Come Down for IMC+

As you probably know by now, Singapore Polytechnic's Diploma in Media and Communication is a course that covers a broad spectrum of topics. What us students learn in our 3 years here at DMC includes public relations, advertising, psychology, social media and writing. And that's just to name a few of them!

Just like the things that we learn, you'll find a wide array of colourful personalities here at DMC.

Maybe you're the one whose notes never stay clean for long because you're always doodling during your lessons. Perhaps you're the person who's always hyped up and never seems to stop talking in your group of friends. Or maybe you're the quiet type who much prefers writing your heart to conversing with people.

If you've ever felt like a misfit or just felt that there's just something different about you then you'll blend right in at DMC. There's something that binds us all together at DMC and that's the little spark of creativity that we have in all of us. It doesn't matter if you're a quiet writer, an inspired artist or an effervescent chatterbox, that spark of creativity is going to catch fire in DMC.

My favourite bunch of misfits here in DMC

If you're dying to know more about our course, why not come down to our event organised by our very own DMC year 2 students! Head on down to SP Convention Centre on 4th February for IMC+. IMC+ aims to expose it's participants to the world of Integrated Marketing Communication, which is just what IMC stands for! Here's your chance to learn more about the media industry in Singapore and also about integrate marketing communication which is an integral part of DMC.

In fact, you might have already seen some of our posters in train stations. Does this look familiar to you?

Taken from SP IMC+ Facebook

There'll be talks by various industry speakers such as Valerie Cheng, Justine Leong and Calvin Soh on topics such as advertising, creativity and ideas. You'll be sure to leave IMC+ leaving inspired! In addition to that, there'll be performances as well as refreshments provided.

Another good reason to come down to SP, the goodie bags!

Thanks to our gracious sponsors, the goodie bags will contains gifts from Etude House, the Yoghurt Place, Miyoc and Teenage too! And those are just to name a few (:

Here are our hardworking students packing the goodie bags that our IMC+ participants will receive.

Image taken from SPIMCPLUS instagram page

So register here soon and we'll hope to see you there! 

For more information, 

please visit www.spimcplus.com or www.facebook.com/SP.IMCplus

DMC, where you find out who you are.

Hello DMC enthusiasts!

DMC offers a broad spectrum of modules that cover almost all the aspects of marketing communication. This is great for mastering the complete gamut of marketing communication but it can also lead to uncertainty about what exactly you want to do.

After all, many a times in life, we are all confused about just what we want to do in life exactly right?

But fret not because we may have just what you need to help you decide who you are! Just take our personality test and you might have a clearer stance of who you are in DMC!

PERSONALITY TEST:

Found out who you are? Now you know just what you should focus on and which modules you will be more interested in. This personality test might even help you decide on which practicum you want to take up in Year 3!

Now for those of you, who could not decide on just one end point of the personality test, don’t be anxious! We all know that most of us are a mixture of different personalities.

Perhaps you’re a mixture of a designer and a writer? This could mean you are more inclined towards writing for a fashion magazine!

Or maybe you are a blend of an analyst and communication personnel? This just means you can do your own research and pitch it yourself!

Share with us your results whether at facebook.com/spmediacomm or tweet us at @CassyDMC, or if you have a blogger account, give us a comment here! The point is sometimes you may not know exactly who you are in life, but that doesn’t mean you are not just as special as the others. With a little bit of time and practice, you will find out right here at DMC.

The place where you can create all your stories.

From your Guardians of DMC,

Amirah and Razinah. 

Who wants to be a DMC student?

What is DMC?

Always know what you're getting. That's the advice that is closely followed by everyone.
Nobody likes to get something and then realise that it is not what they wanted.

 This is especially true when it comes to our education. So who better to ask about the Diploma in Media and Communication course than our very own lecturer Ms Trudy Lim? Before joining the School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences, Ms Trudy has been working as a journalist in the New Paper.
Now, she is known as a caring lecturer who always ensures that her students are doing well in school and will not hesitate to offer advice.


Q: So Ms Trudy, Why is our course called ‘Media and Communication’ and not ‘Mass Communication’?

While I'm not quite sure where the term had its origins, I know that we don't just consider ourselves as a Mass Communication Course. Mass communication generally refers to the traditional media such as TV, newspapers and radio, wheras our course goes beyond that. We go into digital media, social media, and the disciplines of advertising, public relations and events management. While mass communication courses touch on these areas, our course is broader-based because we focus a lot more on all the different areas, rather than specifically TV, radio and newspaper. Our target is to expose them to all the different areas. Yes you can have a career in TV or radio. Yes, you can have a career in PR or advertising. But first you need to know what it's all about and we want to expose our students to what we call 360 degree communication, which is how all the areas work together.


Q: So, in DMC we offer 360 degrees communication (which integrates all the different aspects of PR, Advertising, Events Management, etc. together), and expose students to all these different areas. But, what if a student comes in only wanting to learn about a certain area, like journalism? Would he be forced to learn other things as well?

I prefer to look at it as the student getting exposed to things he hasn't been exposed to before and he may like it, and find a new passion. I think students who have a closed mind, a narrow view, will suffer in this course. Being able to learn what you enjoy, and being exposed to other areas that you may enjoy, I think that is the advantage of education. The point of education is to expose you to new things and open up your mind - not allow you to have a closed mind to new things.

Q: Do you feel that there are common traits DMC students share?

Yes, let me put it this way: we are looking for a certain type of student when we open up our doors to applicants. The type of student who would excel at this course would be a student who is vocal, very willing to speak up and very willing to write. They have strong views, are creative, willing to step out of their comfort zone, willing to step out and try new things.

Q: What kind of careers have graduates actually gone on to undertake?

 Generally, we'll be looking at the communications industry, which is very wide anyway. We have graduates in the field of public relations and advertising. You could also go into journalism, corporate communication, and events management. But we also had students who go into areas that are less directly related. Some go into teaching and social work. In fact, one of our graduates is in the Family Service Centre doing outreach for programs to families. There are other bits and pieces as well. From here you can go on to the faculty of arts and social sciences to study, say, social work or history or political science or any number of courses. We also have students who study business and end up more on the business side of the fence, so to speak. But a large majority would be in communication related industries. That means the production side or writing side or accounts management for PR, or advertising or other communication-based agencies.

Q: What are some of the internships that DMC students can look forward to?

Okay, first of all we have two ways that you can get an internship. One way is to look for a company that you really want to work for and apply directly, and then let us know and we will facilitate the necessary paperwork. Another way would be for you to let us assign the internships. So you fill in your preferences in a form (and we have a lot of large companies that come to us with a list of interns that they require) and then we do a matching. So we have interns at SPH, MediaCorp, at top PR companies like Edelmen, Hill and Knowlton, as well as at top advertising companies at Ogilvy and Mather, BBDH, and others. We also have interns at large companies doing corporate communications such as advertising or public relations. These companies actually include Capital Land and DBS bank. Far East organization has also accepted our students before. So, there is a very wide range of options available for our internships.

 Q: Which universities can DMC graduates study at, to further their studies?

Students who graduate from DMC can go on to local or overseas universities. The Diploma in Media and Communication course has been around for 13 years, so we have quite a lot of graduates. In terms of local universities, SMU, NUS and NTU do take in our students.

Q: Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to students who are thinking about joining DMC, but are sitting on the fence?

I would say you need to know yourself. You need to know if you have an ability to communicate and a desire to communicate. This course is basically about communication. But if you do have a passion for communication, and you want to learn as much as you can about all the different areas, we are definitely the best choice. That wraps up our interview with our very own lecturer Ms Trudy.

So if you do have a passion for communication, then all of us here at Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Media and Commuication would hope to see you studying here with us soon!

 If you would like to know more about our course, please do follow our DMC twitter @CassyDMC or like our facebook page at www.facebook.com/spmediacomm.

Until then, see you!

In The Shoes of A DPA Student

Ever wanted to apply for a course but you are afraid that your grades weren’t good enough? At Singapore Polytechnic (SP), we strongly believe in the holistic development of an individual so there are definitely other alternatives to get into your dream course, e.g. DMC!

Meet Mandy Chng, a Year 2 student of the Diploma in Media and Communication (DMC), who went through the Direct Poly Admission (DPA) route to get into the course that she is currently in.

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Hi Mandy! Can you tell us more about yourself?
I am someone who loves listening to music, reading and writing. I really enjoy attending gigs when my favourite bands such as Two Door Cinema Club and Alt-J are performing. I feel that music and writing are mediums for me to express myself.

So Mandy, can you tell us how you got to know about DPA?
I happened to be on the SP’s website one day when I came across the banner talking about how I could sign up for DPA. SP’s website was able to inform me about what DPA is all about as well as the criteria that needs to be fulfilled.

Why did you choose to enter SP DMC through DPA? 
With my passion for music and writing, it sparked an interest within me to pursue a career in the media industry. I decided to enter through DPA to secure a better placing in SP DMC. DPA reassures that I would get into the course I am passionate about. You’ll never know if you will perform well during ‘O’ levels.

Did you feel like there were a lot of expectations being a DPA student? 
Not really. I had to sit through interviews and a test that required us to write about an interesting news article that I have read. The lecturer in-charge who took me through was Ms. Trudy, she was very patient and encouraging. I was fortunate to have Ms. Trudy as the lecturer in-charge of my class in Year 1.

Were you given a head start to DMC as compared to other students? 
Yes! The DPA students and I attended camps. Through the camps, I made a lot of friends from different courses before school even started. I felt more exposed to poly life and it definitely prepared me for school. I also attended a Design Thinking and Video Production course, which helped me greatly in the modules of DMC.

How did you feel about your whole experience as a DPA student?
It was indeed a very enriching experience. I learnt a lot and I think it has made me a better equipped student with more knowledge. I also enjoyed being able to meet all sorts of people from the different courses.

Would you encourage students to apply for DPA?
I would recommend students to apply for DPA if you are absolutely sure of the course you are interested in. It gives you a much better chance of being able to enter the course you want. It exposes you to other opportunities, and you’ll learn things that you might not necessarily get to learn in your course.

Are there any advice for potential DPA students out there?
Be sure that you’re applying to a course that you’re serious about and interested in. During the selection process, don’t be afraid or shy to show off your skills, be impressive, and be open to meeting new people and experiences. There is really nothing to lose through this application, just give DPA a shot!

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The Mass Media Research Press Conference Team!

Mandy has been actively involved in recent DMC events such as the Mass Media Research Press Conference: Impact of Social Media on Youth Well-Being and Happiness, where her group emerged as one of the top two research teams in the cohort.

She is also involved in Singapore Polytechnic Integrated Marketing Communications Plus (SP IMC+), an inaugural event that is organized by students for students. Before the SP IMC+ planning process, the whole Year 2 cohort had IMC tutorials taught by the lecturers. After which, the students were put through the application process when the students were tasked to organize the event. For SP IMC+, Mandy is in the Design and Marketing Team where she has to come up with design concepts for the event. With the photoshop skills acquired in her first year, Mandy is able to apply them to use.


Visit http://www.sp.edu.sg/dpa for more information on Singapore Polytechnic’s Direct Poly Admission!

Also, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to:

- Tweet to us at http://www.twitter.com/CassyDMC

- Post them at http://www.facebook.com/spmediacomm

 

Where Do I Fit In?

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it through the misery of waiting for your dreaded results. So if you are right here, right now reading this, it shows you are considering Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Media and Communication (DMC) as one of your choices. Great!

DMC is the most broad based communication course amongst the polytechnics. It provides a unique platform for almost anyone out there who is passionate about living the Integrated Marketing Communications experience (also known as IMC!). This will definitely set you apart from the rest as you become an all-rounder. Wondering exactly where you fit in DMC?

Here we present to you, five DMC students with different strengths and interests, and how exactly DMC was the perfect platform for them to further develop their passion. Read about how each individual might be similar to you!

The Writer

Do you always bury yourself in books trying to gain new inspirations and enjoy the sweet writings of other authors? Do you find penning down the flow of ideas to a white sheet of paper, a work of art? How about those times when you were looking for interesting contents to publish on your blog? You would definitely love to hone and refine your linguistics ability.

Look no further because DMC might just be the course for you! Modules such as Professional Communication and Feature Writing serve as platforms, for budding writers like yourself, to build your passion for writing and journalism! Not only that, you will be able to improve your writing skills and possibly publish your work to the media. In this course, a command of English is not only needed in different writing modules. It is also required in other communications modules, such as Public Relations or Integrated Marketing Communications, in order to reflect a clear and consistent message to readers. With that, DMC prepares us for the workforce.

Amal Lina Abdul Rahim, a Year 2 DMC student, definitely showed her love and flair for writing when she willingly took on a ‘special’ project to write about a successful student enterprise for The New Paper on behalf of Singapore Polytechnic. Her article titled “Convenience In A Cup” was published on 18 December  2012. Let’s hear what Amal Lina has got to say!

“Being in DMC has allowed me to improve my writing skills, as it exposes me to ample opportunities to showcase my capabilities...the skills that I learnt in IMC has helped me to view things differently, and much more creative ways.”

-Amal Lina

Check out her article here: http://spbuzz.sp.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/181212-TNP.jpg

The Designer

Are your creative juices bursting at the seams?  Each time you pick up your pen, do you create a world of doodles? Do you love designing, creating and being original?  You’re always full of ideas but you have no idea where to place them? Well, let us help you to express yourself through art and design.

Always wondered how your art can speak to others? Here in DMC, we offer modules that integrate visuals and communication together. In Year 1, we offer Visual Communications as a year-long module to provide students with the necessary design skills, understanding of the art of creation and the importance of clarity in their visuals. In Year 2, let your creativity flow in greater capacity as your design skills will be used in several modules, (such as Integrated Marketing Communications, Public Relations and Advertising) to help market events or products through your visuals. Your skills are vital in this industry because the images are the ‘face’ of a marketing campaign, which will be the first element to catch people’s attention.

You might think we are just fluffing things up! So let Belicia Lim, a Year 3 DMC student, tell you more about her take on our course.

‘DMC provides a wide variety of materials for inspiration. As a designer, I believe it is truly important to garner as much exposure as possible in order to churn out your own flavor within the competitive design industry.’

-Belicia Lim

Art work by Belicia

The Analyser

We know you! Somehow there's this inquisitive part of you that's always considering the details and meanings of everything. Something very deep, like the significance of life right? You’re also a curious individual that's attracted to studying materials and establishing insightful conclusions. In truth, people like you play a crucial role in the communications industry!

Our course comprises of a comprehensive range of modules that will help you to develop that analytical personality of yours into a career you love! With Mass Media Research, Media Psychology and Introduction to Business, you will learn to understand audiences on a personal level and identify their needs and wants. This is essential in coming up with effective marketing campaigns so as to cater to various types of consumers. F.Y.I, this sector brings in big bucks too!

Kar Jin is a DMC Year 2 student who has worked on various brands such as NIKE+, Samsung and Mentholatum. He knows how they operate and how they reached out to the consumers through analyzing their behaviors. Here’s his take on the course:

‘’DMC gave me the ability to understand the underlying way of how consumers’ work. Through research and theories, I am able to adapt marketing campaigns that appeals to different groups. It’s very enriching to know how all these comes to play unexpectedly in IMC.’’

-Kar Jin

The Superstar

Feeling comfortable in the limelight and always wanted more opportunities to shine? Moreover, the radio and television industry has always interest you, because you believe those are areas that you can excel in. However, being in front of the camera is not all about your eloquence or appearance, it is also about understanding what works for your audience and in DMC we tell you why.

Our course offers modules like Radio and Television Production and Management and Video Production and Digital Post, where we get to learn about the television and radio industry. You will not only be able to appear in front of cameras, you will also understand the production process. Get the chance to be a deejay and record your own radio show, or you could also be a director, scriptwriter, editor or even act in your own short film. All these are part and parcel of understanding how to create interesting content for you audiences. Who knows, you may even create a viral video! Gangnam Style anyone?

Alvin Tan, a Year 2 DMC student, enjoys performing at live gigs and speaking in public.

DMC improved the quality of his self-produced YouTube performance videos. Becoming a SPace Radio DJ has also gave him another platform to express himself and put to practise what he learnt.

“I personally like to be in front of the cameras but DMC has taught me to take the backseat and have a greater view of the production process. The modules fueled creativity by letting me understand behind-the-scenes better, thus producing awesome content!”.

-Alvin Tan

The Social Butterfly

You are the life of the party, the social lubricant that handles every social situation with ease. All your friends refer to you as the charming and approachable one, and you feel that it is a skill and potential you can leverage on for your career. DMC has the right concoction to bring out the social butterfly in you!

In DMC, we provide a wide range of modules that can bring out the best in you. With modules such as Public Relations and Social Media, you are given endless opportunities to interact in various contexts and platforms. One day you would take on the role as a PR Practitioner, liaising with various industry partners, and on the next, a Social Media Executive, engaging hundreds and thousands of audience with your own Facebook campaign. You become the voice in Integrated Marketing Campaigns, reaching out to the public and media.

Jazelle Tan, a DMC Year 2 student, is an extrovert who makes friends just about wherever she goes! She loves the process of getting to know new people and a party is never dull with her presence.

“DMC has provided me with endless of opportunities to work with different people from our course and the industry, widening my network of friends and other possible career paths.”

-Jazelle Tan

To end off, let us leave you with one quote.

'Remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.' - Margaret Mead

All of us are different. You need not be exactly like the five DMC Kids that we have mentioned above. Just remember, do what you like and you will love what you do! So if you feel DMC is for you. COME AND JOIN US! All the best for your school choices guys! Hope to have you here at DMC :)

For more information and queries, do follow us on our Social Media platforms and we will gladly answer you guys! :) It's just a click away! 

Twitter: @CASSYDMC

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/spmediacomm