as advisers to CEOs and senior leaders in managing the crisis. Special training in the issues unique to crisis communication helps corporate communicators prepare for events such as chemical spills, violence in the workplace, an accidental death on the job, layoff announcements and allegations of company wrongdoing. They often work with staff throughout their organizations to develop crisis communication plans before disaster strikes.

A crisis may require communications staff to work with attorneys, government regulators, political officials, emergency response personnel and communications staff from other companies when developing crisis messages.

Internal Employee Communications

In addition to conveying a company’s messages to external audiences, corporate communicators may also be called on to function as employee communications managers, which includes designing printed publications and writing emails to announce company news, benefits information and training opportunities. Corporate communicators may facilitate focus groups to learn what issues matter most to front-line employees. They advise senior leaders on how to improve relationships with their staff and gain support for their initiatives. The corporate communications staff may also manage a company’s Intranet and internal blogs.

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